MAX VERSTAPPEN has picked up another win in Austria and labelled the car’s performance even “better than last week”.
In front of thousands of adoring Dutch fans, the Red Bull driver extended his world championship lead to 32 points.
But Verstappen’s team-mate Sergio Perez had a very different afternoon as he was handed two five-second penalties for forcing other drivers off the track, leaving him down in sixth.
Meanwhile Lewis Hamilton was dogged by tyre problems and finished in fourth.
But another Brit had a brilliant afternoon as Lando Norris finished in third behind Valtteri Bottas.
- Verstappen
- Bottas
- Norris
- Hamilton
- Sainz
- Perez
- Ricciardo
- Leclerc
- Gasly
- Alonso
- Russell
- Tsunoda
- Stroll
- Giovinazzi
- Latifi
- Raikkonen
- Vettel
- Schumacher
- Mazepin
Ocon DNF
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SIMPLY VER BEST
Max Verstappen romped to victory in this afternoon’s Austrian Grand Prix.
The Red Bull star, 23, began the race on pole – and never looked in danger as he cruised to his third consecutive victory.
Lewis Hamilton started proceedings in fourth, but quickly managed to leapfrog Sergio Perez and then Lando Norris into second – with the latter being slapped with a five second penalty.
But the Brit was reeled in by team-mate Valtteri Bottas during lap 54, with Norris also overtaking him as he fell back to fourth.
The seven-time champion, 36, will now head into the British Grand Prix next time around still trailing Verstappen in the Drivers’ Championship standings.
After the race, victorious Verstappen said: “Today was incredible to be honest, the car was on rails!
“It was really enjoyable to drive. You go into the weekend as the favourite, but it’s never easy to do.
“It was insane to see all the fans and so much orange!”
Read the full report here.
INCIDENT ON THE FINAL LAP
Raikkonen and Vettel collide on the final lap.
MEGA JOB FROM NORRIS
The Brit was brilliant.
MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS THE AUSTRIAN GP
A hat-trick of consecutive wins for the Dutchman, who increases his lead in the championship.
Bottas is second. Norris is third. Hamilton fourth. Sainz is fifth.
LAP 68
Alonso finally gets past Russell, he is now out of the points. Gutted for the Williams man.
FIVE LAPS TO GO
Verstappen leads Bottas, then Norris, then Hamilton.
RUSSELL IS IN 10th
That would be a crucial point for Williams in their battle with Haas. He is holding off Alonso.
LAP 60
Verstappen stops for a second set of tyres. He has a clean stop and has a fresh set of rubber for the final 10 laps.
Red Bull taking no chances.
SOME DRIVE FROM NORRIS
What a star this McLaren man is becoming!
LAP 54 – NORRIS GETS PAST HAMILTON
The Brit, who let’s remember has served a five second time penalty, passes Hamilton and goes into third.
LAP 53
Bottas has been allowed to pass Hamilton. The Finn goes into P2 and Hamilton is in third and will come under pressure from Norris.
PEREZ GETS ANOTHER PENALTY
The Mexican has another five-second penalty for forcing Leclerc off the track.
LAP 52- ALL CHANGE AT MERCEDES
Bottas now given the all clear to race against his teammate.
BOTTAS TOLD NOT TO OVERTAKE HAMILTON
Wow. That is a big statement from Mercedes. The Finn will be furious with that instruction.
LAP 47 LECLERC IS FURIOUS
Leclerc v Perez again, the Ferrari man goes wide again under pressure from Perez, who could again be risking another time penalty.
Leclerc is forced into the gravel who shouts expletives over the radio.
LAP 45
Verstappen is well ahead.
Hamilton is trying to hold on to second.
Bottas is catching his teammate.
Norris could be in with a shout of making the podium.
PEREZ GETS A PENALTY
He has a five second penalty for forcing a driver off the track – same penalty Norris received.
LAP 42
Perez v Leclerc will now be decided by the stewards. Let’s see the outcome on that.
LAP 35
Verstappen has a 13.8 second lead over Hamilton. He is controlling this race perfectly.
Hamilton, Bottas, Norris, Sainz is the top five.
LAP 33
Verstappen stops from the lead and has a perfect pit stop. He is back on track and back in p1.
That was a beautiful stop from Red Bull. No fuss.
LAP 32
Hamilton stops for tyres. It is a 2.2 second stop and he returns to the track in second place.
LAP 31 PITSTOPS
Norris stops and serves his five second time penalty. Bottas also stops and gets the jump on the McLaren man in the pitlane.
It is Perez, Hamilton, Bottas, Norris.
NORRIS UNHAPPY WITH THE PENALTY
Engineer: “We have a 5-second penalty, but don’t worry, it’s alright.”
Norris: “For what!?”
Engineer: “Don’t worry about that.”
Norris: “Whatever! If it’s for Lap 1…. what did the guy expect, going around the outside?”
DOUBLE BLOW FOR NORRIS
He has been hit with a five second penalty for forcing a driver off the track.
And now Hamilton has got past and in to second place.
LAP 19
Hamilton is behind Norris and you can see he just does not have the pace to keep up with the McLaren on the straights.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
