2024 F1 Austrian GP: Top 5 conclusions

The 2024 F1 Austrian GP was a spectacular race that saw a collision between close friends and perennial frontrunners, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. The two drivers were battling for the lead after the final round of pitstops, and the very close nature of the battle led to contact and put both Max and Lando out of contention.

The one who picked up the pieces was George Russell as the Mercedes driver crossed the chequered flag to win his second F1 race. McLaren's Oscar Piastri followed him through in P2, while Carlos Sainz was in P3. In all of this, Lando Norris suffered an immediate retirement after his collision, while Max Verstappen finished in P5. After an eventful F1 Austrian GP sprint, what have we learned? Let's take a look.

2024 F1 Austrian GP: Key takeaways

#1 Gloves are off between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris

This was bound to happen. Two ambitious drivers fighting for the same piece of tarmac every race weekend were going to come together. The fact of the matter that far too many have been unable to judge is that both Lando and Max know that the 2024 season is arguably a dress rehearsal for the title battle in 2025.

It's all about gaining the momentum and stamping the authority over the other. Who was at fault this time around? Well, it was Max but the fire has been lit and it's only going to intensify for the rest of the season.

#2 George Russell and Mercedes deserve a lot of praise

At the start of the season, George Russell or Mercedes were looking at a scenario where even a podium would have been a big thing. In the last three races, the team has scored 2 podiums, 1 win, and a pole position. Things are coming together at the German team and it shows in the result.

One statistic about the F1 Austrian GP that's going to stand out more than any other is the gap that George Russell had over his teammate. A more than 20-second gap over a driver like Lewis Hamilton is not a joke and a clear sign of how well George is driving this season.

#3 Red Bull is reacting to pressure put by McLaren

What many would not have noticed is the fact that McLaren bringing Lando Norris in every time on the same lap as Max was a strategy where Red Bull was forced to hold the driver in position. This was a tactic used in the first pitstop, where Max almost had an unsafe release.

This was the tactic that delayed Max again at the second pitstop. To add to this, Max Verstappen also overshot the braking point on his out-lap, which hurt him as well. Red Bull was put under pressure in the F1 Austrian GP by McLaren, and the team made mistakes. This is something entirely new for a team that tends to be so efficient in everything.

#4 Ferrari is starting to fall back

This was another weekend where Ferrari just fell back from the top 3 in terms of pace. The ease with which Oscar dispatched Carlos was a surprise, and so was the pace of George Russell.

A team that was lining itself up as the next major powerhouse of F1 was showing signs of weakness at the Austrian GP.

#5 F1 is about to hit the purple patch

If Liberty Media is smart (which it is), it would realize that the F1 Austrian GP showed that the sport is about to hit the purple patch. The regulations were supposed to yield close racing. In 2022 and 2023, that didn't happen, but 2024 is giving you a glimpse of what 2025 can be.

We've had 5 different winners this season, and that is a stat that should tell how close things are already and the potential that is already there for everyone involved.