Russell’s shock triumph on Sunday was the first for Mercedes since November 2022 when he triumphed in Brazil and came after the Red Bull of triple world champion Verstappen clashed with the McLaren of Norris late in the race as the pair were fighting for the lead.
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri en route to the podium at the Austrian Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring racetrack in Spielberg on Sunday.AP
Norris was trying to take the lead from Verstappen on lap 64 of 71. The incident left Norris’ car unable to continue,while Verstappen was given a time penalty.
The drama left Piastri – who has dropped from third to seventh on the starting grid after exceeding track limits in qualifying – wondering what might have been had Saturday’s controversy been avoided.
“There’s a lot of what ifs and maybes. Obviously,starting from yesterday I know it’s only my fourth podium in F1,so close to a win,it hurts,” he said.
“I think second half of the race we were coming on pretty strong,I am happy with another podium,when it’s that close you can’t help but hurt a bit.”
Oscar Piastri,George Russell and Carlos Sainz on the podium.AP
Russell took the chequered flag in a race that stored up its excitement until the last 20 laps when the battle between Verstappen and Norris boiled over.
A slow 6.5 second pitstop for Verstappen on lap 52 brought Norris right back into range and the ensuing duel saw the McLaren enjoying a drag reduction benefit as Norris tried to overtake.
“The team have done an amazing job to put us in this fight. You’ve got to be there at the end to pick up the pieces and that’s where we were,” Russell said before stepping up to the top of the podium.
“We were only about 12 seconds behind and I knew it (the collision) was a possibility. You are always dreaming.”
Russell had started third,with Verstappen on pole and Norris alongside on the front row.
Both frontrunners suffered punctures,Norris limping back to the pits and retiring while Verstappen rejoined and finished fifth behind Mercedes’ seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Stewards handed the Dutch driver a 10-second penalty for causing the collision,but that made no difference to Verstappen’s result and he increased his championship advantage to 81 points over Norris.
Nico Hulkenberg was sixth for Haas,a major boost for that team,with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez seventh and Kevin Magnussen eighth for Haas. Daniel Ricciardo gave Red Bull two points in ninth and Pierre Gasly took the final point for Renault-owned Alpine.
Piastri will now turn attention to next Sunday’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone,where he finished a career-best fourth last year.
“It’s not my home grand prix but McLaren’s – it was a place of good memories from last year,” he said. “Hopefully we can be at the front. I’m excited for what is to come.”
AAP,Reuters,AP