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.