Norris nicks podium as ‘Pink Mercedes’ falters

Lando Norris provided the feel-good story of this race by claiming Mclaren’s second podium finish from its past three starts. His was the star turn of the Austrian GP, as Racing Point couldn’t quite deliver on its formidable pre-season promise.

Racing Point’s Mercedes W10-inspired ‘copycat’ design provoked much intrigue in winter testing and even prompted talk of a protest (which never came) ahead of the race. The car showed its testing form was no fluke as Pérez went third quickest on Friday and fourth fastest in FP3, behind only Hamilton, Bottas and Verstappen.

But come qualifying Norris turned on the style, driving to a level Mclaren considered beyond the MCL35’S potential. He qualified almost two and a half tenths clear of Albon’s Red Bull (missing that newer front wing, remember) and the quickest Racing Point of Pérez. Norris was also fourth in Q2, and not far off Verstappen’s Q3 time either.

The race was more difficult. Norris thought he’d blown a big result when Leclerc drove around him and Ferrari-bound Sainz almost came past too. But Lando gathered himself, put a strong move on Pérez at Turn 3 to gain track position, then set the

A fantastic last lap, the fastest of the race, ensured Norris claimed his first F1 podium race’s fastest lap on the final tour to squeak less than 0.2s inside the gap needed to win a time trial against the penalised Hamilton for third.

Pérez slumped to sixth on his ageing medium Pirellis, but a five-second penalty for speeding in the pits would have cost him a podium regardless, while team-mate Lance Stroll dropped out early with engine problems to compound a disappointing day for Racing Point.

But overall this was stirring stuff. Sure, there were loads of weird face masks, unusual protocols and no fans, but Formula 1 is back! And it came back with a bang.

DRIVERS’ STANDINGS

1 Bottas 25pts 11 Latifi 0pts 2 Leclerc 18pts 12 Kvyat 0pts 3 Norris 16pts 13 Albon 0pts 4 Hamilton 12pts 14 Räikkönen 0pts 5 Sainz 10pts 15 Russell 0pts 6 Pérez 8pts 16 Grosjean 0pts 7 Gasly 6pts 17 Magnussen 0pts 8 Ocon 4pts 18 Stroll 0pts 9 Giovinazzi 2pts 19 Ricciardo 0pts 10 Vettel 1pt 20 Verstappen 0pts