New Delhi, 30 June (H.S.): In a thrilling Austrian Grand Prix on June 29, Lando Norris claimed victory, overcoming a fierce challenge from his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. The duo battled intensely for the lead, with Piastri momentarily ahead before Norris regained control.

Tension escalated when Piastri made a risky dive that nearly resulted in a collision. Pit stops caused Piastri to lose ground, and while he fought back against Norris, he couldn’t stage another overtaking attempt. Norris, reflecting on their performance, called it a “beautiful one-two” finish, expressing satisfaction with the competitive yet enjoyable rivalry. Heading to the British Grand Prix on July 6, the McLaren teammates focus heavily on the championship race, especially after defending champion Max Verstappen was taken out early in the race by Kimi Antonelli. The standings have Piastri leading Norris by 15 points, with Verstappen trailing significantly in third. Following the race, Piastri acknowledged the near-collision with Norris and expressed regret for not capitalizing more during his brief lead. He conceded he might have pushed too hard at times, highlighting the relentless nature of racing.

Charles Leclerc secured third place for Ferrari, while Lewis Hamilton finished fourth. Mercedes’ George Russell came in fifth, followed by Liam Lawson in sixth for Racing Bulls in his best performance yet. Fernando Alonso secured seventh place after fending off Gabriel Bortoleto from Sauber, who celebrated his first points in F1, leaving a few competitors, including Franco Colapinto and former Alpine driver Jack Doohan, still scoreless in 2025. Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Ocon completed the top ten, finishing ninth and tenth respectively.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar