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
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Your support makes all the difference.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
Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix, which gets underway in an hour's time.
2020 may be the most disrupted season in Formula One history, but some things remain the same and sight of a Lewis Hamilton-driven Mercedes at the top of the timesheets came as no surprise to anyone.
The six-time world champion believes Mercedes have developed a car that is noticeably stronger than last season's championship-winning model, which will not be welcome listening to their rivals. Both Ferrari and Red Bull do at least look to have some pace beneath them, but whether they can challenge the newly-designed black Mercs remains to be seen.
But, after more than seven long months, how great is it to say that in 45 minutes time, it's green, green, green and Formula One returns. It's been a long wait...
It's been a frantic afternoon already for Williams, who are busy piecing the front end together on Nicolas Latifi's car after this shunt in the middle of third practice.
It's exactly what you don't want in your maiden GP weekend, with the Canadian replacing Robert Kubica this season as Williams look to get off the back of the grid.
The early positive for the Grove-based team though is that George Russell showed a fair amount of pace in third practice, ending the session in 15th ahead of both the Alpha Tauri's, and could we see a Williams emerge from Q1 for the first time in more than a season?
What is DAS?No, it's not a German cliche, but the Dual-Axis Steering (DAS) System that triggered a protest from Red Bull, which was rejected late last night by the FIA stewards.
Following a six-hour stewards' investigation, the FIA gave Mercedes the green light to continue using their controversial DAS system, priming Hamilton as the favourite to win Sunday's race. The mechanism allows both Hamilton and Bottas to adjust the distance of their steering wheel while racing at full speed, which in turn slightly adjusts the angle of the front tyres to increase tyre temperature while protecting the rear tyres.
Social distancing?
There are strict social distancing protocols in force in order to get the Austrian Grand Prix up and running following the coronavirus pandemic, with all team personnel to wear face masks at all times and maintain their space where possible ... which is why this image of Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel speaking with Red Bull's Christian Horner and Helmut Marko has caused a but of controversy.
No masks, no distancing.
Regardless, there was good news this morning as the initial 4,032 coronavirus tests taken over the last week have ALL come back negative.
Early drama in the Mercedes garage, though it looks like its crisis averted after a hydraulic leak was located at the back of Valtteri Bottas's car. The team are confident they've repaired it in time for the start of the session though, and we have cars straight out on track in the form of Nicolas Latifi's Williams, meaning the repairs from third practice have been completed in good time.
Qualifying 1
It's a promising first lap from George Russell, and while he can't go any faster than the two Alfa Romeos, he is only 0.114s off the time set by Giovinazzi.
Anyway, here come the two Racing Points, and Stroll sets the first 1:04 of the day.
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