Charles Leclerc secures second career pole at Austrian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton set the second fastest time but will be hauled in front of the stewards for allegedly blocking Alfa Romeo driver Kimi Raikkonen.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will start on pole position for the second time in his career with Lewis Hamilton facing a grid penalty.
Leclerc, 21, blew away the field at the Red Bull Ring to leave the opposition trailing in his wake ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix.
Hamilton set the second fastest time, 0.205 seconds adrift of the young Ferrari driver, but will be hauled in front of the stewards for allegedly blocking Alfa Romeo driver Kimi Raikkonen.
Sebastian Vettel’s torrid time continued after a mechanical issue ruled him out of the pole shootout.
The German, already 72 points behind Hamilton in the championship race, did not set a lap, and is set to start from ninth.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen qualified third ahead of Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas, but both could be bumped up the grid if Hamilton is penalised.
The flashpoint arrived in the opening phase of qualifying here at the Red Bull Ring.
Raikkonen was on a quick lap when he came across a slow Hamilton at the top of the hill on the approach to Turn 3.
The British driver appeared to see Raikkonen at the last minute, and in attempting to get out of the fast-approaching Finn’s way, instead crossed his path.
“Hamilton completely blocked me,” said an angry Raikkonen after giving Hamilton the finger.
McLaren driver Carlos Sainz was handed a five-place grid penalty for a similar incident in Canada, blocking Alexander Albon.
The world champion has been called to see the stewards at 5pm.
“Charles has been quick all weekend,” said Hamilton, paying tribute to the young Monegasque. “We have not been able to keep up with them here.
“I am going to fight the young drivers tomorrow,” he added. “I am representing the old guys.
For Vettel, who qualified a lowly seventh in Canada a fortnight ago, he is set to start ninth after an engine problem prevented him from going out.
It will be a blow to the German with Ferrari holding a pace advantage at a track which suits their straight-line speed.
Vettel was promoted one spot after Haas driver Kevin Magnussen was demoted five places for a gearbox change.
Magnussen’s penalty also promotes British teenager Lando Norris to an impressive fifth for McLaren.
British novice George Russell finished 19th of the 20 runners, three tenths clear of his Williams team-mate Robert Kubica to extend his unbeaten record over the Pole to 9-0.
