McLaren claims double podium in Austria

McLaren dominated the Red Bull with a defining 1-2 finish at the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday.

Lando Norris led from the pole at the start of the race, finishing less than three seconds ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri. Charles Leclerc finished third, giving Ferrari their fifth podium appearance of the season.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen was eliminated in a collision with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, marking the Dutchman’s first DNF of the season and hurting his chances in the title race.

From qualifying, McLaren signaled their intent to win Sunday’s race. Norris took pole position, edging out Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and his own teammate Oscar Piastri.

When the lights went out, Norris maintained his advantage and, despite pressure from Piastri, managed the race with great precision. 

The McLaren duo engaged in a tense intra-team battle, swapping positions and pushing each other to the limit, but Norris ultimately led Piastri across the finish line for his third victory this season.

This result not only strengthens McLaren’s grip on the Constructors’ Championship but also raises the internal rivalry between the two drivers up by several degrees as they battle for this season’s crown. 

Verstappen’s crash with Antonelli at Turn 3 was a standout moment in the race. The incident triggered a safety car and left Verstappen furious, as his championship hopes took a hit. 

For Antonelli, it was a painful rookie mistake, while Verstappen had to endure the bitter blow at his team’s home race.

Lewis Hamilton secured fourth position, behind teammate Leclerc, showing some signs of improvement from Ferrari. George Russell earned the only points for Mercedes with a fifth-place finish.

Liam Lawson finished sixth, while Fernando Alonso came right after him. Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg both finished eighth and ninth, respectively, earning points for Kick Sabeur. Esteban Ocon completed the top 10 pack with one point for Haas.