Lewis Hamilton scores impressive pole in the rain

In delicate weather conditions in Austria, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) took pole position for the Styrian Grand Prix, and marked the spirits.

We had to wait more than 45′ for the session to begin, the rain having poured down massively on the Red Bull Ring, forcing the FIA ​​and the race management to delay the start of the session, the track remaining impassable according to current standards.

Once the kick-off was given, almost the entire peloton, led by the Ferrari de Sebastian Vettel, quickly took to the track to try to secure times, before a possible deterioration in the weather conditions.

The frenzy of position changes throughout the laps finally favored Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) best provisional time ahead Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Lando Norris (McLaren).

Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo) made a mistake before the start of the last turn by going too wide on the curb. If the Italian can start again, he is forced to stop the very next time with a car damaged at the rear, leaving race management obliged to display the red flag less than 15″ from the end of the session.

With just under two mins to go in Q1, Giovinazzi slid off track, damaging his car. A Red Flag resulted, ending the session.#AustrianGP  #F1 pic.twitter.com/itOXS6Ht2f

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 11, 2020

The Italian is one of those eliminated from Q1 with his teammate Kimi Räikkönen, Sergio Pérez (Racing Point), Nicholas latifi (Williams), And Romain Grosjean (Haas), who made a mistake at the start of the session at turn 4 and whose car seems to have been the victim of a water pump problem.

A possible water pump issue is being looked at on Romain's car. He's not set a time yet in Q1. # HaasF1 #AustrianGP #Which

- Haas F1 Team (@ HaasF1Team) July 11, 2020

Hamilton continues, Leclerc stalls in Q2

The world champion remained at the same tempo in the second part of the session, dominating Max Verstappen (Red Bul), still contested on a wet track and with rain intensifying in the last minutes. Session which will on the other hand be fatal to Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), only 11th, like Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) last week.

George Russell (Williams) for his part took a convincing 12th position ahead Lance stroll (Racing Point), Danill Kvyat (Alpha Tauri), Kevin Magnussen (Haas), other drivers eliminated in Q2. Both Renault de Daniel Ricciardo et Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri), 5th in Q2, advance to the decisive part of qualifying.

A Q3 where Hamilton will once again prove to be the strongest by beating Max Verstappen for pole by more than 1″2. The Dutchman seemed set to improve his time before spinning on the outside curb of turn 9. Carlos Sainz places his McLaren MCL35 in third position ahead Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes).

Esteban Ocon (Renault) takes a very good fifth place ahead of Lando Norris (McLaren) who will only start ninth due to his three-place grid penalty.

Follow Alex Albon (Red Bull), Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri), Daniel Ricciardo (Renault) and Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), which confirms the Scuderia's difficulties.

The Styrian Grand Prix will be to follow live with our live-text from 15:10 p.m. tomorrow Sunday.