MOTORSPORT: Russell wins wild Austrian GP

George Russell has claimed the second Formula 1 Grand Prix victory of his career, after a dramatic late-race tangle between title rivals Max Verstappen and Lando Norris in the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring yesterday.

Post-race, Norris slammed Verstappen as being reckless and desperate, while Verstappen denied claims of aggression and refuted that he moved under braking following their protracted battle at the end of the race.

Elsewhere, the event saw a significant return to form for McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who finished second in both the curtain-raising F1 Sprint, as well as Sunday’s main event, earning him his second GP podium of the season.

For Russell, the win backed up his maiden success earned in Brazil in 2022.

“I think it was a tough fight out there at the beginning of the race just to hold onto that P3,” said Russell.

“I saw on the TV that Max and Lando were going pretty hard. I knew Lando would want to try and get that race win, but the team have done an amazing job to get us in this fight.

“You’ve got to be there at the end to pick up the pieces, and that’s where we were.”

Verstappen (Red Bull) won the start of the F1 Sprint from the McLarens of Norris and Piastri, but on lap three he came under attack.

On the fifth lap of 23, an incredible sequence of events saw Norris gain the lead momentarily before being passed back by Verstappen, with Piastri moving into second.

George Russell (Mercedes), meanwhile, moved himself ahead of the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz on lap eight.

The race then settled for the run to the finish, with Verstappen taking the victory by 4sec from Piastri, Norris, Russell, Sainz, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and Sergio Perez (Red Bull), who claimed the final point in eighth, with Daniel Ricciardo (RB) in 15th.

From the start of the Grand Prix proper, Verstappen led Norris and Russell away from pole position, while Leclerc headed to the pits for a front wing change after an opening corner clash with Piastri.

Hamilton, meanwhile, was an early mover, temporarily gaining third before having to drop to fifth behind Sainz to readdress an off-track move at the first corner.

Fernando Alonso’s tough run continued, with the Aston Martin driver penalised 10sec for clashing with Zhou Guanyu (Stake).

A now-standard intra-team battle at Alpine then raged and was won by Pierre Gasly over Esteban Ocon, while on lap 48 Piastri displaced Hamilton for third position.

Both Verstappen and Norris pitted on lap 52, with the Red Bull emerging from the pits with a reduced lead after a tardy tyre change and a lock-up on his out lap.

A torrid battle then ensued, which ultimately came to a head on lap 64 when the pair clashed at the tight turn three. Verstappen instantly received a flat tyre, while Norris’s eventually deflated before entering the pits.

While this was happening, Norris was penalised 5sec, which was ultimately a moot point as he retired with damage, while Verstappen was pinged 10sec for his part in the fracas.

On lap 65, Piastri made a decisive move on Sainz to gain second position, sweeping around the outside through the infield section of the track.

Russell held on at the finish by less than 2sec from Piastri, Sainz, Hamilton, Verstappen, the impressive Nico Hulkenberg (Haas), Perez, Kevin Magnussen (Haas), Ricciardo, with his second Sunday points for the season, and Gasly in 10th.

Formula 1 continues next weekend with the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

2024 Austrian Grand Prix results:

2024 Formula 1 championship standings:

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