Austrian Grand Prix - Max Verstappen back on top as Red Bull finds answer for Mercedes pace

Verstappen, Austria, Red Bull — Photo: © LAT Images

Austrian Grand Prix

Austrian Grand Prix - Verstappen back on top as Red Bull finds answer for Mercedes pace

Verstappen hit back after a Mercedes one-two on Friday

Sam Hall

Saturday 3 July 2021 13:07 Updated: 13:13

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Max Verstappen returned to the top of the timesheets at the Austrian Grand Prix on the morning Mercedes announced Lewis Hamilton's contract extension.

After Mercedes scored a one-two with Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas in Friday's second practice, Red Bull hit back in final practice.

Verstappen's one minute 04.591secs over half a second faster than second-place Bottas with Hamilton, who saw his fastest effort deleted, third.

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As the session went green, the majority of the field took to the track on the Pirelli 'prototype' tyre, limiting mileage on the softer compounds brought to the Red Bull Ring by the Italian manufacturer this weekend.

After FIA race director Michael Masi issued a revised copy of his notes, traffic was lessened with drivers banned from slowing to create a gap between turns nine and 10 after several near misses on Friday.

Behind the top three, Pierre Gasly again demonstrated pace in the AlphaTauri in fourth, with Antonio Giovinazzi fifth for Alfa Romeo.

Ferrari struggled in qualifying for the Styrian Grand Prix last weekend but finished the race with both drivers inside the top seven. In final practice, Carlos Sainz was the faster of the two drivers going sixth with Charles Leclerc also inside the top 10 in ninth.

McLaren struggling at the Red Bull Ring?

Lando Norris may have finished fifth last weekend, but the McLaren driver struggled for pace on Saturday morning with a series of errors disrupting his session.

The Briton ended the session 15th and with team-mate Daniel Ricciardo 16th, the garage will be a hive of activity ahead of qualifying.

George Russell qualified 11th fastest one week ago and will have his eyes set on a first Q3 appearance in Williams colours after ending the morning 14th fastest.