Formula 1: Official intro video
Charles Leclerc reignited his world championship hopes by racing to victory at the Austrian Grand Prix as team-mate Carlos Sainz emerged unscathed from his Ferrari after it caught fire. Leclerc passed championship leader Max Verstappen three times to claim his first triumph since he took the chequered flag in Australia on April 10. Verstappen finished second after Sainz’s engine expired with 14 laps remaining.
Sainz broke down at the uphill Turn 4 but moments later later his car dramatically caught alight. With Sainz still in his cockpit and his car rolling downhill, the Spaniard had to battle gravity as he unstrapped his seatbelts and attempted to leap from his flaming machine.
The television cameras cut away from the flashpoint, but seconds later, Sainz was seen walking away from his wreckage, with the flames extinguished by marshals. Sainz’s retirement allowed Lewis Hamilton to take third with Mercedes team-mate George Russell fourth despite an opening-lap collision with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez.
Follow all the latest buildup to Sunday’s main event at the Austrian Grand Prix:
STAT ATTACK!
This was Ferrari’s first win in Austria since Michael Schumacher claimed victory in 2003!
Kieran Jackson10 July 2022 16:08
Lewis Hamilton:
“Especially after a difficult Friday with the crash, I was not expecting it – so proud of everyone for working so hard on the car. Hopefully we have some new better bits to come.
“We’re slowly eating into the guys ahead but they’re still very quick!
“I do feel like our qualifying pace is in the top-3 now and again. Completely new car, new chassis, change of gearbox, everything, naturally you don’t want to damage the car again. It got better as I got more dialled in with it.”
Kieran Jackson10 July 2022 16:05
Carlos Sainz:
“There was no feedback coming from the engine, very sudden. Bit lost for words – it’s a big loss on points. It’d have been an easy 1-2 today.
“A lot of fire, it’s something we’ll have to look at…
“It is more difficult to take because we were about to do a big result for the team and one car DNFs. It’s heartbreaking!”
Kieran Jackson10 July 2022 15:59
FINAL POSITIONS!
1. Leclerc
2. Verstappen
3. Hamilton
4. Russell
6. Schumacher
8. Magnussen
9. Ricciardo
10. Alonso
11. Bottas
13. Stroll
16. Tsunoda
17. Vettel
RET: Sainz
RET: Latifi
RET: Perez
Kieran Jackson10 July 2022 15:51
Sergio Perez:
“A big shame for us what happened today. I felt we had everything we could to avoid the incident, it was up to George to control his car but he couldn’t control it. We made contact when I was clearly ahead.
“I’m very sorry for Carlos but that’s not to do with us…
“The car this weekend hasn’t really been up there, some good analysis to be done from the weekend.”
Kieran Jackson10 July 2022 15:49
Christian Horner:
“Some very important points today. Ferrari had a quicker car for the majority of the race. Our tyre deg was higher in the first stint and it was hard to combat that.
“Ferrari just seemed lighter on the tyres and they had a pace advantage. Losing Checo too was a disappointment.
“Our pace at the end of the race was good, we still got the fastest lap. Over the two races we’ve only given away five points with Max.
“There was so much damage for Checo there was no chance for points so best to save the mileage. We’ll bounce back in France.
“Ferrari are quick so need to keep pushing, we can’t afford to back off. Max fought his hardest, just not quite enough today!”
Kieran Jackson10 July 2022 15:48
Time for the podium!
A proud moment for Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, celebrating his third win of the season!
Kieran Jackson10 July 2022 15:39
Lewis Hamilton:
“I definitely wasn’t expecting that – it was a rough weekend but it’s good to get points for the team!
“A big thank you to the men and women in the garage. We made some improvements this weekend so we just have to keep chipping away at it.”
Kieran Jackson10 July 2022 15:36
Charles Leclerc:
“I’m so so happy! It was not a problem with the engine, it was just the pedal which was feeling weird. Luckily it held out until the end of the race!
“The last five races have been very difficult for myself and the team!”
Kieran Jackson10 July 2022 15:35