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Lando Norris arrives in Austria following the incident he caused in Canada with teammate Oscar Piastri, which forced him to retire and allowed the Australian driver to extend his lead in the standings. Norris immediately admitted fault, but in the two weeks since, the team has also spoken up.
"We’ve had talks, and there have been many. But there was a good understanding of everything - acknowledgment of my thoughts, understanding things from my side, and explaining everything to the team. I think I made it clear right away that I misjudged the situation and took responsibility for it. Obviously, they weren’t the most cheerful conversations, but it was necessary to talk things through".
Just as Oscar Piastri also explained, Lando Norris confirms that what happened on track in Quebec won’t change McLaren’s internal rules. The team currently holds a comfortable lead over its rivals in the Constructors' Championship, and both drivers are in the hunt for the Drivers' Championship:
"We all know what the number one rule was, is, and always will be. So, yes, some things can be very constructive, even if it was in an unfortunate way".
Norris also reiterated that he struggled emotionally with the fact that he collided with his teammate, but that he has now fully recovered:
"Now I’m doing well, I’m pumped for this weekend. It took me a while, because for me, my team means everything. These are the people I’ve grown up with, the people who gave me my chance in Formula 1, and I want to win with McLaren. So the fact that what happened in Montreal happened with my teammate was the most painful part for me, because that’s the last thing I would ever want between me and my teammate. I felt really bad for the team and for everyone working at McLaren".
The Canadian Grand Prix was particularly tough for McLaren. For the first time this season, the British team failed to get either driver onto the podium, and they also had to deal with the aftermath of the Piastri-Norris clash, which occurred while the two were battling for fourth and fifth place and resulted in Norris’s retirement. In the pre-race press conference ahead of the Austrian GP, Oscar Piastri tried to avoid further controversy, stating that nothing has changed in his relationship with Norris or in McLaren’s internal policies:
"Changes? No, it’s going to be the same as always. What happened in Canada wasn’t ideal, but we’re always free to race, we’re still fighting for the championship, and we’ll continue racing while trying to avoid contact. I think the situation would need to change drastically before we start having those discussions. Right now, what we both want is a fair shot at the championship. That’s what I want personally too, so I have no intention of starting that kind of conversation".
McLaren also showed a step back in terms of performance in Canada. However, in Austria, things are expected to return to normal:
"We weren’t as strong as we’d hoped in Canada, but I want to believe that was an anomaly. Qualifying didn’t go very well. In the race, things were better; our pace wasn’t bad, but we started a bit further back and were penalized by that. Here in Austria, I think we’ll be strong again. We’ve understood what went wrong in Canada. We’ll try to do a better job, and I’m confident we’ll be back to full form".
The Austrian GP is the home race for Red Bull Racing, which competes on a track bearing its name. It’s also a particularly beloved venue for Max Verstappen, who has always enjoyed massive support from the crowd here and consistently great results: in twelve appearances at Spielberg, Verstappen has claimed five wins and eight podiums. An impressive record, but given the performance of the RB21 this year, Verstappen doesn’t consider himself a favorite to win:
"Another win here? There are no guarantees. Of course, we’ll try to do our best. We’ve had some great races here in the past, and also a few unexpected wins. But we’re not coming to this track as favorites, that’s for sure. As always, the team and I will try to optimize everything. There are some tracks that suit certain drivers more than others, and this is probably one that fits my driving style quite naturally".
As part of their effort to close the gap to McLaren, Red Bull Racing is bringing some upgrades to Austria:
"We hope they’ll give us a bit more performance. The team has worked hard to bring these parts, and I’m really happy that we’re bringing an update here. Every little step forward can help us be more competitive and close the gap, but we know that other teams are also bringing small updates throughout the year, so we have to keep working hard to reduce that gap as much as possible".
Verstappen also shared his thoughts on the rumors of Sebastian Vettel possibly returning to Red Bull as a successor to Helmut Marko in a consultancy role:
"I think it’s normal that someone who achieved so much with this team might return to Red Bull. Seb has always had a good relationship with the team, even after he left. I didn’t know they were talking about it, but I’m sure there’s always a place for Seb in some role at Red Bull".
When asked about his own future, however, the Dutch driver remained vague:
"Will I be driving for Red Bull next year? It’s not something I’m thinking about right now. I prefer to focus on doing my best, and then we’ll see".
But Verstappen’s words in the press conference didn’t sound like those of a driver determined to stay with his current team. Adding fuel to the fire were comments from George Russell, who essentially confirmed that there are negotiations underway between Verstappen and Mercedes:
"Mercedes wants to return to the top, and when you want to be the best, you need to make sure you have the best drivers, best engineers, best pit crew - and Mercedes is doing that. So, it’s only natural that there are conversations with someone like Verstappen".
After one win and five podiums in ten races, Russell remains calm despite his contract expiring at the end of the year:
"From my point of view, if I’m performing the way I am, what should I be worried about? There are two seats in every F1 team. I think Toto is thinking about who his two drivers will be, and the delay is likely because of that. He’s made it clear that he believes my performances this year have been on par with the best. I want to be in the car that gives me the best chance to win. Nothing would make me happier than winning with Mercedes, but right now I just have to focus on being fast. If I’m fast, I won’t have to worry about anything".
Finally, when asked by journalists at the Red Bull Ring, Russell also addressed the issue of Red Bull’s protest against him in Canada:
"Everything came from Red Bull, not from Max. I don’t think Max was even aware of the protest, and it was pretty clear there wasn’t going to be any penalty. My personal opinion is that they wanted to go on the offensive just in case Max got penalized for slightly overtaking me during the Safety Car period".
Referring to the many battles and contacts with Verstappen over the past year, George Russell defends his approach of fighting fire with fire:
"When you race against the best and the most aggressive drivers, you have to stand your ground, keep your elbows out, and respond the same way. That’s my approach when racing someone of his caliber, but ultimately I just focus on myself. I fight for myself and for my team. If Max and I have clashed a few times over the last six months, it just happened that way".
In Canada, Andrea Kimi Antonelli achieved his first Formula 1 podium, but the Italian driver already knows what steps he must take to move closer to his dream of winning—starting with a less conservative approach during practice. Looking back, however, he recognizes how much he has grown since the beginning of the season, both technically and mentally:
"It was a really fun race. We were all bunched up and it was super intense, with a really high pace. Honestly, after seeing that in the first two stints I was always ending up close to Verstappen, I had hope in the third. I came out of the pits right behind him, but I had to push to defend against Piastri’s overcut. I ran the whole final stint just a second and a half behind Max, and staying in dirty air with these cars really affects the tires. That made things tougher at the end and I didn’t have the same spark I’d had earlier to attack".
Less than a year ago, Antonelli said he wasn’t ready for a Formula 1 World Championship, but he’s proven this season that he’s more than up to the challenge, with a steady and fast maturation:
"I’ve definitely grown a lot in these ten races, as a driver but especially mentally - being able to react in tough moments. Canada was a really important weekend for me because I was coming off three difficult races. Getting on the podium and just having a solid weekend overall helped me a lot in terms of development, especially mentally".
According to him, the next step is to be quicker right from the start of the weekend:
"I’ll try to push a bit more in free practice so I can go into qualifying with fewer unknowns—that’s been a bit of a weak point for me so far. I would come into Saturday with too many question marks. It’s about understanding the grip limit better. In Canada, I felt like I wasn’t maximizing the grip every lap, and when that’s the case, you’re always chasing, not knowing where the limit is. That’s why it’s important to try to feel it during practice, even while accounting for track evolution, fuel load changes, and so on. I want to get that sense of the limit, because it really helps in qualifying".
So far, Antonelli has followed a cautious approach, avoiding unnecessary risks and focusing on building experience - often setting his best times later than his rivals:
"In some situations, I think I was actually too conservative, and that held me back a bit. For example, I often felt more comfortable in the race than in qualifying. I feel now it’s time to take the next step, explore more, and not be afraid to make some mistakes, especially in practice. It’s important to understand the limit so you’re not facing too many question marks in qualifying".
The Italian driver doesn’t hide when asked what his next target is:
"Now that I’ve got my first podium, of course the goal is to try to win. I’m fully aware it’s not easy - the level is extremely high, and McLaren is really strong, along with Red Bull and Ferrari. Plus, I have a very tough teammate. I know it’s not easy, but I don’t think it’s impossible. If I can put everything together, I think it’s an achievable goal when the time comes".
That goal, winning, is more a personal ambition than a mandate from team principal Toto Wolff:
"He and Mercedes in general haven’t set any specific targets for me, but they are giving me all the time and support I need to grow. Of course, now that results are starting to come, expectations are rising - and that’s how it should be. But I have to say they’ve always supported me, especially during tough times. They never judged me, just helped me get through it. I’m in a position where I can grow without feeling too much pressure from the team".
Despite his focus on personal development, Antonelli is already working on next year’s Mercedes car, taking part in simulator tests at Brackley:
"In terms of chassis, the car is actually quite nice to drive - higher and lighter. The only question mark is the power unit, which will be a big change. From what I’ve seen in the simulator, it will require a different driving style - not so much in terms of steering, but in terms of pedal work, especially to manage the battery in the best possible way. It’s going to deliver a lot more power, but also have shorter longevity, so it will require some adjustment in driving".
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton’s first season with Ferrari has fallen well short of expectations, but the World Champion continues to emphasize his long-term project to internally transform Scuderia Ferrari and bring it back to the top of Formula 1 - starting next year. Speaking to journalists in Austria, Hamilton picked up where he left off in his comments from Montreal:
"A lot of things have happened over the race weekends, and maybe one day it will all come out - the things that have held us back. Whether it’s team errors, car issues, or driver mistakes. Behind the scenes, I’m working hard with Fred and the team to implement changes and improvements so we can achieve long-term success. I’m working with Loic and the whole crew on the front and rear suspensions for next year, tackling the understeer problems and making sure they don’t persist, learning from previous years and from what we’re experiencing this season. All of this is so that next year is the best we’ve ever had. That’s my main goal".
Charles Leclerc also speaks with the journalists present at the Red Bull Ring on the media day of the Austrian GP. The Monegasque driver touches on various topics, but his most interesting statements concern the new 2026 regulations. The Scuderia Ferrari driver explains that, at the moment, simulator work in Maranello is roughly split 50/50 between this season’s car and next year’s. However, when asked to elaborate on his impressions of next year’s car, Leclerc doesn’t hide that he’s not particularly drawn to the technical-regulatory shift that Formula 1 is undergoing:
"First impressions? Let’s say it’s not the most fun race car I’ve driven so far, but we’re still at a stage where the project is relatively new. My hope is that it will evolve quite a bit over the coming months. It’s no secret that I think next year’s regulations will probably make the cars less enjoyable to drive. So yeah, for now I’m not a big fan, but that’s the way things are. In the end, I think it will be a challenge, and I do like the challenge of maximizing the potential of a car that’s very different from the current one. But do I like it? Probably not".
Regarding the SF-25 and the updates introduced in Austria, including the new floor, Charles Leclerc says:
"What we want to do is take small steps in the right direction and obviously try to understand in which direction we can push further in the future. So I expect some progress. Will it be enough to close the gap to McLaren? Probably not, because for now McLaren and Red Bull are too far ahead. As I’ve said several times, Mercedes is much more up and down, so it’s a bit harder to judge them. But I believe ours will be a step in the right direction. How much, I don’t know".
On Friday, June 27, 2025, a couple of new faces join the action for FP1 at the Red Bull Ring as two teams opt to run a rookie; Formula 2 standings leader Alex Dunne steps into Lando Norris’ McLaren - making him the first Irish driver to take part in an F1 weekend for 22 years as he finishes an impressive fourth - while fellow F2 driver Dino Beganovic is at the wheel for Ferrari in place of Charles Leclerc. Dunne is amongst the first to hit the track when the green light appears, with the MCL39 sporting aero rakes to kick off a weekend in which several teams bring upgrades. The Irishman is also the only driver to run the soft tyres during the initial runs, while the rest of the pack bolts on the medium and hard compounds. While Canadian Grand Prix winner Russell sets the early pace during the first quarter of the session, Verstappen does not seem happy in the Red Bull, the Dutchman experiencing a lock-up in the RB21. Verstappen reports back about the problems on the radio - but this time the World Champion speaks to Simon Rennie rather than his usual Race Engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, with GP taking the weekend off. Also seemingly struggling in the sister Red Bull is Yuki Tsunoda, who experiences a wide moment of his own as he continues in his mission to get to grips with the car. Elsewhere, Lewis Hamilton is informed that his SF-25 has an issue with the gearbox, forcing the Briton to return to the pits. The problems do not seem to end there for Ferrari, with Beganovic’s car up on the stands in the other side of the garage as the crew removes the floor. Russell, meanwhile, sits atop the timesheets, having set a 1'05"776 after running the soft tyres. A yellow flag briefly appears following a spin for Fernando Alonso, with the two-time World Champion running onto the grass thanks to a moment at the final corner. The Aston Martin driver comments:
"That is the worst out-lap we can do - good to do it in FP1".
As the majority of the field switches to the soft tyres and the times start to tumble - with Ferrari also getting both cars back on track - Esteban Ocon sparks another yellow flag after locking up and going straight on at Turn 1. The Haas driver is able to rejoin, albeit with a flat spot on his front left tyre. With Russell still leading the way from Verstappen and Piastri as the session enters its final quarter, Dunne catches the eye by going fourth fastest, his time just seven-hundredths away from Piastri’s.
"A few small raindrops".
Russell reports as the last 10 minutes of FP1 approach, with clouds hovering above the Red Bull Ring. But questions over the weather do not prevent the Silver Arrows driver from maintaining his place at the top of the timesheets, having set the pace on a 1'05"542. Verstappen - who has won at this track a record four times - is 0.065s adrift in P2, while Piastri and Dunne hold third and fourth for McLaren ahead of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in fifth. Gabriel Bortoleto slots into an impressive sixth for Kick Sauber, while the Williams pair of Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, Hamilton and Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar complete the top 10. The drivers and teams now regroup in the paddock to examine their data and prepare for Friday’s second Free Practice session, which is due to get underway at 5:00 p.m. local time. A couple of hours on from an initial outing topped by George Russell and Mercedes, who claimed pole position and victory last time out in Canada, the 20-strong field has another 60 minutes to dial in their cars through an increasingly overcast but warm and dry FP2.
Back in action after Alex Dunne’s eye-catching FP1 run, Lando Norris soon states his intentions when the session begins by clocking a 1'05"437 on medium tyres, putting him just ahead of Russell (Softs), Verstappen (Softs) and Piastri (Hards) at the one-third mark. Elsewhere, there is some drama for Charles Leclerc, who also misses first practice and goes for a trip through the gravel at Turn 6, while Kimi Antonelli has to take avoiding action when he approaches a slow-moving Lewis Hamilton at Turn 4. As the session develops and every driver pumps in laps on the red-marked soft rubber, Norris maintains his superiority with a 1'04"580 - a tenth-and-a-half quicker than Piastri and three-tenths faster than Verstappen, who uses two fresh sets. Continuing to bounce back from wrist surgery, Lance Stroll impresses en route to fourth position for Aston Martin, from Leclerc, Russell and the sister Red Bull of Yuki Tsunoda, whose best lap puts him within four-tenths of teammate Verstappen. Kick Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto is another driver to make their mark with a run to eighth, just in front of Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin and Hamilton, who laments to his engineer over the radio that:
"For some reason I’ve just got no pace, mate".
Antonelli winds up just outside the top-10 places, followed by the Racing Bulls of Liam Lawson - who has to return to the pits early on thanks to his steering wheel pulling him massively to the right - and Isack Hadjar. The Austrian Grand Prix started off on a challenging note for Scuderia Ferrari, especially with what happened during FP1. In a session where the Maranello team fielded Dino Beganovic in place of Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton completed fewer laps than expected due to a hydraulic issue with the gearbox, which consequently delayed the team's main work during the second practice session. With Leclerc back, he finished in fifth position, while the seven-time World Champion could only manage 10th place. It was a difficult day for Scuderia Ferrari, as confirmed by Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur:
"We need to analyze the new floor more deeply because the morning was a bit chaotic for us. We used FP2 as a test session, and tonight we will review the data. The drivers’ feedback was positive, but this morning’s session was chaotic because Lewis had gearbox issues, which meant we lost a big portion of the session".
Despite the issues, the French manager remains hopeful about still aiming for the front row or even pole position, but he remains realistic about the team's chances:
"I hope so, but I think McLaren was running with a low fuel load, as they tend to do in FP2 and FP3, whereas we followed our usual program. Charles made a good recovery; he didn’t run in FP1, but in FP2 the pace was good, so let’s focus on that. Tonight we will look at the car because this is the first time with this floor. We will need to make some adjustments, but we’ll see".
Compared to other top teams, the Ferrari cars are showing more difficulty mainly in Sector 1. In this regard, Vasseur offers his interpretation of the possible causes of these differences, while at the same time confirming the calm atmosphere within the team:
“This is due to the fuel level, engine mapping, etc., so we shouldn’t draw premature conclusions. We’ve conducted these tests to make a good comparison between the two cars, and we will discuss this tonight to make a decision on the setup for tomorrow. We’re trying to stay focused on the work we need to do, because it’s very important to maintain focus and work as a team. So far, we are doing well. We are fully committed to this weekend, so let’s concentrate on that”.
On rumors about his future, Vasseur concludes by saying:
"I sleep very well".
In P9 during FP1, P10 in FP2: Lewis Hamilton doesn't shine at the Red Bull Ring. He didn’t impress in terms of fastest lap times (he was even 0.9 seconds behind Lando Norris’s McLaren, which is quite a gap on such a short track like the Austrian one) nor in terms of race pace. Several times, the British driver complained to the team about the SF-25’s lack of pace, and the numbers confirm his feelings. Additionally, Hamilton’s Ferrari experienced a gearbox issue, which forced him to remain in the pits for part of FP1.
"We lost some time during FP1 due to a gearbox issue, which penalized us a bit. The second session went better, but we're still not where we want to be in terms of pace. There's still work to do: we’ll continue to search for the right setups tonight with the team".
During FP2, Lewis Hamilton became involved in a clear blocking incident in Turn 4, affecting Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and immediately apologized to the Italian driver. For this episode, the British driver was penalized with a simple warning. After missing FP1, where his car was handed over to the talented young Swedish driver Dino Beganovic, Charles Leclerc returned to the car in the second free practice session to start preparing for the Austrian GP. The Monegasque driver set the fifth-fastest time in FP2, ahead of only the unattainable McLarens, Max Verstappen, and the surprising Aston Martin of Lance Stroll. Leclerc – who also had a brief gravel excursion with no consequences - commented on the session's outcome, highlighting the positive aspects, but also mentioning that his feeling with the SF-25 remains far from perfect.
"I got into the car for the first time today in the second session, and I felt comfortable on track, but I can’t say I’m completely satisfied with the feeling with the car. As usual, our race pace is good, but we need to work a bit to improve in qualifying trim so we can start further up the grid and fight for positions at the front on Sunday".
The McLaren drivers came to the track motivated and excited for the Austrian GP Free Practice sessions, the first round of the World Championship after the contact between Piastri and Norris in the final stages of the last Canadian GP, and especially the first with the new technical upgrade package. By the end of FP1, the two McLaren drivers were in P3 and P4, with the World Championship leader alongside a surprising Alex Dunne. In FP2, Lando Norris returned to his car and set the fastest time, with just over 0.1 seconds ahead of Oscar Piastri. It was a positive Friday for the British team and for Norris, who, after his mistake in Canada, laid the groundwork to quickly forget that past error.
"It’s been a good day on track to start the weekend. I had to make up some time in FP2, but Alex did a good job this morning giving the team important feedback on where to improve the car for the second session. We’ve made some more positive progress, so I feel good, but I’ll work with the team overnight to make sure I feel completely comfortable at the limit tomorrow".
Oscar Piastri’s comment was more concise, though the Australian driver didn’t hide his satisfaction as he looked ahead to qualifying.
"It’s been a good day. The pace seems good, and the car feels solid. There are a few things to work on overnight to maximize qualifying, but overall, I’m happy and looking forward to tomorrow".
Finally, a special mention goes to Alex Dunne. As a member of the McLaren Young Driver Programme, the Irish driver took part in his first official F1 practice session, ending with an excellent and unexpected P4.
"I’m very happy with how today went. I knew the objective wasn’t performance, but executing a test plan to help the team prepare for the weekend, so it was fantastic to show some pace in the end. Regarding the session itself, it was clean and smooth. Running the racks early on allowed me to collect valuable data for the team and support comparisons. I was able to put everything together and ensure I applied what I learned in the TPC tests and the simulator, so I’m grateful to the team for preparing me so well. I want to sincerely thank Zak, Andrea, Alessandro, Stephanie, Warren, and all the McLaren staff for giving me this opportunity. I’m so grateful, and as I said on the radio at the end of the session, today a child’s dream came true".
Max Verstappen started the Austrian Grand Prix with the second-best time set during FP1 and third in FP2, being outpaced in the morning by George Russell's Mercedes and in the afternoon by McLaren drivers Norris and Piastri, who seemed to be the cars to beat on the Spielberg circuit. However, unlike in other situations, this time Red Bull Racing appeared to be well set up right from the start. It's no coincidence that even the second car, that of Yuki Tsunoda, set the seventh-fastest time during FP2 in the afternoon.
"Overall, today was a fairly straightforward day and we didn’t have any major issues. In terms of pace, we had a bit too much understeer on the car, both in short and long stints, so that’s something we need to work on to eliminate ahead of tomorrow".
This weekend, for the first time since joining Red Bull Racing, the Dutch driver won’t have his long-time track engineer, Giampiero Lambiase, available, as he is absent for personal reasons. However, Max explains that he's still working very well with the track engineer who’s filling in, Simon Rennie:
"Today with Simon was really positive. I’ve known him for a long time from his work on the other side of the garage and I’ve worked with him in the simulator before. He has a lot of experience, and everything went very well: he’s very direct, and it’s been great".
Encouraging comments also come from Yuki Tsunoda:
"Everything has been going in the right direction from FP1 to FP2. We’re still missing a few pieces, but I can find positive aspects, and we’ll work more overnight to keep up this momentum. I feel good confidence with the car. I like this type of track, and to attack at high speeds, you need confidence. In FP2, the feeling with the car was much better, and that’s what I need—nothing more. I’m still learning to understand this car and need good preparation for the sessions that matter this weekend. So far, we’ve had a good approach, and tomorrow I just need to put everything together".
The first day of Free Practice at the Austrian Grand Prix started with encouraging signs for Mercedes and George Russell, who set the fastest time at the end of the first session at the Spielberg circuit, finishing just 0.065s ahead of Max Verstappen. The British driver, fresh off his pole position and victory at the last Canadian GP, wasn’t able to repeat his performance in FP2, mainly due to the increased competitiveness of the McLarens.
"Today we struggled a bit, but the afternoon session was in line with our pre-weekend expectations. In FP2, we had good pace on the single lap, which was a bit of a surprise for us. The car balance was good, but over the course of FP2, we took a small step backward. We'll focus on this aspect overnight and try to return to the starting point we found during the first hour of practice. Tomorrow we’ll do our best, but given the pace of the McLarens, we might be fighting for pole position. We hope to get into the top five, but we’re also aware of how crucial race pace will be for the result. The asphalt here is abrasive, and managing it hasn’t been one of our strong points recently. We’ll work hard to optimize the car and see what we can achieve for the rest of the weekend".
It was an even more challenging day for Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who finished P11 in both sessions. The Italian driver, who secured his first-ever F1 podium in Canada, analyzes the major issues he faced, especially with the Soft tire:
"It was quite a difficult day, but still positive and full of lessons. I felt good at the start of both FP1 and FP2, but since the track is so short, it’s always a challenge to put together a good single lap. It didn’t feel like I optimized any of my laps on the softer compound, making a few mistakes here and there. I’ll focus on improving this aspect in FP3 to be ready for qualifying. My long runs, however, were more promising. Our pace looked good, and the overall car balance was solid. We know that a circuit with such abrasive asphalt usually makes things tough for us. We hope that the recent progress made with the W16 has helped in this area, but we’ll only know for sure on Sunday at the Grand Prix. For now, we know which areas we need to work on overnight, and we hope to make another step forward with the car for the weekend".
After Andrea Kimi Antonelli's first podium at the recent Canadian Grand Prix, Italian media naturally gave significant attention to the result of the Italian driver. After all, it had been over 15 years (since the 2009 Japanese GP with Jarno Trulli) since an Italian driver had finished in the top three in a race. During the press conference held after FP2, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff tried to protect Antonelli, attempting to downplay the hype surrounding his young driver:
"In Italy, the enthusiasm for Kimi is enormous, but the headlines in Italian newspapers calling him a legend don’t help and are dangerous. We need to create a shield around him and avoid putting too much pressure on him".
Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s first ten races in Formula 1 can only be considered positively, as the Italian driver has secured a podium, six points finishes, and six qualifications in the top three rows of the grid. But Toto Wolff says:
"For Kimi, it’s important to continue on this growth trajectory. Over the year, we’ve given him a lot of space to explore and push when he feels ready".
The world of Formula 1 continues to be filled with market rumors surrounding the future of Max Verstappen. In Austria, discussions have once again intensified regarding the Dutch driver’s destiny. Part of the responsibility lies with Verstappen himself, who, during a press conference on Thursday, said he wasn't thinking about his potential stay at Red Bull Racing for the 2026 season. Not exactly the kind of statement one would expect from someone with a contract that runs until the end of the 2028 season. The debate was further fueled by George Russell, who is also in the final year of his contract and seeking a renewal with Mercedes. The British driver said that, in his opinion, it’s normal for the Brackley-based team to be trying to poach the World Champion from the team where he grew up and won his four world titles. As expected, however, in response to these speculations, came a sharp retort from Red Bull Racing. At the end of FP2, Helmut Marko, the team's long-time consultant, Verstappen's mentor, and friend, took a jab at George Russell. When questioned by journalists in Austria, Marko first joked:
"What did he say this time? Russell says so many things...".
Then he turned the conversation back to Russell:
"Russell talks, but I thought he had a contract for next year. Things must have changed after Montreal".
Marko concluded with a light-hearted remark:
"Could it be that the victory has gone to his head?"
Before dismissing the matter, he added:
"I have no opinion on Russell's speculations".
On the other hand, seeing the official document from the British Companies Registry confirming Luca Montezemolo’s appointment as director at McLaren Holding is certainly a significant piece of news. After a lifetime at Ferrari, seeing the Italian manager accept an offer from one of the historical rivals of the Maranello team in Formula 1 is undoubtedly something that strikes at the heart of the Tifosi. Although it’s true that Montezemolo won’t be involved in Formula 1, but rather in the board of McLaren’s GT and Supercar division. The Italian manager has indeed been hired by McLaren Group Holdings Limited, owned by the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund, which holds only a minority stake in McLaren Racing (the majority of which belongs to the Bahrain sovereign wealth fund). Luca Montezemolo himself confirms this arrangement, commenting on his new role:
"My heart is and will always be red. I have become a member of the board of McLaren Automotive, which produces road cars and is not involved in Formula 1".
After Friday’s running, which sees McLaren establish themselves as the team to beat with their latest upgrades, the drivers return to the track with the ambition of fine-tuning their cars ahead of Qualifying later today. Red Bull’s Verstappen, who is working with a different race engineer this weekend, is among the first to head out for a fast lap - bolting on a set of hard compound tyres, he clocks a 1'06"131 on his initial effort, substantially slower than Norris’ benchmark time of 1'04"580 from FP2. The Dutchman momentarily goes wide at the final corner, subsequently reporting over the radio that the car is a bit nervous getting back on throttle, adding that the Red Bull feels a bit snappy as he attempts to cut down his times. More and more cars gradually join Verstappen on the circuit, and Norris betters his rival’s lap by 0.156s, albeit on the soft tyres. Elsewhere, Turn 1 produces a series of overcorrections as the Briton, Franco Colapinto and both Ferraris are forced to take to the run-off area and abort their flying laps after driving wide. Approaching the halfway point, everyone has made an appearance on the timesheets, but it is Norris who remains firmly at the top with a gap of around four-tenths back to his compatriots in Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. In an attempt to close the deficit to his papaya teammate, Piastri pushes a little too hard and rattles over the gravel at Turn 9, narrowly hanging on to avoid a more damaging incident. He quickly advises his side of the garage to check the floor and remains over 0.5s behind Norris with 20 minutes to go. Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar suffers another near-miss at the following corner as he similarly drops a wheel into the gravel, which sends him into a spin and brings out the yellow flags momentarily. It is one of the more satisfying errors of the session - he ends up facing the right way on the track and utters a sheepish sorry to his engineer. Norris abandons a lap despite setting the fastest first sector of the hour as he drifts wide over a kerb, but he nevertheless finishes the session on top with a time of 1'04"324, leading a McLaren 1-2 with Piastri just over a tenth behind. Verstappen replicates Hadjar’s spin late on but slots into third place, beating the Ferrari duo of Leclerc and Hamilton. The two Mercedes are separated by just 0.035s, with Russell marginally ahead, while an in-form Lance Stroll, Yuki Tsunoda and Gabriel Bortoleto round out the top 10. After three busy practice sessions, the attention of the paddock shifts to Saturday’s Qualifying at the Red Bull Ring. Following a short delay to the session getting underway after a red flag in the earlier Formula 2 Sprint Race, Albon leads a queue of cars out when the green light appears for Q1 amid increasingly hot conditions in Spielberg, with everybody running the C5 soft tyres for their first runs. As Norris puts himself at the top of the timesheets during the initial laps - setting a 1'04"672 to go four-tenths clear of Verstappen - Piastri has a moment at Turn 4 on his opening flying lap, the Australian running through the gravel en route.
Having put a smoother effort in on his next attempt, Piastri then slots into P2, his time three-tenths away from Norris’. At the other end of the timesheets, the drivers lingering in the elimination zone with a few minutes remaining are Bortoleto, Albon, Bearman, Alonso - who also has a wobble on his lap - and Sainz Jr.. Bortoleto catches the eye by hauling himself up to fifth, while teammate Hulkenberg has found himself pushed into the danger zone. Albon also puts in an impressive improvement to displace Bortoleto in P5, while Sainz remains on the bubble after kicking up some gravel on his outing. This means that both Haas cars and Stroll have fallen into the bottom five - along with Hulkenberg and Alonso - amid a frantic closing few minutes of Q1. Up ahead, Lawson surges up to P3 to slot between Piastri and Verstappen, just as Ocon also moves up to P13. Bearman surges up into the top 10, with Alonso and Stroll then bettering their times to initially escape danger. Ocon is pushed back down as a result, as are Tsunoda, Sainz and Hulkenberg, while Russell faces a nerve-wracking moment after a mistake on his lap puts him at risk of an early exit. The Briton manages to climb up to 11th - but others are not so lucky in an incredibly tight session, including Sainz who finds himself down in a disappointing 19th at the chequered flag, reporting damage. Also eliminated are Stroll (16th), Ocon (17th), Tsunoda (18th) and Hulkenberg (20th). The Ferraris of Leclerc and Hamilton are early out on track as 15 minutes go on the clock for Q2, joined by Albon in an initially quiet start to the segment before others begin to filter out onto the circuit a few minutes later. Lawson continues his notable Q1 performance by briefly going fastest in the opening runs, but it does not take long for Verstappen to displace him at the top - who is then usurped by Piastri and then Norris, the Briton beating his teammate by 0.146s on a 1'04"410. While Leclerc and Hamilton then slot in behind Piastri, Verstappen reports poor grip at the wheel of the RB21, the Dutchman stating over the radio:
"The car is completely undriveable".
With just over five minutes remaining, a red flag is then thrown owing to a small trackside fire. Bortoleto shines again by shooting up to third during a busy finale to Q2 - marking his first progression to Q3 - before Verstappen pushes him down to fourth, while Leclerc then takes third from the World Champion. Gasly also catches the eye by improving to sixth to slot in ahead of Russell. And while Norris reigns supreme on his earlier benchmark, Alonso finds himself pushed out of the session in P11, while Albon becomes the second Williams to miss out on the top 10 in P12. Behind him, Hadjar ends up in P13, with Colapinto in P14 and Bearman in P15. Following an initially quiet start to Q3, the drivers soon start to make their way out onto the track for the all-important top-10 shootout. There looks to be a close call in the pit lane at Mercedes, with Russell seemingly released into the path of other cars in the queue in an incident that is noted by the stewards. As the first laps go on the board, it is again Norris who goes fastest, the Briton pumping in a 1'04"268 to go over two-tenths clear of teammate Piastri. Leclerc then separates the McLaren pair in P2, with the other Ferrari of Hamilton in P4 as Russell completes the top five. Verstappen, Antonelli, Bortoleto and Gasly follow, with Lawson opting not to set a banker lap. The Briton’s chances certainly look strong when he goes even quicker on a 1'03"971. There is drama for some of those trying to challenge Norris when a yellow flag is briefly thrown following a spin for Gasly at the final corner, meaning that the likes of Piastri and Verstappen have to bail out of their final efforts. When everything has shaken out, Norris remains on top by 0.521s from closest challenger Leclerc - marking the biggest pole margin of the season to date - while Piastri has to settle for third, having been unable to start his last flying lap owing to that yellow flag. Hamilton completes a decent day for Ferrari in fourth, with Russell following in fifth ahead of Lawson in sixth, an impressive performance from the Racing Bulls driver. Verstappen takes seventh - having also had to abandon his closing run - with Bortoleto, Antonelli and Gasly rounding out the top 10. McLaren on Pole Position in the Austrian Grand Prix: a result that seemed almost certain, especially after the Free Practices, with the Woking team demonstrating all of its potential. Indeed, it will be Lando Norris starting from pole position, determined to bounce back after his mistake in Canada. The British driver managed to put a gap of 0.5 seconds between himself and the driver behind him, who won’t be his teammate, but rather Charles Leclerc. The Australian driver, leader of the World Championship, will start from third position, ahead of Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari:
"I think it was a solid qualifying. Maybe my pure pace wasn’t as good as in Bahrain or Spain, but I was definitely fighting. After FP3 this morning, I was happy and thought our pace was strong. I think the qualifying session was a bit messy, starting from Q1, where I didn’t do well on the first lap, and from that point on, it kind of went downhill. In the end, it was a shame with the yellow flag".
However, his response regarding the possibility of fighting for the win was very cold:
"Yes".
While Oscar Piastri may not be fully satisfied with his qualifying performance, the same cannot be said for Lando Norris, who secured his third pole position of the season:
"I don’t know if I’ve ever felt these sensations, but for sure the lap I did in Q3 was one of my best in a long time, one of my best ever in qualifying. In some ways, it’s always a surprising feeling. I think I did a great job in Q3 and drove well with an excellent car. We managed to put everything together, and it’s definitely a great feeling".
There’s a Ferrari in the front row, and seeing the results from this season, it was by no means an expected outcome. Charles Leclerc can enjoy the second position he earned in qualifying, even though the gap to pole-sitter Lando Norris is a tangible sign of how much more needs to be done to catch up with the MCL39.
"The front row had been missing for a while. There was Monaco, but that’s an extremely particular track. It was hard to think we could achieve such a result on a more normal circuit. But we managed it today, so from that perspective, I’m very happy. However, the gap is definitely huge".
Leclerc doesn’t take anything away from Norris, who feels very comfortable on this circuit, but it’s clear that part of the gap between the two drivers comes from the car itself.
"Lando did a great lap, and there’s definitely his contribution to that gap, but I think the gap between the two cars right now is about three and a half, four tenths. We’re pretty consistent with that gap; it’s the same on almost all tracks. Today, I think other teams were a bit more inconsistent. We did a good job as a team, worked a lot on the car, and I’m happy with the work we’ve done. Also, we know that the race car is usually better than the qualifying car".
Finally, Leclerc approves of the floor update, which could have helped Ferrari return to being the second-best team:
"Other than Lando, the gaps are all very close, so the floor definitely did its job today and helped us achieve this front row. The team did a great job in this regard. As I said before the weekend, I was quite convinced this was the right path. But there’s always the question mark until you put the car on the track. Everything went well, so I’m happy. However, the road is still long. We need to keep our heads down and continue working because the gap is still there. Tomorrow’s race? I believe in it, but the gap is big. Our car is usually stronger in the race, but I don’t think by 0.5 seconds... we’re still in there: we need to put pressure on them and force them to make mistakes".
For Scuderia Ferrari, it’s the best qualifying of the year, and it’s also the same for Lewis Hamilton. The British driver will start from the second row for the first time, thanks to his fourth-place finish in Q3: a result that boosts his morale and positions him as a podium candidate, considering that Ferrari has usually been stronger in the race than in qualifying. During the GP, the impact of the new floor will need to be assessed, and the race pace will be key. The updates, at least in qualifying, have helped Hamilton, who also pointed out that he lost some time in the final attempt due to oversteer in Turn 6.
"I definitely made progress compared to yesterday. I’m really happy with the direction we’ve taken. I think I’m getting closer and closer, in terms of performance, to Charles, who’s really used to the car and hardly ever changes it. I think this is really positive. I also think I left some time on the table: I had some oversteer in Turn 6, otherwise, I could have taken P2. However, no regrets: McLaren’s speed is incredible, they’re almost 10 km/h faster between Turn 6 and Turn 7, which is something we simply can’t do. I’m grateful to be in the second row, and we usually perform better in the race than on Saturday. For tomorrow, I don’t want to talk about podiums, I just want to focus on the action".
The British driver adds:
"There are definitely positive aspects. It’s the best Saturday of the season in terms of operations; let’s see how competitive we’ll be in the race with this new floor, for which I have to thank everyone in Maranello. It’s what I’ve wanted for a long time, and it’s definitely helped us. We’re making the progress I mentioned in Canada. It’s certainly a slow process, but we’re getting there. There’s still a lot to improve, but we’ll do it consistently. Can this be a turning point for the season? I don’t know, but I hope we can repeat it and be competitive in Silverstone. That would be fantastic. As for me, I’ll continue to keep my head down and work hard. The thing is, every time I go on track, I discover a new characteristic of the car. Of course, the last lap wasn’t good enough, but I’ll keep working".
Max Verstappen, a potential candidate for the second row, appeared in Q3 with only one set of Soft tires, unlike the McLaren and Ferrari drivers. He had to lift off during his only lap attempt due to a yellow flag triggered by Pierre Gasly’s mistake in the final corner. The Scuderia Ferrari team principal, Frederic Vasseur, commented with satisfaction on the results of the Austrian Grand Prix Qualifying:
"It was a good day, starting with a good pace in FP3 and then a strong qualifying session. The updates paid off today, but what made the difference was the execution. We managed to arrive in Q3 with two sets of new soft tires because, since Q1, our qualifying execution has been very good. Instead of always chasing and having to fit new tire sets, we could manage the session better. To split the two McLarens is not bad. Tomorrow in the race, we shouldn’t be too worried about tire degradation because overtaking is possible on this track. We need to stay in the DRS train because here the DRS is very powerful and makes a difference".
Everything goes wrong for Max Verstappen in Austria. On the Austrian track, which has often given the Dutch driver satisfaction, Qualifying proved to be disappointing. As a result, Max Verstappen will start from the fourth row, having set the seventh-fastest time at the end of Q3. The Dutch driver was even preceded by the Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, who started the year as his teammate at Red Bull Racing before being demoted after just two races to the satellite team. Max Verstappen’s final result was heavily influenced by the error of another former Red Bull Racing driver, Pierre Gasly, who spun out in the final corner, causing a yellow flag just as Verstappen was approaching. The danger signals forced Verstappen - who was improving in the first two sectors - to lift off the throttle. Over the radio, the Red Bull Racing driver expressed his disappointment, and a considerable amount of regret was also conveyed by his race engineer, Simon Rennie. The team had actually indicated to Verstappen that his projected lap time could have put him in the second row.
"We were a bit unlucky, but I’m not sure we would have done much better anyway".
However, Simon Rennie disagreed, stating after qualifying:
"My prediction is that you would have done a 1’04”500, which would have been enough for P3, I believe".
Now, Verstappen will have to attempt a comeback in the race, but even the podium seems much more difficult to reach. Even a second-row starting position wouldn’t have made Verstappen smile, as he said in his post-qualifying interviews:
"Did the yellow flag damage us? Yes, of course, it destroyed the lap. But even if I had completed it, I would have still been 0.6 seconds behind pole position. The goal is pole position, not 0.6 seconds off".
At the end of the Austrian GP Qualifying, even Andrea Kimi Antonelli doesn’t seem happy. Despite a day that wasn’t particularly great for Mercedes, with George Russell qualifying in P5, the young Italian driver had to give up the chance to improve his best time at the end of Q3 due to a timing mismanagement error. Antonelli crossed the line too late, thus seeing the checkered flag waved at the end of his out-lap.
"It was a shame to get the checkered flag. I kept pushing because I thought I could still do one more timed lap, and I was improving quite a lot, so it was a shame not to be able to finish the last lap. Today wasn’t easy though; in fact, it was pretty tricky to put together a good lap. The wind changed a lot compared to yesterday, and this definitely affected us. But I believe that, overall, it was possible to get into the top six. Especially the last lap, if I had finished it, would have definitely been much faster".
Later, Antonelli explained in detail why he found himself out of time compared to what the team had previously calculated:
"I think I left the garage poorly because I engaged first gear late, and that caused me to lose my position. Then I got caught in traffic, and the Sauber forced its way in, which wasn’t very fair. From there, I ended up in a bad position because I had to create some space for myself. I’m not sure by how much I missed the checkered flag, but I believe it was by very little".
However, the Italian driver remains confident that he can recover some positions during the race:
"During Free Practices, the pace was good, so hopefully, it’ll be the same tomorrow. This is a track that offers many possibilities to battle, so we hope that with a good pace, we can move forward".
Following that dramatic clash with team mate Piastri in Canada last time out, Norris comes back fighting as he hits the track at the Red Bull Ring - the Briton displaying rapid pace through practice before charging his way to pole position in Qualifying. Norris ends Q3 a whopping half a second clear of nearest rival Leclerc, with Piastri having to settle for third after being hindered by yellow flags on his final run, and reigning World Champion Verstappen also losing out to the caution down in seventh. As the anticipated two-stop race approaches, amid rising air and track temperatures, it is revealed that the majority of the field are starting on medium tyres, with Gasly, Hadjar, Colapinto, Bearman and Hulkenberg opting for softs. There is drama on the formation lap, though, with Sainz struggling to pull away from his P19 grid slot and getting left behind. The Spanish driver says over the radio, before he eventually drives off while Race Control abandons the start:
"The car is stuck in first gear".
Another formation lap follows some 10 minutes later, with Sainz sadly unable to take the start after returning his Williams to the pit lane, where it overheats. Alonso also notes the high temperatures, reporting that his seat feels like it is 200 °C. When the race eventually begins, Norris makes a strong enough getaway to retain his pole advantage into Turn 1, while Piastri sweeps around the outside of Leclerc for P2 and Russell goes wheel-to-wheel with the Ferraris. As the field roars towards Turn 3, where Norris covers off Piastri, more drama ensues when Antonelli loses control of his Mercedes under braking and slams into Verstappen’s car - putting both drivers out of the race.
"I get hit like crazy".
A sweary Verstappen rues over the radio, as Antonelli admits he simply loses the rear. With the Dutchman and Italian debriefing at the side of the track, the Safety Car is brought out to allow marshals to clear the track. On Lap 3 of 70, Bernd Maylander peels back into the pits and releases the remaining 17 drivers - Norris handling the situation well to hold the lead over Piastri, Leclerc, Hamilton, Russell and Gasly, with a fast-starting Albon up to seventh.
"Lewis just closes the door under braking".
Argues Russell over the radio after a failed move on the seven-time World Champion for fourth at Turn 4, with several drivers engaging in battle but no more incidents occurring for the time being. Turn 4 is the scene for another heart-in-mouth moment a couple of laps later when Piastri - having remained within a second of his team mate - uses the Drag Reduction System to get perilously close.
"Your call on the racing situation".
Comes a follow-up message from the Australian’s race engineer. With Gasly’s soft tyres seemingly degrading, Albon continues his progress thanks to a clean move for sixth place under braking for Turn 3. The Frenchman soon comes under pressure from Bortoleto, Lawson and Alonso in the remaining top 10 spots. On Lap 11, the lead battle kicks off again when Piastri uses DRS to grab the lead from Norris into Turn 3. A lock-up at the apex leaves the door ajar, though, and Norris duly reclaims P1 with a switchback on the run to Turn 4, where Piastri snatches a brake once more. As the laps tick by, Piastri remains glued to Norris’ gearbox, having several sniffs at another overtake but not quite managing to find a way past. How much longer can his starting set of tyres hold on while running in the dirty air of his team mate? Elsewhere, Bearman, Gasly, Hadjar, Hulkenberg and Colapinto are all early stoppers as tyre strategies begin to play out, while Williams’ day goes from bad to worse when Albon is called back to the pits to retire amid apparent technical trouble. Lap 20 brings another flashpoint in a tense battle between Norris and Piastri, with the latter locking up heavily into Turn 4 and almost running into the back of his team mate. Norris subsequently takes to the pit lane for a fresh set of tyres, while Piastri continues on his way.
"Let’s see your pace in free air now".
Is the message to Piastri, who opts to continue on his way rather than immediately respond to Norris – albeit with a sizeable flat spot. His engineer subsequently confirms:
"The data looks OK to continue".
Piastri decides that enough is enough at the end of Lap 24 and pits for his own set of fresh hard tyres, coming back out some 5.5 seconds behind Norris. Leclerc and Hamilton pit shortly afterwards, meaning McLaren are now back in their 1-2 positions. As the race settles down again, with Norris further extending his lead to 6.5 seconds, Piastri’s engineer gives him some feedback from the McLaren pit wall. He warns:
"The manoeuvre in Turn 4 with the front lock-up is too marginal".
Splitting the Ferraris of Leclerc and Hamilton, fourth-placed Lawson and fifth-placed Alonso are now the only drivers yet to pit. With new tyres at his disposal, Hamilton soon works his way past both drivers - including a bold move on the outside of Lawson at Turn 6. Then comes more drama at Turn 4 when Tsunoda, having already engaged in battle with Stroll, tips Colapinto into a spin. That forces the Japanese driver into the pits for a new front wing, while Colapinto tumbles down the order. It is not much better for the other Alpine of Gasly, who is valiantly holding onto a points-paying position but faces huge problems in the cockpit. Gasly shouts over the radio, with a swear word for good measure:
"I have no grip. I’m about to spin every corner".
Tsunoda is promptly given a 10-second time penalty for the incident with Colapinto, before stops from Lawson and Alonso at the halfway mark mean every driver has now pitted - those two seemingly on course for the alternate one-stop approach. With 35 laps of 70 completed, Norris leads Piastri by 5.3 seconds. Leclerc sits around 14 seconds further back in third, from Hamilton, Russell, squabbling Kick Sauber pair Bortoleto and Hulkenberg, Haas duo Ocon and Bearman, and Gasly, who is losing ground amid ongoing issues. Lawson and Alonso sit just outside the points following their stops, but with the prospect of making up some places as rivals pit for a second time, while Hadjar, Colapinto, Stroll and the penalised Tsunoda bring up the rear. Back at the front, Piastri is starting to put Norris under pressure again, reducing his team mate’s advantage to three seconds with that tyre delta. Norris is told, along with some time loss through traffic:
"He’s mainly quicker in high-speed".
Norris gains a bit of breathing space a few laps later when Piastri runs wide at Turn 1 and clatters the kerbs, while Hamilton’s hopes of cutting the gap to team mate Leclerc and challenging for a podium are dented by a similar mistake at Turn 3. With the two-stoppers cycling through their final tyre changes, radio messages pick up Hamilton commenting that:
"I don’t want to stop".
Having reported that his rubber feels fine. No positions are lost when he returns to the track, at least. Norris is next in on Lap 52, followed by Piastri one tour later - both drivers taking on medium tyres and the positions remaining unchanged. The gap between the papaya cars now stands at 3.5 seconds, with a potential grandstand finish in store. However, Piastri’s efforts to cut Norris’ lead are hampered by traffic. With Colapinto and Tsunoda battling for position at Turn 3, the Argentinian wildly cuts back across the track and forces Piastri onto the grass - earning him a five-second penalty. From there, Norris manages the gap back to Piastri and calmly works his way through more traffic - which involves Alonso and Bortoleto’s feisty exchange - to seal the deal and bag the win, cutting his team mate’s championship advantage to 15 points. Leclerc completes the podium over Hamilton, followed by Russell, a high-flying Lawson and Alonso, who narrowly beats Bortoleto to seventh via some brilliant late racing but cannot take the shine off the Brazilian’s maiden F1 points finish. Hulkenberg and Ocon are the final points scorers in ninth and 10th.
It has been a tough two weeks for Lando Norris, who, after the incident he was involved in at Montreal, was under a lot of pressure. The British driver managed it perfectly over this weekend, where he was always the fastest and successfully resisted attacks from Oscar Piastri, delivering a brilliant double podium for McLaren. Norris maintained the lead from the first lap but always had Piastri close behind him. On lap 11, the Australian driver attempted an attack at Turn 3, briefly taking the lead, but the British driver responded by using DRS towards Turn 4. When the Australian driver tried to overtake again on lap 20, the two McLaren drivers almost collided, but nothing happened that should cause concern for the future.
"I did everything I had to do, I stayed in front, defended well, and attacked well. It was fun, and I had several things to manage, like tire degradation, which was quite high today, traffic, and the battery. I couldn’t charge it in the first 20 laps, and if I hadn’t managed to charge it towards the end, Oscar would probably have passed me. I was in a vulnerable position, I was on the limit. There wasn’t much I could do, except go to the pits. I’m proud and happy for the whole team. It was a tough race today, and it's one of the most beautiful and complicated victories in that sense, especially with all the battles between me and Oscar. Crossing the finish line in the end was the best part. Oscar and I had fun, we had some tight moments with some nice battles, and I did a lot of laps looking in the mirrors: it wasn’t the most comfortable position, and it was stressful, but in the end, it was also very fun. It was a well-managed race: we knew what to expect from each other, and we both want to race fairly. We had to leave Montreal behind, it’s something I wish had never happened, but in the end, nothing happened that made Andrea and the engineers sweat too much".
In the absence of Frederic Vasseur, who had to leave the paddock and return home before the start of the race due to personal reasons, it was Scuderia Ferrari's deputy team principal, Jerome D’Ambrosio, who spoke after one of the best races of the season. The former Belgian driver, speaking immediately after the race ended, first clarified that he had spoken with Frederic Vasseur by phone:
"Of course I spoke to him, but I do that even when he’s at the track. Fred and I talk several times a day, and today was no different".
Having addressed the absence of the French manager - who is expected to return to his role as early as Silverstone - D’Ambrosio showed cautious satisfaction with Charles Leclerc’s third place and Lewis Hamilton’s fourth:
"We put everything together, and that was really important for us, optimizing everything both in qualifying and the race. It's true that McLaren is ahead and on another level, but we need to focus on ourselves and try to improve the car step by step. The updates we introduced here are heading in the right direction. Of course, there’s still a lot of work to do, but as Fred has been saying since the start of the year, it's crucial to put the weekend together - it allows us to work calmly and move forward".
He also commented on the lift and coast strategy that impacted Leclerc’s race, especially during the early stages:
"It was a brake-related issue. Brake management is part of a fairly standard optimization strategy. It's never enjoyable for a driver to have to do it, and sometimes you're closer to the limit than expected and need to ask them to do more. But we were in a bit of a no-man’s land, between the McLarens and Russell, who was quite far behind, so we just wanted to make sure we stayed within usage limits. It’s pretty normal - nothing unusual. In fact, GPS data shows many drivers do it during the race. When we bring updates to the track, like we did on Friday, what’s really important is making sure that what we see in the wind tunnel matches what happens on track. From that point of view, it was a step forward. But as we all know, we're still working hard to improve the car’s performance".
Just like he did after qualifying, Charles Leclerc had to weigh the pros and cons of the race. The result for the Monegasque driver and Scuderia Ferrari was realistically the best the team could have hoped for before the weekend: a morale-boosting podium and confirmation of being the second-best team, also supported by Lewis Hamilton's fourth place. However, McLaren was clearly superior throughout the event, and there was no contest at the Red Bull Ring. Leclerc offered detailed insight into a race of two halves:
"Unfortunately, there was a lot of lift and coast, and I had to manage a lot in the first stint. It’s very difficult to drive the car like that, but right now we’re in a situation where we have to do that to maximize the potential in the race. We paid quite a price today - especially me - because the balance I had and the lift and coast didn’t go well together, so I really struggled. Even with a perfect race, I don’t think McLaren was within reach. But we are making progress: I think the new floor helped us get the podium today, and we need to keep pushing. No one is happy with the current performance level and we shouldn’t settle for third, but in a season like this, it’s a step forward that boosts team morale. There's a lot of hard work behind the scenes to turn this around, and I hope the upcoming upgrades will help us make further progress".
With Max Verstappen out from the first lap, Ferrari emerged as the second force in the Austrian Grand Prix. That was confirmed not only by Leclerc’s podium, but also by Hamilton finishing fourth. It was a clean race for Scuderia Ferrari, unable to compete with the still-superior McLaren—despite bringing a new floor - but safe from a Mercedes team that, after the Montreal spike, has fallen back to mediocrity. Ferrari continues to struggle with brake overheating, clearly visible again today with repeated lift and coast instructions. After Leclerc’s comments, Hamilton also pointed out the SF-25’s braking issues:
"From my side, we had a small issue in the final qualifying lap where I lost a crucial tenth. In the race, I still struggle with this car - there was understeer, especially at high speeds, and the brakes are constantly a problem, so I had to manage them. Considering all that, we’re leaving the Red Bull Ring in a better position than before. That’s why we have to keep pushing and improving. As a team, I think we made progress - that’s very positive. Thanks to the whole team, I’m really grateful. It’s great to take a step forward and become the second-fastest team".
A friend in need is a friend indeed. So, for Frederic Vasseur, who couldn’t attend the Austrian GP due to personal reasons and is going through a difficult time as Ferrari’s team principal - amid persistent rumors of his potential dismissal - it must have been heartening to receive public support from Toto Wolff. The Mercedes boss, speaking to journalists in Austria, defended Vasseur when asked about the importance of stability in the team principal role in F1 and the current media pressure surrounding the Frenchman:
"It seems like teams have become a bit of a revolving door. I think Christian and I are the only dinosaurs left".
Speaking specifically about Vasseur’s situation, Wolff cited Jean Todt as a classic example, who needed years to build Ferrari’s dominant era with Schumacher:
"Todt, if I remember correctly, joined the team in 1993 and won the first championship in 2000. That’s eight years. That’s how it works—there are cycles. Look at us: I don’t like being in a phase where we’re not fighting for the title for a third year in a row, but that doesn’t mean we’re useless. We still have great weekends and win races. And when things go wrong, no one questions whether the top leader is doing a good job or not. Let him work, give him space".
Finally, Wolff called Vasseur one of the best managers in Formula 1, adding he’d hire him himself:
"Let him structure an organization that doesn't fall apart on day one. Loic’s been there six or seven months. You have to give them time. And Fred is one of the best racing managers I know. If I weren’t here, I’d hire Fred. I have great respect for him. He’s a strong character, a straight talker. He doesn’t play politics, doesn’t lie, and knows what he’s talking about. He just needs to be trusted. And he knows full well that in Italy, managing Ferrari is like managing the national football team. The media scrutinize you constantly. Maybe he needs to grow a thicker skin. Because if you win, you’re Jesus Christ; if you lose, you’re a loser. That’s Italy. And it’s beautiful. That’s the passion there, and you have to embrace it. Maybe that’s something Fred still has to learn, but otherwise, he should be trusted to lead the team. They won’t find anyone better".
The Austrian Grand Prix lasted just three corners and a few seconds for Max Verstappen. The Red Bull Racing driver, competing almost on home turf, was hit at the Remus Curve by Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who completely misjudged his braking point and slammed into Verstappen’s RB21. Yet, the reigning World Champion wasn’t angry. Speaking to journalists, Max expressed understanding and respect for Antonelli and said they had already talked:
"When we got out of the cars, I just asked him what had happened, because he was the only car near me with a missing wheel, so I was pretty sure he had hit me. Then I watched the footage in the garage - these things happen. Everyone has made that kind of mistake in their career. Kimi’s a big talent, so he’ll learn from it, and that’s fine. We spoke afterwards too. It was a nice gesture of him to apologize, but for me the matter was already closed. I saw what happened. No one does this on purpose. It can happen".
Verstappen then commented on McLaren’s current dominance, saying he expects updates from Red Bull but doesn’t see himself in the title fight anymore:
"I’ve never really thought about it. We just go race by race, trying to improve the car and learn from everything we’re doing and see what happens".
He admitted he didn’t watch the rest of the race after retiring but instead focused on the 24 Hours of Spa, where his team was competing - and winning in their class:
"Ferrari’s result? Honestly, I didn’t follow the race, I was watching the 24 Hours of Spa. I was nervous. Finishing ninth overall and winning our class at the first attempt is something we can be proud of".
With five wins at their home track, the Red Bull Racing team had hoped to close the gap in the Drivers’ World Championship standings for Max Verstappen. But the team’s weekend was disastrous. McLaren’s 1-2 finish leaves Max Verstappen 61 points behind Oscar Piastri. No smiles either from Yuki Tsunoda, who finished P16, last and two laps down after a 10-second penalty. The Austrian team’s consultant, Helmut Marko, was therefore rather disheartened and said after the race:
"Kimi came out of nowhere and rear-ended us with locked wheels. Our analysis shows that we could have fought for the podium. Mercedes wasn’t fast, and Ferrari didn’t seem overwhelming either. McLaren, however, was out of reach and we didn’t see them again after the start. At the start, you can take risks, but you have to be prepared that someone behind you might do something stupid".
Marko then hinted that the hopes for the world title are now slim:
"This is a black day, the gap is almost impossible to close. Unless something extraordinary happens, we have to assume the World Championship is over".
After a disappointing Canadian Grand Prix, the Austrian Grand Prix brought McLaren back to the top of Formula 1 with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who raced in a class of their own on the Austrian circuit, leaving the rest of the field behind. The drivers from the Woking-based team didn't hesitate to battle each other directly, especially during the first stint, giving the team some tense moments. Piastri tried everything to take the lead, managing to do so for a brief moment, but in the end, Norris prevailed in their direct battle, reducing the gap to just 15 points behind his teammate in the World Championship standings. At the end of the race, Piastri explained the mindset behind fighting for the World Championship, admitting that there are differences when the rival is from another team:
"The approach changes slightly. The first thing is not to race harder against your teammate than you do against the others. I’m tough on everyone a bit".
It was also at Spielberg where Piastri received a telling-off after making an overly optimistic move on Norris at Turn 4, risking a collision with his teammate. Fortunately, the worst was avoided, and the team led by Andrea Stella secured the double podium finish.
"Today was a tough but great battle. Maybe at times we pushed a little beyond the limit. But it was a nice challenge and a great race. Beyond the result, everything went as we expected".