George Russell Wins 2026 Austrian Grand Prix After Fending Off Verstappen

George Russell delivered a flawless performance to win the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday. Converting his pole position into a victory, the Mercedes driver claimed his first win since March as he held off a late charge from Max Verstappen and his own team-mate Kimi Antonelli.

The race started under scorching conditions at the Red Bull Ring, with track temperatures exceeding 60 degrees Celsius. Russell got away cleanly to maintain his lead through Turn 1, setting the tempo for a race defined by intense tyre management, strategic gambles and thrilling on-track battles.

Russell retains his lead!

Here is how the race start unfolded in Austria 😮‍💨#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/7Pnk04JwHW

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 28, 2026

A messy start for Antonelli

While Russell sailed away at the front, it was a chaotic opening few laps for Antonelli. The Italian youngster struggled for grip off the line, running wide multiple times and dropping down to fifth place. This opened the door for Verstappen, who quickly moved up from fifth to third to the delight of the orange-clad Dutch fans.

Antonelli was forced to spend the first stint carving his way back into contention, eventually muscling his way past Charles Leclerc to reclaim fourth.

🤏 Contact between Piastri and Leclerc!

Piastri and Hamilton muscle their way past the Monegasque driver 🤯‼️#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/8YE4VvT8BS

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 28, 2026

Verstappen and Hamilton renew rivalry

The highlight of the opening stint was a fierce, wheel-to-wheel battle between Verstappen and his old rival Lewis Hamilton. Driving for Ferrari, Hamilton defended valiantly but eventually succumbed to the Red Bull’s superior pace.

VERSTAPPEN PASSES HAMILTON! 😱

This is the battle which saw Verstappen overtake Hamilton for P2 👀#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/trCfirKgKx

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 28, 2026

The duo traded places through Turns 6 and 7 in a spectacular display of racecraft. Hamilton forced Verstappen wide into the gravel at one stage, but the Dutchman decisively took the position on lap 22 to set his sights on the leading Mercedes.

Strategy calls and the virtual safety car

Tyre degradation proved critical on the blistering Austrian asphalt. Antonelli’s race was severely compromised when he pitted for fresh hard tyres mere moments before Carlos Sainz stopped on track to trigger a Virtual Safety Car (VSC). This unfortunate timing cost him valuable track position as the rest of the field circulated at reduced speeds.

Meanwhile, Russell executed a calm two-stop strategy. Red Bull attempted an offset by leaving Verstappen out longer on his middle stint to give him fresher tyres for a late assault.

The final charge

Armed with newer C3 rubber, Verstappen began hunting down Russell in the closing 15 laps. The gap reduced from over ten seconds to just under three by the final tour. However, Russell navigated lapped traffic effectively and managed his ageing tyres perfectly to secure the victory.

Antonelli mounted an incredible late recovery drive of his own. Making the most of his pace, he closed to within a second of Verstappen on the final lap but ultimately had to settle for third place just three tenths behind the Red Bull driver.

Midfield battles and retirements

It was a frustrating afternoon for Ferrari. Both Hamilton and Leclerc struggled with high tyre degradation, finishing fifth and eighth respectively. McLaren showed steady pace with Oscar Piastri finishing a solid fourth and Lando Norris taking seventh.

This view 🤩#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/HOukwuQmAt

— Formula 1 (@F1) June 28, 2026

Racing Bulls celebrated a highly successful weekend, securing a double points finish to boost their fight in the Constructors’ Championship. Conversely, Cadillac endured a disastrous day with both Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez retiring early due to overheating brakes.

Final Race Results (Top 10)

Note: Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Perez, Carlos Sainz and Lance Stroll all retired from the Grand Prix.