Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri had a dominant racing weekend in Austria. The McLaren drivers once again achieved a one-two finish for the British racing team. However, the international press was primarily focused on the notable dropout of Max Verstappen after the GP in Spielberg. The Dutchman was hopelessly knocked out of the race by Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. Could this be the final blow to his title ambitions?
In the British press, a painful conclusion was drawn after the GP of Austria; for Max Verstappen, the dropout in Spielberg could possibly mean the end of a new title fight. “Verstappen was knocked out of the race and out of the title fight – in which he was barely participating,” reported the Daily Mail. The Guardian also expressed their doubts about that coveted fifth title. “Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri ensured a dominant one-two finish, but Verstappen was nowhere to be seen. He was hit in the opening round by Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes and fell 61 points behind. A deficit that seems almost impossible to bridge, given McLaren’s lead over the rest of the field.”
Is Verstappen Heading for the Exit?
Even the French colleagues at L’Équipe are pessimistic about Verstappen’s prospects. “After their fourth one-two finish this season, the papayas stand more alone at the top than ever,” wrote the duty editor. “Both in the constructors’ and drivers’ championship. Given the speed at which Kimi Antonelli entered the corner, he could have caused even more retirements,” the editor emphasized Verstappen’s misfortune. At La Gazzetta dello Sport, they also noticed the young Mercedes driver. “The Austrian GP provided surprises from the first lap,” said the Italians. Antonelli made a mistake, lost control of his W16, and hit an innocent Verstappen. Due to the accident, both of them could not finish the race. A race without points that could heavily impact the constructors’ championship for Mercedes and the drivers’ title for Max Verstappen.
Finally, the Austrian Kleine Zeitung reported that there was still ‘a glimmer of hope’ for Red Bull, despite the team now really being out of the title race: “The home race in Spielberg probably marked the end of all championship hopes,” the medium wrote about the ‘gloomy’ weekend for Red Bull. “The only bright spot was a member of the Racing Bulls stable. Liam Lawson achieved his best result so far with a sixth place.” Kleine Zeitung also emphasized that Verstappen’s retirement has further implications for the exit rumors surrounding him. “The Dutchman has an exit clause in his contract with Red Bull and meanwhile, Mercedes is still taking its time with the contract extension of George Russell.”
