Max Verstappen’s Dominance Leaves Rivals Helpless at Austrian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen’s Unstoppable Performance in Austria

Following the Austrian Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc aptly expressed the helplessness felt by Max Verstappen’s rivals in the face of his absolute domination this season.

During the race, Leclerc’s Ferrari held the lead, but Verstappen quickly closed in. These two drivers have a long history together, dating back to their karting days, and have engaged in some intense battles on the Formula 1 circuit in recent years.

Leclerc, who hadn’t won a race since the same event last year, knew he couldn’t defend against Verstappen’s relentless pursuit. He allowed Verstappen to overtake him without a fight, understanding that the Dutch driver had fresher tires and superior speed.

“This battle was different,” Leclerc explained. “I didn’t want to lose any more time than necessary. If he hadn’t passed me at that moment, he would have done it on the next lap, and I would have lost even more time, which wouldn’t have been beneficial for me in the race.”

In essence, Leclerc acknowledged that he wasn’t competing in the same race as Verstappen. The Red Bull driver was in a league of his own, too fast to be held back, and therefore, there was no point in resisting.

Verstappen’s Fifth Consecutive Victory in Austria
Tragedy Strikes with the Loss of Young Driver Van ‘t Hoff at Spa
Leclerc Remains Resilient

Verstappen’s commanding and emphatic win at Red Bull’s home track marked his seventh victory in nine races this year. His teammate, Sergio Perez, claimed the other two wins.

A few races ago, Perez showed promise in challenging Verstappen for the drivers’ championship. However, any hopes of a sustained challenge have since faded, as evidenced by the past few races following his triumph in Azerbaijan.

Austria added another disappointment to Perez’s recent struggles. Multiple track limit violations during qualifying relegated him to 15th on the starting grid. Despite an impressive recovery to finish third, he couldn’t catch up to Leclerc, who had built a substantial lead.

With an 81-point advantage over Perez, Verstappen has firmly established himself as the favorite for the championship title. Even if Red Bull team principal Christian Horner insists that things can change quickly, doubts about the eventual outcome have evaporated.

Nevertheless, Leclerc remains hopeful and motivated for some measure of success this season. Ferrari’s recent performance improvements, courtesy of upgrades in the last few races, have boosted his confidence.

Leclerc’s second-place finish in Austria was precisely what he needed after a challenging period. He expressed his motivation, stating, “Although winning the championship will be difficult, there is still plenty of room for improvement. I see the team’s high motivation and relentless effort to bring upgrades earlier, and that inspires me to push harder on the track. I’m already looking forward to Silverstone and aiming for victory, even though we are 150 points behind.”

McLaren Enjoys a Boost, While Mercedes Suffers

Ferrari wasn’t the only team to leave Austria with a glimmer of hope, despite Red Bull’s dominant performance. McLaren had a successful weekend, showcasing the prowess of Lando Norris in their upgraded car.

Norris, who has had limited opportunities to showcase his talent this year, qualified and finished fourth in Austria. The team remains cautiously optimistic, acknowledging their historically strong performance at the Red Bull Ring. They aim to maintain focus and continue working diligently as more upgrades are on the horizon.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella believes their restructuring efforts are starting to yield results. Although ongoing, the reorganization, which resulted in the departure of technical director James Key, has injected new life into the aerodynamic department. The team’s capacity for generating ideas and their development rate have shown promising improvements.

In Austria, Norris claimed the honor of being the top-placed British driver, surpassing the usual holders of that title, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, both of whom endured a challenging weekend representing Mercedes.

Mercedes introduced upgrades three races ago, with more to come at Silverstone, but their effectiveness remains uncertain. Team principal Toto Wolff described the day as bruising, admitting that they struggled to make the car competitive and find a sweet spot.

Track Limits Become a Farce

The Austrian Grand Prix highlighted a recurring issue in Formula 1—penalties for exceeding track limits. Throughout the weekend, numerous drivers, including Perez and Hamilton, faced penalties for these violations.

Hamilton started the shorter sprint race from 18th due to a deleted lap time in the first qualifying session. In the grand prix itself, nearly half the field received penalties, including Hamilton and Sainz. After the race, it took hours to review more than 1,200 incidents of track limit violations, resulting in changes to the top 10 order.

This situation resulted from a combination of stricter track limit enforcement since the start of 2022, increased resources allocated to monitoring violations, and the track’s design, which makes it prone to such offenses.

Race director Niels Wittich suggested adding gravel behind the kerbs as a deterrent, but this idea was not implemented due to concerns from MotoGP, which also races at the Red Bull Ring. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner urged the sport to address the issue for next year, advocating for flexible solutions to discourage drivers from running wide.

Safety Concerns Come to the Forefront

Another issue that drew attention during the weekend was the tragic death of 18-year-old Dutch driver Dilano van ‘t Hoff in a crash during a junior category race at Spa-Francorchamps.

With F1 racing at Spa later in the month, memories of the fatal accident that claimed the life of Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert during the Belgian Grand Prix in 2019 resurfaced. The drivers collectively agreed to refrain from making impulsive comments about the crash. However, Lance Stroll of Aston Martin called for changes to the track, emphasizing the need for reflection and action.

While opinions varied among drivers, Verstappen expressed reservations about blaming the track, as other factors played a role in the accidents. Nonetheless, the top three finishers agreed that specific lessons should be learned regarding dangerous corners and poor visibility in wet conditions.

Verstappen cited Raidillon at Spa, the corner where Eau Rouge swerves, as a particularly hazardous blind corner. Leclerc and Verstappen both advocated for moving barriers back in high-speed sections to prevent cars from rebounding onto the track and being hit by others.

All drivers agreed that the sport needs to take wet race visibility more seriously, emphasizing the treacherous conditions and the need for improved safety measures.

Verstappen concluded, “There are many aspects that need improvement and attention to ensure a safer and better racing environment.”

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More about dominance

• Austrian Grand Prix: ‘Max Verstappen’s domination leaves rivals helpless’ (BBC Sport)
• Verstappen takes fifth win in row in Austria (Formula 1 official website)
• 18-year-old driver Dilano van ‘t Hoff dies in crash at Spa (RacingNews365)
• McLaren aiming for progress with upgrades (Motorsport Week)
• Track limits controversies in Austrian Grand Prix (Autosport)