He had no competition. Dutch driver Max Verstappen won the qualification for the Formula 1 Styrian Grand Prix.
Darko Vojinovic, Reuters
–
“So far we are doing well and the car is very good. It was not easy to make a clean bike, because there was quite a lot of traffic on the track, but the first time was enough. I’m very happy that I managed to get pole position on the home track. it is clear that it will be very difficult in the race, “said Verstappen in a television interview.
The 23-year-old Dutchman, who leads the championship 12 points ahead of Hamilton, builds on his previous victory in Friday’s practice and tries to win the race on the track in Spielberg, just as he did in 2018 and 2019. The fastest time he was the only one to squeeze under a minute and four seconds, reached right at the first ride in the final section. He won the sixth pole position in his career, third this season and second in a row. His teammate Sergio Pérez will start the race thanks to a penalty for Bottas from fourth position.
Verstappen won the Styrian Grand Prix training, Bottas received a penalty
–
“It’s a pity of the penalty, it was a tight qualification. I lost in the second and third practice, but I already feel better in that car. We knew I was going to be penalized, so we tried to choose the best options for the final part. Tomorrow will be new day and we will try to attack Red Bull in the race, “Bottas promised.
Hamilton, who is defending last year’s victory in Styria, was unable to compete with Verstappen’s pace. Four races in a row are waiting for the start from the first place, the last time he succeeded in the May GP of Spain.
“Red Bull is very fast here so far. It wasn’t exactly a good time for me, but after penalizing Valtteri I got to the front row. I’ll do everything in the race to fight for success. Although I don’t think we would be fast enough to overtake Red Bull, I believe we can keep up with them, “Hamilton said.
Pierre Gasly and Júki Cunoda from AlphaTauri also managed to get into the top ten, starting from the sixth and eighth place respectively. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll is in tenth place, with teammate Sebastian Vettel starting 14th.
Nicolas Latifi from Williams and Esteban Ocon from Alpine, who was third in Friday’s second practice, did not fight through the first part. The sixteenth Latifi was only less than seven-tenths of a second apart from the fastest Verstappen in the opening section.
The Styrian Grand Prix starts on Sunday at 15:00.
| Qualification for the Styria Grand Prix, Formula 1 World Championship race in Spielberg: |
| 1. Verstappen (Niz./Red Bull) 1:03,841 |
| 2. Bottas (Fin./Mercedes) -0.194 |
| 3. Hamilton (Brit./Mercedes) -0,226 |
| 4. Norris (Brit./McLaren) -0,279 |
| 5. Pérez (Mex./Red Bull) -0.327 |
| 6. Gasly (Fr./AlphaTauri) -0,395 |
| 7. Leclerc (Mon./Ferrari) -0,631 |
| 8. Cunoda (Jap./AlphaTauri) -0673 |
| 9. Alonso (Šp./Alpine) -0,733 |
| 10. Stroll (Kan./Aston Martin) -0,867 |
| Note: Bottase is waiting for the loss of three places at the start of the race due to a penalty. |
– .
