Credit: F1
The Austrian Grand Prix 2025 will face, in all likelihood, a very different looking podium to what was the case last year around. From the cool and breezy Canada to the serene charms of the glorious Austrian Alps, the Styria-based Austrian Grand Prix will unfold a memorable, if also mighty competitive grand prix in F1, however, one which may not see Christian Horner or his best driver sporting the biggest or widest smiles.
In what could be a tough day out in the field for Red Bull, top honours will likely flow McLaren's way. So what are the key predictions for the Austrian Grand Prix 2025, we have it all covered:
List of key predictions for Austrian Gran Prix 2025
Norris for the win
Ten races so far and only two previous, if also, precious wins for Lando Norris, the current pole sitter at Austria and this means, the noted British driver would love to convert his pole into a great win here amid the serene Styrian Alps. Having won this year before only at Australia, the season opener and Monaco, the salubrious Principality, the eleventh race of the season could well be the McLaren driver’s third race win of the year and it seems given his relative level of comfort visible all weekend thus far and a supremely quick pole lap at 1:03:971, the contest could well belong to Lando Norris.
Last year, Norris couldn’t score any points finishing with a P20, a forgettable race weekend at Austria thanks to an entanglement with Verstappen, and now the man leading the pack out in the front could give himself a fresh lease of life by winning at Austria and thus reviving his world title fight for 2025.
Leclerc will score a podium
Charles Leclerc has been a witness to what has been a heartbreaking, dramatically dull and unbelievably insipid season for Ferrari this season, in which the team have only scored podiums (up to this point) at Saudi Arabia, Monaco and Spain. The Monegasque, previously teammates with Vettel, begins his 2025 Austrian Grand Prix from second on the grid. During the race, Leclerc will come in for a close battle with his closest on-track pursuers in the form of Oscar Piastri and teammate Hamilton. But a good clean drive and a team strategy that’ll hopefully support him and back him to reach the checkered flag after completing 71 laps comfortably sans much drama will lead to a vital podium.
A surprise earning that it may be given Oscar Piastri wasn’t able to put together a cracker of a lap in a failed bid to lock the front row will augur well for Leclerc whose own skill at the wheel will earn Ferrari a much-needed podium (his first coming at Spain).
Piastri will ensure both McLarens get on the podium
Piastri will manage the podium in the end. It may read like a bit of a no brainer given just how utterly dominant both McLaren cars have been all weekend and how combatant -and ultra competitive- albeit in the smoothest of manners the Australian can be at the wheel. But ultimately, the young driver will compete at his best and while not gather a win, will ensure that the two of the podium places in Red Bull territory belong to the Papaya-liveried McLaren cars.
Piastri will also match the race pace of the Ferrari and unless Leclerc falters, will get to the second place in the end, however, Charles, who’s had brilliant podium finishes here before will contest with all his might and use the new floor settings of the car, to good effect. Piastri could also go for the fastest lap battle, a fight his own teammate will hotly contest for.
A day to forget for Max Verstappen
For someone who’s won here on four previous occasions and managed as many career poles at the venue, the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix will be a race to forget for the famous Dutch driver who also happens to be this the defending world champion at the moment. Verstappen, who could only manage a low key seventh in the end, ending up just ahead of new driver Gabriel Bortoleto (but behind Lawson) had faced all sorts of driving problems in his Red Bull machine, with its cornering speed challenged and overall car handling facing a stern contest during qualifying.
For someone who’s won here back in the day consistently- Verstappen will likely endure a day to forget at the Austrian mountains; the Alps that may not cut a picturesque and rosy picture for the driver who’s tasted the winning champagne here back in the day.
