After a disastrous Canadian Formula 1 Grand Prix two weeks ago, crashing out of the race whilst battling his teammate, Lando Norris (McLaren) rebounded to take a well-deserved win at yesterday’s Austrian Formula 1 Grand Prix. He secured a commanding pole position on Saturday, well clear of Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and the rest of the field. There is no doubt that Mr. Norris was the best driver in the best car at this particular race weekend.
Oscar Piastri, in the other McLaren car, took a safe second place in the race, and Mr. Leclerc was some distance back in a comfortable third place. Defending world champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull) did not make it through the first lap, having been taken out by rookie driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes). Messrs. Verstappen and Antonelli had quite the reversal of circumstances, having finished second and third, respectively, in Canada.
The Red Bull team overall suffered a poor result, with Yuki Tsunoda in the other car finishing last (and two laps down from the race leader), and outscored by its junior sister team, Racing Bulls, courtesy of a solid performance by New Zealander rookie driver Liam Lawson. It looks increasingly unlikely that Mr. Verstappen will be able to secure a fifth World Drivers’ Championship this year.