F1 GP Austria, Qualifying: Pole to Hamilton. Hulkenberg will start alongside him

A daring qualification that of Red Bull Ring, which ends with the pole position of Lewis Hamilton, the fastest in 1:07.922 ahead of the Mercedes of the teammate Rosberg and Force India di Nico Hulkenberg. Fourth time trial for Ferrari di Hag which however will have to be served, as well as Rosberg, five grid places penalty for replacing the gearbox. The Austrian qualifying was full of twists and turns from start to finish, with the rain mixing up the cards in the final stages of Q2 and Q3. It was two o'clock that saw us for a long time in anticipation of the race Ferrari, followed by Red Bull, who will thus be able to take advantage of the start on the supersoft on Sunday. However, the weather could play tricks on us again, so everything remains to be seen. Net of penalties, these will therefore be the first five rows of the Austrian GP: Hamilton, Hulkenberg, Button, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Rosberg, Bottas, Verstappen, Vettel and Massa.

News – Q1 – Palmer's Renault is the first to take to the track, while in the pits Rosberg anxiously assists the mechanics at work on his single-seater, on which the bottom and gearbox have been replaced after the accident in Free Practice 3. Eleven drivers on track after the first minutes, all with the new purple compound. The first times went to Wehrlein, Magnussen and Sainz but then Hamilton took the lead in 1:07.014. Meanwhile, Rosberg settles behind the wheel in the pits. Perez, Hulkenberg, Magnussen and Sainz are behind Hamilton, but then Williams takes second place, 4 tenths behind Mercedes, which in the meantime drops to 1:06.947. Fifth time for Button. Ferrari and Rosberg launch themselves onto the track: Kimi is second but is then overtaken by Vettel. Rosberg takes the lead in 1:06.690, Verstappen is fourth. Vettel improves further but remains second. Nico does the same, in 1:06.526 but another suspension breaks and this time puts an end to Kvyat's race, who ends up against the barriers in turn 1. Red flag! At the restart there were less than two minutes left before the checkered flag but Sainz's Toro Rosso, on which the power unit had just been replaced, parked on the side of the track with the rear in smoke. The session ends immediately after with the exclusion of Magnussen, Palmer, Haryanto, Kvyat, Ericsson and Nasr.

Q2 – At the restart Raikkonen, Vettel and Wehrlein were the only ones to go out with the red tyre. Purple for everyone else. Hamilton takes the lead in 1:06.228, behind him is Rosberg, Verstappen, Hulkenberg and Wehrlein. Third time therefore for Massa, then overtaken by Ricciardo who in turn was overtaken by Vettel, who thus placed himself in safety. Kimi was a little less calm, sixth behind Bottas. The Finn returns to the pits. Verstappen comes in fourth, ahead of Ricciardo, both on supersofts. Kimi returns on the ultrasofts but a providential rain causes him to slow down, holding on to his time and above all thus guaranteeing his start in the race on the supersofts. The two Red Bulls manage to implement the same winning strategy just in time, while the Mercedes don't have time to improve despite returning to the track with red tyres. The rain begins to fall heavily and the checkered flag shortly afterwards marks the end of the available time.

Q3 – Hamilton, Rosberg, Vettel, Ricciardo, Verstappen, Bottas, Raikkonen, Massa, Hulkenberg and Button are playing for the starting line, while it continues to rain. At the restart the riders put on intermediate tyres, the only one to risk slicks was Button, a master in the rain. Vettel takes the lead in 1:20.789, ahead of Hamilton, Ricciardo, Hulkenberg, Button, Raikkonen, Massa and Rosberg. Kimi takes pole and then it's Hamilton's turn. Then it's Rosberg's turn in 1:19.548 while Button's McLaren is third. Ricciardo took the lead in 1:19.217 then overtaken by Hulkenberg. The Australian, however, does not give up and returns to lead in 1:17.364. Kimi second, Hamilton back in front in 1:16.232, Button immediately behind! In the meantime it has stopped raining and Force India and Massa are the first to try the ultrasofts. Vettel does the same and so does everyone else. It begins again! Provisional pole went to Nico Hulkenberg in 1:14.996, then it was Massa's turn to take the lead. Then it's Raikkonen's turn, Hamilton's turn and Force India again! Vettel reaches the top but Hamilton takes pole position in 1:07.922. Rosberg is behind him and Hulkenberg third when the checkered flag waves! Vettel, Button, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Bottas, Verstappen and Massa complete the top ten.

F1 GP Austria – Qualifying times and results