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Lando Norris Wins Austrian Grand Prix

Published 1 month ago2 minute read
Lando Norris Wins Austrian Grand Prix

Lando Norris of McLaren secured a vital victory over his team-mate and championship rival Oscar Piastri at the Austrian Grand Prix, reigniting his Formula 1 world championship aspirations. The triumph, which saw Norris withstand two intense periods of pressure from Piastri, reduces the points gap between them to just 15 points ahead of the upcoming British Grand Prix.

The race at the Red Bull Ring was marked by an early exit for reigning champion Max Verstappen, who retired on the first lap. Verstappen was spun out at Turn Three after Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli made a mistake into the braking zone while battling other cars, colliding with the Dutchman's Red Bull. This incident meant Verstappen now trails Piastri by a significant 61 points as the season approaches its halfway mark.

The battle for the win became an all-McLaren affair, with Norris, starting from pole position, showcasing a strong recovery weekend after hitting Piastri in Canada. He successfully fended off Piastri's initial challenge in the first stint, which included wheel-to-wheel action, and maintained his composure to stay ahead as Piastri launched another attack in the closing laps.

Beyond the leading duo, Charles Leclerc of Ferrari achieved an improved third-place finish, marking his and Ferrari's fourth podium of the year. He finished nine seconds ahead of his team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who secured fourth place. Mercedes, the victors in Montreal, struggled with the sweltering Austrian track temperatures, which exposed their Achilles' heel, leaving George Russell a distant fifth, 33 seconds behind Hamilton and a full minute adrift of the race winner.

Other notable performances included Liam Lawson, who drove impressively to claim sixth for Racing Bulls. Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso narrowly held off Gabriel Bortoleto in a late fight for seventh, with Brazilian rookie Bortoleto earning his maiden F1 points in eighth place. Nico Hulkenberg delivered a remarkable drive for Sauber, racing from 20th on the grid to ninth, while Esteban Ocon secured the final point for Haas after a fierce battle.

The home team, Red Bull, failed to score any points following Verstappen's early misfortune and a challenging afternoon for Yuki Tsunoda. Tsunoda, who started 18th, had contact with Lance Stroll and Franco Colapinto, receiving a 10-second penalty for the latter, and finished 16th and last, two laps down. The Formula 1 season now moves to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

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