Defending champion Lewis Hamilton took full control of the Styrian Grand Prix this Sunday, securing the 85th win of his illustrious career. He was joined on the podium by teammate Valtteri Bottas, who took second place after winning the season's first race. Thanks to these top performances, Hamilton currently leads the championship standings by 6 points over Bottas. He is now closing in on history, needing only seven more wins to break Michael Schumacher's record of 91 career victories.
Max Verstappen claimed third place for Red Bull, though he trailed Hamilton by nearly half a minute on his own team's home track. This victory represents Hamilton's first trip back to the top since November's race in Abu Dhabi and marks his 35th straight race finishing in the points. Following safety protocols during the pandemic, the Styrian Grand Prix was conducted behind closed doors, with no fans in attendance.
Speaking with the media after the race, Hamilton noted how strange the current season has been, but expressed his genuine happiness at delivering a strong performance and returning to the podium. After a frustrating outing last weekend—where a mid-race collision dropped him to fourth place—he said he was deeply grateful to get back in the winner's circle. Beyond the racing, Hamilton continued his social activism by wearing a Black Lives Matter T-shirt and joining his fellow drivers in taking a knee before the start to show solidarity with the movement.
It was another nightmare outing for Ferrari; Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel collided on the very first lap, forcing both drivers out of the race. A remorseful Leclerc later admitted he had made a mistake that wasted the entire team's hard work, marking the second time the two teammates have crashed into each other in just four races. Aside from the Ferrari pair, Esteban Ocon of Renault was the only other driver unable to finish. The circuit now moves to Hungary, where the next Grand Prix will be held at the Hungaroring on July 19.