Charles Leclerc overtakes Max Verstappen three times to lead his way to the much-needed victory; Ferrari’s career was aggravated by the late explosion of Carlos Sainz’s engine; Lewis Hamilton rises from eighth to third for Mercedes; Verstappen leads Leclerc by 38 points in the title race
By Matt Morlidge
Last updated: 10/07/22 15:51
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The battle for leadership continues when Charles Leclerc beat Max Verstappen for the third time at the Austrian Grand Prix.
The battle for leadership continues when Charles Leclerc beat Max Verstappen for the third time at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc overtook Max Verstappen three times on the track to achieve a bright and long-awaited victory at the Austrian GP, with Lewis Hamilton third, as Ferrari’s celebratory mood was hit by the dramatic fire. of the engine of Carlos Sainz.
Leclerc had made seven races without a win in F1 2022, but was the dominant driver in Sunday’s exciting Grand Prix, beating Verstappen at the start and then after the first and second stops to advance.
He then survived a late reliability scare with the accelerator to win by two seconds.
“My God, I was scared, I was very scared,” Leclerc told the team’s radio. He added about his victory: “I definitely needed it.”
Verstappen’s title lead is still 38 points, although Leclerc is now his closest rival to the title after Sergio Perez was forced to withdraw from the race at the other Red Bull, after a collision on the first lap with George Russell.
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Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari caught fire after an engine failure that ended his career in Austria.
Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari caught fire after an engine failure that ended his career in Austria.
Ferrari’s day could have been even better. The Squad was looking for a one-two momentum change, as Carlos Sainz beat Verstappen with cooler tires before suffering an expensive engine explosion.
Sainz’s car was engulfed in flames as it came out, and it was Ferrari’s fourth mechanical failure of the season.
This elevated Hamilton to third place, with the Mercedes driver recovering from eighth place on the grid to show a competitive pace, while still being 40 seconds behind the winner of the checkered race after a virtual security car.
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Sergio Pérez leaves the track after making contact with George Russell’s Mercedes in the first lap of the Austrian Grand Prix.
Sergio Pérez leaves the track after making contact with George Russell’s Mercedes in the first lap of the Austrian Grand Prix.
Russell finished fourth in the other Merc despite his five-second penalty for Perez’s clash.
Esteban Ocon took fifth place for Alpine, while Mick Schumacher followed his first F1 points with a sixth place, the best of his career, for Haas.
McLaren had both drivers on points at the end of a weekend below normal, with Lando Norris finishing seventh despite being one of three drivers to receive five-second penalties for breaches of the limits. the track.
Result of the Austrian GP race: Top 101) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari2) Max Verstappen, Red Bull3) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes4) George Russell, Mercedes5) Esteban Ocon, Alpine6) Mick Schumacher, Haas7) Lando Norris, McLaren8) Kevin Magnussen, Haas9) Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren10) Fernando Alonso, Alpine
More to follow.