F1: Verstappen wins Austrian GP sprint race

SPIELBERG, Austria –

Reigning Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen continued his dominant form by winning the sprint from pole at Saturday’s Austrian Grand Prix, extending his lead over Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez to 70 points.

The closest Verstappen came to losing his grip on the race was when Perez overtook him at the start and they nearly bumped into each other jostling for position in the corner. Verstappen was clearly annoyed by the incident immediately after the race and complained about it on the team radio, but later downplayed it, saying the two teammates had already cleared the air.

“We don’t have to make a big story out of it, you know? It’s what happens sometimes. We talk about it, we make it clear, and that’s fine. That’s how people work. Sometimes you wonder, you answer, you solve it,” he said, before adding in a light-hearted tone. “You don’t have to write a whole article about it… I hope. Or maybe, to get the clicks.”

It was Verstappen’s fifth consecutive win, counting his past four Grand Prix races. Verstappen will start the full race on Sunday from pole position when he will aim for a 42nd career GP win to give the late Ayrton Senna a head start and stand alone fifth on F1’s list of all-time winners times.

Verstappen collected eight points in the sprint – which he also won here last year – and Perez got seven by finishing second. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. collected six points with third place in the 24-lap sprint.

It was a welcome boost for Perez after a dip in form. Since taking his second win of the season at the Azerbaijan GP in late April and taking second place at the Miami GP to retain his title, he has drifted away after finishing 16th, fourth and sixth.

“I mean, I haven’t lost it (my confidence), from winning races to being a really bad driver all of a sudden,” said the 33-year-old Mexican driver. “I know I’ve had a tough period. Many drivers have had that, but it seems even bigger when a Red Bull driver has it.”

Aston Martin’s Lance Walk took fourth place (five points) ahead of teammate Fernando Alonso (four points), Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg (three points), Alpine’s Esteban Ocon (two) and Mercedes driver George Russell (one).

In wet and rainy conditions on the Spielberg circuit, Perez jumped past Verstappen at the start.

“The start was not ideal,” said Verstappen. “A little wheelspin.”

After Verstappen and Perez nearly collided, Perez dropped back to third behind Hulkenberg and Verstappen, who retook the lead.

“We could have had a really big shunt,” Verstappen said over team radio about the near miss with Perez. “We should talk about that.”

They did just that, clearing the air moments after they climbed out of their car.

As the track dried up, on lap 16 Russell was the first to change his wet weather tires for faster tyres, followed by teammate Lewis Hamilton and Hulkenberg.

Leclerc, who started from ninth after taking a three-place grid penalty, switched to medium tires late but finished twelfth.

Verstappen also qualified first for the sprint.

The abbreviated qualifying format – known in F1 as the “sprint shootout” – set the grid for the sprint race, where Hamilton started from 18th after being knocked out in the first part of qualifying. Hamilton looked pensive as he walked back through the paddock to rejoin his Mercedes garage.

He was 10th in the sprint. The Austrian GP is the second of six F1 events to feature a Saturday sprint race format. Perez won the first sprint of the season in Azerbaijan.

Verstappen and other drivers were annoyed by the race stewards on Friday for being too strict about staying within track limits during qualifying for Sunday’s race, where Verstappen will start from pole ahead of Leclerc and Sainz.

FERNLEY TRIBUTE

F1 president Stefano Domenicali has paid tribute to former Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley, who died aged 70. His death was announced by F1 on Friday night. Further details were not given.

“He was such an important part of Formula 1 and his love and passion for the sport will live on forever,” Domenicali said.

Fernley briefly worked with McLaren as president of the Indianapolis 500 return project until he was fired in 2019 when Fernando Alonso failed to qualify. He replaced Domenicali as chairman of the FIA’s single-seater Commission from 2020 to 2022.

Alpine driver Esteban Ocon, who joined Force India in 2017, called Fernley “an amazing person and leader” on Twitter.

Fernley left the team when it was sold to Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll in August 2018. Stroll changed the name of the team first to Racing Point and then Aston Martin.