Russell holds off Verstappen to win Austrian GP

Austrian GP: George Russell holds off Max Verstappen to end winless streak and reinvigorate title bid George Russell claims first grand prix victory since opening race of season; Max Verstappen holds off championship leader Kimi Antonelli for second; Russell reduces his Mercedes team-mate's title battle lead to 40 points Sunday 28 June 2026 15:45, UK George Russell held off Max Verstappen at the Austrian Grand Prix to reinvigorate his championship challenge with a first victory since the opening round of the season. Mercedes' Russell produced a composed display to convert pole position to victory in Spielberg, holding off pressure from Verstappen over the second half of the race to take the chequered flag 1.6 seconds clear of the Red Bull. Verstappen went from hunter to hunted over the final laps at the Red Bull Ring as Russell's Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli, the world championship leader, almost snatched second, closing to within four tenths at the conclusion of the last of the 71 laps. - Austrian GP result | F1 2026 standings | F1 2026 Calendar - Download the Sky Sports app for expert analysis, best video & more📱 - Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 Russell's victory reduces his championship deficit to Antonelli to 40 points and moves the Brit back up to second in the standings ahead of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, who finished in fifth behind McLaren's Oscar Piastri. Russell's win, at the eighth of the season's 22 scheduled rounds, was his first in a grand prix since the season opener in Australia, after which he appeared to be an overwhelming title favourite. More to follow... Next up in the 2026 Formula 1 season is the big one, a Sprint weekend at Silverstone for the British Grand Prix - live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky One with coverage from Thursday to Sunday's race at 3pm. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime [Image text:] Meta Al CROW. Snapdragon HPE PETRONAS Microsoft OMP