The 2025 Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix

George Russell took a big win in Montreal, and now the teams are gearing up for a mid-season stretch in Europe, starting with a double-header that kicks off at the Red Bull Ring, a track known for delivering plenty of excitement.

Can Mercedes keep it going?

Mercedes are arriving in Austria off the back of their best weekend of the year so far. Russell won from pole in Canada, and Kimi Antonelli grabbed his first F1 podium with a strong third-place finish.

Last year, Mercedes looked good in Canada too, but couldn’t take the win and struggled a bit more in Austria. Still, they ended up with a victory thanks to Russell, who capitalized on a late clash between Norris and Verstappen. That kicked off a solid mid-season run for the team.

With their current form, they might be a threat again this weekend especially if the cool, possibly wet early weather helps them out before things warm up for Qualifying and the race.

Norris owning up and bouncing back

Canada was a bit of a stumble for McLaren. They didn’t start on the front row and missed out on the podium for the first time all year. Things got worse when Norris and Piastri came together late in the race while fighting for a podium spot.

Norris immediately took responsibility for the contact, which ended his race. It was a tough moment, but he handled it well, calming things down and making it easier for the team to move on. Now he will be looking to bounce back, and Austria might be the perfect place to do it. It’s where he got his first ever F1 podium in 2020, and he was battling Verstappen for the win here last year before the two collided.

One more tense weekend for Verstappen fans

Verstappen’s fans are probably feeling a bit more nervous than he is right now. He is still just one penalty point away from a one-race suspension, and he was clearly frustrated with all the questions about it in Montreal.

He’ll need to stay clean in Austria. After this race, two penalty points will drop off his license, the ones he picked up in last year’s Austrian Grand Prix after his incident with Norris. That’ll give him a bit more breathing room, but he’ll still have nine points until late October.

So far, it doesn’t seem to be affecting him on track. He was fast in Canada, qualified on the front row, and finished second under pressure. Still, his fans, especially the big Dutch crowd that usually shows up in Austria, will be relieved if he makes it through this weekend without incident.

The F1 movie is here

There has been a ton of hype around the new F1 movie, and it’s nearly time for fans to finally see it. The film, starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, was shot during real race weekends and includes some legit on-track driving scenes.

After a huge premiere in New York, it hits screens on June 25 with some countries like the US getting it a couple of days later on June 27. Directed by Top Gun: Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, with help from Lewis Hamilton, it promises to be the most realistic racing movie ever made. Plus, you’ll spot some familiar faces from the paddock in it too.

Big news for Williams

While the movie grabbed most of the headlines, Williams also dropped some big news of their own. Team Principal James Vowles has signed a new long-term deal to stay with the team.

He’s been in charge for two and a half years, and during that time Williams has made real progress. They are currently fifth in the Constructors’ standings with 55 points, already more than they scored in the past three seasons combined. With a stronger line-up including Carlos Sainz and a standout season from Alex Albon, things are looking up.

Vowles believes the foundation is now in place for future success. And with the 2026 regulation changes on the horizon, locking him in long-term is a sign that both he and the team’s owners, Dorilton Capital, are confident in where they are headed. There’s still a long way to go before they are regular contenders, but this is another big step in the right direction.