Thirsty Russell trims Antonelli's lead with tight win in Austria

SPIELBERG, Austria, June 28 : A thirsty George Russell held off Max Verstappen to end his winless streak in Austria on Sunday and trim Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli's Formula One lead to 40 points.

The top three drivers were separated by a mere two seconds after 71 laps, with Red Bull's Verstappen finishing runner-up, 1.6 behind, at his team's home circuit and chased to the line by Antonelli, who took the chequered flag a further 0.3 adrift.

The win was Russell's second of the season, after he took the opener in Australia, his career seventh and Mercedes' seventh in eight rounds so far. 

"Incredible to be back on the top step. It's been a little while, so I am definitely going to enjoy this one this evening," said Russell, who started on pole position and can now head to his home race at Silverstone next weekend on a high.

The Briton revealed over the radio after taking the chequered flag that his drinks system had failed during the race, the first of the season to be declared a "heat hazard". "Nice race for it to do so, I'm a little bit thirsty," he said.

HAMILTON DROPS TO THIRD OVERALL BEHIND MERCEDES DRIVERS 

Antonelli has 171 points to Russell's 131 with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, fifth on Sunday after running second and battling Verstappen wheel-to-wheel, dropping to third on 125. In the constructors' standings, Mercedes have 302 points to Ferrari's 204.

Oscar Piastri was fourth for McLaren, ahead of Hamilton, with Isack Hadjar sixth for Red Bull.

Reigning champion Lando Norris, last year's winner in Austria, was seventh with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc eighth and Racing Bulls pair Liam Lawson and rookie Arvid Lindblad completing the top 10.

"I was having to push every single lap and when you push those boundaries there's