SPIELBERG. “George, you can win.” The most unexpected message comes from Toto Wolff with seven laps to go, when all hell breaks loose in front of Russell – comfortably in third place in his Mercedes. It thundered so much that it rained between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, already protagonists of a great duel yesterday in the Sprint race. The world champion was winning again today, with a reassuring margin of around 8 seconds, but a problem at the last pit stop – the left rear tyre that refused to come out – brought the Englishman from McLaren back on his heels.
Also due to Super Max blocking, Norris got even closer and tried a series of attacks in Turn 3. The first one, on lap 55, was enough for him to understand that the world champion would try everything so as not to get passed here, at Red Bull’s house. The problem is that Verstappen has often gone beyond what is legalchanging trajectory several times under braking, dangerous maneuvers in 2021 style (remember the many duels with Lewis Hamilton) that infuriated Norris. Until the inevitable contact, always at the same corner, nine laps later. The impact cost Norris the retirement and a puncture to Verstappen, in addition to a 10-second penalty for Max (he had already been pardoned for an unsafe release at the first stop): the leader of the World Championship finished in fifth position.
The joy of Russell and Sainz
Russell was thus able to celebrate the second victory of his career, after the one in Brazil in 2022. «At the beginning of the season we never thought we would win», commented the Englishman from Mercedes via radio at the finish line. «I saw that there were sparks ahead and I was ready». Behind him came a great Oscar Piastri in the other McLaren, who had overtaken Carlos Sainz shortly before: the Spaniard and Ferrari, waiting for better times, console themselves with this podium which comes after two races (Canada, Spain) of fast.
«It was a lively race up front – comments Carlos -, I tried everything to stay close to George and then in the end Oscar was very fast. But we are happy and proud of this result, 15 points are a good haul». Piastri was involved in a contact with Charles Leclerc at the first corner, which ruined the Monegasque’s race: forced to immediately return to the pits to change the front wing, Charles (11th) was unable to return to the points zone. “I think it was a good day for F1,” Sainz concluded, “with many battles at the top positions.”. Where we hope to see the Red team again on a permanent basis.
