Blood off the track, murder on it. Max Verstappen, that most prolific killer of hopes, took pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix by more than four tenths of a second on the shortest track in the world.

His father Jos, meanwhile, was the source of the paddock drama, having accused Red Bull team principal Christian Horner of ‘childishly’ objecting to his participation in a legends’ parade prior to Sunday’s race.

Jos, who was due to drive an old Red Bull, pulled out of the event, joking that he would have needed to check whether Horner had cut his brakes. Their enmity surfaced over the texts Horner sent to a female employee. Horner was cleared of wrongdoing; Jos was fuming, and remains so.

Max can’t stand controversy, his concentration turned to the job in hand. But, between winning Saturday morning’s sprint and his qualifying masterclass, he was asked for his views on the spat.

Taking a barely concealed dig at Horner, he said: ‘It is not nice, not for me, not for my dad, not for Christian, and not for the team.

Max Verstappen managed to secure pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix

Triple world champion Verstappen followed up on his victory in the sprint race on Saturday

Verstappen finished ahead of Lando Norris (L) in second and George Russell (R) in third

‘You don’t want these things to happen. My dad has been quite clear about the reasons behind it, and I understand his opinion.

‘My dad doesn’t care about driving it, but he got asked if he could do it for the Dutch fans at Red Bull’s home track, and finds out he is not wanted.

‘So, I understand it, but I am here to focus on the performance. I want a good relationship with everyone. But this scenario could have been avoided.’

Nothing could distract the pole-sitter. ‘Max was in a league of his own,’ admitted Lando Norris, who was second quickest for McLaren, a place ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell.

It’s now 9-2 to Russell versus team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who qualified fifth. Some record for Russell, some concern for 39-year-old Hamilton, whose rear jack was still attached as he drove out his pit box.

Verstappen’s pole in the verdant Styrian mountains was his fourth in succession, while his team-mate Sergio Perez again acted as a yardstick for brilliance by managing only eighth best.

Carlos Sainz ended up in fourth place in qualifying, with Lewis Hamilton in fifth

Charles Leclerc ran off track in his Ferrari and ended up finishing sixth fastest in qualifying

It has been the perfect start to the weekend for Verstappen at Red Bull’s home circuit

The near-inevitable Verstappen achievement was met with raucous delight by the thousands of orange-clad fans who have journeyed here from Amsterdam.

And unless anyone cuts his brakes, Verstappen is likely to give them plenty more to cheer across 71 laps on Sunday.