Nico Rosberg took advantage of a fast start to dominate the Austrian Grand Prix Sunday and close the gap in the F1 championship race on Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton.
Rosberg was also helped by a five-second penalty imposed on Britain’s Hamilton for a pit-lane infringement, effectively ending his chances of victory.
Felipe Massa for Williams held off Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel in a tight battle for the final podium spot.
Four-time world champion Vetttel lost time at a botched pit stop and could not get past the experienced Brazilian, who was on the podium for the 40th time, in the closing laps.
Rosberg’s 11th career win aside, the major talking point was a second corner crash involving two former world champions, Kimi Raikkonen in his Ferrari and McLaren’s Fernando Alonso.
Raikkonen appeared to lose speed as he exited the turn at Spielberg and Alonso careered into the back of him, with the two cars becoming completely entangled.
Neither driver suffered any serious injury in the accident, although Alonso received attention in the medical center, but it meant the safety car was deployed early.
Rosberg, having moved ahead of pole sitter Hamilton off the grid, proceeded to drive an assured race to seal victory, taking the checkered flag 3.8 seconds to the good.
He has also moved to within 10 points of reigning champion Hamilton in the title battle.
The German, who celebrated his 30th birthday Saturday, credited his charge off the grid as the basis for his triumph.
“The start made the race. It was a great start and I managed to defend in the first couple of corners,” he said at the podium presentation.
“I was really happy with the car and to see the gap open up to Lewis.”
On a good day for the Williams team, Finn Valtteri Bottas took fifth, with German Nico Hulkenberg in sixth for Force India, one week after winning in the Le Mans 24 Hours race.
Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado was seventh for Lotus ahead of Dutch teenager Max Verstappen of Toro Rosso and Mexican Sergio Perez (Force India).
Daniel Ricciardo of Australia picked up the final point for Red Bull, after starting down the grid.
