CNN
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Rand Norris held back multiple challenges from McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri and won the thrilling Austrian Grand Prix Sunday afternoon.
Starting in pole position, Britton allowed Norris to take the lead on turn 3 as the McLaren team gives the driver permission to fight it, allowing Norris to take the lead on turn 4.
The Australian was unhindered and tried again after 20 laps, but he was locked up and nearly approached the back of his teammate’s car. McLaren’s team later warned that he was too close for him to clash with Norris, and that was as close as Piastri could get in the rest of the race.
“We had a great fight, that’s certainly true,” Norris later told broadcaster Sky Sports. “It was a lot of fun. It’s a lot of stress for me, but it’s a lot of fun. Great fight, very well done to Oscar.”
As a result, Norris held his teammates’ lead to 15 points at the top of the driver’s championship after a collision at the Canadian Grand Prix two weeks ago that ended Britton’s final race, earning valuable points in the rankings.
“Intense” was a rating for the fight this weekend. “It was pretty tough work from the car so I’m glad I watched it. I tried the absolute best. I probably did a better job when I moved forward just a moment ago, but it was a good fight.”
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished third, nearly 20 seconds behind Piastri.
The Spielberg drama began before the race began. Carlos Sainz was stuck in the first gear on the grid as he was about to fall off for the formation lap, and was still there when Norris and Piastri came around the final corner and the start was 15 minutes late.
His brakes were lit when Williams’ driver finally began and reached the pits. The Spaniard was unharmed, but his race ended before it began.
Chaos followed the first lap when Andrea Kimi Antoneli collided with Max Verstappen and finished the race for both drivers.
The Italians got turned 3 too quickly, cut across the puck, then went behind Verstappen, and both cars spun out.
“I’m out. I’ve been hit like crazy,” Team Radio’s Verstappen said quickly. “fool.”
Antonelli apologized, telling Sky Sports:
The incident led Verstappen to suffer his first retirement of the season, finishing his scoring streak in 31 consecutive races.
Antoneri’s exit meant that Mercedes had dropped to third place in the constructor’s championship position. The team ran out to Ferrari. Ferrari finished first behind his teammate Leclerc and fourth in Lewis Hamilton.
It was also a good day for Kick Thorber. Gabriel Boltret and Nico Halkenberg finished in 8th and 9th place respectively.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
