Max Verstappen seals sprint race pole position ahead of Austrian Grand Prix

REUTERS

Red Bull's Max Verstappen will start on pole position for Saturday's Sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Verstappen edged out Charles Leclerc by just 0.029 second. It was Verstappen’s third pole on the bounce at the Red Bull Ring.

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, who took his first Formula One win less than a week ago in Silverstone, will start third on Saturday in a race that determines the starting grid for Sunday's grand prix.

Hamilton and Russell triggered a tense final two minutes of action after bringing out red flags in quick succession during the decisive final phase.

Hamilton's car snapped out of control and speared off into the turn seven barriers while Russell suffered a similar fate minutes later into turn nine. Hamilton will start 10th with Russell fifth.

"With the red flags, it was a very long wait and that is never great when you are in a rhythm," said Verstappen. "At the end, it was a tight qualifying and it is a challenging track to get right.

"I was very happy with pole but I know it is tomorrow and Sunday you get the points."

Additional reporting by Reuters.

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