Norris holds off Piastri as McLaren dominate in Austria
SPIELBERG, Austria: Lando Norris won the Austrian Grand Prix from Oscar Piastri for a dominant McLaren 1-2 at the Red Bull Ring on Sunday.
The Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton took third and fourth as Norris closed the gap on Piastri in the drivers' championship to 15 points.
This was in-form McLaren's first success at the Spielberg track since David Coulthard way back in 2001.
Norris set off from pole and despite being constantly pressed by his teammate held on to notch up his third win of the season.
The Briton also put behind him his Canadian catastrophe last time out when he collided with Piastri's car in the closing stages, failing to finish in Montreal.
"It was a tough race, pushing all the way through," said Norris.
He added: "Pretty hot, tiring, but perfect result, a 1-2.
"We had a great battle (with Piastri), that's for sure, a lot of fun, and a lot of stress."
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull crashed in the early stages after a collision with Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes when the young Italian rookie's tyres locked up.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Norris showed his character after Canada, says Stella
SPIELBERG, Austria: McLaren team principal Andrea Stella praised Lando Norris's character as the Briton bounced back from a collision and race retirement in Canada to lead home a McLaren one-two at the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday. The Italian said Norris still needed "to polish a few things" to become the finished article, however, in a Formula One season that is turning into a two-horse drivers' title chase with team mate Oscar Piastri. Norris had to fend off the Australian to set up Sunday's victory two weeks after his clash with his team mate forced him out in Montreal. "The outcome (in Canada) was unfortunate because Lando could not finish the race. That was simply a misjudgement. The way Lando handled that, I think showed the character," said Stella. "The speed is there – Lando pole position in Monaco... he was the faster car in Canada, pole position in Austria. "We just have to polish a few things in executions and results which is what Lando demonstrated today. So, very proud of Lando, very proud of how everyone handled the situation in Canada and the fact we end up united and stronger." The runaway constructors' championship leaders avoided another on-track accident, with Piastri delivering a mea culpa over team radio after the chequered flag following a near collision. "There was only one situation where the two cars ended up a little too close and that was in turn four when Oscar locked up and he ended up very close to Lando," said Stella. "We gave Oscar this feedback and I want to acknowledge that I am proud of Oscar. As soon as he crossed the finish line he went on the radio and he said sorry for the situation in turn four. "I am so refreshed by how the team reviewed the situation in Canada. We have come out stronger and even more united." Norris's win cut the gap to Piastri at the top of the drivers' standings to 15 points ahead of a home British race next weekend. Norris, seven times a race winner, has yet to take back-to-back wins in the same F1 season but Stella expects him to rectify that. "In terms of Lando being able to do so, yes, of course," he said. "There is absolutely no reason why not – the talent, the quality, the race craft and even the trajectory Lando is in.
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Guardiola says he ‘understands' Klopp's Club World Cup criticism, but still wants Man City to win it
ORLANDO, June 30 — Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola said Sunday he can see Jurgen Klopp's point after the former Liverpool coach labelled the Club World Cup 'the worst idea ever implemented in football'. However the Catalan also said he wants his team to win Fifa's heavily criticised newly expanded competition this summer in the United States, noting many of the complaints have come from teams which did not reach the tournament. Klopp, currently Red Bull's 'head of global soccer', told German newspaper Welt am Sonntag the crowded calendar meant there was no time for players to recover mentally or physically and he had serious concern over possible injuries. 'Jurgen — we fought together many, many times, I know where the idea comes from, we fought a lot in England, when we went to Uefa meetings, especially on the Premier League, (about) the calendar, to try to (increase the) quality,' Guardiola told reporters. 'So the players rest, and the managers rest, (then) you have more quality, so it didn't surprise me, I understand him, I respect him. 'I have an incredible relationship with Jurgen, when we were rivals... I understand his argument, because his argument I would defend as well.' Guardiola's side are in the last 16 of the competition and face Saudi Arabian team Al-Hilal on Monday in Orlando. The coach said despite the criticism the tournament has received, he is 'proud' to be competing to win it. 'At the same time we're in a job, we follow Fifa, Uefa, Premier League, Serie A... the managers are not going to organise the competitions, everyone has their own role, they organise the competitions,' continued Guardiola. 'I have said many times, I am so proud to be here, because in the end many, many teams complain about the competitions, because they are not here, otherwise they would love maybe to be there. 'Their media will be here, their supporters will be here, there will be their income in terms of money to be here, and they will be happy to be there.' Man City have won six of the last eight Premier League titles with Liverpool claiming the other two, including last season. England coach Thomas Tuchel said Arne Slot's Reds and Arsenal have an advantage on City for the upcoming campaign because they are resting during the summer. 'I try to not think about it, otherwise I will be so anxious,' added Guardiola. 'So I try to be relaxed, to enjoy the days here, the good vibes that we have, the competition, to try to win it.' — AFP
Malay Mail
3 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Norris fends off Piastri as McLaren seal sizzling 1-2 at Austrian GP
SPIELBERG BEI KNITTELFELD (Austria), June 30 — Lando Norris resisted vigorous attacks from team-mate and championship leader Oscar Piastri to claim a masterful McLaren 1-2 in Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix. In torrid heat at the Red Bull Ring, the 25-year-old Briton came home 2.695 seconds clear of the 24-year-old Australian to trim his lead in the title race by 15 points It was Norris's first win in Austria, his third win this year and the seventh of his career. It was McLaren's first win in Austria since David Coulthard triumphed in 2001. The McLaren pair battled throughout the race to provide thrilling racing for the packed crowd and put behind them their collision in Canada two weeks earlier. Charles Leclerc was third ahead of his Ferrari team-mate seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, their best result of the year, with George Russell finishing fifth for Mercedes. 'It was a tough race,' said Norris. 'Pushing the whole way through... tricky, hot, tiring, but the perfect result for us as a team, a 1-2 again. We had a great battle, that's for sure.' For Piastri, it was equally demanding. 'Intense!' he said. 'Hard work' 'I hope it was good watching because from inside the car it was hard work. Yeah, I tried my absolute best.' Liam Lawson came in a career-best sixth for RB on a desultory day for the senior Red Bull team after four-time champion Max Verstappen retired on the opening lap after being hit by Mercedes' teenage rookie Kimi Antonelli. He is now 61 points behind Piastri. Two-time champion Fernando Alonso was seventh ahead of Gabriel Bortoleto and his Sauber team-mate Nico Hulkenberg, the future Audi outfit showing their huge potential, with Esteban Ocon finishing 10th for Haas. After a frantic prelude, during which Carlos Sainz's Williams failed to leave the grid and then caught fire in the pit lane, the race was delayed for 10 minutes – before delivering immediate drama at the second attempt. Norris made a clean start while, behind him, Piastri passed Leclerc on the outside of Turn One before Antonelli locked up and lost control at Turn Three and hit Verstappen's Red Bull. A safety car was deployed as both drivers retired on lap one ending, for the defending champion a run of 31 races in the points. 'I got hit,' said the Dutchman on team radio. The teenage rookie apologised. 'I locked the rear. Sorry about that,' he told Mercedes. The race resumed after a two-minute slowdown and Norris was forced immediately to defend as Piastri, looking sharp, attacked as also did Russell on Hamilton for fourth. Both were thwarted by defensive driving. By lap 12, the McLaren duo were four seconds clear and delivering a show of their own. Unhampered by any embarrassing hangovers from their collision in Montreal, they raced side by side and wheel to wheel, but each time the Australian attacked, the Briton hung on. In scorching heat of 32 degrees (air) and 55 (track), it was a perfect advertisement for the historic venue in the Styrian Alps which had secured a 16-year contract extension to 2041 before the race. Norris pitted, taking hards, after surviving another Piastri lunge, at turn four, on lap 20. Piastri then followed suit, emerging fourth until Leclerc pitted. After the leaders out on track also changed tyres Norris led Piastri by 6.5 seconds. Red Bull's misery intensified on lap 30 when Yuki Tsunoda hit Colapinto, sending both to the pits for repairs. The Japanese rejoined 16th and last of the runners with a new front wing before being handed a 10-second penalty. As the field settled Norris led Piastri by 3.2s. Russell began the second round of stops on lap 46, followed by the rest of the leaders, leaving Norris to complete a near-perfect day in the Styrian mountains. — AFP
