Latest news with #FormulaOneAustrianGrandPrix
Qatar Tribune
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- Qatar Tribune
Norris takes pole position for Austrian GP with mighty lap
Agencies Spielberg (Austria) Lando Norris of McLaren had a mighty lap in qualifying to take pole position for the Formula One Austrian Grand Prix on Saturday. The British driver was already in a good position after his first flying lap in Q3, but he improved to clock 1 minute 3.971 seconds - over half a second ahead of second-placed Charles Leclerc of Ferrari. Championship leader Oscar Pistri completed the top three in the other McLaren. Norris is aiming to bounce back from a catastrophic Canadian GP two weeks ago. He collided with Piastri with three laps left to the end of the race, with Norris braking too late and running into the back of his team-mate. While Piastri finished the race in fourth, Norris couldn't cross the finish line and missed some crucial points. He currently sits 22 points behind Piastri in the standings. Four-time defending champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull was only seventh after complaining of lack of grip throughout the session. The red flag came out with some six minutes left in Q2 due to a small grass fire near the track. The same incident also caused interruptions at the Japanese GP in April. 'It was a good lap, that's for sure,' said Norris. 'I guess that just little bit by little bit, I was able to get more time. Q1 was good, but I knew there were a few places I could get more time and I did what I planned to do.' Verstappen had taken pole position at the Red Bull-owned circuit in the Styrian Alps for the last five F1 races before Norris succeeded and seized his first pole in Austria, his third of the season and 12th of his career. Team-mate Piastri was disappointed and frustrated. 'I had (Pierre) Gasly spin at the first corner so I didn't even open my second lap. Lando's been very quick all weekend so it would have been a tough challenge, but we had the pace to be on the front row. 'We can still have a good race from there and we are not here to come home third.' Verstappen's last lap was stymied by a yellow flag waved when Gasly spun in his Alpine, leaving him, like Piastri, unable to clock a flying lap time. He finished seventh. Leclerc said: 'I'm very pleased. It's been a long time since we started on the front row and it's been a difficult season overall, but the team has kept pushing. 'We brought some new parts this weekend which for sure made a difference. We know we have a better car in the race than in qualifying so I hope we can put more pressure on the McLarens.' Leclerc's Ferrari team-mate and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was an encouraging fourth ahead of Mercedes' George Russell, Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls, four-time champion Verstappen of Red Bull and Gabriel Bortoleto of Sauber. Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli was ninth in the second Mercedes and Gasly 10th.
The Citizen
8 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Norris secures pole at Austrian GP with stunning last lap to end Verstappen dominance
"It was a good lap, that's for sure. I guess that just little bit by little bit, I was able to get more time.' Pole position winner McLaren's British driver Lando Norris gets out of his car as he arrives after the qualifying session at the Red Bull Ring race track in Spielberg, Austria, on June 28, 2025, ahead of the Formula One Austrian Grand Prix. (Photo by Joe Klamar / AFP) Lando Norris delivered a superb final flying lap in his McLaren on Saturday to end Max Verstappen's run of domination in qualifying at the Red Bull Ring by claiming pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix. The 25-year-old Briton clocked an outstanding lap in one minute and 3.971 seconds to outpace nearest rival Charles Leclerc of Ferrari by 0.521 seconds, with McLaren team-mate and championship leader Oscar Piastri third. Norris, who is 22 points behind Piastri in the drivers' title race, erased any hangover from his collision with Piastri in Canada two weeks ago with a thrilling demonstration of his speed and talent. 'It was a good lap' 'It was a good lap, that's for sure,' said Norris. 'I guess that just little bit by little bit, I was able to get more time. Q1 was good, but I knew there were a few places I could get more time and I did what I planned to do.' Verstappen had taken pole position at the Red Bull-owned circuit in the Styrian Alps for the last five F1 races before Norris succeeded and seized his first pole in Austria, his third of the season and 12th of his career. Team-mate Piastri was disappointed and frustrated. 'I had (Pierre) Gasly spin at the first corner so I didn't even open my second lap. Lando's been very quick all weekend so it would have been a tough challenge, but we had the pace to be on the front row. 'We can still have a good race from there and we are not here to come home third.' Verstappen's last lap was stymied by a yellow flag waved when Gasly spun in his Alpine, leaving him, like Piastri, unable to clock a flying lap time. He finished seventh. Leclerc said: 'I'm very pleased. It's been a long time since we started on the front row and it's been a difficult season overall, but the team has kept pushing. 'We brought some new parts this weekend which for sure made a difference. We know we have a better car in the race than in qualifying so I hope we can put more pressure on the McLarens.' Leclerc's Ferrari team-mate and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was an encouraging fourth ahead of Mercedes' George Russell, Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls, four-time champion Verstappen of Red Bull and Gabriel Bortoleto of Sauber. Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli was ninth in the second Mercedes and Gasly 10th. 'Worse than before' The session began in hot conditions with temperatures of 32 (air) and 48 (track) indicating hard work for tyres. After a frantic finale, in which Russell recovered from the drop zone to 11th, it was Aston Martin's Lance Stroll, Esteban Ocon of Haas, Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda, Carlos Sainz in the second Williams and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg who were eliminated. McLaren, led by Norris, set the pace. The entire field was separated by less than a second with the Red Bulls of Verstappen and Tsunoda, sixth and 18th, only 0.25 seconds apart. It was Sainz's third consecutive Q1 exit. The track temperature touched 50 at the start of Q2 with Ferrari leading the way on used softs as Norris established his supremacy again before a trackside grass fire prompted a red flag stoppage, Hamilton having run wide there at turn 10. Verstappen was unhappy with his car's reaction to the heat. 'No grip, it's worse than before,' he reported. 'I don't know what to say!' After six minutes, the action resumed with only four to go as Norris and Piastri set the pace ahead of Leclerc while two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin, Williams' Alex Albon, Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar, Franco Colapinto of Alpine and Oliver Bearman of Haas missed out. All this left Bortoleto celebrating his first top ten qualification in fifth for the improving Sauber outfit while Verstappen complained he was impeded by a Ferrari in a way that was 'a bit naughty and super unnecessary'. As Q3 began, Russell almost hit a Ferrari when he was released into their path narrowly avoiding a collision. On the first runs, Norris was fastest again ahead of Leclerc with Piastri third and Hamilton fourth, the Ferraris enjoying the heat as Mercedes wilted before Norris stormed to pole.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Mercedes to Race Both F1 Cars With Touching Tribute to Departed Team Member
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Mercedes Formula One team has revealed a touching gesture to honor a team member who passed away last week. The tribute will be highlighted this weekend at the Austrian Grand Prix. Mercedes announced the passing of Mark Hudson, who worked in the team's Composite Build Department for 12 years. Honoring him, both Mercedes W16 F1 cars will feature the message: "In memory of Mark Hudson." Mercedes' British driver George Russell drives to the start of the first practice session at the Red Bull Ring race track in Spielberg, Austria, on June 27, 2025, ahead of the Formula One Austrian Grand... Mercedes' British driver George Russell drives to the start of the first practice session at the Red Bull Ring race track in Spielberg, Austria, on June 27, 2025, ahead of the Formula One Austrian Grand Prix. More Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP/Getty Images A nice touch to the tribute is a 'Pre-fit OK' sticker above his name, which explains the nature of the role he performed. Mercedes revealed the special gesture on X, stating: "In memory of our late and dear teammate. "Last week, we sadly lost our colleague and friend Mark Hudson. Mark worked in our Composite Build Department for 12 years and was much loved by all at Lauda Drive. In his honour, we carry his name on our car this weekend. "Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time. ❤" In memory of our late and dear teammate. Last week, we sadly lost our colleague and friend Mark Hudson. Mark worked in our Composite Build Department for 12 years and was much loved by all at Lauda Drive. In his honour, we carry his name on our car this weekend. Our thoughts… — Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) June 27, 2025 Mercedes heads to the Red Bull Ring for the race weekend, coming off a dominant weekend in Canada, where George Russell secured his first win of the season, while his teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured his first podium finish in the premier class of racing by finishing third. The victory marked Russell's fifth podium finish of the season, suggesting his top form. However, Mercedes has yet to extend his contract, which expires at the end of 2025. Russell stated that he had met all performance expectations, but the team has yet to confirm his future seat officially. Newsweek Sports reported his comments: "No major updates yet. "It's not something that I'm pressing massively because, as I've always said, the performance is the priority, and I feel with the performance I'm showing at the moment - still in line with the performance I've shown over all these years - I've got zero reasons to be worried. "But obviously, it does help if there was pen on paper. But let's see." Russell also admitted that Mercedes was in talks with Max Verstappen following a failed attempt to have him on board last year. He added: "From my side, I don't think I have anything really to worry about. I think, as a team, it depends where you put your aspirations. "We're second best at the moment, maybe third best. We might be overperforming slightly to be second best. "As Mercedes, they want to be back on top, and if you're going to be back on top you need to make sure you've got the best drivers, the best engineers, the best pit crew, and that's what Mercedes are chasing. "So, it's only normal that conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing. But from my side, if I'm performing as I'm doing, what have I got to be concerned about? There are two seats in every Formula 1 team."
