Austrian GP 2024
JUNE 30, 2024
Race Notes - Russell wins Austrian GP
By Mark Karp
George Russell won the Austrian Grand Prix in his Mercedes GP, after Verstappen and Norris came together in the last 10 laps. Russell held on to take the win 1.906 seconds ahead of Oscar Piastri in the McLaren-Mercedes in second place.
Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari finished third, 4.533 seconds behind the winner.
Russell’s win is the second of his career, and he is the fourth winner of the 2024 season.
It was the first Mercedes GP win since Russell’s win in Brazil in 2022.
Lewis Hamilton (23.142s) in the second Mercedes was fourth, followed by Max Verstappen (37.253s) in the Red Bull-Honda in fifth, Nico Hulkenberg (54.088s) in the Haas-Ferrari was sixth, Sergio Perez (54.672s) in the second Red Bull was seventh, Kevin Magnussen (1m00.355s) in the second Haas was eighth, Daniel Ricciardo (1m01.769s) in the RB-Honda was ninth, and Pierre Gasly (1m01.766s) in the Alpine-Renault took the final points in tenth place.
The weather was hot with some strong winds before the start, Verstappen on pole with Norris alongside, Russell and Sainz on row 2, Hamilton and Leclerc on row 3, Piastri and Perez on row 4 and Hulkenberg and Ocon rounding out the top ten.
All drivers expected to do two pitstops, Red Bull have two sets of hard tyres, while most others have mediums available.
At the appointed time the drivers came to the grid, the lights went out and the race began with Verstappen taking the lea over Norris and Russell, Hamilton passes Sainz. Norris and Russell battling. Perez up to sixth.
Leclerc at the start touches with Piastri and pits with front wing damage, and rejoins at the back.
At the end of lap 2 Verstappen leads over Norris, Russell, Hamilton, Sainz, Perez, Piastrri, Hulkenberg, Ocon and Magnussen in tenth.
On lap 3 Hamilton passes Russell, but Russell comes back and retakes the position.
Hamilton gives the place back to Sainz for passing off track at the start, and will have to try to pass the Ferrari again.
On lap 8 Piastri passes Perez for sixth.
At lap 10 Verstappen leads Norris by 3.1 seconds, followed by Russell (6,5s), Sainz (8.8s), Hamilton (9.8s), Piastri (13.0s) in sixth.
On lap 11 Magnussen and Ricciardo pit.
On lap 12 Hulkeberg pits. Magnussen and Hulkenberg battle for 14th place coming back on track.
Verstappen lapping in the 1m10s, and the rest of the top ten lapping in the 1m11s range.
Haas tells Magnussen that they need to manage the tyres.
On lap 16 Albon passes Leclerc for 18th.
On lap 17 Leclerc pits for a second time, switching back to medium and rejoining 20th.
On lap 19 Leclerc passes Sargeant for 19th.
On lap 20 Ocon pits for hard tyres, Bottas pits for hard tyres as well.
Gasly pits for hard tyres and rejoins 16th,
On lap 25 Hamilton , Perez and Tsunoda pit for hard tyres.
On lap 23 Russell pits for medium tyre and Sainz for hard tyres.
The next lap leader Verstappen pits for hard tyres, Norris for hard tyres as well. Piastri yet to stop takes the lead.
Hamilton is given a 5-second penalty for crossing the white line on pit entry.
On lap 24 Russell sets fast lap at 1m09. 561s.
On lap 26 Piastri pits from the lead and rejoins sixth.
Norris sets fast lap at 1m09.434s.
Perez passes Hulkenberg for seventh.
At lap 30 Verstappen leads Norris by 7.0 seconds, followed by Russell (10.4s), Sainz (14.0s), Hamilton (16.5s), Piastri (21.6s), Perez 27.4(s), Hulkenberg (30.0s), Magnussen (34.5s) and Ricciardo (35.9s) in tenth.
Alons is given a 10-second penalty for making contact with Zhou.
Leclerc in 18th is told by Ferrari that they project he will finish in the points.
Perez is handed a 5-second penalty for speeding in the pits.
Gasly is battling with his teammate Ocon for 12th.
On lap 33 Norris sets fast lap at 1m09.400s, and trails Verstappen by 8.0 seconds.
On lap 35 Leclerc pits for a third time for medium tyres and rejoins 18th.
Avon passes Alonso for 11th place, Gasly follows him through for 12th.
Alonso pits, and serves his 10-second penalty before taking hard tyres.
Gasly attempts a pass on Ocon, and gets pushed wide.
On lap 39 Ricciardo pits for hard tyres and rejoins 16th.
Magnussen pits for hard tyres.
Stroll passes Albon for 12th.
Hulkenberg pits for hard tyres.
Gasly and Ocon continue to battle, and Gasly passes for eighth.
At lap 42 Verstappen leads Norris by 7.4 seconds, followed by Russell (16.4s), Sainz (20.4s), Hamilton (23.4s), Piastri (24.7s), Perez (40.0s), Gasly (1m00.3s), Ocon (1m01.1s), and Tsunoda (1m03.8s) in tenth. Stroll 11th, Bottas 12th.
On lap 43 Gasly pits for medium tyres, Bottas for hard tyres.
Ocon and Stroll pit the next lap.
On lap 45 Tsunoda pits for hard tyres and rejoins 15th.
On lap 47 Russell pits from third for hard tyres and rejoins sixth.
On lap 49 Saomz pits from third for medium tyres and rejoins sixth behind Russell. Piastri passes Hamilton for third place.
On lap 48 Russell sets fast lap at 1m09164s.
At lap 50 Verstappen lead Norris by 6.8 seconds, followed by Piastri (25.8s), Hamilton (28.2s), Russell (35.5s), Sainz (40.6s), Perez (47.6s),. Hulkenberg (1m11,2s), Magnusssen and Ricciardo in tenth.
On lap 52 Verstappen pits for medium tyres, Norris pits for mediums as well.
Verstappen has a slow stop and only leads Norris by 1.5 seconds.
Perez pits for medium tyres.
Norris closes to a second behind Verstappen.
On lap 53 Norris sets fast lap at 108.016s.
Hamilton pits from third for medium tyres and rejoins sixth.
Norris is challenging Verstappen for the lead. Norris is complaining the Verstappen is blocking him.
On lap 57 Verstappen complains that his car has no grip.
Norris is warned about track limits.
Norris follows Verstappen by half a second.
Onn lap 59 Norris passes Verstappen but squeezes Verstappen, so he gives the position back.
Norris continues to hound Verstappen. Norris says Verstappen is continuing to block him.
With 10 laps to go, on lap 61 Norris is under investigation for track limits.
On lap 63 Norris goes down the inside of Verstappen, Verstappen goes wide and keeps the position.
On lap 64 Norris attempts to pass, the two touch and Verstappen and Norris both appear to have punctures. Russell takes the lead. Verstappen and Norris both pit. For tyes,
Piastri passes Sainz for second and trails Russell by 2.2 seconds.
Norris retires in the pit.
The virtual safety car is out om lap, and then it is over on lap 66.
Russell leads Piastri, Sainz, Hamilton, Verstappen, Hulkenberg, Perez, Magnussen, Riccardo, and Gasly in tenth.
Verstappen is handed a 10-second penalty for making contact.
On lap 69 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m07.719s
On lap 70 Russell leads Piastri by 2.4 seconds.
On the final lap Russell wins ahead of Piastri and Sainz.