Motorsport - Verstappen wins Formula 1 sprint in Austria
Formula-1 World Champion Max Verstappen extended his championship lead with a hard-fought win in the Sprint at the Red Bull Ring in Austria. The 26-year-old Dutch driver secured the victory on Saturday in the packed 100 km sprint race in Spielberg, finishing ahead of McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Verstappen repeated his triumph from last year and claimed the third Sprint victory of the season for himself, earning eight championship points.
"It was clear they made it difficult for me. We had to work for this win," Verstappen said about the attacks from the McLaren drivers. Norris, meanwhile, was frustrated that he couldn't hold onto his brief lead and found himself "driving like an amateur." "There are things I could have done better. But it was too hard to get past Max," the 24-year-old British driver said.
The first start had to be aborted because photographers behind the barriers in the first turn posed a safety risk. During the second attempt, three-time champion Verstappen defended his first position but had to quickly fend off challenges from Norris and Piastri. Norris took the lead for a few meters in the fifth round but was then overtaken by Verstappen and Piastri in a fierce three-way battle.
Verstappen puts on a spectacle to secure the win
Fans at the Red Bull Ring were treated to spectacular overtaking maneuvers under hot summer conditions with temperatures reaching 30 degrees Celsius before Verstappen pulled away and drove a controlled race to the finish. German driver Nico Hülkenberg finished 14th in the Haas race car and missed out on points.
The qualifying session for the actual Grand Prix is scheduled for Saturday afternoon, a day before the race on Sunday (3:00 PM/Sky). Title defender Verstappen leads the standings comfortably with 70 points. As last year's winner, Verstappen is once again the favorite on one of his favorite tracks.
- Max Verstappen, the Formula 1 World Champion, showcased his skills once again in the Sprint race at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.
- Lando Norris, despite his efforts, could not keep his lead against Verstappen and Piastri in the packed 100 km sprint race.
- In the Austrian Grand Prix Sprint, it was Verstappen who repeated his victory from the previous year, earning him his third Sprint victory of the season.
- Nico Hülkenberg, the German driver, finished 14th in the Haas race car and missed out on scoring points in the Sprint race.
- The International GP Austria will see Verstappen defending his title as the favorite, having won the race last year and being comfortable at the top of the standings with 70 points.
- McLaren driver Oscar Piastri played a significant role in the intense three-way battle with Verstappen and Norris in the Sprint race.
- The pressure was high for Norris in the Sprint race as he found himself struggling to overtake Verstappen and eventually finished behind him and Piastri.
- The Red Bull Ring in Styria, Austria, was filled with Motorsport enthusiasts who delighted in witnessing the thrilling overtaking maneuvers pulled off by Verstappen during the Sprint race.
