Austrian GP Qualifying: Max Verstappen takes pole after Lewis Hamilton and George Russell crash

Lewis Hamilton crashed out at Turn 7 before George Russell went off at final corner, both causing red flags and ending pole hopes; Max Verstappen snatched pole from Charles Leclerc on last lap; Grid now set for Saturday’s Sprint – watch live on Sky Sports F1 at 3.30pm

Max Verstappen took pole in Austrian GP qualifying as both Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell dramatically crashed out in Q3 to ruin what appeared genuine chances of battling for the top positions.

With drivers fighting for grid places for Saturday’s Sprint race, Hamilton looked to have pace to compete for pole but lost control of his Mercedes car into Turn 7 and went skidding over the gravel and into the barriers.

With no time on the board, Hamilton will start only 10th in the Sprint.

Remarkably, Russell then caused another red flag on his next flying lap as he spun off into the barriers at the final corner, prompting anguish down in the Mercedes garage as they missed out on a huge opportunity.

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A terrible day for Mercedes as minutes after Lewis Hamilton crashed George Russell followed during Q3 at the Austrian Grand Prix

Those stoppages left just two minutes on the clock and time for one final flying lap for the remaining eight drivers.

Verstappen was leading heading into a chaotic finale but Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz both went faster than the Red Bull on their laps to raise Ferrari hopes of a one-two.

However, Verstappen kept his nerve on his last lap to post a 1:04.9, just 29 thousandths of a second quicker than Leclerc.

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Max Verstappen snatches the pole position back from Charles Leclerc inches away from the finishing line which will see him starting first in the sprint tomorrow at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Verstappen’s lap led to a huge reaction from his Dutch orange army at Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring, while many of the crowd also were cheering Hamilton’s crash.

Sergio Perez claimed fourth for Red Bull but will report to stewards after the session for an alleged track limits breach when squeaking through Q2.

That may lead to Russell gaining a place from the fifth he had managed to secure before his crash.

Austrian GP: Qualifying Result, Top 10
1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
3) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
4) Sergio Perez, Red Bull*
5) George Russell, Mercedes
6) Esteban Ocon, Alpine
7) Kevin Magnussen, Haas
8) Mick Schumacher, Haas
9) Fernando Alonso, Alpine
10) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

More to follow.