Max Verstappen claims Austrian Sprint Grand Prix for Red Bull to extend lead at top of F1 standings

Max Verstappen led from the front as he won Saturday’s Sprint Race at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Verstappen lined up on pole at the Red Bull Ring, ahead of team-mate Sergio Perez and McLaren’s Lando Norris in third.

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton started well down, in 18th on the grid. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was punished for blocking McLaren’s Oscar Piastri during the shootout qualifying, and he was bumped down to ninth from sixth.

Verstappen moved swiftly into a commanding lead, though there was an early and risky tussle with Perez in the first two corners but the pair emerged unscathed.

Hamilton powered through to 13th as he dealt with some of the slower cars.

With 17 laps done, the track had started to dry out in the areas the cars tended to favour, and most drivers went into the pits in order to change onto quicker dry tyres.

That left the finishing front three of Verstappen, Perez in second, and Carlos Sainz of Ferrari in third, on the intermediates as they cruised to their respective podium spots.

Hamilton finished in 10th spot, Leclerc in 12th, and George Russell in eighth.

Speaking after the race, Perez and Verstappen revealed they had discussed the incident between them.

The Mexican said: “I think Max was angry that I went into Turn 2 but I didn’t see him there. Once I realised he was there I opened the door and gave back the place. We just spoke about it. The visibility was very bad out there.”

Verstappen added: “It was a little bit of a hairy moment in Turn 1 and of course when you get forced onto the grass it’s very slippery but we managed to keep the car under control and we just did our race again.”

The Dutchman now has 203 points, with Perez second in the standings on 133.

Sunday sees the full length race, with Verstappen heavy favourite starting from pole position.

Austrian Grand Prix Sprint Race finishing positions

• 1) Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
• 2) Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
• 3) Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
• 4) Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
• 5) Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
• 6) Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
• 8) George Russell (Mercedes)
• 9) Lando Norris (McLaren)
• 10) Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
• 11) Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
• 12) Charles Leclerc (FerrarI)
• 13) Alex Albon (Williams)
• 14) Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
• 15) Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
• 16) Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri)
• 17) Nyck de Vries (AlphaTauri)
• 18) Logan Sargeant (Williams)
• 19) Zhou Guanyu (Alfa Romeo)
• 20) Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo)