FRIDAY DEBRIEF: Can anyone spoil Verstappen and Red Bull’s Austrian GP homecoming as the Sprint format returns?

Max Verstappen delighted his legion of loyal fans, who once again packed out the joint at the Red Bull Ring, with his fourth consecutive pole position for Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix. But he didn’t have it easy – here are the key stories from the opening day of track action…
Even track limits can’t stop Verstappen march
We’ve often heard Max Verstappen complain about his car during practice, only to stick it on pole position when it matters in qualifying – and the same happened in Austria as he overcame an initially understeery Red Bull RB19 to take pole.
Next Up
Related Articles
GALLERY: Check out renders of the innovative 2026 car
Celebrating the first F1 Allwyn Global Community Awards
Leclerc calls Ferrari’s focus shift to 2026 a ‘no-brainer’
Lindblad's car number confirmed for rookie season
Winners & Losers5 Winners and 5 Losers from the 2025 season
Brown insists McLaren ‘won’t change the way we race’
