Bottas wins Austrian Grand Prix as 6 drivers refuse to take a knee

Valtteri Bottas has won the season opening formula one race with victory at the Austrian grand prix on Sunday.

The Mercedes driver won the chaotic race to claim the first podium place in a race that six drivers refused to take the usual knee bow in support of ‘Black Lives Matter’ campaign.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Lando Norris completed the podium with second and third place finishes while Lewis Hamilton finished fourth.

The British reigning world champion ended the race in the second place despite starting the race from fifth because of penalty he accrued during the qualifying round.

But his a 5-second penalty for the incident with Red Bulls Alexander Albon during the race which led to their retirement meant Hamilton finished outside the podium.

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McLaren’s Lando Norris third place finish was his first career podium and his superb final lap was the fastest of an exciting opening race. Norris became the youngest British driver to secure a podium finish and the third youngest ever in Formula One.

Verstappen, Leclerc, McLaren’s Carlos Sainz, Alfa Romeo team-mates Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi, and Russian Daniil Kvyat were the drivers who refused to take a knee for personal reasons.

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