Thrilling Austrian Grand Prix Ends with Russell VictoryThrilling Austrian Grand Prix Ends with Russell Victory A dramatic conclusion at the Austrian Grand Prix saw George Russell claim his first win of the season after a collision between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. The event at the Red Bull Ring featured strong performances and disappointing results for drivers at all levels. The Top Performers: * George Russell (9): Russell capitalized on the chaos to secure victory, demonstrating consistency and seizing the opportunity at the right time. * Nico Hulkenberg (9): Hulkenberg’s sixth-place finish marked Haas’ strongest result in two years, showcasing his strength and consistency. * Lando Norris (8.5): Norris’s front-row qualifying position and aggressive driving made him Verstappen’s closest rival, despite the unfortunate collision. * Carlos Sainz (8): Sainz’s podium finish amidst Ferrari’s struggles highlighted his consistent driving and may boost his standing in the driver market. * Daniel Ricciardo (8): Ricciardo’s strong defensive drive in a challenging race secured valuable points at a crucial time in his F1 career. The Disappointing Performers: * Lewis Hamilton (5): Hamilton struggled with floor damage and finished well behind his teammate, describing the race as “shocking.” * Zhou Guanyu (5): Zhou’s anonymous race and pit lane start failed to improve his pace, resulting in a disappointing performance. * Sergio Perez (4): Perez’s first-lap damage and collision with Piastri hindered his progress, leaving him unable to beat his teammate on the road. * Logan Sargeant (4): Sargeant’s race was marred by damage and a lack of pace, a disappointing display for the American driver. * Fernando Alonso (3): Alonso’s Aston Martin lacked pace, and his clumsy maneuver into Zhou resulted in a grueling weekend for the former world champion.
A thrilling end to the Austrian Grand Prix saw George Russell take victory after a collision between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris.
There were some top performances at all levels of the grid and the event at the Red Bull Ring was a weekend to forget for some.
How did all the drivers get through the event? RacingNews365 played a role in our driver ratings.
The top five
George Russell-9
He was in the right place at the right time, but someone had to be there. Russell picked up the pieces from a dramatic collision between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris to secure his first win of the season. In doing so, he consolidated a strong weekend for the Briton, who has taken a strong step in terms of consistency of late.
Nico Hulkenberg – 9
It flew somewhat under the radar amid the front-running drama, but Hulkenberg’s run to sixth marked Haas’ strongest result in two years. By qualifying ninth and finishing the race three positions higher, Haas has now surpassed its 2023 points tally, thanks (largely) to another strong performance from the Audi-bound Hulkenberg.
Lando Norris-8.5
Norris has long been Verstappen’s biggest rival this year and although things got too close in Austria, the general consensus is that the Brit was not to blame. Although his overtaking attempts in the run-up to the crash were questionable, Norris’s front-row qualifying position and attack on victory make him Verstappen’s closest opponent on the current grid.
Carlos Sainz -8
Ferrari needs an answer to its woes, and quickly. You could say he’s fourth in the current pecking order, but Sainz’s consistent driving in Spielberg allowed him to claim a podium when his rivals faltered. Sainz’s performance is faster than teammate Leclerc all weekend and could earn him more time in the driver market, amid reports that teams are growing tired of waiting for his decision.
Daniel Ricciardo – 8
Much has been said about Ricciardo’s struggles during the 2024 F1 season, but there’s no denying his performance in Austria was strong. The RB driver admitted it was a “tough” race as he was forced to go on the defensive to secure points, but he did so successfully at a critical time when his F1 career is at a crossroads.
The bottom five
Lewis Hamilton-5
“Quite shocking” are the words Hamilton used to describe his Austrian Grand Prix. Hamilton was a bit lost during the race, held back by damage he sustained to his floor. But on a weekend when Mercedes had reason to celebrate, there was little to cheer about from the seven-time world champion’s side in the garage.
Zhou Guanyu-5
In another of Zhou’s anonymous races at the wheel of the Stake F1 car, he crossed the line in 17th, having opted to change the set-up during the night and start from the pit lane. Unfortunately, the changes did little to boost his pace, resulting in another disappointing performance for the Chinese driver.
Sergio Perez – 4
Perez suffered damage on the first lap of the race, seriously affecting his pace after a poor performance in qualifying. However, the collision with Piastri could have been avoided and immediately put him on the back foot. Despite a puncture and a 10-second penalty for Verstappen, Perez still couldn’t beat his teammate on the road.
Logan Sargeant-4
A painful performance from Sargeant saw him occupy the back of the field for much of the race. Sargeant also suffered damage during the Grand Prix, but the display was similar to what we have seen from the American driver of late: disappointing.
Fernando Alonso-3
What happened to Aston Martin and Alonso? The pace has completely disappeared from the car and the Spaniard does not expect any quick fixes. A lack of speed during the weekend in Austria and a clumsy manoeuvre into Zhou completed a gruelling weekend for the two-time world champion.
