Monaco's Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) won this Sunday the Austrian Grand Prix of Formula 1, ahead of Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), at the end of an undecided race until the end.
Leclerc, victim of accelerator problems, finished with less than three seconds ahead of the Dutchman, who remains the leader of the World Championship, after eleven races disputed.
The podium was completed by British Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) after the abandonment of the other Ferrari, piloted by Spanish Carlos Sainz Jr, whose engine caught fire when trying to overtake Verstappen and take second position, fourteen laps before the end.
"It was a very good race with a good pace. I had an accelerator problem and only had between 20 and 30% opening left, but I was able to manage that until the end," said the Monegasque driver after the arrival.
Leclerc had not finished on the podium in the previous five races and was seen distanced by Verstappen in the championship. "It was about time" to achieve a new victory, the third of the season for him, he acknowledged.
"We struggled with the tires," Verstappen said. "But it's still a second place," he added.
"It's a shame for the fans, as I couldn't offer them a victory," lamented the Dutchman, near the tide of his supporters and Red Bull who came to attend the race at the Spielberg circuit in Austria, owned by energy drinks giant Red Bull and the team of the same name.
The other Red Bull, driven by Mexican Sergio Perez, had retired after contact with British George Russell's Mercedes, who finished fourth, ahead of Frenchman Esteban Ocon's Alpine.
With information from AFP