UK press lauds Norris' 'statement drive', lambasts Red Bull's 'disastrous' performance in Austria

07:47, 30 Jun

Updated: 07:50, 30 Jun

byToby Nixon

The British media have reacted to Lando Norris' third Grand Prix victory of the season in Austria. Publications were full of praise for the McLaren driver's victory as he got the better of his 'assassin' teammate, Oscar Piastri.

Red Bull's horrendous race weekend at their home race was also a popular topic for discussion, as some believe that they know full well that the 2025 title is not theirs to fight for.

Austrian Grand Prix win was 'what Norris needed'

The BBC explained that Norris's race victory was perfect for the Brit to gain more confidence amid his tough title battle with cool teammate Piastri.

"The McLaren driver drove just the sort of race he needed under intense pressure from team-mate Oscar Piastri to deliver his third win of the season and cut his deficit to the Australian in the championship to 15 points."

After taking victory in Austria, the BBC believes that he can now put his nightmare of a Canadian Grand Prix behind him.

"Perhaps the most important aspect of this for Norris was that it served as confirmation of a positive trajectory he has been on in the past few weeks after a difficult start to the season - and that it helped lay the ghosts of the last race in Canada, where he retired after running into the back of his sister McLaren."

Red Bull's weekend was 'disastrous'

British tabloid The Sun were somewhat less impartial in their conclusion. The newspaper slammed both Piastri and Red Bull after the race in the Styrian hills.

"Piastri is the silent assassin, going about his business quietly, but absolutely lethal on track, particularly when it comes to inflicting the fatal blow on his teammate.

"The Aussie was driving so fiercely it was like he wanted to get his own back for Norris crashing into the back of him in Canada last time out and on the final lap was just over ONE SECOND behind him."

Discussing the Austrian home team, The Sun stated: "Red Bull’s disastrous weekend at their own stadium is symbolic of their decline in general as Yuki Tsunoda finished in last place."

Max Verstappen was taken out of the Austrian GP on lap one after a mistake by Kimi Antonelli.

Norris 'statement drive' reasserts drivers' championship credentials

The Guardian explained that Norris is well and truly back in the title fight after an emphatic victory at the Red Bull Ring. They also explained that Red Bull seems to already have swallowed the pill that both titles are not on the cards for them in 2025.

"Lando Norris required a statement drive to reassert his world championship credentials and he delivered it emphatically with victory at the Austrian Grand Prix. The British driver is famously self-critical but if his harshest critic is himself, this was a suitably commanding riposte to all the doubters."

Red Bull or Max Verstappen didn't seem too frustrated by their first lap incident, which took them out of the race, with The Guardian believing this is for one specific reason.

"That he (Verstappen) and his Red Bull team took it with such equanimity perhaps indicated that deep down they know this really is McLaren’s two-horse race. It is hard not to imagine Verstappen would have been puce with rage at enduring a “did not finish” were he at the heart of a title fight. As it is he now trails Piastri by 61 points."