Lando Norris Claims Austrian GP Victory as McLaren Tightens Grip on F1 Championship

Posted : 30 June 2025

Lando Norris reignited his Formula One title aspirations with a commanding win at the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday, prevailing in a tense wheel-to-wheel battle with teammate Oscar Piastri. The McLaren driver’s third victory of the season came under intense pressure, as the duo continued their increasingly personal fight for championship supremacy.

Norris, who started from pole, held his ground throughout the 70-lap contest in the sweltering heat of Spielberg. Piastri, who now leads the championship by just 15 points, pushed relentlessly but was unable to get past his teammate despite several close attempts. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rounded out the podium, though he crossed the line a distant 17 seconds behind the race winner.

McLaren Dominance Continues

The British outfit once again demonstrated its superiority in 2025, registering its eighth victory in 11 races and securing a fourth one-two finish of the season. Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton finished fourth, while George Russell, last year’s winner at the same circuit, came home fifth for Mercedes.

Drama at Red Bull’s Home Circuit

The race got off to a dramatic start with a first-lap collision that saw Max Verstappen and rookie Kimi Antonelli both retire. Verstappen, who had started seventh, was hit by Antonelli at Turn Three, marking his first retirement of the season. The incident ended Verstappen's streak of 31 consecutive points finishes and leaves him 61 points adrift in the title race. Antonelli received a three-place grid penalty for the upcoming British Grand Prix.

Norris Holds Off a Fierce Challenge

The internal McLaren duel reached its peak on lap 11 when Piastri briefly took the lead, only for Norris to regain the position swiftly. The rivalry nearly boiled over again, reminiscent of their contact at the Canadian Grand Prix, as Piastri made another bold move at Turn Four, locking up and drawing concern from the McLaren pit wall.

As the race progressed, pit stops shuffled positions temporarily, but Piastri returned to Norris’s rear wing in the final stint. With under 10 laps to go and DRS aiding Piastri, Norris radioed his team asking for help as he tried to maintain the gap with a slightly damaged front wing.

Finishing Strong
Despite the pressure, Norris held firm, crossing the line 2.695 seconds ahead of his teammate. Piastri, while disappointed not to convert his pace into a win, acknowledged the intensity of their battle, admitting he might have overstepped the mark at times.

Notable Performances and Standings Update
New Zealander Liam Lawson secured a career-best sixth-place finish for Racing Bulls, while Fernando Alonso took seventh for Aston Martin, just ahead of Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, who scored his first points in Formula One. Sauber also celebrated a double points finish, with Nico Hülkenberg in ninth. Esteban Ocon claimed the final point for Haas.

Meanwhile, Verstappen’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda was penalized for a collision and finished last, capping a miserable weekend for Red Bull. Williams endured a double retirement, with Carlos Sainz failing to start and Alex Albon retiring early.

Championship Picture

With this win, Norris cuts Piastri’s lead in the drivers’ championship to 15 points. McLaren now leads the constructors’ standings by a commanding 207-point margin over Ferrari, who were without team principal Fred Vasseur due to personal reasons.

Lando Norris Claims Austrian GP Victory as McLaren Tightens Grip on F1 Championship

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