George Russell holds firm as Mercedes triumphs in Austria
George Russell put on a masterclass in Austria. Starting from pole, he kept his head while the world turned into a pressure cooker, expertly building a gap during his first stint. By the time the pit stops settled, he held a 10-second lead over the charging Max Verstappen. Even with the Dutchman closing in during the final laps, Russell kept his machine steady to claim his first Grand Prix win since Australia. It was a beautiful, clinical drive under immense heat.
Kimi Antonelli joined him on the podium in third, though it was a wild journey to get there. After a messy start saw him running wide, the Italian had to fight his way back through the field. He ran out of laps to challenge Verstappen for second, but his pace in the final stint was blistering—enough to make the whole paddock wonder what might have happened with just a few more laps.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen fought back from a qualifying crash to take second, though a rear axle issue and a missed undercut opportunity kept the win out of reach. Isack Hadjar also showed real speed in the RB22, climbing to sixth at the flag. McLaren saw Oscar Piastri drive a strong race to finish fourth, managing his tyres well in the extreme conditions, while Lando Norris took seventh after losing crucial ground on the opening lap.
