Lando Norris Claims Victory at Austrian GP After Intense Battle with Teammate Oscar Piastri
Lando Norris clinched a dramatic victory at the Austrian Grand Prix, outpacing his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in a thrilling race-long duel at the Red Bull Ring. This win marks Norris’s third of the season and comes after a fierce battle that saw the two drivers pushing each other to the limit.
Starting from pole position, Norris maintained his lead into the first turn but faced relentless pressure from championship leader Piastri. The Australian made several attempts to overtake, even briefly taking the lead before the positions switched back. A tense moment occurred when Piastri locked up under braking, nearly colliding with Norris, but both drivers managed to keep it clean.
While Norris capitalized on his early pace, Piastri extended his stint on the starting tyres in hopes of gaining an advantage later in the race. Despite Piastri’s quick times during the second and third stints, Norris held a slight edge, ultimately crossing the line first with a time of 1:23:47.693, just 2.695 seconds ahead of his teammate.
The race began with drama as reigning champion Max Verstappen was eliminated in a first-lap collision with rookie Kimi Antonelli, leading to an early safety car deployment. This incident set the stage for a competitive race, allowing Norris to focus on his strategy.
In the absence of team principal Fred Vasseur, who missed the race for personal reasons, McLaren celebrated a 1-2 finish. Charles Leclerc from Ferrari took third, followed by Lewis Hamilton in fourth and George Russell in fifth.
Norris expressed his satisfaction after the race, stating, “It was a tough race, pushing the whole way through – tricky, hot, tiring – but a perfect result for us as a team. We had a great battle, and I think it was a lot of fun for everyone to watch.”
The race also marked a significant achievement for rookie driver Gabriel Bortoleto, who scored his first Formula 1 points after a solid performance, finishing seventh.
As the teams prepare to head to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix from July 4-6, Norris’s victory has tightened the championship race, cutting Piastri’s lead to just 15 points.
