Russell Wins Austrian GP After Late Norris-Verstappen Collision

George Russell claimed victory at the Austrian Grand Prix following a dramatic collision between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, who were vying for the lead.

Verstappen received a 10-second penalty for causing the collision with Norris after moving over on the McLaren driver during a passing attempt. The incident forced Norris to retire from the race.

The clash marked the controversial climax of a multi-lap battle, with both drivers criticizing each other’s tactics.

Russell’s victory was Mercedes' first since the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix. He faced pressure from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in the closing laps but maintained his lead.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz secured the final podium spot, followed by Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, who finished fourth despite a five-second penalty for crossing the white line during his first pit stop.

Verstappen finished in fifth place, retaining his position despite the penalty as Nico Hulkenberg’s Haas was 23.7 seconds behind.

The Norris-Verstappen Incident

Verstappen seemed poised for victory with a seven-second lead over Norris before his final pit stop, though the McLaren driver was closing in, and Verstappen had complained about tire grip.

A slow pit stop for Verstappen and Red Bull’s decision to fit used medium tires while Norris received new ones set the stage for a tense finish.

Verstappen and Norris rejoined the track with the McLaren just 1.7 seconds behind. Within two laps, Norris was on Verstappen’s tail.

The pair battled intensely over several laps. Norris accused Verstappen of making an illegal move under braking at Turn Three on lap 55. Norris then passed Verstappen at Turn Three on lap 59 but ran off the track, earning a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits.

Norris continued to complain about Verstappen's defensive moves, alleging he was moving under braking.

The decisive moment came on lap 62 when Norris attacked on the outside, and Verstappen moved towards him, resulting in a collision. Both cars suffered punctures—Verstappen’s left rear and Norris’ right rear—ending their chances for victory.

Verstappen managed to pit without significant damage, while Norris’ tire damage forced McLaren to retire his car.

Verstappen dismissed the 10-second penalty for the incident, but former F1 driver Jack Aitken, stated: “Verstappen overstepped the mark. It’s clear from the rules he was reacting too late.”

Despite the penalty, Verstappen extended his championship lead to 81 points over Norris heading into next weekend’s British Grand Prix.

Mercedes' Return to Victory

Russell had been running a solitary race in third place until the Norris-Verstappen incident.

He watched the battle unfold on trackside screens and anticipated Norris’s determination to win after recent near-misses in Canada and Spain.

A late virtual safety car caused some tension at Mercedes, with Piastri closing in with a tire advantage, but Russell held firm.

The win signified Mercedes' progress after several car upgrades, bringing them closer to competing with Red Bull and McLaren.

Russell said, “You’ve got to be in at the end to pick up the pieces, and that’s what we did. Proud to be back on the top step.”

Piastri lamented a controversial penalty for exceeding track limits in qualifying, which dropped him from third to seventh on the grid. Without it, he might have been a contender from the start.

Sainz also had a largely uneventful race in fourth after an early battle with Hamilton, who received a penalty.

Hulkenberg and Perez followed, with Haas’ Kevin Magnussen taking eighth from RB’s Daniel Ricciardo and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished just outside the points after sustaining damage from a first-lap collision, requiring an early pit stop to replace his front wing.