Lando Norris didn’t just take pole. He obliterated it.
In searing Spielberg sunshine nestled in the Austria hills, the McLaren driver delivered one of the most commanding laps of recent F1 memory. A 1:03.971 around the Red Bull Ring marked his twelfth career pole, blowing the rest of the field out of contention. Charles Leclerc was over half a second back. That kind of margin in modern qualifying? Practically unheard of.
This wasn’t just form. This was redemption. After his costly tangle with Oscar Piastri in the Canadian Grand Prix – which ended Norris’s race and ignited intra-team tension. Austria was always going to be about recovery. Piastri scored points that day. Norris didn’t see the flag. Here in Spielberg, though, there was no drama. Just pace.
Leclerc rescued second for Ferrari but never looked like a pole threat. Piastri, quick all day, was derailed by a yellow flag on his final run after Pierre Gasly spun at the last corner. Verstappen also lost his shot as a result. Norris had banked his lap early, and no one got close.
This wasn’t just a pole. It was a message.
Q1 – Norris sets the tone, Sainz slumps
After a brief delay to clear the F2 Sprint aftermath, the first session got going under hot, dusty conditions. Everyone opted for the softest C5 rubber. Norris wasted no time – his 1:04.672 laid down a clear benchmark. Verstappen followed, a few tenths behind. Leclerc was even further adrift.
Oscar Piastri had an early scare at Turn 4, running wide into the gravel, but recovered with a clean lap to join the top three. Further back, Bortoleto and Bearman were in the danger zone, while Albon lingered around P14.
But the real shock came from Carlos Sainz. The Williams driver struggled for grip, slid off again in the final sector, and slumped to 19th. Over team radio, he branded the car “undriveable” – his second Q1 exit in a row. Not what Williams needed.
Lawson continued his strong form with a clean final run. Albon followed him through, while there was no escape for Ocon, Tsunoda, Hulkenberg, or Stroll.
Knocked out: Stroll, Ocon, Tsunoda, Sainz, Hulkenberg
Q2 – Norris stays top, Bortoleto breaks through
The Ferraris and Mercedes led the field, but Norris was again the benchmark. After short-lived P1s for Lawson, Verstappen and Piastri, the McLaren man delivered a 1:04.410 to retake control.
Leclerc slotted in behind the orange cars. Verstappen, again unhappy with balance, described the RB21 as “undriveable” on the radio. The car looked twitchy through the middle sector, and traction out of the uphill corners was lacking.
A brief fire near the track caused a red flag. When the session resumed, Bortoleto seized his moment. The Brazilian rookie threw down a stunning lap to take P3 – his first Q3 appearance. Verstappen demoted him to P4 moments later, but the message was clear: this wasn’t a fluke.
Pierre Gasly vaulted into Q3 late on, but Alonso and Albon missed out.
Knocked out: Alonso, Albon, Hadjar, Colapinto, Bearman
Q3 – Norris nails it as Gasly spins
Russell was released into the path of oncoming cars in the pit lane, an incident noted by the stewards who later gave him a warning for it, but the focus soon shifted back to the sharp end. Norris went first, laying down a 1:04.268. Piastri and Leclerc chased, with Hamilton not far behind.
Then came the killer blow. Norris hooked it up perfectly on his second run, shaving nearly three tenths off his previous best to stop the clocks at 1:03.971. Pole secured. Job done.
Gasly then spun at the final turn, triggering a yellow flag. Verstappen and Piastri, both on flying laps had to lift. It froze the order, handing Norris a wide margin over Leclerc. Piastri slotted third. Verstappen? Just seventh.
Behind them, Russell held on to fifth. Liam Lawson with his best performance for Racing Bulls finished a great session in sixth. And two rookies cracked Q3 together – Bortoleto in eighth and Antonelli in ninth. Gasly rounded out the top ten.
Key Quote
“It was a good lap, that’s for sure,” Norris said. “I feel like my first Q3 run was strong, but I knew where I could still tidy it up – and I did just that. When things go to plan, it usually means something special. I’m happy. It’s been a good weekend so far, and I want to carry that into Sunday.”
Final Classification
- Norris
- Leclerc
- Piastri
- Hamilton
- Russell
- Lawson
- Verstappen
- Bortoleto
- Antonelli
- Gasly
Outside the top ten: Alonso P11, Albon P12, Hadjar P13, Colapinto P14, Bearman P15, Stroll P16, Ocon P17, Tsunoda P18, Sainz P19, Hulkenberg P20