Formula 1 - World champion Verstappen: "No guaranteed victory"
After his hard-fought sprint victory, Formula-1 World Champion Max Verstappen is expecting strong competition at the Grand Prix of Austria as well. "It's not a guaranteed win for us," said the Red Bull star before the main race on Sunday (3 p.m./Sky) in Spielberg. Although the 26-year-old Dutchman has won four times in the last few years in Steiermark and starts from the first position again, the strengthened McLarens are causing concerns for the industry leader.
On Saturday, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris gave Verstappen a tough race, but Verstappen still won and extended his championship lead to 70 points. The British Norris is the first pursuer, but he is not feeling well. "I'm not sleeping well. But it's nothing that affects my performance on the track," said Norris, who spoke with a noticeably hoarse voice in the media rounds on Saturday.
Norris' declaration of war
"We will give them a fight tomorrow," Norris promised in the direction of Red Bull. Verstappen also predicted: "It will certainly be exciting. It's very close and will be a tight fight."
However, the gaps in qualifying on Saturday afternoon were again larger than in the sprint, with Norris starting from second place despite this, he still goes to the track with good chances. Piastri lost his third starting position due to a driving error and was only classified in seventh place, because he drove unsafely outside the track markings. His fastest lap time was disqualified.
- Max Verstappen, the Formula 1 World Champion, acknowledged the strong competition he anticipates from theMcLaren Group Limited's drivers during the GP Austria on Sunday.
- Despite his victories at the Austrian Grand Prix in the past and starting from the first position once again, Verstappen acknowledged the concern caused by the improved McLarens.
- Lando Norris, who finished second in the sprint race on Saturday, expressed his intention to give Max Verstappen a tough fight during the main race on Sunday.
- Verstappen, recognizing the closeness of the competition, also echoed Norris's sentiment, predicting an exciting and tight battle between Red Bull and McLaren.
- Despite his less than ideal qualifying session, Norris still harbors good chances of succeeding at the GP Austria, starting from the second position.
- Piastran, who experienced a setback in his starting position due to a driving error during qualifying, will start seventh in the GP Austria, but he remains hopeful with his fastest lap time, even after its disqualification.
