Race Notes - Norris wins McLaren 1-2 in Austria

By Mark Karp

Lando Norris in his McLaren-Mercedes won the Austrian GP over his team mate Oscar Piastri by 2.695 seconds - the two drivers running closely for much of the race.

Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari finished third, 19.820 seconds behind the winner.

The win is Norris’ third win of the season, and seventh of his career. Piastri continues to lead the Drivers’ Championship over Norris, but narrows to 15 points. In the Constructors’ Championship, McLaren extends it’s lead over Ferrari, and nearly double the points, 417 to 210 points.

Ferrari took a 3-4 finish with Lewis Hamilton (29.020s) finishing fourth, followed by George Russell (1m02.396s) in the Mercedes GP was fifth, Liam Lawson (1m07.754s) in the RB-Honda finished sixth, Fernando Alonso (1 lap) in his Aston Martin-Mercedes was seventh, Gabriel Bortoleto in the Sauber-Ferrari was eighth, Nico Hulkenberg in the second Sauber was ninth, and Esteban Ocon in the Haas-Ferrari took the final point in tenth place.

Before the start the weather is hot, with Norris on pole with Leclerc alongside on the front row, Piastri and Hamilton on row 2, Russell and Lawson on row 3, Verstappen and Bortoleto on row 4, and Antonelli and Gasly rounding out the top ten. The hot weather is making all the teams worry how the tyres will last in the conditions.

The top 9 starting on mediums, Gasy, Hadjar, Colapinto, Bearman and Hulkenberg starting on soft tyres.

At the appointed time, the field came around on the formation lap - Carlos Sainz has his car stuck in gear on the grid - and the start is aborted, and the clock is reset to ten minutes before the start.

The field comes back to the grid.

Sainz comes around to the pitlane and his rear brakes are on fire.

The race start is set for 15 minutes after the hour.

The field takes to another fomation lap, lines up on the grid, the lights go off and the race began with Norris gets off the line first, Piastri passes Leclerc. Further back Kimi Antonelli locks up going into the first corner and hits Max Verstappen - both are out.

The safety car is out.

The order is Norris, Piastri, Leclerc, Hamilton, Russell, Gasly, Alex Albon, Bortoletto, Lawson and Alonso in tenth.

Isack Hadjar pits for tyres.

At the end of lap 3 the safety car car is in. Norris leads Piastri.

Russell is pushing hard to look for a way past Hamilton.

Franco Colapinto and Oliver Bearman fighting for 11th.

On lap 6 Piastri is a half second behind his team mate.

Piastri sets fast lap at 1m09.340.

The next lap Norris goes faster at 1m09.313s.

At lap 10 Norris leads Piastri by 0.4 seconds, followed by Leclerc (4.3s), Hamilton (8.1s), Russell (10.8s), Albon (12.5s), and Pierre Gasly (13.4s) in seventh.

On lap 11 Piastri passes Norris for the lead, but at the end if the DRS zone Norris gets the position back.

On lap 13 Boroleto passes Gasly for seventh, Gasly then pits for hard tyres.

The next lap Albon pits for medium tyres.

Piastri is staying within a second of Norris.

On lap 17 Albon retires in the pits.

Yuki Tsunoda and Lance Stroll touch, but continue.

On lap 18 Russell pits from fifth for another set of mediums and rejoins 11th.

On lap 20 Tsunoda and Ocon pit for hard tyres.

On lap 21 Norris pits from the lead for hard tyres and rejoins fourth.

Bortoleto pits for medium tyres and rejoins 13th.

Piastri leads over Leclerc and Hamilton.

On lap 24 Bortoleto passes Bearman for 12th.

On lap 25 Piastri pits from the lead for hard tyres. Leclerc and Hamilton lead, yet pit.

On lap 26 Leclerc pits for hard tyres and rejoins sixth.

On lap 27 Hamilton pits for hard tyres and rejoins sixth behind Leclerc.

Leclerc passes Alonso for fourth.

Bortoleto passes Gasly for tenth.

Leclerc passes Lawson, yet to pit, for third.

Hamilton passes Lawson for fourth.

At lap 30 Norris leads Piastri by 6.2 seconds, followed by Leclerc (17.4s), Hamilton (21.0s), Lawson (24.5s), Alonso (28.3s), Russell (33.5s), Bortoleto (36.3s), Hulkenberg (39.1s) and Gasly (42.9s) in tenth.

Colapinto and Tsunoda touch and Colapinto spins.

On lap 32 Lawson finally pits for hard tyres and rejoins 12th.

Alonso pits for hard tyres and rejoins behind Lawson in 12th.

Tsunoda is given a 10-second penalty for contact.

On lap 35 Piastri sets fast lap at 1m09.195s, and trails Norris by 5.6 seconds.

On lap 37 Hadjar passes Colapinto for 13th.

On lap 40 Gasly pits for medium tyres and rejoins 14th.

On lap 41 Norris leads Piastri by 3.1 seconds.

At lap 45 Norris leads Piastri by 3.7 seconds, followed by Leclerc (17.3s), Hamilton (23.4s), Russell (45.1s), Bortoleto (49.4s), Ocon (56.3s), Lawson (1m00.4s), Alonso (1m00,9s) and Hadjar (1m05.4s) in tenth.

Russell pits from fifth for hard tyres and rejoins ninth.

On lap 49 Bearman passes Stroll for 12th.

Leclerc pits for medium tyres and rejoins fourth.

Bortoleto pits for hard tyres and rejoins ninth.

Hamilton tells the team that he thinks he can extend his run on these tyres

On lap 51 Hamilton pits for medium tyres and rejoins fourth.

On lap 52 Norris pits from the lead for medium tyres and rejoins second.

Hamilton set fast lap at 1m09.115s.

On lap 54 Piastri pits from the lead for medium tyres and rejoins 3.3 seconds behind Norris.

On lap 54 Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m08.628s.

Tsunoda and Colapinto are battling again right in front of the leaders, as they are lapping them.

On lap 55 Piastri sets fast lap at 1m08.558s.

Alonso is closing on Lawson in sixth.

Colapinto is given a 5-second penalty.

On lap 57 Piastri sets fast lap at 1m08.157s.

Ocon passes Hadjar for tenth place.

On lap 58 Piastri sets fast lap air 1m07.924s and is 2.1 seconds behind Norris.

On lap 63 Piastri trails Norris by 1.8 seconds.

At lap 65 Norris leads Piastri by 1.9 seconds, followed by Leclerc (20.0s), Hamilton (28.6s), Russell, Lawson, Alonso, Bortoleto, Hulkenberg and Ocon in tenth.

At lap 68. Norris leads Piastri by 1.5 seconds.

On lap 70 Norris gets a bit of a gap from lapping Bortoleto and Alonso.

Norris wins over Piastri, and Leclerc.