Article #63597

• Accident brings out yellow flags in the closing seconds

• Mercedes driver beats Leclerc’s time by 0.236sec

The moment of triumph hung briefly in the balance for George Russell in claiming pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix, but with the British driver bullish and ebullient after what was a mighty lap under dramatic circumstances, for him at least, there was never any doubt.

At the very sharp end of the final moments of qualifying, Russell was hurtling round the track after Max Verstappen when the Dutchman was too hot into turn nine, lost the rear and scythed across the gravel into the wall. In front of them, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton had finished their laps as the single yellow flags were immediately waved.