Verstappen heads Red Bull one-two in sprint shootout in Austria

F1 Grand Prix, GP Austria, Red Bull Ring

Double world champion Max Verstappen led a Red Bull one-two in the short qualifying session for the afternoon’s sprint race. F1Technical’s senior journalist Balazs Szabo reports from the Red Bull Ring paddock.

The sprint shootout session started in difficult, slightly damp conditions, but it did not stop Max Verstappen from topping the second qualifying session this weekend, this time the one that will determine the starting grid for the afternoon’s 100km dash.

After a disappointing showing yesterday, Sergio Perez bounced back today to take second on the grid, beating McLaren driver Lando Norris and Haas racer Nico Hulkenberg.

Ferrari displayed encouraging pace again, but Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc took only fifth and sixth respectively. The Monegasque appeared to struggle for pace, having issues on the low grip track just as in the qualifying session at the Canadian Grand Prix that took place in similar conditions two weeks ago.

Mercedes had a shocker of a qualifying with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton finishing down in P15 and P18 respectively. The one-time race winner made it through into Q2, but he encountered technical issues which prevented him from taking part in the second part of the shootout.

The seven-time world champion missed out on a progression in Q1 as he had a lap deleted for track limits, before traffic ruined his final effort of SQ1.