Max Verstappen has broken Mercedes’ winning streak, but there was plenty of debate about the overtake which won the Dutchman the race.
At Red Bull’s home race in Austria, Verstappen made what would be the race winning move on Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on the penultimate lap– a move that was subject to a lengthy discussion with the stewards as Leclerc was forced off track when the pair made slight wheel-to-wheel contact.
Ultimately, the officials decided the pass was fair and Verstappen was able to keep his top prize.
The reaction to the pass at the pointy end of the grid was understandably mixed.
“The move was close racing and if you can’t make moves like that I think it is better to stay at home,” Verstappen said of the pass on Leclerc.
“It was an incredible race and I’m so happy to take the Team’s second victory at our home Grand Prix.”
Leclerc believed the pass, which forced him off the track, should have been penalised.
“I was on the outside, like the lap before, the lap before was completely fine, he left the space for a car width on the exit of the corner but he didn’t on the other lap so we touched and I had to go wide, and then obviously I didn’t have any chance to pass back so it’s a shame,” Leclerc said.
Meanwhile, it was another difficult race meeting for CAMS Ambassador Daniel Ricciardo who ended the race in 12th.
“It was a tough weekend, for sure. From Lap 1 today it was tricky and I struggled for grip,” Ricciardo said post-race.
“We improved as the race progressed, managed a decent stint on the softs at the end, but it was probably a bit too late.
We need to figure out why this weekend was so tough. There’s stuff we can improve, but I won’t put it all down to the car. I’ll look at myself and see what I can do better as well.”
After back-to-back race weekends, the teams will next race in anger in a fortnight at the British Grand Prix on 14 July.