Latest news with #Styria
The National
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- The National
Lando Norris back on form, Red Bull struggle and Gabriel Bortoleto's breakthrough: Austrian GP talking points
The Austrian Grand Prix continues to justify its reputation as one of the most thrilling stops on the Formula One calendar. The future of the race is also secure, with the Red Bull Ring confirmed to remain on the schedule until 2041 following a newly announced contract extension. This year, the paddock was buzzing with theories after it was revealed the track had mysteriously grown by eight metres compared to 2024 – a subtle change, but more than enough to spark curiosity. Drama hit before the race even began, with Carlos Sainz forced to retire after the rear brakes of his Williams caught fire on the formation lap. As he jumped out of the smoking car, Fernando Alonso sat roasting on the grid, claiming his seat had reached 200 degrees during the delay. From setbacks to sweltering conditions and a spectacular battle at the front, the Austrian Grand Prix delivered chaos and spectacle from start to finish. Here are the key takeaways from a weekend that had it all. Norris back to his best Unsurprisingly, McLaren emerged as the dominant force, with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri delivering a masterclass in pace and precision. From the start of the weekend, race winner Norris looked back to his best. Helped by the upgrades the team introduced, he led every session from FP2 onwards, sealing pole with a commanding lap over half a second clear of Charles Leclerc. After qualifying, he radioed in with a telling message: 'Nice to see the old me back every now and then.' Sunday's race delivered a gripping duel between the McLaren pair, with Piastri consistently applying pressure to his teammate. The intensity peaked around lap 10, when Norris erred and Piastri momentarily slipped ahead, only for the Brit to reclaim the position soon after. From that moment on, the pair fought tooth and nail, pushing each other to the limit while managing to avoid any serious trouble. 'We had a great battle, that's for sure,' Norris said. 'It was a lot of fun, for me a lot of stress but a lot of fun! A nice battle, so well done to Oscar.' With his victory in Austria, Norris cut Piastri's lead in the drivers' championship to just 15 points heading to Silverstone next week. It was a commanding response to the frustration of Canada – and a clear sign that, when supported and settled, Norris can deliver under pressure. This time, there was no self-sabotage, no misstep – just a calm, confident drive backed by a team that has fully embraced him and helped rebuild his belief. No home comforts for Red Bull Red Bull endured a weekend to forget at their home circuit, as Max Verstappen's race came to an abrupt end on the opening lap. Despite struggling with grip issues, the Dutchman looked promising in practice, but his momentum stalled in qualifying when yellow flags, triggered by Pierre Gasly's spin, cut short his final flying lap. He was forced to settle for seventh on the grid. But Verstappen's hopes of making progress were over just moments after lights out. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli locked up and made contact with the Red Bull driver, forcing both into early retirement. The incident resulted in Verstappen's first DNF since the 2024 Australian Grand Prix and proved costly for his title ambitions, leaving him 61 points adrift of championship leader Piastri. 'I think every driver has made a mistake like that. No one does that on purpose as well, so for me, that's not a big deal,' a surprisingly understanding Verstappen said of Antonelli's error. The stewards have since handed the Mercedes man a three-place grid penalty for Silverstone. It was an even worse weekend for Yuki Tsunoda, who failed to advance past Q1 and qualified a disappointing 18th on the grid. On Sunday, a careless collision with Alpine's Franco Colapinto saw Tsunoda handed a 10-second penalty and two penalty points, capping off a difficult afternoon in which he ultimately finished at the back of the field. It marked Red Bull's first point-less race in 77 Grands Prix and saw them drop to fourth in the constructors' standings. Things are looking up for Ferrari It was a significant weekend for Ferrari, both on and off the track. With Fred Vasseur absent for the first time since taking charge in 2023 due to personal reasons, Jerome D'Ambrosio stepped in to lead the team at the Red Bull Ring. The Scuderia arrived in Austria with momentum and a promising starting position, as Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton lined up second and fourth on the grid respectively, supported by recent upgrades – including a new floor – aimed at narrowing the gap to the front. Leclerc lost second place to Piastri almost immediately but recovered to finish third, securing his fourth podium of the season. Hamilton, meanwhile, equalled his best result of the season in fourth and praised the team's direction. 'For us to be the second fastest team this weekend, we're not a minute down from McLaren, which is positive. To bag some really strong points, I'm definitely happy with it,' said Hamilton. Bortoleto's breakthrough Gabriel Bortoleto enjoyed a breakthrough weekend in Austria, securing the first Formula One points of his career with a composed and confident P8 finish at the Red Bull Ring. The Brazilian rookie impressed with his calm under pressure and consistent pace. The result was particularly meaningful – not only did it end a long wait for a Brazilian driver to score points in F1, but it came at a track Bortoleto described as 'a special place' after qualifying. With F3 and F2 titles already to his name, his performance served as a timely reminder of the talent and promise he brings to the grid. The weekend began with promise as Kick Sauber introduced key upgrades – including a new floor, diffuser, and rear wing – that gave Bortoleto the confidence to target points. 'We did a great job on the pit stops, we did a great job with the strategy,' he said. 'I feel like we did everything that was in our hands. I just hope that we can keep this up. I think we can score more points in the season and have great results.'
Al Arabiya
29-06-2025
- Automotive
- Al Arabiya
Austria to Stay on Formula 1 Calendar Through 2041 After Contract Extension
The Austrian Grand Prix is set to stay on the Formula 1 schedule until 2041 after a long-term extension was announced Sunday for the race at the Red Bull Ring. Austria already had a contract through 2030 agreed two years ago, and the new extension sees it match the Miami Grand Prix as the only F1 events contracted into the 2040s. The Austrian Grand Prix is closely connected with Red Bull's presence in F1. The Red Bull company's co-founder, Dietrich Mateschitz, who died in 2022, funded the renovations that allowed it to return to the calendar in 2014 after an 11-year absence and rebranded it as the Red Bull Ring. 'I am delighted that Formula 1 will remain at the Red Bull Ring for many years to come,' his son, Mark Mateschitz, said in a statement Sunday. 'I am proud to continue my father's legacy and to preserve the rich history of motor racing in (the region of) Styria and at the Red Bull Ring–with and, above all, for the people of the region. Austria's close ties to Formula 1 are an excellent foundation for our long-term partnership. Working together, we intend to continue this success story for many years to come.' It continues a trend by F1 of planning for decades to come with unusually long deals for certain circuits. The Canadian Grand Prix was extended to 2035 earlier this month, while Miami got its extension through 2041 last month. Other Grands Prix with more than a decade to run on their contracts are Bahrain, which agreed a deal in 2022 that is valid through 2036, and the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne has an agreement through 2037.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Austria to stay on Formula 1 calendar through 2041 after contract extension
SPIELBERG, Austria (AP) — The Austrian Grand Prix is set to stay on the Formula 1 schedule until 2041 after a long-term extension was announced Sunday for the race at the Red Bull Ring. Austria already had a contract through 2030, agreed two years ago, and the new extension sees it match the Miami Grand Prix as the only F1 events contracted into the 2040s. Advertisement The Austrian Grand Prix is closely connected with Red Bull's presence in F1. The Red Bull company's co-founder, Dietrich Mateschitz, who died in 2022, funded the renovations that allowed it to return to the calendar in 2014 after an 11-year absence, and rebranded it as the Red Bull Ring. 'I am delighted that Formula 1 will remain at the Red Bull Ring for many years to come," his son Mark Mateschitz said in a statement Sunday. "I am proud to continue my father's legacy and to preserve the rich history of motor racing in (the region of) Styria and at the Red Bull Ring – with and, above all, for the people of the region. Austria's close ties to Formula 1 are an excellent foundation for our long-term partnership. Working together, we intend to continue this success story for many years to come.' Advertisement It continues a trend by F1 of planning for decades to come with unusually long deals for certain circuits. The Canadian Grand Prix was extended to 2035 earlier this month, while Miami got its extension through 2041 last month. Other Grands Prix with more than a decade to run on their contracts are Bahrain, which agreed a deal in 2022 that is valid through 2036, and the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne has an agreement through 2037. ___ AP auto racing: The Associated Press
Associated Press
29-06-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
Austria to stay on Formula 1 calendar through 2041 after contract extension
SPIELBERG, Austria (AP) — The Austrian Grand Prix is set to stay on the Formula 1 schedule until 2041 after a long-term extension was announced Sunday for the race at the Red Bull Ring. Austria already had a contract through 2030, agreed two years ago, and the new extension sees it match the Miami Grand Prix as the only F1 events contracted into the 2040s. The Austrian Grand Prix is closely connected with Red Bull's presence in F1. The Red Bull company's co-founder, Dietrich Mateschitz, who died in 2022, funded the renovations that allowed it to return to the calendar in 2014 after an 11-year absence, and rebranded it as the Red Bull Ring. 'I am delighted that Formula 1 will remain at the Red Bull Ring for many years to come,' his son Mark Mateschitz said in a statement Sunday. 'I am proud to continue my father's legacy and to preserve the rich history of motor racing in (the region of) Styria and at the Red Bull Ring – with and, above all, for the people of the region. Austria's close ties to Formula 1 are an excellent foundation for our long-term partnership. Working together, we intend to continue this success story for many years to come.' It continues a trend by F1 of planning for decades to come with unusually long deals for certain circuits. The Canadian Grand Prix was extended to 2035 earlier this month, while Miami got its extension through 2041 last month. Other Grands Prix with more than a decade to run on their contracts are Bahrain, which agreed a deal in 2022 that is valid through 2036, and the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne has an agreement through 2037. ___ AP auto racing:
The Independent
28-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Nice to see the old me back – McLaren's Lando Norris pleased with pole position
Lando Norris said it was 'good to have the old me back' after he delivered the perfect response to his Montreal horror show by securing an emphatic pole position for Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix. Norris' world championship bid was dealt a major setback when he ran into the back of his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri a fortnight ago. But the British driver has been in excellent form at the Red Bull Ring, topping all of the practice sessions he competed in prior to qualifying, before landing the 12th pole of his career. Norris' margin over second-placed Charles Leclerc was a huge 0.521 seconds – the biggest of the year so far at the shortest circuit on the calendar. Piastri, who leads Norris by 22 points in the standings, could manage only third, 0.583 secs behind – his final Q3 lap thwarted following a spin by Pierre Gasly ahead of him – with Lewis Hamilton fourth. After landing his first win of the season in Canada, George Russell qualified fifth on a so-so day for Mercedes. Max Verstappen could manage only seventh after he complained that his Red Bull was 'undriveable'. Norris admitted he made a fool of himself when he collided with Piastri, and he left Canada with a warning of 'tough conversations' to follow by McLaren team principal Andrea Stella. However, the 25-year-old Bristolian has shown signs of his former self in the Styrian mountains, and he will start the 11th round of this 24-race season as the favourite to claim a win which must serve as a springboard to rebuilding his stuttering title charge. Norris' first lap in Q3 placed him two tenths faster than anyone else, before he extended his lead to more than half-a-second. 'Nice to see the old me back every now and then, huh?' said Norris over the radio after taking just the third pole of a season derailed by a number of messy performances over one lap. Later, he added: 'It was easily my best lap of the year. I did what I planned to do, and when I do that and it goes right, it normally goes very, very well. 'Some of my tough moments have been in qualifying, so to have a performance like that is exciting. I am very happy, but I want to prove it to myself over and over again and I hope this is just the beginning. 'It is about consistency. Everyone can be a hero for a weekend. It is a long journey, a long season, and the job I needed to do today, I did it. It doesn't make up for the last weekends but I did it today and that is what mattered.' Verstappen is 43 points off the championship pace and he faces the prospect of losing further ground following a disappointing qualifying session at a venue he has ruled. Verstappen has won five times in Spielberg, and taken the last four pole positions, but he has looked out of sorts in his unruly Red Bull machine. 'The car is completely undriveable,' he said over the radio after finishing nearly a second behind Norris. 'It is even worse than before. I don't even know what to say.' Verstappen's Red Bull team-mate Yuki Tsunoda qualified only 18th on a poor afternoon for the grid's once-all-conquering team at their home event.
