F1 update – Austrian GP

Round 8 of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship was held at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria for the Austrian Grand Prix.

Mercedes got back to winning ways as it’s driver George Russell claimed his second victory of the year heading the Red Bull of Max Verstappen who finished second with Russell’s Mercedes team mate Andrea ‘Kimi’ Antonelli finishing third.

Austrian GP – top 5:

• 1st: George Russell – Mercedes
• 2nd: Max Verstappen – Red Bull
• 3rd: Andrea ‘Kimi’ Antonelli – Mercedes
• 4th: Oscar Piastri – McLaren
• 5th: Sir Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari

Other Highlights:

• Cadillac had a nightmare race as both it’s drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez retired on lap 3 and lap 5 respectively with brake problems.
• Williams’s Carlos Sainz would retire on lap 24 with an electrical fault which he stopped on the start/finish straight, thus it would activate a virtual safety car procedure.
• Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll would retire on lap 46 with fault within the energy recovery system. His team mate Fernando Alonso finished the race albeit 3 laps down at the finish, despite being handed a 5 second time penalty for speeding in the pitlane.

News:

• Aston Martin have announced a car overhaul for the Hungarian Grand Prix in July.
• The F.I.A have approved the first set of technical regulations for 2027.
• A waxwork model of McLaren’s Lando Norris has been unveiled at London’s Madame Tussauds.
• Former Formula 1 driver Guy Edwards who drove for Hesketh, BRM and Hill Embassy teams in the 1970s passed away at the age of 83.
• McLaren have announced that they will race in a special livery for the British Grand Prix.

The next round of the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship will be held at the Silverstone Circuit in Northampton, England for the British Grand Prix on 3rd to 5th July.

Here’s Aston and regular contributor Cameron Perkins with the latest from the world of Formula 1.