A few more laps would have allowed Antonelli to catch up with Verstappen as well – the young Italian was just two seconds behind the Red Bull. Russell is second in the standings, Antonelli’s third place means the gap remains wide and Verstappen leaves his team’s home track with a smile on his face and the chance to stay in the sport for a while longer.
Ferrari had a terrible weekend. The FIA has determined that Ferrari’s engine is significantly behind the most powerful V6 in the field – Red Bull’s new in-house engine – so two engine upgrades are allowed this season. Ferrari unveiled the first of these in Austria, along with new Shell synthetic fuel, which many believe will be the missing piece that will bring the chassis and aero upgrades from Barcelona to the front of the pack.
This did not happen. During Friday’s practice, Hamilton was unable to finish better than fifth after various combinations from Mercedes, Verstappen and McLaren. On Saturday, Leclerc managed to beat him in qualifying, second on the grid and Hamilton third. Antonelli finished fourth, stopping his last run after Verstappen crashed and brought out the yellow flag at Turn 9.
Verstappen walks past a legion of supporters.
LightRocket via Luca Martini/SOPA Images/Getty Images
Verstappen walks past a legion of supporters.
LightRocket via Luca Martini/SOPA Images/Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton tried to hold off Verstappen but failed.
Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton tried to hold off Verstappen but failed.
Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Verstappen walks past a legion of supporters.
LightRocket via Luca Martini/SOPA Images/Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton tried to hold off Verstappen but failed.
Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Ferraris made a good start to the race, although their rocket-like advantage in the early races is long gone. But Barcelona’s superior tire wear disappeared here and both red cars soon began to lose time. Hamilton finished fifth and Leclerc a further distant eighth. McLaren finished fourth (Oscar Piastri) and seventh (Lando Norris), while Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull finished sixth, with slightly lower average times. Red Bull’s other F1 team, Racing Bulls, got the best of the rest, claiming the final two points places with Liam Lawson in ninth and Arvid Lindblad in 10th.
