F1: Verstappen who loses wins, surprise success for Russell in Austria

Only fifth after a collision at the end of the race with Lando Norris (McLaren), who retired, Max Verstappen (Red Bull) still gained ground. the gap over its competitors in Austria where; George Russell (Mercedes) won the race. an unexpected victory.

20 laps from the end of the Grand Prix, the three-time world champion was heading for an easy victory, but a poor pit stop allowed his runner-up to get back on track.

The two men then engaged in a merciless duel for about ten minutes, until the unfortunate epilogue occurred on the 64th of the 71 laps of the race: Norris tried to overtake on the outside and Verstappen moved slightly, precipitating the collision between the two single-seaters which resulted in a puncture for each of the protagonists.

“He ruined my race, destroyed my car… Norris raged. I have a lot of respect for Max and what he can accomplish (…) but there are times when I think he perhaps goes a little too far and I have the impression that today is a bit the case.”

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen ahead of McLaren driver Lando Norris before their crash at the Red Bull Ring, June 30, 2024 © AFP – Joe Klamar

If the Dutchman, found responsible for the accident and who received an anecdotal penalty of ten seconds, was able to leave after changing tires, the Briton was not able to get out again pits because his wing was also damaged.

“Mad Max”, winner of the sprint race on Saturday ahead of… Norris, therefore leaves Austria having increased his lead over the Briton by 12 points, now pushed back to 81 lengths, while the Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), unlucky and 11th Sunday, is now 87 points behind.

“We can say that we are limiting the damage, of course, that's not what the we wish, for both of us We are both annoyed Lando is not the only one who is annoyed, I am too,” emphasized Verstappen.

. – Lucky Russell –

The lucky one of the day was Russell, who collected the laurels almost without wanting to since he was 15 seconds behind two leading men, securing a completely unexpected victory, the second of his F1 career after Brazil at the end of 2022.

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Briton George Russell wins with Mercedes at the Austrian GP in Spielberg, June 30, 2024 © APA – ERWIN SCHERIAU

“In Canada, we didn't take our chance and we finished third when we could have won, and here we deserved third place and we won! The team did a remarkable work to get back into the Top 3 and we really maximized our potential this weekend, we couldn't have done better”, savored the Briton.

The 26-year-old driver thus offered Mercedes its first victory since November 2022, confirming the revival of the German team observed in recent weeks.

Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren), author of a superb race, took second place just two seconds behind Russell even though he had started in sixth position. After setting the third fastest time in qualifying on Saturday, his best time was invalidated for going outside the limits of the track. Without this, he would probably have achieved his first success in F1, proof that McLaren is getting closer and closer to Red Bull.

The McLaren of Australian Oscar Piastri on its way to a surprising second place at the Austrian Grand Prix, June 30, 2024 © AFP – Jure Makovec

The Spaniard Carlos Sainz allowed Ferrari to secure an unexpected podium after another complicated weekend for the Scuderia, like Charles Leclerc's 11th place. The Monegasque was unlucky since his race was hampered from the first turn by Piastri, who hit him and damaged his front wing, forcing him to return to the pits to change it.

The other good surprise of the day is to the credit of the American team Haas, whose two cars finished in the Top 10 with the German Nico Hülkenberg and the Dane Kevin Magnussen respectively sixth and eighth.

After placing its two cars in the points during the last two races, the Alpine team was unable to do it again in Austria but still leaves with one point since Pierre Gasly finished tenth. Esteban Ocon had to settle for 12th place.

The two French drivers once again gave their team a cold sweat by fighting like ragpickers on the track. track, fortunately without damage this time.

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