Hamilton wins Styrian GP as Ferrari suffer

Six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton won the Styrian Grand Prix in a Mercedes one-two finish to celebrate his 85th victory and move closer to Michael Schumacher’s alltime record of 91.

Teammate Valtteri Bottas – winner of last weekend’s season-opener behind closed doors at the same circuit in Spielberg, Austria – was runner-up with his championship lead cut to six points after starting fourth on the grid.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished third at his team’s home Red Bull Ring.

“It’s great to be back up here and thanks to the team,” Hamilton said. “This feels like it has been a long time coming after a difficult weekend last time.”

Bottas said he had enjoyed his battle with Verstappen. “Starting fourth, this was damage limitation for me,” the Finn said.

“I tried, but we are just a bit too slow,” admitted the Dutch driver Verstappen.

Bottas leads the embryonic championship ahead of Hamilton with Lando Norris third.

Verstappen was slowed by slight car damage in the final stages, ahead of his teammate Alex Albon, who defended stoutly to finish fourth.

Norris came home a remarkable fifth for McLaren after passing both of Racing Point’s pink Mercedes cars during a thrilling final lap, Sergio Perez taking sixth after starting from 17th on the grid, and Lance Stroll seventh.

Daniel Ricciardo was eighth for Renault, Carlos Sainz clocked fastest lap and finished ninth in the second McLaren and Daniil Kvyat 10th for Alpha Tauri.

Both Ferraris were eliminated after crashing together at Turn 3 on the opening lap, Charles Leclerc apologising to four-time champion Sebastian Vettel, who is in his last season with the team, for his ill-judged dive down the inside that resulted in a disaster for the Italian team.