Lando Norris produced a composed and commanding drive to lead a dominant McLaren 1-2 at the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday, fending off intense pressure from teammate and championship leader Oscar Piastri in sweltering conditions at the Red Bull Ring. The 25-year-old Briton crossed the line 2.695 seconds ahead of the Australian, cutting Piastri’s lead in the title race by 15 points.
The win marked Norris’s first triumph in Austria, his third of the 2025 season, and the seventh of his career. It was also McLaren’s first victory at the circuit since David Coulthard’s win in 2001. The result capped off a strong weekend for the British team, as their two drivers delivered a thrilling battle throughout the race — a welcome redemption after their controversial collision in Canada two weeks earlier.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completed the podium in third, ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton, who recorded his best result of the year in fourth. Mercedes’ George Russell took fifth, while Liam Lawson finished a career-best sixth for RB on a forgettable day for the senior Red Bull team.
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen was eliminated on the opening lap after a dramatic incident involving Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. The 17-year-old Italian lost control at Turn Three and collided with Verstappen’s Red Bull, ending the Dutchman’s run of 31 consecutive points finishes and dealing a major blow to his title defense.
“I got hit,” Verstappen said over the radio, while Antonelli immediately apologised to his team, admitting, “I locked the rear. Sorry about that.”
The race had already seen chaos before lights out, as Carlos Sainz’s Williams failed to leave the grid and later caught fire in the pit lane, prompting a 10-minute delay. When the race did begin, Norris made a clean getaway, while Piastri immediately overtook Leclerc into Turn One. The safety car was deployed after the Turn Three incident, and once racing resumed, the McLarens quickly pulled away from the field.
In the searing 32°C air and 55°C track temperatures, Norris and Piastri engaged in a captivating wheel-to-wheel duel for much of the race. Piastri launched several attacks, including a bold move at Turn Four on lap 20, but Norris held firm. After pitting for hard tyres, the Briton retained control of the race, emerging ahead of his teammate and gradually rebuilding his advantage.
By lap 30, McLaren’s control was complete as Norris led Piastri by over three seconds. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s weekend worsened when Yuki Tsunoda collided with Franco Colapinto, sending both drivers to the pits and earning the Japanese driver a 10-second penalty.
As the final pit stops played out, Norris reestablished his lead and comfortably managed his pace to the chequered flag, sealing a near-flawless performance in the Styrian mountains. The Red Bull Ring, which recently secured a contract extension until 2041, witnessed one of the team’s strongest performances in recent years.
“It was a tough race — pushing the whole way through in hot, tricky conditions,” Norris said. “But the perfect result for us as a team, a 1-2 again. We had a great battle, that’s for sure.”
Piastri echoed the sentiment. “Intense! I hope it was good watching because from inside the car it was hard work. I tried my absolute best,” he said.
Behind the top six, Fernando Alonso claimed seventh for Aston Martin, ahead of Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg in the Saubers — a promising sign for the team set to become Audi’s works outfit. Esteban Ocon rounded out the top ten for Haas.
With the title race tightening and McLaren hitting top form, the championship momentum now shifts to Silverstone, where Norris will look to ride his home crowd energy and further close the gap on his teammate.
