2022 F1, Austrian GP outcomes: Leclerc battles mechanical points to take victory

Charles Leclerc survived a late reliability scare to win the Austrian GP, ​​securing his first victory because the Australian GP in April. Benefitting from Carlos Sainz’ engine failure, Max Verstappen completed second, whereas Lewis Hamilton accomplished the rostrum.

• Leclerc survives throttle subject to win
• Verstappen and Hamilton on the rostrum
• Sainz, Perez retires

Leclerc fends off Verstappen

Verstappen could have gained the Dash Race on Saturday, however Ferrari appeared to have a transparent tempo benefit in Sunday’s race. Leclerc handed Verstappen to maneuver into the lead on lap 12, prompting the Pink Bull driver to pit. He briefly misplaced that lead when he pitted for recent tires, but it surely didn’t take an excessive amount of time to catch Verstappen and as soon as once more go him for the lead.

However reliability issues hit Ferrari within the closing phases of the race. Whereas the Digital Security Automotive was deployed for Sainz’ stoppage, Leclerc began reporting points along with his throttle drawback that made downshifts tough.

This allowed Verstappen to shut the hole right down to inside 2.3 seconds. However Leclerc survived some tense remaining laps to take victory. This arms Ferrari their second consecutive win, following Sainz’ British GP victory, serving to them put some stress on present championship chief Verstappen. It was additionally a much-needed outcome for Leclerc, who hadn’t been on the rostrum since Miami,

“I positively wanted that one,” Leclerc admitted. “The final 5 races have been extremely tough for myself but in addition for the staff clearly, and to lastly present that we’ve bought the tempo within the automotive and that we are able to do it’s unimaginable, so we have to push till the tip [of the year],

Explaining what occurred within the closing phases, he stated, “the tip was extremely tough. I had this drawback with the throttle and it could get caught at 20 % or 30 % throttle within the low-speed. So it was very difficult however we managed to make it stick till the tip and I’m so joyful.”

Sainz’ engine failure prices Ferrari 1-2 outcome

Ferrari did, nonetheless, lose out on what regarded like a transparent shot at a 1-2 end. Sainz was proper on Verstappen’s tail when he immediately slowed down with hearth on the rear of his Ferrari. This additionally has an affect on Leclerc’s championship struggle; had Sainz completed second, he might have eaten into Verstappen’s lead.

Sainz’ retirement allowed Hamilton to land the ultimate spot on the rostrum for the third time in a row. George Russell completed fourth, having been handed a five-second penalty for colliding with Sergio Perez early within the race.

Alpine’s Esteban Ocon was fifth. Mick Schumacher scored his finest F1 outcome but with a sixth place end after overtaking McLaren’s Lando Norris and his Haas teammate Kevin Magnussen. Daniel Ricciardo completed ninth for McLaren, whereas Fernando Alonso rounded out the highest 10 after having to pit three.

2022 F1 championship standings

Leclerc’s win has helped him shut the hole to Verstappen within the championship by a bit. On the midway level of the season, Verstappen now holds a 38 factors lead. However as we’ve seen previously, it solely takes one unhealthy race to show issues round, so it but stays a good championship battle.

After a brief break, the French GP is up subsequent on July 24.

2022 Austrian GP outcomes

Additionally see:

British GP: Sainz scores maiden F1 win