Styrian GP: Verstappen claims possible pole after leading Practice 2

Max Verstappen has taken what could be pole position for Sunday’s Styrian Grand Prix after going fastest in second practice on Friday.

With thunderstorms threatening to wash out Saturday at the Red Bull Ring, should qualifying not take place, the grid would be decided by the finishing order of Practice 2.

This led to a flurry of activity during the session as drivers pushed flat out to set the best time.

All of this would begin after a red flag, however, as Daniel Ricciardo had a hefty crash at Turn 9 in the Renault and was seen slightly limping into the medical car.

The Australian though was checked over in the medical centre and declared “fit” to continue this weekend.

When the session resumed, it was Perez who led the way as the qualifying runs began, going just 0.009s slower than his qualifying time from last weekend in the Racing Point with his second flying lap.

Mercedes and Max Verstappen would wait a little longer before bolting on the soft tyres and upping the engine modes as the rest were doing.

Several drivers though were caught out by track limits at the final two corners, with Max notably losing two lap times to running wide at Turn 9.

But after Bottas had displaced Perez in P1 initially, the Dutchman finally put a good lap together to just beat the Finn by 0.043s to claim what is provisional pole for Sunday.

Perez would drop to third ahead of teammate Lance Stroll with Carlos Sainz a strong fifth for McLaren.

Lewis Hamilton though was struggling down in sixth in the other Mercedes, almost seven-tenths off the pace.

Alex Albon, who spun twice in the session, was seventh in the second Red Bull with Lando Norris, who received a three-place grid penalty for overtaking under yellow flags in Practice 1, eighth.

Charles Leclerc continued to keep Ferrari somewhat in contention in ninth, 0.9s ahead of teammate Sebastian Vettel down in 16th.

After Ricciardo’s crash, Esteban Ocon would lead Renault’s charge in P10.