(Spielberg bei Knittelfeld) Reigning three-time world champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull) won the sprint race of the Austrian Formula 1 Grand Prix on Saturday at the Red Bull Ring.
Under bright sunshine, the Dutchman beat the two McLarens of Australian Oscar Piastri and Briton Lando Norris at the end of the 23 laps of the race and thus won the three sprints contested this season.
“When the DRS was allowed, it was complicated. We had a good fight, the McLarens caused me problems but it was a fun race. Then when I was out of DRS, I was able to run my race. There are still things to improve before the Grand Prix” on Sunday, stressed “Mad Max”.
Starting from the lead, Verstappen was bothered at the start of the race by the papaya single-seaters, who were well helped by the DRS, like Norris’ overtaking of the Red Bull n° 1 on the 5the round. But the three-time world champion fought back a few seconds later to regain the lead and never let go, while Piastri took the opportunity to snatch second place from his teammate.
“Happy? Yes and no. At one point I thought I could take advantage of the fight between Max and Lando to slip past but I couldn’t. I lacked a bit of rhythm to hope to overtake Max afterwards,” explained the Australian.
PHOTO FLORION GOGA, REUTERS
Max Verstappen ahead of Oscar Piastri
After this battle, the Dutchman then managed to open up a small gap of more than a second on the McLarens, which allowed him to ward off the threat of the DRS. He then escaped to win with a lead of almost five seconds.
Leclerc 7e
The Briton George Russell (Mercedes) took fourth place, ahead of the Ferrari of Spaniard Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes).
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), only 10e on the grid after being unable to set a time in Q3 on Friday following an anti-stall system problem, managed to climb back to 7the rank to grab two points, one more than the Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull).
“The first laps were successful and I was able to gain a few places, then I had to manage the temperature of the brakes. The real problem, like last weekend, is performance. We are struggling at the moment, we are trying to work but there is no miracle solution. We will try to try something in qualifying,” said the Monegasque.
THE top 10 is completed by the Dane Kevin Magnussen (Haas), who fails at the points gate, and the Canadian Lance Stroll (Aston Martin).
The two Alpines, split into 8e and 9e positions after both managing to climb into Q3 on Friday, finally finished in 11e and 12e places.
The drivers now have an appointment at 4 p.m. (10 a.m. Eastern Time) for qualifying which will determine the starting grid for the Grand Prix on Sunday.
Check the race ranking