F1 Austrian Grand Prix LIVE: Sprint race results as Max Verstappen wins again

Max Verstappen accused Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez of pushing him off the road before going on to win Formula 1’s sprint race in Austria.

Perez had to settle for second behind Verstappen with Carlos Sainz third for Ferrari.

Lando Norris started third but finished only ninth following a poor opening lap, while George Russell and Lewis Hamilton crossed the line in eighth and 10th respectively on an underwhelming day for Mercedes.

The Aston Martin pair of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Follow live reaction from the Austrian GP with The Independent.

F1 AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX - SPRINT

• Max Verstappen wins the sprint race; Perez 2nd; Sainz 3rd

• LAP 1/24: Verstappen loses and retakes lead on chaotic opening lap; Hulkenberg 2nd; Perez 3rd

• Max Verstappen on pole for the sprint race; Perez 2nd; Norris 3rd

• Dutch driver Dilano van ’t Hoff, 18, dies after tragic accident in junior race at Spa

• Click HERE for the starting grid for the sprint

• Max Verstappen secured pole position in qualifying on Friday

• Click HERE for the full starting grid for Sunday’s grand prix

• AUSTRIAN GP PREVIEW: Lewis Hamilton dismisses cost cap penalty as supreme Red Bull return to Austria

FULL SPRINT RACE RESULTS

18:17 , Kieran Jackson

Max Verstappen claims team-mate Sergio Perez pushed him off track in Austria sprint win

17:40 , Kieran Jackson

Sprint race report

Max Verstappen accused Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez of pushing him off the road before going on to win Formula 1’s sprint race in Austria.

Perez had to settle for second behind Verstappen with Carlos Sainz third for Ferrari.

Lando Norris started third but finished only ninth following a poor opening lap, while George Russell and Lewis Hamilton crossed the line in eighth and 10th respectively on an underwhelming day for Mercedes.

Full report below:

Verstappen claims team-mate Perez pushed him off track in Austria sprint win

Lewis Hamilton after finishing P10:

17:23 , Kieran Jackson

The Red Bull boss reacts to the Verstappen-Perez incident on lap one...

17:05 , Kieran Jackson

Max Verstappen after finishing first:

16:48 , Kieran Jackson

“The start wasn’t ideal, bit of wheelspin, but after lap one it was good. 24 laps on an intermediate is quite good, the last five laps slicks were a lot faster but we were so far in the lead it didn’t make sense to pit.

“Hairy moment out of turn 1, we kept the car under control.”

Sergio Perez after finishing second:

16:34 , Kieran Jackson

“We had a good start. I think Max has agreed that I couldn’t see him going into turn 2, we just spoke about. Although we were one and two, the visibility was very bad out there.”

Carlos Sainz after finishing P3:

16:22 , Kieran Jackson

“Tricky conditions, first time we run with the inter the whole weekend. Experiment in the middle of a race is never easy, we had good pace. The Red Bulls were just a bit too quick for us today.

“Good result for me today.”

TOP-8 IN AUSTRIAN GP SPRINT:

16:14 , Kieran Jackson

1) Max Verstappen

2) Sergio Perez

3) Carlos Sainz

4) Lance Stroll

5) Fernando Alonso

6) Nico Hulkenberg

7) Esteban Ocon

8) George Russell

Max Verstappen wins the sprint in Austria!

16:05 , Kieran Jackson

A 21-second margin for Max Verstappen as he takes the chequered flag to win the sprint race in Austria!

He takes the maximum eight points! It’s a Red Bull one-two at their home track, with Sergio Perez in second.

3-8 (points-scorers): Sainz, Stroll, Alonso, Hulkenberg, Ocon, Russell

Lando Norris dropped off in the final race - and finishes ninth!

Drama from start to finish!

George Russell up to ninth (Lap 23/24)

16:03 , Kieran Jackson

George Russell making moves as he tries to claim some points, but Nico Hulkenberg in eighth also has slick tyres!

Top-7 are all on inters heading into the final stages: Verstappen, Perez, Sainz, Stroll, Alonso, Ocon, Norris

Final lap!

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton pit (Lap 19/24)

15:59 , Kieran Jackson

Basically, anyone below the top-eight is gambling to put on slick tyres - you may as well take the risk!

Max Verstappen cruising with a 15-second lead to Sergio Perez, with Carlos Sainz two seconds further down the road in third.

Top-8: Verstappen, Perez, Sainz, Stroll, Alonso, Ocon, Norris, Hulkenberg

Nico Hulkenberg now cruises past Pierre Gasly - that’s the difference between mediums/softs and inters!

George Russell pits for slicks! (Lap 16/24)

15:55 , Kieran Jackson

George Russell gambles, and switches to softs as the track dries up!

It’s a 20-second pit stop, and there’s eight laps left - who will gamble?! DRS enabled too!

This is far from done yet...

Top-8 (point-scorers): Verstappen, Perez, Sainz, Hulkenberg, Stroll, Alonso, Albon, Ocon

Norris 9th; Leclerc 10th; Hamilon 11th

Sergio Perez picks off Nico Hulkenberg (Lap 12/24)

15:51 , Kieran Jackson

It was, indeed, inevitable - though Hulkenberg did put up a fight!

Carlos Sainz has also overtaken the Haas driver, who drops back to fourth.

Top-10: Verstappen, Perez, Sainz, Hulkenberg, Stroll, Alonso, Albon, Ocon, Leclerc, Norris

Russell 11th; Hamilton 12th..

Both Hamilton and Russell overtake Magnussen (Lap 11/24)

15:48 , Kieran Jackson

Both Mercedes cars up a place after overtaking the Haas of Kevin Magnussen, who tried his best to fight back against Lewis Hamilton but to no avail!

Sergio Perez, however, is now right on the tail of the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg... surely a matter of time?!

Max Verstappen’s gap to second? 8.2 seconds already. Fastest lap after fastest lap from the Dutchman...

Max Verstappen now three seconds clear of Nico Hulkenberg (Lap 8/24)

15:44 , Kieran Jackson

Sergio Perez is not catching Nico Hulkenberg, who looks dare I say comfortable in P2 - but is losing time to Max Verstappen out in front!

Elsewhere, Charles Leclerc has dropped to ninth and is under pressure from Lando Norris (who himself had a nightmare first lap) in 10th.

A reminder that only the top-eight get points in the sprint race...

Top-10: Verstappen, Hulkenberg, Perez, Sainz, Stroll, Alonso, Albon, Ocon, Leclerc, Norris

George Russell and Lewis Hamilton still stuck in 12th and 13th respectively...

Nico Hulkenberg keeps second place (Lap 3/24)

15:39 , Kieran Jackson

Amazing start from the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg, who is up to P2 and is one second clear of Sergio Perez in third.

Perez and Verstappen not happy with each other at turn 3, mouthing off on team radio!

Top-10: Verstappen, Hulkenberg, Perez, Sainz, Stroll, Alonso, Albon, Ocon, Leclerc, Norris

Lewis Hamilton is up to 13th from 18th, on the tail of his Mercedes team-mate George Russell...

Lights out at the sprint race in Austria!

15:35 , Kieran Jackson

Max Verstappen didn’t get the best start - and Sergio Perez takes advantage to take the lead!

But all the cars struggle at turn 3, and Verstappen retakes the lead... with Nico Hulkenberg managing to make up two places and he’s up to second, after he pulls away from Perez at turn 5!

Wow, what a start! We’ve got 23 more laps of this...

Lando Norris has dropped from third to tenth!

Formation lap in Austria!

15:32 , Kieran Jackson

It’s a damp track at the Red Bull Ring, with 19 of the 20 cars on intermediate tyres!

The sole driver not on inters? Valtteri Bottas, who has gambled from P19, is on medium tyres!

Given any pit-stop scuppers your race given how short the sprint is, it’s a gamble! Very wet from what I can see...

Sergio Perez locks up already on the formation lap at turn 3!

And Bottas is coming into the pits already!

What is the starting grid for the Saturday sprint race?

15:28 , Kieran Jackson

1) Max Verstappen

2) Sergio Perez

3) Lando Norris

4) Nico Hulkenberg

5) Carlos Sainz

6) Fernando Alonso

7) Lance Stroll

8) Esteban Ocon

9) Charles Leclerc*

10) Kevin Magnussen

11) Alex Albon

12) Pierre Gasly

13) Yuki Tsunoda

14) Nyck de Vries

15) George Russell

16) Zhou Guanyu

17) Oscar Piastri

18) Lewis Hamilton

19) Valtteri Bottas

20) Logan Sargeant

*Leclerc recieved a three-place grid penalty for impeding Oscar Piastri in SQ1

It’s wet in Austria!

15:26 , Kieran Jackson

The marquees on the grid are just coming down and we’re almost ready for the sprint race at the Red Bull Ring!

Will anyone dare to be ultra-aggressive in wet conditions in Spielberg?

F1 sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix:

15:20 , Kieran Jackson

We’re just 10 minutes away from the sprint race here in Austria!

Max Verstappen is on pole alongside his Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez - can the Mexican perhaps steal a march on his team-mate at the start?

And what about Lando Norris in third?!

Driver Standings in 2023

15:11 , Kieran Jackson

1) Max Verstappen - 195 points

2) Sergio Perez - 126 points

3) Fernando Alonso - 117 points

4) Lewis Hamilton - 102 points

5) Carlos Sainz - 68 points

6) George Russell - 65 points

7) Charles Leclerc - 54 points

8) Lance Stroll - 37 points

9) Esteban Ocon - 29 points

10) Pierre Gasly - 15 points

11) Lando Norris - 12 points

12) Alex Albon - 7 points

13) Nico Hulkenberg - 6 points

14) Oscar Piastri - 5 points

15) Valtteri Bottas - 5 points

16) Zhou Guanyu - 4 points

17) Yuki Tsunoda - 2 points

18) Kevin Magnussen - 2 points

19) Nyck de Vries - 0 points

20) Logan Sargeant - 0 points

Dutch driver Dilano van ‘t Hoff, 18, dies after tragic accident in junior race at Spa

15:05 , Kieran Jackson

Some very sad news from the world of motorsport this morning...

Dutch driver Dilano Van ‘t Hoff has tragically passed away after an accident during the Formula Regional European Championship at Spa on Saturday.

The 18-year-old, racing for MP motorsport, lost his life after the incident during race 2 on Saturday morning at the circuit in Belgium.

Dutch driver Dilano van ‘t Hoff, 18, dies after tragic accident in junior race at Spa

Why have Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney invested in Alpine F1 team?

14:59 , Kieran Jackson

Explainer by Kieran Jackson

Alpine have confirmed the involvement of Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney among a group of investors who have bought a 24 per cent equity stake in the French F1 team.

The Hollywood duo, famous together for purchasing non-league Wrexham and playing a starring role in their recent transformation and promotion to the Football League, have now expanded their sporting portfolio further.

Renault, the Formula 1 team’s parent company, confirmed that Reynolds and McElhenney have joined RedBird Capital Partners, the US investment firm that own Italian football club AC Milan and also have stakes in Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group, in the deal alongside US-based Otro Capital.

But why have Reynolds and McElhenney looked to F1 for their next sporting investment? What does it mean for Alpine and their championship ambitions? And how will it impact the constant arms race that is Formula 1?

Why have Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney invested in an F1 team?

What is the starting grid for the Saturday sprint race?

14:48 , Kieran Jackson

1) Max Verstappen

2) Sergio Perez

3) Lando Norris

4) Nico Hulkenberg

5) Carlos Sainz

6) Fernando Alonso

7) Lance Stroll

8) Esteban Ocon

9) Charles Leclerc*

10) Kevin Magnussen

11) Alex Albon

12) Pierre Gasly

13) Yuki Tsunoda

14) Nyck de Vries

15) George Russell

16) Zhou Guanyu

17) Oscar Piastri

18) Lewis Hamilton

19) Valtteri Bottas

20) Logan Sargeant

*Leclerc recieved a three-place grid penalty for impeding Oscar Piastri in SQ1

Lando Norris victim of robbery in Marbella and influencer friend left with ‘literally nothing’

14:39 , Kieran Jackson

Lando Norris has revealed he had a number of expensive items stolen in a robbery at a villa in Marbella.

It is the second time the British Formula 1 star has been targeted by thieves after he was accosted by two men and had his Richard Mille designer watch stolen after the Euro 2020 final at Wembley.

Full story below:

Lando Norris victim of robbery in Marbella and influencer friend left with ‘nothing’

Constructors’ Championship in 2023

14:35 , Kieran Jackson

1) Red Bull - 321 points

2) Mercedes - 167 points

3) Aston Martin - 154 points

4) Ferrari - 122 points

5) Alpine - 44 points

6) McLaren - 17 points

7) Haas - 8 points

8) Alfa Romeo - 8 points

9) Williams - 7 points

10) AlphaTauri - 2 points

Lewis Hamilton dismisses cost cap penalty as supreme Red Bull return to Austria

14:22 , Kieran Jackson

Austrian Grand Prix preview

For all the success garnered over the last two years, an asterisk has accompanied the Red Bull route to Formula 1 domination. In 2021, Max Verstappen’s dramatic title triumph was shrouded in controversy after the Abu Dhabi fiasco. Last year, their mightily impressive double-title glory was overshadowed by breaching the inaugural F1 cost cap.

This season, entering race nine back at their Red Bull Ring base this weekend with Verstappen holding a 69-point lead in the championship – and even that is from his teammate Sergio Perez – there does not look set to be such a dark cloud forming this time.

The RB19 is perhaps Adrian Newey’s greatest achievement yet. Verstappen’s confidence is at an all-time high, to the extent he joked in real time about a slightly misjudged approach to the kerb in Canada where George Russell had earlier crashed. And when the Dutchman has a rare off-day, perhaps in qualifying, invariably Sergio Perez is there to pick up the first-place trophy instead.

Christian Horner’s team are a pristine, well-oiled machine. They claimed their 100th win in F1 last time out in Montreal. Yet Lewis Hamilton, seven times a world champion and scampering desperately with the other 17 drivers on the grid to catch up, is willing to discuss the elephant in the room.

Full piece below:

‘It was so small’: Lewis Hamilton dismisses impact of Red Bull’s cost cap penalty

BREAKING: Charles Leclerc drops three grid spots for impeding Oscar Piastri in SQ1

14:08 , Kieran Jackson

Drops from sixth to ninth on the grid for this afternoon.

Driver Standings in 2023

13:58 , Kieran Jackson

1) Max Verstappen - 195 points

2) Sergio Perez - 126 points

3) Fernando Alonso - 117 points

4) Lewis Hamilton - 102 points

5) Carlos Sainz - 68 points

6) George Russell - 65 points

7) Charles Leclerc - 54 points

8) Lance Stroll - 37 points

9) Esteban Ocon - 29 points

10) Pierre Gasly - 15 points

11) Lando Norris - 12 points

12) Alex Albon - 7 points

13) Nico Hulkenberg - 6 points

14) Oscar Piastri - 5 points

15) Valtteri Bottas - 5 points

16) Zhou Guanyu - 4 points

17) Yuki Tsunoda - 2 points

18) Kevin Magnussen - 2 points

19) Nyck de Vries - 0 points

20) Logan Sargeant - 0 points

Max Verstappen takes sprint pole in Austria with Lewis Hamilton lowly 18th

13:41 , Kieran Jackson

Sprint shootout report

Lewis Hamilton will start today’s sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix from a lowly 18th as Max Verstappen took pole position.

Defending champion Verstappen raced to top spot for the second day in succession following his qualifying triumph for Sunday’s 71-lap Grand Prix.

Sergio Perez joins team-mate Verstappen on the front row for today’s 23-lap dash round the Red Bull Ring, with McLaren’s Lando Norris an impressive third. Norris, who finished nearly six tenths back from Verstappen, lines up one place ahead of Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg.

Max Verstappen takes sprint pole in Austria with Lewis Hamilton lowly 18th

A minute’s silence was held prior to the F2 race in Austria

13:15 , Kieran Jackson

MP Motorsport have issued a statement:

12:53 , Kieran Jackson

“MP Motorsport is deeply saddened to confirm that our driver, Dilano van ’t Hoff has passed away as a result of a crash during the second race of the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine at Spa Francorchamps.

“We are devastated at the loss of one of our brightest Dutch talents, who brought so much energy to our team during the years he raced with us. Dilano has been a part of our racing family since his motorsport debut with MP back in 2021.

“We offer our sincere condolences to Dilano’s family and his loved ones, and are in full support of them and our team members who have lost not only a driver but a friend as well.”

Dutch driver Dilano van ‘t Hoff, 18, dies after tragic accident in junior race at Spa

12:33 , Kieran Jackson

Some very sad news from the world of motorsport this morning...

Dutch driver Dilano Van ‘t Hoff has tragically passed away after an accident during the Formula Regional European Championship at Spa on Saturday.

The 18-year-old, racing for MP motorsport, lost his life after the incident during race 2 on Saturday morning at the circuit in Belgium.

Dutch driver Dilano van ‘t Hoff, 18, dies after tragic accident in junior race at Spa

Lando Norris after finishing P3:

12:12 , Kieran Jackson

“On the whole, it was pretty dry. Felt like I did a better lap, I’m very happy again.

“It was a more complete lap than yesterday. We did a good job, yeah happy. There’s always little things you can improve on, Perez got me, but nothing that would transform anything.”

Max Verstappen after claiming pole:

11:57 , Kieran Jackson

“Track was drying up, lap-after-lap improving, I think we did well. Very happy to be first.

“Car is quick, today let’s see over a stint how we will perform. Track limits is difficult, even in the race it will be quite hard to manage.”

TOP-10 FOR THE SPRINT RACE!

11:47 , Kieran Jackson

1) Max Verstappen

2) Sergio Perez

3) Lando Norris

4) Nico Hulkenberg

5) Carlos Sainz

6) Charles Leclerc

7) Fernando Alonso

8) Lance Stroll

9) Esteban Ocon

10) Kevin Magnussen

Max Verstappen on pole position for the sprint race in Austria!

11:46 , Kieran Jackson

A cruise of a morning, really, for Max Verstappen - he’s on pole position by a huge margin of 0.493 seconds to his team-mate Sergio Perez!

A Red Bull one-two. And Lando Norris will start in third!

4-10: Hulkenberg, Sainz, Leclefc, Alonso, Stroll, Ocon, Magnussen

Kudos to Nico Hulkenberg in fourth for Haas too!

Max Verstappen fastest out of first hot laps

11:42 , Kieran Jackson

With a 1:04:613, Max Verstappen is quickest out of the early hot laps - with the McLaren of Lando Norris in second, four-tenths back!

Perez 3rd, Sainz 4th, Hulkenberg 5th.

6-10: Alonso, Ocon, Magnussen, Stroll, Leclerc

Three minutes to go...

SQ3 is underway!

11:39 , Kieran Jackson

So just eight minutes - can all 10 drivers get in two hot laps in this quickfire final qualifying session?!

Ten drivers involved: Verstappen, Ocon, Perez, Sainz, Norris, Magnussen, Alonso, Stroll, Hulkenberg, Leclerc

Any tyre choice is optional, by the way, given the varied conditions - not the usual mandatory soft.

Alex Albon also out in SQ2!

11:32 , Kieran Jackson

Alex Albon misses out on SQ3 to Nico Hulkenberg by six-hundredths of a second!

Bottom-five (11-15) and out in SQ2: Albon, Gasly, Tsunoda, De Vries, Russell

Max Verstappen fastest; Sainz 2nd; Ocon 3rd.

George Russell confirmed to be out in SQ2!

11:29 , Kieran Jackson

George Russell will not take to the track in this session - he’s out and will start P15!

P15 and P18 for Mercedes, what a nightmare!

Current bottom-five (11-15): Leclerc, Tsunoda, Gasly, De Vries, Russell

One minute left!

Max Verstappen quickest early on but George Russell in trouble

11:26 , Kieran Jackson

Max Verstappen fastest, with Carlos Sainz second and Fernando Alonso third.

Current bottom-five (11-15): Albon, Tsunoda, Gasly, De Vries, Russell (no time)

Problems for George Russell who has a hydraulics issue. The team are working frantically to fix the issue, but it’s looking a bit forlorn right now!

Four minutes to go...

Lewis Hamilton, after being knocked out in SQ1:

11:23 , Kieran Jackson

“Timing was not right. Sprint race doesn’t really matter anyway, just have some fun at the back. Don’t really feel any way about it

“Nothing to say. We’ll focus on our job today, could’ve easily been much further up there but will just have fun at the back.”

SQ2 underway!

11:22 , Kieran Jackson

Now just 10 minutes for the second session of sprint qualifying...

Who will make the top-10?!

Lewis Hamilton reacts to missing out on SQ2

11:19 , Kieran Jackson

Lewis Hamilton is out in SQ1!

11:16 , Kieran Jackson

Oh no! While both Ferraris put in rapid laps right at the death, the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton is stuck in traffic!

Hamilton is P18 for the sprint race later! He did have a lap time deleted earlier in the session too - a nightmare for Mercedes!

Bottom-five and out in SQ1: Zhou, Piastri, Hamilton, Bottas, Sargeant

Charles Leclerc escapes in P15...

Carlos Sainz on the cusp of missing out on SQ2 here!

11:12 , Kieran Jackson

Carlos Sainz only leaves the garage with two minutes left - can he get through with two minutes remaining?!

Current bottom-five (16-20): Gasly, Bottas, Leclerc, Zhou, Sainz

Both Ferraris in the danger-zone right now!

Lando Norris fastest with five minutes left

11:09 , Kieran Jackson

Lap times constantly improving here as the track improves, with all the cars now on slick tyres - mostly softs.

Lando Norris quickest, with Fernando Alonso second and Yuki Tsunoda third.

The Red Bull pair of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez have BOTH had lap times deleted early on for exceeding track limits. Yawn...

Current bottom-five (16-20): Gasly, Bottas, Zhou, Sargeant, Sainz

Carlos Sainz has a problem with his brakes incidentally - and he’s still in the garage.

SQ1 underway!

11:04 , Kieran Jackson

So, just 12 minutes for SQ1 - sprint qualifying 1 - where we will, as usual, lose the slowest five cars from the rest of qualifying.

It’s been raining this morning in Spielberg but the track has mostly dried out. Most cars out there on intermediates right now, with the Williams pair of Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant the only drivers on wets.

F1 sprint shootout at Austrian Grand Prix!

11:00 , Kieran Jackson

It’s raining at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg for this quickfire sprint shootout qualifying this morning!

Here’s the format:

It will follow the same Q1-Q2-Q3 format but the session times will be shorter than traditional qualifying: Q1 will be 12 minutes, Q2 will be 10 minutes and Q3 will be eight minutes.

Constructors’ Championship in 2023

10:48 , Kieran Jackson

1) Red Bull - 321 points

2) Mercedes - 167 points

3) Aston Martin - 154 points

4) Ferrari - 122 points

5) Alpine - 44 points

6) McLaren - 17 points

7) Haas - 8 points

8) Alfa Romeo - 8 points

9) Williams - 7 points

10) AlphaTauri - 2 points

Max Verstappen keeps pole position

10:40 , Kieran Jackson

Max Verstappen has been cleared by the stewards and keeps pole position for Sunday’s Austrian GP.

The Stewards’ verdict read: “The driver of Car 1 (Verstappen) stated that he saw a car approaching after he crossed the line at the end of his push lap and moved to the left of the track after the exit of Turn 1.

“The driver of Car 20 (Magnussen) stated that he had to move to the right to avoid Car 1 and hence lost time on his fast lap.

“The Stewards determined from the video (and audio) evidence that Car 20 had clipped the kerb in Turn 1 and that this subsequently caused a slight change in acceleration which in turn resulted in a slightly slower time on the next mini sectors.

“The Stewards further determined that Car 20 did not have to take significant evasive action.

“We further note that the fact that the lap time of Car 20 was subsequently deleted (due to exceeding track limits at Turn 10) was irrelevant to this decision. Any incident is always investigated independently of other incidents or penalties.”

Why have Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney invested in Alpine F1 team?

10:33 , Kieran Jackson

Explainer by Kieran Jackson

Alpine have confirmed the involvement of Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney among a group of investors who have bought a 24 per cent equity stake in the French F1 team.

The Hollywood duo, famous together for purchasing non-league Wrexham and playing a starring role in their recent transformation and promotion to the Football League, have now expanded their sporting portfolio further.

Renault, the Formula 1 team’s parent company, confirmed that Reynolds and McElhenney have joined RedBird Capital Partners, the US investment firm that own Italian football club AC Milan and also have stakes in Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group, in the deal alongside US-based Otro Capital.

But why have Reynolds and McElhenney looked to F1 for their next sporting investment? What does it mean for Alpine and their championship ambitions? And how will it impact the constant arms race that is Formula 1?

Why have Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney invested in an F1 team?

Max Verstappen responds to Lewis Hamilton

10:14 , Kieran Jackson

Hamilton said: “I think the FIA should probably put a time when everyone is allowed to start developing on next year’s car,” he added, referring to Red Bull no longer focusing on their 2023 car such is their current advantage and instead shifting emphasis to 2024.

“Say August 1, that’s where everybody can start so that no one can get an advantage on the next year, because that sucks. It would make more sense. They should. Say for example you start the season and you know you have a bad car, you can just say ‘I’m not going to bother developing this car’ and put all this money into next year’s car and have an advantage.”

Here is Verstappen’s response:

Lando Norris victim of robbery in Marbella and influencer friend left with ‘literally nothing’

09:45 , Kieran Jackson

Lando Norris has revealed he had a number of expensive items stolen in a robbery at a villa in Marbella.

It is the second time the British Formula 1 star has been targeted by thieves after he was accosted by two men and had his Richard Mille designer watch stolen after the Euro 2020 final at Wembley.

Full story below:

Lando Norris victim of robbery in Marbella and influencer friend left with ‘nothing’

Lewis Hamilton dismisses cost cap penalty as supreme Red Bull return to Austria

09:29 , Kieran Jackson

Austrian Grand Prix preview

For all the success garnered over the last two years, an asterisk has accompanied the Red Bull route to Formula 1 domination. In 2021, Max Verstappen’s dramatic title triumph was shrouded in controversy after the Abu Dhabi fiasco. Last year, their mightily impressive double-title glory was overshadowed by breaching the inaugural F1 cost cap.

This season, entering race nine back at their Red Bull Ring base this weekend with Verstappen holding a 69-point lead in the championship – and even that is from his teammate Sergio Perez – there does not look set to be such a dark cloud forming this time.

The RB19 is perhaps Adrian Newey’s greatest achievement yet. Verstappen’s confidence is at an all-time high, to the extent he joked in real time about a slightly misjudged approach to the kerb in Canada where George Russell had earlier crashed. And when the Dutchman has a rare off-day, perhaps in qualifying, invariably Sergio Perez is there to pick up the first-place trophy instead.

Christian Horner’s team are a pristine, well-oiled machine. They claimed their 100th win in F1 last time out in Montreal. Yet Lewis Hamilton, seven times a world champion and scampering desperately with the other 17 drivers on the grid to catch up, is willing to discuss the elephant in the room.

Full piece below:

‘It was so small’: Lewis Hamilton dismisses impact of Red Bull’s cost cap penalty

Driver Standings in 2023

09:25 , Kieran Jackson

1) Max Verstappen - 195 points

2) Sergio Perez - 126 points

3) Fernando Alonso - 117 points

4) Lewis Hamilton - 102 points

5) Carlos Sainz - 68 points

6) George Russell - 65 points

7) Charles Leclerc - 54 points

8) Lance Stroll - 37 points

9) Esteban Ocon - 29 points

10) Pierre Gasly - 15 points

11) Lando Norris - 12 points

12) Alex Albon - 7 points

13) Nico Hulkenberg - 6 points

14) Oscar Piastri - 5 points

15) Valtteri Bottas - 5 points

16) Zhou Guanyu - 4 points

17) Yuki Tsunoda - 2 points

18) Kevin Magnussen - 2 points

19) Nyck de Vries - 0 points

20) Logan Sargeant - 0 points

Max Verstappen claims another pole but Sergio Perez struggles again at Austrian Grand Prix

09:20 , Kieran Jackson

Qualifying report:

Max Verstappen’s crushing dominance of Formula One continued at the Austrian Grand Prix after he put his Red Bull on pole position.

The world champion, a winner at six of the first eight races, saw off his rivals at the Red Bull Ring to seal his fourth pole on the spin for Sunday’s 71-lap grand prix.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc provided Verstappen with a late scare, but the Monegasque had to settle for second place, crossing the line 0.048 seconds shy of the Dutchman.

Verstappen claims another pole but Perez struggles again in qualifying in Austria

F1 Austrian Grand Prix sprint shootout

09:17 , Kieran Jackson

Good morning and welcome to live coverage of sprint day at the Austrian Grand Prix with The Independent!

Max Verstappen put his Red Bull on pole during yesterday’s grand prix qualifying, but can anyone beat him today?

Live updates to follow from the Red Bull Ring - the sprint shootout qualifying is at 11am (BST) before the sprint race at 3:30pm!