Norris will start P2 for the very first time in his career, as he gave McLaren their first front row begin given that the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix, when Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button took second and first for the group.

The Dutchman failed to improve on his second run, setting up a tense finale as Norris behind him was going quicker. In the end, he missed out on out on a shock maiden pole by just 0.048 s, offering Verstappen his third consecutive P1 start and bringing his tally to four for 2021.

Sergio Perez enhanced to leap up into third in the 2nd Red Bull, which relegated Mercedes to the unusual positions of fourth and fifth respectively, with neither Hamilton nor Valtteri Bottas able to make any influence on the Red Bulls– and Norris– consistently great rate.

Max Verstappen took pole position at the Red Bull Ring for the 2nd weekend in a row as he warded off a shock threat from Lando Norris to take leading area on the grid for the Austrian Grand Prix.

Red Bulls Verstappen led the way throughout qualifying, topping the opening two sectors to head into Q3 as preferred for P1– and he set a competitive criteria, 0.2 s quicker than Norris.

1

Max
Verstappen
VER
Red Bull Racing

1:03.720

2

Lando
Norris
NOR
McLaren

1:03.768

3

Sergio
Perez
PER
Red Bull Racing

1:03.990

4

Lewis
Hamilton
HAM
Mercedes

1:04.014

5

Valtteri
Bottas
BOT
Mercedes

1:04.049

His sole Q3 lap was excellent, too, putting him ninth– one location ahead of Aston Martins Lance Stroll– to offer Williams their finest grid slot because Felipe Massa in the 2017 Brazilian Grand Prix.

Pierre Gasly continued his immense certifying form with 6th– his seventh leading six start this season and fifth in a row, with his AlphaTauri team mate Yuki Tsunoda tying his best-ever certifying performance with seventh.

Birthday boy Sebastian Vettel– 34 today– was the leading Aston Martin in 8th, nevertheless he might be in line for a grid penalty after baulking Fernando Alonso earlier in qualifying.

And it was a spectacular day for George Russell as the Briton not only made it into Q3 for the very first time in a Williams however he did so on the medium tyre, putting him in a strong position strategically for Sundays race.

Fourth is Hamiltons worst performance in Q3 at the Red Bull Ring because 2014, while it is the very first time Mercedes lost out on a leading three spot with either automobile in dry conditions considering that the 2017 Singapore Grand Prix.

Norris protected his best-ever F1 grid slot with 2nd on the grid, simply 0.048 s off pole

AS IT HAPPENED

Q1– Ocon and Raikkonen out early, as Ricciardo scrapes through

At the other end of the pack, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly were the unknown faces in the drop zone after the first runs, with Aston Martins Lance Stroll on the bubble to crank up the pressure.

The Dutchman warded off a strong challenge from Lando Norris, with Fernando Alonso slotting into second as a mix of soft and medium tyres were the substances of option.

Walk and Gasly responded well to see themselves through but while Ocon enhanced, it wasnt enough to prevent an early bath as he missed out by 0.07 s. Kimi Raikkonens qualifying woes continued, too, as he stopped working to make it through.

Knocked out: Raikkonen, Ocon, Latifi, Schumacher and Mazepin.

The drivers were dealt with to packed grandstands– primarily made up of orange-clad Verstappen fans– as they navigated the opening segment of certifying. And their hero provided plenty to smile about early doors as he shot to the top of the timesheets.

Red Bull have 2 automobiles in the top 3 at the Red Bull Ring for the very first time, with Verstappen on pole and Perez third

Q2– Russell goes through on the medium, as Verstappen impresses

Verstappen kept his area at the top, with Norris when again his closest opposition as he split the Red Bulls. Sebastian Vettel was fourth on the softs, with Hamilton the very best placed Mercedes in fifth, three tenths off the pace.

As he went back to the pits, everyone else headed out at the very same time, with the 14 chauffeurs scrambling for position to get some clear air ahead of the flying laps– with Leclerc and Verstappen going side by side at the top of the hill at Turn 3.

Red Bull, Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari decided to head out on the mediums– in a bid to start the race on the more long lasting rubber– with the rest taking the soft. It didnt work out for Ferrari, with Sainz and Leclerc 12th and 11th and in the drop zone together with Alonso, Ricciardo and Giovinazzi.

Perez had the track to himself as Q2 got underway, with the Mexican doing a decent lap on the medium tyres and stating on group radio that he hooked all of it up however simply did not have the tow.

2021 Austrian GP Qualifying: Sensational Russell commemorates reaching Q3

It proved to be an inspired relocation by the Briton and his Williams group as Russell went even quicker on the mediums clocking a lap that was excellent enough to make Q3 by simply 0.006 s. The Ferraris couldnt follow match, with Sainz and Leclerc dropping out in 12th and 11th, meaning there was no Ferrari in Q3 for the very first time considering that Bahrain last year.

As they headed back out for the 2nd runs, Ferrari decided to stick with the mediums– while Russell swapped softs for the mediums having apologised to his team for going too quick on the softs (as it was not the rubber he would want to begin the race on).

Ricciardo also stopped working to make it through, finishing 8 places behind team mate Norris, while Alonso was furious in 14th after getting baulked by Vettel at the final corner. The double world champion let rid on group radio and gesticulated extremely as he drove past a slowing Vettel, who himself raised his hand as an apology for getting in the way.

Up top, Verstappen maintained the quickest time but Hamilton and Bottas enhanced to 2nd and 3rd, ahead of Gasly and Norris.

Knocked out: Sainz, Leclerc, Ricciardo, Alonso, Giovinazzi

Neither Ferrari made it through to Q3

Q3– Verstappen takes pole as Mercedes obstacle fades

Verstappen might have set the early criteria, a number of tenths of a 2nd quicker than Norris, but the two Mercedes of Hamilton and Bottas were lurking simply a tenth further back after the first runs.

Perez improved to take third, making it 2 Red Bulls in the leading three for the very first time at the Red Bull Ring, as the Mercedes challenge faded, the Silver Arrow simply lacking the pace to contend for pole.

That left Norris with a possibility to take a shock pole, the McLaren driver fast all weekend and making gains on his second run to put him within a sniff of pole. But he ran a little broad at the last turn, which may well have actually cost him what would have been his first F1 pole.

It was Verstappen who went out first for the final run, with the group eager to offer him some clear air after he made a little mistake on his very first attempt. He didnt improve, with the Dutchman unhappy with the teams strategy, stating he would discuss it after the session.

Certifying Highlights: 2021 Austrian Grand Prix

The key quote

” Q1 and Q2 were smooth however in Q3 on the first lap, I locked up in Turn 3. It wasnt incredible. On the 2nd run I was the first vehicle and I lost time on the straights so couldnt enhance lap time even with a more regular turn 3. It was good enough for first but I desired more.”– Max Verstappen

The Austrian Grand Prix begins at 1500 regional time, which is 1300 UTC. Verstappen starts on pole for the third race in succession, however hes got an unknown face along with him in Norris. Will he be able to convert his P1 start or might competitors Mercedes be able to combat back?

” Q1 and Q2 were smooth but in Q3 on the first lap, I locked up in Turn 3. On the 2nd run I was the first car and I lost time on the straights so could not improve lap time even with a more typical turn 3.– Max Verstappen

Whats next?

The Austrian Grand Prix kicks off at 1500 local time, which is 1300 UTC. Verstappen begins on pole for the third race in succession, however hes got an unfamiliar face alongside him in Norris.