Max Verstappen held off both McLaren drivers to win the sprint race of the Austrian Grand Prix, beating Oscar Piastri to the chequered flag.
Verstappen slightly extended his championship lead after prevailing in an early three-car fight for the lead with both Piastri and his team mate Lando Norris
Norris claimed the final podium position in third, just behind his team mate, with George Russell fourth ahead of Carlos Sainz Jnr.
The original start of the race was aborted, leading to an extra formation lap. When the race eventually began, Verstappen led away from Norris and Piastri who held their positions despite battling over the opening lap, while Carlos Sainz Jnr overtook George Russell for fifth around the outside of turn four.
Norris did not allow Verstappen to escape out of DRS range and began to place the world champion under sustained pressure for the lead. Norris dived up the inside of Verstappen into turn three, but left the door open for him to return the favour into turn four. This allowed Piastri behind to move around his team mate into second place.
Verstappen and Piastri escaped out of DRS range of Norris behind, with the leader eventually breaking clear of Piastri just before half distance. Norris caught back up his team mate, but despite several laps within DRS range of Piastri was unable to challenge him for second or pressure him into a mistake.
The leader grew his advantage to over three seconds and checked off the remaining laps, taking his third sprint race win of the season to keep his perfect record in sprints in 2024 intact. Piastri held onto second, with Norris having to settle for third.
Russell claimed fourth for Mercedes after repassing Sainz, who himself was the highest-placed Ferrari in fifth ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Sergio Perez took the final point in eighth, while Kevin Magnussen and Lance Stroll completed the top 10.
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2024 Austrian Grand Prix
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