Austrian Grand Prix 2018 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Max Verstappen claimed his first victory of the 2018 season at Red Bull's home Austrian Grand Prix, delivering a dominant performance at the Red Bull Ring to delight the passionate orange-clad crowd. The young Dutchman controlled the race from start to finish, showcasing the maturity and racecraft that would define his future championship success.

Starting from pole position, Verstappen led every lap of the race, managing his tires and pace perfectly in the challenging high-altitude conditions of Spielberg. Kimi Raikkonen finished second for Ferrari after a strong drive, while Sebastian Vettel completed the podium in third despite struggling with tire degradation throughout the race. The Finnish driver set the fastest lap of the race, while the Ferraris showed good pace but couldn't match Verstappen's Red Bull on this power-sensitive circuit.

The race featured several dramatic moments, including Lewis Hamilton's retirement from fourth place due to a fuel pressure problem - a rare mechanical failure that dealt a significant blow to his championship campaign. Valtteri Bottas also retired early from the race with a hydraulic issue, marking a disastrous day for Mercedes as both cars failed to finish. The double DNF allowed Vettel to extend his championship lead to one point over Hamilton, though Ferrari's inability to beat Verstappen on merit raised questions about their ultimate pace advantage.