MySportDab

Norris Leads McLaren One-Two in Austria as Verstappen Retires

Lando Norris claimed his third win of the Formula 1 season with a composed drive from pole to victory at the Austrian Grand Prix, leading a commanding McLaren one-two ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri, MySportDab Reports

The result intensifies an intra-team title battle, with Piastri still leading the championship but seeing his advantage trimmed to 15 points after 11 rounds.

Norris and Piastri engaged in a thrilling early duel, trading the lead in the opening laps. Piastri briefly seized the front on lap 11, but Norris quickly retaliated to regain control.

A bold lap 20 move from the Australian nearly resulted in a collision, evoking memories of their clash in Canada, but Norris held firm to secure the win after 70 gruelling laps in sweltering conditions.

“It was tricky, hot, tiring. A lot of stress, but a lot of fun,” Norris said. “Oscar kept me honest the whole way.”

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rounded out the podium, followed by teammates Lewis Hamilton in fourth and George Russell in fifth for Mercedes.

Red Bull suffered a major blow at their home race as Max Verstappen retired on the opening lap after a collision with rookie Kimi Antonelli, marking his first DNF of the season. Verstappen now trails Piastri by 61 points in the standings.

Liam Lawson delivered a career-best sixth-place finish for Racing Bulls, ahead of Fernando Alonso and his managed protégé Gabriel Bortoleto, who claimed his first F1 points with Sauber.

Nico Hulkenberg continued his consistent form with ninth, marking Sauber’s third straight points finish, while Esteban Ocon secured a single point in 10th for Haas.

McLaren’s dominance has opened a massive 207-point gap over second-placed Ferrari in the constructors’ standings, as the season heads toward its halfway mark.

Share Now:
Exit mobile version