SPORTS
Lewis Hamilton wins Austrian Grand Prix after last-lap collision with Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg
Baku, July 4, AZERTAC
Lewis Hamilton won the Austrian Grand Prix after a dramatic last-lap collision with championship rival Nico Rosberg, according to standard.
Rosberg appeared on course to claim his sixth victory of the season, but crashed into Hamilton as the Briton attempted to pass his Mercedes team-mate around the outside of turn two.
Rosberg sustained damage to his front wing in the incident, allowing Hamilton to assume the lead and subsequent victory, while he could limp home only in fourth.
The collision between the championship protagonists enabled Red Bull's Max Verstappen to claim second with Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen taking the last spot on the podium.
Hamilton, who was behind Rosberg courtesy of a curious strategy by his Mercedes team, was closing in on his team-mate in the final stages of the race.
And, on the last lap, he sensed his opportunity on the long run down to turn two. As Hamilton took to the outside, and appeared to move ahead of Rosberg, the German appeared to lose control of his car under braking and slide into his championship rival.
Hamilton was forced off the track, and re-joined temporarily behind Rosberg, but the force of the coming together - the third time the pair have collided this season - saw the German sustain damage to his front wing.