Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton (right) celebrates on the podium along with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen after the winning the Grand Prix of Austria in Spielberg on Sunday. (Photo: AFP)
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton (right) celebrates on the podium along with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen after the winning the Grand Prix of Austria in Spielberg on Sunday. (Photo: AFP)
Lewis Hamilton survived a collision with his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg in a wild final lap on Sunday as he claimed a dramatic victory in a pulsating Austrian Grand Prix.
The defending three-time world champion, who started from pole position, attacked the championship leader who defended hard at Turn Two and drove into him.
Rosberg forced Hamilton off the track, but the Briton rejoined, the pair touching briefly again, and pulled clear to win. Behind him, Rosberg suffered a damaged front wing and dropped back to finish fourth.
The collision concluded a titanic contest between the two Mercedes men after an incident-packed race that left Mercedes team bosses describing their drivers as ‘brainless’.
The stewards announced an inquiry into Rosberg’s part in the final lap collision for continuing with a damaged car as Hamilton was jeered by the crowd as he stood on the podium.
“I was on the outside,” said Hamilton, on team radio. “It wasn’t me that crashed.”
Dutch teenager Max Verstappen claimed his second career podium finishing second for Red Bull ahead of third placed Finn Kimi Raikkonen for Ferrari.
Rosberg was fourth ahead of Australian Daniel Ricciardo in the second Red Bull, Briton Jenson Button of McLaren Honda, Frenchman Romain Grosjean of Haas and Spaniard Carlos Sainz of Toro Rosso.
The stewards announced an inquiry into Rosberg’s part in the final lap collision for continuing with a damaged car as Hamilton was jeered by the crowd as he stood on the podium.
“I was on the outside,” said Hamilton, on team radio. “It wasn’t me that crashed.”
Hamilton’s win ended Rosberg’s hopes of a third consecutive victory and cut the German’s lead in the title race from 24 points to 11 ahead of next weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
It was the 46th win of his career.
“What an incredible race,” said Hamilton, amid the jeers. “It was tough. Apart from this (the crowd reaction), I love it here. I don’t know what that’s about. It’s not my problem. It’s their problem.”
