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F1 LIVE | Verstappen and Norris make contact in the closing stages
It's the second race of the first triple-header of the 2024 Formula 1 season, and it is the Austrian Grand Prix. Max Verstappen has dominated this weekend, the third sprint race of the season, earning sprint race victory after starting on pole, and he starts today's race from P1. The Dutchman was four-tenths clear of Lando Norris in second in a sublime showing, with George Russell and Carlos Sainz locking out the second row. Can anyone stop Verstappen in front of the 'Orange Army'? Follow the liveblog below for all the important updates during the race at the Red Bull Ring.
F1 LIVE | The 2024 Austrian Grand Prix
Verstappen victorious in qualifying
Max Verstappen showed his class in qualifying for Sunday's race, finding extra pace where no one else could in front of the 'Orange Army' in Austria. He finished nearly half a second clear of anyone else when the chequered flag fell at the end of Q3, with Lando Norris in the McLaren the only driver to be within five-tenths of the dominating Dutchman.
George Russell and Carlos Sainz lock out the second row in P3 and P4, respectively, with teammate Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc qualifying right behind them in fifth and sixth place. Norris' teammate Oscar Piastri was meant to start in third place, but his lap time was deleted after he was judged to have track extended, a key theme of last year's Austrian Grand Prix. McLaren lodged a complaint and tried to reinstate the Australian's lap, but it was to no avail, and he will start in P7.
It was another disappointing showing from Sergio Perez too. While his teammate took a fantastic pole position, the Mexican did not have any new tyres to use in Q3, meaning he fell way down the order and could only muster eighth place. Nico Hulkenberg had yet another brilliant qualifying performance as he put his Haas in P9, and the Alpine of Esteban Ocon rounded out the top ten.
The weekend so far
The Red Bull Ring has played host to the third sprint race of the 2024 season, and Verstappen has totally controlled proceedings. After finishing two-tenths clear in the only free practice session of the weekend, the three-time World Champion took the sprint race pole ahead of Norris, but only by +0.093 seconds.
Saturday's sprint race was a close battle between Verstappen, Norris and Piastri, with the Red Bull driver coming under attack as a result of the triple DRS activation zones around the track. However, after making a move on Norris just one corner later after the Brit took the lead, Verstappen held on and drove away from the McLaren drivers, taking victory, but only after coming under pressure in the process.
However, there was little pressure in qualifying, with Verstappen sending his fans crazy with his fantastic qualifying performance, along with Red Bull fans at their home race. Will anybody be able to close the gap to the Dutchman in Sunday's race? Or will Verstappen make it three race wins in a row before the British Grand Prix next weekend?