Preparing for the Austrian GP: Review of Verstappen's hard-fought victory

Tomorrow starts the GP weekend in Austria where Max Verstappen will try to further extend his lead in the championship. To get in the mood, we look back at the intense 2019 race.

In the previous four years, there has been six Grands Prix at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. Due to corona, two races were held in 2020 and 2021; one was the GP of Austria, the other the GP of Styria. In 2021 Verstappen won both and in 2020 he won none. The ones in 2018 and 2019 he did win. In the video above, you can see an intense compilation of highlights from the 2019 race.

Leclerc vs. Verstappen Austria 2019

Verstappen did not get away well and immediately had to start a race to catch up. The Red Bull and the Ferrari were very evenly matched at that point. In the closing stages, the Dutchman was behind his rival for laps, but he could not easily pass him. Several attempts followed, but were unsuccessful. In the end he managed to outsmart Leclerc in turn three to take his sixth victory. Because his final manoeuvre was not entirely by the book, an investigation into the incident ensued and confirmation came much later.