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

The Brit was dealt the first major blow in his title stroll after blocking ​Kimi Raikkonen

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.”

Final Times after Qualifying:

1 Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1min 03.003secs

2 Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:03.439

3 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 1:03.537

4 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1:03.262*

5 Lando Norris (Gbr) McLaren 1:04.099

6 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:04.166

7 Antonio Giovinazzi (Ita) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:04.179

8 Pierre Gasly (Fra) Red Bull 1:04.199

9 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari No Time Set

10 Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 1:04.072*

11 Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas F1 1:04.490

12 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Renault 1:04.516

13 Alexander Albon (Tha) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:04.665

14 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Renault 1:04.790

15 Carlos Sainz (Spa) McLaren 1:13.601

16 Sergio Perez (Mex) Racing Point 1:04.789

17 Lance Stroll (Can) Racing Point 1:04.832

18 Daniil Kvyat (Rus) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:05.324

19 George Russell (Gbr) Williams 1:05.904

20 Robert Kubica (Pol) Williams 1:06.206