Austrian GP 2023 | Verstappen sees off Leclerc for fourth pole in a row

This motorsport news by The Hindu reported on Red Bull’s F1 driver Max Verstappen securing the pole position for the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix.

Formula One's dominant leader Max Verstappen took his fourth pole position in a row at Red Bull's home Austrian Grand Prix on Friday while team mate and closest title rival Sergio Perez qualified only 15th.

The double world champion's pole remained provisional, however, after stewards summoned him for allegedly impeding Haas's Kevin Magnussen.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc will line up alongside Verstappen on the front row on Sunday with teammate Carlos Sainz and McLaren's Lando Norris, in a newly upgraded car, immediately behind.

The session proved a nightmare for Perez, already 69 points behind Verstappen after eight races all won by Red Bull, who had three laps deleted for exceeding track limits and failed to make the top 10 for the fourth race in succession.

The Mexican had been second fastest in phase two of qualifying, held on Friday because of the sprint weekend format, but repeatedly went over the white lines with all four wheels between turns nine and 10.

Drivers have a separate qualifying on Saturday for the same day's standalone 100 km sprint that no longer determines Sunday's grid under a new format introduced this season and first used in Azerbaijan in April.

Verstappen, winner of six races so far this season and chasing his fifth victory in a row, said it had been hard to stay within the lines at Spielberg's Red Bull Ring, which has the shortest lap on the calendar in terms of time.