The FIA is turning everything upside down. Several hours after the end of the Austrian Grand Prix, won on Sunday by Max Verstappen (Red Bull), we learn that Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), fourth driver to cross the finish line, was demoted to 6th place , penalized for having exceeded the track limits too often. Lando Norris (McLaren) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) took advantage of this, climbing to 4th and 5th place.
That’s not all. The podium remains unchanged (Verstappen, Leclerc, Perez), but the Top 10 is completely turned upside down. Seven other drivers were indeed sanctioned a posteriori for not having respected the limits of the layout, in a muddle of which the FIA has the secret. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) thus paid the price, going from 6th to 8th place, behind his teammate George Russell. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) lost a place, dropping to 10th, while the other Frenchman, Esteban Ocon (Alpine), dropped two, from 12th to 14th. The latter received a total of 30 seconds (!) penalty. A point that’s it for Alpine.
Classification of the Austrian Grand Prix (updated after penalties for several pilots): 1. Max Verstappen (NED / Red Bull) the 306.452 km in 1 h 25:33.6072. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) at 5.1553. Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull) at 17.1884. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) at 26.3275. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Mercedes) at 30.3176. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari) at 31.3777. George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) at 48.4038. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) at 49.1969. Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes) at 59.04310.Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Renault) at 1:07.66711.Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes) at 1:19.76712.Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari ) at 1 lap13.Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams-Mercedes) at 1 lap14.Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault) at 1 lap15.Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari) at 1 lap16.Oscar Piastri (AUS/ McLaren-Mercedes) by 1 lap17.Nyck de Vries (NED / AlphaTauri-Red Bull) by 1 lap18.Kevin Magnussen (DEN / Haas-Ferrari) by 1 lap19.Yuki Tsunoda (JPN / AlphaTauri-Red Bull) by 1 lap
Fastest lap in the race: Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1:07.012 on lap 71 (average: 251.149 km/h)
Retirement: Nico Hülkenberg (GER / Haas-Ferrari): mechanical problem 13th lap
(With AFP)