F1 fans were treated to a three-way battle for the lead in the Austrian Grand Prix Sprint on Saturday. But many of them were unhappy with an issue that affected their viewing experience.
Max Verstappen made it three wins from three Sprint races in 2024, but he had to work hard for it. He was briefly passed by the McLaren of Lando Norris, and also came under pressure from Oscar Piastri.
Verstappen found his way back ahead and eventually eeked out a buffer, crossing the line 4.6 seconds ahead of Piastri, who prevailed in the tussle between the two McLarens. There was also some close racing behind.
George Russell came home in fourth after a prolonged battle with Carlos Sainz. The Ferrari driver managed to get ahead early in the race but Russell regained his starting position soon enough.
Lewis Hamilton then put Sainz under further pressure as he prepares to take his seat in 2025. But the Spaniard held firm, and ultimately Hamilton wasn’t able to make any progress.
Charles Leclerc recovered from an issue at the end of qualifying to score a couple of points in the other Ferrari. The Monegasque wasn’t able to set a lap time in SQ3 after stopping in the pitlane, but a good start saw him gain some ground.
Sergio Perez lost one spot but completed the points for Red Bull. Kevin Magnussen narrowly missed out on what would been a valuable top-eight finish for Haas.
F1 fans livid with timing tower issue during Austrian Grand Prix Sprint
F1 fans have become used to a ‘timing tower’ being displayed on the left-hand side of the world feed. This shows the position of each driver, the gaps between them and their current tyre.
However, after a replay of Russell’s aforementioned move on Sainz on lap eight, the graphic disappeared. Viewers were still able to watch the on-track action at the Red Bull Ring as normal, but there was no information on screen.
The tower didn’t appear until the penultimate lap, and even then it only showed the positions rather than the gaps. This caused plenty of frustration during the race.
Writing on X, @LucyFormula said they didn’t have a ‘clue what went on’, while @Estie_Bestie admitted that they ‘never realised’ how much they ‘relied on the timing tower until it was gone’. @Regi1700 complained that it made the session ‘hard to follow’.
@molix14 was annoyed that ‘paying’ customers weren’t being provided with crucial information. @LiamJM10TV added that the race was a ‘mess’ for those who supported ‘anyone outside the top five’, because they weren’t getting screen time.
The F1 broadcasting team will be working hard to rectify the issue before the remainder of the weekend. Qualifying is scheduled to take place later on Saturday before the all-important Grand Prix on Sunday.
Martin Brundle ‘surprised’ by ‘brilliant’ Lando Norris moment at Austrian GP
The standout moment of the Sprint was without question the scrap between Verstappen, Norris and Piastri. Norris made a dramatic lunge up the inside of turn three to take the lead.
It’s exceedingly rare to see Verstappen passed on track these days, but he quickly made amends. He was later on the brakes than Norris into turn four, forcing his way back ahead.
This knocked the British driver off the racing line, opening the door for Piastri. They went wheel to wheel through the curve of turn five, and Piastri ultimately swept around the outside of turn six.
Martin Brundle said Norris had ‘surprised’ everyone with his ‘brilliant’ overtake. But in the end, Verstappen dealt him another blow in their developing rivalry.
Norris has previously suggested that McLaren have an advantage over Red Bull because, in his eyes, their two drivers deliver on a more consistent basis. But in this particular case, the intra-team squabbling might have cost them a shot at victory.
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