The victory in Austria revitalizes the British Mercedes driver, who moves ahead of Hamilton and closes the gap on the championship leader and teammate.

The name of the chaser changes, but the colors remain the same. Following the Austrian GP, George Russell has once again become Kimi Antonelli’s primary rival in the World Championship race. The British Mercedes driver secured his second victory of the season after Melbourne, making the most of a flawless weekend. With 25 points from Spielberg, he climbs to 131 points, overtaking Lewis Hamilton (125).

Antonelli, who crossed the finish line in third after a well-managed race defined by excellent pace—despite some early brake issues—firmly maintains the top spot with 171 points. His advantage over his teammate now stands at 40 points, while Hamilton slips to 46 points back. Mercedes will head to Silverstone holding a 1-2 lead in the drivers’ standings, with an internal duel that once again becomes the defining factor in the title race.