This is why the start of the Austrian sprint race was postponed

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why start of sprint race austria was postponed
29 June at 14:40
  • Corwin Kunst

A special sight earlier today at the start of the sprint race. All 20 drivers were ready to start in the sprint race of the Austrian Grand Prix after a formation lap. However, the start procedure was cancelled for a certain reason.

Because photographers had provided themselves at turn 1 in a place where this is not allowed, race control deemed it necessary not to turn on the lights and to insert an extra formation lap. The reason was that a potentially dangerous situation could have arisen if the photographers had remained there.

After the photographers were asked to move to another spot and the second formation was completed, the 23-lap sprint race could start just after 12:00. Half an hour later, Max Verstappen crossed the finish line first.

Tenth sprint victory for Verstappen

For the reigning world champion, it was the tenth sprint victory ever in Formula 1. Valtteri Bottas is still the 'closest' in terms of sprint race victories with two (in 2021 in Italy and Brazil). George Russell, Sergio Perez and Oscar Piastri are the other three drivers who have ever won a sprint race.

This article was written in collaboration with Olly Darcy