Lando Norris delivered a masterclass performance at the Austrian Grand Prix, clinching a commanding victory from pole position to bolster his Formula 1 championship aspirations. The McLaren driver fended off intense pressure from teammate Oscar Piastri to secure a McLaren one-two finish, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rounded out the podium in third, marking a solid day for the Prancing Horse.
Norris, starting from pole after a dominant qualifying session where he outpaced Leclerc by over half a second, made a clean getaway at the start of the 70-lap race at the Red Bull Ring. Despite an early challenge from Piastri, who overtook Leclerc for second at Turn 1, Norris maintained his composure to hold the lead. The McLaren duo engaged in a thrilling battle during the first stint, with Piastri briefly taking the lead on Lap 11 at Turn 3, only for Norris to reclaim it with a swift counterattack using DRS. The intense duel kept fans on the edge of their seats, but Norris’ pace and strategic tire management allowed him to pull away in the closing stages, crossing the finish line 2.6 seconds ahead of his teammate.
“It was tricky, hot, and tiring,” Norris said after the race. “A lot of stress but a lot of fun. A nice battle with Oscar, and hopefully, it was exciting for everyone to watch.” His third win of the 2025 season, and first since Monaco, reduced Piastri’s championship lead from 22 points to just 15, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown at Norris’ home race in Silverstone next weekend.
Leclerc, starting from the front row, couldn’t match the McLarens’ blistering pace but drove a steady race to secure third place, 17 seconds behind Norris. The result marked Ferrari’s fourth podium of the year and Leclerc’s third front-row start, signaling an upturn in form for the team after introducing an upgraded floor for the Austrian weekend. Despite the gap to the leaders, Leclerc remained optimistic, noting Ferrari’s stronger race pace compared to qualifying. “The gap to Lando was big, but we’re normally stronger on Sundays, and this gives me hope,” Leclerc told Sky Sports. His teammate, Lewis Hamilton, finished a solid fourth, nine seconds behind, as Ferrari capitalized on a chaotic race for their rivals.
The race was not without drama, as reigning champion Max Verstappen’s title defense took a significant blow. On the first lap, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli misjudged his braking at Turn 3, colliding with Verstappen’s Red Bull and forcing both drivers to retire. Verstappen, visibly frustrated, called the incident a “crazy hit,” leaving him 61 points behind championship leader Piastri. The early exit shifted the race dynamics, allowing McLaren to dominate unopposed at the front.
Further down the order, Gabriel Bortoleto impressed in his debut season with Sauber, finishing eighth to claim his first F1 points and earning the Driver of the Day award. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) also scored solid points in sixth and seventh, respectively, while Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) and Esteban Ocon (Haas) rounded out the top ten.