Skrift of the Austrian GP: Verstappen’s inevitability and the Red Bull dominance

maximum verstappen did not stumble in Austria. He rarely stumbles at home with Red Bull, and this event was no exception. Charles Leclerc found himself surprised by the Spielberg circuit last year, but this time Ferrari faced a wall that could not be breached. The championship leader, calm and relentless behind the wheel of the RB19, sealed his seventh win in nine races. The Dutchman left the Red Bull Ring with a dream weekend: a sprint race victory on Saturday, 33 more points on the tally, and a 79-point lead over his teammate, totaling 228 points ahead of Sergio Perez.

In the sprint, pole position became a win, and the weekend yielded a sprint pole and GP pole along with the grand prix victory. A fast feedback moment captured in social posts reflected the mood of the crowd and teams alike, celebrating the Austrian round with highlight reels and fan engagement.

Under pressure from recent struggles, the Mexican driver staged a dramatic comeback, climbing from 15th on the grid to secure third place, with Verstappen and Leclerc ahead. Carlos Sainz missed his chance to capitalize on the momentum and finished fourth, setting the stage for his teammate to achieve a strong result for Ferrari. Fernando Alonso also showed reliability by climbing to sixth, a solid result in a challenging race.

Sainz, braking

When the lights went out, Verstappen shot clear while Leclerc held his second place and Sainz trailed. Alonso, choosing the harder compound to attempt a one‑stop strategy, moved ahead of his teammate Stroll and finished sixth behind Norris.

A first-lap incident, traced to a Tsunoda crash, scattered carbon fiber across the track and triggered the safety car. Verstappen capitalized on the restart, reasserting his dominance as Ferrari reorganized.

Sainz pressed Leclerc, but team orders kept him from challenging too aggressively. The Madrid native remained within striking distance with a margin that suggested more could be done later. Lewis Hamilton, more than three seconds behind, complied with a team directive that kept the duel focused on performance rather than infighting.

After 14 laps, Hulkenberg’s Haas failed, triggering a virtual safety car. Ferrari elected to a cautious double pit stop for Sainz, sliding him to sixth, while Alonso stopped and Hamilton received a five‑second penalty for track limits. Carlos did not surrender his pace; he stayed aggressive, slipped past Hamilton, and then hunted Perez, who was still on 18-lap tires. He overtook the Mexican to claim third, but the stewards later weighed in with a sanction on the Spaniard.

Carlos Sainz stayed focused and pressed his pace, signaling his intent to challenge whatever unfolded. A rolling rally to the finish line kept him in the chase for strong points and a possible podium at the Austrian GP.

CARLOS !

follow the Austrian GP live coverage on Movistar Plus while the action unfolds. This spontaneous shoutout echoed through the paddock and social channels as fans watched the drama unfold in real time.

— F1 fans and broadcasters echoed the excitement with real-time commentary and highlights from the Austrian round. The run of notable moments on social platforms captured the sentiment of an event packed with on-track action and strategic depth.

Pressure on the leader

Ahead, Verstappen maintained a steady 14-second gap to Leclerc, but Red Bull’s choice to continue with older tires allowed Leclerc to close the distance. The championship leader paused on lap 25 and rejoined just behind Sainz, who could not block Leclerc from taking the interim lead.

Verstappen pushed hard on a rapid lap as Leclerc began to feel the pressure. The Ferrari crew suggested a potential three-stop strategy, a proposal that left both teams weighing options with optimistic caution.

The driver known for speed appeared a missile-like presence, relentlessly pursuing the lead with Alberto-like precision as the clock wound down. He hunted for every tenth of a second, determined to reclaim first place with roughly 35 laps remaining.

Alonso at his ‘war’

Alonso shone again this weekend, maneuvering a track that seemed too forgiving for an Aston Martin to truly shine. He focused on maintaining his fifth-place battle with Lewis Hamilton. Mercedes did not show their best form at the Red Bull Ring, and the seven-time champion found Mercedes losing some ground against tougher rivals. Hamilton appeared to be an easy target for Alonso at times, but Perez kept the pressure in the rear.

As Sainz ceded positions to Perez, Hamilton fell back by about five seconds during his stop. Leclerc’s timely pit stop gave Perez a startling comeback, and the two Red Bulls briefly led the race. Alonso returned to the track in sixth, behind Norris, and gradually settled into that position.

Verstappen’s final stop came with 21 laps remaining. The late stage was a duel to the end, a clash between Perez and the Ferrari pair, with Sainz and the Mexican trading blows. Verstappen’s authority remained clear, but Carlos defended with determination and grit, signaling a tense finish for the podium contenders.

What a counter to Perez’s attack. The cheers echoed through the paddock as Sainz asserted himself in the battles, a demonstration of skill and stubborn resilience that defined the Austrian GP.

The Madrid teamwork paid off as Leclerc crept closer to the podium’s edge, securing second place as the two Red Bulls stayed in pursuit. Verstappen cemented his hold on the lead, adding another victory to a historic tally that places him ahead in the annals of Formula One, now surpassing a legendary name in the sport with 42 career wins.