From Chaos to Comeback: Lando Norris Wins Austria as Red Bull Crumbles at Home

McLaren Goes Wheel to Wheel as Red Bull Unravels in Spielberg

The 2025 Austrian Grand Prix delivered a rollercoaster of a weekend, and not just because the Red Bull Ring is nestled in the Styrian hills. From jaw-dropping overtakes to shock DNFs and a surprise rookie breakthrough, this year’s Austrian stop was anything but ordinary. For South African F1 fans watching from Jozi to Cape Town, it was pure edge-of-the-seat drama.

Lando and Oscar Go to War.. Again

Just weeks after their high-profile tangle in Canada, McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri found themselves locked in another thrilling duel — this time, minus the heartbreak.

Norris had laid down a marker early on, dominating every session from FP2 through to Q3, and snatched pole with the largest gap seen all season. But when the lights went out on race day, Piastri made it clear he hadn’t flown to Austria to play second fiddle.

He wasted no time getting past Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and immediately chased down his teammate. What followed was one of the most captivating intra-team showdowns in recent memory. The two swapped positions, tested tyre limits, and pushed each other to the brink — all while avoiding a repeat of their Montreal meltdown.

Piastri briefly stole the lead on Lap 11, only for Norris to claw it back. A near-miss lock-up from the Aussie added more drama, but ultimately, Lando kept his cool and the lead — helped in part by pit strategy and an ill-timed shuffle with backmarkers. It wasn’t just a win; it was redemption.

Red Bull’s Styrian Nightmare

For a team racing on home turf and on a circuit bearing their name, Red Bull’s weekend turned into a headline for all the wrong reasons.

Max Verstappen — usually the king of Spielberg — was hit with bad luck in Qualifying, stuck behind yellow flags and ending up seventh on the grid. Still, many believed the Dutchman would work his way back to the front. That never happened.

Rookie Kimi Antonelli misjudged his braking just a few corners into Lap 1 and ploughed straight into Verstappen, ending both their races on the spot. It was Verstappen’s first DNF since the 2024 Australian Grand Prix.

To make matters worse, Yuki Tsunoda fumbled Red Bull’s only remaining hope, spinning Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and earning himself a 10-second penalty and P16 finish. For the home crowd, it was a weekend to forget.

Breakthroughs and Bright Spots

While giants stumbled, some fresh faces took their moment in the spotlight. Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto finally found his rhythm for Kick Sauber, scoring his first-ever Formula 1 points. And who did he have to battle for them? None other than his mentor, Fernando Alonso.

The pair scrapped it out in the final laps for seventh and eighth place, ending in a touching post-race hug. It was a welcome result for Bortoleto, whose season had been mostly quiet until now.

Also impressing was New Zealand’s Liam Lawson. He qualified a career-best sixth and held off the Alonso-Bortoleto train to bag solid points for Racing Bulls — all while showing more race maturity than some of the grid’s veterans.

Spielberg Signs on for the Long Haul

In some off-track news that brought smiles to fans, Austria secured its spot on the F1 calendar until 2041. The Red Bull Ring has long been a favourite with drivers and supporters alike, thanks to its high-speed layout and scenic alpine surroundings.

Even celebrities showed up to soak in the atmosphere. Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp was spotted in the Racing Bulls garage (perhaps a lucky charm for Lawson?), and Aussie actor Eric Bana made the rounds in the paddock.

And in a bit of light-hearted banter, Pierre Gasly — whom Brad Pitt once described as F1’s most Hollywood-ready driver — failed to score points once again. Perhaps it’s time for that movie career after all?

Final Lap

For Jozi-based F1 fans staying up for the race or catching highlights the next day, the Austrian Grand Prix served up everything we love about motorsport: glory, heartbreak, redemption, and a healthy dose of drama.

With Silverstone up next, all eyes will be on whether McLaren can keep the momentum and if Red Bull can shake off what was, by all accounts, their home race horror show.

Source:F1

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