MAX VERSTAPPEN has added another eight points to his astounding lead at the top of the championship by CRUSING to P1 in the sprint race.
The Dutchman was untroubled throughout as he took pole position in front of an adoring crowd.
But there are allegations that his fans have been less impressive in the way they have conducted themselves, with the FIA and Lewis Hamilton responding to allegations of racism, homophobia and sexism.
Charles Leclerc starts in second with Ferrari team-mate and British Grand Prix winner third.
- RACE start time: 2pm GMT
- TV/Live stream: Sky Sports F1
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
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- Justin Lawrence
Horner is wary of Ferrari
Red Bull chief Christian Horner is wary of Ferrari's different approach to tyre management ahead of the Austrian GP.
Referring to his rivals' tyre use in the practice sessions, Horner said: "I think actually Ferrari didn’t push their tyres as hard at the beginning of the stint and they were marginally quicker at the end.
“I think we wanted to break the DRS quickly and Max broke that one second [gap] very hard on the first and second flying lap. So it’s just a different approach.”
- Justin Lawrence
Hamilton slams Austrian GP abuse
Lewis Hamilton has slammed those who have been abusing fans at the Austrian GP.
He wrote on Instagram: "Disgusted and disappointed to hear that some fans are facing racist, homophobic and generally abusive behaviour at the circuit this weekend.
"Attending the Austrian Grand Prix or any GP should never be a source of anxiety and pain for fans and something must be done to ensure that races are safe spaces for all.
"Please, if you see this happening, report it to circuit security and to F1, we cannot sit back and allow this to continue."
- Justin Lawrence
Alpine grant old fan wish
Alpine have granted an old fan her dream of sitting in the paddock this weekend to take in the action at the Austrian GP.
The veteran supporter, Marilia, 87, looked subdued as she sat amongst Alpine's team soaking in the atmosphere.
She'll get to witness Alpine duo Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso participate on the track this afternoon.
Ocon starts proceedings in sixth, and Alonso comes in at number 19.
- Justin Lawrence
Russell demands F1A changes
George Russell wants the FIA to stick to one race director due to the confusion the rotational system causes.
The Mercedes man said: "Yes, I do agree that we need to stick to one race director.
"We need to have a bit more consistency with the stewarding. We come to the following event and often the steward in the previous event is not there. So there's no accountability, no explanations of decisions.
“We ask questions, and it's difficult to get a straightforward answer because almost the blame is being put onto somebody else who isn't there. It is tricky. Everybody’s got their own interpretations.”
- Justin Lawrence
Aston Martin praise F1 stance
Aston Martin have praised F1 for vowing to take action against those who have abused fans at the Austrian GP.
A number of supporters alleged they've been subject to abuse at the racing spectacle, which F1 swiftly moved to condemn.
And Aston Martin have thrown their support behind the F1, insisting that everyone should feel welcome in the sport.
- Justin Lawrence
F1 condemn vile abuse reports
F1 authorities have condemned the alleged abuse fans have been subjected to at the Austrian GP.
And the sport's governing body also declared they'll be looking into the abuse claims.
Multiple reports have surfaced online of fans complaining they've fell victim to homophobic and racial slurs, along with other abusive comments and cat calling.
A F1 statement denouncing the vile behaviour read: "We have been made aware of reports that some fans have been subject to completely unacceptable comments by others at the event.
“We have raised this with the promoter and security and will be speaking to those who have reported these incidents and are taking this very seriously.
“This kind of behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated and all fans should be treated with respect.”
- Justin Lawrence
Not a happy Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton has slammed fans for cheering when he crashed in the practice sessions before the Austrian GP.
Hamilton said: "I didn't hear them during [the accident], I mean, I was going through a bunch of stuff in the crash.
"But to hear it afterwards, you know, I don't agree or condone any of that no matter what.
"A driver could have been in hospital. And you're going to cheer that? I mean, it's just mind-blowing that people will do that, just knowing how dangerous our sport is.
"And I'm grateful that I wasn't in hospital, and I wasn't heavily injured, but you should never cheer someone's downfall or someone's injury or crash.
"It shouldn't have happened in Silverstone, even though it wasn't obviously a crash, and it shouldn't have happened here."
- Jack Figg
Good morning F1 fans
Max Verstappen earned pole for Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix, while Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc will be looking to put pressure on the current world champion in second.
Carlos Sainz is in third, while Sergio Perez is down in fifth.
Despite that, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was more than happy with his team’s performance.
“Very controlled drive by Max and great recovery from Sergio – overall, pretty decent sprint race,” Horner said after the race.
“Ferrari didn’t push their tyres hard at the beginning of the sprint, Max broke the one-second after the first few flying laps. It’s a resonably long stint on those tyres…”
Leclerc did cut a frustrated figure, however.
He revealed: “It was frustrating.
"The first part of the race was all about managing but Max was very quick, he was pushing quite a lot at the beginning so I was just trying to control my tyres to attack at the end.
“Then I had a small fight with Carlos. At the end I was closing a little bit, it was very close overall.
"Tomorrow is the race and hopefully we can have a good start and put a bit more pressure on Max.”
- Jon Boon
The grid
Here's how they will line up on Sunday for the Austrian Grand Prix.
Verstappen and Leclerc are one and two, while Sainz sits nicely in third.
Lewis Hamilton will begin the race down in eighth.
- Jon Boon
Hamilton's reaction
Lewis Hamilton says he will do all he can tomorrow – starting off in ninth place on the grid after both Mercedes crashed out.
“Pierre crossed on me and there was nowhere I could go. I got the same thing in turn 3. I was greaful to get around after the first lap," he said.
“We’re quite slow on the straights… slower than the Haas. I’ve got one ahead of me for the race, got to wait to get out the DRS train but we’ll give it everything we can tomorrow.”
- Jon Boon
Fuming Vettel
Furious Sebastian Vettel stormed out of a meeting with fellow F1 drivers and FIA bosses – earning himself a suspended €25,000 (£21,000) fine.
The German, who has been outspoken on the sport, particularly with the environmental consequences, is increasingly running a tightrope of controversy.
He was asked not to wear a controversial t-shirt on the grid in Canada regarding mining tar sands in the country.
He also pulled a t-shirt stunt at the Miami GP.
While Vettel's latest outburst came in frustration at hearing Fernando Alonso complaining about penalties he received from the stewards TWO MONTHS ago.
The FIA's statement said the four-time world champion failed to act as a role model.
- Jon Boon
Horner please
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was more than happy with his team's performance.
“Very controlled drive by Max and great recovery from Sergio – overall, pretty decent sprint race," Horner said after the race.
“Ferrari didn’t push their tyres hard at the beginning of the sprint, Max broke the one-second after the first few flying laps. It’s a resonably long stint on those tyres…”
- Jon Boon
Russell's take
George Russell had his own take on the race.
“I spent most of the race watching the battles on the TV screens! The team did an amazing job to get both cars out on track, " he said.
“Checo is a realistic battle we can have, there’s only so much work we can do overnight. It’s difficult when you only have one practice session. These F1 cars are like spaceships – you’re in the right window or you’re not. For everyone on the grid it’s tricky.
“There was nothing harsh about Perez’s penalty. I was shocked it went originally under the radar. But the circuits need to accommodate this, track limits is a pain for this and for everyone at home. The tracks need to change in one way or another. Go back to the olden days!”
- Jon Boon
Leclerc's frustration
Charles Leclerc is hopeful of a good start after his frustration during qualifying.
He revealed: "It was frustrating. The first part of the race was all about managing but Max was very quick, he was pushing quite a lot at the beginning so I was just trying to control my tyres to attack at the end.
"Then I had a small fight with Carlos. At the end I was closing a little bit, it was very close overall. Tomorrow is the race and hopefully we can have a good start and put a bit more pressure on Max."
- Jon Boon
Delighted Verstappen
Max Verstappen is delighted with his Red Bull car and performance after claiming poll.
He said: "It was great to see the fans – a lot of smoke at the end!
"It was alright, it was a decent race, a good pace at the beginning and I think after that we were very closely matched, so it was good. Like a sprint should go; quite flat out.
"I had a bit of a gap and after that it was similar in pace [with Ferrari, so I expect tomorrow it is going to be interesting battle again because the race tomorrow is going to be a lot longer, so it's going to be quite tricky on tyres.
"The car is good, just a few things to fine-tune but overall we are really competitive again this weekend."
- Jon Boon
Sainz reaction
Carlos Sainz finished in position three, and here's his thoughts.
"I had a good start, a couple of fights at the beginning with Max into Turn three, and then Charles into Turn Three again. It was good fun, like it should be, racing," he said.
"Probably overheated a bit the tyres, running behind Charles. I had to back off and finish the race.
"First of all, we will need to improve a little bit the pace because we were strong at the beginning of the race and then little by little it looked like we were going to match him.
"But tomorrow we will go through different compounds so I think anything can happen. But it's important that we are both in the fight and try our best to beat Max."
- Ben Hunt
Good drive from Perez
He started 13th and finished in fifth. A soild drive for the Mexican.
- Ben Hunt
Leclerc is second, Sainz third.
A two-three finish for Ferrari while Russell comes home in fourth.
Perez, Ocon, Magnussen and Hamilton make up the top eight.
- Ben Hunt
Max Verstappen wins the sprint race
The Dutchman was untroubled from pole and wins the sprint race. He gets another eight points added to his tally where he already sits at the top of the championship.
He will start on pole in tomorrow's race too.
That was all too easy for him.
- Ben Hunt
Penultimate lap
Verstappen is looking comfortable
He has a two second lead over Leclerc.
Vettel meanwhile has been told to retire the car due to car damage.
- Ben Hunt
Hamilton gets him
He passes Schumacher at Turn four and he moves into eighth place.
- Ben Hunt
Hamilton is getting closer…
Surely he will pass soon…
Bottas is now joining this fight.
Shame it is only for eighth place…
- Ben Hunt
Hamilton cannot find a way into the top eight
The Mercedes man simply cannot get past Schumacher, who is occupying the final place in the points.
It is good defending from the German as Hamilton comes close to hitting the back of his car…
- Ben Hunt
10 laps to go
Verstappen leads by 2.5 seconds. Leclerc is second and Sainz in third.
Behind them are Russell, Perez, Ocon, Magnussen and Schumacher.
- Ben Hunt
Latifi clips Vettel, who spins
The German is in the gravel after making contact with the Williams.
Vettel has managed to get going again and is back in the race, but he is down in 19th place.
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