Austrian Grand Prix: George Russell holds off dicey Max Verstappen to take victory - ESPN

George Russell withstood Max Verstappen's challenge to end his 112 day wait for a victory by winning the Austrian Grand Prix and breathe fresh life into his world championship bid.

Russell headed into the eighth round of the season at the Red Bull Ring without a win since the opening fixture of the season in Melbourne on March 8.

But the British driver delivered an impressive performance here in the sun-drenched Styrian Mountains to cross the line 1.6 seconds clear of Verstappen.

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli finished third, just three tenths behind Verstappen, to allow Russell to reduce the Italian's title advantage from 50 points to 40, a week out from the British Grand Prix.

Russell's triumph also elevates him ahead of Lewis Hamilton in the standings after a questionable three-stop strategy scuppered the Ferrari driver's challenge.

Hamilton took the chequered flag in fifth and is now 46 points off the championship pace.

Oscar Piastri finished ahead of Hamilton in fourth, with Verstappen's Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar sixth and reigning world champion Lando Norris seventh.

«Yabba-dabba-doo!» yelled Russell as he channelled his inner Fred Flintstone.

Russell's title challenge had been blighted by bad luck, indifferent form and a mighty impressive Antonelli, but the Englishman will feel a weight has been lifted off his shoulders ahead of his home event at Silverstone next weekend.

After upsetting the form book to take a last-gasp pole position, Russell held his nerve on the stampede to the opening corner with the drama unfolding behind his Mercedes.

Hamilton cleared teammate Charles Leclerc for second on lap one before Antonelli briefly moved into third only to drop two places after he ran off the road.

Verstappen