Austrian Grand Prix qualifying LIVE: Latest F1 updates as Valtteri Bottas beats Lewis Hamilton to pole position

Follow the latest updates from the opening qualifying session of the Formula One season

F1 returns: A lap of the Austrian Grand Prix

Follow the latest updates live from the first qualifying session of the Formula One season at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton has dominated all three practice sessions so far this weekend, topping the timesheets on each occasion with Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas in close company. However, much of the attention will be on the DAS system that the reigning world champions have used this weekend, which has been approved by the FIA for use despite a protest from rivals Red Bull.

Ferrari look to have found some pace in their car, while dark horses Racing Point could find themselves involved at the business end of the grid after showing a promising pace in practice. However, it will need to be a swift turnaround for the Williams mechanics, with rookie Nicholas Latifi crashing in third practice this morning that leaves the struggling team facing a rapid rebuild to make it in time for qualifying. The action begins at 2pm with all the live updates below.

What time does each session start?

FRIDAY

Free practice 1: 10am – 11:30am BST

Free practice 2: 2pm – 3:30pm BST

SATURDAY

Free practice 3: 11am – 12pm BST

Qualifying: 2pm – 3pm BST

SUNDAY

Race: 2:10pm – 4:10pm BST

Key Points

 

[4 July 2020 14:52 · Jack de Menezes]

Qualifying 3

Bottas is the first man on the road, and will set the first benchmark time for the rest to beat. He's got Hamilton behind him as the next car on track, and it's Hamilton fastest through the first sector.

[4 July 2020 14:53 · Jack de Menezes]

Qualifying 3

Bottas fights back in the second sector, this is nip and tuck stuff.

[4 July 2020 14:54 · Jack de Menezes]

Qualifying 3

Bottas sets a new lap record with a 1:02.939, breaking Leclerc's record from last year, and Hamilton can't match it! Hamilton is 0.122s slower, with Verstappen slotting into third with a time a time 0.612s off Bottas.

[4 July 2020 14:56 · Jack de Menezes]

Qualifying 3

Standings after the first runs:

1. Bottas

2. Hamilton

3. Verstappen

4. Albon

5. Sainz

6. Perez

7. Leclerc

8. Norris - no time

9. Stroll - no time

10. Ricciardo - no time

[4 July 2020 14:57 · Jack de Menezes]

Qualifying 3

Hamilton is faster in a straight line than Bottas, but the Finn is raking it back in the second and third sectors and he seems to have a car that is more balanced through the flowing corners of Spielberg than Hamilton has.

Will that change in the second runs? It's Stroll up first once again.

[4 July 2020 14:58 · Jack de Menezes]

Qualifying 3

Stroll's time puts him sixth fastest, putting him narrowly ahead of teammate Perez.

[4 July 2020 15:00 · Jack de Menezes]

Qualifying 3

Verstappen will be first across the line... as Bottas goes off!

[4 July 2020 15:01 · Jack de Menezes]

Qualifying 3

Hamilton can't do it! Bottas takes pole position despite wrecking his final run!

[4 July 2020 15:04 · Jack de Menezes]

[4 July 2020 15:05 · Jack de Menezes]

Qualifying 3 final standings

1. Bottas

2. Hamilton

3. Verstappen

4. Norris

5. Albon

6. Perez

7. Leclerc

8. Sainz Jr

9. Stroll

10. Ricciardo