George Russell finally stood on the top step of the rostrum once again after winning in Austria for his first Grand Prix victory since March. He held on at the end of a gruelling 71 laps in the heat to beat a resurgent Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli in Spielberg.
It was a hard-fought victory, but Russell showed he cannot be discounted this season, even if his team mate still boasts a 40-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship.
Joining Tom Clarkson at the Red Bull Ring to discuss all the talking points from a thrilling race are F1 TV experts James Hinchcliffe and Alex Brundle.
Verstappen put his Qualifying crash behind him to climb from fifth on the grid to second at the flag, the Dutchman running out of time to chase down Russell for the win. In an upgraded RB22, Verstappen looked to have the pace to really fight with Mercedes, which bodes well for the upcoming races.
As for Antonelli, he endured a chaotic first few laps before showing the sort of class that took him to five straight victories and like Verstappen, he just ran out of laps to fight for the win.
Ferrari faded in Austria, the heat causing some issues as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc had to be content with a handful of points rather than the podium places. So what is next for the Scuderia as the pecking order constantly chops and changes in 2026?
McLaren also had a mixed race in Spielberg, Oscar Piastri showing some good form while Lando Norris seemed to struggle more. The track has suited the team in the past, but it seems clear they need some upgrades and fast if they want to get back to fighting at the front.
Racing Bulls impressed once again with a double points finish, Liam Lawson leading his team mate home but there was less good news for some other midfield teams. Williams had another tough weekend, while Aston Martin and Cadillac really struggled at the back of the field.
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