Austrian Grand Prix qualifying: Charles Leclerc…

Austrian Grand Prix qualifying: Charles Leclerc blitzes to pole as Lewis Hamilton penalised three grid places

Lewis Hamilton was dealt the first significant blow of his title romp after he was penalised three grid places for impeding in Austrian Grand Prix qualifying.

The world champion will now line up from fourth at the Red Bull Ring, punished for blocking Raikkonen in qualifying, with Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc claiming pole position for the second time in his career. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has been promoted to second.

Leclerc blew away the field at the Red Bull Ring to leave the opposition trailing in his wake.

Hamilton set the second fastest time, but was hauled in front of the stewards for allegedly blocking Alfa Romeo driver Kimi Raikkonen. He was later promoted to fourth on the grid after Kevin Magnussen was hit with a five-place grid penalty, moving the Haas F1 driver down into tenth.

Vettel’s torrid time continued after a mechanical issue ruled him out of the pole shootout.

The German, already 72 points behind Hamilton in the championship race, did not set a lap, and is set to start from 10th.

“I saw one of the Alfa Romeo cars and as I was braking for the hairpin, I saw the other car coming,” Hamilton said of the incident for which he was ultimately punished.

“I got off the brakes to try and get out of his way. I don’t think I met them in the corner but it may have put them off. It wasn’t ideal.”