Russell wins at Red Bull ring from pole to finish

The majority of the cars started on medium tires, the race start was calm without any incidents. In Turn 3 Kimi Antonelli went off track and Lewis Hamilton overtook his teammate Charles Leclerc. Geroge Russell managed to keep the lead. On lap 3 Valtteri Bottas reported on the radio that the breaks on his Cadillac are on fire and he had to retire at the same lap. Two laps later, his teammate Sergio Perez retired because of the same problem.

On lap 4 Liam Lawson radioed that his car is on fire and Russell built up a gap on Hamilton of 1. 8 seconds. Four laps later, Antonelli overtook Leclerc on the straight before Turn 10. On lap 11 Verstappen overtook Hamilton in Turn 3, but Hamilton overtook him back couple of turns later. The next lap, the Ferrari driver pitted for hard tires and rejoined the grid eleventh, Leclerc pitted on lap 14.

On lap 15, the standings were: Russell, Verstappen, Antonelli, Piastri and Norris. Three laps later Verstappen also pitted for hards, the next lap pitted Russell and rejoined the track third. The McLarens also went into the boxes for hard tires on lap 20 and 21.

On lap 25 there was a yellow flag as Carlos Sainz stopped his Williams on the main straight, causing a Virtual Safety Car. By this time Antonelli went into the pits before the VSC was deployed. Hamilton managed to pit for softs before the pitlane was closed as the marshals were moving Sainz’s car into the garage.

Lap 30, Antonelli overtook Leclerc for the third position, behind Russell and Verstappen. Throughout the next laps Verstappen was closing the gap to Russell. On lap 37 Piastri overtook the Ferraris who were fighting with each other. Leclerc had damaged front wing from the fight with Piastri and went into the pits, only to pit for new set of hard tires. He rejoined the grind eighth.

Meanwhile Hamilton was chasing Piastri for the fourth place. On lap 41 Fernando Alonso received a 5 second penalty for speeding in the pit lane. Lap later, Verstappen closed the gap to Russell to only 1. 3 seconds. On lap 43 Piastri and Hamilton went into the pits for hard tires. They rejoined the track sixth and seventh.

Lap 44 Russell went into the boxes for hard tires, too and he rejoined the track third with a gap of 11. 7 seconds to now leading Verstappen. Three laps later, Lance Stroll retired his Aston Martin. On lap 48 Norris was called into the boxes to pit for the hards. By this time Piastri overtook Leclerc for the fifth.

On lap 49 Verstappen radioed that his tires are dead and pitted for hard tires. He rejoined the track third behind Antonelli, who became the new race leader, with Russell on the second. Two laps later, Antonelli was called into the boxes to pit for hard tires. He got back on the track on third and his gap to second Verstappen was 4. 6 seconds.

On lap 56 Hadjar was battling with Leclerc for the sixth position and he eventually overtook him as the Ferrari driver was complaining about his tires. Three laps later, also Norris overtook him in Turn 3 and Leclerc dropped on the eighth. In this lap, he was called into the pits.

With 10 laps until the end, Russell was still leading ahead of Verstappen and Antonelli as their lap times stabilized. Three laps before the end, Antonelli closed his gap to Verstappen for 1. 3 seconds but the Dutch driver managed to keep the second place, behind the Grand Prix winner, George Russell.  

Race results:

1st – George Russell (Mercedes)
2nd – Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) – +1.611
3rd – Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +1.986
4th – Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +21.809
5th – Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +26.393
6th – Isack Hadjar (Red Bull Racing) – +29.399
7th – Lando Norris (McLaren) – +31.505
8th – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +45.659
9th – Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – +1 Lap
10th – Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) – +1 Lap
11th – Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) – +1 Lap
12th – Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) – +1 Lap
13th – Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – +1 Lap
14th – Oliver Bearman (Haas F1 Team) – +1 Lap
15th – Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – +1 Lap
16th – Esteban Ocon (Haas F1 Team) – +2 Laps
17th – Alexander Albon (Williams) – +2 Laps
18th – Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +3 Laps
19th – Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – DNF
20th – Carlos Sainz (Williams) – DNF
21st – Sergio Perez (Cadillac) – DNF
22nd – Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) – DNF