MAD MAX, FURY ROAD

Duelling Verstappen and Norris KO each other in fierce track battle... and delighted Russell is gifted prize

- DANIEL MOXON

GEORGE RUSSELL just laughed as he watched back the incident which giftwrapped his second career F1 win.

The Mercedes driver secured just his second career victory at the Red Bull Ring and the team's first since his maiden win in Brazil in 2022.

And he could not believe his luck after Lando Norris and Max Verstappen collided while fighting for the lead with seven laps to go.

After several laps of furious fighting, with Norris' McLaren all over the back of the Red Bull, they touched and both cars picked up punctures which forced them both into the pit lane. Russell had been trundling around in third but was suddenly haring towards the chequered flag to take the victory.

Shown a replay as he waited for the podium ceremony, he shared a giggle with Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz as the British ace reflected on his win.

He said: "I saw on the TV that Max and Lando were going pretty hard and I knew Lando would want to get that race win.

"The team has done an amazing job to get us in this fight. You've got to be there to pick up the pieces and we were.