Photo Credit: File Photo
George Russell secured Mercedes' first win of 2024 at the Austrian Grand Prix after a dramatic collision between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. Russell, who had been running third, inherited the lead after the incident and clinched his second career F1 win.
The race at the Red Bull Ring saw Verstappen and Norris dominate the early stages. Verstappen led from pole, with Norris closely following. However, their battle intensified in the final laps. On lap 59, Norris attempted a pass at Turn 3 but ran wide, allowing Verstappen to maintain his position. Just a few laps later, the two collided at the same corner, resulting in punctures for both drivers and forcing them to pit.
Norris, who had been aggressively attacking Verstappen and receiving track limit penalties, suffered damage that led to his retirement. This left Russell in the lead, with a virtual safety car deployed to clear debris from the track. Russell maintained his advantage over Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz, who finished second and third respectively.
At the start, Verstappen had a smooth getaway, pulling clear of Norris. Lewis Hamilton and Sainz battled for fourth, with Hamilton eventually conceding. Piastri, initially forced wide by Sergio Perez, dropped to seventh but made a strong recovery.
The first round of pit stops saw Verstappen narrowly avoiding a penalty for an unsafe release, with Norris having to brake hard to avoid a collision. In the second stint, Norris began to close the gap to Verstappen, who struggled with his hard tires. A slow pit stop for Verstappen reduced his lead significantly, setting the stage for their dramatic clash.
Hamilton finished fourth despite a five-second penalty for crossing the pit entry line and sustaining floor damage. Verstappen managed to finish fifth but received a ten-second penalty for causing the collision with Norris.
Nico Hulkenberg finished sixth, ahead of Perez, Kevin Magnussen, Daniel Ricciardo, and Pierre Gasly. The race was marked by aggressive driving and strategic battles, but it was Russell who capitalized on the chaos to claim a memorable victory.
