George Russell Ends Mercedes’ Win Drought Following Verstappen-Norris Crash

George Russell capitalised on a dramatic turn of events to secure an unexpected victory at the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix for Mercedes after Max Verstappen and Lando Norris collided in a heated battle for the lead in the race’s closing stages.

A rare slow pit stop for race leader Verstappen during the second round of stops changed the race’s dynamics, bringing Norris, who had been six seconds behind, right onto Verstappen’s tail in the closing laps. This set the stage for Norris to launch several attempts to overtake.

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  2024 Austrian Grand Prix: Full Weekend Report & Highlights

Norris had already expressed frustration twice over what he considered Verstappen’s “unfair” defence, while Verstappen accused Norris of making overly ambitious moves. The tension culminated in a controversial collision on lap 64 as Norris attempted another overtaking manoeuvre.

As the McLaren attempted to go around the outside of the Red Bull into the Turn Three braking zone, the two cars touched rear wheels. Both suffered punctures and veered into the run-off area. They then headed to the pits with their damaged cars.

Norris was unable to continue and dropped out of the race, while Verstappen returned to the track and finished in fifth place. The stewards found Verstappen at fault for the collision and handed him a 10-second time penalty, although it did not affect his fifth-place result.

Russell, who had been running third for most of the race, gleefully took over the lead and completed the final laps to secure his second career win in F1 and Mercedes’ first since November 2022.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished a close second, reflecting on what might have been after dropping from third to seventh on the grid due to a track limits penalty on Saturday, which he and his team had vehemently disputed.

Carlos Sainz secured the final podium spot, beating Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton, who had battled teammate Russell for third in the opening laps before falling back, had earlier served a five-second penalty for crossing the white line entering his first pit stop.

It was a sensational day for the Haas team, with Nico Hulkenberg finishing sixth and teammate Kevin Magnussen eighth, sandwiching Sergio Perez, whose struggles in the second Red Bull continued. This bumper points haul moved Haas into seventh place in the Constructors’ Championship.

Despite finishing only fifth, Verstappen’s championship lead over Norris increased to 81 points due to Norris’ retirement, ahead of the 2024 British Grand Prix at Silverstone the following week.

2024 Austrian Grand Prix Results

2024 Austrian Grand Prix, 30 June 2024