Max on pole but it’s Lando who shines
Max Verstappen yesterday secured a hat-trick of pole positions as Lando Norris qualified a career-best second for today’s Austrian Grand Prix.
Verstappen did just enough on his first run in Q3 at Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring, with Norris only 0.048 seconds off securing a shock maiden pole.
Lewis Hamilton had to settle for only fourth, three-tenths back, with Sergio Perez third in the other Red Bull. Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas is set to start fifth.
George Russell staked another claim to join Hamilton at Mercedes next year, with his best qualifying result for Williams. The Briton will line up an impressive ninth today.
“Q3 was pretty bad,” said Verstappen. “I am happy to be first but not the way we got it.
“But to be on pole twice-in-a-row here is very good and hopefully we can finish it off tomorrow.”
Norris said: “I feel epic. It was cool. It puts us in a good position for tomorrow and it was one of the best laps I did and it is a great feeling.”
Verstappen’s travelling Orange Army erupted as their man continued to pile the pressure on Hamilton, who had no response.
In the hours before qualifying, Hamilton’s Mercedes team announced that their world champion will be staying for at least another two years.
The 36-year-old British driver and the Silver Arrows have been Formula One’s all-conquering force for the past seven years, with Hamilton marching to six titles during that period.
But Hamilton heads into the ninth of a scheduled 23 rounds trailing Verstappen by 18 points.
Norris has been one of the standout performers this year and the Mclaren driver delivered yet again with a brilliant one-lap performance.
Indeed, the future of British racing when Hamilton finally hangs up his helmet appears in superb hands with Russell providing Mercedes boss Toto Wolff with another reminder of his credentials.