WHO'S SMILING, WHO'S BITTER, AND WHO'S BUILDING (QUIETLY)

If someone, right after the Canadian GP, had predicted that Norris would dominate qualifying in Austria, Piastri would come dangerously close to disaster during the race, and Ferrari would finish 30 seconds ahead of Russell to become the second-best team on track, they probably would’ve been called crazy. And yet…

Norris responded in the best possible way to the mistake he made in Montreal. At such a crucial point in his championship campaign, finishing behind his teammate again would’ve been a brutal blow. Piastri, for his part, pushed from the very start, showing pace and speed that few expected after a tricky Saturday. Both McLarens were right on the edge—just look at how often Lando ran wide in the penultimate corner. Oscar also had a close call, nearly crashing at Turn 4, but fortunately, everything turned out fine.

Norris also did well to defend himself in the only real attack Oscar managed to launch. If the roles had been reversed, we’d probably have seen headlines praising Piastri’s composure and criticizing Norris’s weakness. But by now, we know exactly what kind of image the media wants to build around each of them. It’s no coincidence that the pre-race intro focused on Norris and all the poles he’s failed to convert: when a narrative is convenient, it gets pushed—even when it no longer fits. McLaren’s race starts are no longer the disaster they were in early 2024, but some labels just stick—at least for certain drivers.

In the end, it was the McLaren pit wall that sealed the deal, choosing strategies that split the two. At that point, it looked like everything was decided. But Piastri surprised again, closing the gap and keeping the pressure on all the way to the checkered flag. The rivalry between the two is going to be long and full of subtle tension. And the next race will have massive psychological weight—especially for Norris. And Oscar knows it.

As for Ferrari, the Red Bull Ring was probably their best weekend of the season—excluding Monaco, for obvious reasons. On a track with characteristics similar to Canada and with track temperatures hitting 120°F, the SF-25 managed to stay close to the McLarens and, more importantly, demolish the Mercedes. Leclerc was lapping about a quarter of a second slower than Norris, a gap that, given how favorable the conditions were for McLaren, can be considered respectable. It’s not a triumph, but in context, it’s still an encouraging sign. Right now, Maranello’s biggest goal is to stay ahead of Red Bull and Mercedes whenever possible—and by that metric, the result was solid.

Hamilton confirmed what we’d already seen in Barcelona and Montreal: steady progress. He seems to have stopped trying to "force" the car to suit his driving style and has instead started adapting to what the package can offer. Silverstone is around the corner, and expectations are high. But watch out for Leclerc—he’s always been strong in the UK. Right now, the two are closer than many expected, especially in qualifying—quite the opposite of what most predictions suggested.

It’s curious, though, that while Leclerc keeps saying he’s disappointed and skeptical about the upcoming races, no one lashes out at him the way they regularly do with Hamilton. Clearly, some drivers still get a free pass more often than others.

Great weekend for Sauber, with a solid comeback from Hulkenberg and another strong performance from Bortoleto. Finally, a good showing from Lawson as well. As for Verstappen, there’s not much to say: the conditions weren’t ideal for the RB21—just like in Bahrain and Miami—but with Max, you can never take anything for granted.

A tough weekend for Antonelli, following his first podium. The race mistake was avoidable, and the comparison with Russell is brutal—as expected. In situations like this, making errors from overdriving is counterproductive. But even worse are the reactions: we’ve read everything from Max “protecting” him because he sees Antonelli as his heir, to lines like “talent defends talent.” Honestly, enough already. Yes, Kimi’s Italian and obviously there’s an instinct to defend him—but please, let’s not build a fairytale around him.

P.S.: Are we seriously still asking whether Norris celebrates or not? That’s his business. And anyway—if Piastri doesn’t celebrate, he’s a “Raikkonen 2.0” (blasphemy, by the way), but if Norris does, he’s a moody, insecure mess? Come on.

© Simone Marchetti Cavalieri

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