Verstappen wins in Austria as Mercedes meltdown puts Vettel ahead of Hamilton

Max Verstappen secured a first home win for Red Bull at the Austrian Grand Prix, with a meltdown for Mercedes leaving them with zero points after Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton were forced to retire. Sebastian Vettel leapfrogs Hamilton atop the standings yet again after a race in which pit-wall blunders cost Hamilton a potential victory.

Mercedes' refusal to pit Hamilton under the Virtual Safety Car prompted by Bottas' retirement meant the reigning champion slipped from first to fourth and his running at maximum power in an attempt to regain positions perhaps prompted his retirement late in the race from P4.

Vettel is unlikely to have harboured hope of taking the championship lead after Bottas and Hamilton qualified one-two and he was given a grid drop to sixth place.

However, a smart recovery, as well as Mercedes' and Hamilton's collapse opened the door for the German, as well as Verstappen, who led Kimi Raikkonen and Vettel on the podium.

Verstappen's victory was founded in a punchy opening lap, in which he got the better of Raikkonen after the veteran had initially muscled his way in between Hamilton and a slow-starting Bottas off the line.

After Raikkonen fell back into Verstappen's clutches, he muscled through, a move that would eventually prove key as he went on to secure his fourth grand prix win - and Red Bull's first ever at the circuit that bears their name.

Raikkonen and Vettel made ground on the Red Bull late in the race, but he had the pace, and tyre life, to hold them off and take a first win of a 2018 season in which he has taken his fair share of critics, delighting a vast stand full of orange-clad fans.

"WE'VE THROWN AWAY A WIN"

As Verstappen cruised to victory, acrimony broke out behind, especially from the cockpit of Hamilton.

Bottas' retirement prompted a Virtual Safety Car, with Mercedes erring in failing to call Hamilton in while his rivals behind all took a service.

Once racing conditions resumed, Hamilton needed a pit-stop, but did not have suitable time to those behind him, and the Silver Arrows ultimately called him in early in an attempt to cover championship rival Vettel.

However, the Mercedes' rear tyres were soon shredded, and Vettel swept past Hamilton to take third place before Hamilton pitted for fresh rubber late in the race.

Having received numerous apologies from chief strategist James Vowles during the race, his grand prix ended miserably with six laps remaining, ending his record-breaking run of 33 points-scoring finishes in a row.

Hamilton not only lost top spot in the drivers' standings to vettel, but the red cars are now sitting pretty in the team charts - 10 points clear.

BEST OF THE REST

Haas celebrated their 50th grand prix with their best ever result, Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen home fourth and fifth respectively, and the Frenchman breaking his 2018 duck in style.

Behind them, Force India also salvaged a double points finish, with Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez sixth and seventh.

Expect some high self-congratulation from Fernando Alonso... Eighth from a pit-lane start! The McLaren man will likely rank it high among his career achievements...