George Russell reignited his Formula One championship hopes with a commanding victory at the Austrian Grand Prix, narrowing the gap to championship leader Kimi Antonelli. The Mercedes driver claimed his first win since the season-opening Australian Grand Prix after a controversial pole position and a well-managed race.
In front of a partisan crowd at the Red Bull Ring, Russell held off home favourite Max Verstappen and his own Mercedes teammate Antonelli, who finished fast but could not catch the Briton. The win comes 112 days after his triumph in Melbourne, following a frustrating run that included a promising second-place finish in Barcelona a fortnight ago.
The result sees Russell leapfrog fellow Briton Lewis Hamilton into second place in the Drivers' Championship, reducing Antonelli's lead at the top. The championship battle now intensifies ahead of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone next weekend, where Russell will have home support.
