In the same week that the film “F1” hit movie theaters, Formula 1 delivered some real-life cinematic moments of its own. McLaren’s Lando Norris clinched a thrilling victory at the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday, holding off a relentless challenge from teammate Oscar Piastri.
The duo battled fiercely from the outset, with Piastri briefly seizing the lead before Norris swiftly reclaimed the top spot. A daring move by Piastri nearly resulted in a collision, leaving spectators on the edge of their seats.
Piastri lost valuable time during the pit stops and was forced off track onto the grass by Alpine’s Franco Colapinto while navigating through traffic. Despite the setback, he closed the gap on Norris but fell short of mounting another overtaking attempt.
Over the team radio, Norris expressed his excitement: “We had a great battle, that’s for sure. A lot of stress, but a lot of fun. A nice battle, so well done to Oscar.”
The race took a dramatic turn when four-time defending world champion Max Verstappen‘s hopes were dashed on the opening lap. The Red Bull driver was hit by Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, bringing his race to an abrupt end.
“This incident might at least mean fewer questions about my title chances,” Verstappen told Sky Sports after the race.
With this victory, Norris boosts his championship aspirations. Piastri leads the overall standings by 15 points ahead of Norris, with Verstappen now trailing by 61 points in third place.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured third place for his third podium finish in four races, while his teammate Lewis Hamilton came in fourth. George Russell, winner of the previous race in Canada, finished fifth for Mercedes, and Liam Lawson achieved his best result of the season, crossing the line sixth for Racing Bulls.
The F1 season moves next to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on July 6, marking the halfway point of the season and a home race for Norris.
