Engines

Formula 1: Leclerc podium with Hamilton fourth, behind the McLarens. More did not seem possible

The Norris-Piastri one-two never in question. But for the fans of the Reds the glass is half full. The return to competitiveness in the Austrian MSC Grand Prix has heartened many

29 June 2025

Il pilota britannico della McLaren Lando Norris (2R) festeggia sul podio accanto al secondo classificato, il pilota australiano della McLaren Oscar Piastri (L), un tecnico e il terzo classificato, il pilota monegasco della Ferrari Charles Leclerc (R), dopo il Gran Premio d'Austria di Formula 1 sul circuito Red Bull Ring di Spielberg, in Austria, il 29 giugno 2025. (Foto di Joe Klamar / AFP)

4' min read

Second force, from the abyss of fourth: Ferrari's outcome in Red Bull is surprising to say the least. The sheer competitiveness achieved by McLaren in the final year of this regulatory cycle now carries unparalleled weight, so much so that Norris and Piastri's one-two finish in the eleventh round of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship was never questioned in the race for even a minute.

However, for the fans of the rosse, the glass is again half full. Having already triumphed on the Spielberg track in 2022 and with minimal gaps to Verstappen in 2023, the return to competitiveness in the 2025 edition of the MSC Austrian F1 Grand Prix by the favourite of the Principality of Monaco has heartened many. It was a deserved third place, although last night the moral heir to Jules Bianchi certainly dreamed of giving destiny and the season's most formidable rivals a run for their money. Instead, the McLarens were again uncatchable, but at least the two Ferraris were better than both Red Bulls and Mercedes: something to be pleased about.

On closer inspection, incidentally, the day, although warm and sunny, did not exactly get off to the best start. A first start was aborted immediately and the overall duration was shortened by one lap, with the official start delayed by more than a quarter of an hour. Missing from the second grid was Sainz, due to a rear brake problem that caused him to catch fire: probable failure of a control by wire.

At the actual start, Piastri immediately overtook Leclerc, who had got off to a good start but was literally 'closed' badly by the Papaya rivals. Further back, even worse: Kimi, completely out of control, clipped Max Verstappen while he was fighting with others. These are things that can happen and be tolerated in a debut year, but it is very unfortunate that a young pupil of a top team like Mercedes ended up crashing right into the reigning world champion, fresh from a very mediocre qualifying Saturday. As if that were not enough, it was Red Bull's 'home race' and the crowd, largely made up of tens of thousands of Dutch fans, was tinged in orange. A colour inevitably reminiscent of the contenders for the 2025 World Championship, in which the Woking duo was able to reassert an already over-established dominance among both drivers and teams, but still dedicated to Max.

The positive side of this episode is that it will be remembered for a long time for the softness of the reaction of the 'victim' who, as a rule, does not give anyone a discount when there is something to complain about: at the time of the accident, Verstappen had in fact already become very heated over the radio, criticising and generically offending those who excluded him from a crucial test for his season. However, as soon as he heard that the young Antonelli was responsible for the accident, the four-time champion immediately toned down his tone, meeting him immediately afterwards, outside the cockpit, calmly, without any controversy. A mature, responsible, affectionate gesture. A rare, unprecedented fact, to be marked on the calendar. A human, sincere, appreciated gesture.

From there on, very little. Around the twenty-fifth of the shortened seventy laps, at the end of the window for changing to medium tyres, adopted by everyone in the first stint, it was noticeable that Ferrari were among the last to change, with the veteran Hamilton in last position among the leading teams before switching to hard tyres. It should also be noted that Lawson and Alonso tried to extend their stint, which paid off handsomely as both then finished in the points.

In what for many was the second-tire session, except for a collision between Tsunoda and Colapinto during a clumsy inside overtaking move, practically nothing significant happened. Tsunoda changed the nose, while the Argentine sadly finished at the back, creating further doubts about his performance: although Briatore had him take over from Doohan in Alpine, he is still not getting any noteworthy results.

Halfway through the race, if there was no substantial change in the top five, it was surprising to see two Sauber just behind, with Bortoleto sixth and Hulkemberg eighth. Despite four retirements, the German, record holder for the most Grands Prix in Formula 1 without a podium finish (but winner of Le Mans with the Porsche 919 Hybrid in 2015) had qualified last: a great comeback, in short, considering the low potential of his single-seater. I

Russell, invisible for most of the race, however, did not fail to mark his territory at the end, correctly finishing in the fifth place he deserved. All too surprising, however, to see Lawson, who had only four points in the first race, finish behind him. First of the lapped but still in the points, seventh, Alonso, followed as mentioned by some good Sauber and Ocon. For Bortoleto, better than Hulkemberg, it is a chance to break away from the absolute zero at the bottom of the standings which, at mid-season, now only sees the 22-year-old South American with Italian citizenship. He has been given the chance to make his Formula 1 debut with only one win under his belt in Formula 2 in 2024.