Austrian Grand Prix qualifying: Russell claims dramatic pole after late Verstappen crash

Austrian Grand Prix qualifying: Russell claims pole after late Verstappen crash Last updated 27 June 2026 4:50pm BST Save Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source Add us as preferred source Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Mercedes driver George Russell had to wait to discover whether his lap time would stand after Max Verstappen crashed on his flying lap Credit: Anna Szilagyi/Shutterstock Tom Cary Senior Sports Correspondent, in Spielberg. Kieran Crichard live updates Last updated 27 June 2026 4:50pm BST Save Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source Add us as preferred source Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email George Russell took a dramatic pole for Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix but faced an anxious wait for it to be confirmed after Max Verstappen’s late crash led to widespread confusion. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton had set the pace with their final runs in Q3. But Red Bull’s Verstappen and both the Mercedes drivers were still tearing around the track in an attempt to go faster when Verstappen lost the rear of his car at turn nine and careered into the barriers. This is the dramatic moment that ended Max Verstappen's Q3! 😱💥#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/b64MHhGQGR — Formula 1 (@F1) June 27, 2026 The yellow flags came out immediately, but it was unclear whether they were single or double-waved yellows for Russell, who crossed the line two tenths up on Leclerc having lifted in the final corner. Russell celebrated as if he had taken pole, but then faced an anxious wait before stewards decided there was no investigation necessary. “I feel incredible,” he said before his pole was confirmed. “It was such an amazing lap. It was a big lift [in the final corner]. I was five tenths up when I into the last corner, and ended up two and a half tenths up. It was a single yellow rather than a double so [the pole] should be okay. I lifted 100m before the final corner.” More to follow... Latest updates Tom Cary Senior Sports Correspondent, in Spielberg. Kieran Crichard live updates 4:42PM How they will line up tomorrow Link copied to clipboard Russell and Leclerc on the front row! 😎 The grid is set at the Red Bull Ring 👌#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/3genysCKPK — Formula 1 (@F1) June 27, 2026 4:42PM Kimi Antonelli speaking to Sky Sports Link copied to clipboard “I do not know why, but I thought it was a double yellow, so I aborted completely and missed the front row. I should not have done that. That was my mistake. “It would have been very close with George [Russell]. There was only a tenth between us. He would have been a little bit ahead, but still I would have been front row, so a shame for that. “We will try to do our best. For sure, it is not going to be easy, especially with tyres. There is a lot to play for. Degradation is going to be high and we will try to do our best.” 4:38PM Max Verstappen speaking after his crash Link copied to clipboard “In that lap, on turn six, there was a big moment on entry. It is a bit weird as I have not had something like that all weekend. Then, in turn nine, it was immediately gone. Not a small correction but full-lock off. That is a bit odd, so we will have look. “It is a shame as realistically we could have been P3. But getting off the line is hard for us so even P3 we might drop to P5. There are still some things we want to understand from the package, some that worked well and some not so well, and work from there.” 4:25PM The top ten (still provisional) Link copied to clipboard George Russell (Mercedes) 1:06.113Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.236Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +0.295Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +0.301Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.362Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.389Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.398Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) +0.519Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) +0.842Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) +0.894 4:22PM Toto Wolff speaking to Sky Sports Link copied to clipboard “It was a 100 metre lift, single yellow. A 100m lift of George Russell loses a tenth and a half. It is completely on. It was a massive lift. Well done to George for how he managed it. I am proud. I think Kimi Antonelli was under the impression it was a double yellow.” 4:20PM Lewis Hamilton, who will start third Link copied to clipboard “To have the two Ferraris second and third is fantastic and a reflection of the amazing work being done back at the factory. “They really are continuing to push. They brought small bits here and worked hard to upgrade the car. It is really starting to pay off. I made a mistake in Q3 and did not get the first lap but I am really happy.” 4:18PM Charles Leclerc, who as it stands will start second Link copied to clipboard “I am relatively happy about today. Of course the last few weekends have been quite tough, so I just wanted to have a clean weekend and most of all a clean qualifying to start well fro tomorrow. To start second is a good place. The team have been pushing massively to bring upgrades in Barcelona and again this weekend, and that pays off. “If I am completely honest, I did not think we would be starting on the front row until qualifying really, so it is a good surprise that we are so far up.” 4:15PM George Russell, who is provisionally on pole Link copied to clipboard “I feel incredible. It was an amazing lap. I saw the yellow, I had a big lift into the corner, went in in five tenths up and came out two and a half tenths up. “It was a single yellow and should be okay. Everything felt sweet and I am really proud of the job we all did.” Will George Russell’s pole stand? Credit: Mark Thompson/Getty Images 4:10PM Top five Link copied to clipboard George Russell (Mercedes)Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)Max Verstappen (Red Bull)This is all still provisional; will Russell keep it or will that lap count? 4:06PM Russell “provisionally” on pole Link copied to clipboard The Briton, as it stands, will start on pole for tomorrow’s race but that result is still very much provisional. Russell has claimed that it was only a single yellow flag waving when he passed the crash site of Verstappen’s crash and lifted off so he thinks he will retain the pole position. 4:02PM Verstappen crashes Link copied to clipboard The Dutchman has had a big crash at turn nine, losing the back-end of the car and flying into the barriers! The yellow flags are out, which will surely mean that the two Ferraris will be on the front row as Russell and Antonelli were behind Verstappen. Somehow Russell has gone fastest despite being behind the crash. Will that stand? Surely it will not as Russell came past the crash of Verstappen. MAX VERSTAPPEN IS INTO THE WALL!! 😱#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/4xro1C2mq4 — Formula 1 (@F1) June 27, 2026 This is the dramatic moment that ended Max Verstappen's Q3! 😱💥#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/b64MHhGQGR — Formula 1 (@F1) June 27, 2026 4:01PM Fast times everywhere Link copied to clipboard Hamilton is fastest in the middle sector, Leclerc is quickest in the first. Hamilton comes across the line at the top of the timesheets but is then displaced by Leclerc. Norris and Piastri can only go sixth and seventh respectively for McLaren. What of Verstappen, Antonelli and Russell? 3:58PM Heading back out Link copied to clipboard The top three; Antonelli, Russell and Verstappen, are the final three to go out for the second and final attempts in Q3. 3:57PM Top five going into second attempts Link copied to clipboard Antonelli 1:06.414Russell +0.043Verstappen +0.061Piastri +0.271Leclerc +0.342 3:55PM Antonelli fastest on first flying laps Link copied to clipboard Norris goes top of the timesheets but it does not last long as Verstappen goes nearly half a second faster. Piastri then goes in between Verstappen and Norris. What of the two Ferraris? Leclerc is third but Hamilton has backed out and returned to the pits. Hamilton went too deep into turn three and wanted to do another lap on those tyres but Ferrari bring him back in. Antonelli then comes across the line and goes quickly. Russell is then just four hundredths off his teammate. Under a tenth covers Antonelli, Russell and Verstappen. 3:50PM First attempts Link copied to clipboard After waiting a few minutes into Q3, now come the heavy hitters as they go out for their first flying laps in this final part of qualifying. Norris will be the first man to set a time. The two Mercedes drivers will be the final two to cross the line on these first attempts. 3:49PM Risk pays off Link copied to clipboard Max Verstappen just scraped into Q2 but what it has meant is that the Dutchman now has two new sets of softs coming into Q3, having entered qualifying today with three. 3:47PM Time for Q3! Link copied to clipboard So, here comes the shootout for pole position in the Styrian Hills. You would probably say that the Mercedes of Antonelli is just favourite but the two McLarens look punchy and you cannot count out the Ferraris. Russell has looked a bit off the pace and then can you completely count out Verstappen? 3:45PM Top six in Q2 Link copied to clipboard AntonelliPiastriNorrisRussellHamiltonLeclerc 3:42PM Bottom six in Q2 Link copied to clipboard 11. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) 12. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) 13. Oliver Bearman (Haas) 14. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) 15. Esteban Ocon (Haas) 16. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) 3:41PM Verstappen safe, just! Link copied to clipboard Gasly has the chance to knock Verstappen out but is four hundredths off a second. Huge sighs of relief in the Red Bull garage. They might say it was all part of the plan but that was so close. Verstappen just scrapes through into Q3 by only four hundredths of a second from Gasly! 😮‍💨🤏#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/WMg9x6uDdo — Formula 1 (@F1) June 27, 2026 3:40PM Taking a risk? Link copied to clipboard Verstappen is currently seventh and has not gone out at the end of Q2. He is then displaced by Hadjar and then the two Racing Bulls of Lawson and Lindblad. He is tenth so have Red Bull taken an unnecessary risk or called it correctly? 3:37PM Laps needed Link copied to clipboard Russell’s first sector is not the best but ends up in fourth by the time he reaches the line. Norris meanwhile went fastest in the middle sector and comes across the line in third. 3:36PM Bottom six with four minutes remaining Link copied to clipboard 11. Bortoleto 12. Colapinto 13. Bearman 14. Hulkenberg 15. Ocon 16. Russell Russell has gone out promptly as has Norris. Toto Wolff has come over the team radio to tell Russell “Just drive”. What caused Toto to say that? Interesting! 3:34PM Antonelli quickest Link copied to clipboard The championship leader is the one to set the pace in the first runs of Q2, ahead of the McLaren of Piastri. Then come the two Ferraris, who are separated by 0.009 seconds. Verstappen and Hadjar are fifth and sixth respectively, with Norris seventh. The Mercedes of Russell abandoned his first effort and returns to the garage without setting a time so the pressure is on his next lap. 3:30PM Norris sets first time in Q2 Link copied to clipboard Norris has the track to himself and sets a 1:07.321, slightly slower than his best lap time in Q1 but these are used softs.  3:27PM News from McLaren Link copied to clipboard Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz is reporting that it is kerb damage to Norris’ car that the team has said is repairable. Norris is though the first man out on track in Q2, perhaps to see whether the damage is fixed. The defending world champion is out on a used set of softs. 3:25PM Q2 under way Link copied to clipboard The green light is showing at the end of the pit lane. But it is hardly a stampede out of the garages with no-one yet heading out. 3:21PM Six drivers out in Q1 Link copied to clipboard 17. Carlos Sainz (Williams) 18. Alex Albon (Williams) 19. Sergio Perez (Cadillac) 20. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) 21. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) 22. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) 3:19PM Both Williams out Link copied to clipboard Ocon was in the danger zone but gets himself out for now. Then so does Sainz but others are improving, which includes Lindblad. Sainz’s teammate Albon cannot improve and is out in Q1. The Audi of Hulkenberg gets himself out of the bottom six, which means that both Williams drivers are dumped out of Q1. 3:17PM Concern at McLaren? Link copied to clipboard Norris is safely into Q3 in second place at the moment but the mechanics in the McLaren garage are taking a closer look at the rear left of the car. Something to be concerned about for McLaren fans? 3:14PM Already safe? Link copied to clipboard Verstappen is fourth, just over three tenths off Antonelli, is currently safe by just over a second and is already out of the car so we can presume he will not be heading back out in Q1. He really should not be at any risk. His teammate Hadjar and Piastri have headed back out. 3:12PM Bottom six with five minutes left Link copied to clipboard 17. Sainz 18. Perez 19. Bottas 20. Ocon 21. Alonso 22. Stroll The two Aston Martins are a million miles off; the lap time is under 70 seconds yet they are more than three seconds off the fastest time of the session. They are also nearly one and a half seconds off Perez in the Cadillac. Dark, dark days at Aston Martin. 3:10PM Russell back out Link copied to clipboard The Briton was the first of the big hitters to set a lap time but is eighth, over seven tenths off his teammate. He improves from his personal best in the middle and final sectors but is still eighth and half a second down on Antonelli. 3:08PM Antonelli looking fast Link copied to clipboard Championship leader Antonelli is a touch down in sector one but has set a purple middle sector. What of his final sector? The answer is another purple sector and he goes quickest by just under two tenths. 3:07PM Norris quickest Link copied to clipboard Russell comes across the line in a time of a 1:07.811 and now we wait for the other big hitters to post their first times in this qualifying session. Norris has now gone to the top of the timesheets ahead Hamilton and then the two Red Bulls. Russell has dropped down to seventh as we await Antonelli’s first effort. 3:02PM Different plans Link copied to clipboard Mercedes have sent Russell out fairly early into Q1 but Antonelli has remained in the garage. The big teams have mostly stayed in the garage other than Russell. 3:00PM Go, go, go! Link copied to clipboard The green light is showing at the end of the pit lane and Q1 is officially under way. Ocon in the Haas is first man out followed by the two Cadillac drivers, although both Bottas and Perez have a challenge getting out and need to be wheeled back a touch so they do not hit the pit wall. 2:58PM Who will take pole? Link copied to clipboard I think as many as seven drivers could take top spot in qualifying; the Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren pairs as well as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. 2:55PM Five-minute klaxon Link copied to clipboard We are just moments away from the start of qualifying in Austria. Something to watch out for in Austria is traffic, especially in Q1 with 22 drivers now on the grid. With a flying lap time being just under 70 seconds, traffic could be problematic. 2:49PM Jamie Chadwick on Sky Sports Link copied to clipboard “That one lap [George] Russell was faster than Kimi [Antonelli in FP3] but every lap and every practice session before then it looked like Kimi had the measure of him. “Clearly whatever set-up changes Mercedes made, he was happy with as it looks hard work to put a lap together here. George needed that but to do that one lap needed for pole position is going to be the challenge for everyone.” 2:41PM Karun Chandhok on Lewis Hamilton’s win in Spain Link copied to clipboard “I think it was absolutely massive. For Lewis Hamilton to win at Ferrari and on merit, they had a car that was as fast as Mercedes. I love the little nod to history. The fact he won it at Barcelona, where Michael Schumacher won his first race. And that was not lost on Ferrari. They see this as a moment Lewis is coming to resurrect there chances, like Michael did.” 2:38PM Russell dismisses chance of Verstappen moving to Mercedes Link copied to clipboard George Russell has dismissed any chance of Max Verstappen moving to Mercedes next year, insisting he is “100 per cent” staying with the team, adding “it’s not even a question”. Speculation that the four-time world champion might ditch Red Bull for Mercedes has been ongoing for well over a year and has gained even more traction this season with Red Bull enduring a tricky start to their campaign. Verstappen is understood to have a clause in his contract allowing him to walk away from Red Bull if he is outside the top two in the drivers’ standings by the summer break. He is currently seventh. 2:32PM Stunning Styrian Hills! Link copied to clipboard Nothing quite beats the feeling you get at this moment! 😎✨#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/dhJhOIdfKT — Formula 1 (@F1) June 27, 2026 2:29PM Last five pole positions in Austria Link copied to clipboard 2025- Lando Norris (McLaren) 2024- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 2023- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 2022- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 2021- Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 2:24PM No changes at Mercedes for 2027? Link copied to clipboard Kimi and George locked in 😮‍💨 Toto Wolff does not intend to change the driver line-up at Mercedes for 2027, he told @SkySportsF1 🗣️#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/7W2oZedMAW — Formula 1 (@F1) June 27, 2026 2:19PM Top five in the constructors’ standings Link copied to clipboard Mercedes- 262 pointsFerrari- 190 pointsMcLaren- 141 pointsRed Bull- 89 pointsAlpine- 57 points 2:14PM Hamilton has his mojo back and an eighth world title is no pipe dream Link copied to clipboard If Lewis Hamilton needed any reminder of the enormity of what he achieved with his first victory for Ferrari in Catalonia two weeks ago, it arrived when he touched back down in Italy after the race. “Landing at the airport I could see how important it was, even for the police officers in immigration,” Hamilton recalled this week, smiling. “They were the first Italians I saw. Then at the factory everybody was just so happy. The energy felt higher for sure.” Hamilton’s win in Spain produced some great statistics. In winning the 106th race of his career, extending his own all-time record, the 41-year-old became F1’s oldest winner since 1970 and the first F1 driver to win a race in his forties since 1994. The 19-year gap between Hamilton’s first and last wins in F1 was also by far the longest of any driver. 2:08PM Top five in the drivers’ standings Link copied to clipboard Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)- 156 pointsLewis Hamilton (Ferrari)- 115 pointsGeorge Russell (Mercedes)- 106 pointsCharles Leclerc (Ferrari)- 75 pointsLando Norris (McLaren)- 73 points 2:04PM Top ten in final practice earlier today Link copied to clipboard George Russell (Mercedes) - 1:07.096Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +0.038Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +0.115Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.248Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.264Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.273Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.356Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) +0.816Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) +0.935Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) +1.013It is a short track in Austria so you would not expect the gaps to be large but still under four tenths of a second between George Russell in first and Charles Leclerc in seventh. 1:59PM Who will take pole in Spielberg? Link copied to clipboard Formula One heads to the Styrian Hills in Austria for round eight of the world championship, which was blown wide open in Barcelona two weeks ago. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton claimed his maiden race victory at Ferrari and first win since the Belgium Grand Prix in 2024. Not only that but championship leader Kimi Antonelli was forced to retire late on, which has cut into Antonelli’s lead. The young Italian takes a 41-point advantage into this weekend having led by 66 points going into the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix. Antonelli topped both practice sessions on Friday before his teammate George Russell was fastest in third and final practice earlier today, just ahead of Antonelli. Speaking on Friday after the first two practice sessions, Russell appeared to be concerned about McLaren’s pace not just on one lap but also across the race. Lewis Hamilton won in Barcelona last time out Credit: Clive Mason/Getty Images “FP1 was a very strong session for us both, we looked really good, and then straight out of the blocks in FP2, McLaren looked flying,” Russell said. “It was a disrupted session on my side, but their race pace, their single lap pace looks pretty decent. I think it was more everyone else had a pretty troubled [FP1] session. Every time I saw the TV screens it was drivers in the garage with problems. Lando [Norris] only got out at the end, I think Lewis had some problems, Max [Verstappen] had some problems. So, I think that probably flattered our pace a bit in FP1, but things were feeling good. It was a real surprise just seeing that first lap of the McLarens in P2, just right at the top. And their race pace, especially on Lando’s side looked a bit better than us.” Lando Norris took pole here last year and went on to win the race ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri. McLaren, who have yet to register their first win of the season, are one of a number of teams that have brought upgrades for this weekend. Piastri felt his team had a good Friday but still believes the advantage currently lies with Mercedes. “It was a pretty good day,” Piastri said. “We were a step behind Mercedes, or at least Kimi, which we expected. I think for Kimi to do that kind of time on his second lap on the soft is quite impressive, so we will have to wait and see. We cannot invent anything overnight, but there is definitely going to be areas for probably both of us to learn from each other, so we will just try to apply those bits and see where we end up.” Championship leader Kimi Antonelli has shown good pace so far this weekend Credit: Lisa Leutner/Reuters This weekend’s Grand Prix has been declared a heat-hazard race due to the heatwave across Europe, which means that drivers can use a mandated cooling kit that flows cooled liquid through a system of pipers in a fireproof top worn under their overalls. Qualifying from Austria gets under way at 3pm.