Verstappen returns to success, Mercedes sinks in Austria

Max Verstappen (Red Bull) played the best strategic card and held on to win the Austrian Grand Prix, the energy drink brand's home event, ahead of both Ferrari by Kimi Räikkönen and Sebastian Vettel. 

Räikkönen, wearing ultra-soft tyres, had nevertheless taken the best flight, interfering in the middle of the two Mercedes byHamilton and the poleman Bottas, but it is the Briton who pulls the chestnuts from the fire by taking the advantage over the Finn from the Scuderia, forced to go wide at the exit of the first turn.

The latter then attempted an attack on the world champion at the third corner but had to veer wide and let Valtteri Bottas take second place. A few moments later, Max Verstappen (Red Bull) lightly touched Räikkönen at turn 3 and took the opportunity to take third place.

Box at half mast for Bottas

On the 14th lap, Valtteri Bottas had to retire, following a loss of hydraulic pressure on his Mercedes W09. Max Verstappen and Kimi Räikkönen thus move up one place to complete the provisional podium behind Hamilton, at the time when the Virtual Safety Car is deployed.

The two Ferraris, the two Red Bulls or even Romain Grosjean dive into the pit lane and put on the soft tires to go to the end of the Grand Prix, unlike Lewis Hamilton who remains on the track. A strategic choice that will not turn out to be the right one.

Hamilton finally pitted at the end of lap 25, but emerged in fourth position between Räikkönen and Vettel. A regrouping then takes place behind Ricciardo, with Räikkönen, Hamilton and Vettel in the rearview mirrors of the Australian, who has to deal with a blistered left rear tire.

The two Ferraris then appear the most energetic as they pass the halfway mark. Räikkönen overtook Ricciardo on lap 38, before Vettel attempted and succeeded in a superb attack from the outside at Turn 2, before beating Hamilton on the inside of Turn 3 for the gain second place. The hierarchy stabilizes for a time before a new acceleration of events.

Hamilton and Ricciardo cut off in their tracks

Victim in turn of severe damage to his rear tires, Hamilton stopped again at the end of the 52nd lap, and started fifth behind Ricciardo. The latter must, however, stop his car one round later. A first release of smoke a few moments earlier had caused concern in the Austrian clan, before the Australian stopped after the first turn.

It's then Hamilton who had to stop his car on the 64th lap, after losing fuel pressure.

The end of the event finally smiled on Verstappen, who controlled the return of the two Ferraris to offer himself his first success of the year, the first since Mexico 2017. Räikkönen and Vettel completed the podium, the German taking over for a point in control of the Drivers' World Championship. Ferrari leads the Manufacturers' standings.

Superb overall result for Haas F1 Team, with Romain Grosjean fourth, his best result since Belgium 2015 (3rd) and his first points of the year, and Kevin Magnussen fifth. Followed by the Force India of Sergio Pérez and Esteban Ocon, McLaren de Fernando Alonso and Alfa Romeo de Charles Leclerc and Marcus Ericsson.

Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso) evolved in the top 10 for a long time, but could not resist the Saubers in the last five laps. Carlos Sainz best place Renault in 12th place, Nico Hulkenberg having retired at the end of the eleventh lap, due to a probable engine failure.

Both Williams de Lance stroll and Sergey Sirotkin complete the ranking.

2018 Austrian Grand Prix ranking:

1 Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – Winner
2 Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) at 1″504
3 Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) at 3″181
4 Romain Grosjean (Haas) at 1 t.
5 Kevin Magnussen (Haas) at 1 t.
6 Esteban Ocon (Force India) at 1 t.
7 Sergio Pérez (Force India) at 1 t.
8 Fernando Alonso McLaren) at 1 t.
9 Charles Leclerc (Sauber) at 1 t.
10 Marcus Ericsson (Sauber) at 1 t.
11 Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso) at 1 t.
12 Carlos Sainz (Renault) at 1 t.
13 Lance Stroll (Williams) at 2 t.
14 Sergey Sirotkin (Williams) at 2 t.
15 Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren) Ab.
16 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) Ab.
17 Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso) Ab.
18 Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) Ab.
19 Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) Ab.
20 Nico Hulkenberg (Renault) Ab.

Discover the full report and analysis of the Austrian Grand Prix, produced by our special correspondents in Spielberg, in issue 2172 of AUTOhebdo, available tomorrow evening in digital version and this Wednesday on newsstands.