MAX HITS TOP GEAR

Champ sprints into pole role

- JOHN NORFOLK

MAX VERSTAPPEN won the sprint race to extend his championship lead and secure pole position for the Austrian GP.

The Dutchman, 24, held off Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz in the opening corners before racing unopposed to the chequered flag to the delight of his travelling orange-clad army.

Charles Leclerc grabbed second spot after a number of nail-biting exchanges with team-mate Sainz.

The Spaniard, who won at Silverstone six days ago, completed the podium.

George Russell started fourth and finished in the same position while Lewis Hamilton, involved in a collision with Pierre Gasly at the start, dropped from ninth to 11th before finishing eighth.