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Formula 1
Austrian GP
F1 Austrian GP Live Commentary and Updates – Sprint Quali & Race
Saturday's action from the ninth round of the 2023 Formula 1 season
F1 pushes on with round nine this weekend and its second sprint race of the season at the Austrian GP.
Saturday has become effectively a standalone event, with sprint qualifying at 11am BST followed by the sprint race at 3:30pm BST.
Max Verstappen, who took pole position for the grand prix on Friday, leads the drivers’ standings by 69 points from Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez.
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These are now likely to be the final efforts of the session.
Stopwatch
Sainz is flying and goes quickest with a 1m05.434s!
De Vries improved to P11, but his time has since been deleted for a track limits violation, pushing him down to P14.
Less than two minutes remain and a handful of drivers have stopped for fresh tyres. This could all change in the coming moments.
Stopwatch
And here's Ocon! The Monaco podium man goes to the top with a 1m05.604s! Magnussen is third with an impressive effort in the Haas.
As the second round of laps are registered, Leclerc drops back to P12.
An update from Mercedes on Russell, and it's bad news.
A team spokesperson has confirmed: "GR will not be running in this qualifying segment owing to a hydraulic problem requiring a steering rack change."
Righting that slightly, Leclerc improves to P9. He is one-tenth clear of the drop mark.
With his first effort, Leclerc is still struggling for pace and is P14 while his Ferrari team-mate, Sainz, has put his car into P2.
But here come the Aston Martin duo, with Alonso second and Stroll going fourth. Russell is still stuck in the garage.
Stopwatch
Verstappen sets the first time of the session with a 1m05.624s effort. Norris is second - four-tenths back.
14 of the 15 drivers have now taken to the track on soft tyres but Russell remains in the garage following his reporting of a hydraulic issue.
Green flag
And we go again! SQ2 has a lot to live up to!
For a brief moment - before the 10-minute SQ2 begins - a word for Haas. Hulkenberg was P3 in the opening session with Magnussen P6.
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Escaping notice was Perez. The Red Bull driver ended that session in P14, avoiding a humiliating exit by less that one-tenth!
But more bad news for Mercedes, as Russell reports a "hydraulic failure" after returning to the pits. He was P7 in SQ1.
Zhou, Piastri, Hamilton, Bottas and Sargeant are the five that drop out in an absolutely frantic session!
Leclerc survives in P15 by the skin of his teeth!
Hamilton is out! He got stuck in traffic on his lap and returned to the pits. He will start from P18!
Stopwatch
Sainz puts in a heroic effort to go fastest of all with a 1m06.187s!
Leclerc improves to eighth but he's dropping like a stone as others cross the line.
Checkered flag
The chequered flag falls
A poor effort from Leclerc on medium tyres leaves him P16! One minute remains for him to save his session.
Hamilton's session-topping time has been deleted!
Sainz finally returns to the track with 90 seconds remaining. He's on an old set of soft tyres and is currently last.
Stopwatch
All change at the top, as Hamilton and Alonso find speed - Hamilton leads the way with a 1m06.624s!
Hulkenberg goes to P2, falling one-tenth shy of Perez at the top, just as Piastri is blocked by Leclerc as the Ferrari driver attempted to return to the pits.
Stopwatch
Red Bull now take to the top with Perez leading the way from team-mate Verstappen. A 1m07.085s is the current benchmark, although Perez was on soft rubber, and Verstappen medium.
Sainz remains in the garage as we tick into the final five minutes of the session.
Rain
We're already halfway through SQ1 and rain is beginning to appear on the lens of the helicopter camera. For Gasly, Bottas, Zhou, Sargeant and Sainz, that is not good news at all!
Stopwatch
Verstappen returns to the top with his second effort but he is quickly pushed back with Norris not at the top and the Dutchman P7.
Norris' time is a 1m07.755s.
Norris' time is a 1m07.755s.
Verstappen's first time was deleted for - you guessed it - a track limits violation!
Stopwatch
The times begin to come in but, as we said, the times will drop and drop and drop. De Vries now tops the pile with a 1m08.898s.
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Sainz has reported a "brake by wire" failure on his Ferrari.
After waiting for a reply, he is told to "box, box". As he pits, smoke is visible form the rear of his car.
After waiting for a reply, he is told to "box, box". As he pits, smoke is visible form the rear of his car.
Where the track has been declared wet, drivers are able to use whichever compound they want, rather than being forced to run the medium compound in this segment.
However, Magnussen and Verstappen have both elected to run the yellow-walled medium tyre regardless.
However, Magnussen and Verstappen have both elected to run the yellow-walled medium tyre regardless.
No rain is forecast for the next 20 minutes, so the track should improve rapidly.
Green flag
SQ1 is go! The only cars on intermediate tyres are the two Williams. All other drivers are on soft slicks.
One minute to go, then the lights will go green for SQ1. The traffic queue is forming at the end of the pitlane!
By: Autosport Staff
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