And eight more points that fall into the hands of Max Verstappen. On the Spielberg circuit, Saturday July 9, the Dutchman won the second sprint race of the season in Austria – after that already won by the world champion on the GP of Emilia-Romagna (Italy), in April.
The Red Bull driver, who will start from first position on Sunday (3 p.m.), widens the gap a little more on his pursuers in the driver classification. The two teammates at Ferrari, Charles Leclerc (2nd) and Carlos Sainz (3rd), fought a big battle for the last two steps of the podium, leaving their main rival to fly away.
MAX WIN!!!
Leclerc crosses the line second, Sainz takes third#AustrianGP #F1Sprint pic.twitter.com/bTmIPdMLq7
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 9, 2022
Behind, George Russell (Mercedes) and Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) had to settle for places of honor, 4th and 5th respectively. On the French side, Esteban Ocon (Alpine) finished in a good 6th position, while Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri) touched Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) from the first corner and spun, finishing in the depths of the classification (16th ). The Briton finished in 8th position.
>> Relive the Austrian Grand Prix sprint race
Less than a week after a crazy British Grand Prix at Silverstone, the tension behind the scenes at Ferrari has clearly not subsided. It was enough to see the extremely cold handshake between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz at the exit of their single-seater, at the end of this sprint race, to understand that the strategic choices of last weekend did not really digested by the Monegasque.
Because the Scuderia teammates fought a battle which raised fears of the worst on the first laps this Saturday. Carlos Sainz attacked Charles Leclerc in turn 3, the latter not hesitating to defend his place by taking obvious risks for the two drivers. Enough to tear your hair out on the side of Mattia Binotto, the boss of the rearing horse stable.
Asked after the race if the two Ferraris could work together against Verstappen on Sunday, Leclerc gave a scathing and concise answer: “I hope.” It remains to be seen if the pressure will drop in less than 24 hours…