2024 F1 Round 11, Austrian GP Sprint: Verstappen withstands repeated McLaren attacks to win by 4.616s, Piastri and Norris second and third

The Sprint for Round 11 of the 2024 Formula 1 season, the Austrian Grand Prix, took place at the Red Bull Ring on the evening of 29 June China time (UTC+8). Starting from pole, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen withstood repeated attacks from McLaren and crossed the line 4.616 seconds clear. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris finished second and third, while RB’s Yuki Tsunoda was 13th.

Originally scheduled for 24 laps, the Sprint was shortened to 23 after an extra formation lap was required because a photographer had been spotted in an unsafe position before the start. Everyone started on medium tyres, with only the two Sauber drivers choosing new sets.

The main action came early. With DRS assistance, Norris passed Verstappen for the lead at Turn 3 on Lap 5, but Verstappen immediately struck back at the next corner, Turn 4. Piastri then took advantage of Norris losing the place, drawing alongside on the run towards the fast Turn 6 and completing an outside pass for second. Although Piastri could not mount another serious challenge to Verstappen, he kept team-mate Norris behind and finished second.

Reflecting on his battle with Verstappen, Norris said ruefully: “Once the tyres had come up to temperature and the race had settled down, there were not many opportunities, so I had to make the most of the opening laps. But I left the door open like an amateur and threw the chance away myself.” He ultimately finished third, behind team-mate Piastri, who had started from third on the grid.

Behind the top three, the order settled down around Lap 8. Russell, who had lost a position on the opening lap, took fourth back from Sainz and kept it to the finish. Sainz was fifth and Hamilton sixth. Leclerc, whose Sprint Qualifying had come to nothing the previous day because of an anti-stall problem, started only 10th but passed three cars on the first lap and recovered to seventh to score points. Perez was eighth, Magnussen ninth and Stroll 10th.

Haas driver Hulkenberg briefly matched Leclerc as the biggest mover, crossing the line in 14th. However, he locked up at Turn 3 and forced Alonso, who was on the outside, off the track. A 10-second time penalty and two penalty points followed, dropping him to 19th. Tsunoda passed Alonso on the opening lap to gain a place and finished 13th. Team-mate Ricciardo also gained a position after passing Sargeant at Turn 4 on Lap 16 and finished 14th. Albon was 17th after starting from the pit lane, with Williams having made set-up changes in breach of parc ferme rules.

Alpine’s two drivers, who had qualified eighth and ninth for the Sprint, both went backwards. Ocon finished 11th and Gasly 12th, leaving both outside the points.