30/06/2025 10:10
The Austrian Grand Prix was one featuring a significant high and an
unmissable low, the high being Lando Norris roaring to a stunning
Austrian Grand Prix victory. McLaren eased to another crushing
one-two, whilst Red Bull suffered a disastrous home event at the
Red Bull Ring. Max Verstappen has been ruled out of the F1
drivers' title by Red Bull's senior figures, increasing the
eyeballs on Norris and Oscar Piastri. It was a race which resulted
in a major shift in this year's championship. So, who has made the
RacingNews365 list of winners and losers for the 2025 F1 Austrian
Grand Prix? Winner - Lando Norris Lando Norris delivered the bounce
backs of all bounce backs in the Styrian hillside after crashing
into Oscar Piastri in the Canadian Grand Prix. He was at his most
dominant in Austria, topping every session he competed in after
missing first practice due to McLaren handing his car to junior
star Alex Dunne. It was a crushing display by Norris in
qualifying, where he secured pole by over five-tenths of a second.
Whilst there was some fortune to this advantage, nobody had the
pace to challenge him. In the end, this proved pivotal to his
victory, as Piastri failed to find a way past following a superb
defensive display by the Briton. Piastri now has a 15-point lead
over Norris; however, the big question heading to Silverstone will
be if he can string together consecutive victories – only Piastri
has achieved this in 2025. Loser - Red Bull Is that Red Bull's
worst-ever home race? You would have to say so. Verstappen being
taken out by an out of control Kimi Antonelli at the third corner
was a disaster for the Dutchman, and for the team's hopes of a
rostrum. Despite starting in seventh, Verstappen had good enough
pace to challenge Ferrari for a podium; unfortunately, he never got
to demonstrate what performance he had in the RB21. His deficit to
Piastri is now 61 points, is that too big a gap to make back? When
the Dutchman was wiped out, the Milton Keynes-based outfit had no
choice but to look to Yuki Tsunoda, only for him to finish 16th
after starting from 18th. For Tsunoda, it was another horror show,
with questions surely set to be asked within the Red Bull camp on
whether drastic changes are required to the second car in its
garage. Winner - Liam Lawson Whilst for the Red Bull team itself it
was a home grand prix to forget, there was at least some joy for
the energy drink company. Liam Lawson delivered his best
performance of the season so far to finish in sixth, exactly where
he started in Spielberg. The New Zealander has faced a lot of
pressure since his embarrassing Red Bull demotion, but was, for the
first time, the dominant driver at Racing Bulls. Isack Hadjar
could not match his team-mate, something which has not been said
since they became partners. For Lawson after so much
disappointment, he might finally have the confidence boost to push
himself back into contention for a second crack alongside
Verstappen. Loser - Kimi Antonelli Europe has not been kind to Kimi
Antonelli this season! The Italian had bounced back in Canada after
a disastrous European triple-header, only to endure a shocking
return to the continent in Austria. After only qualifying in
ninth, the young rookie made a huge mistake on the run into Turn 3
where he failed to change his brake balance, causing his rear
brakes to lock. It triggered a moment of panic for the Mercedes
driver as he attempted to avoid everyone as he ploughed into the
corner, only to take out Verstappen. Antonelli quickly apologised
and was praised by Verstappen for doing so; however, it is perhaps
the 18-year-old's biggest F1 lesson since crashing on his debut in
Monza last year. Winner - Stake F1 What a run Stake F1 are
currently on, with Gabriel Bortoleto also now being an F1 point
scorer! The young Brazilian remarkably made Q3 and converted it
into eighth in the race. To add to the Hinwil-based team's
delight, he was followed home by Nico Hulkenberg in ninth. As a
result, it marked the outfit's first double-points finish since
Qatar 2023. In addition, it was the first time since early 2022
that points had been scored in three consecutive grands prix. Stake
are on a remarkable run of form after a shocking 18 months, but
genuine progress is being made. That can also be said about
Bortoleto, who is quickly improving in speed and maturity,
something team principal Jonathan Wheatley praised him for after
the race. Loser - Franco Colapinto One midfield driver in a heap
of bother is Alpine's Franco Colapinto, who RacingNews365
understands is under significant pressure regarding his seat.
Whilst being spun by Tsunoda was unfortunate, the Argentinian
offered little pace in Austria after a huge step was made in
Montreal. Pierre Gasly was comfortably quicker, raising yet
further questions over how long Colapinto has left racing alongside
the Frenchman. Colapinto's supposed five races to prove himself
are now up, only time will tell ahead of the British Grand Prix
whether that was the exact deadline for him to prove himself to
Flavio Briatore.
