Red Bull's Formula One world championship leader Max Verstappen took pole position for his team's home Styrian Grand Prix and set up another duel with title rival Lewis Hamilton.
Seven-times world champion Hamilton qualified third at Austria's Red Bull Ring, but will join Verstappen on the front row because Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas, second fastest, collected a three-place grid penalty in Friday practice.
Verstappen leads Hamilton by 12 points after seven rounds, with three wins each, and Monday's (NZ time) race promises to be another thrilling battle between the championship's two outstanding drivers.
The pole, with a lap 0.194 quicker than Bottas' best, was Verstappen's second in a row after France last weekend, and third of the season. It was also Red Bull's first at the Spielberg circuit.
"I'm sure again tomorrow it will be very tight," said the Dutch driver after posting a fastest time of one minute 03.841 seconds with his first run of the final session. His second lap was slower, but still quicker than anyone else."
McLaren's Lando Norris will start third with Red Bull's Sergio Perez fourth following the grid drop imposed on Bottas for dangerous driving when he spun his car across the pitlane during practice.
Reuters
