Motorsport Verstappen wins Formula 1 sprint in Austria
The Dutchman Max Verstappen (r) holds his own against the Briton Lando Norris (l). Photo
© Erwin Scheriau/APA/dpa
World champion Max Verstappen scores another victory. The Red Bull star is unbeatable in the sprint race in Austria. He already has his sights set on the next triumph
Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has extended his lead in the World Championship with a hard-fought victory in the sprint in Austria. The 26-year-old Dutchman won the short 100-kilometer race in Spielberg on Saturday, which was particularly exciting at the beginning, ahead of the two McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Verstappen repeated his triumph from last year in Styria and also won the third sprint of the season. He was rewarded with eight World Championship points.
“You could see that they made it difficult for me. We had to work for this victory,” said Verstappen about the attacks by the McLaren drivers. Norris, meanwhile, was annoyed that he could not hold on to his brief lead and behaved “like an amateur” at times. “There are things I could have done better. But it was too difficult to get past Max,” said the 24-year-old Briton.
The first start had to be aborted because photographers behind the barriers in the first corner posed a safety risk. At the second attempt, three-time champion Verstappen defended his first place, but then quickly had to defend himself against Norris and Piastri. Norris took the lead for a few meters on the fifth lap, but was then caught by Verstappen and Piastri in a hard-fought three-way battle.
Verstappen secures victory after spectacle
In midsummer temperatures of 30 degrees, fans at the Red Bull Ring were treated to spectacular maneuvers before Verstappen was able to pull away and then drove a controlled race to the finish. The German Nico Hülkenberg drove his Haas racing car across the finish line in 14th place and clearly missed out on the points.
Qualifying for the actual Grand Prix one day later is scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Before the eleventh of a total of 24 races of the season on Sunday (3 p.m./Sky), defending champion Verstappen is comfortably ahead of Norris in the overall standings with 70 points. As last year’s winner, Verstappen is once again the favorite on one of his favorite courses.
dpa
#Subjects
