Verstappen resists Norris attack to win Austrian GP sprint race
Max Verstappen claimed victory for Red Bull in a spirited sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix, overcoming an early challenge from Lando Norris. The series leader and three-time world champion secured a home win at the Red Bull Ring, delivering a commanding performance after being briefly overtaken by McLaren’s Norris in the opening laps.
Verstappen’s win marks his third sprint triumph of the year, his fifth consecutive sprint victory, and his 10th in 15 sprint contests. He finished 4.616 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and 5.348 seconds clear of Norris, who couldn’t sustain his early speed.
“I had a good first lap,” said Verstappen. “But once the DRS opened, it took a few laps for me to get away and then I drove my own race. I had to work for it in that race, and we have a few things to think about for tomorrow.”
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George Russell finished fourth for Mercedes, followed by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes. Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari came in seventh.
Sergio Perez finished eighth in the second Red Bull, ahead of Haas’s Kevin Magnussen and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll.
Verstappen received a rousing reception from the massed ranks of his ‘orange army’ in the grandstands, who roared with delight when he regained the lead from Norris.