The Austrian Grand Prix looked set to be a procession after the opening laps at the front of the race.
Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen had maintained his lead from the start head of Lando Norris and opened up a comfortable gap over his nearest championship rival.
However, a poor second pit stop cost Verstappen around four seconds and when McLaren nailed Norris’s final tyre change, suddenly there was the potential for a battle.
Norris closed the gap to the Dutchman and made several attempts to overtake the triple world champion, picking up a track limits penalty in the process after going off the track following a daring move down the inside of turn three.
Both of their races were then ruined – Norris’s more so than Verstappen’s – when the Brit parked his McLaren around the outside of the hairpin and the 26-year-old didn’t give him space, causing both drivers to pick up penalties.
The McLaren driver was forced to retire from the race and that pushed everyone up a place in the standings.
Arguably the team that benefitted the most was Haas, with Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen both firmly in the points.
Verstappen and young Ferrari driver Oliver Bearman – who is expected to replace the German next year – liked Hulkenberg’s post on Instagram as he celebrated his best result since the 2019 Italian Grand Prix.
Haas have now leapfrogged Alpine in the Constructors’ Championship and Hulkenberg is just three points away from Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll in the driver’s standings.
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Max Verstappen impressed with Nico Hulkenberg at the Austrian Grand Prix
Posting on social media after the race, the £30,000-a-week German driver said: “Yeeeeesssss !!! P6 in Austria and double points for the team.
“Big one!! Great effort @haasf1team.”
Haas reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi replied and said: “The hulk.”
Former Haas strategist Ruth Buscombe added: “Huge! Congrats guys,” while the team’s official account said: “Yeeeeeeessssss!! Some drive Nico!!”
Although they didn’t comment, both Verstappen and Bearman liked the post from Hulkenberg and were pleased to see the 36-year-old produce one of his best performances in years.
Verstappen owed Hulkenberg after the German gave him a tow that helped him secure a phenomenal pole position on Saturday.
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Nico Hulkenberg is thriving during his final season at Haas before Sauber move
Many expected Haas to struggle this season with new team principal Ayao Komatsu suggesting that the car was underprepared before the beginning of the campaign.
However, Haas are much closer to the midfield than they were in 2023 and this result in Austria suggests that when they get their strategy right, they’re more than capable of scoring points.
Some of Hulkenberg’s points earlier in the campaign have come courtesy of some particular driving from his teammate to hold up – either legally or illegally – other drivers to help him build up a gap.
On this occasion, both drivers were in the top ten on merit and were rapid on their new tyres every time they entered the pits.
Verstappen had a weekend to forget and the scrutiny will be on him at Silverstone next weekend when the British crowd are likely to remind him of his part in the incident that ended home hero Norris’s race.
However, he clearly enjoyed what he saw from Hulkenberg in the Haas who will hope he can continue to slowly accumulate points before he joins a Sauber team who look well off the pace of the rest of the grid.
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