Lando Norris resisted vigorous assaults from team-mate and championship chief Oscar Piastri to say a masterful McLaren 1-2 in Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix.
In torrid warmth on the Purple Bull Ring, the 25-year-old Briton got here residence 2.695 seconds away from the 24-year-old Australian to trim his lead within the title race by 15 factors
It was Norris’s first win in Austria, his third win this 12 months and the seventh of his profession.
It was McLaren’s first win in Austria since David Coulthard triumphed in 2001.
The McLaren pair battled all through the race to offer thrilling racing for the packed crowd and put behind them their collision in Canada two weeks earlier.
Charles Leclerc was third forward of his Ferrari team-mate seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, their finest results of the 12 months, with George Russell ending fifth for Mercedes.
“It was a tricky race,” mentioned Norris.
“Pushing the entire approach via… tough, sizzling, tiring, however the good consequence for us as a crew, a 1-2 once more. We had an ideal battle, that is for certain.”
For Piastri, it was equally demanding.
“I hope it was good watching as a result of from contained in the automobile it was exhausting work. Yeah, I attempted my very best.”
Liam Lawson got here in a career-best sixth for RB on a desultory day for the senior Purple Bull crew after four-time champion Max Verstappen retired on the opening lap after being hit by Mercedes’ teenage rookie Kimi Antonelli. He’s now 61 factors behind Piastri.
Two-time champion Fernando Alonso was seventh forward of Gabriel Bortoleto and his Sauber team-mate Nico Hulkenberg, the long run Audi outfit exhibiting their big potential, with Esteban Ocon ending tenth for Haas.
After a frantic prelude, throughout which Carlos Sainz’s Williams failed to go away the grid after which caught fireplace within the pit lane, the race was delayed for 10 minutes – earlier than delivering quick drama on the second try.
Norris made a clear begin whereas, behind him, Piastri handed Leclerc on the surface of Flip One earlier than Antonelli locked up and misplaced management at Flip Three and hit Verstappen’s Purple Bull.
A security automobile was deployed as each drivers retired on lap one ending, for the defending champion a run of 31 races within the factors.
“I bought hit,” mentioned the Dutchman on crew radio.
The teenage rookie apologised. “I locked the rear. Sorry about that,” he advised Mercedes.
The race resumed after a two-minute slowdown and Norris was compelled instantly to defend as Piastri, trying sharp, attacked as additionally did Russell on Hamilton for fourth. Each had been thwarted by defensive driving.
By lap 12, the McLaren duo had been 4 seconds clear and delivering a present of their very own.
Unhampered by any embarrassing hangovers from their collision in Montreal, they raced aspect by aspect and wheel to wheel, however every time the Australian attacked, the Briton held on.
In scorching warmth of 32 levels (air) and 55 (observe), it was an ideal commercial for the historic venue within the Styrian Alps which had secured a 16-year contract extension to 2041 earlier than the race.
Norris pitted, taking hards, after surviving one other Piastri lunge, at flip 4, on lap 20.
Piastri then adopted swimsuit, rising fourth till Leclerc pitted.
After the leaders out on observe additionally modified tyres Norris led Piastri by 6.5 seconds.
Purple Bull’s distress intensified on lap 30 when Yuki Tsunoda hit Colapinto, sending each to the pits for repairs.
The Japanese rejoined sixteenth and final of the runners with a brand new entrance wing earlier than being handed a 10-second penalty.
As the sphere settled Norris led Piastri by 3.2s.
Russell started the second spherical of stops on lap 46, adopted by the remainder of the leaders, leaving Norris to finish a near-perfect day within the Styrian mountains.
