LANDO LEAD ROLE IN SPIELBERG THRILLER

DOMINANT Lando Norris delivered the perfect response to his Montreal horror show by securing an emphatic pole position for today’s Austrian Grand Prix.

- PHILIP DUNCAN

Norris’ world championship bid was dealt a major setback a fortnight ago when he ran into the back of his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri.

But the British driver has been in excellent form at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, topping all of the practice sessions he has competed in, before landing the 12th pole of his career.

Norris’ margin over second-placed Charles Leclerc was a huge 0.521 seconds - the biggest of the year so far at the shortest track on the calendar.

Piastri, who leads Norris by 22 points in the title standings, could manage only third, 0.583 secs behind his team-mate with Lewis Hamilton fourth. Piastri was unable to complete his final lap in Q3 after Alpine’s Pierre Gasly spun ahead of him.