Dhe world champion was invited. And announced the need for discussion. “It could have been a serious crash, we have to talk about it,” complained Max Verstappen on the pit radio shortly after winning the sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix over 24 laps. “That wasn’t okay,” the Dutchman added. He had to fight hard to win – against his stable mate Sergio Pérez. “Thank God it went well,” said Red Bull Motorsport Director Helmut Marko on Sky TV. “Sending your team-mate out onto the grass in wet conditions isn’t good teamwork.”
Shortly before 4 p.m., the tens of thousands at the racecourse had opened their umbrellas and pulled on their ponchos. The dark clouds that had swept through Styria hours earlier deflated over the Spielberg slope. “At least it’s raining properly,” said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner shortly before the start at Sky. “Dry or wet, that’s okay. It’s always difficult somewhere in between.” His protégé Verstappen was prepared for anything: “A lot can happen in this weather.” He was right.
“What’s wrong with Max?!”
A few hours earlier, the Dutchman had raced to pole position on a dry track, ahead of team-mate Sergio Pérez, Lando Norris (McLaren) and: Nico Hülkenberg. The Rhinelander is particularly talented in sprinting over a fast lap, and once again he managed to win with the Haas-Ferrari out of position to qualify, i.e. to drive forward against the actual balance of power. Out of position The two Silver Arrows also started, but in a different way than they would have wished for Mercedes: Lewis Hamilton only managed 18th place, George Russell started from 15th place.
At the start, the pilots mostly chose the intermediate tires for mixed weather. Only Valtteri Bottas (Sauber) dared to put on slicks. At the end of the formation lap, however, he called off the daring attempt, drove to the service station and chased the field out of the pit lane – on intermediates.
As soon as the starting lights go out, things get turbulent: Sergio Pérez gets off very well, while Verstappen’s rear tires spin and he accelerates with difficulty. Pérez takes advantage of the moment, sits down next to the Dutchman and overtakes him with a consistent maneuver on the inside of the first corner. Can a world champion sit down? Not at all.
Verstappen wants to counter on the long straight to the hairpin, but the Mexican defends too hard, forcing his team-mate onto the wet grass. A dangerous maneuver. Verstappen races through the meadow with two tires, but retains control. At the wheel, mind you. On the other hand, he rages on the radio: “He pushed me away! What the hell?!” In the next corner, Verstappen hits back uncompromisingly and is back in front. In turn, he enrages Sergio Pérez. “What’s wrong with Max?!” he asks his box.
