Lando Norris seized a crucial victory at the Austrian Grand Prix, fending off relentless pressure from teammate Oscar Piastri to reignite his Formula 1 title challenge. In a dramatic race that saw reigning world champion Max Verstappen eliminated on the first lap after a collision with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, the McLaren duo emerged as the dominant force around the Red Bull Ring.Starting from pole, Norris came under immediate threat from Piastri, who momentarily took the lead during a tense wheel-to-wheel exchange. However, the Briton quickly reclaimed control and managed to stay ahead despite a few hairy moments — including a late-braking attempt from Piastri that nearly led to contact.Piastri extended his first stint to gain strategic advantage and chased hard in the final laps, but Norris had just enough pace in hand to take the chequered flag. It marked Norris’ third win of the season and his first since Monaco, narrowing the championship gap to 15 points behind Piastri heading into the British Grand Prix next week.
The race was all but over for Max Verstappen just moments after it started. A late dive from Antonelli at Turn 3 sent the Red Bull star spinning into the gravel, ending his race on home turf in under a lap. The incident has dealt a serious blow to his title hopes: he now trails by 61 points in the standings.With Verstappen out and the McLarens cruising up front, Ferrari capitalised. Charles Leclerc secured third place, notching up his third podium in four races, while teammate Lewis Hamilton came home in fourth. George Russell, the winner in Canada, was the highest-placed Mercedes in fifth after Antonelli’s early exit.Further back, Racing Bulls‘ Liam Lawson delivered his best result of the season in sixth, ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso. Rookie Gabriel Bortoleto claimed a hard-fought eighth for Sauber, collecting his maiden F1 points after a tense late-race battle with Alonso. Nico Hulkenberg followed in ninth, securing a rare double-points finish for Sauber, while Esteban Ocon rounded out the top ten for Haas. (Inputs from IANS).
