Five Formula 1 Winners & Losers: Austrian Grand Prix

Photo from AFP

What was looking like a cut and dry Austrian Grand Prix turned into one of the best races of the year, but not without controversy.

Here are the winners and losers from the weekend in Austria.

Losers

5. Esteban Ocon

A good qualifying session and 12th isn’t a terrible weekend for Ocon, but he ended up on the wrong side of a heated battle with his teammate Pierre Gasly.

It’s well known the two don’t like each other, so Ocon losing out has to sting.

4. Fernando Alonso

Alonso said after a poor qualifying that it was worth trying new things for Aston, so it felt like they knew this was not going to be a great weekend for the team.

Still, I think they were hoping for better than their best driver coming home in 18th.

3. Sergio Perez

Checo, in a Red Bull, couldn’t get past a Haas.

We’ll get to Haas in a bit, and it was an excellent weekend for them, but there’s no excuse for not being able to get past a Haas when you are in a Red Bull.

2. Lando Norris

Lando has shown this year that he’s quick. He’s shown this year he can manage tires.

But this race showed he has a lot to learn in wheel to wheel overtaking.

There were some laps where he didn’t go for gaps at all. There were times that he went way too deep and missed the corner.

He also went over track limits to get a 5 second penalty while in the midst of that battle.

Still, at least he never made contact.

1. Max Verstappen

Which brings us to Max Verstappen.

You have to be ruthless to be a Formula 1 driver, but Verstappen always seems to go a step too far.

Sunday was no different, as Verstappen multiple times moved under braking, which is not allowed, and squeezed Norris into the final corner where there was no more room.

It wouldn’t be an issue if this wasn’t the same Verstappen we have seen for years and years before this era of dominance.

A lot of drivers can battle wheel to wheel and not make contact, but Verstappen seems to always find contact.

This was not a terrible incident like the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, but it still wasn’t good.

Winners

5. Pierre Gasly

Like I said with Ocon earlier, Gasly and Ocon do not like each other.

So Gasly racing him hard and cleanly and getting the points has to be extremely satisfying.

4. Daniel Ricciardo

Tsunoda re-signed with RB, Perez has a two year deal with Red Bull.

There’s only one more spot for Red Bull drivers to take, and youngster Liam Lawson has shown a lot of promise.

Ricciardo needs some good results to keep that seat, and a 9th place in Austria is a good omen for that.

Ricciardo has certainly gotten better over the past few weeks, and RB have to notice.

3. George Russell

It wasn’t a sexy race from George Russell.

It wasn’t even necessarily a fun race for George Russell.

But the key to finishing 1st is simply finishing, and Russell kept out of drama, kept out of any issues, and when drama arrived between Norris and Verstappen, Russell was there to clean up and get the victory.

Hey, it counts all the same!

2. Oscar Piastri

Piastri could’ve finished 5th instead of 2nd and it wouldn’t change his standing on this list.

Some of the overtakes Piastri had were absolutely absurd, not only in the Grand Prix but in the Sprint Race as well.

The dude can flat out race, man.

He’s a joy to watch.

1. Haas

Something about Haas and Austria, huh?

I genuinely thought Haas would be far and away the worst team in Formula 1 this year, and they have not been that in the slightest.

Both Hulkenberg and Magnussen finished in the top 10 to get points for the team, and they did it on pure pace compared to just some fortunate luck.

They were legitimately fast on Sunday, and they deserve loads of praise for it.