Russell takes Austrian Grand Prix pole as Verstappen crashes
27th June 2026Mercedes George Russell has claimed pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix as Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen crashed on the final run of Q3.
Feature image credit: Mercedes F1
Russell has claimed his 11th career pole position at the Austrian Red Bull Ring as the Mercedes driver beat both Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton by a minimum of two tenths.
The King’s Lynn driver had been fast on Saturday, taking the fastest time on the board in Free Practice 3, and the Mercedes driver converted this speed into pole position.
However, Russell has claimed pole with controversy as – just before the pole lap – Red Bull’s Max Verstappen spun out at turn nine and slammed into the barrier. From the onboards, Verstappen swung his car into the right-hander, but the back end slipped out, and he couldn’t avoid the barrier as Verstappen skipped across the gravel.
Thankfully, he was okay and out of the car. At the time, Leclerc had taken pole position ahead of Hamilton. But, Russell – on a storming lap – lifted on his way to the Dutchman’s incident and continued with his lap after he passed the Red Bull, and claimed pole by 0.236 seconds.
The FIA had noted the Briton for a yellow-flag infringement, but they cleared the incident with no further action. As such, Russell will be the pole sitter ahead of Leclerc and Hamilton.
The championship leader, Kimi Antonelli, could only qualify fourth overall after the Italian driver bailed out of his final run of Q3, believing the incident to be a double-waved yellow.
So, who will start where at the Austrian Grand Prix?
F1 Austrian GP: Antonelli tops both practice, reliability problems and rookies
The Provisional Grid (subject to change)
- George Russell, Mercedes
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
- Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
- Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
- Lando Norris, McLaren
- Oscar Piastri, McLaren
- Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
- Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
- Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
- Pierre Gasly, Alpine
- Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi
- Oliver Bearman, Haas
- Nico Hulkenberg, Audi
- Esteban Ocon, Haas
- Franco Colapinto, Alpine
- Carlos Sainz, Williams
- Alexander Albon, Williams
- Sergio Perez, Cadillac
- Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac
- Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
- Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
Read more Formula 1 here:
- F1 Austrian GP: Antonelli tops both practice, reliability problems and rookies
- Mercedes given ‘reality check’ ahead of Austrian Grand Prix
- McLaren to bring ‘experimental rear wing’ to Austrian Grand Prix
- Austrian Grand Prix: F1 schedule and starting times
- Austrian Grand Prix: Latest weather forecast as heatwave soars temperatures
- Mercedes withdraw Right of Review against Monaco Penalties
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
