• Austrian GP Classification and times

  • World Cup 2021 Verstappen, increasingly leader

The crowded stands of the Red Bull Ring exhaled orange smoke, like a napalm of glory. After his second consecutive triumph at this circuit, thousands of Dutch hailed

Max Verstappen

as the future champion. Without a single setback, with the addition of the first Grand Chelem of his life, the

Mad Max

display

was even more forceful, even more placid, even more revealing than last Sunday. Today, the World Championship leader is already 32 points ahead of

Lewis Hamilton

, who did not even get on the podium, behind

Valtteri Bottas

and

Lando Norris

, voted best driver of the day. Meritorious Sunday also for

Carlos Sainz

, whose fabulous ride found the reward of fifth place.

Fernando Alonso

, with his usual courage, beat

George Russell

to

win

a point.

Verstappen's dominance, with the fast lap signature and the lead for all 71 laps, was unspeakable.

He can party Red Bull in his fiefdom until he is fed up because Mercedes can't find a way to keep up.

Not even that alleged loss of pressure in a tire during the final laps made

Christian Horner wince

.

As in the glory days, at the beginning of the last decade, the Austrian team feels the reference.

And in the remaining 14 races he must endorse it.

From Silverstone onwards, the Spanish will also have to carve out a niche among the best.

Sainz did it this Sunday with an optimal strategy, crowned with an overtaking on

Daniel Ricciardo

on the penultimate lap.

The 10-second penalty for

Sergio Pérez

, allowed the Madrilenian, sixth at the finish line, to climb to fifth place.

Much darker was the work of Alonso, who could at least sneak into the top-10.

His acid criticisms of the work of

Michael Masi

, race director, show his extreme competitiveness.

Even on days like this where there isn't much else to scratch.

Norris, Pérez and the gravel

The hard tires had slowed Sainz from the start, losing position to

Sebastian Vettel

,

Charles Leclerc

,

Antonio Giovinazzi

and Ricciardo in just three corners. Not much more promising was the start for the Asturian, surpassed by the two Alfa Romeos. And that was Alpine's only hope after the abandonment of

Esteban Ocon

, sandwiched by

Mick Schumacher

and Giovinazzi, whose car also needed repairs after the incident.

After the

safety-car

, the fight between the favorites opened a loophole for Mercedes.

The ambition of Pérez, who saw the gap against Norris, caused a severe disorder to Red Bull, who saw his squire, after the excursion through the gravel, relegated to tenth place.

The commissioners, after a few moments of doubts, opened an investigation into what happened.

While waiting for that decision, Hamilton gritted his fangs behind the McLaren.

"It is difficult to follow his trail," admitted the seven-time champion, who was only able to pass his young compatriot on lap 20, when his head deficit was set at nine seconds.

At that precise moment the five-second penalty to Norris was known for his episode against Pérez at the exit of Turn 4.

Hamilton's damage

The service life of the softer tires, initially mounted by the Alpha Tauri and Aston Martin, did not go beyond 15 laps. All, without exception, mounted the hard with which to stretch to the limit their arrival at the finish line. Among the favorites, who had started by the media, the strategy was very similar, as shown by Bottas and Norris when passing through the garage on lap 31. The podium seemed to disappear for McLaren, yes, although even Hamilton surrendered to the evidence: "A great pilot, Lando."

The Mercedes leader could not afford more joys, losing ground to Verstappen and with severe damage to the aerodynamic package. "I don't know if these tires will go all the way," he added over the radio, when

Toto Wolff

had given up all hope. In fact, the Mercedes boss was forced to order a change of positions among his drivers. Hamilton, at a snail's pace, handed over his place to Bottas and Norris.

In the absence of major news, nothing like looking at Pérez or

Yuki Tsunoda

to make the afternoon more bearable.

There was no mercy for them, sanctioned twice with five seconds, no less.

The Mexican twice ejected Leclerc to the gravel, while the Alpha Tauri rookie stepped on the

pit lane line

, with absurd repetition, in his steps through the

pits

.

The double penalty to Pérez breathed an unexpected oxygen to Sainz, who must celebrate his comeback with all the laws.

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Know more

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