GPI 2017 Austrian Grand Prix | Page 2

VALTTERI STAKES HIS CLAIM For Valtteri Bottas victory at the Austrian Grand Prix was just what he needed not only to ignite his title ambitions, but also to remind his Mercedes team that a contract extension is more than warranted after nine races with them. The Finn blitzed off the line with an alien reaction time, then took control of the race until a few laps from the end. With the Mercedes’ tyres wasted Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari attacked, but Valtteri had done enough to secure his second career victory and thrust himself into championship contention. Credit to Sebastian for making a fight of it until the very end in his Ferrari, but the race was a lap too short for him to steal the win. Nevertheless he increased his points lead to 20 over Lewis Hamilton who finished fourth. Big smiling Daniel Ricciardo finished third for Red Bull, his fifth podium in as many races, while his teenage teammate Max Verstappen looked keen to do battle but was out seconds before the race began through no fault of his own in an incident which also ended Fernando Alonso’s race prematurely. It may not have been a thriller at Red Bull Ring, but the final laps were riveting and a wake up call for those that had dozed off in front of the TV. We have the weekend in the Spielberg hillside covered. Enjoy! PUBLISHER • PEEVEE MEDIA EDITOR • PAUL VELASCO REPORTER • BEN STEVENS CONTRIBUTORS • GRAND PRIX 247 • IAN THUILLIER - WWW.IANTHUILLIER.COM • GETTY IMAGES • REUTERS, AFP, AP & PA • F1 TEAMS & FIA MEDIA CONTACT • [email protected]