Subham Poddar
George Russell celebrated his second career win at the Austrian Grand Prix after a collision between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris while they vied for the lead.
Verstappen received a 10-second penalty for causing the crash with Norris, moving over on the McLaren driver during an overtaking attempt. The incident forced Norris to retire from the race.
This dramatic clash concluded a tense multi-lap battle, with both drivers expressing frustration over each other’s tactics.
Russell’s triumph marked Mercedes’ first victory since the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix. Despite late pressure from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, Russell maintained his lead to cross the finish line first.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz secured third place, with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton finishing fourth despite a five-second penalty for crossing the white line at pit entry during his first stop. Verstappen ended up fifth, holding his position despite the penalty as Nico Hulkenberg’s Haas was over 23 seconds behind.
The Norris-Verstappen Incident
Verstappen seemed poised for an easy win with a seven-second lead over Norris before their final pit stops. However, a slow stop for Verstappen and Red Bull’s decision to use slightly worn medium tires, compared to Norris’ new set, set the stage for a thrilling finish.
Rejoining the track, Norris quickly closed the gap and engaged in a fierce battle with Verstappen. Norris accused Verstappen of making an illegal move under braking during an attempt to pass at Turn Three on lap 55. Although Norris successfully overtook Verstappen at Turn Three on lap 59, he ran off the track, earning a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits.
The pivotal moment occurred on lap 62 when Norris attacked on the outside, and Verstappen moved back towards him, resulting in contact. Both cars suffered punctures—Verstappen’s left rear and Norris’ right rear—ending their chances for victory. Verstappen managed to reach the pits without significant damage, but Norris’ car sustained severe damage, forcing McLaren to retire.
Verstappen dismissed the 10-second penalty, but former F1 driver Jack Aitken, commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live, argued that Verstappen deserved the penalty. Aitken noted that Verstappen repeatedly reacted too late and failed to leave enough space for his competitor.
Despite finishing fifth, Verstappen extended his championship lead to 81 points over Norris heading into the British Grand Prix next weekend.
