However, his weekend is not getting off to a great start after a massive crash in qualifying.The crash sparked a controversial end to qualifying that saw Mercedes' George Russell claim pole position.CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGERed Bull's Max Verstappen's heavy crash at the Red Bull Ring led to a controversial end to Austrian Grand Prix qualifying.(Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images)Verstappen made it into Q3, the final round of qualifying, with a gutsy strategy call, and that gave Verstappen a shot at starting up front in Sunday's race.However, he was giving it everything he had on his final lap when the Dutchman lost the rear of his car on entry into Turn 9, the circuit's penultimate corner, a quick-flick, high-speed right-hander.He skidded off through the gravel and made heavy contact with the barrier.The four-time champ commented that the car had felt loose on that lap, but what was really interesting was that his engine, er, Gianpiero Lambiase, said something about a "delay on the rear wing," which seems to imply that the team's flipping rear wing didn't close in time, leaving Verstappen without enough downforce to get through the corner.But, while the crash was dramatic in itself, it created more drama.
That's because the Ferraris and Mercedes were battling for pole, with the Ferraris up front and Charles Leclerc on conditional pole.Verstappen's crash at the final pair of corners brought out yellow flags, which Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli erroneously thought were double-waved yellow flags and aborted his lap.However, his teammate George Russell — who must have been on the lap of his life — noticed that it was just a single yellow and lifted through the yellows.ZERO BS.JUST DAKICH.
TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD.DOWNLOAD NOW!Despite that, he still put down a lap fast enough for pole.Mercedes' George Russell will start the Austrian Grand Prix from pole.
(Photo by Andrea Diodato/NurPhoto via Getty Images)There were complaints from drivers,...