Lando Norris Claims Pole Position for Austrian Grand Prix, Ending Verstappen’s Streak
Lando Norris delivered a stunning performance to secure pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix, breaking Max Verstappen’s dominance in qualifying at the Red Bull Ring. The McLaren driver clocked an impressive lap time of 1:03.971, finishing 0.521 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, while his teammate and championship leader, Oscar Piastri, took third.
Norris, who is currently 22 points behind Piastri in the drivers’ standings, showcased his speed and talent, overcoming any lingering effects from a collision with Piastri in Canada two weeks prior. “It was a good lap, that’s for sure,” said Norris. “I was able to find more time each session, and I executed my plan perfectly.”
This pole position marks Norris’s first in Austria, his third of the season, and the 12th of his career. Verstappen, who had claimed pole at the Red Bull Ring for the past five races, finished seventh after being unable to complete a flying lap due to a yellow flag caused by Pierre Gasly’s spin.
Piastri, who was disappointed by his own qualifying performance, noted, “I had Gasly spin at the first corner, so I didn’t even open my second lap. Lando’s been very quick all weekend, and it would have been a tough challenge, but we had the pace to be on the front row.”
Leclerc expressed his satisfaction with qualifying, stating, “It’s been a long time since we started on the front row. We brought some new parts this weekend that made a difference, and I hope we can pressure the McLarens more during the race.”
The top four spots were rounded out by seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in fourth and Mercedes teammate George Russell in fifth. The session was competitive, with the entire field separated by less than a second, highlighting the tight racing conditions.
As the temperatures soared to 32°C air and 48°C track, teams faced challenges with tire performance. Verstappen reported issues with grip, stating, “No grip, it’s worse than before. I don’t know what to say!”
