The checkered flag waves on the race in Austria. It's a total McLaren Domination in Spielberg, with a brace led by Lando Norris, with a weekend practically monopolized, in front of his partner Oscar piastriGood race from the Ferrari, who especially in the second part of the Grand Prix showed a good pace. He climbed onto the podium Charles Leclerc, with Lewis Hamilton in P4. Retired on the first lap Max Verstappen e Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Here are the highlights of the Austrian Sunday.
Departure? Sainz says no. Second formation lap
The start of the race in Austria is postponed due to Carlos Sainz, who seems to get stuck in first gear. With the help of the stewards, he manages to restart, but the race direction had sent a notification “aborted start“. Having arrived at the pits, the Spaniard cannot take part in the Grand Prix due to the problem that turned out to be with the brakes. After 10 minutes and the second formation lap, can the Austrian GP begin?
Now we go, Max immediately out. 1-2 McLaren and SC
Really chaotic start. In turn 1 Leclerc try the attack on NorrisThe British player closes, and the Monegasque player doesn't notice that the ball is coming from outside Oscar piastri, author of a lightning start. Behind, it's a fight between Hamilton e Russell, which reach up to turn 6, with the #44 overtaking the #63. The real chaos, however, breaks out in the middle of the group. Antonelli in turn 3 he locks all 4 wheels trying to dodge the cars in front of him. But the car doesn't stop, and the one hit is Verstappen. Both are out and the matter is called into question Safety car.
The two Papaya spaceships are being extended
At the end of the lap the safety car comes back in, with Norris making a very early push surprising everyone. The restart is regular, with the Lewis-George duel raging. In front, Piastri wants to attack his teammate and stays in the DRS zone, with Leclerc trying to stay with the two Papayas. But the two British cars they play another sport and the race in Austria begins to be one-way towards them. The difference in pace between them and the first Red is more than 5 tenths, with #16 already at 4 and a half seconds from the leader.
Piastri attacks, Norris defends well. First pit stops
The race really heats up in Austria. On lap 11 comes the first attack from Oscar Piastri, who goes inside in curve 3. Norris is smart though, and he brakes so much that he comes out better towards the 4th and have the DRS, regaining the position. On lap 13, the first pit stops of the race arrive with Pierre Gasly, who had started with the rubber red, and Nico Hulkenberg. To note Albon in P6 e Gabriel Bortoleto in P7. The first will go to the pits the following lap and, on lap 17, the retirement will come. The Grand Prix is instead uphill from the first laps for Leclerc, who is asked Lift and Coast constant at all corners and in all laps. In this case, for a question of brake temperature.
Lots of risks and first pit stops
Lap 20, stops George Russell hoping for a reaction from Ferrari which however does not arrive. The following lap, a second attack from Piastres in turn 4, where the two they are not taken by millimetres. In that passage comes the call to the pits for Norris, with his teammate staying out despite a flat spot due to the blockage. But in the radio communications it is the Australian himself who asks to continue with this tyre to have a rubber advantage over the British driver. His pit stop comes at the end of lap 24, coming out behind the other Papaya by about 5/6 seconds. It is 1-2 Ferrari, with Leclerc ahead of Hamilton and perhaps with a small thought of a race to a stop in Austria.
Ferraris also stop, McLaren duo reunites
Rounds 25 and 26, the passages where Leclerc ed Hamilton they return to the pits to fit a tire new white, as well as the two McLarens in front of them. The Maranello cars, however, have to overcome Lawson e Alonso that have not yet stopped. Meanwhile, from the Papaya wall, comes the communication for Piastres where it was asked to reduce risks and Don't repeat the near disaster happened a few laps earlier. On lap 31 in the rear there is a touch between Colapinto e tsunoda, with the Red Bull driver hitting the right rear of the Alpine causing it to spin. The Japanese driver had to go to the pits due to damage to his wing, subsequently receiving 10 second penalty for his race in Austria.
Race blocked, Ferrari stops
Up until lap 50, between overtaking at the back and other pit stops, in the upper part of the standings it's all blocked. In that passage, the race in Austria is rekindled by the pit stops of the top teams. However, it is a minimal thrill, because in rapid succession Leclerc, Hamilton, Norris and lastly Piastri stop. All of them mount a new yellow to complete the last ones 20 laps of the race approximately. At the exit of the pits, the Australian has a small misunderstanding with Colapinto, who once again fighting with Tsunoda does not notice the McLaren and pushes him onto the grass. The final result is a waste of time for Piastri and a penalty of 5 seconds for the Argentine.
Last 10 rounds of fire, but Norris wins
Since they fitted new tyres, the two McLarens have not held back in colouring their timesheets. fuchsia. At step number 60, Piastri prints a 1.07.9 and it takes about 2 seconds from Norris. But everything is going in favour of the #4 McLaren, with Lando Norris and wins the race in Austria. Papaya concludes the double Oscar piastri, with Charles Leclerc who conquers the last step of the podium. Fourth position for Lewis Hamilton, then Russell. Fantastic race (also thanks to the 4 retirements today) for Liam Lawson., Fernando Alonso, Gabriel Bortoleto e Nico Hulkenberg, respectively in P6, 7, 8 and 9. Last place in the Top 10 grabbed by Esteban Ocon. In the Fanta F1 perspective, the last place bonus is won by Yuki tsunoda, With the Red Bull who brings home a double zero for the first time since Bahrain 2022.
