Verstappen’s move to clear Leclerc is under review. Leclerc finished second, Bottas third, Vettel fourth, and Hamilton (an unaccustomed) fifth.
SPIELBERG, Austria—June 30—It could have been over for Max Verstappen when the Dutchman kicked in his anti-stall switch at the start of Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix. But after losing five positions, Verstappen fought his way back to win Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix, passing Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc with two laps to go. Valtteri Bottas took third for Mercedes.
In winning, Verstappen registered consecutive victories at Spielberg and took his sixth career win. It was the first win since 2006 for the new Honda powerplant when Jenson Button won in Hungary.
“After the start of the race, I thought it was over,” Verstappen said following the race. “I started to push hard, and that kind of pace was good enough to pass him (Leclerc). I am extremely happy with the team. A win here is incredible.”
Although Verstappen took the victory, he is under investigation when he collided with Leclerc as Verstappen passed him at turn three. Verstappen came off the starting line and made an error by dropping the clutch too quickly and started the anti-stall system, which takes a few more seconds to reactivate. When that happened, Verstappen could not get off the starting line quickly enough and dropped five positions.
Leclerc had a perfect start and went well ahead of the grid until his first pit stop on lap 23. Leclerc retook the lead as other drivers began their round of pit stops.
Verstappen took the lead on lap 31 but then had to make his final pit stop. Leclerc regained the lead five laps later. Verstappen put his foot on the throttle, passing Sebastian Vettel, and then Bottas, to find himself just four seconds up the road from Leclerc with ten laps to go.
Verstappen continued to take time away from the Ferrari driver and, with just two laps to go, he dove around the corner of Leclerc as both were approaching turn three. As Verstappen cleared Leclerc, both touched wheels and pushed Leclerc off the track, giving the advantage to the Dutchman. Verstappen continued and won the race by 2.7 seconds, sealing his second victory in a row at this circuit.
For the rest of the grid, Vettel passed Lewis Hamilton, who had been having a problem all day with grip, for fourth. Hamilton finished an unaccustomed fifth. McLaren received double points with Lando Norris in sixth and Carlos Sainz Jr. in eighth place. Red Bull took more points with Pierre Gasly in seventh, while Alfa Romeo (like McLaren), scored double points with Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi ninth and tenth, respectively.
Afterward, Verstappen felt that the way he raced was something other drivers going against him must get used to. “It is hard racing. Otherwise, we have to stay home,” Verstappen replied sarcastically. “If those things aren’t allowed in Formula 1, then what is the point of racing?”
The racing will continue in two weeks at Silverstone in England.
