Max Verstappen extends title lead by picking up maximum eight points, will start Austrian GP pole ahead of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz; Lewis Hamilton gains one place to eighth, was hit by Pierre Gasly at the start; Watch Sunday’s race live on Sky Sports F1 at 2pm
By Matt Morlidge
Last Updated: 09/07/22 4:29pm
Max Verstappen cruised away from Charles Leclerc to take a dominant win in the Austrian GP Sprint and claim pole position for Sunday’s race, while Lewis Hamilton’s comeback was dented by a first-corner shunt.
Cheered on by a sea of orange at Red Bull’s home track, Verstappen closed the door on Leclerc at the start and then sped away from his Ferrari rival to comfortably take the chequered flag at the end of the 24th lap.
By winning the grid-setting Sprint, Verstappen extends his title lead with the maximum eight points and seals pole ahead of the Ferraris for Sunday’s Austrian GP, which is live on Sky Sports F1 at 2pm.
The top four all stayed in position in Saturday’s mini race, despite Carlos Sainz’s best efforts to pass Leclerc – with the Monegasque having aggressively forced his team-mate wide early on at Turn 4.
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Lewis Hamilton overtook Alex Albon for 10th in the Sprint before the Williams driver forced McLaren’s Lando Norris off the track.
George Russell took fourth for Mercedes, ahead of Sergio Perez in the Red Bull as he enjoyed a fine comeback from 13th on the grid.
Hamilton’s recovery was less successful, having made contact with Pierre Gasly at the start.
Gasly squeezed Hamilton, who started a place ahead of him in ninth, off the line and the pair made contact, flinging the AlphaTauri into the air.
That dropped Hamilton to 11th and he was later frustrated by the Haas cars, eventually getting ahead of a feisty Mick Schumacher on the penultimate lap and claiming the last points-scoring position in eighth.
There was drama before the Sprint as Fernando Alonso’s car didn’t start at the formation lap, with the Alpine having to retire after electrical issues, before Zhou Guanyu’s car pulled to a halt before the first attempted start.
Zhou started from the pit-lane and finished 14th, gaining places thanks to Alex Albon’s five-second penalty which he picked up for forcing Lando Norris wide. Norris eventually finished 11th, ahead of McLaren team-mate Daniel Ricciardo.
Albon also made contact with Sebastian Vettel on Saturday, forcing Vettel into the gravel and he retired early.
More to follow.
Austrian GP Sprint Result: Top 10
1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull (8 points)
2) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari (7 points)
3) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari (6 points)
4) George Russell, Mercedes (5 points)
5) Sergio Perez, Red Bull (4 points)
6) Esteban Ocon, Alpine (3 points)
7) Kevin Magnussen, Haas (2 points)
8) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes (1 point)
9) Mick Schumacher, Haas
10) Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo
Sky Sports F1’s live schedule for race day
Sunday
7.30am: F3 Feature Race
9am: F2 Feature Race
12.30am: Grand Prix Sunday: Austrian GP Build-up
2pm: THE AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag: Austrian GP Reaction
5pm: Ted’s Notebook
F1 2022 hits the halfway point with the Austrian GP from the high-speed Red Bull Ring on Sunday. All the action is live on Sky Sports F1, with race build-up from 12.30pm and lights out at 2pm.