F1 Austrian Grand Prix LIVE: George Russell claims stunning win after Lando Norris and Max Verstappen crash

Follow live updates from the Red Bull Ring as Verstappen starts on pole position at Red Bull’s home race

Leclerc Voices Discontent With Ferrari Strategy Over Radio

Max Verstappen followed up his sprint victory by securing pole position for Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix.

On Red Bull’s home turf in Spielberg, and cheered on by 40,000 travelling Dutch fans, Verstappen blew away his rivals to take top spot.

The world champion produced a scintillating lap of the shortest track on the Formula One calendar to finish 0.404 seconds clear of McLaren’s Lando Norris, with George Russell third for Mercedes. Carlos Sainz finished fourth with Lewis Hamilton fifth.

“It is a great feeling and the team has worked hard to make the car competitive,” said Verstappen after landing his fourth straight pole at the Red Bull Ring. “This is a great statement and hopefully we can show that again tomorrow in the race.”

Follow live updates from the Austrian Grand Prix with The Independent

F1 AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES

• George Russell wins after dramtic end to Austrian Grand Prix
• Fuming Lando Norris slams friend Max Verstappen for ‘ruining his race’ after dramatic collision
• CRASH! Verstappen and Norris collide in high drama (Lap 65/71)
• GREAT RACING! George Russell and Lewis Hamilton swap positions in a matter of seconds (Lap 3/71)
• START! Max Verstappen keeps the lead at the start (Lap 1/71)
• Max Verstappen started on pole position in Austria; Norris 2nd; Russell 3rd
• Verstappen won sprint race in Austria; Piastri 2nd; Norris 3rd

[30 June 2024 13:23 · Kieran Jackson]

Driver Standings after the sprint race yesterday:

1. Max Verstappen - 227 points

2. Lando Norris - 156 points

3. Charles Leclerc - 150 points

4. Carlos Sainz - 120 points

5. Sergio Perez - 112 points

6. Oscar Piastri - 94 points

7. George Russell - 86 points

8. Lewis Hamilton - 73 points

9. Fernando Alonso - 41 points

10. Yuki Tsunoda - 19 points

11. Lance Stroll - 17 points

12. Daniel Ricciardo - 9 points

13. Oliver Bearman - 6 points

14. Nico Hulkenberg - 6 points

15. Pierre Gasly - 5 points

16. Esteban Ocon - 3 points

17. Alex Albon - 2 points

18. Kevin Magnussen - 1 point

19. Zhou Guanyu - 0 points

20. Valtteri Bottas - 0 points

21. Logan Sargeant - 0 points

[30 June 2024 13:01 · Kieran Jackson]

Starting grid for the Austrian Grand Prix:

1. Max Verstappen

2. Lando Norris

3. George Russell

4. Carlos Sainz

5. Lewis Hamilton

6. Charles Leclerc

7. Oscar Piastri

8. Sergio Perez

9. Nico Hulkenberg

10. Esteban Ocon

11. Daniel Ricciardo

12. Kevin Magnussen

13. Pierre Gasly

14. Yuki Tsunoda

15. Fernando Alonso

16. Alex Albon

17. Lance Stroll

18. Valtteri Bottas

19. Logan Sargeant

20. Zhou Guanyu

[30 June 2024 12:53 · Kieran Jackson]

One will have been happier than the other after last night’s contentious match....

[30 June 2024 12:42 · Kieran Jackson]

Lando Norris reflects on Max Verstappen masterclass after Austria qualifying

Lando Norris said Max Verstappen was “in a league of his own” after the Red Bull driver obliterated his rivals to take pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix.

On Red Bull’s home turf in Spielberg, and cheered on by 40,000 travelling Dutch fans, Verstappen produced a scintillating lap of the shortest track on the Formula One calendar to finish an eye-watering 0.404 seconds clear of McLaren’s Norris, with George Russell third for Mercedes, half-a-second back. Carlos Sainz took fourth, one place ahead of Lewis Hamilton.

The build-up to the 11th round has been dominated by Jos Verstappen’s row with Christian Horner following the former’s withdrawal from a parade of the sport’s legends ahead of Sunday’s 71-lap race.

Full report below:

[30 June 2024 12:29 · Kieran Jackson]

Christian Horner has said the following about Toto Wolff’s pursuit of Max Verstappen

Asked why Wolff continues to speak about Verstappen, Horner replied: “That’s a question you would have to ask Toto. Max was pretty resolute in what he said in this conference [on Thursday].

“He’s always been absolutely consistent with that with the team. I think it’s purely a tactic of distraction.

“If he does want a Verstappen for next year then I guess Jos is potentially available.”

(Getty Images)

[30 June 2024 12:15 · Kieran Jackson]

Austrian Grand Prix race odds!

Austrian GP winner

• Max Verstappen - 1/6
• Lando Norris - 9/2
• George Russell - 20/1
• Oscar Piastri - 28/1
• Carlos Sainz - 40/1
• Lewis Hamilton - 40/1
• Charles Leclerc - 66/1
• Sergio Perez - 100/1
• Nico Hulkenberg - 500/1
• Esteban Ocon - 1000/1
• Daniel Ricciardo - 1500/1
• Kevin Magnussen - 1500/1
• Pierre Gasly - 1500/1
• Fernando Alonso - 2000/1
• Lance Stroll - 2000/1
• Yuki Tsunoda - 2000/1
• Alex Albon - 2500/1
• Valterri Bottas - 3000/1
• Guanyu Zhou - 4000/1
• Logan Sargeant - 4000/1

Odds provided by BonusCodeBets

[30 June 2024 12:14 · Kieran Jackson]

Starting grid for the Austrian Grand Prix:

1. Max Verstappen

2. Lando Norris

3. George Russell

4. Carlos Sainz

5. Lewis Hamilton

6. Charles Leclerc

7. Oscar Piastri

8. Sergio Perez

9. Nico Hulkenberg

10. Esteban Ocon

11. Daniel Ricciardo

12. Kevin Magnussen

13. Pierre Gasly

14. Yuki Tsunoda

15. Fernando Alonso

16. Alex Albon

17. Lance Stroll

18. Valtteri Bottas

19. Logan Sargeant

20. Zhou Guanyu

[30 June 2024 12:02 · Kieran Jackson]

Mercedes told no criminal offence committed over Lewis Hamilton ‘sabotage’ email

Mercedes have been told no criminal offences were committed after the British-based Formula One team called on police to investigate an anonymous email which claimed Lewis Hamilton’s car was being “sabotaged”.

Speaking at the recent Spanish Grand Prix, team principal Toto Wolff vowed to go “full force” in response to the correspondence – said to be sent by a disgruntled Mercedes staff member – titled “a potential death warrant for Lewis”.

The email, addressed to Wolff, F1 boss Stefano Domenicali, FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem, as well as other major players in the paddock, arrived on June 10, a day after the Canadian Grand Prix – a race where Hamilton was overtaken by team-mate George Russell on the penultimate lap.

Mercedes reported the note to authorities 48 hours later.

Full story below:

[30 June 2024 11:43 · Kieran Jackson]

Red Bull boss Christian Horner on Daniel Ricciardo’s future:

“I think anything regarding drivers are going to be dealt with in-house before we talk to the media about it,” he said.

“They’re all Red Bull racing drivers and every Red Bull driver knows that there’s always a pressure, that there’s always a scrutiny but Daniel is in the seat and it’s down to him to make the most of that and then it’s always, as we see in Formula 1, things are always fluid.”

(Getty Images)

[30 June 2024 11:28 · Kieran Jackson]

Max Verstappen fires back at British Grand Prix chief: ‘It’s not my fault’

Max Verstappen insists the promoters of the British Grand Prix need to “look at themselves” and not blame Red Bull for the slow uptake of tickets to this year’s race at Silverstone.

Verstappen won last year’s race – his first British GP triumph – and in total won 19 out of 22 grands prix in 2023, a record amount.

Silverstone managing director Stuart Pringle stated last week that Red Bull’s ultra-domination in 2023 has contributed to tickets not yet selling out for this year’s event on 5-7 July.