RUSSELL WINS IN AUSTRIA AFTER CHAOTIC FINAL LAP COLLISION

The Formula One circus was in the Styrian Hills as we returned to the Red Bull Ring a race that has been on the calendar for what is now ten years. This race to begin with really looked like another routine win for Red Bull and Max Verstappen but Lando Norris certainly was up for a fight which in the end went a little too far... But George Russell was there to pick up the pieces to take his second win in F1 his first coming two years ago in Brazil.

As always Max Verstappen (Red Bull) got away well and lead into turn one as Lando Norris (McLaren) stays second with George Russell (Mercedes) in third. Further down Oscar Piastri (McLaren) is fighting hard for positions after being dropped down after a deleted lap in qualifying. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) is forced to pit after front wing damage after contact with Piastri on the first corner. Logan Sargeant (Williams) also pitted at the end of the first lap.

After the first round of pit stops on around Lap 30 Verstappen still leads ahead of Norris in second, Russell is running third ahead of Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) who completes the top five.

The drama didn't start until Lap 52 when Verstappen and Norris both pit but Verstappen is on used tyres plus a slower stop with Norris on fresher unused tyres and Max is struggling for grip. The fight for the win is on…

With 57 laps gone Lando is closing in and Verstappen is complaining about a lack of grip in his Red Bull. Two laps later Lando goes for a diving move into turn three but locks up and Verstappen keeps the lead…

The fighting didn't stop there and on lap 63 Norris dives into turn three and Verstappen goes wide but keeps the place… Norris believes he was ahead at the apex and should be given the place.

The fighting and the complaining over the radio all came to a head when on lap 64...

THERES CONTACT BETWEEN NORRIS AND VERSTAPPEN AND VERSTAPPEN HAS A REAR WHEEL HANGING AND NORRIS WILL TAKE THE LEAD BUT HE HAS A PUNCTURE AND A PENALTY! RUSSELL WILL TAKE THE LEAD OF THIS RACE!

Both cars pit and Max is down to fifth. Russell leads Piastri in second and Sainz in third. Piastri only two seconds behind the Mercedes...

McLaren decide to retire Norris during the stop, which stops his run of finishing in the points in every race. On Lap 68 Verstappen is given a ten second penalty for the collision with Norris.

Russell becomes the fifth different winner this year along with Verstappen, Sainz, Leclerc and Norris to win a race in 2024.

The next race is the British Grand Prix.

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