Mercedes driver George Russell ended his victory drought after resisting a late charge from Max Verstappen during the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring.
Having clinched pole in controversial circumstances in Saturday’s qualifying, Russell lead away at the start while Hamilton prevailed in an opening-lap battle with his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc that lasted several corners.
Championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli went off the road twice on lap one, and again on the next tour as he tried to take third away from Leclerc. The squabble brought Verstappen into the mix, with the Red Bull driver passing both drivers.
Verstappen then rekindled his old rivalry with Hamilton, the pair engaging in an epic scrap before the Dutchman came on top.
Having passed Leclerc for fourth, Mercedes driver Antonelli briefly led once his rivals had all pitted. When Carlos Sainz’s Williams ground to a halt on the pit straight the Italian had an opportunity to gain., but he pitted one lap too early – just before the virtual safety car was called – and rejoined in fifth. That became fourth when Hamilton used the opportunity to pit for a second time.
Hamilton fought his way past Leclerc with a move around the outside, with the latter then heading for the pits, but Ferrari’s aggressive strategy didn’t work, as Hamilton rejoined in sixth after making his third pitstop of the race a few laps later.
Verstappen closed in on first place late on, but Russell resisted the pressure to win by 1.6s, with Antonelli finishing third ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. Hamilton had to settle for fifth, while Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar climbed to sixth ahead of Lando Norris and Leclerc.
Racing Bull’s duo Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad completed the top-10, while Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, and Cadillac duo Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas joined Sainz in retiring from the race.
Featured image credit: F1 on X
