Red Bull's Max Verstappen continued his roar back to form by taking pole for Saturday's sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix but an off-track row involving his father, Jos, rumbles on.
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The sprint format is being used for the third time this year, after China and Miami, and the triple world champion made sure he was top of the pack with a one-shot lap in SQ3 of 1 minute 04.686 seconds.
"Great to be first here in front of my fans, my home grand prix. It's a good start to the weekend," the Dutchman said.
McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were second and third quickest.
Having not looked as dominant as last season earlier this year, Verstappen has pulled away in the standings after winning the last two races in Canada and Spain.
Success on his Red Bull team's home track in round 11 looks likely given his four previous wins in Spielberg.
First he must negotiate the sprint race on Saturday before qualifying for Sunday's full grand prix.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc appeared to have a problem in the pitlane in SQ3 and could not set a time so placed 10th. Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin was a surprise early casualty in SQ2 and will start the Saturday's sprint race 13th.
In the only practice session of the weekend in Spielberg earlier, Verstappen caused a red flag due to an apparent engine problem but returned to set the fastest time.
Meanwhile Christian Horner, the Red Bull team principal, has denied he pulled the plug on Verstappen Snr taking part in a legends' parade prior to Sunday's race.
Verstappen Snr, 52, had been set to drive the Red Bull machine which carried Sebastian Vettel to the world championship in 2012 ahead of the team's home race.
But Verstappen Snr withdrew from the event after he was quoted in the Dutch media as claiming that Horner did not want him to participate.
Horner has hit back, saying: "The legends' parade is something that is organised by the circuit and there was no veto from my side or anything like that.
"My relationship with Max has always been very good and very strong and he is a key part of our team. He is our driver and he is the one that is important to have a strong relationship with."
Verstappen Snr is making only his second appearance in the paddock since he claimed at the season-opening round in Bahrain that Red Bull would "explode" if Horner remained in his post.
Horner was exonerated by the racing team's parent company, Red Bull GmbH, of alleged controlling behaviour against a female colleague before WhatsApp messages pertaining to be exchanged between him and his complainant were leaked.
Verstappen Snr is known to have sounded out Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff about a move from Red Bull to the Silver Arrows following the scandal. his son, under contract until 2028, insisted this week that he has no immediate plans to quit Red Bull.
his son, under contract until 2028, insisted on Thursday that he has no immediate plans to quit Red Bull.
Daniel Ricciardo's Red Bull seat is looking increasingly vulnerable after the team's motorsport adviser Helmut Marko this week indicated the Australian's days could be numbered.
And Ricciardo did little to ease the internal pressure after he failed to make it out of Q1 and qualified 16th.
Australian Associated Press
