Mercedes' British driver George Russell.
Ferrari looked the strongest all weekend after upgrading their engine, but a dramatic late crash handed George Russell a golden opportunity as the Mercedes driver snatched pole position for Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix in one of the most controversial qualifying sessions of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
For much of the weekend, Ferrari had been the team to beat. Their upgraded power unit delivered the extra performance the Scuderia had hoped for, with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton looking comfortable throughout practice and qualifying.
The SF26 appeared perfectly suited to the high-speed Red Bull Ring, combining impressive straight-line speed with excellent traction through the circuit's flowing final sector.
And when it mattered most in Q3, Ferrari delivered.
