George Russell Wins 2026 Austrian Grand Prix Ahead of Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli
George Russell claimed a commanding victory at the Formula 1 Lenovo Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring today, leading a triumphant 1-3 finish for Mercedes with young sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli securing a sensational third place, as Max Verstappen settled for second.
George Russell delivered a masterclass performance at the Red Bull Ring today, June 28, 2026, to clinch a dominant victory at the Formula 1 Lenovo Austrian Grand Prix. The British driver, 28, steered his Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team car to the top step of the podium, fending off a charging Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing, and securing a remarkable 1-3 finish for the Silver Arrows with teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Starting from pole position, Russell controlled the 71-lap race held in the picturesque Styrian mountains, converting his strong qualifying pace into a crucial championship victory. India Targets Formula 1 Return by 2028, Sports Ministry Sets Up Task Force: Report.
George Russell Claims Austrian GP
GEORGE RUSSELL WINS IN AUSTRIA! 🏆👏
IT'S HIS SECOND GRAND PRIX WIN OF THE SEASON! 😮💨#F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/8BXsjkBHEC
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 28, 2026
Race Highlights
The race, which commenced at 6:30 PM IST, saw a clean start under the Austrian skies after a ceremonial fly-past. Russell, who had been on formidable form all weekend, quickly established a rhythm at the front, demonstrating the Mercedes W17's impressive capabilities around the 4.326km Red Bull Ring.
Max Verstappen, the 28-year-old four-time World Champion for Red Bull Racing, mounted a strong challenge throughout the race. Despite his best efforts, including a late-race surge, he couldn't quite close the gap to Russell, ultimately crossing the finish line in second place. This result marks another solid points haul for Verstappen, who has been a dominant force in recent seasons.
The surprise of the day came from Mercedes' rookie sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The Italian talent, a Mercedes Junior Team member, delivered a composed and mature drive to secure a sensational third place, marking his maiden F1 podium. This outstanding performance from Antonelli highlights his immense potential and underlines a fantastic team effort for Mercedes.
This victory for Russell and Mercedes is expected to significantly impact the Constructors' and Drivers' Championships, injecting renewed momentum into their campaign.
F1 Drivers Standings
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Points | Wins |
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 171 | 5 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | 131 | 1 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 125 | 1 |
| 4 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 80 | 0 |
| 5 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 79 | 0 |
| 6 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 79 | 0 |
| 7 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 73 | 0 |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull Racing | 42 | 0 |
| 9 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 41 | 0 |
| 10 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 29 | 0 |
| 11 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 18 | 0 |
| 12 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 16 | 0 |
| 13 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | 14 | 0 |
| 14 | Carlos Sainz Jr. | Williams | 6 | 0 |
| 15 | Alex Albon | Williams | 5 | 0 |
| 16 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | 3 | 0 |
| 17 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | 2 | 0 |
| 18 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1 | 0 |
| 19 | Nico Hülkenberg | Audi | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Sergio Pérez | Cadillac | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 0 | 0 |
F1 Constructors' Table
| Pos. | Constructor | Points | Wins |
| 1 | Mercedes | 302 | 6 |
| 2 | Scuderia Ferrari | 204 | 1 |
| 3 | McLaren | 159 | 0 |
| 4 | Red Bull Racing | 115 | 0 |
| 5 | Alpine | 57 | 0 |
| 6 | Racing Bulls | 44 | 0 |
| 7 | Haas | 21 | 0 |
| 8 | Williams | 11 | 0 |
| 9 | Audi | 2 | 0 |
| 10 | Aston Martin | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | Cadillac | 0 | 0 |
The teams will now quickly turn their attention to the next event on the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship calendar, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, scheduled for July 3-5.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 28, 2026 08:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
