- Lap-by-lap updates from Red Bull Ring, 2pm BST start
- Verstappen and Norris on front row, Hamilton fourth
- Get in touch! Email Niall or tweet @niallmcveigh
1.48pm BST
It’s time for the Austrian national anthem, and it’s a quite sensational interpretation featuring a drumming band, sky divers, a fly-over and then a trio of guitarists to shred us home. The drivers, and assorted dignitaries, look a bit confused.
That’s how you do a national anthem! #F1 // #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/29nPXDGEeJ
1.44pm BST
Worth noting that there is one big change from last week’s race. While the Styrian GP played out in front of empty stands, today there is a full capacity crowd of 100,000 fans – a huge proportion of which are clad in orange and cheering for Verstappen.
The British GP in two weeks is set to host a capacity crowd, too. I’m not quite sure what the logic is behind the jump from zero fans to full capacity, though.
1.36pm BST
Chelsea forward Timo Werner is a guest in the F1 paddock today, perhaps because he has arguably the most F1 name in football. He’s asked, predictably enough, if England can win the Euros.
“Yes, I think so,” he says. “They played a brilliant game [against Ukraine] and were the better team [against Germany] on Tuesday … they have all that’s needed to win the Euros and I wish them all the best.”
1.29pm BST
Bad news for George Russell, who produced a storming qualifying run to make the top 10 – but he’s not happy with his car today. “100% something’s not right with the rear of the car,” he says over the Williams radio. They seem to think it’s fixable and he’ll still take his place on the grid.
1.26pm BST
Sky have had a chat with Christian Horner, the Red Bull head honcho. He’s tempering expectations despite Verstappen’s win here last week:
“It’s going to be a different race this week – different cars, different conditions. McLaren are really quick in a straight line, we expect Mercedes to find some race pace. The season’s been intense so far, we’ve managed to put a good run together against a formidable opponent. We’ve got to keep making hay while the sun shines.”
1.20pm BST
*Vettel penalised three grid places for impeding Alonso during qualifying
1.08pm BST
Sergio Pérez is third on the grid today for his 200th race, and looks set to earn a contract extension with Red Bull. What better way to celebrate all of that than by slipping on the lederhosen and enjoying a can of the good stuff?
When Race 200 lands at the #AustrianGP, it means only one thing… Lederhosen @SChecoPerez pic.twitter.com/XvVFXm9Gys
1.00pm BST
Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have been the dominant forces in Formula One since 2013, halcyon days when Barack Obama was the US president and Daft Punk ruled the hit parade.
Hamilton has won six of the seven world titles since Sebastian Vettel’s last title with Red Bull; his former Mercedes teammate, Nico Rosberg, won the other as Toto Wolff’s mob have hoovered up championships. For now at least, the pendulum appears to have swung with Max Verstappen leading the drivers’ championship and his Red Bull team top of the constructors’ charts.