There are legs still then in a Formula One world championship that continues to ebb and flow, now almost on a race-by-race basis. At the Austrian Grand Prix, George Russell was riding the wave to win but only after a gripping battle with an almost shockingly resurgent Red Bull in the hands of Max Verstappen. Ferrari, heady victors in the last round, well, they were but flotsam in Austria.
The victory was of import of course to Russell who has been in sore need of making the point to his teenage teammate Kimi Antonelli that the British driver remains a force to be reckoned with. With Antonelli finishing third, after a grandstand finale in which Russell, Verstappen and the Italian were separated by just under two seconds, Russell has now closed the gap to him to 40 points.
It is large but crucially not insurmountable with 14 rounds still to go and via a pole sealed with perfect, split-second judgment under the intense pressure of sudden yellow flags and then a win ground out while being hounded by a flying Verstappen, Russell demonstrated the moxie that should keep him in contention, as he acknowledged. “The tough races definitely test you psychologically,” he said. “These last two weekends for me have been vitally important to remind myself I can do it.”
It was an achievement also noted by his team principal, Toto Wolff. “It’s been a perfect execution,” he said. “He was quick, managed the tyres well, cold blooded.” Which is exactly what Russell needs to be to maintain the pressure on his teammate.
Russell’s win was hard fought but deserved. He could not afford to put a foot wrong with Verstappen showing so much pace to follow him home from fifth after a major crash in qualifying. His second place was significant given the speculation about the four-time champion’s future which has swirled all weekend in Austria, with rumours of a move to McLaren abounding. Their team principal, Zak Brown, observed before the race that while he was happy with his lineup, of course he would sign the Dutchman if something happened to one of his drivers.
Verstappen, however, has always been clear that he wants performance more than anything and Red Bull know that if they provide that, he will stay. On this form, the swathe of upgrades they brought to Austria were indeed effective, at this circuit at least. Verstappen was absolutely rapid at the Red Bull Ring, the most competitive he has been all year, for his best finish this season and was genuinely in with a shot of the win. He vied with Hamilton to thrilling effect in the early stages and was decisive when putting the move on him that mattered. Then for two stints he chased down Russell, dashing about with the verve of old, that has not so much been on display this year with an engine formula he dislikes.
He cut Russell’s lead to four seconds by lap 34 and a second more two laps later, catching him at a rate of knots as Russell struggled for pace. He was within 1.5sec by lap 40 – only to then have to repeat the task after the final stops took place. Going long before his last stop, he emerged 11sec back from Russell with 21 laps to go. The gap was down to 6sec with 12 remaining then 3sec off with three to go, even as Antonelli also closed him down to take their battle too to the flag.
Verstappen is now 98 points off Antonelli, a chasm, but as has been observed, fewer than the 104-point deficit from which he launched his title tilt that went to the wire last year. Red Bull turned it round then and while the task is of a greater scale this time out, Verstappen’s drive in Austria was a salutary reminder of his fearsome talent.
Laurent Mekies, the team principal, was understandably buoyed, knowing what it means to keep his driver in situ. “The most satisfying element is the pace,” he said. “For the first time this season we have the pace to be very close, to have enough to win.”
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Quick GuideAustrian F1 GP results and standings
Show
1 George Russell Mercedes 1hr 26min 37.979sec – 25pts
2 Max Verstappen Red Bull +1.611sec – 18pts
3 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +1.986 – 15pts
4 Oscar Piastri McLaren +21.809 – 12pts
5 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +26.393 – 10pts
6 Isack Hadjar Red Bull +29.399 – 8pts
7 Lando Norris McLaren +31.505 – 6pts
8 Charles Leclerc Ferrari +45.659 – 4pts
9 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls +1 lap – 2pts
10 Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls +1 lap – 1pt
11 Gabriel Bortoleto Audi +1 lap
12 Nico Hülkenberg Audi +1 lap
13 Pierre Gasly Alpine +1 lap
14 Oliver Bearman Haas +1 lap
15 Franco Colapinto Alpine +1 lap
16 Esteban Ocon Haas +2 laps
17 Alexander Albon Williams +2 laps
18 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +3 laps
NC Lance Stroll Aston Martin DNF
NC Carlos Sainz Williams DNF
NC Sergio Pérez Cadillac
NC Valtteri Bottas Cadillac DNF
Drivers’ standings
1 Antonelli 171pts
2 Russell 131
3 Hamilton 125
4 Piastri 80
5 Leclerc 79
6 Norris 79
7 Verstappen 73
8 Hadjar 42
9 Gasly 41
10 Lawson 30
Constructors’ standings
1 Mercedes 302pts
2 Ferrari 204
3 McLaren 159
4 Red Bull 115
5 Alpine 57
6 Racing Bulls 44
7 Haas 21
8 Williams 11
9 Audi 2
10 Aston Martin 1
11 Cadillac 0
Ferrari, however, so buoyed by Hamilton’s win at the last round in Barcelona, were left deflated by a lack of pace, tyre degradation issues and overheating. Hamilton fought hard with Verstappen but was ultimately powerless against his pace and he and his teammate Charles Leclerc finished in fifth and eighth respectively, far from the lead and once more only really in the fight with the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who were fourth and seventh.
Lessons for the Scuderia but also Antonelli, who admitted he was overeager in the opening laps, repeatedly going wide as he charged from fourth trying desperately to make up places. Too much too young then but, as Wolff has oft observed, he would rather calm a charger than take a stick to a donkey and his pace at the end was formidable once more. A reminder for the victorious Russell that a long old scrap still lies ahead.
