Lando Norris Storms to Dominant Pole Position at Austrian Grand Prix

Lando Norris has made a stunning comeback, securing pole position at the Austrian Grand Prix with a dominant qualifying performance. Following a challenging race in Montreal, where he collided with McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, Norris declared it “good to have the old me back” after delivering the fastest lap of the weekend at the Red Bull Ring.

The British driver topped every practice session he entered and translated that pace into a resounding pole lap, clocking in 0.521 seconds faster than second-placed Charles Leclerc — the largest qualifying margin seen this season on one of the quickest tracks.

Piastri, who leads Norris by 22 championship points, managed only third place after his final Q3 lap was compromised by a spin from Pierre Gasly ahead of him. Lewis Hamilton qualified fourth, while George Russell secured fifth for Mercedes, continuing a strong start after his recent victory in Canada.

Max Verstappen, a five-time winner at Spielberg, struggled through qualifying and could only finish seventh. The Red Bull driver described his car as “completely undriveable,” finishing nearly a second behind Norris and highlighting ongoing issues with his vehicle’s handling. Verstappen’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda also faced difficulties, qualifying 18th in what was a tough session for the Red Bull team at their home race.

Norris, 25, reflected on his performance, acknowledging his prior mistakes but expressing confidence in his renewed form. “It was easily my best lap of the year. I did what I planned to do, and when that happens, things go very well,” he said. Norris hopes this pole will be the foundation for rebuilding his championship challenge as the season reaches its midway point.

With consistent performances key to title success, Norris’s dominant qualifying lap positions him as the favorite to win the 11th round of the 24-race season and revitalize his quest for the championship.