George Russell Wins Austrian GP With Abnormal Tyre-Saving Style, Cuts Antonelli Gap to 40 Points
Updated
Updated · Motorsport.com · Jun 29
George Russell Wins Austrian GP With Abnormal Tyre-Saving Style, Cuts Antonelli Gap to 40 Points
3 articles · Updated · Motorsport.com · Jun 29
Summary
George Russell said an "abnormal" race approach helped him convert Austrian GP pole into his second win of 2026, after changing how he drove to protect tyres in the Red Bull Ring heat.
Mercedes had identified why his form had been erratic with the new-regulation car, Russell said, and used historical data to shape a setup and driving solution that suited Spielberg.
The victory followed bruising defeats to team-mate Kimi Antonelli and a power-unit failure while leading in Canada; Antonelli finished third, leaving Russell 40 points behind in the standings.
Barcelona pole and the Austria win have restored Russell's confidence, but he said he is still rebuilding his feel for managing the 2026 Mercedes across different track and temperature conditions.