Max Verstappen may be starting on pole in a Sprint for the eighth time in 14 attempts and second time in a row – but he faced an impressive challenge from friend and rival Lando Norris in the McLaren at Austria’s Red Bull Ring.
The papaya-clad cars, sporting front wing and front suspension upgrades this weekend, looked like a real threat to the reigning world champion through practice and in Sprint Qualifying – and that means Verstappen might not have it all his own way…
READ MORE: Verstappen pips Norris to Sprint Qualifying pole in Austria by 0.093s
/16x9%20single%20image%20-%202026-02-13T105716.711.webp?w=218&resize=218,150&ssl=1 "George Russell tops morning timesheets on Day 3 of first pre-season test in Bahrain")
