Even the bubble that Formula 1 tends to operate in couldn’t escape the latest European heatwave that has gripped the continent over the past week. The challenging conditions on Red Bull’s home circuit served up an intriguing war of attrition, offering a different competitive picture compared to Barcelona which is leaving some frontrunners with more questions than answers.

Winner: George Russell

Formula 1 still isn’t a championship in which it’s deemed a good idea to show too many signs of weakness, but after his dramatic Canadian Grand Prix exit it was clear for all to see that George Russell was starting to wear it.

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Following a string of bad luck beyond his own control, he was also starting to get beaten by his much less experienced team-mate Kimi Antonelli, with the way both drivers make the narrower 2026 tyres work one explanation offered behind the form difference.

Is Russell now “back” after his pole in Barcelona, and a pole-to-flag victory in Austria? Perhaps it’s good to pump the brakes on that, as Antonelli still looked the quicker of the two across both races.

But the importance of Russell’s second season win can hardly be overstated, not just in championship terms but also psychologically.

“More than just the result, psychologically it’s been a tough few races for me and I’ve had a huge amount of support which has really helped me stay resilient and continue to believe in myself,” Russell told Sky on Sunday night. “That is perhaps what I’m most proud about from these last two races.”