logo
Lando Norris fastest again in final practice for Austrian Grand Prix

Lando Norris fastest again in final practice for Austrian Grand Prix

Independent6 hours ago

Lando Norris laid down a marker ahead of qualifying by finishing fastest in final practice for the Austrian Grand Prix.
Norris, who set the quickest time at the Red Bull Ring on Friday, was again the fastest man in the concluding running before qualifying.
Norris' best effort was enough to see off McLaren team-mate and championship rival Oscar Piastri, who holds a 22-point lead in the standings, by 0.118 seconds.
Max Verstappen finished third for Red Bull, two tenths behind Norris, and a place clear of Charles Leclerc.
Lewis Hamilton was fifth in the other Ferrari, 0.466 sec off the leading pace. George Russell, a winner last time out in Canada, took sixth spot.
Qualifying for Sunday's 11th round of the season gets under way at 1600 local time (1500 BST).

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Watch: Halo saves drivers' lives in terrifying F2 crash
Watch: Halo saves drivers' lives in terrifying F2 crash

Telegraph

time38 minutes ago

  • Telegraph

Watch: Halo saves drivers' lives in terrifying F2 crash

A spectacular crash in the F2 sprint race delayed the start of qualifying for Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix, with two Britons caught up in an accident which left one car upside-down on top of another. Thankfully, all three of Sami Meguetounif, Luke Browning and Red Bull junior driver Arvid Lindblad - hotly-tipped for an F1 seat in the near future - were able to walk away unhurt from the incident, which occurred on the second lap of the sprint race. But Browning probably had the halo safety device to thank for saving him from serious injury after Meguetounif flew over the top of both his and Lindblad's car and came to rest on his. The 23 year-old Williams academy driver, who drives for Hitech, had been battling Campos' Lindblad for 13th place when Trident's Meguetounif dived up the inside on the approach to T3. Lindblad, 17, who was recently granted an FIA Super License, allowing him to compete in Formula 1 despite being under the minimum age of 18, did not see the Trident driver and turned in. 'The guy came out of nowhere,' Lindblad said afterwards on the radio. 'I had no idea he was there.' Meguetounif, 21, was pitched into a roll and then flipped over, ending upside down on top of Browning's car. Unsurprisingly, the incident triggered red flags. 'I think he'll look back at that as one of the more optimistic moves he's made,' was the verdict of racing driver and commentator Alex Brundle on the passing attempt from Meguetounif. After a 30-minute delay, stewards got the race back underway under a rolling restart led by Joshua Durksen. But an already messy race got messier still after Dino Beganovic was left stranded following contact with Oliver Goethe, also at Turn 3. There was then a final lap incident at the same corner when fourth placed Amaury Cordeel spun, causing the three drivers behind him to run into him.

‘It's so obvious' – Fans convinced Max Verstappen's Red Bull future is doomed after ominous Christian Horner interview
‘It's so obvious' – Fans convinced Max Verstappen's Red Bull future is doomed after ominous Christian Horner interview

Scottish Sun

time38 minutes ago

  • Scottish Sun

‘It's so obvious' – Fans convinced Max Verstappen's Red Bull future is doomed after ominous Christian Horner interview

Horner tried to bat away the rumours NO STAPPING HIM 'It's so obvious' – Fans convinced Max Verstappen's Red Bull future is doomed after ominous Christian Horner interview Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FANS are convinced Max Verstappen will jump ship from Red Bull to Mercedes after watching Christian Horner's gloomy interview. Merecedes boss Toto Wolff sensationally confirmed on Friday that his team have held behind closed doors talks with the four-time world champion. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Red Bull boss Christian Horner was asked about Mercedes' fascinating comments about Max Verstappen's future And after Verstappen finished P7 in qualifying in Red Bull's home race in Austria, Horner was asked about Wolff's incredible admission. Horner, who promoted Verstappen to F1 in May 2016, tried to play-down the ongoing speculation linking the Dutchman with Mercedes. The British team principal told Sky Sports: "It's a lot of noise. I think Max gets quite annoyed by it and we're very clear with the contract that we have with Max until 2028. "Anything is entirely speculative that is being said, but yeah we tend not to pay too much attention to it." READ MORE F1 NEWS Horror crash Brit F2 star caught in terrifying crash as car flips over the top of him Wolff said ahead of qualifying, where George Russell secured fifth place, that there was 'very little probability' of Verstappen joining Mercedes – at least not for 2026. Russell, meanwhile, is still waiting for a contract extension, with the winner of the Canadian Grand Prix a fortnight ago having emerged as a reported target for Aston Martin. Horner cheekily added: "I can imagine that George is frustrated he hasn't been given a contract yet. But that's between him and his team. "But the situation with Max we know clearly where we're at and obviously as does Max, so everything is subject to noise and within any contract it remains confidential between the parties." CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS But fans have been left unconvinced with Horner's attempts to dismiss Verstappen's exit rumours as baseless paddock gossip. One wrote on X: "After that interview with Horner, it's so obvious that Max is going to join Mercedes." Red Bull's Christian Horner gives low down on car before F1 season kicks off with Australian Grand Prix A second said: "Somehow this interview with Horner is not convincing me everything is well and jolly behind the RB curtain." Another added: "Horner sounds like a beaten man." Verstappen is contracted with the Milton Keynes-based outfit until 2028 but is understood to have clauses in his contract that could result in an earlier departure. Wolff has long targeted a move for Verstappen, before picking rookie Kimi Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton's replacement during the off-season. Russell, who is out of contract at the end of the season, was the first to say his team have been talking to Verstappen about signing a deal for 2026. The Brit, 27, also suggested on Thursday that his contract talks had been delayed by the ongoing talks with Dutchman. Austrian GP qualifying result Top 10: Norris, Leclerc, Piastri, Hamilton, Russell, Lawson, Verstappen, Bortoleto, Antonelli, Gasly Norris, Leclerc, Piastri, Hamilton, Russell, Lawson, Verstappen, Bortoleto, Antonelli, Gasly OUT in Q2: Alonso, Albon, Hadjar, Colapinto, Bearman Alonso, Albon, Hadjar, Colapinto, Bearman OUT in Q1: Stroll, Ocon, Tsunoda, Sainz, Hulkenberg Pushed on whether he would set a deadline for Verstappen to decide on joining Mercedes, Wolff confirmed "conversations behind closed doors" were ongoing. Wolff said: "You make it sound like we have been asking, 'when do you want to join and what are the terms?' That's not how it is and how it works. "I want to just have the conversations behind closed doors, not town halls. "We have two drivers that have been in our programme a long time, drivers that I'm perfectly happy to have, drivers that will do great in the future of the team. So, it's a bit different a situation." Meanwhile, Horner could consider replacing Yuki Tsunoda with Racing Bulls youngster Isack Hadjar, as the Japanese star suffered Red Bull's worst-ever qualifying position at their home turf, after finishing 18th. Lando Norris took a dominant pole position in Austria, as late yellow flag drama left championship leader Oscar Piastri third, with Charles Leclerc making up the front row. 3 Wolff has confirmed his interest in signing four-time world champ Verstappen

‘It's so obvious' – Fans convinced Max Verstappen's Red Bull future is doomed after ominous Christian Horner interview
‘It's so obvious' – Fans convinced Max Verstappen's Red Bull future is doomed after ominous Christian Horner interview

The Sun

time38 minutes ago

  • The Sun

‘It's so obvious' – Fans convinced Max Verstappen's Red Bull future is doomed after ominous Christian Horner interview

FANS are convinced Max Verstappen will jump ship from Red Bull to Mercedes after watching Christian Horner's gloomy interview. Merecedes boss Toto Wolff sensationally confirmed on Friday that his team have held behind closed doors talks with the four-time world champion. 3 And after Verstappen finished P7 in qualifying in Red Bull's home race in Austria, Horner was asked about Wolff's incredible admission. Horner, who promoted Verstappen to F1 in May 2016, tried to play-down the ongoing speculation linking the Dutchman with Mercedes. The British team principal told Sky Sports: "It's a lot of noise. I think Max gets quite annoyed by it and we're very clear with the contract that we have with Max until 2028. "Anything is entirely speculative that is being said, but yeah we tend not to pay too much attention to it." Wolff said ahead of qualifying, where George Russell secured fifth place, that there was 'very little probability' of Verstappen joining Mercedes – at least not for 2026. Russell, meanwhile, is still waiting for a contract extension, with the winner of the Canadian Grand Prix a fortnight ago having emerged as a reported target for Aston Martin. Horner cheekily added: "I can imagine that George is frustrated he hasn't been given a contract yet. But that's between him and his team. "But the situation with Max we know clearly where we're at and obviously as does Max, so everything is subject to noise and within any contract it remains confidential between the parties." CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS But fans have been left unconvinced with Horner's attempts to dismiss Verstappen's exit rumours as baseless paddock gossip. One wrote on X: "After that interview with Horner, it's so obvious that Max is going to join Mercedes." Red Bull's Christian Horner gives low down on car before F1 season kicks off with Australian Grand Prix A second said: "Somehow this interview with Horner is not convincing me everything is well and jolly behind the RB curtain." Another added: "Horner sounds like a beaten man." Verstappen is contracted with the Milton Keynes-based outfit until 2028 but is understood to have clauses in his contract that could result in an earlier departure. Wolff has long targeted a move for Verstappen, before picking rookie Kimi Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton's replacement during the off-season. Russell, who is out of contract at the end of the season, was the first to say his team have been talking to Verstappen about signing a deal for 2026. The Brit, 27, also suggested on Thursday that his contract talks had been delayed by the ongoing talks with Dutchman. Pushed on whether he would set a deadline for Verstappen to decide on joining Mercedes, Wolff confirmed "conversations behind closed doors" were ongoing. Wolff said: "You make it sound like we have been asking, 'when do you want to join and what are the terms?' That's not how it is and how it works. "I want to just have the conversations behind closed doors, not town halls. "We have two drivers that have been in our programme a long time, drivers that I'm perfectly happy to have, drivers that will do great in the future of the team. So, it's a bit different a situation." Meanwhile, Horner could consider replacing Yuki Tsunoda with Racing Bulls youngster Isack Hadjar, as the Japanese star suffered Red Bull's worst-ever qualifying position at their home turf, after finishing 18th. Lando Norris took a dominant pole position in Austria, as late yellow flag drama left championship leader Oscar Piastri third, with Charles Leclerc making up the front row. 3 3

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store