By Matt Morlitz

Last Updated: 10/07/22 3:51 PM Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player The battle for the lead continues as Charles Leclerc passed Max Verstappen for the third time at the Austrian Grand Prix. The battle for the lead continues as Charles Leclerc passed Max Verstappen for the third time at the Austrian Grand Prix. Charles Leclerc passed Max Verstappen three times on track for a brilliant and long-delayed win at the Austrian GP, ​​with Lewis Hamilton third, as Ferrari’s celebratory mood was shaken by Carlos Sainz’s dramatic engine fire. Leclerc had gone seven races without a win in F1 2022 but was the dominant driver in Sunday’s thrilling Grand Prix, passing Verstappen early and after the first and second stops to advance. He then survived a late reliability scare with his throttle to win by two seconds. “Oh my God, I was scared, I was really scared,” Leclerc said on team radio. He added of his win: “I definitely needed it.” Verstappen’s title lead is still 38 points, although Leclerc is now his closest title challenger after Sergio Perez was forced to retire from the race in the other Red Bull following a first-lap collision with George Russell . Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari burst into flames after engine failure ended his race in Austria.
Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari burst into flames after engine failure ended his race in Austria. Ferrari’s day could have been even better. The Scuderia looked set for a one-two change as Carlos Sainz beat Verstappen on fresher tires before suffering a costly engine blowout. Sainz’s car burst into flames on the way out and was Ferrari’s fourth mechanical failure of the season. That moved Hamilton up to third, with the Mercedes driver recovering from eighth on the grid to show competitive pace – while still 40 seconds off the race winner at the checkered flag after a Virtual Safety Car. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player Sergio Perez goes off the track after making contact with George Russell’s Mercedes on the opening lap of the Austrian Grand Prix.
Sergio Perez goes off the track after making contact with George Russell’s Mercedes on the opening lap of the Austrian Grand Prix. Russell finished fourth in the other Merc despite a five-second penalty for colliding with Perez. Esteban Ocon finished fifth for Alpine, while Mick Schumacher followed up his first F1 points with a career-best sixth for Haas. McLaren had both drivers in the points at the end of a weekend below par, with Lando Norris taking seventh despite being one of three drivers handed five-second penalties for track boundary infringements. Austrian GP race result: Top 101) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari2) Max Verstappen, Red Bull3) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes4) George Russell, Mercedes5) Esteban Ocon, Alpine6) Mick Schumacher, Haas7) Lando Norris, McLaren8) Kevin Magnussen, Haas9) Ricciardo , McLaren10) Fernando Alonso, Alpine More to come.