F1 Today | Russell back on top spot as Hamilton and Verstappen reignite rivalry in Austria

George Russell converted pole position into victory with a controlled drive at the Red Bull Ring, immediately holding onto the lead at the start. Behind him, Lewis Hamilton made an aggressive move around the outside of Charles Leclerc to move into second, while Max Verstappen quickly recovered from fifth on the grid, dispatching both Kimi Antonelli and Leclerc within the opening laps to join the fight at the front. Antonelli also recovered after losing ground early, overtaking the Ferrari driver to remain firmly in podium contention.

The first stint was defined by an intense battle between Hamilton and Verstappen, with the pair exchanging positions before the Dutchman eventually secured second place. Verstappen also complained over team radio after feeling he had been forced wide during one of their duels, although the stewards later decided no further action was necessary. Strategy then became crucial, with Hamilton pitting early to attempt an undercut. Antonelli continued to impress by reclaiming third after the stops and keeping himself within striking distance of the leaders.

As the race entered its final phase, Verstappen steadily reduced the gap to Russell, while Antonelli also joined the chase after his final pit stop thanks to fresher tyres. The leading trio converged in the closing laps, but Russell kept his composure under pressure to secure his first victory in several months. Verstappen crossed the line second after a strong drive, with Antonelli completing the podium. Ferrari, by contrast, endured a disappointing afternoon, slipping well away from the front despite starting from the second row of the grid, while McLaren also failed to feature in the battle for the podium.

Following their entertaining wheel-to-wheel battle in the Austrian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton responded to Max Verstappen's complaint after the Dutchman urged race control over team radio to hand the Ferrari driver a penalty for allegedly forcing him off the circuit.

Their first fight came before the opening pit stops, with Hamilton successfully defending his position despite heavy pressure from Verstappen. The pair crossed paths again later in the race, but this time the Red Bull driver completed the overtake and gradually pulled clear. The earlier incident also caught the attention of the stewards, who investigated Hamilton for a potential forcing another driver off track offence before deciding that no further action was warranted.

Reflecting on the incident afterwards, Hamilton maintained that Verstappen had attempted to make the move around the outside and argued that, because the Dutchman was behind at the apex, he should have backed out. The seven-time world champion also insisted he had still left his rival enough room through the corner.