Sprint: Verstappen claims Austrian sprint victory amid thrilling battle

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

Red Bull's Max Verstappen secured victory in the Austrian Grand Prix Sprint, holding off McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in a nail-biting contest. Verstappen retained his pole position at the start, but Norris briefly took the lead before the reigning champion quickly reclaimed it, opening the door for Piastri to overtake his teammate.

Check out the results of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, including the race results, qualifying times, and practice sessions

Behind the leading trio, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes both showcased strong performances, sandwiching Ferrari's Carlos Sainz. Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez followed after recovering from grid struggles.

With a new Sprint format for 2024, Verstappen earned pole position in a close Sprint Qualifying session, narrowly beating Norris. Oscar Piastri started third, maintaining his position through the race.

Despite a tense battle, Verstappen managed to break away, ultimately crossing the finish line 4.6 seconds ahead of Piastri, who held off a late surge from Norris. Hamilton and Russell secured positions fourth and sixth, with Sainz finishing fifth.

Leclerc and Perez claimed seventh and eighth, respectively, completing points-scoring positions in a new points system that rewards the top eight finishers. Verstappen’s win further expands his championship lead, now 71 points ahead of Norris, with Leclerc six points behind in third.

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