Contentious track limits rulings mix results post-race
For the second time in his career, Max Verstappen has won five straight Formula 1 races, with the Red Bull driver claiming the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring yesterday, as 12 post-race penalties for track limit infractions dominate the event’s storylines.
The issue of track limits came to life in qualifying, when multiple drivers lost lap times, while in the race over 1200 possible rule breaches saw a slew of penalties issued hours after the chequered flag had dropped.
Ultimately, teams were left frustrated by the slow reporting of track limit strikes, which meant that the drivers were not necessarily issued a black-and-white warning flag and appeals are likely to follow.
The seventh win of the season for Verstappen sees his points advantage extend to 81, a margin of more than three race victories.
“It’s been a pretty incredible weekend; it couldn’t have been any better to be honest,” said Verstappen.
“We did everything well as a team, from the strategy through to the pit stops.
“Heading into the race we all had question marks around the tyres but we were all happy with how they performed compared to our competitors.”
In Saturday’s 100km-long F1 Sprint, Verstappen was swamped off the start, with the damp track creating pandemonium in the opening corners, as the reigning world champion regained the lead from his teammate Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg (Haas).
With the track drying, the tricky conditions produced some of the best competition seen this season, with half of the field pitting mid-race for slick tyres.
Verstappen ultimately claimed the win by 21sec over Perez, then Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), the Aston Martins of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso in a close formation, then Hulkenberg, who was the leading driver to pit.
From the start of the main race, Verstappen jumped into the lead, heading the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Sainz.
The virtual safety car was called after Hulkenberg retired on circuit on lap 13 of 71, which saw the field head to the pits for service, with a tardy double stack at Ferrari seeing Sainz lose three positions.
Verstappen stopped again on lap 25 for hard tyres, and had to fight his way back past Sainz, and then Leclerc for the lead on lap 35, while Nyck de Vries (AlphaTauri) earned himself a penalty for pushing Kevin Magnussen (Haas) off track.
From 15th at the start, Perez battled hard with Sainz for multiple laps, before finally being able to utilize the advantage of DRS to move ahead on lap 62.
At the chequered flag it was Verstappen by nearly 5sec over Leclerc, and Perez, however, behind the podium trio post-race penalties scrambled the results.
On the receiving end of the sanctions were Sainz, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Pierre Gasly (Alpine), Alex Albon (Williams), Esteban Ocon (Alpine), Logan Sargeant (Williams), de Vries and Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri).
The biggest losers from the steward’s judgements were Sainz and Hamilton, who dropped points-paying positions, and Ocon, who was slapped with a whopping 30sec punishment.
The shuffle saw Lando Norris (McLaren) claim fourth from Alonso, Sainz, George Russell (Mercedes), Hamilton, Stroll and Gasly.
The Formula 1 season continues next weekend with the British Grand Prix from Silverstone.
2023 Austrian Grand Prix results:
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
- Sergio Perez, Red Bull
- Lando Norris, McLaren
- Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
- Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
- George Russell, Mercedes
- Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
- Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
- Pierre Gasly, Alpine
- Alex Albon, Williams
- Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo
- Logan Sargeant, Williams
- Esteban Ocon, Alpine
- Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo
- Oscar Piastri, McLaren
- Nyck de Vries, AlphaTauri
- Kevin Magnussen, Haas
- Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri
- DNF. Nico Hulkenberg, Haas
2023 Formula 1 championship standings:
- Max Verstappen – 229
- Sergio Perez – 148
- Fernando Alonso – 129
- Lewis Hamilton – 108
- Carlos Sainz – 86
- Charles Leclerc – 72
- George Russell – 70
- Lance Stroll – 43
- Esteban Ocon – 31
- Lando Norris – 22
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Keyword: Verstappen claims Austrian GP