MAX VERSTAPPEN produced another emphatic performance to complete a home win for Red Bull at the Austrian Grand Prix.
The double world champion was made to work for his seventh victory from nine rounds so far after he passed Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz on track.
But after manoeuvring himself ahead of both Ferrari drivers, Verstappen raced off into the distance to the delight of his 70,000-strong travelling army from Netherlands.
Leclerc crossed the line five seconds behind Verstappen in Spielberg, with Sergio Perez recovering from his lowly grid slot of 15th to finish third. The Mexican fought his way past Sainz with 10 laps remaining following a nip-and-tuck duel.
Sainz took fourth after he served a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits.
The Spaniard was among six of the 20-strong field to be sanctioned by race director Niels Wittich, with Lewis Hamilton also punished.
Hamilton finished an underwhelming seventh, while Lando Norris ended the day in fifth to record his best result of a difficult season for his under-performing McLaren team. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso finished between Norris and Hamilton.
George Russell made up three places from his starting spot of 11th to finish eighth.
Verstappen heads Perez in the standings by 81 points — the equivalent of more than three victories — heading into next weekend’s British Grand Prix.
A day after taking the sprint race spoils, Verstappen was celebrating his fifth consecutive win on his unstoppable march to a hat-trick of world titles.
Verstappen fended off an aggressive Leclerc on the opening lap before he fell to third after the Ferrari drivers stopped for tyres under the Virtual Safety Car.
It ended Verstappen’s run of 249 consecutive laps at the head of the field. However, the Dutchman required just 11 laps before he was back in charge.
After he left the pits on lap 25, Verstappen moved ahead of Sainz a couple of laps later, and then fought his way past Leclerc on lap 35 of 71.
From there, the Dutchman cruised to the flag – even stopping for tyres on the penultimate lap in order to set the fastest lap and take a bonus point.
For Hamilton, the seven-time world champion endured a difficult day in his Mercedes.
Hamilton started fifth and leapfrogged Norris at the start of the race, but soon faced the wrath of the stewards for putting all four wheels of his Mercedes over the white line.
A black-and-white warning flag was served to Hamilton before he was hit with a five-second penalty on lap 17.
Sainz, Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly and Logan Sargeant were also handed five-second penalties, while Yuki Tsunoda saw his initial five-second sanction upgraded to 10 for driving off the track.
Hamilton served his penalty at his second pit stop on lap 43, dropping him to eighth place. He moved up one spot when Gasly stopped for tyres but he failed to make any impression on Aston Martin’s Alonso.
The Briton was on the radio several times asking why other drivers had not been penalised.
Team principal Toto Wolff first came on with a word of encouragement for his superstar driver.
“They are all going to get penalties in front of you, Lewis.” he said.” Keep going.”
But following another frustrated radio message from Hamilton, Wolff was back on to his driver with a firmer message.
“The car is bad, we know,” said Wolff to the Briton: “Please drive it.”
Hamilton finished 39.1 seconds behind Verstappen and is no closer to ending his 18-month losing streak in Formula One.
The one time he used an arm in a tackle he nearly decapitated a lad. He’s safer with his no arm efforts, plus he never gets carded for them.
He’s only ‘incredibly regretful’ because a ref finally had the stones to do something about his persistent cheap shots and dreadful technique during a game. Overrated player regardless, I hope he has the book thrown at him.
@Carmine Lorenzo: ah but he’s sorry
@Carmine Lorenzo: terrible challenge but far from overrated
@Stephen Duffy: He’s not as good a 10 as the likes of ‘Barnesey’ and Stephen Jones make out.
@Carmine Lorenzo: ah lads over rated. He is a work horse with a good brain and a winner. He is loyal to a club that yes we all cant abide but he is an outstanding player. Id love if he joined Munster….as unpopular that is to say but we would win a cup
@Carmine Lorenzo: I was surprised to read it was his first red card of his career. He is involved in high tackles quite regularly. Great player but plays on the edge too much for me.
He has been tackling like this for years and never sanctioned for it. He deserves everything he gets too. He’s a brilliant player but he’s a dirty player too.
@Batster: 100% agree. They need to make a statement for whole of rugby here.
His reaction indicated he realised he’d miss the Leinster game, bugger all remorse really. But the Sarries PR machine running to defend him, will ensure he gets the minimum ban possible….
Want to see him play. Class player
@ollie:
@ollie: You’re some fisherman
@Rosco Bosco: always liked him couldn’t care that he’s English. Fellas class on the ball and decapitates attackers. It’s wrong but he’s unreal
@ollie: aggressive kicking game too
@ollie: aw nobody is biting! I’ll help out. What do you mean Ollie? He’s a fouling no good so-and-so! There, is that better?
Ohhh that’s only the 4th …. maybe 5th time we’ve had to hear that sentiment??
@Dave O’Shaughnessy: actually, check how many bans he’s had
@Dave O’Keeffe:
I know, it’s terrible that he’s gotten away with it for so long.
No he is not sorry at all he is a dirty player and he is only sorry because he was been caught. He has got away with dangerous play for far too long. I hope he gets more than a slap on the hand.
Problem here is the fake arm tackle practiced by a huge percentage of today’s rugby players. They clench their muscles
and throw the arm in in what is essentially a hit rather than an attempt to grab the opponent. Unfortunately for Farrell this dodgy technique allied to the player changing direction and height at the moment of the tackle led to this incredibly dangerous tackle! Still lots of work to be done on tackle technique and defensive coaches expectations!
@CARMODY Neil: very well said.
Incredible knob
His good disciplinary record, are you having a laugh. At last a ref with the guts to stop him.
@Ian James Burgess: what do you mean the guts to stop him
It was a reckless challenge and the worst referee on the planet no matter how incompetent would have to send him off
A long time coming. Talented player but have absolutely no time for him. Filthy player.
So there is low medium and high level and if his is eventually classed as mid, what would high actually be? It would have to be a very frightening outcome it seems. Let’s just wait and see how much they are genuinely stamping out this kind of low life thug.
Big cj stander will shake him off his leg again
I am me….I can do this stuff……I am untouchable…..oh gosh, mebbe not!
Very poor tackling technique. Leads to fouls and dangerous play. Bout time he was sanctioned
Class act marred by cheap shots.
He’ll probably only get a two match ban
He’s a dirt tackler.