Charles Leclerc outduels Max Verstappen to win Austrian Grand Prix, thrusts himself back into championship race
It wasn’t easy for the Ferrari driver as he had to overtake Red Bull’s Verstappen three times to claim his first spot atop the podium since the Australian GP in April. Despite issues with his throttle near the end of the race, Leclerc was able to hold on, finishing 1.532 seconds ahead of second place. The victory ends a rotten run of form for the 24-year-old — having missed out on the podium in the previous five races. Despite being back by thousands of Dutch fans, Verstappen was unable to claim what would have been a third-straight victory at the Red Bull Ring, Leclerc’s speed just too much for him to handle.Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was the beneficiary of Sainz’s retirement, as he moved from fourth to third. Despite a torrid start to the season, it’s the 37-year-old’s third podium finish in a row, as he improved from his eighth position starting spot.
