F1 LIVE | Qualifying for the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix

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F1 Live | Qualifying for 2024 Austrian Grand Prix
29 June at 14:00
Last update 29 June at 14:22
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  • Toby Nixon

After an exciting sprint race, it's time to qualify at the Red Bull Ring. Max Verstappen topped the timesheets in yesterday's sprint shootout. In front of thousands of the 'orange army' at Red Bull's home race, the championship leader will be looking to score the 40th pole of his career. Could the ever-present Lando Norris get the job done and spoil Red Bull's Spielberg party? His teammate Oscar Piastri is also on the pace, and Mercedes and Ferrari will be jockeying for position. Follow live updates from qualifying here.  

F1 LIVE | Austrian Grand Prix qualifying

The sprint shootout

Yesterday in qualifying for the sprint shootout, it was Max Verstappen who once again set the pace in his RB20. It was the eighth time in Verstappen's career he lined up in first place for the sprint. Although Red Bull has not been the dominant force it may have been in 2022 or 2023, Verstappen continues to demonstrate exactly why he is the best driver on the grid. The Dutchman has taken the last two victories with consistent and composed drives. Norris and Piastri showed why McLaren is the team to challenge Verstappen by taking P2 and P3, respectively, for the sprint race ahead of Russell in the Mercedes.

Sergio Perez struggled in comparison to his teammate once again. The Mexican lined up for the sprint race in seventh place and over a second behind his teammate after he complained Esteban Ocon blocked him on his final and decisive qualifying run. The Frenchman will start just one place behind his former teammate Perez. Carlos Sainz was the lead Ferrari in P5 and Charles Leclerc was unable to set a lap in SQ3. The SF-24 of the Monegasque had engine trouble in the pitlane. Once he got it going again, the Monaco Grand Prix winner didn't have time to get on the board as the chequered flag fell. The improved Alpine started the sprint from eighth and ninth, and the French team, in desperate need of some solid points, are hoping for another Q3 appearance today. 

The 2024 sprint format

The 2024 Austrian Grand Prix will be the third F1 sprint race of the season. As was the case in the first two sprint weekends, the sprint format will see one practice session on Friday, followed by qualifying for the sprint race. The sprint race will then be the first bit of on-track action on Saturday. The rest of the weekend then uses the traditional format of Formula 1 with Saturday afternoon qualifying and Sunday's Grand Prix. There are six sprint races at selected events of the 24-race strong calendar this year. The final three will take place at COTA, Interlagos and Qatar much later on in the season.