Lando Norris won the Austrian Grand Prix last Sunday, producing an excellent race in his McLaren Mercedes to hold off teammate Oscar Piastri, despite a number of determined attempts to pass by the Australian.
Charles Leclerc was third in his Ferrari, followed closely by Lewis Hamilton in the other Ferrari.
It was a hot race, where tyre wear management was important.
You cannot just drive a Formula One car flat out; you need to manage your fuel consumption and look after your tyres carefully, otherwise they ‘go off’ and lose grip quite quickly.
Most drivers were on a two-stop strategy but quite a few managed just a single-stop in the difficult conditions.
George Russell was next up in fifth place in his Mercedes while Liam Lawson also drove an exceptionally good race, managing a one-stop strategy to take sixth position.
Fernando Alonso followed Lawson for much of the race, giving his usual best, for seventh spot.
A pair of exemplary drives by the Kick Sauber team saw Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg both in the points, claiming eighth and ninth positions respectively.
The last point scoring position went to Estaban Ocon with his teammate Oliver Bearman and Racing Bull’s Isack Hadjar close behind.
It was not Max Verstappen’s weekend as in practice he got caught out by the yellow flag while on a fast qualifying lap and, in the race he had Kimi Antonelli run into the back of him, putting both drivers out.
Besides the heat it was a hard race which saw four retirements – Albon, Antonelli, Verstappen and Sainz.
Straight after Austria we go across to the brown of Silverstone this weekend.
This year’s heat is turning England’s lovely green grass yellow and even brown for the British Grand Prix where it is also unlikely that it will rain, according to present weather predictions.
Silverstone is always a great event with its wide open nature and high speed corners.
This is, of course, the result of it being a major wartime airfield, it being flat and wide open with good overtaking opportunities at extremely high speeds.
The Union Jacks will be flying high in favour of Bearman, Hamilton, Norris and Russell, all capable of high finishing positions.
It is of course tempting fate that it does rain, but it is needed rather badly and we could see an even more exciting event.
Whatever the case, we should have a great event, full of enthusiasm and excitement which Silverstone usual delivers.
DRIVERS
1 Oscar Piastri 216
2 Lando Norris 201
3 Max Verstappen 155
4 George Russell 146
5 Charles Leclerc 119
6 Lewis Hamilton 91
7 Kimi Antonelli 63
8 Alexander Albon 42
9 Estaban Ocon 23
10 Nico Hulkenberg 22
CONSTRUCTIORS
1 McLaren 417
2 Ferrari 210
3 Mercedes 209
4 Red Bull 162
5 Williams 55
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