FACTS AND STATS: Verstappen moves ahead of Leclerc in all-time pole list

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Sean Kelly
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SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA - JULY 08: Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the

It was a case of deja-vu for Max Verstappen, as he sealed yet another pole position at the Red Bull Ring, while Mercedes had both cars crash out for the first time in qualifying or a race since 2016. Here are those and a few more fascinating figures from qualifying in Austria.

  • Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz where separated by 0.082s, making it the closest top three since the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, when Valtteri Bottas, George Russell and Verstappen were seperated by 0.056s.

  • Verstappen has been the quickest driver in both qualifying session at both Sprint weekends so far this year.

READ MORE: Verstappen beats Ferraris to pole in Austria as both Mercedes crash out of Q3

  • Verstappen sealed his 16th career pole position, moving him ahead of Charles Leclerc on the all-time list.

  • By Sergio Perez qualifying in fourth, it is the seventh time this year that Ferrari and Red Bull have locked out the front two rows on the grid.

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Esteban Ocon qualified in sixth in Austria, his best qualifying performance since Jeddah

  • Russell qualified in the top five for only the third time this season, despite finishing in the top five in nine races.

  • The last time Mercedes had both cars crash out in qualifying or in a race in the hybrid era was on Lap 1 of the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix.

  • Esteban Ocon qualified in sixth, his best qualifying performance since Jeddah.

READ MORE: Verstappen elated to secure pole in front of 'incredible' Red Bull Ring crowd as Perez rues tough day

  • Alex Albon qualified in 12th, equalling his best qualifying performance of the season so far, which was in Canada.

  • Bottas – who qualified in 13th – was eliminated in Q2 for the fifth consecutive race.

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This was McLaren's worst qualifying result of the season, with Norris and Ricciardo down in 15th and 16th respectively

  • With Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo qualifying down in 15th and 16th respectively, this is now McLaren’s worst combined performance in qualifying this season.

READ MORE: ‘I’m incredibly disappointed in myself’ says Hamilton, as Mercedes drivers explain sensational pair of Q3 crashes

• Ricciardo was out in Q1 for the first time since opening race of the season in Bahrain.

• Aston Martin failed to make it out of Q1 for the third consecutive race weekend in a row.

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