High Stakes in the Hills: Can Red Bull Stop McLaren’s Reign in Austria?

Ten races into the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship, fans have been treated to an unpredictable and exhilarating season. In a stunning twist, McLaren has emerged as the team to beat – a sentence that would’ve raised eyebrows just a couple years ago. Young Aussie Oscar Piastri leads the drivers’ standings with 198 points, 22 clear of teammate Lando Norris. The papaya-clad duo have collected a combined seven wins in ten races (Piastri with five victories, Norris with two), giving McLaren a dominant 374 points in the constructors’ chase – nearly double their nearest rival. The resurgence of the Woking squad, known for its superior tire management and versatile MCL39 chassis, has been the storyline of the year.

That’s not to say the usual suspects are silent. Reigning four-time champion Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing have fought hard, but currently sit a distant fourth in the constructors’ standings. Verstappen has two wins to his name and 155 points (3rd in the championship), but the team has struggled to match McLaren’s consistency. Red Bull’s second seat has seen a changing of the guard – with Yuki Tsunoda stepping up alongside Max – and their points haul has suffered as a result. Meanwhile, Mercedes and Ferrari find themselves in an unusual role: chasing McLaren. Mercedes’ charge is led by George Russell (136 points, 4th) with rookie teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli gaining confidence. Over at Ferrari, veterans Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have endured a rollercoaster – a poor start left Ferrari as low as P7 after round one, but steady recovery has them back up to third in the standings. Ferrari boss Frédéric Vasseur admits the Scuderia “didn’t do a good job” in a couple of early races (including a costly disqualification in China) but believes they’ve made a “decent recovery” since. Still, Vasseur concedes that McLaren is “one step ahead” of everyone at the moment.

Off-track, the paddock rumor mill is churning at full tilt. Perhaps the spiciest whispers involve Mercedes eyeing none other than Max Verstappen for the future. Team principal Toto Wolff has been conspicuously complimentary toward the Dutchman, stating that 2026’s rules overhaul “could be quite attractive to drive with us… whether it’s Max and whether he can get out of his contract, I don’t know”. The very idea of Verstappen in Silver Arrows overalls has fans buzzing, even as he remains under contract at Red Bull until 2028. In the meantime, Wolff has engaged in psychological warfare with Red Bull this season – most recently in Canada, where Red Bull lodged a post-race protest against Russell. Wolff slyly spared Verstappen any blame for the skirmishes, remarking “I’m 100% sure it’s not Max… He’s a racer. He would never go for a protest on such a trivial thing”. The message was clear: Mercedes respects Max, but finds Red Bull’s antics “embarrassing”.

This feisty backdrop set the stage for an unforgettable Canadian Grand Prix – the latest chapter in a season that’s already delivering on drama. Let’s dive into Montreal’s madness and then look ahead to what’s coming in Austria.

Canadian Grand Prix Recap: Chaos in Montreal

The Canadian Grand Prix (Round 10) proved to be a pivotal weekend, packed with plot twists and high emotion. George Russell arrived in Montreal determined to capitalize on Mercedes’ recent upgrades – and he did so in style. After a thrilling qualifying that saw Russell beat Verstappen and Piastri to pole, the Briton delivered a composed drive on Sunday to convert pole position into victory. It was Russell’s first win of the season (and fourth of his career), as well as Mercedes’ first trip to the top step in 2025. He led 70 laps at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, controlling the race pace and fending off a late charge from Verstappen’s Red Bull. Max ultimately finished a well-behaved second – a solid result, if not the home run the defending Canadian GP winner wanted.

The real fireworks, however, came right behind the leaders. Mercedes’ 18-year-old prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli drove the race of his young life. Starting fourth, the Italian ran strongly in the top five throughout. In the closing laps, he found himself holding third place but under intense pressure from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. “The last few laps were a struggle, especially seeing Oscar getting closer and closer in DRS range,” Antonelli said, describing how he’d pushed a bit too hard and worn his tires while chasing Verstappen. Piastri even attempted a daring overtake into Turn 1 at one point, nearly snatching the podium away. But Antonelli kept his cool, and that pressure-cooker experience paid off when chaos erupted behind him on lap 67.

Running 4th and 5th were the two McLarens – Piastri ahead of Norris – and team orders were nonexistent. Norris, hungry to regain points after pit stops, saw an opportunity as Piastri defended. The Briton tried multiple times in lap 67 to pass his teammate. Finally, Norris dived to Piastri’s left entering the chicane, misjudged the gap, and clipped the back of Piastri’s car, ricocheting his McLaren into the wall. The impact tore off Norris’s front wing and broke his suspension, ending his race on the spot. A collective gasp went up around Montreal – the leading team’s two drivers had collided with each other, threatening to derail McLaren’s dream season in one swoop.

Piastri managed to continue despite the contact, though his MCL39 sustained damage. He immediately came over the radio in shock, while Norris was quick to own up to the mistake: “I’m sorry. All my bad. All my fault. Stupid from me,” Lando apologized over team radio as his broken car rolled to a halt. The self-reproach continued once Norris reached the paddock. “I made a fool of myself,” he admitted candidly to media afterward. “I should never have gone for it… way too much risk, especially on my teammate. I’m happy nothing happened to him, and I paid the price for my mistake”. It was a painful lesson for the 25-year-old, whose career-best points-scoring streak (dating back eight races) came to an abrupt end in that instant.

The Norris-Piastri tangle brought out a Safety Car that neutralized the final three laps. Up front, Russell’s heart may have skipped a beat – a late Safety Car can erase leads – but he executed the restart protocol perfectly. In fact, this phase led to the weekend’s mini-controversy: Red Bull filed a protest claiming Russell brake-tested Verstappen behind the Safety Car and then complained on radio about Max overtaking, allegedly to bait the stewards. The stewards swiftly reviewed and rejected the protest, finding no foul play. (Cue Toto Wolff’s smirk and remarks about “trivial” protests…) Russell took the checkered flag under yellow, with Verstappen following nose-to-tail. Antonelli crossed in third – earning his first Formula 1 podium in just his 10th start, and at 18 years old he became the third-youngest podium finisher ever (only Verstappen and local hero Lance Stroll were younger). “It’s better than I imagined – a feeling that can’t be bought,” an ecstatic Antonelli said of his podium, though he admitted the closing laps were “very stressful” watching the laps count down.

Behind the top three, Oscar Piastri limped home 4th, salvaging 12 valuable points despite the scare and even grabbing fresh tires during the Safety Car (not that he got to use them). For the first time all year, McLaren failed to put a car on the podium – a testament to how dominant they had been until now. Ferrari capitalized on the McLaren mishap: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished 5th and 6th respectively, after a hard-fought but clean race on their end. Hamilton had an eventful weekend – at one point he accidentally hit a stray groundhog during practice, leaving him “devastated” about the animal, though thankfully it didn’t damage his car. In the race, the Ferrari duo showed decent pace and reliability, a “good recovery” in Vasseur’s eyes considering the team’s early-season woes. Fernando Alonso drove a lonely but solid race to 7th for Aston Martin, and Nico Hülkenberg brought home 8th for Sauber (rebranded Alfa Romeo team) – continuing a trend of the veteran nicking points whenever opportunity knocks. Rounding out the top ten were Esteban Ocon in a Haas and Carlos Sainz Jr. in a Williams, both of whom quietly snuck into the points as attrition and penalties shuffled the order.

The championship implications of Canada were significant. Piastri’s fourth-place meant he extended his lead over Norris by another 12 points, now holding a 22-point gap at the top. Norris, who had been inching closer race by race, now faces a psychological battle to rebound from this setback. McLaren also saw their cushion in the Constructors’ shrink slightly (Mercedes and Ferrari gained ground), though they still hold a commanding advantage. As for Russell, his win vaulted him into a distant outside shot of the title hunt (he’s fourth overall). Ever the realist, George joked that while he’s “driving better than ever,” a title run is unlikely unless McLaren stumbles. But in F1, strange things can happen – especially when intra-team rivalry comes into play.

Team Performance and Paddock Buzz

The Canadian GP encapsulated the state of play in 2025: McLaren has the fastest car, but even they are not infallible – and the chasing pack is ready to pounce on any error. Mercedes’ Montreal upgrade package (a new floor and rear suspension geometry) proved immediately effective. The W16 was kinder to its tires on the smooth, low-deg Gilles Villeneuve surface, allowing Russell to finally unleash race-winning pace. Team boss Toto Wolff was jubilant to see Mercedes back on the top step, if only for a day. He praised Russell’s flawless drive (pole, fastest lap, and win – the hat trick) and only half-jokingly quipped that “we’ll try not to wait another 12 races for the next one.” Meanwhile, young Antonelli’s breakthrough has tongues wagging about a potential superstar in the making at Brackley. “Better than I imagined,” was how Antonelli described the podium feeling, and one suspects it won’t be his last. Mercedes’ challenge now is consistency – they remain 175 points behind McLaren in the standings, so they’ll need more weekends like Canada to claw back into contention.

For Red Bull, Canada was a mix of positives and frustrations. Verstappen’s P2 finish was solid, and he kept his nose clean despite intense pressure early on. However, the team’s aggressive protest of Russell’s Safety Car conduct – which the FIA dismissed – drew some ridicule. Christian Horner defended the move, revealing Red Bull had even warned the FIA ahead of time to watch out for “gamesmanship” against Max, who entered the weekend on 11 penalty points (one shy of a race ban). “It was inevitable there’d be some potential gamesmanship,” Horner said, noting that rivals might try to bait Verstappen into a mistake given his points situation. In the end, Max kept his nose clean and will shed some penalty points after the next race in Austria. The incident underscores Red Bull’s slightly desperate position – they’re used to leading the pack, not lobbying the stewards for mercy. With only 162 points so far (4th in the Constructors’), the Milton Keynes crew knows it must dig deeper. The good news? Big upgrades are coming (more on that below), and the next stop is home turf in Austria – a track where they’ve traditionally dominated.

Ferrari leaves Canada somewhat encouraged. Leclerc and Hamilton’s 5-6 finish, while off the podium, marked a clean weekend with decent points. The Scuderia had been second in the standings prior to Montreal, showing that their recovery from a dreadful Round 1 is real. Vasseur noted the SF-25 car is competitive on race pace, but they’ve struggled in qualifying and “missed opportunities” at times. Notably, Ferrari has yet to win a Grand Prix in 2025 – a point not lost on the Tifosi – after managing a few wins last year. A comment from one fan on RaceFans summed it up bluntly: “They still haven’t won a proper Grand Prix [this year].” There was a glimmer of hope in China where Hamilton nearly pulled off a win in tricky circumstances, but it’s clear Ferrari must “improve each day” to get back to the top step. The internal dynamic at Maranello is fascinating: Hamilton, in his first season in Ferrari red, brings enormous experience and has already contributed a victory in China according to some accounts, though Leclerc remains the long-term pillar of the team. Thus far, Ferrari insists both drivers receive equal focus – Vasseur even joked that Ferrari doesn’t “care about Hamilton at all” in terms of favoritism, emphasizing both sides of the garage need results. The team’s strategy and pit stop execution have improved versus the past two years, but outright pace is still lacking. The cavalry is coming in the form of upgrades, and Ferrari hopes a strong showing in Austria (a venue where they’ve podiumed the last three years) could finally get them back in the victory fight.

Back at McLaren, the debrief after Canada was surely an interesting one. Team Principal Andrea Stella didn’t mince words about the intra-team clash. He called it a “simple misjudgment” rather than any malicious intent, appreciating Norris’s immediate apology and ownership of blame. Stella emphasized that McLaren will continue to let Piastri and Norris race freely for the title despite this incident – “a value of racing” he doesn’t want to lose by micromanaging from the pit wall. “We want to give Lando and Oscar opportunities to race… to be at the end of the season in the position they deserve,” Stella explained, affirming that team orders will remain minimal and parity will be preserved. However, behind closed doors there would be “tough conversations” once emotions cooled. The goal is to ensure both drivers exercise more caution when fighting each other, without neutering their competitive spirit. Stella also made it clear Norris has the team’s full backing to bounce back: “It’s full support to Lando… there’s no doubt over the support we give him. He’ll have to show character to overcome this episode… take the learnings to become a stronger driver.”. It’s a mature approach – McLaren is effectively saying “this is a championship fight, but we trust you both to handle it.” Still, one imagines CEO Zak Brown was not thrilled to see millions of dollars of orange carbon fiber in the Montreal barriers because his drivers couldn’t keep it clean.  The Norris-Piastri relationship will be a key storyline to watch in the coming races: can they maintain the camaraderie they’ve had up to now, or will the heat of a title duel create cracks? For now, Norris’s public contrition and Piastri’s even-keeled temperament bode well. In fact, many pundits noted that McLaren’s Montreal missteps (a rare double-stacked pit error in qualifying and the race crash) might give rivals hope that the orange juggernaut can be caught if pressure is applied. The second half of the season promises to test that theory.

Elsewhere in the paddock, there are plenty of “silly season” rumblings even though we’re mid-season. Williams made news by signing team principal James Vowles to a long-term contract extension, quashing rumors that bigger teams were eyeing him after the impressive turnaround he’s led at Grove. Williams actually sits P5 in the standings currently, thanks in part to acquiring Carlos Sainz – a shock move that saw the Spaniard join after being squeezed out of Ferrari. Sainz and Alex Albon have formed a steady duo; Sainz already snagged a few top-ten finishes in the unfancied FW47, and Albon’s 42 points put him P8 in the drivers’ table. Many suspect Sainz is angling for a future Audi factory seat in 2026 (when Sauber becomes Audi). Speaking of Sauber, they’ve quietly welcomed rookie Gabriel Bortoleto alongside the rejuvenated Hülkenberg, while at Alpine, academy graduate Franco Colapinto replaced Esteban Ocon (who interestingly moved to Haas). The AlphaTauri team has rebranded as “Racing Bulls”, fielding two Red Bull junior rookies – Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson – in what’s been a baptism by fire at the back of the grid. All these moves have injected fresh talent across the field, and with an 11th team entry still a possibility for the future (Andretti Global’s bid looms in the background), everyone up and down the pit lane is fighting to prove their worth. Even Fernando Alonso, Formula 1’s evergreen racer at 43, is hinting he might stick around through 2026 to perhaps drive the new Aston Martin-Honda project. In short, the F1 universe in 2025 is as dynamic off the track as on it.

But before we get too far ahead, the next immediate challenge is the Austrian Grand Prix. The Red Bull Ring in Spielberg is calling – a picturesque rollercoaster in the Styrian hills that’s known for close racing and a few surprises of its own. Here’s what to look forward to as we head into Round 11:

Austrian Grand Prix Preview: What to Expect at the Red Bull Ring

Date: June 29, 2025 – Spielberg, Austria
The upcoming Austrian GP marks the start of the European summer swing and the halfway point of the season. It’s also a back-to-back race following Canada, meaning teams have had precious little time to regroup. The scenic Red Bull Ring, nestled in the Styrian mountains, is a fast, short circuit (just 10 turns and a lap under 70 seconds). It features three long straights, heavy braking zones, and several elevation changes – a layout that typically rewards engine power, efficient aerodynamics, and traction out of slow corners. Overtaking here is quite feasible (thanks to multiple DRS zones), and we often see tight battles into Turn 3 (Remus) and Turn 4. Lap traffic can become a factor too due to the short lap length. Traditionally, this track has been a happy hunting ground for Red Bull – fittingly, given the name. Max Verstappen has won at Spielberg five times since 2018, thriving on the high-speed sections and the orange army of Dutch fans that flood the hillsides. Last year, however, the Austrian GP weekend proved to be a turning point: Red Bull’s form began to dip after Austria 2024, opening the door for McLaren’s rise. You can bet Verstappen and team will be keen to reclaim their home race crown and prevent history from repeating.

Weather & Conditions

One wild card in Austria is the weather. The region’s microclimate can produce sudden thunderstorms or shifts – we’ve seen sweltering heat and torrential rain at this venue in the past, sometimes on the same day. For 2025’s event, however, the forecast looks relatively stable and summer-like. According to meteorologists, we can expect warm and mostly sunny conditions throughout the weekend. Friday’s practice sessions should be under overcast skies but dry (around 27°C / 81°F highs, <20% chance of rain). By Saturday, the sun comes out fully; temperatures could hit 29°C (85°F) with only a 5% chance of rain – great news for those packing the grandstands. Sunday’s race is forecast to be hot and breezy, peak temps around 31°C (88°F) and mostly sunny skies. There’s a mention of high wind speeds on race day, which could affect car balance in the fast sweepers. Importantly, only a <20% chance of rain on Sunday means we’re likely in for a dry race – though in these mountains, teams will be wary of pop-up showers regardless. Track temperatures will be on the higher side, which could influence tire degradation and strategy (two-stop vs one-stop debates might emerge if it’s scorching). Pirelli is bringing its softer range of tire compounds to Austria, so managing tire temps in the heat will be crucial – an area where McLaren has excelled so far.

Technical Upgrades & Strategic Storylines

The Austrian GP kicks off a crucial double-header (Austria followed immediately by Silverstone) where many teams are rolling out significant upgrade packages. In fact, it’s shaping up to be an arms race as squads scramble to rein in McLaren’s advantage.

• Ferrari: The Scuderia is reportedly introducing a comprehensive aero upgrade in Spielberg. This includes a new floor design aimed at generating more downforce without drag, which was originally scheduled for this race. Additionally, Ferrari has been working on a revised rear suspension geometry to improve traction and tire usage; that change was planned for Silverstone, but rumors suggest Maranello might fast-track it and debut both the floor and suspension together in Austria. Team boss Vasseur confirmed “we will have an upgrade soon, before the UK” and hinted the team is squeezing every last drop out of the current regulations. He tempered expectations by noting that at this late stage of the rules cycle, upgrades bring gains in hundredths of a second rather than tenths – meaning magic bullets are unlikely. Interestingly, Vasseur also cautioned that new parts can take a race or two to optimize setup-wise. Nonetheless, Ferrari knows this package is vital if they want to get back to winning ways. They have a solid record at the Red Bull Ring (even winning here in 2022), so a podium – or a win – for Leclerc or Hamilton isn’t out of the question if the updates deliver. Watch for any distinct new floor edges or suspension arms on the red cars during Friday practice.

• Red Bull: The champions are pulling out the stops for their home Grand Prix. After a relatively quiet development phase, Red Bull is set to unleash a suite of upgrades including changes to the floor, front wing, and even internal suspension components. Sources in Milton Keynes indicate these parts are actually optimized for the high-speed sweeps of Silverstone the week after, but the team is introducing them a race early to both appease the home fans and gather data. The RB19B (as the evolved car might be dubbed) will be under close scrutiny – any uptick in performance could let Verstappen take the fight directly to McLaren. Red Bull’s deficit this year has primarily been in tire degradation and versatility across track types. If the upgrades help the car balance and preserve the Pirellis better, they could claw back time in race trim. Verstappen is clearly still driving at the top of his game; as Russell wryly noted, “he’s always there – you can’t count Max out”. Another subplot: Yuki Tsunoda, now in the hot-seat as Max’s teammate, will want to prove he deserves that promotion. The team has publicly backed Yuki, but a strong home result (i.e. both cars in the top five or a podium for him) would do wonders for his confidence. One thing’s for sure: Red Bull will be ultra-motivated to win on their turf, and they usually execute well under pressure at Spielberg. Strategically, they might try an aggressive approach – perhaps a bold undercut or split tire strategies – to gain track position on McLaren, especially if qualifying pace still lags a bit.

• McLaren: For the championship leaders, the priority is simply to avoid self-inflicted wounds and maximize points. The MCL39 has been a revelation – its superior tire management and low degradation have been key to its success. In Canada, we saw a rare chink in the armor: the car was “unexpectedly sensitive to track conditions” on the low-grip surface, and the team as a whole made a couple of uncharacteristic errors. Don’t expect that to become a trend. McLaren will be keen to demonstrate that Montreal was a blip and that they can resume their podium streak in Austria. The car’s strengths (high downforce efficiency and traction) should play well in the twisty middle sector here, and their Mercedes power unit has been reliable and strong. There aren’t massive updates expected for McLaren this weekend – they brought a substantial aero upgrade two races ago – so it’s more about fine-tuning the setup for the track’s unique demands (good traction out of the uphill hairpins and stable change of direction through Turns 6-7). Oscar Piastri, now firmly leading the title race, is in supreme form. His measured approach and raw speed have many comparing him to a young Alain Prost – methodical yet quick. It will be interesting to see if McLaren subtly shifts any support behind Piastri as the points gap grows, or if they truly maintain absolute equality as Stella insists. Norris, for his part, will be fired up to respond after “fooling himself” in Canada. The Briton often goes well at the Red Bull Ring (he took his first podium here back in 2020), so he’ll aim to channel that positive vibe. The main thing is: no more inter-team drama. All eyes will be on how Norris and Piastri behave if they find themselves wheel-to-wheel again. McLaren says they’re free to race – but any further contact would test that policy severely.

• Mercedes and Others: Mercedes arrives on a high after Russell’s win. They’re not bringing a major upgrade this weekend (having just installed one in Canada), but the data gleaned from that new floor and suspension will be applied to refine the setup in Austria. The Red Bull Ring hasn’t been Merc’s strongest venue in the past (it emphasized their draggy aero in previous years), but if their upgrade truly unlocked a better balance, we could see them in the mix. Russell’s confidence is sky-high; he’s publicly stated he’s “driving better than ever”, even if he doubts a title challenge is realistic. Keep an eye on Andrea Kimi Antonelli as well – the teenager has momentum and nothing to lose, and he’s now had a taste of the podium. It wouldn’t surprise anyone if Merc snatches another top-3 finish if chaos ensues up front.

  In the midfield, Aston Martin will debut a minor aero update as they try to recapture the early-2024 magic that seems to have eluded them this year. Fernando Alonso joked that he’s “bringing the rain dance” to Austria, hoping a mixed-weather race could give him a shot to shine (Fernando excels in the wet, after all). Alpine (currently struggling with just 11 points to their name) desperately needs a clean weekend – their rookie pairing of Gasly and Colapinto will aim just to finish in the top 10. Haas, with Ocon and impressive rookie Oliver Bearman, quietly scored double points in Canada (P9 and P11 on the road before a penalty shuffled results) and would love a repeat. And of course, local fans will cheer on Red Bull and AlphaTauri (Racing Bulls) drivers, including rookie Isack Hadjar – though points for the junior team might be a tall order barring high attrition.

Driver Form & Expectations

From a driver perspective, Max Verstappen enters this round with a bit of extra pressure (home race, needing to claw back championship ground) but also with the knowledge that this is one of his best tracks. Expect Max to be aggressive from the outset – he knows a win here could reignite his title hopes, especially if McLarens falter. Oscar Piastri will aim to drive a smart, solid weekend – he doesn’t need to win every race, just keep racking up podiums and outscore Norris and Max when possible. That said, Oscar hasn’t won since Round 7, so he’d surely love to return to P1 and stamp his authority on the standings. Lando Norris, after the Canadian calamity, might be a bit more measured in battle. Look for Lando to possibly take a “bring home the points” approach if faced with a close duel – at least for now. He’ll want to prove he can beat Piastri cleanly on track, and Austria could be a venue to do it if he hooks up a good qualifying lap (Norris’s one-lap pace is superb, but Piastri actually out-qualified him in Montreal by over half a second – a gap Lando will be keen to erase).

Among the veterans, Lewis Hamilton is a huge X-factor. The seven-time champ has had flashes of brilliance in the Ferrari this year, and he absolutely loves the Red Bull Ring – scene of many battles in his Mercedes days. With Ferrari’s upgrades, Hamilton could be in the mix, and if any rain falls unexpectedly, his experience could pay off even more. A podium for Lewis or Charles Leclerc isn’t out of reach on merit, so don’t count Ferrari out for a surprise. George Russell will likewise fancy another podium or better – he’s riding momentum and has nothing to lose points-wise, which makes him dangerous. His qualifying form has been excellent lately, and if George snags another pole, he’s proven he can play the spoiler to the usual McLaren/Red Bull script.

Finally, keep an eye on those battling for F1 futures: guys like Yuki Tsunoda, Carlos Sainz, and Pierre Gasly. A strong showing here could bolster their cases as driver market decisions for 2026 begin to loom. Tsunoda in particular would love to shine at the Red Bull-owned track to solidify his place in the senior team – beating a Ferrari or Mercedes on home soil would do nicely for his CV.

Bold Podium Prediction (P1, P2, P3)

Time to put some chips on the table! The form book says McLaren is still favorite – but the combination of Red Bull’s upgrades and Max Verstappen’s affinity for this circuit is hard to ignore. Meanwhile, Lando Norris will be extra motivated to bounce back, and Ferrari’s new bits might make them dark horses. After much deliberation, here’s our bold podium call for Austria:

P1 – Max Verstappen: The Dutch superstar finally breaks McLaren’s stranglehold, using those Red Bull upgrades (and a dash of Honda horsepower) to triumph at home. Verstappen channels the energy of the Orange Army and manages his tires to take a much-needed victory.

P2 – Oscar Piastri: Mr. Consistency does it again. Piastri delivers a clean, controlled race to finish second, ensuring minimal damage to his championship lead. He may not have the raw pace for the win this time, but he smartly banks another podium and keeps Verstappen in sight to the flag.

P3 – Lewis Hamilton: In a classic display of experience, Hamilton muscles his Ferrari onto the podium. Perhaps benefiting from a squabble or minor issue for one of the McLarens or Mercedes, Lewis seizes the opportunity. The SF-25’s upgrades and Hamilton’s tire whispering in the Alpine air pay off with his first podium in Ferrari red. Bold? Yes. But never count out Lewis.

As the sun sets on the Styrian hills this coming Sunday, we’ll find out whether McLaren extends its dominance or if Red Bull can stage a home turf comeback. One thing is certain: the 2025 F1 season has plenty more thrills in store. From intense teammate duels to high-stakes technical wars and paddock intrigue, this championship is heating up faster than an Austrian summer. Buckle up, America – and the world – the Formula 1 show is at full throttle heading into Austria!

Sources

• RaceFans – 2025 Canadian Grand Prix: Race result and championship points

• RaceFans – Frederic Vasseur on Ferrari’s recovery and McLaren’s advantage

• RaceFans – Toto Wolff on Red Bull protests and sparing Verstappen

• RacingNews365 – Canadian GP report: Russell wins, McLaren teammates collide

• Al Jazeera – Race recap: Russell wins Canadian GP as Norris and Piastri collide

• ESPN – Lando Norris: “Made a fool of myself” after McLaren collision

• ESPN/Reuters – McLaren will let Norris and Piastri race despite crash – quotes from Andrea Stella

• ESPN – Paolo Filisetti’s tech analysis: Ferrari & Red Bull upgrades for Austria

• Sportskeeda – Austrian GP 2025 weather forecast (Weather.com data)

• ESPN/Reuters – Red Bull warned FIA of “trickery” against Verstappen (penalty points situation)

• RaceFans – Canadian GP team quotes and fan comments (Ferrari, Norris streak, etc.)

• ESPN – Andrea Kimi Antonelli on his first F1 podium