Verstappen reflects on "extremely positive" Austrian GP

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What is F1 TV?F1 GlossaryGet involved2026 RegulationsNewsVideosVerstappen reflects on "extremely positive" Austrian GPAntonelli frustrated to join ‘the party too late’ in AustriaRussell ‘reminded myself I can do it’ with Austrian GP winRussell seals thrilling Austria victory from VerstappenPlay1:24P10 Linblad 'gave it a good go' and 'overall happy' with Austrian GP performance 1:14'I lost out on lap 1' - Norris laments losing early track position in Austrian GP Alexander AlbonFernando AlonsoKimi AntonelliOliver BearmanGabriel BortoletoValtteri BottasFranco ColapintoPierre GaslyIsack HadjarLewis HamiltonNico HulkenbergLiam LawsonCharles LeclercArvid LindbladLando NorrisEsteban OconSergio PerezOscar PiastriGeorge RussellCarlos SainzLance StrollMax VerstappenAll Drivers Hall of FameTeamsChevron DropdownAlpineAston MartinAudiCadillacFerrariHaas F1 TeamMcLarenMercedesRacing BullsRed Bull RacingWilliamsAll TeamsFantasy & GamingChevron DropdownF1 Sim RacingFantasyF1 25F1 Manager 24F1 PredictF1 ClashF1 Members' AreaMenuFIA if(window.f1MobileDetection.iOSSafari) { var meta = document.createElement("meta"); meta.name = "apple-itunes-app"; meta.content = "app-id=835022598, app-argument=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/verstappen-reflects-on-extremely-positive-austrian-grand-prix-after-taking-red-bulls-best-result-of-2026-season.bkRo37kOGdE3WwD0gj5tN.bkRo37kOGdE3WwD0gj5tN"; document.head.appendChild(meta); } {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/verstappen-reflects-on-extremely-positive-austrian-grand-prix-after-taking-red-bulls-best-result-of-2026-season.bkRo37kOGdE3WwD0gj5tN","url":"https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/verstappen-reflects-on-extremely-positive-austrian-grand-prix-after-taking-red-bulls-best-result-of-2026-season.bkRo37kOGdE3WwD0gj5tN","mainEntityOfPage":"https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/verstappen-reflects-on-extremely-positive-austrian-grand-prix-after-taking-red-bulls-best-result-of-2026-season.bkRo37kOGdE3WwD0gj5tN","datePublished":"2026-06-28T15:49:59.016Z","dateModified":"2026-06-28T15:49:59.016Z","headline":"Verstappen reflects on \"extremely positive\" Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix after taking Red Bull's best result of 2026 season","author":"F1","description":"Max Verstappen reflected on an \"extremely positive\" Austrian Grand Prix, as the Dutchman finished on the heels of race winner George Russell in Sunday's race.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://media.formula1.com/image/upload/t_16by9Centre/f_auto/q_auto/v1782658861/trackside-images/2026/F1_Grand_Prix_of_Austria/2283714540.jpg"},"isAccessibleForFree":"true","publisher":{"@type":"SportsOrganization","@id":"https://www.formula1.com#organization","name":"Formula 1","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.formula1.com/etc/designs/fom-website/social/f1-default-share.jpg","width":"480","height":"120"}}}Max VerstappenIsack HadjarRed Bull RacingShow more tagsVerstappen reflects on "extremely positive" Austrian Grand Prix after taking Red Bull's best result of 2026 seasonMax Verstappen split the Mercedes duo in Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix to claim his and Red Bull's best result of the 2026 season so far. Max Verstappen reflected on an "extremely positive" Austrian Grand Prix, as the Red Bull driver finished on the heels of winner George Russell in Sunday's race. Verstappen started P5 for the 71-lap Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring having suffered a crash on his final Qualifying effort, but the four-time World Champion soon began to make progress. The Dutchman disposed of Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes and Charles Leclerc's Ferrari in one move at Turn 4 on Lap 2 and moved ahead of Lewis Hamilton on Lap 22 after the first round of pit stops. Verstappen's pace moved him to within striking distance of Russell for the lead, but staying out longer before making his final pit stop meant he was left with too much work to do in the final stint, falling short by 1.6s at the chequered flag. "I think it was of course a very good race for us," said Verstappen, who claimed his best result of the season so far with P2. "The first few laps were quite fun and then it was trying to manage your tyres and honestly, I think the car was in quite a good window for I would say half of the race. "Then we picked up let's say a few issues with the car which prevented me from basically finding that nice rhythm. But still, to be second and close to a win I think is extremely positive for us. So in that sense, I'm very happy." Red Bull arrived in Spielberg this weekend with a raft of upgrades which seemed to make the RB22 competitive against the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren. Verstappen's Red Bull team mate Isack Hadjar also enjoyed a productive Sunday, the Frenchman finishing sixth having moved ahead of Leclerc and McLaren's Lando Norris from his original starting position, claiming "the upgrades definitely kicked in this weekend, you could feel it. "I think from P8 it was nearly the best that we could have done," said Hadjar. "I think we had a car to finish fourth but from P8 you want to be aggressive, pit early, I was running out of tyres at the end of each of my stints." F1FacebookXInstagramYouTube© 2003-2026 Formula One World Championship Limited