F1 2023: Verstappen goes fastest in Austrian GP Qualifying, Perez struggles to keep up

For the 10th round of the 2023 season, Formula One heads to the 4.318 km long Red Bull Ring - the home of Red Bull Racing for the Austrian Grand Prix. Max Verstappen currently holds the joint title for the highest number of wins at the Austrian GP, i.e. three. After comfortably securing a Pole position at the 2023 Austrian GP, the Dutch driver looks ready to set a new record at Red Bull's home circuit.




Take a look at how the Qualifying at the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix went down -

2023 Austrian GP Qualifying 1

The first qualifying of the day was disrupted after Valtteri Bottas' Alfa Romeo spun on the exit of Turn 1, resulting in Red Flag. Red Bull managed to take 1-2 in Q1, led by Verstappen, with a lap time of 1:05.116. The two drivers were followed by Carlos Sainz in third. Pierre Gasly managed to secure P4, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was fifth. Yuki Tsunoda, Zhou Guanyu, Logan Sargeant, Kevin Magnussen and Nyck de Vries were eliminated from the first qualifying.

2023 Austrian GP Qualifying 2

After having his lap time deleted for exceeding track limits twice, Sergio Perez was demoted from second to P15, thus making it the fourth consecutive race that the driver did not make it to Q3. Meanwhile his teammate Max Verstappen was again the fastest in second qualifying, followed by Carlos Sainz in second and Lando Norris in third. Leclerc and Lance Stroll took fourth and fifth respectively. George Russell, Esteban Ocon, Oscar Piastri, Valterri Bottas were the other four drivers apart from Perez that did not make it to Q3, and will be lining up from 11th to 14th in tomorrow's GP.




2023 Austrian GP Qualifying 3

Max Verstappen remain untouched at the top, posting a lap time of 1:04.391, securing the fourth pole position in a row, and also the fourth pole consecutive pole position at the Red Bull Ring. The reigning Champion was followed by Leclerc, just +0.048 seconds slower than the Red Bull driver. Carlos Sainz came third, followed by Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton respectively. Lance Stroll took P6, while his teammate Fernando Alonso finished seventh fastest. Nico Hulkenberg, Pierre Gasly, and Alex Albon start tomorrow's race from P8, P9 and P10 respectively.

Stay tuned to TOI Auto for the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix Sprint report tomorrow and full Race report on Sunday.
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