Lando Norris wins Austrian GP. (Image credit:X/McLaren F1).
Lando Norris seized a crucial victory at the Austrian Grand Prix , fending off relentless pressure from teammate Oscar Piastri to reignite his Formula 1 title challenge. It marked Norris’ third win of the season and his first since Monaco, narrowing the championship gap to 15 points behind Piastri heading into the British Grand Prix next week. In a dramatic race that saw reigning world champion Max Verstappen eliminated on the first lap after a collision with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli , the McLaren duo emerged as the dominant force around the Red Bull Ring. Piastri extended his first stint to gain strategic advantage and chased hard in the final laps, but Norris had just enough pace in hand to take the chequered flag. Further back, Racing Bulls ‘ Liam Lawson delivered his best result of the season in sixth, ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso. Rookie Gabriel Bortoleto claimed a hard-fought eighth for Sauber, collecting his maiden F1 points after a tense late-race battle with Alonso. Nico Hulkenberg followed in ninth, securing a rare double-points finish for Sauber, while Esteban Ocon rounded out the top ten for Haas. (Inputs from IANS).