Verstappen's victory overshadowed by post-race penalties at Austrian GP
Max Verstappen seals a decisive victory at the Formula 1’s 2023 Austrian Grand Prix, overcoming Ferrari's virtual safety car advantage. His triumph is followed by a storm of post-race penalties, dramatically altering the final classification.
Tense early on-track battles
In the early laps, Verstappen, fending off both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.
Ferrari, in a strategic move, instructed Sainz not to challenge his teammate or the leading Verstappen.
This decision brought visible frustration to Sainz, indicating tension in the Ferrari camp.
A Strategy disrupted by the VSC
The race took a twist when Nico Hulkenberg’s car suffered a power loss, leading to a virtual safety car being deployed.
This incident initially appeared to favor Ferrari as they seized the opportunity to pit during the VSC, while Verstappen stayed out.
The incident resulted in a significant strategy shift between the two leaders.
Despite the setback, Verstappen showed no sign of surrender. Armed with fresh rubber, he managed to erase Leclerc’s 6.4s lead in a swift 10 laps.
An impressive overtake on lap 35 further showcased Verstappen's prowess and left the Ferraris in his wake.
In the subsequent laps, the Dutchman pulled clear, building a 10-second gap.
In the meantime, Sergio Perez was making considerable strides from his 15th place starting position.
Assisted by several rivals receiving penalties for track limits infringements, Perez battled his way forward.
Simultaneously, an intriguing contest unraveled between Sainz and Lando Norris.
The duo kept spectators on the edge of their seats with their thrilling on-track engagement, with Sainz later stating he felt "intimidated" by Perez.
Verstappen’s commanding finale
In the closing stages, Verstappen cemented his dominance by snatching the fastest lap from Perez, crossing the line with a comfortable 5.1-second margin.
This final flourish was a demonstration of Verstappen's skill and tactical acumen, setting the pace high for the rest of the Formula 1 grid.
Race conclusion
Leclerc and Perez filled the remaining podium positions, finishing second and third respectively.
The fierce contest between Sainz and Norris ended with the Spaniard securing fourth place and the McLaren driver taking fifth.
This riveting Austrian Grand Prix has fortified Verstappen's and Red Bull's authority over the 2023 Formula 1 season.
The Dutchman's commanding performance and Red Bull's strategic brilliance have further solidified their status as the team
Post-race controversy: Aston Martin protests and penalties issued
In a significant post-race development, the FIA has issued twelve additional penalties for track limit offences during the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix, notably demoting Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton.
These penalties were issued following a protest by Aston Martin, challenging the enforcement of track limits, particularly at Turns 9 and 10.
The FIA's comprehensive review covered over 1,200 reports of potential violations during the 71-lap race, leading to a re-evaluation of penalties:
- Three infringements yielded a warning flag
- Four infringements resulted in a five-second penalty
- Five infringements incurred a 10-second penalty
Due to the excessive number of infractions, the FIA implemented a "reset" after five infringements, adding another five-second penalty for each subsequent set of four violations.
As a result, Sainz dropped from fourth to sixth place, following an escalation of his initial five-second penalty to ten seconds.
Similarly, Hamilton's penalty was also increased from five to ten seconds, resulting in him falling behind his teammate George Russell to eighth place.
Among others penalized were Esteban Ocon, who fell from 12th to 14th after accruing four penalties totalling 30 seconds.
Teams retain the right to appeal these decisions within a specific timeframe, and frustrations have been voiced over the delayed enforcement of track limits.
Comments ()