Why George Russell kept controversial Austria pole after Max Verstappen crash

George Russell kept his Austrian Grand Prix pole position following a brief scare following Max Verstappen's crash.

Verstappen spun off and into the barriers at Turn 9 on his final flying lap to bring out yellow flags, with the Mercedes drivers of Russell and Kimi Antonelli still on their final flying laps.

Russell ultimately put in a 1:06.113 to snatch pole away from Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton - but appeared to do so under double-waved yellow flags for Verstappen's incident. 

After the incident was noted by the stewards, it was decided that Russell had not improved his time under double-waved yellows and so kept pole position - his fourth of the season and 11th of his career.

Russell kept his Austrian GP pole after it was found he did not pass through a double-waved yellow flag area.

In the regulations, when a driver passes through such an area, they are required to slow down and possibly be prepared to stop on the circuit. 

Under single-waved yellow conditions, a driver must simply show that they have lifted whilst passing through the affected area to avoid any penalties.

Russell estimated he lost about a tenth-to-a-tenth-and-a-half after lifting, which Mercedes boss Toto Wolff explained was about a 100m lift.

This fulfilled the requirement for Russell to lift through the yellow flag zone - hence why he was not stripped of his pole position.

Antonelli, who had held provisional pole, mistakenly thought the yellow flags were double-waved, thus aborting his lap, which he believed was on course for second place behind Russell.

Double-waved yellows were in fact flown, but only after 15 seconds of single-waved yellows, during which time Russell passed through the area.

The championship leader will start fourth, behind Russell, Leclerc, and Hamilton.