Austrian GP: George Russell holds off Max Verstappen to end winless streak and renew title bid | F1 News
George Russell held off Max Verstappen at the Austrian Grand Prix to renew his championship challenge with a first win since the opening round of the season.
Russell’s Mercedes produced a combined display to turn pole position into a historic one for Spielberg, holding off pressure from Verstappen in the second half of the race to take the checkered flag by 1.6 seconds over the Red Bull.
Verstappen went from hunter to hunt in the final laps at the Red Bull Ring as Russell’s Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli, the world championship leader, nearly snatched second, closing within four of ten by the end of the 71st lap.
Russell’s victory reduces his championship deficit to Antonelli to 40 points and moves the Brit back into second place in the standings ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who finished 51 points clear after finishing fifth behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
Russell’s win, in the eighth round of the 22nd season, was his first in a major tournament since the season opener in Australia, after which he was seen as the title favourite.
Russell said: “It’s amazing to be back on top. It’s been a while, so I’m really going to enjoy this evening. A lot of hard work with my team to get back on track. Obviously, it’s been a tricky run of form at one point.
“Max and Red Bull were incredibly fast this weekend, so I admire them. I had to push every single lap and I knew how fast the guys behind were. Kimi has been incredibly fast this season, so every lap I was looking at the time board.”
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Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton went wheel to wheel in a strong lap at the Austrian GP
Verstappen’s team-mate Isack Hadjar took sixth place in Red Bull’s improved weekend after the team delivered an improvement package for its home race.
Lando Norris was seventh for McLaren, finishing ahead of Ferrari’s Leclerc, who struggled to keep his tires in hot condition as he dropped from second on the grid.
Liam Lawson finished ninth, one place ahead of Racing Bulls team-mate Arvid Lindblad, as the pair took the final points spots.
More to follow…
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