“Well, you did just win the race because of it”- Oscar Piastri gives witty response to George Russell’s dig at Lando Norris and Max Verstappen 

George Russell took the top podium step at the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix, after a late-race drama between the then-leaders Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. The Brit was able to capitalize on the situation by being in the right place at the right time.

Russell began the race in third position, ahead of Ferrari's Carlos Sainz and his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton. Apart from the tussle with Hamilton in the early stages, Russell had an uneventful race. He was able to maintain a healthy gap between Sainz, Hamilton, and McLaren's Oscar Piastri.

Russell was looking to end the Grand Prix on the last podium step up until the drama unfolded on Lap 64 of 71. Trying to capture the lead from Verstappen, Norris made a lunge on the outside of turn 3 in the uphill section. This late move resulted in contact between the leading pair, causing a puncture for both and front wing damage to Norris.

Seizing the opportunity, Russell quickly captured the lead of the race. With a gap of over two seconds between him and the fast-advancing Piastri, the young Brit prevailed to clinch his second career victory at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. While watching the Verstappen-Norris fight with Piastri and Sainz in the cooldown room, Russell commented:

"Cool fight though."

Without losing a moment, Piastri gave a witty response to Russell's dig on the clash:

"Well, you did just win the race because of it."

Sky Sports F1 posted this interaction on their X page:

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"More to come" - George Russell claims after surprise Austrian Grand Prix win

George Russell took home a surprise win at the Austrian Grand Prix. The young British driver claimed the lead of the race on lap 64, after the incident with Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen and McLaren's Lando Norris.

Russell managed the gap between himself and Oscar Piastri through the course of seven laps to the chequered flag.

“It’s not over until it’s over. We wouldn’t have thought this in Bahrain. Well done," an ecstatic Russell commented on the team radio after winning the race.

During the post-race interview with ex-F1 driver David Coulthard, Russell said:

“Yeah, incredible. I think it was a tough fight out there at the beginning of the race just to hold onto that P3."

The #63 driver went ahead to commend his team for helping him seize the moment.

"But the team have done an amazing job to get us in this fight. You’ve got be there at the end to pick up the pieces, and that’s where we were!” he said.

Witnessing the progress made by Mercedes-AMG in the past few races, Russell will likely be hoping to continue the run for more podium finishes in the 2024 season. Concluding the interview with Coulthard, he said:

“The team has worked so hard, we’ve made so many strides since the start of the season. The last three races have been incredible, and there’s more to come … what an exciting time for us.”