George Russell Wins Austrian GP, Giving Mercedes’ First Victory For 2024
- George Russell won the 2024 Austrian GP while Lewis Hamilton finished fourth.
George Russell won the recent Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix to give Mercedes-AMG Petronas the victory that has evaded them since last season. His teammate, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton finished fourth during the event.
The Dramatic Win at the Austrian GP
Both Mercedes F1 drivers definitely took advantage of the third and fifth spots they earned on Saturday’s qualifying session. Russell did a pretty great job in holding on to the third position at the start of the race as Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz set his sights on the young Mercedes driver.
The hair-raising action on the grid even saw Hamilton and Russell battling for the third rank by Lap 3. The veteran driver utilized his car’s DRS (drag reduction system) to briefly pass his teammate, only for the latter to retain his place through a tactical maneuver.
Hamilton got in trouble along the way for getting off-track, which resulted in a five-second penalty. He consequently served the sanction following his second pit stop.
Meanwhile, Russell has been relentless after his second pit stop on Lap 47. His switch to hard tires allowed him to eventually challenge Sainz for the podium.
As the race neared its conclusion, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris collided as they contested P1. The incident favored Russell, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, and Sainz, which would later allow the trio to secure the podium.
With the current F1 Drivers Champion out of the way, Russell rushed to the checkered flag 1.9 seconds ahead of Piastri to deliver Mercedes F1’s first win and third podium this season.
Mercedes F1’s Status This Season… So Far
Mercedes’ last victory was on November 13, 2022, at the Brazilian GP, courtesy of Russell. Despite its drivers’ latest achievements, the team currently remains in fourth place among the F1 Constructors with a total score of 196 points.
When it comes to the Drivers’ Standings, Russell’s triumph slightly improved his overall score from the seventh rank to narrow his gap by a point with the sixth-placer, Piastri. This also widened his lead from his teammate, Hamilton at the eighth position, by 26 points.
