Max Verstappen will start Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix on pole position after edging out Charles Leclerc in qualifying on Friday.
With the sprint race to take place on Saturday, qualifying was held 24 hours earlier than normal, yet it did not bring about a change at the top of the leaderboard.
That said, Verstappen had to work hard to keep his Red Bull on the front row amid three sessions where times were frequently wiped due to exceeding track limits.
The Championship leader defied a flying final lap from Leclerc to secure pole by just 0.048 seconds, with the Ferrari man finishing ahead of his third-placed Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz Jr.
QUALIFYING CLASSIFICATION
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 30, 2023
So tight at the top! 🤏#AustrianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/BYQnkoJihq
Lando Norris, in his upgraded McLaren, was another impressive performer, with the British driver qualifying ahead of Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton who was fifth.
For just the second time this season, Lance Stroll got the better of Aston Martin teammate Fernando Alonso for the pair to occupy sixth and seventh respectively.
Nico Hulkenberg, Pierre Gasly and Alexander Albon - in the Haas, Alpine and Williams respectively - completed the top 10.
Red Bull's Sergio Perez had been set to feature in Q3, only for his last lap in Q2 - which was second fastest - to be scratched for time limits and the Mexican will now start in 15th spot.
George Russell had to make do with 11th position after missing out on 10th in Q2 by just 0.048 seconds.
