Rivalries and collisions hang over Austrian GP

SPIELBERG – Present rivalries and past collisions hang over Red Bull’s home Austrian Grand Prix this weekend, as Formula One braces for the next round of Max Verstappen versus George Russell and more title-chasing drama at McLaren.

Russell and reigning champion Verstappen finished first and second in Canada two weeks ago, with Red Bull protesting – in vain – the Mercedes win and accusing the Briton of unsportsmanlike behaviour.

It is safe to say the pair are not friends and they are building up quite a track record, colliding in Spain earlier in June in an incident that left Verstappen blamed and on the brink of a mandatory race ban.

Two of those penalty points expire after Austria but he still has to stay out of trouble through a weekend in the Styrian hills where his orange-shirted fans will be out in numbers.

“It’s always a great weekend there. We’ve had a lot of great results and, hopefully, we can have another strong weekend there,” said Verstappen, the Austrian GP winner in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023.

Team boss Christian Horner was not about to make any sweeping predictions.

“Probably our weakness at the moment is in the medium-speed type of corner,” he said.

“Austria, that middle sector, there’s a bit of medium speed there. So we’ll see. I would expect, if it’s hot, McLaren to again be stronger.

“There’s still a significant points gap between us and them (McLaren). But we don’t give up on anything. We’re not even at the halfway point yet.”

Verstappen and Lando Norris caused a commotion in Spielberg last season when they collided while scrapping for the lead, with Norris chasing. That gifted victory to Russell.

McLaren’s Norris will return with the memory of that coming together now overtaken by the one between him