CHARLES LECLERC overcame the dramatic Red Bull Ring circuit to secure first place at the Austrian Grand Prix.
The Ferrari icon picked a perfect moment in lap 53 to overtake Max Verstappen who led throughout most of the race.
And Carlos Sainz looked to be gaining momentum in third spot before a engine failure sent his Ferrari up in flames.
Which then presented the opportunity for seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton to claim the final spot on the podium
- PODIUM: Leclerc (P1) Verstappen (P2) Hamilton (P3)
- TV/Live stream: Sky Sports F1
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Carlos Sainz reacts
When speaking to Sky Sports, Sainz said:
“I knew there was something wrong as soon as it happened.
“There was no feedback that it was about to happen. It was very sudden and it is hard because it was a big loss of points and a potential one-two for the team.
“I saw a lot of fire and damage and we will have to look at why this is.
“It is more difficult to take because we were about to bring in a very big result to cut the gap to Max and Red Bull, but it is still a long season ahead.”
Credit: AFP Sainz’s escape
Carlos Sainz was forced to retire from today’s race due to an engine failure.
His car burst into flames as he left the track at turn four.
Credit: ANTONIN VINCENT / Every Second Media / DPPI Credit: Splash Credit: Splash Sergio Perez reacts
When questioned by Sky Sports about his early exit from the race, Perez said:
“It is a big shame for us, I clearly felt that we did everything we could to avoid an incident.
“George couldn’t control the speed into turn four and and we ended up making contact when I was clearly ahead.
“I am sorry for what happened to Carlos Sainz but that is nothing to do with us.
“The car has not been up there this week so there is some good analysis to be done.”
Credit: Getty
Christian Horner reacts
When speaking to Sky Sports, the Red Bull chief said:
“They were very important points today and congratulations to Ferrari, they had a quicker car throughout the majority of the race.
“Max was coming back at the end there but our tyre deg was higher from halfway through the first stint and it was hard to combat that.
“Ferrari just seemed lighter on the tyres and obviously they had a pace advantage and that gives you more strategic options.
“Losing Checo was obviously hugely disappointing.
“It is unlucky for them today with Carlos but our pace at the end of the race, we still have the fastest lap, but we didn’t have the range we had yesterday and that is something we need to understand.
“Over the two races we have only given away five points with Max so it is not too bad. We will bounce back in France.”
Credit: Getty Race results
Lewis Hamilton reacts
“It’s been a bit of a rough weekend, but really grateful that as a team we got third and fourth so we move on from here.
“I do want to say a thank you to the men and women in the garage who worked so hard to rebuild the car.
“I had a brand new car on Saturday morning, I made a mistake on Friday, not something I do often.”
Credit: Reuters Max Verstappen reacts
“It was a tricky day.
“It seemed like we were struggling quite a bit with the tyres, and that happened on every compound – too much degradation on the tyres.
“But second place is still a good result for us on a tricky day.”
Credit: Reuters Charles Leclerc reacts
“It was a really good race. The pace was there. At the beginning we had some good fights with Max and the end was incredibly difficult.
“I had this issue with the throttle. It would get stuck at 20 or 30 per-cent throttle in the low speeds, so it was very tricky.
“We managed to make it stick until the end and I am so happy.
“Weirdly [the throttle issue] was more or less the same time [as Sainz’s retirement], so I had it in my mind.
“I knew it was not a problem with the engine because it was the pedal that was feeling weird. Luckily it went until the end of the race.
“I definitely needed that one. The last five races have been incredibly difficult for myself and for the team.
“To finally show that we have the pace in the car and we can do it is incredible. We need to push until the end.”
Credit: Reuters Schumacher earns career-best finish
After earning his first points in Formula One last weekend, Mick Schumacher crossed the line in sixth this afternoon.
It is his highest finish in F1 so far.
Credit: AFP
Top 10 finishers
- 1 – Leclerc
- 2 – Verstappen
- 3 – Hamilton
- 4 – Russell
- 5 – Ocon
- 6 – Schumacher
- 7 – Norris
- 8 – Magnussen
- 9 – Ricciardo
- 10 – Alonso
Credit: Getty Leclerc WINS the Austrian GP
This is Charles Leclerc’s first Grand Prix victory where he has not started from pole position.
It is also his first time on top of the podium since Australia.
Leclerc WINS the Austrian GP
Charles Leclerc has won the Austrian Grand Prix!
Verstappen closely follows.
Hamilton claims the final spot on the podium.
Credit: EPA Lap 71/71
Final Lap!
Just 2.2 seconds separate Leclerc and Verstappen!
Lap 70/71
Verstappen is caught in a bit of traffic, so Leclerc can slightly extend his lead.
Lap 68/71
Verstappen has closed the gap to Leclerc to less than three seconds!
Three laps to go!
Lap 65/71
Race leader Leclerc is reporting some potential throttle issues with just six laps to go.
Verstappen will look to capitalise.
Lap 62/71
Russell is back in fourth, 16 seconds behind his Mercedes teammate.
Meanwhile, Norris overtakes Magnussen to jump into 6th.
Both McLarens are now in the top 10 with Ricciardo in 9th.
Lap 60/71
The virtual safety car has ended.
Leclerc leads.
Verstappen is just four seconds behind with Hamilton in third.
Lap 59/71
Virtual safety car as Sainz’s Ferrari is removed from the gravel.
Lap 57/71
Sainz is OUT.
His Ferrari sets on fire as the engine fails.
The Spaniard narrowly escapes as his car bursts into flames, but he is okay.
Credit: Splash Lap 56/71
Sainz is closing in behind Verstappen.
The gap is currently half-a-second.
Ferrari are pushing for a 1-2 finish.
Lap 53/71
Leclerc is back in the lead!
He forces a gap before edging past Verstappen on the inside of turn 3.
Lap 52/71
Latifi is OUT.
The mechanical issue has not yet been made clear.
Credit: AFP Lap 51/71
Verstappen is back in the lead after Sainz pits.
Leclerc, who is on fresher tyres, is less than two seconds behind.
Lap 50/71
Leclerc pits and drops to third.
Verstappen is just in front, but the Ferrari’s have had the better pace today.
Sainz leads.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
