F1, Austria: barnstorming between Verstappen and Norris, Russell takes advantage and wins. Sainz on the podium
Unbelievable race in Spielberg, George Russell wins
George Russell surprisingly wins the Grand Prix of Austria on the Spielberg circuit, at the end of a race with a thousand twists and turns: the Mercedes driver takes advantage of the extremely tough fight between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, who in the midst of the struggle for first position, on lap 64, collided causing each other a puncture.
More serious was the one that happened to Norris, who shortly before had been penalized 5 seconds for exceeding the "track limits": the British driver è was in fact forced to retire. Verstappen è instead managed to replace the punctured tire, and finished in fifth position behind Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes).
Russell è was thus rewarded for his fast and consistent race conduct, which would have taken him to the podium anyway: the incident between the Red Bull Dutchman and McLaren number 4, however, allowed him to unexpectedly pass first under the checkered flag.
In second position è came Oscar Piastri, who in turn was the protagonist of a spectacular overtaking move on Carlos Sainz with a few laps to go. However, the Spaniard of Ferrari won a place on the podium, where a Rossa driver had not been seen since the Monte Carlo GP.
Finishing in points, from sixth to tenth place, were an excellent Nico Hulkenberg (Haas), a still disappointing Sergio Perez (Red Bull), Kevin Magnussen (Haas), Daniel Ricciardo (RB) and Pierre Gasly (Alpine), the latter starring in a spectacular overtaking move around the middle of the race against his teammate, Esteban Ocon.
Great disappointment for Charles Leclerc: protagonist in spite of himself of a contact in the first corners of the race that forced him to a very early stop, the Monegasque tried the comeback from the last positions arriving però just outside the points zone, in eleventh position.
In the standings, Max Verstappen remains firmly in the lead with 237 points, Lando Norris è still second with 156. Charles Leclerc is third at 150, ahead of teammate Carlos Sainz, who with today’s podium finish reaches 135.