Formula 1: Max Verstappen got his third straight pole in Austria and Lando Norris gave the surprise

07/03/2021 11:21

• Clarín.com

• sports

Updated 07/03/2021 11:48

The Dutch Max Verstappen (Red Bull), leader of the Formula 1 World Championship, will start first this Sunday in the

Austrian Grand Prix

, the ninth of the championship and which takes place at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, where his partner, the Mexican Sergio Pérez, will start third.

Verstappen signed the seventh pole of his F1 career by covering the 4,318 meters of the Styrian track in one minute, three seconds and 720 thousandths, only 48 less than the British 

Lando Norris (McLaren)

.

It is the third consecutive pole for Verstappen that comes from setting the best time in France and Austria.

Checo Pérez

, third at 270 thousandths, will start from the second row along with the sevenfold English champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), fourth, almost three tenths behind the Dutch.

Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.

REUTERS / Christian Bruna

It was a disappointing session for the Mercedes, while Spaniards Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Fernando Alonso (Alpine), who were left out of Q3, will start eleventh and fourteenth, respectively.

In a qualifying session with minimal differences, the World Cup leader flew over the Red Bull Ring, where last week he was the only one capable of falling below 1:04, and established a brutal 1: 03.720 that earned him to take the first one again starting position on the Austrian circuit.

Relive the climax to a breathless qualifying session #AustrianGP 🇦🇹 # F1 pic.twitter.com/bPkOt5LyJ2

- Formula 1 (@ F1) July 3, 2021

However, this time

the Mercedes were not his great rivals

, but all eyes were focused on the British Lando Norris (McLaren), who was only four hundredths of a pole that would have been historic.

The Mexican Sergio

Checo

 Pérez completed the joy in the Red Bull garage by being third, just ahead of the

silver arrows

.

Hamilton and his Mercedes, at the Red Bull Ring.

(AP)

And it is that Lewis Hamilton, who this Saturday signed a new contract for two more years at Mercedes, could only be fourth, while the Finn Valtteri Bottas will have to leave fifth.

The great joy of the session, on the other hand, was taken by the British George Russell (Williams)

, who managed to pass to Q2 and who will start ninth on a medium tire.

For his part, Sainz was only four hundredths away from sneaking into the top ten, with the consolation that he will come out with means, while fortune did not smile on Alonso either;

The Spaniard was rolling in time to get into the final round,

but a stopper from German Sebastian Vettel

(Aston Martin) on his launched lap thwarted his options.

In the second week in a row at the Red Bull Ring, the protagonists rushed their time in garages to avoid wasting tires, already known the performance of the track.

Verstappen went out onto the track to set the benchmark time on the first attempt

, and Alonso managed to position himself third just ahead of Hamilton, with Sainz fifth.

George Russell achieved the ninth position with his Williams.

EFE / EPA / CHRISTIAN BRUNA

In those same positions they advanced to Q2, where the problems for the Spanish began.

The Madrilenian paid for the tight classification staying just short of the cut,

with his teammate Charles Leclerc also out of Q3

.

Much worse was the elimination of the Asturian, who did have time to be in the 'Top 10'.

He was immersed in his fastest lap when Vettel crossed him on the track, which frustrated his attempt and aborted his pass to the final heat.

In his place came a surprising George Russell (Williams), euphoric in his first 'Top 10' of the course.

Pretty special from @ GeorgeRussell63 ⭐️ # AustrianGP 🇦🇹 # F1 pic.twitter.com/2847kgQa5q

- Formula 1 (@ F1) July 3, 2021

A 1: 03.720 offered Verstappen, tucked into Spielberg by hundreds of Dutch fans, the pole for Sunday, although Norris almost spoiled his day at just 0.048.

'Checo' Pérez, meanwhile, will start in the second row with the current world champion.