Formula 1

Hamilton secures Pole

World champion Lewis Hamilton won the qualification for the Austrian Grand Prix Pole Position. Rank two goes to Mercedes. However, Nico Rosberg will be moved five places to the rear.

Lewis Hamilton at the front and then a German Trio. The exciting Qualifying session of the formula 1 world champion has secured Pole position for the Grand Prix of Austria. Behind Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg, surprisingly, Nico Hulkenberg in the Force India and Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel, followed. Rosberg and Vettel will, however, put in the starting lineup on Sunday due to a gearbox change, in each case to five places to the rear. Pascal Wehrlein Twelfth, was now, with his best result of the season in the Manor.

“It was fun out there,” said Hamilton after the 54. Pole of his career. “The rain has everything twirled a bit of a mess, the drying rail has contributed to the excitement.” Even more exciting, the Qualifying was Rosberg who had to leave after a training crash, the entire car re-build – even using the mechanic from the arch-rival and team-mate Hamilton. In the final training session in the morning was broken on the uneven edge of the stone, the rear suspension. The 31-Year-old banged in the gang. Because the gearbox had to be changed, Rosberg on the day of the race five places. “Of course, the five places are hurting already,” said the Austrian winner of 2014 and 2015. In the case of Vettel, the exchange, before the Grand-Prix-weekend in Styria.

Safety concerns before the race

Not just after Rosberg’s accident there was criticism of the uneven edge of the stone on the Red Bull Ring. The Russian Daniil Kwjat caused his departure in the Toro Rosso in the qualification are also according to a contact with a curb for a break. Also his car was broken rear suspension. “If this continues, then some is still in the wall and is injured. Now something must be done,” said Hamilton, who had commented on safety concerns of colleagues and finally disparagingly.

Still, Rosberg leads the world championship standings before the ninth of the 21 season to race with 141 points, but must expect that his team-mate Hamilton (117) is approaching closer. On course three-Four-time Champion Vettel (96) on the Sunday of 29-year-old. “It is very much in it,” said Vettel. “We have the pace to be on top.”

og/ck (sid, dpa)