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Formula 1 Austrian GP

F1 Austrian GP Live Commentary and Updates – Race

Minute-by-minute updates for the 2023 Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix.

The drivers launch for the start of the Sprint

Max Verstappen starts on pole position, fresh from victory in the Austrian sprint race on Saturday. The Dutch driver dominated the sprint after seeing off Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez in a heated opening-lap battle.

Verstappen leads the F1 drivers’ standings by 70 points from Perez going into the Austrian GP, with the Mexican facing a tough task starting the grand prix down in 15th place.

Live Standings

Stopped

Summary

  • Summary
    • Verstappen won the Austrian GP from Leclerc and team-mate Perez
    • Verstappen kept the lead from pole at the start, followed by Leclerc and Sainz
    • The safety car was deployed on lap 1 after a collision involving Tsunoda and Ocon
    • Hulkenberg retired on lap 14 due to a loss of power, with the race neutralised by the virtual safety car. Verstappen opted against pitting, unlike his main rivals. He easily took the lead back after his own stop
    • Many drivers were given penalties for track limits, including Sainz and Hamilton
  • Leaderboard
    1. Verstappen, Red Bull
    2. Leclerc, Ferrari
    3. Perez, Red Bull
    4. Sainz, Ferrari
    5. Norris, McLaren
    6. Alonso, Aston Martin
    7. Hamilton, Mercedes
    8. Russell, Mercedes
    9. Gasly, Alpine
    10. Stroll, Aston Martin

Live Text

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Green flag
Good afternoon everyone! Who is ready for the Austrian headline act? The Austrian GP starts in a little under 45 minutes.
The super Saturday sprint-a-thon saw some tasty action between Verstappen and Perez on the opening lap, but for that to happen again today something major needs to unfold. Verstappen starts on pole while Perez starts 15th.
The drivers have made their way to the grid so the anticipation and tension is bubbling up nicely at the Red Bull Ring. Mind you, not quite as ferocious as what is currently going on at Lord's in the Ashes.
While Verstappen had words with Perez after the sprint race, he wasn't the only one the Dutchman had a tete-a-tete with. It went under the radar, but Verstappen vs Hamilton took its latest twist in sprint quali. Here's what went down: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/why-verstappen-hamilton-werent-investigated-over-revenge-foul-f1-clash/10490280/
Nobody has even seen what first place looks like since midway through the Miami GP in May - Verstappen has led every racing lap in that period. Can anyone stop him this afternoon? It is a tall order, but don't rule out the Ferraris: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/why-ferrari-has-glimmers-of-hope-to-be-racing-red-bull-in-the-austrian-gp/10490395/
A handshake on the grid between Horner and Vasseur. Let's have a good, clean fight gentleman.
A small bit of housekeeping: Magnussen and de Vries will start the race from the pitlane after breaking parc ferme rules to make car changes. But given both were due to start from the back row of the grid, it doesn't change a great deal.
A minute's silence is held on the grid to pay tribute to Dilano van 't Hoff who sadly lost his life in a FRECA crash at Spa yesterday.

 

The Styrian anthem and Austrian national anthem follows, played by a full orchestra, choir and a pair of leading singers. Full factory.
Photo
Why are there so many Blackpool FC fans in the grandstands?
Dutch fans fill the grandstand with orange

Dutch fans fill the grandstand with orange

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

Sun
The weather geeks predict a 30% risk of rain for the race.
Tyres: Alonso (P7), Bottas (P14) and Magnussen (pitlane) starting on hards, the rest are starting on mediums.
Are you sitting comfortably? Let's begin.
The drivers all get away for the formation lap without a fuss.
Verstappen heads the car snake to the grid, with Magnussen and de Vries ready to blast off from the pitlane. Here we go...
As we return to the grid, Hulkenberg, in P8, is the only driver on used medium tyres. The rest have fitted fresh mediums.
Stroll makes a bold move up the inside of the front runners into the first corner but fails and loses ground, dropping to P8.
Green flag
Verstappen makes the perfect getaway to retain the lead ahead of Leclerc and Sainz, while Hamilton is up to fourth ahead of Norris.
Safety car
At Turn 4, Tsunoda takes a trip across the gravel. He reports having damage and pits. 

The safety car has been deployed.
Tsunoda has a new front wing fitted and rejoins the track as Magnussen pits with an ERS problem. New tyres are fitted and he goes again.
The safety car has been instructed to lead the field through the pitlane as debris is being cleared from the chaos of Turn 1.
Crash
The debris appears to have come from Tsunoda's AlphaTauri, with replays showing he bounced across the Turn 1 kerb and into the side of Ocon's Alpine.
Verstappen will look to defend from the two Ferraris once again, but this time he can control the restart once the safety car peels away. Mercedes will be delighted Hamilton has cleared Norris early in its bid to pressure the Ferraris.
Green flag
Off we go again, Verstappen nails the restart before the final two corners and he's away. No other early movers from the frontrunners.
Verstappen is already out of DRS range from Leclerc at the end of the first proper racing lap.
The FIA stewards has decided that no investigation is needed into the Turn 1 melee. That is likely because Tsunoda, who instigated things, came off worst.
DRS is now enabled for the first time in the race. Not that Leclerc can do much with it as he's 1.9s off Verstappen.
Perez progresses one position past Ocon and into P12. Next up for the Red Bull driver is Russell in the Mercedes. The pair are already 10 seconds off race leader Verstappen.
Quote
"Track limits again, Hamilton! That's his third time," Norris states over team radio. Nothing has been flagged by race control, yet.
Do we have an all-Ferrari fight on our hands? Sainz is sticking to the rear wing of Leclerc as they look to push clear of Hamilton who has dropped to 2.1s off the second Ferrari.
As often happens at the Red Bull Ring where 35% of the lap is covered by DRS, a train has formed with Hulkenberg the current cork in the bottle.
Perez has stepped up his assault on Russell's Mercedes and is weaving all over the gearbox of his rival.
Sainz is signalling his intention to the Ferrari pitwall to be unleashed into second place to go after Verstappen. Nothing doing just yet.
At the rear of the order, Zhou has pitted for hard tyres. On lap 10 of 71, getting to the end of the race on this set will be extremely difficult.
Perez lunges on Russell at Turn 3 for P11 and makes the move stick. It looks like the pair touched. Last year, Russell got a penalty for something incredibly similar. What will race control make of this one?
Verstappen is doing Verstappen things, opening up his lead to 3.7s at the end of lap 11.
Hamilton is now being pinged for track limits and has been shown the black and white flag. Once more and he is in trouble.

By: Autosport Staff

Published: