Formula 1: Max Verstappen delivered an authority blow over Lewis Hamilton with a driving lesson to win the Styrian GP

2021-06-27T17:52:03.883Z

He won from end to end at the Spielberg circuit and took 18 points ahead of the British, who finished second but could not offer a fight. Next week they race again on the same stage.

06/27/2021 12:31 PM

Clarín.com
sports

Updated 06/27/2021 12:31 PM

The leader of the Formula 1 season, the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) prevailed this Sunday with authority in the Grand Prix of Styria, ahead of the Mercedes drivers, the British Lewis Hamilton and the Finn Valtteri Bottas, at the end of 71 laps of the Spielberg city circuit in Austria.

After starting from pole position, the Dutchman set the pace for the race with a seamless performance machine and completed the course in 1: 22: 18.925, with a large advantage over his two main pursuers: + 35.743s.

with respect to Hamilton and + 46.907s.

in relation to Bottas.

With four victories in eight dates (Italy, Monaco and France, the previous ones), Verstappen extended his leadership in the Drivers' World Championship by taking a distance of 18 points over the British, who has already had four Grands Prix without being able to celebrate.

A good start secured Verstappen first place.

Photo: AP

After winning in Barcelona on May 9, the seven-time world champion was relegated by the dominance of the Red Bull team, which scored three wins with Verstappen and another with the Mexican Sergio "Checo" Pérez, fourth in the GP of Styria.

The Austrian team commands the Constructors' Cup with 252 points and 40 ahead of Mercedes, winner of the last seven seasons.

The scoring area of the race at Spielberg was completed by the British Lando Norris (McLaren), the Spanish Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), the Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), the Canadian Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), the Spanish Fernando Alonso (Alpine- Renault) and the Japanese Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri), from fifth to tenth place.

The beauty of the Spielberg circuit, the home of Red Bull.

Photo: Reuters

Between eleventh and eighteenth place were classified: Finn Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo), German Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin), Australian Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren), Frenchman Esteban Ocon (Alpine-Renault), Italian Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo), the German Mick Schumacher (Haas), the Canadian Nicholas Latifi (Williams) and the Russian Nikita Mazepin (Haas).

Lewis Hamilton, Helmut Marko, Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas on the podium.

Photo: DPA

The race at the Red Bull Ring circuit had two defections: Frenchman Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) on the first lap and Briton George Russell (Williams) on lap 36.

That same scenario will host next Sunday the ninth date of the season, on the occasion of the Austrian Grand Prix, which Verstappen won twice (2018 and 2019) among the 14 victories he has accumulated in his career.

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