Formula 1

Austrian GP full of surprises: tussle between Verstappen and Norris, Russell takes advantage

The young Englishman's excessive impetuosity held back the pole holder. Sainz's Ferrari third

by Alex D'Agosta

30 June 2024

4' min read

Key points

Grit and spice, Norris and Verstappen put on a show
McLaren better than Ferrari
Norris's mistake
Second career win for Russell

4' min read

The thirty-seventh edition of the Austrian Grand Prix surprised everyone once again, proving to be a not-boring track despite a rather mundane practice and sprint race, i.e. with results aligned to the new balance of the current season, where Red Bull is the master and the pursuers (almost) never get to fight at the top.

Among this year's pursuers, the two Ferrari successes no longer make any difference: they now seem like distant and forgotten times. From second force, slowly, in fact, the red single-seater has slipped to 'playing' on average as the third team or worse. Such is the case today, where Leclerc, minus the double Canadian retirement, manages to complete his worst performance of the year, without points, in eleventh place. It went better for Sainz, on the podium, but only and exclusively due to the misfortunes of others and a higher dose of luck than his team mate;

Grit and spice, Norris and Verstappen put on a show

Having lived through too many months of alternating boredom, it has to be said that a decidedly interesting Formula 1 Sunday was staged. There was a real fight, there were disputed and still debatable episodes, there was a major upheaval compared to the more usual finishing orders of recent times. And in the end, the general classification is opening up unexpected scenarios: for example, it has further 'compacted' Perez's small margin over Piastri and Russell in the Drivers' standings, hinting at a much more difficult season than usual for Red Bull, at least in the Constructors' Championship.

McLaren better than Ferrari

And if, as mentioned above, among the marques Ferrari is trembling and McLaren's 'overtaking' is not far away, on the track the orange supremacy over the reds has long since manifested itself. The Woking house, it has to be said, had brought a new front wing and modifications to the wing profiles this week. And it could have done even better. What a pity, in fact, for the time cancelled to Piastri for a highly questionable 'track limit violation' that horrified many insiders and conservatives of the sport: perhaps it is beginning to go too far with rules that even the drivers don't like, given that, without a penalty that until a few years ago was not enforceable, Piastri would have started ahead of Russell and perhaps he could have collected the win.

For two different 'external causes', in short, the progress of the performance of Zak Brown's team was not worthily grasped. Norris, in fact, made a serious error of youth in putting too much pressure on Verstappen when he was already 'baked to the bone' in the finale.

On closer inspection, the Austrian Grand Prix was turned upside down by the incident between these two 'chickens', reminiscent of long-standing antagonists in the days of the McLaren versus Williams duopoly. An event that could and should have been avoided because Verstappen had already almost certainly lost his race at the second tyre change. A serious delay in getting him back onto the track and a bad first lap had completely neutralised his margin over the second and, thanks to a problem the Dutchman was complaining about over the radio, he had already been 'prey' to Norris. Who had already overtaken him irregularly, giving him back his position.

Norris' mistake

The young Englishman's mistake was one of recklessness in making a comeback too soon and too aggressively: a haste that did not pay off as Verstappen, in defending himself, damaged the McLaren more than himself. And so Norris finished the race with zero points while Verstappen still managed to restart and, albeit very late, finish not too badly in the points zone.

As a matter of fact, today's victory is anomalous and entirely a gift. Beneficiary: George Russell, on his second career win. He had the merit of always staying close to the lead and rightly took advantage of the resounding contact between McLaren and Verstappen.

A great disappointment for the home crowd who, in any case, have only seen the cars sponsored by the well-known multinational drinks company win four times in the Republic of Austria: with today's victory, in fact, Mercedes' successes in the Red Bull Ring era, which began exactly ten years ago, rise to six. An understandable anger, given that Verstappen had started on pole position, dominated the first stint, but in the second had begun to struggle on used tyres. Norris, on the other hand, had made up ground and tried to overtake him at turn three with the well-known consequences: the two came into contact and were forced to pit, with Norris condemned to a forced retirement due to irreparable damage to the rear wing.

Second career victory for Russell

Russell, thus, finished first in the land of mountains grand prix effortlessly, managing to maintain the lead through a not large but well-managed advantage over Piastri and Sainz, taking his second career victory in F1.

Off the podium was Hamilton, with no ambition to do any better because he had a five-second penalty on his head for crossing the white line at the entrance to the pit lane, just as Verstappen, fifth, was charged a further 10-second penalty for causing the collision with the McLaren.

Incredible sixth place for Hulkemberg: who knows how many blank drafts he would have signed until recently to finish at least once between the two Red Bulls. By the way: Perez, already badly qualified, confirms himself as slower and less worthy of the seat he deserves. With no dramas to report this weekend, it is the same music as always: even in the country of Mozart and Strauss.