In a thrilling race at the Austrian Grand Prix, George Russell of Mercedes emerged as the winner, claiming his second Formula 1 victory of his career. The 11th round of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship saw a dramatic collision between Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing and Lando Norris of McLaren, changing the dynamic of the race.

The race started with Verstappen leading the charge from pole position, followed closely by Norris and Russell. Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes engaged in a heated battle with Carlos Sainz of Ferrari in the opening corners, while McLaren's Oscar Piastri was forced wide by Red Bull's Sergio Perez at Turn 4, dropping back to seventh place. Unfortunately, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc had to pit due to contact with Piastri, requiring a new front wing.

As Verstappen established a comfortable lead over Norris, Hamilton made a move on Russell to secure third place on lap three, only for Russell to regain the position at the following corner. Sainz then overtook Hamilton for fourth place on lap seven, following a team instruction for Hamilton to let him through. Piastri showcased impressive driving skills by overtaking Perez on the outside at Turn 6.

Hamilton became the first frontrunner to pit on lap 22 but incurred a 5-second penalty for crossing the white line at the pitlane entry. Perez also received a penalty of 5 seconds for speeding in the pitlane. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin received a 10-second penalty for punting Zhou Guanyu of Sauber off at Turn 3 on lap 20.

Verstappen held a significant lead of 5.7 seconds when he and Norris both pitted on the same lap. However, Norris had to brake to avoid Verstappen as he exited his pitbox, allowing Piastri to take the lead temporarily. Piastri pitted a few laps later, rejoining in sixth place. Verstappen, investigated for an unsafe release, quickly regained a 7-second lead but was cleared by the stewards. Russell remained in third place, opting for a stint on medium tires while the rest of the field switched to hards.

The second pitstop cycle commenced on lap 47, with Russell being the first to pit and switch to hard tires. Piastri, on the other hand, overtook Hamilton to secure a net fifth position. Verstappen's pitstop on lap 51, however, encountered a setback as the left-rear tire wouldn't come off initially. Red Bull had to hold him in the pitlane to allow Norris to pass. This brought Norris, armed with fresh mediums, within 3 seconds of Verstappen.

Verstappen struggled with grip and locked up at Turn 4 on his out lap, allowing Norris to close in and enter Verstappen's DRS range on lap 54. Norris made a daring move and overtook Verstappen at Turn 3 on lap 59. However, he had to give the position back after running wide into the run-off, incurring a track limits violation. Just a few laps later, Norris attempted another overtaking maneuver at Turn 3, but Verstappen went off track at the exit. The collision between the two rivals occurred on the following lap at Turn 3, resulting in punctures for both drivers and their slow crawl back to the pits. Unfortunately for Norris, the damage sustained forced him to retire from the race.

With the collision between Verstappen and Norris and the subsequent need for a virtual safety car to clean the track, Russell inherited the lead. He maintained his position until the end of the race, securing a well-deserved victory. Piastri finished closely behind in second place, with Sainz securing the final spot on the podium. Hamilton crossed the line in fourth place, while Verstappen, after changing his punctured left-rear tire, finished in sixth place with a 10-second penalty for causing the collision.

The 2024 F1 Austrian GP provided a thrilling display of skill and excitement, with unexpected twists and turns that shook up the field. George Russell's impressive win further solidifies his position as a rising star in the world of Formula 1.