In the heart of the Styrian mountains, the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix turned into a watershed moment for the Formula 1 season. What began with anticipation ended with twists, triumphs, frustrations, and the rebirth of a nation passionate about motorsport. More than just a race, Spielberg delivered a dramatic spectacle that moved drivers, teams, and fans around the world — especially Brazilians, who vibrated with the first green and yellow points in the elite sport since 2017.

McLaren confirmed its overwhelming phase with a flawless one-two finish. Lando Norris won after a high-level battle with Oscar Piastri, and Gabriel Bortoleto scored his first points in the category with a safe, mature, and exciting performance. Meanwhile, Red Bull sank into crisis right at home, abandoning any trace of favoritism with yet another weekend to forget.

The beginning: drama before the start

The tension started early. On the formation lap, Carlos Sainz's car caught fire, forcing the Williams Spaniard to retire before even lining up on the grid. The incident delayed the start by almost 20 minutes, adding more nervousness to a day already surrounded by expectations.

And the chaos was only beginning. On the third corner of the first lap, Max Verstappen, Red Bull's hope in front of his home crowd, had his race abruptly ended after being hit by rookie Kimi Antonelli. The young Mercedes driver missed his braking point and violently collided with the Dutchman's RB21. Both immediately retired, and the Safety Car was deployed.

Verstappen's early end was not just a personal disaster; it was symbolic. It represented the fall of a team that, until recently, seemed unbeatable. In 2025, however, Red Bull has been struggling with an unstable car, sensitive to track variations and which, at the Red Bull Ring — ironically and cruelly — failed to compete.

The orange civil war: McLaren dominates and excites

Without Verstappen in the race, the race quickly became an exclusive McLaren spectacle. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who had already been dominating the championship, engaged in one of the most exciting battles of the season. Piastri had a better start, passed Charles Leclerc on the first corner and stuck to Norris on the first lap.

What followed was a duel of the highest technical and psychological level. The two shared corners with courage and respect, exchanged positions and almost touched on more than one occasion. Piastri even took the lead for a few meters, but Norris, experienced and increasingly cool under pressure, regained the lead with a maneuver worthy of a replay.

The decision came in the pits. With mirrored strategies, Norris was called in first and executed a surgical undercut. He returned ahead of his teammate and, with a clear track, consolidated the advantage. Despite a problem with the front wing in the final laps, the Briton held on and crossed the finish line with just under three seconds ahead of Piastri.

It was his third victory of the year, the hardest-fought and perhaps the most symbolic. McLaren now comfortably leads the Constructors' World Championship, and the drivers' championship has become a domestic battle. With Verstappen's retirements, the title will be decided between Norris and Piastri — a cold war fought within the same team's garage.

Bortoleto shines and rescues Brazilian pride

If McLaren had its glorious day, the most exciting moment was reserved for the midfield. Gabriel Bortoleto, a Brazilian rookie for Sauber, started eighth and finished in the same position — but the story behind it is worth much more than the four points scored.

With clean, strategic, and incredibly mature driving, the 19-year-old stayed out of the initial chaos, saved tires, took advantage of the right moments to attack and, in the end, starred in an electrifying duel with none other than Fernando Alonso. The experienced Spaniard even lost the position to Bortoleto on the penultimate lap, but immediately retaliated. Even so, the Brazilian was not intimidated, pressed until the last corner and crossed in eighth, receiving applause from the entire Sauber team in the pits.

He was the first Brazilian to score points in F1 since Felipe Massa in Abu Dhabi, 2017. More than that, it was a symbolic milestone. A boy, in his debut season, showed that he can carry the weight of a country and still deliver top-level performance. He was voted "Driver of the Day" by the fans, crowning a weekend that will go down in history.

Ferrari and Mercedes: regular, but insufficient

Charles Leclerc completed the podium with a solid, but lackluster performance. Ferrari showed consistency, also placing Lewis Hamilton in fourth, but did not have the pace to fight with McLaren. Mercedes experienced a rollercoaster: Russell salvaged a good fifth place, while Antonelli, with the error on the first lap, put a question mark on his ability to remain competitive under pressure.

New championship scenario

With the results from Austria, Oscar Piastri remains in the championship lead with 216 points, closely followed by Lando Norris with 201. Max Verstappen, now distant, dropped to 155 — a difference that is starting to seem insurmountable. In the Constructors' World Championship, McLaren opened a gap: 417 points to Ferrari's 210.

Red Bull, which started the season as favorites, is now only the fourth force, with 165. An impressive turnaround, worthy of the best scripts in the sport.

What's next

The Formula 1 circus now moves to Silverstone, home of Norris and McLaren. The stage is set for a new chapter in this internal battle. Will Oscar Piastri strike back? Will Ferrari be able to react? And will Brazil see Bortoleto climb another step?

One thing is certain: after what we saw in Austria, no one doubts that 2025 has entered history mode.