George Russell got his Formula 1 title challenge back on track as he converted pole position into his first victory since the opening weekend of the season. But he was pushed for much of the Austrian Grand Prix by Max Verstappen who looks like he could be a threat at the sharp end of the grid again in an upgraded Red Bull.
Verstappen was given an on-weight car for the first time all season and the team’s upgrades worked to good effect. He was denied a shot at pole position by a late crash and that may have been the only reason why he didn’t win this one, as he finished just a couple of seconds behind Russell in the end.
But it was the Brit’s day and, other than for pit stops, he led throughout a red-hot race despite being denied hydration, as he reported over the radio that his drinks system was not working. Despite his dry mouth, Russell was able to keep his brain switched on enough to manage his tyres on a roasting-hot track and get to the chequered flag.
Kimi Antonelli was able to recover from a very messy first few laps where he went off track three times while trying to defend fourth place and attack the podium positions at the same time. He ended up dropping down but recovered and was just three-tenths of a second behind Verstappen’s Red Bull by the time he crossed the line, missing out on second place.
While Mercedes were back on it and Red Bull showed much improved pace, it was a Sunday to forget for Ferrari despite their strong Saturday. Charles Leclerc started on the front row with Russell but slipped back early on and was hampered further when he picked up front wing damage which led to him limping home to eighth.
Lewis Hamilton did not fare much better, his podium streak ending as he dropped from third to fifth by the end, struggling on the hard tyres especially as Ferrari failed to make a three-stop strategy work. There was also some overheating in their new engines for the Scuderia to contend with, which denied the seven-time world champion the level of power he wanted at times.
The day was Russell’s but Verstappen was the one who got the biggest ovation as he took to the podium in front of thousands of fans who had sprinted onto the track to get a good view of the ceremony. A significant proportion of those supporters were dressed in orange and chanting the Dutchman’s name, including some throughout the British national anthem which played to mark Russell’s victory.
When handed his trophy, Verstappen stepped back down off the podium to get close to the edge of the balcony and show off the prize to the Red Bull staff who had gathered below. This race is a sample of one, but this result will give the team plenty of reason to believe they can be back in contention for wins – boosting their chances of keeping hold of their star driver.