Charles Leclerc back in the foreground in Austria. On the circuit of Red Bull Ring of Spielberg, the Monegasque imposed his law, Sunday July 10. The Ferrari driver, who started in second position on the grid, quickly overtook his main competitor, Max Verstappen (Red Bull).
Charles is back on top! #AustrianGP @ScuderiaFerrari pic.twitter.com/V8tv3zcDfc
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 10, 2022
A few laps from the finish, Leclerc was however scared. Victim of throttle trouble, he saw the Dutch driver getting dangerously close, but managed to keep him within 2 seconds. On the second step of the podium, the reigning world champion pays for the mismanagement of the tires by his team. He was indeed one of the first to put on hard tires, on the 14th lap, without however catching up on Leclerc. He nevertheless retains the lead in the championship after 11 rounds contested
Charles Leclerc needed this victory. The Ferrari driver had not finished on the podium in the previous five Grand Prix and saw himself left behind by Verstappen in the championship. “It was time“To win another victory, the third of the season for him, he admitted after his success. Like last week at Silverstone, the podium is completed by Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes).
At home, the Red Bulls were not at the party on Sunday. Second in the overall driver standings, Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) was the first to retire. After a collision with George Russell’s Mercedes, the Mexican driver ended up in the sandbox. Starting at the back of the field, the winner of the British Grand Prix left the race a few laps later.
The other unfortunate in the race is called Carlos Sainz (Ferrari). As he was about to attack Verstappen for second place, 14 laps from the finish, the Spaniard was let go by his engine. Above all, he had to wait several seconds in his car, which was starting to catch fire, while the rescue teams arrived. The incident was spectacular, but Sainz emerged unscathed.
LAP 58/71
Drama. An engine failure for Sainz. He’s out of the race.#AustrianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/WDPKmvRxqm
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 10, 2022
On the French side, the Alpine driver, Esteban Ocon, can be satisfied with his fifth place in Austria. After spending the entire start of the race in the leading quartet, the Norman finished behind the Mercedes of George Russell (4th). “Amazing, amazing work from the team“, we could hear him say at the end of his race.
Esteban: “Mega. Awesome, awesome job from the team and really good points.” #AustrianGP
— BWT Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) July 10, 2022
Conversely, Pierre Gasly will have to forget this Austrian Grand Prix. He finished 15th, penalized in particular by an accident he caused on the 44th lap by hitting Sebastian Vettel’s car.