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As it happenedended

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

Jack de Menezes
Sports News Correspondent
Saturday 04 July 2020 09:45 EDT
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F1 returns: A lap of the Austrian Grand Prix

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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

Qualifying 2

Stroll once again is the man who wants to get out there first, and is onto his flying lap before many have even left the pits. He's certainly enjoying the extra speed that the team have found this season through copying the Mercedes design, though his efforrt is no improvement on his previous time.

Jack de Menezes4 July 2020 14:38

Qualifying 2

Verstappenn has indeed gone back out on the soft tyres, so expect an improvement from the Dutchman.

Jack de Menezes4 July 2020 14:39

Qualifying 2

Both Bottas and Hamilton are on personal bests through the first sector.

Jack de Menezes4 July 2020 14:39

Qualifying 2

Bottas goes fastest!

Jack de Menezes4 July 2020 14:40

Qualifying 2

Hamilton improves, but it's not enough to beat Bottas.

Jack de Menezes4 July 2020 14:40

Qualifying 2

Vettel is out! Alex Albon improves and knocks Sebastian Vettel out of Q2!

Jack de Menezes4 July 2020 14:41

Qualifying 2

"That's crazy", says Charles Leclerc after being told he is only 10th fastest, but it's worse news for his teammate as Vettel fails to make it into Q3 with a ragged lap, and the fears that Ferrari are miles off the pace materialise to leave them with plenty of work to do.

Elimiated:

11. Vettel

12. Gasly

13. Kvyat

14. Ocon

15. Grosjean

Jack de Menezes4 July 2020 14:44

Qualifying 3

Here's the 10 drivers for the Q3 shootout:

1. Bottas

2. Hamilton

3. Albon

4. Norris

5. Perez

6. Stroll

7. Sainz

8. Verstappen

9. Ricciardo

10. Leclerc

Jack de Menezes4 July 2020 14:45

Qualifying 3

The 12-minute final shootout for pole position gets underway.

Jack de Menezes4 July 2020 14:48

Qualifying 3

With 10 minutes remaining the pits comes alive and here come the remaining drivers. Two Mercedes, two Red Bulls, two McLarens, two Racing Points, one Renaul and just one Ferrari.

Jack de Menezes4 July 2020 14:51

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