In Austria, the papaya orange of McLaren replaced Max Verstappen’s usual dominance at the Red Bull Ring. The Woking-based team secured another one-two finish, with the MCL39 proving perfectly suited to the Austrian track. Thanks to a new suspension, Lando Norris regained confidence in both himself and the car, reigniting his title hopes. Ferrari’s upgrades were also effective, helping the Scuderia temporarily overtake Mercedes in the Constructors’ standings—while Mercedes lost its way with aggressive setup experiments.
McLaren’s Two-Year Climb
The reigning world champions responded impressively after missing the podium in Canada, proving that Montreal was only a brief misstep. Those who believed the technical directive on flexible wings introduced in Barcelona would hinder the MCL39’s competitiveness were proven wrong in Austria. The Red Bull Ring’s mix of fast and slow corners highlighted the McLaren’s strengths, as noted by Toto Wolff. Warmer race-day temperatures—15°C hotter than Friday simulations—further enhanced McLaren’s tire management. While McLaren might not enjoy this advantage at every remaining race, it’s clear rivals will need to outperform them to claim any future wins.
The team’s success came on the same track where their game-changing upgrades debuted in 2023. Two years later, McLaren sits at the top, with no signs of slowing down. The team introduced fresh updates in Styria—new front wing elements, suspension arms, and brake ducts—forming part of a larger upgrade package planned for future races. Woking’s technical department continues to refine the already potent MCL39, avoiding correlation issues and maintaining driver-friendly handling. With 13 races remaining and Norris now 61 points ahead of Verstappen, Austria could mark a turning point in both championship battles.
Norris’ Weekend
Norris and Piastri kept fans entertained in an otherwise one-sided race. Early on, Piastri pressured Norris using DRS, launching two attacks. Norris, however, defended smartly by managing hybrid deployment and recharging strategically. “When you’re in that situation, you have to manage the battery and push the tires just enough to avoid being overtaken with DRS,” explained Andrea Stella.
Oscar Piastri opted for a delayed first pit stop to gain a tire advantage in the second stint. Norris, however, managed his hard compound tires well, limiting his teammate’s comeback. “Maybe Lando had a tenth in hand and made Oscar’s strategy look worse,” said Stella. A damaged front wing left Norris vulnerable late in the race, but Piastri couldn’t capitalize.
This win marked a personal turning point for Norris. The revised front suspension—used only by him—appears to have given him the front-end feel he needs when braking and cornering in his signature U-shaped style. The psychological shift was also clear, with Norris appearing calm and focused all weekend after his DNF in Canada. This time, he had nothing to blame himself for.
Ferrari Reclaims Second Place
Ferrari celebrated another podium, finishing 20 seconds behind the dominant McLarens. In Austria, the Scuderia was the second-best team and reclaimed second in the Constructors’ standings. A strong recovery from Friday’s setup issues and a solid execution throughout the weekend paid off. Charles Leclerc’s third-place finish stemmed from a front-row start, reflecting Ferrari’s continued focus on qualifying.
The team’s aggressive cooling setup, designed for better qualifying pace, required careful thermal management during the race, as evidenced by repeated lift-and-coast instructions. Ferrari was also pleased with their new floor, featuring updates to the diffuser, Venturi channels, and floor edges. “It’s an evolution of our current concept,” said Jerome d’Ambrosio, standing in for the absent Fred Vasseur. The team now awaits further upgrades to close the gap to McLaren and aim for opportunistic wins. Lewis Hamilton, too, is drawing closer, with his performance now more competitive than in Spain or Canada.
Mercedes Falters Again
George Russell’s fifth-place finish, nearly lapped, highlighted Mercedes’ struggles. Brackley knew Austria would be difficult due to its long corners, hot weather, and abrasive surface—conditions that worsen the W16’s tire overheating. “It’s a mix of factors, but that doesn’t explain such a huge gap,” admitted Wolff. Russell crossed the line a full minute behind the leader, compared to the 10-15 second gap they had to Verstappen last year.
Wolff revealed the team’s issues stemmed from failed setup experiments. “We tried some things with aero-mechanical balance after Barcelona and Montreal, and we clearly got it wrong.” A strong Friday from Kimi Antonelli, aided by lower temperatures, masked the setup’s weaknesses. The Italian rookie retired after locking up at Turn 3, and Mercedes is still investigating whether it was a driver error or a brake-by-wire issue.
Points for Sauber, Nightmare for Red Bull
Sauber impressed by scoring points with both cars, a first for rookie Gabriel Bortoleto. The team’s development push continues, with a new floor introduced less than a month after their Barcelona update. Meanwhile, Red Bull endured a disastrous weekend, not just in terms of results but also car balance issues. The RB21 looked unstable and off-pace. A strong recovery at Silverstone is urgently needed, as the championship momentum shifts decisively in McLaren’s favor.
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