How Lewis Hamilton stopped Max Verstappen from winning the Austrian Grand Prix

At the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen finished second, just 1.6 seconds behind race winner George Russell, after qualifying fifth — his best result of the season for struggling Red Bull. A lengthy on-track battle with Lewis Hamilton, in which Verstappen repeatedly attempted to pass Hamilton into Turn 3, cost Verstappen significant time. Verstappen later admitted the fight with Hamilton, who was cleared of any wrongdoing by FIA stewards following a radio complaint from Verstappen, likely prevented him from challenging Russell for victory.