© Getty images2024 Austrian Grand Prix - Friday ReportMax claims pole for sprint race with a thrilling SQ3 session
MaxVerstappenwillstartSaturday’ssprintraceonpoleafterafantasticSQ3sessionthatsawall10driverscompletelyaone-lapsessiontobattleitout.Checowillstarttomorrow’sraceinP7afterhewashinderedbyEstebanOcononhispushlap.
Max Verstappen overcame his car stopping on track to take the top spot on the timesheet in the weekend’s only Practice session, whilst Sergio Pérez had to settle for P12, as he was hindered by traffic when on his flying lap on softs.
Both Max and Checo started the session on the medium tyres, which, for the Austrian Grand Prix, will be the C4 compound. Making the soft tyre the C5 – the softest tyre Pirelli offer.
Max completed three push laps, setting a time of 1:06.645, which, at that point, placed him in P1. Checo put in four flying laps and his fastest time was 1:06.783.
After time in the garage, Max went out on the same, yellow-walled tyres for his long run, but two laps in, his car slowed, and it seemed there was an issue with the power unit. As the red flags were waved, marshals were able to push the stricken RB20 back to the garage. Max said over the radio that he’d only changed the ‘high speed differential’ before the issue. With the Team concerned that it might be another power unit or a transmission issue, they were relieved that it was just an ‘electrical glitch’ and Max was able to get back out on track.
After the red flag, both Max and Checo were on their race simulation laps, Max completed four timed laps and Checo five.
The Bulls then bolted on a set of soft tyres each for their qualifying runs. Max came out flying, setting a time of 1:05.685 which saw him finish in P1. Oscar Piastri finished second, 0.276s behind Max and Charles Leclerc finished third, 0.370s slower than the Bull.
Checo was left frustrated when his push lap on the softs was hindered by traffic and he wasn’t able to improve his time, finishing the only practice session of the weekend in P12.
No Power Unit Issues Here© Getty Images
SQ1
Everyone played it cool in SQ1 with nobody in a hurry to head out on track. Mercedes showed their hand first and sent out Lewis Hamilton and George Russell onto the track. Lewis’ early time of 1:06.406 was deleted for exceeding track limits, showing that the stewards are keen to employ the rules straight away.
The Bulls went out on with seven minutes, of the 12-minute session remaining. Both were on the C4 medium tyre, which is mandated for SQ1 and SQ2. Max set a time of 1:05.690 placing him top of the timesheet. Checo stopped the clock at 1:06.256, placing him P6. His earlier time was the quickest in the session and saw him stay on top while George Russell finished behind the Bull in P2. Checo’s second push wasn’t quicker and he had to hope his earlier time was quicker enough, which it was. He went through in P8.
The drivers eliminated at the end of SQ1 were Zhou Guanyu, Alex Albon, Valtteri Bottas, Nico Hulkenberg and Daniel Ricciardo.
SQ2
Max and Checo both headed out straight away for the 10-minute SQ2 session. Max put in a flying lap of 1:05.186, which put him in P1 at that point in the session. He went straight back to the pits to see how the rest of the session would play out. Checo’s time of 1:05.612 placed him in P2 at that point.
With five minutes remaining, Checo had dropped to P8. The seven drivers beneath him hadn’t set a time at that point, so as they headed out onto track, Checo joined them. He was green in the first sector, but it became clear that his rivals weren’t going to beat Checo’s time, so Hugh Bird came on the radio asking the Bull to abort the lap. Max stayed top, with George Russell in P2, 0.139s behind the Bull and Oscar Piastri was third. Checo remained in P8.
Eliminated from SQ2 was Logan Sargeant, Yuki Tsunoda, Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll and Kevin Magnussen
On The Edge© Getty Images
SQ3
After six minutes of nobody on track, SQ3 came alive with just moments remaining. All 10 cars headed out on track with under two minutes left on the clock. Charles Leclerc was unlucky that his engine cut out in the pitlane due to the anti-stall, and he was unable to set a lap time so will have to settle for tenth in tomorrow’s sprint. Max beat the chequered flag by 14 seconds and Checo by just two!
Oscar Piastri crossed the line and became the first driver to break the 1:05 time this weekend, setting a 1:04.987, putting him top. Lando Norris crossed the line next and beat his teammate. Max was close behind the two McLarens and when he crossed the timing beam, he had eclipsed Norris’ time by 0.093s to take the top spot on the timesheet with a 1:04.686. Nobody was able to improve on Max’s time, so the Bull will start the sprint race from pole.
Checo’s quick lap was hindered by the Alpine of Esteban Ocon, and he could only set a time of 1:06.008. The Mexican driver was visibly frustrated in his RB20 and his time set will see him start the sprint in P7.
Norris will line up alongside Max on the front row of the grid, followed by Piastri, George Russell, Carlos Sainz, Lewis Hamilton, Checo, Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly and Leclerc in P10.
Pole Secured Again!© Getty Images
Rank | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | 1 | Max Verstappen | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 1:05.685 | - |
2 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:05.961 | +0.276 |
3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:06.055 | +0.370 |
4 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 1:06.128 | +0.443 |
5 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:06.254 | +0.569 |
6 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | 1:06.297 | +0.612 |
7 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:06.384 | +0.699 |
8 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:06.386 | +0.701 |
9 | Yuki Tsunoda | Visa Cash App RB | 1:06.579 | +0.894 |
10 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:06.603 | +0.918 |
... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
12 | Sergio Pérez | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 1:06.783 | +1.098 |