F1 Austrian GP live: Max Verstappen crashes out of race as Norris battles with Piastri

A dominant Lando Norris delivered the perfect response to his Montreal horror show by securing an emphatic pole position for Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix.

But the British driver has been in excellent form at the Red Bull Ring, topping all of the practice sessions he has competed in, before landing the 12th pole of his career.

Norris’ margin over second-placed Charles Leclerc was a huge 0.521 seconds – the biggest of the year so far at the shortest track on the calendar. Piastri qualified in third, with Lewis Hamilton in fourth and Max Verstappen down in seventh.

Oscar Piastri pits (Lap 54/70)Piastri follows suit a lap later – with a 2.0 second stop, very quick – and the Aussie comes out in second, 3.3 seconds behind his teammate.

Colapinto and Tsunoda are in-between the two cars, and Colapinto shoves Piastri onto the grass!

Did the Argentine not know that Piastri is a lap ahead of him?!

Scary for Piastri! But he progresses through eventually…

Kieran Jackson29 June 2025 15:24

Lando Norris pits (Lap 53/70)Norris now comes in for his second stop – 2.5 seconds – and Piastri takes over the lead.

Norris back onto mediums to finish this race…

Lewis Hamilton pits (Lap 51/70)Hamilton is not happy about it!

Hamilton: “Is my pace really bad, but my tyres are fine. Can I extend?

“I don’t want to stop!”

It’s an efficient stop nonetheless. Hamilton in fourth, eight seconds behind Leclerc…

(Getty Images)Kieran Jackson29 June 2025 15:20

Charles Leclerc pits (Lap 50/70)Leclerc dives in from third – 2.4 seconds – for his second pit stop and comes out in fourth.

Norris’ gap to Piastri is 4.2 seconds. Will that prompt McLaren?

Kieran Jackson29 June 2025 15:19

Piastri closing the gap (Lap 43/70)Piastri has got the gap down to three seconds.

Norris: “Is he quicker everywhere now?”

Engineer: “Mainly straights.”

When will Norris pit again (on the assumption he does)?

Kieran Jackson29 June 2025 15:12

Norris in control (Lap 40/70)The race has just settled up now.

Norris is in control out in front, with a 3.8 second lead, while Piastri has a 14 second lead to Leclerc in third.

But those frontrunners are having to negotiate backmarkers now, which makes racing between the pair tougher.

When will Piastri’s fresher tyres make the difference?

Kieran Jackson29 June 2025 15:09

TOP-10 AFTER 35/70 LAPS1. Norris – leader

2. Piastri (+6 seconds)

3. Leclerc (+13)

4. Hamilton (+3.5)

5. Russell (+14)

6. Bortoleto (+3)

7. Hulkenberg (+3.7)

8. Ocon (+2.9)

9. Bearman (+3.7)

10. Gasly (+0.8)

Tsunoda-Colapinto collideTsunoda and Colapinto battle at turn 4, with the Red Bull diving down the inside and touching the wheel of the Alpine.

Colapinto spins! He continues on…

Tsunoda at fault, for me.

Kieran Jackson29 June 2025 14:57

Austrian Grand Prix

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)Kieran Jackson29 June 2025 14:53

Lewis Hamilton pits (Lap 26/70)The seven-time world champion pits – a rapid 2.2 second stop – on hard tyres.

Hamilton will come out behind Leclerc.

Norris back into the lead! The gap to Piastri is 6.6 seconds…

Kieran Jackson29 June 2025 14:52