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The drama began before the race even started. Carlos Sainz’s Williams stalled on the grid, prompting marshals to push the car into the pit lane. But as the FW47 rolled in, its rear brakes ignited forcing a full start abort and 10 minute delay while marshals extinguished the flames. Sainz was unharmed but devastated – his race over before it began and Williams would later suffer a double DNF with Alex Albon also retiring.
On the opening lap, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli locked up into turn three slamming into Max Verstappen’s Red Bull and eliminating both from the race. The home crowd at the Red Bull Ring was stunned into silence. Antonelli immediately apologised calling it a “big mistakes” and was handed a three place grid penalty for the British Grand Prix. Verstappen, already under pressure with 11 penalty points saw his title hopes take another hit.
With two major contenders out, McLaren seized control. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri traded fastest laps therefore even swapped positions in a tense but respectful duel. Norris ultimately held off Piastri to take his third win of the season delivering McLaren’s first 1-2 finish in Austria in 25 years. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rounded out the podium while Mercedes salvaged points with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton in P4 as well as P5 respectively.
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The McLaren pair swapped positions early in the race with Piastri briefly taking the lead at turn three on lap 11, only for Norris to reclaim it immediately at turn four. On lap 20, Piastri attempted a bold lunge at turn four, locking up and nearly colliding with Norris. The move flat-spotted his tyres and prompted McLaren to call off the intra-battle, instructing both drivers to cool it down. Norris pitted immediately after the incident while Piastri stayed out four laps longer – a strategic misstep that allowed Norris to build a six second cushion.
Despite a slightly damaged front win, Norris managed to maintain his lead through the final stint. Piastri, on fresher tyres closed the gap to under two seconds with 10 laps to go but lapped traffic and Norris’s defensive driving kept him at bay. “I need some pace – please help,” Norris radioed in the closing laps as Piastri loomed large in his mirrors.
Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 216 points |
McLaren – 417 points |
Lando Norris (McLaren) – 201 points |
Ferrari – 210 points |
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 155 points |
Mercedes – 209 points |
George Russell (Mercedes) – 146 points |
Red Bull – 162 points |
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 119 points |
Williams – 55 points |
Leclerc delivered a composed driver to finish third, securing Ferrari’s fourth podium of the season and reinforcing the team’s recent progress. He held off teammate Hamilton, who finished fourth marking his best Grand Prix result since joining the Scuderia. Hamilton praised Ferrari’s upgrades, particularly a new floor introduced in Austria as a “mega step forward,” while Leclerc acknowledged the team is “moving in the right direction” but still chasing McLaren’s pace.
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Verstappen’s title hopes took a major hit after a first lap collision with Antonelli at turn three ended his race prematurely. The DNF leaves him 61 points behind championship leader Piastri, a gap equivalent to more than race wins. With 11 penalty points on his super licence and mountain pressure, Verstappen now faces a critical stretch to stay in contention.
McLaren’s 1-2 finish with Norris winning and Piastri in second was more than just a dominant result as it signalled a potential power shift in the championship narrative. Red Bull’s home race turned into a disaster while McLaren executed a near flawless weekend. Norris’ win cuts Piastri’s lead to just 15 points setting up a tantalising showdown at Silverstone. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko even admitted the team may have to “write off the championship” if they can’t close the gap soon.
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