Grand Prix of Austria: Verstappen’s “Auto Unfreellic”-Norris fetches Formula 1 pole

Formula 1 fans in Spielberg hoped in vain for a hammer round of Red Bull Local Matador Max Verstappen. A spin of Alpine pilot Pierre Gasly shortly before the end of the qualification for the Grand Prix of Austria destroyed a last attempt by the world champion on a quick round. Like World Cup leaders Oscar Piatri in the McLaren, Verstappen had to stop his attack due to a yellow flag.

For this, the WM second Lando Norris secured the pole position for the Red Bull home game on Sunday (3 p.m./Sky). With a lavish lead of 0.521 seconds, Piatri Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc’s team mate relegated to second place. For Norris it was the third pole this year and the twelfth overall. Piatri finished third with a gap of 0.583 seconds.

Norris is full after his Canada debacle

“It was a good round that is certain. My round in the third round was good, but I knew there were still a few places that I can improve,” said Norris after his strong performance in Styria. “I am very satisfied, it was a good day, a good weekend for me, and hopefully I can go on like this.”

Norris had experienced a disaster in Canada just two weeks ago. In the final phase, he had completely removed the race with Piatri during a self -inflicted crash. His teammate saved at least fourth to the finish. “Lando drives in his own dimension,” praised Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur on the TV station Sky to Norris’ Spielberg round.

Hülkenberg is annoyed by himself

The only German driver in the field, Nico Hülkenberg, cost the progress in curve four in the kick. The Rhinelander braked and landed in the disappointing last place after the first ko round.

“It was a stupid mistake from me,” said Hülkenberg. It is “pretty bitter”. The performance of his team -mate Gabriel Bortoleto showed what Hülkenberg would have been without this mistake. Because the Brazilian reached the last co-round for the first time and was able to take eights surprisingly.

Verstappen complains about his car

And with it was Bortoleto directly behind Verstappen, who has 43 points less than Piatri in the driver ranking. The four -time world champion, in the past four years in the fight for pole position on the Red Bull Ring, did not experience a disappointing starting place hunt. Not only because he had to cancel one last quick round.

“The car is completely wrong. It is worse than before. I don’t know what to say,” he said before. The tires on his Red Bull service car do not work the way the 27-year-old Dutch wants.

“Nothing worked in the qualification,” said Verstappen. “We lack five or six tenths against McLaren, that’s way too much.” According to his own assessment, it would only have been fourth with a successful last round.

Piatri was also disappointed, who leads the World Cup on Norris with a 22 -point lead. “Sometimes it’s just not your day,” said the Australian. Lando was very fast all weekend. “But I think we had enough pace in the car this weekend to stand in the front row. It’s always a shame if you can’t get the chance on the last round.”