Austrian GP 2022 - Race: Leclerc wins, as Sainz suffers another engine problem
Charles Leclerc returned on the top step of the podium in Austria, followed by Max Verstappen in P2 and Lewis Hamilton in P3.
Race Start: Max Verstappen was able to keep the lead of the race, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz following. Sergio Perez spun in an overtaking attempt, after some contact he had with George Russell, resulting him to visit the gravel trap. He rejoined in P20, with Russell getting a 5-sec penalty, which he served in the pits, two laps later.
Lap 12: In a battle for the lead, Charles Leclerc sweeped past Max Verstappen at T4.
Lap 14: Verstappen got called in the pits to change to a fresh set of hards, rejoining in P5.
Lap 15: Lewis Hamilton cleared both Haas drivers, cruising at P4.
Lap 18: Verstappen passed Hamilton for P3, aiming for the Ferraris.
Lap 24: A five-way midfield battle for P8, between Magnussen, Zhou, Alonso, Norris and Schumacher, with the latter leading the five after the end of the battle.
Lap 26: Sergio Perez was asked to retire his damaged RB18, after the contact he had with Russell in the opening lap of the race.
Lap 27-28: Ferrari called Leclerc into the pits, with the Monegasque changing into a fresh set of hard tyres, and Sainz doing the same, one lap later.
Lap 32: With Charles Leclerc showing insane pace after his pit stop, Verstappen lost the lead of the race for the second time.
Lap 33: Pierre Gasly received a 5-sec time penalty, for not respecting track limits, with Lando Norris and Guanyu Zhou being awarded the same penalty.
Lap 37: Verstappen pitted for the second time, dropping behind the Ferraris.
Lap 40: Sebastian Vettel spun in the gravel, after some contact with Pierre Gasly, with the Frenchman receiving another 5-sec penalty.
Lap 50: Both Ferraris pitted, changing into a second set of hards.
Lap 51: Nicholas Latifi told that he had to retire the car due to some floor damage, as reported from the team.
Lap 53: Verstappen got overtaken by Leclerc for a third time this race, losing the lead.
Lap 58: Carlos Sainz pulled to the side of the track, just before overtaking Verstappen, with fire coming out of his car, summoning a Virtual Safety Car. Frontrunners Leclerc and Verstappen both pitted, rejoining P1 and P2, respectively.
Lap 62: Leclerc reported that "Throtte pedal feels a bit strange", while being 3.5 sec in the lead, ahead of Verstappen.
Lap 71: Despite Leclerc having a throttle issue and Verstappen creeping up behind him, the Ferrari driver was able to keep the lead and see the chequered flag first.
Charles Leclerc drove to an easy win -despite the late-race throttle issues he had-, followed by Max Verstappen in P2 and Lewis Hamilton in P3, with a back-to-back podium.
With George Russell in P4, Mercedes proved that they re the best of the rest, getting a big haul of points.
Esteban Ocon in P5, followed by the two Haas drivers in P6 and P8, with Mick Schumacher leading Kevin Magnussen, splitted by Lando Norris in P7. Completing the top 10, Daniel Ricciardo in P9 and Fernando Alonso in P10.
Championship Shuffle: Alpine and McLaren are now tied in the Constructors Standings, with both teams having 81 points. Haas, with another double-points finish, have overtaken AlphaTauri for P7.
Full Race Classification:
