George Russell Victory at Austrian F1 GP at Speilberg

 

Victory in Spielberg

• George Russell finished first, whilst Kimi Antonelli finished third at the end of Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix.
• It was a tough afternoon at the front, with the Red Bull of Max Verstappen applying sustained pressure throughout, while both drivers were required to manage a demanding and closely fought race.
• Having started on the medium compound, both George and Kimi executed a Medium‑Hard‑Hard two-stop strategy, one of the preferred approaches for today’s race.
• Verstappen, in the Red Bull, followed a similar two‑stop approach and was able to use strong late-race pace to close onto George and challenge for the lead.
• In the closing laps, Kimi put Verstappen under significant pressure for P2, reducing the gap and taking the fight all the way to the line, but ultimately had to settle for third.
• George controlled the race from the front, managing the final stint to secure the win despite the late pressure.
• With victory, George reduces Kimi’s advantage in the Drivers’ standings to 40 points whilst the team holds a 98-point advantage in the Constructors’.
• The team now heads back home for the second leg of this double-header nearby at Silverstone. 

Driver	Grid	Result	Fastest Lap	Start Tyre	Stop One	Stop Two
George Russell	P1	P1	1:10.683	Medium	Hard (Lap 24)	Hard (Lap 53)
Kimi Antonelli	P4	P3	1:10.374	Medium	Hard (Lap 19)	Hard (Lap 43)

George Russell

I’m really pleased with that result. It’s never straightforward around here and we were under pressure for much of the race, particularly in the final stint, so to convert pole into the win is very satisfying.

The team did a great job with the strategy and gave me a car that I could manage well across the race. In those conditions, it’s about keeping things simple, focusing on just driving, and I think we executed that well today.

It’s also great to score strong points together as a team. Kimi did a good job to recover and get himself back into the fight, which was important for the overall result.

We know it’s very tight at the front and our competitors are pushing us hard, so we have to keep working to find more performance. For now, though, we can take the positives from this weekend and look ahead to Silverstone next week.

Kimi Antonelli

It was not a straightforward race from my side. The first stint wasn’t where it needed to be and I struggled a bit with the brakes early on. After that, the pace was much better and I was able to get back into the fight. I think if we had a few more laps, it could have been an interesting battle for P2 at the end.

Congratulations to George on the win today. He did a great job managing the race, especially in the final stint under pressure. It’s a strong result for the whole team to have both cars scoring well and bringing home good points.

There is still a lot for me to learn, and this weekend has been a good reminder of that. I will take the lessons and come back stronger next weekend.

I’m looking forward to Silverstone. It’s always a special circuit and, with it being a sprint weekend, it will be important to be on it from the first session.

Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO

It was a race where we were under constant pressure and closer to our competitors than we would have liked. Red Bull were very competitive, particularly in the final stint, and we had to manage that all the way to the line.

George handled the race well. In those situations, it’s about keeping things simple and just driving, and he did exactly that without making mistakes when it mattered.

Kimi also showed good resilience after the start. He recovered well, got himself back into the fight, and was applying pressure for P2 right to the end of the race.

We scored strong points for the team today, but it also underlines how tight the competition is at the front and where we need to continue improving

Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director

Today was a great result for the team and a great result for George. It was good to see him take another well-deserved win and nice to have Kimi on the podium with him. It was one of those races where we were wishing it was a lap longer as it looked like Kimi had the pace to pass Max, but a podium is a solid result.  

The strategy team made good calls throughout the race. George was able to build a useful gap in the first stint, and we reacted well to cover the undercut threat from Verstappen heading into the final stint. Kimi also showed strong pace, making a good move on Leclerc early on and then using that to offset his strategy, which gave him the benefit of fresher tyres towards the end.

End of stint performance was a key factor today. It looked like only Verstappen, and our two drivers were able to manage tyre degradation effectively as the stints went beyond 20 laps, which is encouraging, particularly heading into the hotter races where that will be tested further.

It’s been a solid weekend in terms of points for the team, but it’s clear the field is very close. We’ll need to keep finding improvements and bringing performance if we want to maintain that position over the coming races.

Pole for George Russell at the 2026 F1 Austrian Grand Prix

 

Pole for George in Austria 

• George Russell took pole position for Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix with Kimi Antonelli lining up P4.
• That is George’s 11^th career pole position and first time starting at the front of the grid in Austria.
• Putting a good lap together in qualifying was no easy task with a track temperature of over 50 degrees and challenging tire management for both drivers.
• This morning’s practice session focused on single lap work and getting a precise idea of the C5 compound behavior under these hot conditions as the Brit topped FP3, with teammate Kimi Antonelli only 3 hundredths behind, taking P2. 
• Both drivers moved through Q1 and Q2, advancing after successful push laps in each segment and safely through to Q3.
• A fiercely competitive session and chaotic ending to Q3 saw George go fastest under yellow flag conditions after Max Verstappen’s Red Bull crashed in the final sector.
• George topped the timing screens with a 1.06.113; the Ferrari’s of Charles 

  George Russell

  P1 feels really good today. That last lap in Q3 felt unbelievable. I could see I was gaining a few tenths corner after corner, and it just felt incredible. Without the yellow flag at the end of the session, I know we could have been even faster. 

  It was a tense Q1 and Q2 for us as it was very tight, but once we got into Q3 I just focused on driving instinctively and everything came together. I’ve felt confident in the car all weekend and I’m really pleased we were able to deliver when it mattered most.

  Toto and the team have been hugely supportive. We’re in constant communication and that belief gives you the freedom to go out there and enjoy it, which is exactly what I did today.

  Of course, today is only part of the job. Tomorrow is what counts and it’s going to be a close race. Ferrari and McLaren have looked strong, and Max is always going to be a factor. We’ll need to execute well, stay clean, and make the most of every opportunity.

  Kimi Antonelli

  It’s been a positive weekend so far and we’ve been able to show good pace as we’ve progressed through the sessions. The final lap in qualifying was coming together well and looked like it could have been close to George, which is encouraging and a learning experience for me.

  I’ve been feeling comfortable in the car, and we’ve shown particularly strong pace on the long runs, so that gives us a good platform heading into tomorrow.

  It’s going to be a challenging race with the conditions and high tire degradation, so managing that will be key. There is a lot to play for and with different strategies possible, we’ll aim to move forward and maximize the result.

  Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO

  It wasn’t the most straightforward qualifying session for us with Q1 and Q2 proving quite complicated, so it was important to stay composed and execute cleanly when it mattered. 

  George did an outstanding job today. He has been competitive throughout the weekend and, when it mattered most, produced an outstanding lap using all of his experience; he lifted at the right time, managed the necessary amount, and ultimately maximized the lap when it counted. Sometimes you have to simplify things and just drive, and he did exactly that. He’s also handled the tire quite well throughout the session, which was key in these conditions. 

  Kimi has also had another positive weekend. He showed strong pace from the first laps in practice and has been competitive throughout. His final lap in Q3 was compromised by the late yellow flags, but fourth on the grid still gives him every opportunity tomorrow. He continues to gain experience every weekend and has shown once again that he can compete at the very front.

  We know that our competitors will be right on us. They’ve shown that pace already so there’s still plenty to fight for tomorrow.

  Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director

  A huge congratulations to George and the team on another pole position today. It was a very impressive lap which he managed to pull out when it mattered most.  

  The day overall was fairly straightforward. We made some tweaks to the setup overnight and were able to put the car in a reasonable place in FP3. In qualifying, it felt like Kimi was having the smoother session. He looked quick in every session and was finding time as the track improved. Kimi was a bit unfortunate with the timing of the yellow at turn 9 on his final run; he'd thought it was a double yellow so backed out of the lap and lost a possible P2.  

  George at the same stage was on his best lap by far; despite having to lift through turn 9 he was still able to claim pole by over 0.2s which is a great achievement. 

  It's all going to be about the race pace and degradation tomorrow. We've seen enough from Friday to know that it's going to be a close fight with all the teams at the front and the temperatures will be tough on the car and tires.   Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton splitting our duo with Kimi in P4. 

A Hot Race at Spa-Francorchamps -- The CrowdStrike 24 Hours

 

Race in the heat at Spa-Francorchamps – How Maro Engel is Preparing for Extreme Conditions

• Temperatures of around 35°C are expected for the start of the 24-hour race
• "Three Questions for" Mercedes-AMG Performance Driver Maro Engel: "I expect to lose around two to two-and-a-half kilograms over the course of the race weekend."
• When the 78th edition of the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa gets underway today at 4:30 pm, ambient temperatures are expected to reach around 35°C. Mercedes-AMG Motorsport will field a total of eleven Mercedes-AMG GT3 cars across the PRO, BRONZE, SILVER and PRO-AM categories. Mercedes-AMG Performance Driver Maro Engel, who has represented the brand since 2008 and is contesting his eleventh 

 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps, can hardly recall another race weekend in which both drivers and machinery have faced such extreme heat. Together with the Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER, he is ready to take on this exceptional challenge. In our "Three Questions for" feature, the 40-year-old explains how drivers and teams prepare for these extraordinary conditions and why the high temperatures will have a significant impact not only on the drivers and the cars, but also on race strategy.

How do you prepare for such an exceptional race weekend, and how do you cope with the challenge?
Maro Engel: "In the build-up, I followed my normal fitness program, but to be honest, with the number of races I'm currently doing, there is hardly any better preparation – even for conditions like these. Before the race weekend and throughout the event, I've been paying particular attention to staying properly hydrated, making sure I drink plenty of fluids and take on enough electrolytes. If you don't, the amount of fluid you lose during each stint is enormous, and the risk of muscular tiredness and general physical exhaustion increases significantly. With ambient temperatures this high, cockpit temperatures rise dramatically. We use cooling vests, and I also soak my underwear before getting into the car. That helps the airflow into the cockpit cool my body more effectively. We also have a physiotherapist in the team who does an outstanding job. He looks after all the basics and is waiting by the car after every stint with a bottle of water and a cold, wet towel. Beyond that, I try to stay in the shade whenever possible or spend time in air-conditioned rooms."

How does the extreme heat affect the drivers, the car and the race strategy?
Maro Engel: "We don't actually have a huge amount of experience with temperatures like these during the Spa 24 Hours. This is certainly one of the hottest race weekends I can remember here. Back in 2006, during the British Formula 3 season, we had a race weekend with temperatures of around 40°C, so we're still slightly below that. It was also extremely hot in the lead-up to the race here in Spa in 2019, although temperatures dropped again by race day. Naturally, the heat can influence our strategy. It's quite possible that we'll switch to shorter stints at short notice to reduce the physical strain on the driver. As soon as dehydration or reduced concentration becomes a factor, we have to react. The heat also presents technical challenges. The team has to ensure that the engine and brakes remain as cool as possible at all times. In addition, these temperatures change the character of the circuit. Grip levels decrease significantly, meaning the asphalt offers noticeably less traction."

What impact does such an extreme race weekend have on recovery and the races that follow?
Maro Engel: "If I manage to stay disciplined with my hydration throughout the weekend, I expect to lose around two to two-and-a-half kilograms over the course of the event. Looking ahead to the coming weeks – and in particular the upcoming DTM weekend at the Norisring – recovery will become my number one priority from Monday onwards. Plenty of sleep, a balanced diet, staying well hydrated and giving my body as much rest as possible will all be essential to ensure I'm fully prepared for the next race weekend."

Mercedes-Benz Friday Update -- Austrian GP

 A promising Friday in the Styrian foothills

The practice day for the Austrian Grand Prix provided an eventful and informative start in hot weather, with track temperatures reaching 50°C. The team tested the soft (C5) and medium (C4) tire compounds to understand how the tires behaved on the circuit and to manage tire degradation over the two sessions. In doing so, the team preserved both sets of hard tires for the rest of the weekend. Both drivers showed promising pace on the long runs, with tire management remaining a key focus under the demanding conditions. The first practice session ended with both drivers at the top of the timesheets: Kimi in first place and George in second. In the second practice session, the entire field ran more representative programs, giving a clearer picture of the competitive order, as several teams focused on work with the medium tires. Kimi was again the fastest in the second practice session, while George ended the day in sixth place. Both drivers ran the same tire compounds as the team gathered data ahead of Sunday’s race. On a flying lap, Kimi showed excellent pace on the softer C5 compound and was two tenths quicker than Norris in the McLaren.

Kimi Antonelli

It’s been a clean and productive day for us. From FP1 onwards, I’ve felt comfortable in the car, which gave us a good platform to work from as we built through the sessions.

The hot conditions will continue to make things quite challenging, particularly in terms of tyre management. Keeping the tyres in the right working window without overheating is important, so that’s an area we’ll continue to focus on.

We’ve gathered a lot of useful information, but there’s still work to do and the picture will likely evolve overnight. We’ll analyse everything in detail and focus on making the right improvements ahead of Qualifying.

George Russell

It’s been a solid day overall and a good place to start the weekend. The car felt competitive from the outset, and we’ve got a solid base to work from, but with the margins so tight, it’s clear a few teams are going to be in the fight.

From my side, there are still a few areas to improve. It’s clear there’s performance to unlock and those are the kind of steps we can focus on overnight. The long-run pace looked strong in the conditions we’ve seen today, which is encouraging. Tyre management is going to be important this weekend, and that is something we will continue to keep on top of throughout the weekend.

We’ve got a good foundation to build on and, with a few tweaks, I’m confident we can take a step forward and put ourselves in the mix for qualifying.

Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director

In recent years, we've failed to get the car in a good position on this track. After a lot of preparation for the past few months, it was interesting to see how the W17 was behaving today. Aside from a few tricky corners and a tendency to run the rear tyres hot, the altitude adds additional challenges to the power unit and cooling system.

Our morning session was packed with test items. We managed to make good progress and were able to complete most of the usual race weekend work. We identified a few balance issues which we worked on into the afternoon session. 

The track was slightly cooler in the afternoon, and Kimi finished the day on a positive note although both were able to do solid long runs. George didn't quite get the single lap together in the afternoon but that wasn't a concern in the morning. We've got plenty of data to work with overnight to put that back in a good place.  

It looks quite close with the competition in terms of single lap and long run and it's hard to say exactly where we sit but compared to the last few seasons here, it seems to be a good improvement and we'll do our usual overnight work searching for that bit more pace.

Special Exhibit at Mercedes-Benz Museum on Commercial Vehicles Starting June 8

 

• Vans and trucks spanning 130 years, right up to the eSprinter and eActros 600 with high-performance electric drives
• In 1896, Carl Benz sold the first van and Gottlieb Daimler delivered the first truck
• Classics & Coffee on 28 June 2026, featuring a special theme: “Commercial Vehicles”

Ever since Carl Benz sold the first van in 1896 and Gottlieb Daimler delivered the first truck in the same year, commercial vehicles have shaped global transport and logistics. The special exhibition “130 Years of Commercial Vehicles” at the Mercedes-Benz Museum explores this history and, from 28 June 2026 to 4 April 2027, showcases seven vehicles from different eras in Collection Room 5 – including the latest battery-electric models from Mercedes-Benz Vans and Mercedes-Benz Trucks, such as the eSprinter and eActros 600. 

Indispensable in everyday life

The special exhibition highlights the importance of vans and trucks in everyday life: they ensure the supply of goods, keep economic cycles moving, and are just as much a part of the scene on construction sites as they are on motorways and in cities. Hardly any area of daily life can do without them. “130 Years of Commercial Vehicles” showcases this diversity, presenting vans and trucks from three different eras. Media stations draw on historical forms of communication, such as traditional advertising columns, and enrich the exhibits with additional perspectives. A striking illustration of the global significance of commercial vehicles is an animated 1.5-metre-tall LED globe that visualizes data and stories from 130 years of Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle history. 

The vehicles in the special exhibition

• The Benz 1C from 1922 represents the early days of series-production trucks. The 1.5-tonne vehicle started out as a fire-fighting vehicle and was later converted. During the restoration, it was fitted with its current platform body.
• From 1952 onwards, the Mercedes-Benz 170 V panel van was also used by Mercedes-Benz Service. The compact van carried tools and spare parts beneath an elegantly designed “Sindelfingen body”.
• The Mercedes-Benz O 319 D panorama bus from 1961 was a real treat for any travel enthusiast. Compact buses of this type, along with the L 319 vans, were companions of the “economic miracle” era.
• The Mercedes-Benz L 911 bears the marks of a hard working life: the special exhibition presents this medium-duty short-nosed vehicle from 1966, with its original patina intact.
• The Mercedes-Benz eVito from 2023, with its battery-electric drive, proves its worth in everyday use in urban logistics, trades and the service sector. Various small-series vehicles paved the way for this.
• In 1995, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter gave its name to an entire category of vehicles. The latest Mercedes-Benz eSprinter continues the success story with battery-electric rear-wheel drive. On display is a vehicle from 2024.
• The Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 has been in series production since 2024. It is designed for long-distance haulage on battery power: with a battery capacity of 621 kWh and a range of 500 kilometers without recharging, it sets new standards in long-distance haulage. 

Vans and trucks in the Atrium

In the Museum’s Atrium, a temporary display of classic commercial vehicles from Mercedes-Benz’s history complements the special exhibition. Authentic reconstructions of the Benz Combination delivery van from 1899 and the Daimler truck from 1896 are on display to mark the opening of the special exhibition – the pioneers of commercial vehicle history. Both are also used at various events.

Miniatures and interactive stations

The special exhibition also showcases the diversity of commercial vehicles on a miniature scale. With over 180 models of various vans and trucks, visitors can experience the latest developments in a range of scales, primarily 1:87. They were provided by the members of the Mercedes-Benz Model Car Club. 

Two interactive stations also offer a fun way to engage with the exhibition: an arcade game invites players to take part in virtual truck racing, while “VANtastic Memo” tests your memory with images from van history. 

Classic car meet and Family Day

At the special themed event of the multi-brand classic car meet “Classics & Coffee” on 28 June 2026, commercial vehicles will take center stage alongside the opening of the special exhibition. Vans and trucks will also play a prominent role at Family Day on 5 July 2026. Among other things, there will be opportunities to ride in vintage vehicles. 

The Mercedes-Benz Museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The ticket counter always closes at 5 p.m. 

Austrian Grand Prix Preview

 

Toto Talks Austria

Barcelona acted as a benchmark for our current performance and, having won the first six races, offered a reality check. Others have gained ground quickly and we need to respond. We are in a fight for both championships but must improve if we want to come out on top come the end of the season. 

Our Achilles heel so far has been reliability. We have lost a large number of points across both cars in recent races; if we don’t put together clean weekends, our competitors will happily take advantage.

We are not standing still in our efforts; we will bring a few updates to Austria this weekend with a focus on improving both performance and reliability. The margins are tight and will be even tighter around Spielberg given the length of the lap. We need to put together a better weekend than we have in recent races but if we can deliver to our maximum, then we know we can challenge for victory.

Third Driver Insights

Austria is an incredible circuit and, without doubt, one of the most beautiful on the calendar. I have a special connection with the track, I’ve always enjoyed racing here and it’s been my most successful venue so far.

In many ways it’s a simple layout, but that’s what makes it so competitive, especially in qualifying where the lap times are extremely close. It’s such a rewarding track to hook up a lap; with the high-speed sections combined with a handful of slower corners, you really need to deliver something close to perfection to be at the front.

The race itself usually provides great action too, with the long straights and heavy braking zones creating plenty of overtaking opportunities. I’m also excited to see how the current regulations play out here and what strategic options come into play. It should make for a very interesting race weekend.

Did you know?

• After holding three Sprint format weekends, the Austrian Grand Prix returns to the non-Sprint format weekend for this year
• With just 10 corners, Spielberg has the fewest of any track of the current F1 circuits. At the same time, turns 2, 5 and 8 are taken at full throttle and are therefore not considered to be corners in an engineering sense.
• The difference in elevation of 69 meters between the lowest and highest points at the circuit is one of the largest of the season. That is unsurprising given the track's location in the Styrian mountains.
• It also has a steep gradient from track edge-to-edge in places, as exemplified by Turns 3 and 4. The circuit here slopes up towards the apex as the car drives over the crest while accelerating out of the corner. This can result in one wheel leaving the ground, causing challenges with braking, stability, and traction.
• For that reason, teams must apply significant cooling levels to the brakes. That poses a challenge in warming up the front tires. With a short out-lap, it is a challenge to get them in the right operating window for a qualifying lap.
• With a maximum previously recorded track temperature of 55.1 degrees, the surface in Spielberg can be one of the hottest of the season.
• Niki Lauda is the only Austrian driver to have won the Austrian Grand Prix, in 1984.
• George’s triumph in 2024 means he has won at the Red Bull Ring in F3, F2, and F1.
• Kimi drove an F1 car for the very first time at the circuit in 2024, when he tested the Mercedes F1 W12 from the 2021 season.
• George’s 2024 victory also meant that every Mercedes F1 driver at that time in the Hybrid era (2014) had won the Austrian Grand Prix. That list also includes Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, and Valtteri Bottas.