George Russell converted his pole position into a win at the Austrian Grand Prix, leading from the first stint and building a ten‑second gap before the final pit stops. He managed the pressure from Max Verstappen in the closing laps to claim his first victory since the Australian round, while teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli recovered from a chaotic start to secure third place.
Mercedes praised the strategic calls and tyre management that allowed both drivers to stay in the points, noting the competition at the front remains razor‑tight. Verstappen, who finished second, highlighted a rear‑axle issue and a missed undercut that prevented a challenge for the win, but expressed satisfaction with the podium finish. Red Bull’s Laurent Mekies called the result the team’s best of the year, emphasizing the strong pace and the narrowing gap to Mercedes.
Isack Hadjar rounded out the points in sixth, feeling the upgrade in the RB22 despite tyre wear, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris finished fourth and seventh respectively, both pointing to lost track position and the need for further development ahead of the Silverstone sprint weekend.
