Russell wins Austrian GP, cuts Antonelli's championship lead

George Russell (Mercedes) claimed his second victory of the 2026 F1 season at the Austrian Grand Prix, holding off a fierce challenge from Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and reducing Kimi Antonelli's championship lead to 40 points. The race at the Red Bull Ring was marked by intense battles, several retirements, and extreme heat.

Race Summary

Russell dominated from pole, controlling the pace throughout the 71 laps. Verstappen, who started fifth after a qualifying crash, fought his way to second with a series of bold overtakes on Lewis Hamilton and Antonelli. Antonelli finished third, 0.375s behind Verstappen, after a slow start and a late charge. The top five was completed by Oscar Piastri (McLaren) and Hamilton (Ferrari).

Key Battles

Verstappen and Hamilton rekindled their 2021 rivalry in a wheel-to-wheel duel, with Verstappen eventually securing second place. Antonelli's late-race pace put pressure on Verstappen, but the Dutchman held on. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) had a disappointing race, finishing eighth after starting second.

Spanish Drivers and Cadillac

Carlos Sainz (Williams) retired on lap 25 with an engine failure, while Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) finished last (18th), three laps down after a difficult race. Cadillac suffered a double retirement: Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez both stopped due to brake overheating in the early laps. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) finished 15th after a power-unit issue at the start that dropped him to last.