Verstappen takes pole position for Styrian Grand Prix

Spielberg, Austria, Jun 26 (EFE).- Dutch Formula One driver Max Verstappen (Red Bull) on Saturday took the pole position for the Styrian Grand Prix.

The 23-year-old secured his sixth career pole position as he lapped the 4.318-meter Red Bull Ring in one minute and 3.841 seconds.

“It’s been a very good weekend, I think the first lap in Q3 was good enough in the end!” the Dutch told F1 media afterwards. “I’m super happy to be on pole here at home! It’s good to be in a good Red Bull car here.”

Despite finishing the qualifiers second, Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas will start Sunday’s race from the fifth place after he was handed a three-spot penalty for “dangerous driving” in a pit lane spin during Friday’s second free practice.

“Shame about the penalty. It was a strong qualifying. I felt good in the car. It’s a new day tomorrow, a long race ahead and anything is possible,” the Fin driver said.

 It will be his teammate, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton who will start the race from the first row in second, having finished third in the qualifiers.

“It wasn’t the greatest of sessions but I’m still on the front row,” the Briton said. “I don’t think we have the raw pace to overtake [Red Bull]. I’ll be giving it everything. Maybe we’ll be surprised tomorrow. Maybe in rains”.

From the second row, Briton Lando Norris (McLaren) will start the race in third alongside Red Bull Mexican driver Sergio Perez in fourth.

Frenchman Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri) will start the race from the sixth spot right behind Bottas, who will kick off the race from the fifth spot.

The fourth row features Monégasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Japan’s Yuki Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri), while Spaniard Fernando Alonso (Alpine Renault), and Canada’s Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) complete the top-10. EFE