McLaren Secures First Victory at Red Bull Ring Since 2001
British driver Lando Norris (McLaren) dominated the Austrian GP of Formula 1, held at the Red Bull Ring under scorching heat, finishing ahead of his teammate and current championship leader Oscar Piastri.
The Ferraris of Charles Leclerc (Monaco) and Lewis Hamilton (Britain) secured third and fourth places, respectively. Norris’ victory narrowed the gap between him and Piastri in the F1 championship standings to just 15 points.
Norris’ Third Win of the Season
Norris, the reigning vice-champion, converted his pole position into a victory despite constant pressure from Piastri. This win marked McLaren’s first triumph at the Spielberg circuit since 2001, when David Coulthard was behind the wheel.
Piastri’s Near Miss and Race Analysis
Piastri, analyzing the race, said, “It was intense. I hope it was entertaining to watch, but it was tough in the car. I tried my best; perhaps I could have done better when I reached the front. It was a great battle, but I wasn’t close enough.”
Verstappen and Antonelli’s Unlucky Day
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull) was forced to retire in the opening lap after being hit by the Mercedes of young Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who failed to avoid a collision when his tires locked while braking at the third curve.
“Lack of luck was all it took,” Verstappen explained about the crash with Antonelli. “These things happen; nobody does it on purpose.”
Verstappen, third in the world championship, now trails leader Piastri by 61 points and Norris by 46. The consistent contender for the title suffered a setback due to the abandonment, impacting his chances of securing a fifth world title.
George Russell and Liam Lawson’s Performance
British driver George Russell (Mercedes), victor in Austria last year and fresh from his win two weeks ago in Canada, finished fifth, just ahead of New Zealander Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), who achieved his best F1 result to date.
Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) also had a positive day, earning his first F1 points with an eighth-place finish.
Sanctions for Antonelli and Colapinto
German Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) and Frenchman Esteban Ocon (Haas) completed the top ten, while Spanish driver Carlos Sainz (Williams) and Argentine Franco Colapinto (Alpine) faced difficulties.
Sainz failed to start his car during the formation lap, causing a 15-minute delay in the race start. Despite eventually getting going, Sainz encountered more issues and his car’s rear caught fire.
Colapinto, ranked 15th, received a five-second penalty for an incident with Piastri during lap 55. While battling Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull), Colapinto nearly took Piastri off the track but didn’t notice him preparing to yield.
“I was fighting Tsunoda, then got hit and just wanted to pass him,” Colapinto explained. “I didn’t see Piastri; he was in my blind spot, and I didn’t focus on him.”
Key Questions and Answers
- Who won the Austrian GP of Formula 1? British driver Lando Norris (McLaren) won the race.
- Who is currently leading the F1 championship? Australian driver Oscar Piastri leads the championship.
- What happened to Max Verstappen in the Austrian GP? Verstappen was forced to retire after being hit by Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes.
- What are the current standings in the F1 championship? Oscar Piastri leads with 61 points, followed by Lando Norris with 46 points.
- Who else secured points in the Austrian GP? Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) earned his first F1 points with an eighth-place finish.
