George Russell wins Austrian GP, ​​Verstappen finishes fifth after ‘dramatic race’

Max Verstappen has misplaced the main place and a potential victory within the Austrian Grand Prix on account of a collision with Lando Norris. The reigning Pink Bull world champion completed fifth. The victory on the Spielberg circuit went to British Mercedes driver George Russell, who outpaced Australian Oscar Piastri within the McLaren and Spaniard Carlos Sainz within the Ferrari.

Verstappen was within the lead when he suffered a puncture after a collision with Norris on lap 64. Each drivers had been engaged in a fierce battle for the lead for a number of laps. The British McLaren driver was unable to proceed. Verstappen was given a 10-second penalty.

With an ideal begin, Verstappen, who began from pole, instantly distanced himself from Norris. The Limburger, who had gained the dash race on the Pink Bull Ring the day earlier than, steadily elevated that lead and took over the lead from Piastri once more after the primary collection of pit stops.

Resulting from a mediocre second cease, Verstappen misplaced his margin of about 7 seconds on Norris, who closed the hole with the Pink Bull. He was proper behind Verstappen, who grumbled a few lack of grip. What adopted was a fierce battle between the 2 drivers, by which Verstappen defended his place and Norris regarded for alternatives to move him. That labored as soon as, however the Briton instantly gave again the lead as a result of he had ended up exterior the observe. A second time, Norris compelled Verstappen off the observe.

On Norris’ third try, each drivers touched and each suffered a flat tire. Norris additionally had harm to his entrance wing. The Briton did make it to the pit lane, however couldn’t proceed. Regardless of the 10-second time penalty, Verstappen had sufficient margin over Nico Hülkenberg (Haas) to retain fifth place.

Russell, who had been driving greater than 10 seconds behind Verstappen and Norris, drove his Mercedes to its first victory this season. It’s the second GP victory of his profession, and he completed on the rostrum earlier this season. On the Canadian GP he got here third.

Max Verstappen was disillusioned with “a dramatic race”. “All the pieces that might go incorrect, went incorrect in the present day”, Verstappen analysed at Viaplay. He additionally has doubts in regards to the time penalty. “I’ve to have a look at that once more. I defended the within a bit, however did not go very far in. He got here all the way in which across the exterior and we drove into one another with the rear tyres. An odd second really. I did not anticipate that in any respect.” (ANP)

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