George Russell has secured pole position for tomorrow’s Austrian Grand Prix, following a controversial qualifying session. Russell claimed the top spot after Max Verstappen crashed, losing control of his car on a high-speed downhill section before the penultimate corner and hitting the barriers. Russell, who was following, did not slow down as much as expected because only a single yellow flag had been initially waved.
Antonelli, however, did slow down, believing it was a double yellow flag incident. Indeed, after the initial yellow flag, it changed to a double yellow, but this occurred after Antonelli and Russell had already passed the scene of the accident. Therefore, Russell cannot be penalized for infringing the double yellow flag rule.
Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix Qualifying Session Results:
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 20 laps – 1:06.113
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 15 laps – +0.236 (1:06.349)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 14 laps – +0.295 (1:06.408)
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 17 laps – +0.301 (1:06.414)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) – 11 laps – +0.362 (1:06.475)
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 15 laps – +0.389 (1:06.502)