Max Verstappen wins Austrian GP Sprint after X-rated argument with Sergio Perez

01 July 2023 , 15:05

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Max Verstappen won the Austrian GP Sprint (Image: Getty Images)

Max Verstappen survived a near-miss with team-mate Sergio Perez to win Saturday's Sprint race in the Styrian hills.

He was comfortably ahead of Perez by the end of the race. But it could have been a disaster for Red Bull as their two drivers nearly took each other out as they fought a little too hard to get the better of one another on the first lap.

They finished first and second, though – the perfect result in the end. Ferrari, Aston Martin and McLaren also took a handful of points each from the Sprint.

But it was mostly a fruitless exercise for Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton started 18th and, despite some early progress, could not reach the points, while a risky tyre strategy paid off for George Russell to take one single point.

Perez got a great launch off the line and moved past Verstappen to take the lead into the first corner. But the Dutchman was not about to let that go easily as the Red Bull scrapped throughout the first lap despite the wet conditions.

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Perez went off the track and rejoined in second place after they almost made contact. But, just as he geared up for another crack at his team-mate, he was surprised by the Haas of Nico Hulkenberg who also enjoyed a great start and slipped past the Mexican to move up to second place.

Both Red Bull drivers were unimpressed. Verstappen accused his opposite number of pushing him off the track, while Perez simply said to his team over the radio: "What is wrong with Max, man?"

Sergio Perez went off the track after battling with Max Verstappen at the start of the Sprint (Sky Sports)

Eventually, Perez got back ahead of Hulkenberg as the Haas driver began to struggle with his tyres. But by that point Verstappen was already a long way ahead on the road and cruising to yet another victory this season.

Elsewhere, the Aston Martin drivers were making impressive progress, as was Lewis Hamilton. He started 18th on the grid after a poor qualifying, but made very swift progress up the order.

Despite that, it was not in time to reach the points positions. And the same was true for team-mate George Russell who was the first to gamble on slick tyres on the drying track, and made up plenty of places to sneak into eighth and take one point.

Full 2023 Austrian Grand Prix Sprint result

1. Max Verstappen – Red Bull
2. Sergio Perez – Red Bull
3. Carlos Sainz – Ferrari
4. Lance Stroll – Aston Martin
5. Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin
6. Nico Hulkenberg – Haas
7. Esteban Ocon – Alpine
8. George Russell – Mercedes
9. Lando Norris – McLaren
10. Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes
11. Oscar Piastri – McLaren
12. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
13. Alexander Albon – Williams
14. Kevin Magnussen – Haas
15. Pierre Gasly – Alpine
16. Yuki Tsunoda – AlphaTauri
17. Nyck de Vries – AlphaTauri
18. Logan Sargeant – Williams
19. Zhou Guanyu – Alfa Romeo
20. Valtteri Bottas – Alfa Romeo

Daniel Moxon