Russell snatches pole as Verstappen crashes at Austrian F1 Grand Prix

SPIELBERG: George Russell produced a dramatic late and contentious fastest lap in his Mercedes on Saturday to claim pole position ahead of the two Ferraris for Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix.

The 28-year-old Briton, who had struggled to outpace his teammate, championship leader Kimi Antonelli, in Friday’s practice, swept into the prime grid position with a lap in one minute and 06.113 seconds – including a need to lift through a section of waved yellow flags.

His lap took him 0.236 seconds clear of Charles Leclerc and 0.295 ahead of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in a sensational conclusion to a closely fought qualifying session.

Italian teenager Antonelli qualified fourth after seeing and obeying the double-waved yellow flags on his late flying lap by slowing down after four-time champion Max Verstappen crashed in his Red Bull.