Austrian F1 Sprint result, highlights as Max Verstappen rules again at Red Bull Ring race

Max Verstappen triumphed in the Sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix for the second year in a row.

The defending world champion came through a battle with teammate Sergio Perez on the opening lap to win the short event on Saturday at the Red Bull Ring, with Perez second and Carlos Sainz third.

The Aston Martins of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso enjoyed a positive performance in changeable conditions in Spielberg, where heavy rain in the minutes before lights out made timing any tyre changes critical — at least, if you were driving anything other than a Red Bull.

Perez made a better start than Verstappen and was in the lead approaching Turn 2, but the latter seemed to lose grip heading into the next corner and forced Perez wide. That allowed Verstappen to regain first place, open up a five-second gap within five laps and look after his tyres as he cruised to victory.

Nico Hulkenberg acquitted himself well in the Haas and Sainz looked strong in the upgraded Ferrari, but the second Sprint of 2023 told us only what we knew already: Verstappen, and Red Bull, are in a different league.

Let’s talk about that start! Both bulls were in full charge mode to start this sprint off. #AustrianGP Congrats to both Max and Checo, today. 🤜🤛 pic.twitter.com/GeaVYGVvlb

— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) July 1, 2023

MORE: Everything you need to know about the Austrian Grand Prix

Austrian Grand Prix Sprint results

Austrian F1 Sprint live updates, highlights, result

MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS THE AUSTRIAN SPRINT! For the second year in a row, the Dutchman takes the chequered flag in the shortened race at the Red Bull Ring. Sergio Perez makes it a one-two for the home team.

Carlos Sainz is third, and Lance Stroll holds off Fernando Alonso for fourth, despite the veteran's determination to pass on the final lap!

Lap 23/24: Oscar Piastri barges Alex Albon out of the way for P12! Bold, brilliant move from the McLaren driver.

Lap 21/24: Leclerc drops behind Bottas after losing grip and promptly regains P13 on a drier stretch of the circuit. Tomorrow's race could be fascinating if these conditions persist. Hamilton has shown some good pace late on in this Sprint and is now 11th.

Lap 19/24: Leclerc is gone for slicks, but others are sticking with intermediates. It's dicey out there, with some sections drying quicker than others and the rain not quite going away. Leclerc comes under pressure from Hamilton out of the pits, and he can't hold off the seven-time world champion, who is back into P13.

LAP 18/24

DRS has been enabled, and the battle rages on between Ocon, Leclerc and Norris!

Hamilton is gaining on the trio too #AustrianGP #F1Sprint pic.twitter.com/bFTHa7gzqi

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 1, 2023

Lap 17/24: Poor Hulkenberg is dropping like a stone. Lance Stroll has gone fourth, and Alonso won't be far behind. In fact, Hulkenberg has pitted for a change of tyres (as has Hamilton). The Red Bulls are miles clear at the front.

Lap 16/24: Norris takes P9! Leclerc runs too wide on the final corner and the McLaren passes with ease. George Russell is the first man to pit for a change to slicks, the track now dry enough for DRS to be enabled. We're in for seven laps of quick racing!

Lap 13/24: Lando Norris is all over Leclerc, but the Ferraris are coping well with the change in conditions. Case in point — Sainz has just gone third, with Hulkenberg lacking traction.

LAP 13/24

Carlos Sainz is now into P3 as he sends it past Hulkenberg! #AustrianGP #F1Sprint pic.twitter.com/5WLPYCVugK

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 1, 2023

Lap 11/24: Perez has suddenly closed the gap to Hulkenberg, who seems to be struggling more than the Red Bull for grip now the track is drying out. Hulkenberg defends superbly at Turns 3 and 4, but Perez has too much pace down the hill! It's a Red Bull one-two, with Carlos Sainz now pushing for the top three.

Lap 10/24: George Russell gets past Kevin Magnussen, and Lewis Hamilton follows suit, pulling clear after a feisty exchange around Turn 6. That puts the Mercedes 11th and 12th.

Lap 8/24: Verstappen's been warned to conserve his tyres as the front left is at its limit. His early pace has opened up a lead of more than four and a half seconds, so he can afford to ease off. Things have settled down now after those scrappy opening laps.

Lap 6/24: Charles Leclerc is trying to claw his way back into the points. He managed to slip past Esteban Ocon but couldn't defend P8 for long. He's now under serious pressure from Lando Norris.

Meanwhile, Verstappen's lead is now at more than 3.6 seconds.

LAP 6/24

Charles Leclerc is chasing Esteban Ocon down hard in the battle for P9!

Norris is right behind Leclerc in P10#AustrianGP #F1Sprint pic.twitter.com/9obcNuQUnt

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 1, 2023

Lap 3/24: Watching back that opening lap, Verstappen pushed Perez off the track after losing the back end on approach to the turn, which led to Perez losing P2 to Hulkenberg. "What's wrong with Max, man?" was the question over the radio. To be honest, it just looked like Verstappen — along with several other cars — just couldn't slow down quickly enough in the wet conditions.

Lap 2/24: Lewis Hamilton has taken five places already — he did promise to have a bit of fun today! Verstappen leads by more than a second and a half already, despite that messy opening lap.

LIGHTS OUT! What a start in Austria as the Red Bulls go wheel to wheel on the first lap! Perez got ahead at Turn 1, but Verstappen came back to squirm back into the lead, allowing Nico Hulkenberg to snatch second from Perez down the inside. Fantastic racing!

15 mins to start: It's a bit showery and blustery at the Red Bull Ring, but Verstappen has just told Sky Sports that, rather than pose a risk, the conditions will make the Sprint "quite interesting". The rain isn't expected to persist for too long and it's only really affecting certain sections of the circuit.

And to the grid we go. #AustrianGP Sprint is on in 13 minutes. 🤜🤛 pic.twitter.com/ezAwr8cYqL

— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) July 1, 2023

30 mins to start: Motorsport was struck by another tragedy today: teenager Dilano van't Hoff has died after a crash at Spa-Francorchamps in the Formula Regional European Championship.

“We are so sad to learn of the passing of Dilano van 't Hoff today at Spa-Francorchamps.

Dilano died in pursuit of his dream to reach the pinnacle of motorsport.

Along with the entire motorsport community, our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”

Stefano Domenicali pic.twitter.com/Kn0gklf9RN

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 1, 2023

45 mins to start: This is the second Sprint event of the 2023 season, the first having been in Azerbaijan, when Sergio Perez enjoyed a fine weekend.

If you're wondering what it's all about, and how the rules have changed since last year, you can read our handy explainer before things get underway today.

1 hour to start: Welcome to today's coverage of the F1 Sprint race in Austria. Max Verstappen is on pole after dominating the earlier Sprint Shootout, with Lewis Hamilton way down in 18th.

Charles Leclerc was hit with a three-place grid penalty, so he drops to P9.

The Austrian Grand Prix F1 Sprint will take place at 4:30 p.m. local time. That's 3:30 p.m. BST and 10:30 a.m ET.

Austrian Grand Prix Sprint starting grid

Austrian F1 Sprint Shootout result

Max Verstappen will start from pole position for Saturday's sprint race after clocking the fastest time in the earlier Sprint Shootout.

The defending world champion was almost half a second quicker than Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, recording a fastest time of 1:04:440.

Lando Norris and Nico Hulkenberg will start on the second row, ahead of the Ferraris of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. The Aston Martins of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll qualified in P7 and P8 for the short race.

It was a bad morning for Mercedes, though. Lewis Hamilton called out his team for "bad time usage" after being held up on the circuit, meaning his time in the first session was good enough only for 18th on the Sprint grid. George Russell fared little better, and will line up in P15.

What time does the Austrian F1 Grand Prix start?

• Date: Sunday, July 2
• Start time: 3:00 p.m (Local) | 2:00 p.m (BST) | 9:00 a.m (ET) | 0:00 a.m (AEST, July 3)

Sunday's 2023 Azerbaijan is scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m. local time. Lights out will take place just after 7:00 a.m. ET and 12:00 p.m BST.

What TV channel is the F1 on?

Where can I live stream F1?

F1 season schedule 2023

In 2023, the Formula One Calendar will be made up on 23 races across four different continents. 

The action began with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 5 and will end on November 26 in Abu Dhabi. 

Here's the latest schedule (subject to change):