Lando Norris Triumphs Amid Chaos as Verstappen Crashes Out Early in Austria
What a race it was at the Austrian Grand Prix! Drama, redemption, and fierce teammate battles defined an electrifying afternoon at the Red Bull Ring. And at the center of it all? Lando Norris—composed, relentless, and now very much back in the championship hunt.
After a nightmare in Canada just two weeks ago, where Norris took himself out of contention by colliding with teammate Oscar Piastri, the Briton arrived in Austria with something to prove. And he delivered. Taking pole and fending off intense pressure from Piastri, Norris claimed a pivotal win—his third of the season—and slashed the championship gap to just 15 points heading into his home race at Silverstone.
But it wasn’t smooth sailing. Right from lights out, this race had everything. In a shocking turn of events, reigning world champion Max Verstappen was eliminated on the very first lap—tagged by rookie Kimi Antonelli at Turn 3. The Mercedes driver misjudged his braking and slammed into the Red Bull, ending Verstappen’s day before it had even begun. That retirement leaves Verstappen a daunting 61 points adrift of Piastri and signals a major setback for both his and Red Bull’s title aspirations.
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Meanwhile, back at the front, Norris had his hands full with Piastri. The two McLarens went wheel-to-wheel in a thrilling and nerve-wracking duel. At one point, Piastri briefly got ahead but ran wide under braking, giving Norris just enough room to claw back the lead. The tension between teammates was palpable. Another close call nearly mirrored the Montreal incident, but both drivers showed maturity and spatial awareness, avoiding contact. In the end, it was Norris who kept his nerve, even after traffic and backmarkers briefly threatened to disrupt his rhythm.
Behind them, Ferrari showed signs of progress. Charles Leclerc took a solid third, and while Lewis Hamilton still awaits his first podium with the Scuderia, he was a respectable fourth. George Russell, the best of the rest for Mercedes, trailed far behind in fifth, highlighting once again the inconsistency plaguing his team.
Further down the grid, it was a day of personal victories. Liam Lawson scored a career-best sixth for Racing Bulls, while Sauber had plenty to celebrate as both Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg secured top-ten finishes. Esteban Ocon snatched the final point for Haas after a spirited midfield battle.
Red Bull, on the other hand, endured a nightmare. With Verstappen out early and Yuki Tsunoda finishing dead last after a penalty-laden race, team boss Christian Horner admitted they’re “not even thinking about the championship” anymore. It's a shocking statement from a team that has dominated recent seasons.
As the F1 circus heads to Silverstone, the momentum clearly sits with McLaren. The driver and constructor championships are heating up. And after today’s fireworks, one thing’s for sure—this season is far from over. Norris is back in the fight, Piastri is still leading, and Verstappen? Well, he’s got a mountain to climb.
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