Max Verstappen finished fastest in the sole practice session at the Austrian Grand Prix – as Mercedes were fined £86 after Lewis Hamilton was caught speeding in the pits. Verstappen saw off Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz by 0.241 seconds at Red Bull’s home race, with Charles Leclerc third. Hamilton finished fourth. Spielberg is hosting Formula One’s second sprint event of the year which will see two qualifying sessions – one to decide the order for Sunday’s grand prix which takes place at 5pm local time (4pm BST) – and the other determining the starting grid for Saturday’s sprint race. Practice has been slashed from three hours to just one to create greater jeopardy with the teams unable to gather as much data as they would like. Red Bull are undefeated at the opening eight rounds of the season with Verstappen taking six victories to head the championship standings by 69 points. And the Dutchman, perhaps predictably, raced to top spot in the first running of the weekend without even posting a lap on the speedier soft tyre compound. Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez finished in fifth, half-a-second off the pace and one place ahead of Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll. Meanwhile, Hamilton’s Mercedes team were hit with a 100 Euro (£86) fine after the British driver breached the pit-lane limit. Hamilton, who earns £40million-a-season, was adjudged to have broken the 50mph limit by just 0.12mph. Aston Martin were also hit with a fine – this time worth 300 Euros (£258) – after Fernando Alonso and team-mate Stroll drove too quickly in the pits. Elsewhere, Hamilton’s team-mate George Russell finished ninth for Mercedes, almost a second down on Verstappen, with Lando Norris bringing up the rear in his revamped McLaren machine. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

2023-06-30 21:16

Does xQc support unregulated gambling? Internet divided on Kick streamer's take: 'What a moron'

'He is out of content already?' asked a follower when they saw the hill xQc was willing to die on for the sake of views

2023-06-30 21:15

Australia leads by 103 after bowling out England for 325 by lunch on Day 3 at Lord's

Australia without Nathan Lyon has extended its lead to 103 runs after bowling out England for 325 on the third morning of the second Ashes test at Lord’s

2023-06-30 20:59

Liverpool in advanced talks to sign Dominik Szoboszlai

Liverpool are progressing in talks to sign Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig and are hopeful of completing a deal for less than his £60m release clause. Newcastle are no longer in the race for the Hungary midfielder.

2023-06-30 20:52