BOTTAS STRIKES FIRST AS MCLAREN ACE NORRIS STARS
Penalty drama for Hamilton leads to joy for homegrown protege
Mclaren racer Lando Norris said he feared he had messed up in the Austrian Grand Prix but recovered his composure to earn his first podium in Formula 1.
The 20-year-old Briton joined Mercedes-benz driver Valtteri Bottas and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on the podium at the
Red Bull Ring. World champion Lewis Hamilton was penalised for a collision with Red Bull racer Alex Albon which dropped him to fourth in the results.
“I’m speechless,” said Norris after the race. “I think there was a few points in the race where I thought I fudged it up quite bit. I dropped to fifth with a few laps to go, Carlos [Sainz] was almost getting past me. I managed to get past [Sergio] Perez, and I ended up on the podium.
“It was a long race but I kept going, I was trying to give it my all, [it was] a pretty cool last few laps having to push as much as I can,” he added.
“I’m so happy, I’m proud of the team. Considering where we were a few years ago, from last year to now, it’s a pretty cool achievement and I’m proud to be part of it all.”
Mercedes had dominated the race in terms of pace, but both pole-winner Bottas and Hamilton were being warned over the pits-to-car radio of potential reliability problems, but both cars survived.
There was a scare for Mercedes earlier in the week when rival team Red Bull protested the legality of the Dual Axis Steering system on the Merc.
The system, which alters the alignment of the wheels when the drivers pull on the steering wheel to aid the usage of the rubber, was declared legal by the FIA.
The next grand prix is at the same venue this weekend.