George Russell Wins Austrian Grand Prix, Closes Gap in F1 Championship

George Russell won the Austrian Grand Prix from pole position on Sunday, reducing teammate Kimi Antonelli’s Formula One championship lead to 40 points. Max Verstappen finished 1.6 seconds behind in second place, with Antonelli third, 0.3 seconds behind Verstappen, after a thrilling chase at Spielberg.

Russell’s victory, his second of the season after winning the opener in Australia, was his seventh career win. Antonelli now has 171 points to Russell’s 131, with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who finished fifth after a wheel-to-wheel battle with Verstappen, dropping to third on 125 points.

In the constructors’ standings, Mercedes lead with 302 points to Ferrari’s 204.

“Incredible to be back on the top step. It’s been a little while, so I am definitely going to enjoy this one this evening,” said Russell, who heads to his home British GP at Silverstone next weekend on a high. He revealed his drinks system had failed during the race, the first of the season declared a “heat hazard”.

“Nice race for it to do so, I’m a little bit thirsty,” he added.

Oscar Piastri was fourth for McLaren, ahead of Hamilton, with Isack Hadjar sixth for Red Bull. Reigning champion Lando Norris was seventh, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc eighth, and Racing Bulls pair Liam Lawson and rookie Arvid Lindblad completed the top 10.

“I was having to push every single lap and when you push those boundaries there’s bound to be a small mistake or two,” said Russell. “I knew how quick the guys were behind. Kimi has been extraordinarily quick this whole season, so every lap I was looking at the timing board.”