How the Austrian Grand Prix turned the season on its head

From a Mercedes 1-2 to a double retirement. Nobody would have predicted that after the dominance the German team had in yesterday's qualifying. Mercedes have now lost the lead in the constructors' championship and the drivers' standings. And these sorts of effects were felt right through the whole paddock.

Most of us were all expecting Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton to run away with both titles. But now it's all change. Sebastian Vettel's third place gave him enough points to take the lead in the drivers' standings following Hamilton's early exit.

With Kimi Raikkonen's second place added on, Ferrari managed to jump over their rivals and lead the constructors by 10 points.

It doesn't stop there. Max Verstappen's race win puts him on 93 points. That's well within 3rd place and the Dutchman no longer has a mountain to climb after his early season troubles. Raikkonen himself doesn't exactly have a mountain to climb anymore either. He's within 44 points of Lewis Hamilton, although Ferrari will favour Vettel.

Further down, Haas now are really fighting for that 'best of the rest' position. Renault in the week spoke about resting on their laurels looking ahead to next season, but it's the American team who are standing against them in 2018.

Kevin Magnussen already holds the 'best of the rest' driver medal as he moves 1 point ahead of Fernando Alonso. And McLaren's troubles of late mean Haas have walked through an open door and grabbed 5th. Renault failed to score this weekend which gives them just a 13 point buffer from Haas.

Force India double points scored in their 200th race. As did Sauber which has squeezed the pressure onto Toro Rosso. They've got a huge points gap climb any places, but not a lot bellow them stopping a fall.

Everything is to play for, and the Austrian Grand Prix gives so many indications as to why Formula 1 is returning to its best.