Race Notes - Verstappen wins again

By Mark Karp

Max Verstappen won the Austrian Grand Prix in his Red Bull-Honda, 5.155 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari, and 17.188s ahead of Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull.

The win is Verstappen’s seventh win of the season, fifth in-a-row, and tenth win in a row for Red Bull.

Carlos Sainz (21.377s) in the second Ferrari was fourth, followed by Lando Norris (26.327s) in the McLaren-Mercedes was fifth, Fernando Alonso (30.317s) in the Aston Martin-Mercedes was sixth, Lewis Hamilton (39.196s) in the Mercedes GP was seventh, his team mate George Russell (46.403s) was eighth, Pierre Gasly (57.667s) in the Alpine-Renault was ninth and Lance Stroll (59.043s) in the second Aston Martin took the final point in tenth.

Before the start, there is a 30% chance of rain. Verstappen starting on pole with Leclerc alongside on the front row, Sainz and Norris on row 2, Hamilton and Stroll on row 3, Alonso and Hulkenberg on row 4 and Gasly and Albon rounding out the top 10. All the front runners on mediums, except Alonso on hard tyres.

At the appointed time the field lined up, the lights went off and the race began with Verstappen cuts across the track and taking the lead with Leclerc running second with Sainz, Hamilton, Norris, Alonso and Hulkenberg following. Tsunoda takes to the gravel trap and the safety car is out with debris on the track.

At the end of lap 3 the safety car is in and the race resumes with Verstappen leading Leclerc and Sainz, Hamilton, Norris, Alonso, Hulkenberg, Stroll, Gasly and Albon in tenth.

On lap 4 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m09.691s, and leads by 1.6 seconds.

Perez passes Ocon for 12th.

Sainz running closely behind his team mate Leclerc in second and third. Sainz reports that he is quicker.

Perez challenging Russell in 11th.

On lap 10 Stroll passes Hulkenberg for seventh.

Perez passes Russell for 11th.

Gasly passes Hulkenberg for eighth.

Norris is complaining that Hamilton is going off track.

Hulkenberg pits for hard tyres.

On lap 13 Hamilton is given the black and white flag for track limits. He complains that he is slow.

On lap 14 Hulkenberg pulls smoking to the side of the road at turn 3, the yellow flag is out.

Virtual safety car is out, and all drivers pit except Verstappen and Perez.

Virtual safety car is in, Verstappen leads Leclerc, Perez, Hamilton, Norris, Sainz, Alonso, Tsunoda, Magnussen and Gasly in tenth.

Sainz complains that he lost out after double-stacking on the pitstop.

Hamilton in given a 5-second penalty for track limits.

At lap 19 Tsunoda is given a 5-second penalty for track limits.

Sainz passes Hamilton for fourth.

On lap 20 Sainz makes the same move on Perez for third.

Albon passes Tsunoda for tenth.

On lap 25 Vestappen pits from the lead for hard tyres and rejoins in third.

Leclerc leads the Sainz in second.

On lap 26 Perez pits for hard tyres.

Verstappen passes Sainz for second place.

Verstappen sets fast lap 1m08.929s.

Perez passes Albon for ninth.

On lap 28 Norris passes Hamilton for fourth.

Sainz is given a 5-second penalty for track limits.

At lap 30 Leclerc leads Verstappen by 2.6 seconds, followed by Sainz (7.8s), Norris (14.2s), Hamilton (15.1s), Alonso (19.0s), Gasly (26.6s), Perez (29.1s), Russell (32.1s) and Albon (36.5s) in tenth place.’

Many drivers are getting penalties for track limits.

At lap 34 Verstappen closes right behind Leclerc in the lead.

Albon gets a 5-second penalty for track limits.

On lap 35 Verstappen retakes the lead at turn 3.

Magnussen tries to pass de Vries on the outside and goes off the edge of the corner and runs wide.

Stroll pits for hard tyres and rejoins in 15th.

At lap 40 Verstappen leads Leclerc by 7.2 seconds, followed by Sainz (12.2s), Norris (22.4s), Hamilton (24.2s), Alonso (s25.3), Perez (26.4s), Gasly (39.4s), Russell (41.3s), and Albon (48.3s) In tenth.

Ocon pits. Norris and Russell pit as well.

Perez passes Alonso for fifth.

On lap 43 Hamilton pits from fourth and takes on medium tyres and rejoins eighth.

Russell passes Sargeant for ninth.

On lap 45 Alonso and Gasly pit.

On lap 46 Sainz pits for hard tyres, serves his 5-second penalty and rejoins in fifth behind Norris.

On lap 47 Sainz passes Norris for fourth.

On lap 48 Leclerc pits from second for hard tyres and rejoins in third behind Perez.

On lap 48 Norris sets fast lap at 1m08.739s.

On lap 50 Verstappen pits from the lead for medium tyres and rejoins still in the lead.

At lap 50 Verstappen leads Perez by 5.3 seconds, followed by Leclerc (13.1s), Sainz (20.9s), Norris (22.1s), Alonso (31.4s), Hamilton (34.5s), Russell (44.6s), Stroll (48.6s), and Gasly (52.9s) in tenth.

On lap 51 Perez pits for hard tyres and rejoins fifth.

On lap 51 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m08 150s.

On lap 52 Perez sets fast lap at 1m08.111s.

Tsunoda is given a 10-second penalty for track limits.

On lap 56 Stroll pits for medium tyres and rejoins 11th.

On lap 56 Perez passes Norris for fourth.

Perez chases Sainz in third.

On lap 59 Perez and Sainz battle, Sainz keeps the position.

At lap 60 Verstappen leads Leclerc by 20.4 seconds, followed by Sainz (32.8s), Perez (33.0s), Norris (35.2s), Alonso (43.5s), Hamilton (48.0s), Russell (58.2s), Gasly (1m04.5s), and Albon (1 lap) in tenth.

Perez passes Sainz for third place.

Ocon is given a black and white flag.

On lap 64 Stroll passes Albon for tenth place.

Bottas and Magnussen battle for 16th

Verstappen tells the team that he wants to pit for fresh tyres to try for fast lap. The team says it is not worth the risk.

On lap 70 Verstappen pits for soft tyres, rejoining in the lead.

Verstappen takes the fastest lap on the final lap at 1m07.012s.

Verstappen takes the flag over Leclerc and Perez to win the Austrian Grand Prix.