A scintillating Austrian GP brought out the best of our Championship Leaders. From Lando and Piastri’s tussle on track, Antonelli misjudges his braking zone and takes out Verstappen, Lawson P6, and Sauber, getting both cars in the points! The race in Spielberg had a lot to offer.

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McLaren Top The Charts

Lando Norris scored a near-perfect weekend, topping every session he participated in. Formula 2 rookie Alexander Dunne got a taste of Formula 1 in FP1, setting a lap just two-tenths away from the top time that session.

Lando topped the sheets in Qualifying, landing him a clear road ahead for the start of the Austrian GP. Lando got away well at the beginning, maintaining his lead. A 21-lap-long attack from his teammate Piastri for the lead of the race was long and intense. It brought out the best that the Leaders had to offer, with no room for error; maintaining the lead was crucial for a strategic advantage.

Lando was holding off his teammate, giving him priority in the pit stops. Piastri employed an overcut strategy and attempted an attack on Lando in the dying stages of the Austrian GP. However, passing backmarkers who were in a battle of their own wasn’t as easy as it seemed.

At the line, the McLarens crossed the line P1 and P2, scoring maximum points for the team and making the WDC Battle a whole lot more interesting.

Our championship leader bags more valuable points 💪#F1 #AustrianGP @OscarPiastri pic.twitter.com/Iz21c6XLrc

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 29, 2025

Ferrari Scores Valuable Points

The team in P2 of the Constructors scored big points on Sunday, with Charles Leclerc scoring P3 and Lewis Hamilton falling short of the podium in P4. However, it was not sunny days for the Scarlet Outfit. Once again, another miscommunication and strategy blunder by the Ferrari team ruled out any opportunity for Lewis to move up the field. With 20 laps to go in the race, Lewis Hamilton was on the Hard compound tires and wanted to run to the end on that set, possibly. Ferrari ignored that call and brought Lewis into the pits anyway.

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Two Sides Of The Coin for Mercedes

Rookie Kimi Antonelli got into trouble early on in the Austrian GP, misjudging the braking point in T3 and running into the back of Max Verstappen and ending both their races prematurely on Lap 1.

George Russell was our race winner last race weekend in Canada; however, this time, the package wasn’t present. He was 60s off the leading pair, finishing P5.

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Sauber Scores Double Points

For the first time in a while, Sauber dragged both their cars into the points, with Gabriel Bortoleto in P8 and Nico Hulkenberg in P9. The upgrade package seems to be working for Sauber.

Sauber has outscored Red Bull over the last 3 races. Sauber has scored 20 points, whereas Red Bull has scored 19.

Williams Faces Issues

Williams has not had the most incredible run of races in the most recent rounds. This round, however, was much worse—a double DNF for the prestigious British outfit. Carlos Sainz was on the back foot all weekend long. A stalled car on the formation lap was the cherry on top. Even though he was able to get the car running, an early retirement led to disappointment.
His teammate had no better luck, facing a DNF as well.

DOUBLE POINTS FINISH 💚👏

What a race! Both drivers bring home points at the #AustrianGP 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/mn6veUtx2G

— Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber (@stakef1team_ks) June 29, 2025

Other Notable Performances

Liam Lawson scores his best result of the season, earning a well-deserved P6 for the VCARB driver, which secures him some much-needed points.

Fernando Alonso crossed the line in P7, making it points scored in 4 consecutive races for the Spaniard. It was a massive comeback after what was considered his career-worst start to the season.

Esteban Ocon landed Haas a single point; a very well-run, under-the-radar race brings home a valuable point.

Austrian GP Results

🏁 RACE CLASSIFICATION 🏁

Lando Norris takes the chequered flag for the third time this season 👏👏👏#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/Ta8ZpRIfZE

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 29, 2025

Standings

DRIVER STANDINGS (after 11/24 rounds)

Norris closes the gap to Piastri to 15 points 👀#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/z1pk0XbjKN

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 29, 2025

TEAM STANDINGS (after 11 rounds)

McLaren's 1-2 sees them extend their lead further 📈#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/UiGGXABgeM

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 29, 2025

Next Race In Silverstone

Its Lewis Hamilton’s first home race in red! He’ll be looking to continue his 11 year long record of finishing in the top 3 in Silverstone.
The WDC gap closes and gets tense.
Mercedes and Verstappen look for redemption.
Williams look for solid ground.

Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

As Formula 1 roars into the Styrian hills, the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix promises another action-packed weekend at the Red Bull Ring. Known for its short, high-speed layout and dramatic elevation changes, this classic Spielberg circuit has delivered thrilling battles in recent years. With championship stakes tightening, this year’s edition is set to be no different. From intense midfield rivalries to the fight at the front, all eyes are on how teams will tackle the high altitude challenge and whether any surprise contenders can shake up the grid ahead of Sunday’s race.

About The Track

(Credit – f1.com)

The Red Bull Ring is a high-altitude, low-downforce circuit that places a premium on power unit output, braking performance, and traction. With only 10 corners and 3 long straights, it’s one of the most throttle-sensitive tracks on the calendar. Key overtaking zones come at Turns 1, 3, and 4, each preceded by a DRS zone and requiring strong stability under heavy braking. Elevation changes, particularly into Turns 1 and 3 (uphill) and Turn 4 (downhill), challenge both brake balance and weight transfer. The flowy middle sector tests aerodynamic efficiency, while the high-speed Turns 9 and 10 demand precise turn-in and rear-end grip. ERS deployment, tire temperatures, and traffic management are crucial on this short but intense lap.

Pirelli’s Specifications

After a brief Canadian interlude, #F1 is back in Europe for four races in the space of six weeks leading up to the summer break. It kicks off this weekend with the #AustrianGP. Read more here 👉 https://t.co/aaaz0d8bqC pic.twitter.com/41gZZb7byM

— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) June 23, 2025

Pirelli has selected the C3, C4 and C5 compounds for this race, as opposed to the C4, C5, and C6 compounds used at Canada.

Stories This Weekend

F1 Movie Release

The long-awaited F1 movie starring Brad Pitt and produced by Lewis Hamilton was finally released on the 27th of June. With mostly positive reviews, it seems to be worth a watch.

Team APXGP 🤝#F1TheMovie is in theatres this week! Book tickets now 🍿#F1 pic.twitter.com/yf4Yo0oU11

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 25, 2025

McLaren Look To Find Stability

After both the McLaren’s collided the last time around in Montreal, Lando Norris enters Austria with a disadvantage, being 20 points behind teammate Oscar Piastri. Lando will look to hit the ground running here, as his teammate will want to cement his WDC lead.

“What happened in Canada wasn’t ideal but we’re still free to race”#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/iYuoO9bzIc

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 26, 2025

Max Verstappen Runs With Simon Rennie

This weekend, Max Verstappen’s adaptability will be put to the test. His race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, will be absent for this race weekend due to personal reasons. Simon Rennie is given the position for this weekend, an opportunity to race engineer the 4-time World Champion.

Antonelli Completes Schooling

Rookie Kimi Antonelli finished his schooling by passing his final exams in the 2 weeks off. This means that he can finally shift his full focus to racing and can also take part in post-race celebrations.

Studying hard and driving fast 💪#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/ZznBQ9PnzR

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 26, 2025

F1 Driver Dinner

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali took the F1 Grid out for dinner ahead of the Austrian GP.

📷 | The drivers go out for dinner ahead of the Austrian GP this weekend.

George Russell thanks Stefano for the dinner, hinting that the CEO picked up the bill. 🧾#F1 pic.twitter.com/V9YnKwH3Du

— Desi Racing Co (@DesiRacingco) June 26, 2025

Weekend Schedule

📅 | Here is the Weekend Schedule for Formula 1's 🇦🇹 Austrian GP, MotoGP's 🇳🇱 Dutch GP and the 🇧🇪 24h of Spa.

Note: All timings mentioned are in 🇮🇳 Indian Standard Time.#F1 #Formula1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/m3lX9EsO4a

— Desi Racing Co (@DesiRacingco) June 23, 2025

Weather Forecast

Friday: 26°C, Wind 9 km/h, 55% chance of rain
Saturday: 29°C, Wind 9 km/h, 5% chance of rain
Sunday: 31°C, Wind 7 km/h, 1% chance of rain.

Temperatures are notably higher than usual for this weekend.

Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

George Russell had a perfect weekend in Canada, scoring the pole position on Saturday and converting it into a win on Sunday. The joy was doubled for Mercedes as Kimi Antonelli scored his first podium, coming home in P3 and helping Mercedes get a double podium in Canada. The same can not be said for championship leaders McLaren, as the day everyone in the team feared arrived, Lando Norris made contact with Oscar Piastri, resulting in a DNF for Norris.

Read The Race Preview Here: Formula 1 Heads To Canada: What To Expect

Mercedes Score Big

George Russell and Kimi Antonelli have had a dream race day in Canada, after Antonelli’s rut over the triple header where he did not score a single point, the 18-year-old rookie qualified P4 and overtook WDC Leader Oscar Piastri to take his first ever F1 Podium.

His teammate also kept his cool, after taking pole on Saturday and starting alongside Max Verstappen, George Russell had a challenge set up for him on Sunday. Early pressure from the Dutchman was applied, but Russell kept his marbles together. There was another late effort by Max, but ultimately, the Brit managed to take his first win in his 2025 campaign. Mercedes scored a very respectable double podium.

Title Rivals Collide

It was a sub-par qualifying for both the McLarens, with Oscar Piastri lining up P3, and Lando Norris lining up a disappointing P7. A new challenge awaited the pair on Sunday, with both Mercedes and Max being competitive enough, moving forward would not be as easy as it seemed.

Into the wall and out of the race! 😱

Lando Norris apologised for this collision with his teammate Oscar Piastri #F1 #CanadianGP pic.twitter.com/4FiNVm1hiI

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 15, 2025

Oscar was overtaken by Antonelli, dropping him to P4, and a recovering Lando Norris lined up P5, putting pressure on his teammate in the final 10 laps, on Lap 67, Lando got close to the rear wheel of his teammate and went for a gap on the inside wall of the Start-Finish straight, this move resulted in a DNF for Lando, losing him some very valuable points, and thankfully no harm was caused to his teammate, who was able to bring the car home in P4.

Verstappen Keeps His Nose Clean

Max Verstappen is just 1 penalty point away from a race ban, and in this race he almost got the final point when he was controversially brake-checked by George Russell under a late race Safety Car, a move that was protested after the race by Red Bull. But thankfully for Max, the FIA were understanding of the situation and decided not to take any action.

Leclerc Debates Ferrari

Charles Leclerc had an underwhelming Qualifying, facing a challenge on Sunday. He, along with Lando, started on the hard compound tires. Notably, mid-race, when Leclerc was asked if he wanted to extend for a One-Stopper or come in for a Two-Stopper, Leclerc opted for the 1-Stop Strategy. A call that was later disregarded by his team, who brought him into the pits anyway for a tire change. It was a puzzling call from Ferrari, trying to secure an already guaranteed P6 position.

Lewis Hamilton, on the other side of the garage, ran a disadvantageous race. After running over a hedgehog early on in the race, damage was done to the floor, which lost him 30 points of downforce, reportedly worth 0.5s a lap; he did the best he could to score decent points.

Other Notable Performances

Fernando Alonso scored points for the second time this season, showing that the upgrades on his Aston Martin are effective. This is his second race in a row where he has scored points, finishing a notable P7 after an impressive Qualifying.

Nico Hulkenberg also utilises the upgrades on his car to propel himself to the top 10, and Sauber off the bottom of the WCC. Alpine are now last in the Constructors Championship, disappointing considering the start they had to the season.

The one-stop strategy rewarded both Esteban Ocon and Carlos Sainz, who finished P9 and P10, scoring a few points for the team, and solidifying their position in the Midfield.

Race Results

Russell. Verstappen. Antonelli 👏

After all that late-race drama, here's your top 🔟 in Canada 👇#F1 #CanadianGP pic.twitter.com/iz9qVuIdBC

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 15, 2025

Standings

Russell and Verstappen make up ground on Piastri and Norris in the drivers' standings 👀📊#F1 #CanadianGP pic.twitter.com/KD8y5JbZUh

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 15, 2025

Mercedes' double podium finish moves them ahead of Ferrari! 🆙

Haas and Aston Martin also make up a place in the standings 👏#F1 #CanadianGP pic.twitter.com/v3rgdYVCd5

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 15, 2025

Next Race In Austria

Formula 1 has a 2-week break until their next outing at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, and the pressure is building on Lando Norris to bring home the results. Mercedes might be becoming a real contender now after their performances in Canada. A clean race by Verstappen, but he is still nearing a race ban due to the penalty points.

These are some of the considerations for the next outing on the 29th of June.

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Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X/, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.