George Russell wins Austrian Grand Prix as Alpine struggles with power issues
George Russell (Mercedes) secured his second victory of the 2026 season at the Austrian Grand Prix, finishing ahead of Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) who completed the podium. The race was run in extreme heat at the Red Bull Ring, prompting multiple tyre changes and two Virtual Safety Car periods.
Alpine endured a difficult weekend: both drivers reported a lack of power. Franco Colapinto finished 15th after an early loss of boost and several position changes, while teammate Pierre Gasly ended 13th, also outside the points. The team’s A526 chassis failed to deliver competitive pace throughout the event.
Other notable outcomes included Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso finishing 18th and Lance Stroll retiring with an ERS fault, while Ferrari and Mercedes drivers struggled with tyre degradation in the high temperatures.