Russell snatches Austria pole amid confusion after Verstappen crash

George Russell claimed pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix after a confusing finish to qualifying when Max Verstappen crashed.

Verstappen spun into the barriers at high speed on the last runs in Q3 and caused yellow flags, which usually means other drivers cannot improve their lap time as they need to slow down through the accident zone.

However, Russell lifted off the throttle and still went fastest to beat Charles Leclerc to pole, then was cleared by the FIA for a yellow-flag infringement.

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Footage showed only a single yellow flag was being waved when Russell went past Verstappen's crashed Red Bull, which changed to double yellow flags before he reached the finish line to set his pole-setting time.

Russell will have the Ferraris of Leclerc in second and Lewis Hamilton in third on his tail, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli in fourth.

Antonelli, who was fastest after the first runs in Q3, elected to lift off and abandon his lap when he saw the yellow flags and now faces the prospect of his two closest championship rivals starting ahead of him.

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The Italian teenager is 41 points ahead of Hamilton and 50 points in front of Russell, who has now taken back-to-back pole positions.

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Verstappen will start fifth after his strong opening lap in Q3, while McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will be disappointed to only be sixth and seventh respectively.

More to follow...

Austrian GP Qualifying Timesheet

Driver

Team

Time

1) George Russell

Mercedes

1:06.113

2) Charles Leclerc

Ferrari

+0.236

3) Lewis Hamilton

Ferrari

+0.295

4) Kimi Antonelli

Mercedes

+0.301

5) Max Verstappen

Red Bull

+0.362

6) Lando Norris

McLaren

+0.389

7) Oscar Piastri

McLaren

+0.398

8) Isack Hadjar

Red Bull

+0.519

9) Liam Lawson

Racing Bulls

+0.842

10) Arvid Lindblad

Racing Bulls

+0.894

Knocked out in Q2

11) Pierre Gasly

Alpine

1:07.223

12) Gabriel Bortoleto

Audi

1:07.293

13) Oliver Bearman

Haas

1:07.523

14) Nico Hulkenberg

Audi

1:07.611

15) Esteban Ocon

Haas

1:07.817

16) Franco Colapinto

Alpine

1:08.171

Knocked out in Q1

17) Carlos Sainz

Williams

1:08.252

18) Alex Albon

Williams

1:08.509

19) Sergio Perez

Cadillac

1:08.945

20) Valtteri Bottas

Cadillac

1:09.030

21) Fernando Alonso

Aston Martin

1:09.942

22) Lance Stroll

Aston Martin

1:10.363

Sky Sports F1's live Austrian GP schedule

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Sunday June 28

7.35am: F3 Feature Race

9.05am: F2 Feature Race

10.50am: Porsche Supercup

12.30pm: Austrian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*

2pm: THE AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX*

4pm: Austrian GP reaction: Chequered Flag

5pm: Ted's Notebook

*Also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1's European season continues with the Austrian Grand Prix lights out on Sunday at 2pm, build-up from 12.30pm, live on Sky Sports F1 and Main Event. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime