Red Bull’s Max Verstappen showcased his dominance once again, securing victory in the Austrian Grand Prix sprint race on Saturday. Starting from pole position, Verstappen fended off a spirited early challenge from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, ultimately crossing the finish line 4.616 seconds ahead of Piastri. This win marked Verstappen’s third sprint race victory in as many attempts this season, and his fifth consecutive sprint victory overall, further solidifying his position at the top of the Formula One championship standings with a commanding 71-point lead.
The race was marked by a chaotic start. The initial formation lap was aborted due to safety concerns arising from photographers standing behind the barriers at turn one. Following a second formation lap and a reduction in the number of race laps to 23, Verstappen got off to a clean start, with Carlos Sainz passing George Russell to move up to fourth. However, Norris was hot on Sainz’s heels and soon benefited from the advantage of drag reduction. He made a daring move down the inside at turn three, but Verstappen responded with determination, both drivers running slightly wide at the exit of turn four. Piastri, seizing the opportunity, successfully overtook both drivers.
Norris, who had expressed feeling unwell prior to the start, later acknowledged that he could have performed better in the battle for the lead. He praised the pace of his car, particularly at the end of the race, but admitted that he made a mistake in leaving the door open for Verstappen. McLaren team boss Andrea Stella confirmed that there were no considerations for switching the drivers around, highlighting Piastri’s impressive performance and stating that there was no need to disrupt the natural order of the sprint race.
Russell later passed Sainz for fourth on lap eight. The top eight finishers in the 100km sprint race scored points, with Verstappen’s victory earning him eight points. The focus now shifts to qualifying for Sunday’s main grand prix, which will take place later on Saturday. The sprint race provided a thrilling preview of what promises to be an exciting main event, with Verstappen’s dominance and McLaren’s strong performance setting the stage for a captivating race.
