Lando Norris storms to pole at Austrian Grand Prix while Verstappen slumps to seventh

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"Lando Norris Secures Pole Position at Austrian Grand Prix as Max Verstappen Struggles"

Lando Norris storms to pole at Austrian Grand Prix while Verstappen slumps to seventh analysis cover image The Guardian 8.6
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Original Article Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jun/28/lando-norris-storms-to-pole-at-austrian-grand-prix-while-verstappen-slumps-to-seventh
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Lando Norris secured pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix with an impressive lap time of 1:03.971, outperforming Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who finished second, and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, who took third place. This performance marked a significant comeback for Norris after his disappointing retirement in Canada, where he collided with Piastri, resulting in a setback in his championship aspirations. Norris's pole position is particularly crucial as he had fallen 22 points behind Piastri following the incident in Montreal. In Austria, he felt the weight of the previous mistake but also expressed a sense of growth and determination to minimize errors moving forward. The adjustments made to the McLaren car's front suspension and aero components seemed to enhance his comfort and control during qualifying, allowing him to dominate the sessions leading up to Q3.

In contrast, Max Verstappen, the reigning champion, faced significant challenges during qualifying, finishing seventh and expressing dissatisfaction with his car's lack of grip. Despite Red Bull's final major upgrade aimed at addressing ongoing balance issues, Verstappen struggled to find the pace, finishing nearly a second behind Norris. The qualifying session included a late yellow flag that disrupted the final runs of both Verstappen and Piastri. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell also performed well, finishing fourth and fifth respectively. The event has sparked renewed speculation about Verstappen's future, especially in light of comments from Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff about potential interest in signing the Dutch driver. Overall, Norris's performance at the Red Bull Ring has reinvigorated his title ambitions and showcased the McLaren team's progress in the competitive field of Formula 1.

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Source URL: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jun/28/lando-norris-storms-to-pole-at-austrian-grand-prix-while-verstappen-slumps-to-seventh

Lando Norris claimed pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix by half a second at the Red Bull Ring, beating Ferrari’sCharles Leclercinto second and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri into third.

It was the perfect comeback for the British driver after his disappointment at having to retire when hecrashed into Piastriat the last round in Canada. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was struggling for grip and finished in seventh. Lewis Hamilton was fourth for Ferrari and George Russell fifth for Mercedes.

For Norris this was just the result he required after his title hopes took a battering when he made the misjudged move against Piastri in Montreal, dropping him to 22 points behind the Australian.

At the Red Bull Ring this weekend Norris had insisted his error in Canada had ultimately resultedin a positive outcome, that he and the team emerged stronger now the seemingly unavoidable clash had finally happened. That is credible but it is inescapable that misjudgments like that in Canada could cost him the title. For all the psychological compartmentalising and rationalisations, that must weigh heavy.

He said in Montreal he knew he had to make fewer errors, a theme he returned to in Austria. “I’ve been making more mistakes and I’ve been behind,” he said. “That’s been clear. It’s very close between us and Oscar’s certainly been a bit more comfortable than I have this season, that’s the way it is and I’ve had to try to improve and step up more.” Certainly he did so in qualifying with a lap that was all but untouchable.

Notably theMcLarenteam principal, Andrea Stella, said the crash would have left Norris’s confidence bruised and that the team would rally round him. They are still seeking to find a way to adjust the car to suit him and their upgrades this weekend to the front aero, rear aero and, crucially for Norris, the front suspension, to improve the feel he has for the front of the car, look to have paid off.

Certainly Norris looked comfortable in qualifying, which has been his achilles heel this season. In Austria, it all appeared to come together and he looked in complete control from the off.

Norris had dominated the first two sessions of qualifying and while Piastri opened the running for the first hot laps in Q3, he managed only a tidy lap that was swiftly eclipsed by his teammate. Norris was quicker in all three sectors and over two-tenths up on the Australian on top of the time sheetsin 1min 04.268sec, while Verstappen struggled a six-tenths back in sixth.

For the final runs Russell improved, as did Leclerc, and Piastri knew he could do better but Norris once more looked confident. The British driver went quicker still through every sector with a lap of 1:03.971, half a second up on Leclerc, an absolute chasm. A late yellow flag when Pierre Gasly spun was costly for both Piastri and Verstappen, who both had to back off, with the Dutchman, struggling all afternoon, left almost a second back.

An unhappy Verstappen described his car as so lacking in grip in every type of corner that it was “completely undriveable”. The Dutchman will be dissatisfied by the result, especially afterRed Bullbrought what is likely to be their last major upgrade of the season to the race with a revision to the floor of the car it was hoped would help address the balance issues that have plagued it all year.

  1. Lando Norris (McLaren) 1min 03.971sec

  2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 1:04.492

  3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 1:04.554

  4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 1:04.582

  5. George Russell (Mercedes) 1:04.763

  6. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) 1:04.926

  7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 1:04.929

  8. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) 1:05.132

  9. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 1:05.276

  10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) 1:05.649

Q2

  1. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) 1:05.128

  2. Alex Albon (Williams) 1:05.205

  3. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) 1:05.226

  4. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) 1:05.288

  5. Oliver Bearman (Haas) 1:05.312

Q1

  1. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) 1:05.329

  2. Esteban Ocon (Haas) 1:05.364

  3. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) 1:05.369

  4. Carlos Sainz (Williams) 1:05.582

  5. Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber) 1:05.606

All of which will also fuel further speculation about the Dutchman’s future, which has already dominated this weekend, when the Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, confirmed that he was once more interested in persuading the world champion toleave Red Bull and join his team.

The second session was red-flagged for 10 minutes when, as had occurred in Japan earlier this season, trackside grass caught fire, ignited by the sparks from the titanium skid blocks beneath the car.

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Source: The Guardian