Verstappen on pole for Austrian GP sprint race

Max Verstappen on pole for Austrian Grand Prix sprint race

The double world champion lapped Spielberg's Red Bull Ring with a fastest lap of one minute 04.440 seconds to complete a qualifying double.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen during the sprint shootout, Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria, July 1, 2023. Credit: Reuters Photo

Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen led Sergio Perez in a Red Bull one-two in the pole shootout for Saturday's standalone sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix.

The double world champion lapped Spielberg's Red Bull Ring with a fastest lap of one minute 04.440 seconds to complete a qualifying double after securing pole on Friday for Sunday's main grand prix.

Perez was nearly half a second slower than Verstappen, who has a 69-point lead over the Mexican after winning six of the eight races so far this season.

McLaren's Lando Norris will line up in third place for the sprint with Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg fourth and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc on the row behind. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, Editing by Hugh Lawson)

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