MAX VERSTAPPEN has won ANOTHER Grand Prix to keep Mercedes’ drought going to four races.
The German manufacturers have not gone four races without a victory since 2014 and now they and star driver Lewis Hamilton are starting to worry the title is moving out of reach.
Verstappen was in red hot form again in Austria as he led from gun to tape and Hamilton gave up on his chance of victory to try for the fastest lap, which he clinched.
And Valtteri Bottas then held off Sergio Perez for the third spot on the podium.
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CHEQUERED FLAG
Thank you for joining us today and we will be back on Friday for practice of the Austrian Grand Prix around the Red Bull Ring.
Catch up with all the Styrian GP action with Ben Hunt’s race report.
Credit: Reuters GEORGE CRESTFALLEN
Williams starlet George Russell put his car on the edge of the points in qualifying and reached eighth before an issue wrecked his race.
Forced into the pits after being told on the radio that he needed to do a two-stopper, he was quickly forced to return and eventually retired.
Talking to Sky Sports after leaving the garage and looking clearly heartbroken, he said: “It was a very rare pneumatic issue on the car, they’re still looking into it.
“The team apologised on the radio, there was no need for it. We’re in this together, but it’s frustrating for sure.
“Racing is cruel sometimes, it’s never straightforward or easy pickings.”
MAX POWER
Up next to face the media is Max Verstappen, who is very pleased with his situation but accepts it can all change very quickly.
He tells Sky Sports: “This race was just very enjoyable.
“We had good pace and tyre degradation was very good, which is normally a strong point for Mercedes.
“Next weekend is a different race with softer compounds, naturally I think the teams will be a little closer together.
“We have a really good car now, I always want to be better and we will keep pushing.”
FULL RESULTS
Here is how the Styrian Grand Prix shook down, with just two retirements and only the top four not being lapped by the winner…
‘FAR FROM OVER’
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff says there will be no new upgrades to claw back the Red Bulls.
He tells Sky Sports: “It’s very interesting, I’m really looking forward to seeing where we can improve for next weekend.
“It’s not a bad result but what’s tough is that this was the first race in eight years where we’re just lacking the pace.
“You can see that we’ve stopped developing for this year to focus on next year and they keep adding new bits.
“Time will tell when you look back in five or tens years whether it is the right decision or not, but it’s not over.”
HAMILTON AT A LOSS
Lewis Hamilton, speaking under an umbrella as the rain has finally reached Spielberg, discusses the state of the championship on Sky Sports.
He says: “I can’t remember the last time we had an upgrade.
“They clearly have, it’s just eked them ahead. There’s a really long way to go but with speed like that there’s nothing we can do.
“I’ve got confidence that the team can find something.
“They’ve spent more money than us this year, maybe we’ve put more on next year – I don’t know. I’m just driving the car to the maximum but we need to try and find some more out of the performance.”
Credit: Reuters THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN
Charles Leclerc was chewed up in the Turn 1 mayhem and dropped to the back of the pack with a broken wing.
Yet the Ferrari star fought back to a sterling seventh-place finish to claim the fans’ vote for Driver of the Day.
LANDO APPEARS
Not since the first few laps of the race have we seen Lando Norris, who came home fifth after surrendering his early podium spot to Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez.
After subsequently cruising home, the slightly bemused Brit tells Sky Sports: “A bit of a lonely, straightforward race.
“Which is quite good but you always want more, until you get to P1.
“I have to be happy but days like today, although you want more, are the ones you’ll be thankful for when you look back on it.”
SAINZ SATISFIED
Carlos Sainz came home sixth but feels it could have been more having found himself behind Lewis Hamilton, attempting to unlap himself.
The Merc eventually moved aside although Sainz was too far ahead to challenge.
The Spaniard tells Sky Sports: “A very good day in the office.
“A very weird scenario as I was on very fresh Hards, I knew I could catch Lando but I was stuck behind Lewis.
“Eventually I was able to unlap myself. I spent 15 laps behind him, scrubbing my front tyres.”
Credit: Alamy
HORNER REACTS
Red Bull chief Christian Horner is in front of the cameras and heaps the praise on Max Verstappen.
He tells Sky Sports: “It was an immaculate performance, particularly by Max who managed the race so well.
“The way he controlled the race, built the gap – that’s the most dominant win we’ve had so far this year against Mercedes.
“It was a masterclass.”
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Two wins in a row mean Max Verstappen holds an 18-point lead over Lewis Hamilton after eight rounds of the 2021 calendar.
There is still a long way to go but that is almost an entire race worth of advantage for the Dutchman.
Sergio Perez is still third with Lando Norris keeping fourth after making it three fifth-placed finishes on the spin.
But Valtteri Bottas now sits just 12 back, before Ferrari men Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
Credit: Reuters HERE COMES THE BUBBLY
Lewi Hamilton *finally* catches Max Verstappen for the first time this afternoon – to douse him in champagne.
Red Bull supremo Helmut Marko is on the podium to collect the constructors’ trophy, and he gets the bulk of Verstappen’s attention before the winner is caught by his Mercedes rivals.
All in good spirits of course and attention is quickly turning to the same time in the same place, next weekend…
NATIONAL ANTHEMS
The Austrian national anthem rings out around the Styrian hills…
Max Verstappen has now delivered three victories to his team’s home race.
WING IT
Lewis Hamilton pondering Red Bull’s superiority, there.
It’s the straights where his rivals have found an advantage ‘in the last few races’, says the reigning champ.
And he adds he doesn’t know whether it’s the Red Bull rear wing or not.
Fair to say there is a lot of head scratching taking place at the Mercs right now.
UPGRADE NEEDED
Lewis Hamilton admits Red Bull ‘are just faster’ following that second-place finish.
He tells Mark Webber after hopping out the car: “We need to find some performance, we need an upgrade of some sort.”
VERSTAPPEN WINS
Back-to-back wins for the first time in his F1 career, and extends his lead at the top of the drivers’ championship.
He does a wheelspin as he crosses the line. Fabulous drive.
Hamilton is second and gets a points for the fastest lap.
Bottas takes third. Perez is fourth, just 0.5 seconds behind when he was 19 seconds at the last top.
Norris is fifth. Great drive from him.
FINAL LAP
Verstappen is closing in on victory….
MERC STOP HAMILTON FOR TYRES
He has a free stop. He is going to try and get the fastest lap bonus point. He returns to the race in second place, but 38.7 seconds behind Verstappen.
PEREZ IS CATCHING BOTTAS
Six laps to go. Will the Red Bull man get past the Mercedes driver?
LAP 62/71
Hamilton is praying for rain. But it is not coming.
He is 11.6 seconds behind Verstappen.
HAMILTON WARNED ABOUT TRACK LIMITS
He has gone wide at turn 10 twice and the stewards have given him a warning. If he does it again, he could get a penalty.
HAMILTON AT A LOSS TO CATCH VERSTAPPEN
Mercedes to Hamilton : “Gap to Verstappen is 8.8.”
Hamilton: “What do I do? I can’t close that.”
LAP 55/71
Perez stops for fresh tyres. This must be an attempt to get the fastest lap. He also now has to hammer it if he is to get past Bottas.
Will Merc call in Bottas or hope he lasts the distance?
LAP 50
Leclerc passes Vettel for 10th place for the final place in the points. Both drivers would have been hoping for better.
LAP 48/71
It is Perez v Bottas for third place, which is shaping up to be a great fight for the final podium place.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
