Do you know what I enjoy almost as much as watching Max win? Watching him fight back after making a mess of Saturday.
And Austria gave me exactly that.
I was annoyed when Max crashed during Qualifying. The Red Bull home race, thousands of orange fans and a circuit where he normally comes alive… and now he was starting fifth. Fine Max, make Sunday difficult for yourself then.
But the moment the race started, I could see he was angry. By Lap 2, he had already passed Kimi and Leclerc together. Then he reached Hamilton, and suddenly it felt like the old days again.
Max passed Lewis. Lewis came back. Max attacked again.
I was loving it.
Once Max finally took second, Russell already looked too far ahead. Red Bull then waited longer for Max’s final pit stop and sent him back out nearly ten seconds behind. Honestly, I thought the chance was gone.
Then Max started catching him.
The gap came down from ten seconds to six, then four, then less than two. Every lap I started believing a little more. At the same time, Kimi was closing from behind, so Max was chasing Russell while also trying not to lose second.
Not stressful at all…
Russell crossed the line only 1.6 seconds ahead, while Max kept Kimi behind by just 0.375 seconds. I wanted another two laps so badly. Max might have attacked for the win, or Kimi might have taken second. Anything could have happened.
I wanted Max to win, obviously, but Russell earned this one. He stayed calm while both cars were closing and celebrated with his “Yabba-dabba-do!” message on the radio.
I rate the 2026 Austrian Grand Prix a solid A2W 9/10.
Max started fifth, made me forget about Saturday and kept me believing until the chequered flag.
aKi Malik
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