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Max Verstappen pipped Lando Norris to pole for Saturday morning’s Sprint race at the Austrian GP as F1 2024’s top two continued their increasingly close battle for supremacy in F1.

Verstappen topped all three segments of Sprint Qualifying, the first two from Mercedes’ George Russell, at his team’s home Red Bull Ring but was pushed all the way by Norris in the decisive SQ3 session with the Dutch driver eventually winning out by a mere 0.093s.

Russell was eventually shuffled down to fourth by the second McLaren of Oscar Piastri, who will start third, but Lewis Hamilton experienced a difficult session and is only sixth in the other Mercedes.

But it was worse news for Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc who wound up 10th after an issue on his Ferrari meant he ran out of time to complete a final lap.

With all 10 of the SQ3 runners leaving their exits from the pit lane as late as possible, Leclerc’s SF-24 went in to anti-stall soon after he left the team’s garage and, although he was able to get going again and join the track, he failed to beat the chequered flag as he rounded the final corner of his out lap.

More to follow…

Sky Sports F1’s live Austrian GP schedule

Saturday June 29
8.25am: F3 Sprint
10am: Austrian GP Sprint (race starts at 11am)*
12.25pm: F2 Sprint
2pm: Austrian GP Qualifying build-up
3pm: Austrian GP Qualifying
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook

Sunday June 30
7.25am: F3 Feature Race
8.55am: F2 Feature Race
12:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Austrian GP build-up*
2pm: The AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered Flag: Austrian GP reaction*
5pm: Ted’s Notebook

*also live on Sky Sports Main Event

F1’s triple-header continues at the Austrian Grand Prix with the Sprint format at the Red Bull Ring. Watch every session live on Sky Sports F1, with Sunday’s big race at 2pm. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime