2019 Austrian Grand Prix Results – The Great and Grape

Here are the 2019 Austrian Grand Prix results, along with our race rating, the internet’s shortest review, plus we hand out the points for the best and worst of the race and all the stuff in between.

Although it wasn’t hard, Sunday’s 2019 Austrian Grand Prix  was the best race of the season, with multiple overtakes and tension throughout. And a genuine overtake for the lead of a race. Fancy that.

Then came the 3 hour deliberation about who won the race. For those in Europe it wasn’t too bad as they could head to their nearest pub and wait, but for those on the other side of the world it stunk.

For more, and sometimes less on the 2019 Austrian Grand Prix, read on.

2019 AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX IN 50 WORDS OR LESS

Despite missing the start, Max Verstappen clawed his back into the race, and won in style with a controversial passing move near the end on the excellent Charles Leclerc. a 3 hour meeting of the stewards eventually allowed Max to keep his win.

2019 AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX RESULTS – 5 LAPS THAT MATTERED

For those who haven’t seen the race yet, we highlight the big 5 laps of moments that mattered. It could save you time and allow you to fast forward through your watch.

LAP 1 – Leclerc gets off the line perfectly, less so for second placed Verstappen who has the anti stall kick in and he creeps from the line. By the time he gets going he is 7th. Vettel alternatively does well from 9th to gain 3 places. The usual jostling behind. Special mention to Nico Hulkenberg who also gained three spots, and Kimi who went from sixth to fourth.

LAPS 21-31 – the front runners all pits during this period. After the last one the order up the front is Leclerc, Bottas, Vettel, Verstappen, Hamilton

LAP 30 – Lewis Hamilton pits, with a front wing change, confirming he is no threat to Austrian Grand Prix this weekend.

LAP 55 – Verstappen takes Bottas for second and you sense that the chsrge won’t stop there and Verstappen is a genuine chance of victory.

LAP 68 – Verstappen overtakes Leclerc for the lead into the 3rd corner up the hill. One lap after just failing in a similar move.

2019 AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX RESULTS – RACE RATING

Was it a good race? Well here’s our sort-of scientific rating out of 50.

SURPRISE – 8/10

Mercedes struggles, Leclerc domination, the race won by a hard charging Red Bull – Verstappen combo. It’s pretty safe to say that very few would have backed all three of these to come true before the race started.

SUSPENSE – 9/10

Max Verstappen’s late charge through the pack provided plenty of suspense, especially as he lined up Leclerc for victory.

RACING – 9/10

Plenty of overtaking, by modern day F12 standards that is.  Not quite to F2 level,  but there’s plenty to follow if you get the chance.

SIGNIFICANT EVENT – 9/10

Yeah, a pass for the lead in the closing laps is pretty significant. 

SEASON DEFINING – 8/10

Is this the corner turned for Red Bull and Honda? What about a potential intra team battle at Ferrari. Have we seen a Mercedes weak link that could bring them back to the field.

TOTAL RACE RATING 43/50

A classic that will probably be the season’s highlight. All without retirements, crashes, and Lewis Hamilton.

2019 AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX RESULTS – GREAT or GRAPE

Who was king of the road,? Who was the villain? Who stunk up the place? Who outperformed expectations? Or was just plain unlucky? We split up the best of the best and worst of the worst with Great and Grape of the 2019 French Grand Prix results.

THE GREAT

MAX VERSTAPPEN (Best of the Best)
Qual 2nd – Race 1st

Why so great? –  Despite fluffing the start and dropping to 7th, he was always a factor, and his second half charge went all the way to victory with a hard, but fair pass on Leclerc with a handful of laps to go. Finally given a chance to get close to a win, and smashed it.

CHARLES LECLERC
Qual 1st – Race 2nd

Why so great? –  A win will come soon, no doubt. Deserved to win after controlling the race, but there’s probably not a driver who could have stopped Max in the end. Sometimes have to remember how young he is, and that this is only his second season in F1. Austria gave him another chance to shine, if not win. 

LANDO NORRIS
Qual  5th  – Race  6th

Why so great? –  Best of the rest, and yet another promising show from the McLaren driver. Looked comfortable among the front runners early, confirming the qualifying pace was no luck. Finished best of the rest, although sadly that’s a lap down.

ANOTNIO GIOVINAZZI
Qual 7th – Race 10th

Why so great? – Decent Q3 effort saw him start in 7th ahead of Vettel, and he brought the car home on Sunday for his first points.

GEORGE RUSSELL
Qual 17th – Race 18th

Why so great? – Continues to shine at theback of the grid. Actually managed to finish ahead of another car this race, in addition to the season’s tradition of having Kubica well and truly covered. A shame the card is so poor.

ANTONIO GIOVINAZZI
Qual 10th – Race 16th

Why so great? – So the 16th race position isn’t that great, but his 10th place qualifying was a season high, and saw off the more experienced team mate Kimi Raikkonen for a change.

THE GRAPE

PIERRE GASLY (Grapest Race)
Qual 8th – Race 7th

Why so bad? – His Red Bull career must be hanging on by a thread. With his team mate winning Gasly had another mediocre day out. He is probably lucky that no one in the Red Bull family is tearing the house down. It is a shame as he was good in F2 and for Toro Rosso last season.

LEWIS HAMILTON
Qual 4th – Race 5th

Why so bad? – There are very few races where Lewis Hamilton is not a factor, but this was one. Can take some consolation in his continuing lead in the World Championship despite finishing behind Bottas.

DANIEL RICCIARDO
Qual 12th – Race 12th

Why so grape? – If he needed anymore reminders of his move to Renault, and he doesn’t, this weekend is a case in point. Verstappen storming to the win ahead of him is compared to the 12th place qualifying and race finish. With a standard Australian F1 driver two place loss from the start.

2019 AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX RESULT – OUR GREAT AND GRAPE DRIVER POINTS

We have our very own system of awarding point for the above Great and Grape, plus rewarding other stats from the F1 weekend to have our own measure of who is going well in F1 in 2019, not just by scoring points, but performance in relation to car and expectations. The latest Grand Prix’s results are below.

2019 SEASON GREAT AND GRAPE – DRIVER POINTS

There’s no point in compiling of all the F1 data we can find, without working out a grand total. So here it is.1 point for featuring in Great, -1 for featuring in the Grape. A bonus point for the very best and worst.

1 point for out-qualifying team mate.

1 point for Finishing ahead of team mate, although this is subjective if need be. Especially in the case of a DNF.

3 points for a Race win, 2 for Podium, 1 for Fastest Lap. 

1 point for most overtakes on the first lap. 0.5 if it is shared, no matter how many drivers share it.

2 points for Pole Position, 1 for a Front Row start.

1 point for Best of the Rest in Qualifying and Race.

-1 point for an avoidable accident or silly incident.

With thanks to the data provided at the excellent Racefans website.

2019 AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX RESULT