Max Verstappen

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen mastered the rain to claim Belgian Grand Prix pole on Saturday, snatching the fastest time in qualifying from surprise package George Russell of Williams. Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images

Max Verstappen claims third pole position of the season at Styrian GP

Max Verstappen will start alongside his championship rival on the front row of the grid, with Lando Norris and his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez making up the second row.

Max Verstappen

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen mastered the rain to claim Belgian Grand Prix pole on Saturday, snatching the fastest time in qualifying from surprise package George Russell of Williams. Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP) (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen clocked the fastest time in the qualifying sessions for the Styrian Grand Prix.

Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas went second fastest, but a three-place grid penalty for a pit-lane spin in practice will see him start from fifth.

Max Verstappen claims third pole position of the season

Verstappen will start alongside world driver’s championship rival Lewis Hamilton on the front row of the grid, with Lando Norris and his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez making up the second row.

Williams’ George Russell narrowly missed out on Q3, having his place snatched by Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, who left his teammate, Sebastain Vettel behind in Q2.

Pierre Gasly put his Alpha Tauri into sixth place just ahead of Charles LeClerc in the leading Ferrari, while his teammate Yuki Tsunoda was eighth fastest ahead of Fernando Alonso. He may be penalised though after seemingly holding up Bottas.

Hamilton was left frustrated as Mercedes couldn’t string together a competitive performance.

“It wasn’t the greatest of sessions but I’m still on the front row [because of Valtteri’s penalty],” Hamilton said.

“I don’t think we have the raw pace to overtake [Red Bull]. I’ll be giving it everything. Maybe we’ll be surprised tomorrow. Maybe in rains.”

Verstappen was happy to deliver pole for Red Bull at their home Grand Prix, the team’s first ever at the circuit.

“It’s been a very good weekend, I think the first lap in Q3 was good enough in the end,” Verstappen said.

“I’m super happy to be on pole here at home! It’s good to be in a 

Red Bull car here.”

Styrian Grand Prix qualifying

POSNODRIVERCARQ1Q2Q3LAPS
133Max VerstappenRED BULL RACING HONDA1:04.4891:04.4331:03.84119
277Valtteri BottasMERCEDES1:04.5371:04.4431:04.03522
344Lewis HamiltonMERCEDES1:04.6721:04.5121:04.06724
44Lando NorrisMCLAREN MERCEDES1:04.5841:04.2981:04.12017
511Sergio PerezRED BULL RACING HONDA1:04.6381:04.1971:04.16821
610Pierre GaslyALPHATAURI HONDA1:04.7651:04.4291:04.23618
716Charles LeclercFERRARI1:04.7451:04.6461:04.47221
822Yuki TsunodaALPHATAURI HONDA1:04.6081:04.6311:04.51421
914Fernando AlonsoALPINE RENAULT1:04.9711:04.5821:04.57418
1018Lance StrollASTON MARTIN MERCEDES1:04.8211:04.6631:04.70818
1163George RussellWILLIAMS MERCEDES1:05.0331:04.67114
1255Carlos SainzFERRARI1:04.8591:04.80015
133Daniel RicciardoMCLAREN MERCEDES1:05.1421:04.80814
145Sebastian VettelASTON MARTIN MERCEDES1:05.0511:04.87515
1599Antonio GiovinazziALFA ROMEO RACING FERRARI1:05.0921:04.91317
166Nicholas LatifiWILLIAMS MERCEDES1:05.1759
1731Esteban OconALPINE RENAULT1:05.2176
187Kimi RäikkönenALFA ROMEO RACING FERRARI1:05.4298
1947Mick SchumacherHAAS FERRARI1:06.0418
209Nikita MazepinHAAS FERRARI1:06.1929
F1.com

Note – Bottas penalised three grid places for dangerous driving in the pit lane during practice.

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