Austrian Grand Prix reflections
Austrian Grand Prix delivered yet another compelling chapter in the 2025 Formula 1 season and above all, it reaffirmed what McLaren is truly capable of. On one of the shortest circuits of the year, the British team managed not only a dominant one-two finish, but also lapped the field up to seventh place, showcasing their superior pace.
Photo: McLaren
Lando Norris, who displayed arguably his best form of the season. Throughout the weekend, Norris combined pace and composure, silencing critics who’ve often questioned his mental resilience. His win was not just another trophy… Beside him on the podium was Oscar Piastri, who fought hard until the final laps with the hunger of a driver determined to win the world title.
Closing out the top three was Charles Leclerc, whose Ferrari returned to the podium, though not without some painful context. The Monegasque driver finished nearly 20 seconds behind Norris, underlining the performance gap that still separates the Scuderia from the McLaren duo. Despite the positive result, Ferrari's podium was partially enabled by Mercedes’ lack of competitiveness and the introduction of a new floor that seems to have brought marginal improvement.
However, consistency and race pace remain a concern. If there was one driver who left Spielberg with bitter disappointment, it was Max Verstappen. The Dutchman was forced to retire on the opening lap after a collision with rookie Kimi Antonelli, ending a remarkable streak of 31 consecutive race finishes a run dating back to the 2024 Australian Grand Prix. It marked the seventh-longest finishing streak and the seventh-longest scoring streak in F1 history. Despite the incident, Verstappen showed admirable sportsmanship, immediately offering words of support to Antonelli after stepping out of the car. Still, the Italian rookie might be the one most psychologically bruised by Austria, recording another retirement in what’s becoming a challenging debut season.
Elsewhere, Carlos Sainz never even made it to the starting lights. His Ferrari got stuck in first gear and then caught fire at the end of the pit lane, resulting in a DNS only the third of his career (after Belgium 2020 and Qatar 2023). Yet, Austria wasn’t just about misfortune.
One of the most exciting on-track battles came between Fernando Alonso and Gabriel Bortoleto, with the Brazilian rookie scoring his first Formula 1 points after a thrilling wheel-to-wheel duel.
Once again, the Austrian Grand Prix delivered the drama, emotion, and unpredictability that makes it a fan favourite. Fittingly, this weekend it was officially announced that the Red Bull Ring will remain on the F1 calendar until at least 2041, a welcome decision for a venue that never fails to entertain.