Max Verstappen will start the Sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix from the head of the field.
Verstappen backed up his pole position lap from Friday with the fastest time on Saturday, besting Sergio Perez who will start on the front row.
Mercedes endured a dismal session as Lewis Hamilton dropped out in the first segment, while George Russell was out in the second.
The second row saw Lando Norris take third place ahead of Nico Hulkenberg, who starred to fourth place on the Medium compound.
![Alpine Managing Director Steve Nielsen [pictured with Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore] is stern in his belief Mercedes has acted correctly](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Alpine-Steve-Nielsen-Flavio-Briatore-120x86.webp)
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc were fifth and sixth respectively.
[motorsport_result id=’113542′]
![Alpine Managing Director Steve Nielsen [pictured with Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore] is stern in his belief Mercedes has acted correctly](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Alpine-Steve-Nielsen-Flavio-Briatore-360x180.webp)
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