2023 Austrian F1 Grand Prix Race Report & Results
Event: Austrian F1 Grand Prix
Track: Red Bull Ring
The start of the 2023 F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring
Weather: dry 20°C
Tarmac: dry 31°C
Humidity : 36%
Wind : 1 km/h N
Pressure: 939 mbar
Max Verstappen won his 7th F1 race of the season and his 42nd GP win at the 2023 Austrian F1 Grand Prix today. He started from pole and won on the Red Bull Ring for the 5th time. The Red Bull Racing team scored their 101st F1 race win.
Verstappen displayed dominance throughout the race, showcasing his exceptional skills behind the wheel.
The race day began with a 30% chance of rain, adding an element of uncertainty to the tire strategy. Since no team had a new set of soft tires, the majority of drivers opted for the medium compound, while a few, including Alonso, Magnussen, and Bottas, chose the hard compound. With little long run data gathered during Friday's practice sessions, the teams faced numerous unknowns regarding tire wear and the optimal number of pit stops.
Interestingly, the top three finishers mirrored the previous year's results. Last year, Charles Leclerc emerged victorious, securing Ferrari's last win to date. Leclerc outmaneuvered Verstappen three times to claim the win. Considering Ferrari's strong performance last year, many wondered if they could replicate that form in this year's race.
As the formation lap commenced, Verstappen led the drivers with all of them starting on medium tires, except for Alonso, Magnussen, and Bottas, who opted for the hard compound. The stage was set for an intense battle.
Verstappen made a solid start, fending off a challenge from Leclerc on the run to Turn 3. Sainz maintained his third position but faced mounting pressure from Hamilton, who had overtaken Norris to move up the field.
A safety car was deployed as Tsunoda ended up in the gravel following a collision with an Alpine car. Tsunoda managed to continue after a pit stop that involved a front wing change. The incident occurred when Tsunoda collided with the rear of the Alpine at Turn 1 and subsequently braked too late at Turn 4 to avoid another collision.
Once the safety car period ended, Verstappen led the pack and quickly established a gap ahead of Leclerc. Norris closed in on Hamilton but remained in fifth place for the time being.
By lap 5, Verstappen had created a gap of over a second between himself and Leclerc. Gasly, in the Alpine, started pressuring Stroll for eighth place. Meanwhile, Perez overtook Ocon, moving up to 12th.
Verstappen's lead extended further on lap 6, while Hamilton struggled to keep up with Sainz due to brake issues. Norris continued to close in on Hamilton, maintaining the potential for a battle. Further down the field, Perez was now challenging Russell for 11th.
On lap 7, Norris voiced his dissatisfaction with Hamilton, reporting that the Mercedes driver was exceeding track limits. Race control had not yet taken action. Hamilton found himself over two seconds behind Sainz, who was within striking distance of Leclerc. Perez closed in on Russell.
A turn 4 incident involving Magnussen and De Vries forced another driver off the track and was duly noted by the stewards.
Sainz believed he had the pace to overtake Leclerc, while Hamilton struggled with his brakes, impeding his ability to keep up with the Ferraris. Stroll managed to pass Hulkenberg, who had run wide at Turn 3.
On lap 10, Perez overtook Russell, with the two making slight contact. Hamilton received a black and white flag warning for exceeding track limits, a significant issue for the Mercedes driver so early in the race.
Unfortunately, Hulkenberg's race came to a halt as his car stopped on track, emitting smoke. Both Norris and Hamilton took the opportunity to pit, switching to hard tires. This triggered a wave of pit stops as several drivers sought a strategic advantage.
Ferrari and Aston Martin opted for a double-stack pit stop, but Red Bull did not follow suit. Leclerc experienced a slow stop, impacting Sainz's track position as he emerged behind Hamilton and Norris.
As the race progressed, battles ensued throughout the field. Gasly, Albon, and Ocon engaged in fierce wheel-to-wheel combat. Hamilton received a five-second time penalty, compounding his difficulties.
Verstappen's lead grew comfortably, with a six-second gap to Leclerc by lap 25. Meanwhile, Perez made his way through the field, passing Ocon and advancing to 10th.
Perez closed in on Albon, eventually overtaking him for ninth. Norris capitalized on Hamilton's mistakes, moving past his fellow Briton and claiming fourth place. Hamilton's frustrations continued as he served his time penalty and changed to medium tires.
Verstappen made a routine pit stop and rejoined the race in third place, behind both Ferraris. Perez continued his charge, overtaking Alonso and securing fifth place. Verstappen's pursuit of victory seemed unstoppable.
As the laps ticked by, battles intensified. Sainz valiantly defended his position against Perez, with Norris remaining within DRS range. Sainz received a black and white flag warning, one step away from a penalty.
Verstappen, having established a commanding lead, decided to pit for a fresh set of soft tires on the penultimate lap, intent on securing the fastest lap. He won the argument with his team and emerged victorious, setting the fastest lap in the process.
Verstappen crossed the finish line to claim his fifth Austrian Grand Prix win, delivering a dominant performance. Leclerc demonstrated remarkable progress, securing second place after a challenging start. Norris impressed throughout the weekend, finishing fifth and showcasing McLaren's potential. Perez, despite a disappointing qualifying session, fought his way to the podium with a strong drive.
Red Bull's victory marked their ninth win of the season, further solidifying their championship aspirations. Aston Martin and Mercedes, often contenders, struggled to match their previous performances. Ferrari, on the other hand, displayed promising form, while Alpine's battles entertained the spectators.
Haas encountered another frustrating race, struggling to convert their strong qualifying pace into race results. Williams showcased encouraging performances, with Albon and Sargeant exhibiting skillful driving.
The Austrian Grand Prix once again provided fans with thrilling moments and intense battles. The outcome leaves everyone wondering if anyone can challenge Red Bull's dominance as the championship progresses.
As the teams prepare for the next race in Silverstone, Mercedes and Ferrari have hinted at upcoming upgrades that could potentially reshape the competitive landscape. The F1 season continues to deliver excitement and surprises, ensuring an enthralling contest for fans worldwide.
Classification 2023 Austrian GP
| P | No | Driver | Team | Time | Laps | Grid | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 |  Max Verstappen |  Red Bull | 01:25:33.607 | 71 | 1 | 34 |
| 2 | 16 |  Charles Leclerc |  Ferrari | 01:25:38.762 | 71 | 2 | 18 |
| 3 | 11 |  Sergio Pérez | Red Bull | 01:25:50.795 | 71 | 15 | 22 |
| 4 | 4 |  Lando Norris | McLaren | 01:25:59.934 | 71 | 4 | 12 |
| 5 | 14 |  Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 01:26:03.924 | 71 | 7 | 14 |
| 6 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 01:26:04.984 | 71 | 3 | 14 |
| 7 | 63 | George Russell |  Mercedes | 01:26:22.010 | 71 | 11 | 7 |
| 8 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 01:26:22.803 | 71 | 5 | 4 |
| 9 | 18 |  Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 01:26:32.650 | 71 | 6 | 7 |
| 10 | 10 |  Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 01:26:41.274 | 71 | 9 | 1 |
| 11 | 23 |  Alex Albon | Williams | 01:26:53.374 | 71 | 10 | 0 |
| 12 | 24 |  Zhou Guanyu |  Alfa Romeo | 01:25:58.240 | 70 | 17 | 0 |
| 13 | 2 |  Logan Sargeant | Williams | 01:26:04.991 | 70 | 18 | 0 |
| 14 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | 01:26:15.747 | 70 | 12 | 2 |
| 15 | 77 |  Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo | 01:26:16.384 | 70 | 14 | 0 |
| 16 | 81 |  Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 01:26:20.176 | 70 | 13 | 0 |
| 17 | 21 | Nyck de Vries | AlphaTauri | 01:26:23.310 | 70 | 20 | 0 |
| 18 | 20 |  Kevin Magnussen | Haas | 01:26:30.260 | 70 | 19 | 0 |
| 19 | 22 |  Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri | 01:26:33.480 | 70 | 16 | 0 |
| DNF | 27 | Nico Hülkenberg | Haas | Power Unit | 12 | 8 | 3 |
Car 21 - 5 second time penalty - Forcing another driver off the track
Cars 2, 20, 31 (x2), 21 & 22 - 5 second time penalties - Track limits
Cars 22, 55, 44, 10, 23, 31 (x2) & 21 - 10 second time penalties - Track limits
Fastest lap : 1:07.012 min Max Verstappen, Red Bull RB19 on lap 71
| 2023 Austrian F1 GP Results |
| FP1 2023 Austrian F1 GP |
| Quali 2023 Austrian F1 GP |
| Shootout 2023 Austrian F1 GP |
| Startgrid 2023 Austrian F1 Sprint |
| Results 2023 Austrian F1 GP Sprint |
| Startgrid 2023 Austrian F1 GP |
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A master class by a real champion fastest all weekend max-imum points and not a wheel over the line while the rest whine and complain Max just gets on with it The king no penalties, his whiney team mate x 2, Roll on Silverstone, yes he'll slip up this year but not before he's destroyed the field. Lewis this is Your Dad, just drive and stop bleating about others, ooops 5sec+5sec lolololol it doesn't get much better.
I'm with you Shropp, Max appears to adhere to the track.
I completely agree with you Shroppy. Max was in a world of his own, and above all the chasers! Nearly everyone infringed the track limits rule, except for Fernando, Charles, Oscar, Alex, George? (I think) and Zou? (I think)
You are being a bit hard on Louise though. The reason she exceeded track limits on so many occasions was because she couldn't see the white lines due to the tears in her eyes from her continually crying! Even Toto was unsympathetic!
Only George & Zhou survived the race without a single note for a track limits offence.
Another time penalty fest Austrian GP, as expected.
Bottas was nowhere, lol.
Pitting towards the end with only a few seconds in hand would usually be risky, but not for Red Bull, so worth doing ultimately, even if only for a single point.
De Vries outperformed Tsunoda (who was overaggressive on the opening lap, lucky not to cause a big collision at T4) for the first time in a race on merit, even if his defense against Magnussen was unnecessarily aggressive, like Albon against Seb twelve months ago at the same corner.
Hamilton should've simply started taking more speed off into the last two corners to be safe.
Max is a thinking driver - slowing to capture the DRS trigger at turn 3, and accelerate past Chuck. More than once. Perez didn't get that memo with Sainz for several laps, but sorted it out eventually.
I have to express my dismay with Lance Stroll - "Knuckles" on a couple of issues. 1. He didn't let Fernando by in the Sprint, when he was clearly the faster driver. 2. His post race interview was a demonstration of a spoiled, entitled little pri_k - virtue signalling about a driver who died at Spa, and constantly scratching, picking rubbing his face and head. I was expecting Knuckles to pop a zit or horrors - pick his nose. What a gawd-awful display. Ewww.
I am wrong being So hard on the Dame, I take Zero Pleasure from it
((WARNING MY ACCOUNT HAS BEEN HACKED))
Phew that was close, Leopold was right a glitch in the matrix for a moment.
Anyhow off to Silverstone and the renamed whinger straight, even the BRDC thought it was time