Max Verstappen takes sprint pole in Austria with Lewis Hamilton lowly 18th

MAX POWER: Max Verstappen will start on pole for both of this weekend’s races (Darko Bandic/AP)

Lewis Hamilton will start today’s sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix from a lowly 18th as Max Verstappen took pole position.

Defending champion Verstappen raced to top spot for the second day in succession following his qualifying triumph for Sunday’s 71-lap Grand Prix.