George Russell won the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday, narrowing his deficit in the world championship standings.Limited time: Save 25% on NBC News subscriptionGet exclusive reporting, live Q&As and ad-free reading.His Mercedes teammate and chief rival Kimi Antonelli finished third, making a late charge but failing to catch Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, which crossed the line in second.The result cuts Antonelli’s lead in the standings over Russell to 40 points after it ballooned to 68 points just two races ago.The victory was a much-needed rebound for Russell in the scorching heat of the Styrian hills.
He had won the first race of 2026 before the 19-year-old Antonelli reeled off five consecutive victories.“Incredible to be back on the top step.It’s been a little while so I’m definitely going to enjoy this one this evening, Russell said in a post-race interview.
“Looking forward to a drink now!”Russell, 28, started the race on pole position and never lost his lead.Verstappen, who had crashed during qualifying Saturday, began the race fifth.The runner-up finish is his best result of the 2026 season at Red Bull’s home race.
The four-time world champion has yet to win this year and has openly criticized the new regulations, even threatening to quit the sport.The Ferrari drivers of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc waged multiple wheel-to-wheel battles as they continue to vie for supremacy within the team.They appeared to make contact on the opening lap as Hamilton muscled past Leclerc.Despite starting second and third with hopes of contending for victory, both lost ground as the race wore on; Hamilton finished fifth, Leclerc eighth.
It was the fifth consecutive race in which Hamilton, the seven-time world champion who joined Ferrari last year, finished ahead of his teammate.Hamilton and Verstappen also renewed their old rivalry in a wheel-to-wheel fight, which the Red Bull driver won.In the second half of the race, Verstappen closed in o...