George Russell won the Austrian Grand Prix after a controlled race at Spielberg. The Mercedes driver finished ahead of Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli, securing his first victory since the season opener in Australia. In a race marked by strategy, heat, and tire management, the Briton built his success without making any major mistakes.
Russell's consistency was the key difference. Where others lost time in traffic or struggled on certain stints, the Mercedes driver maintained a high pace and perfectly exploited his team's choices.
Verstappen pushes, but doesn't overtake Russell
Max Verstappen finished second at the Red Bull circuit. The Dutchman showed excellent pace for much of the race, at times appearing to be one of the fastest drivers on track. But he was unable to regain the advantage over Russell.
For Red Bull, this result leaves a mixed feeling. Verstappen finished ahead of most of his direct rivals, but missed out on victory in a Grand Prix where the team could have hoped for better in front of its home crowd.
Antonelli remains at the top of the championship
Kimi Antonelli completed the podium after a less straightforward race than Russell's. The Italian had to fight hard for an important third place. This podium finish also allows him to maintain his position in the championship. Antonelli remains the leader and retains a 40-point advantage over George Russell, now his closest rival.
Ferrari started high, Ferrari ended up frustrated
The biggest disappointment of the day came from Ferrari. The Scuderia started in second and third positions, with a real opportunity to fight for the win or, at the very least, a podium finish. But the race quickly turned into a frustrating experience for both red cars.
The Ferraris struggled particularly with the hard tires. Their pace dropped, positions were lost, and neither Lewis Hamilton nor Charles Leclerc could convert their good starting positions into a strong result. Hamilton finished fifth, far from where Ferrari had hoped. Leclerc, meanwhile, slipped to eighth place after a difficult race.
The result is all the more disappointing given that Ferrari held all the cards at the start. With two cars at the front, the Italian team could have aimed for a large points haul. They ultimately finished with a fifth and an eighth place, an insufficient result considering the potential they displayed before the race.
Hadjar scores big points, Gasly and Ocon remain far behind
Isack Hadjar delivered the best French performance of the weekend, finishing sixth in his Red Bull. His race was clean and efficient, and he capitalized on Ferrari's struggles to secure a points finish. This sixth place represents a solid result in a Grand Prix where pace differences and strategies played a significant role.
The two other French drivers had a more discreet race. Pierre Gasly finished thirteenth with Alpine, failing to score any points. Esteban Ocon finished sixteenth, also outside the top ten. For them, the Austrian Grand Prix ended without any points in the standings.
The championship is tightening behind Antonelli
In the drivers' standings, Kimi Antonelli retains his lead after finishing third in Austria. George Russell, today's winner, becomes his new closest rival and closes the gap to 40 points. Lewis Hamilton is third in the standings with a fifth-place finish, despite a frustrating race for Ferrari.
Russell thus achieved the best result of the weekend. He won the race, revived Mercedes' fortunes, and climbed the championship standings. Ferrari, on the other hand, missed an opportunity after qualifying second and third. The Austrian Grand Prix confirmed one thing: Mercedes has rediscovered its competitive edge, while Ferrari has once again left too many points on the table.
