George Russell held off Max Verstappen as the Mercedes driver returned to winning ways from pole position at the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday.
Russell was never seriously challenged and returned to the top of the podium for the first time since the season-opener in March in Australia for a seventh career victory.
Verstappen finished a season-best second, up from fifth on the grid, in the home race of his Red Bull team, with five-time season winner and championship leader Kimi Antonelli third in the other Mercedes.
Russell holds of Verstappen, Ferraris suffer
Verstappen trailed by some 10 seconds after the final pit stops with just over 20 laps left on a sweltering afternoon, after which both Mercedes drivers said that their drinks system failed in the race.
The Dutchman came within three seconds with an upgraded car but Russell was in full control up front, while Verstappen prevailed against a late threat from Antonelli.
Ferrari meanwhile missed the podium although Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton had started from second and third, respectively.
Hamilton, who had claimed his first victory for the Scuderia two weeks ago in Barcelona, was fifth behind McLaren's Oscar Piastri, and Leclerc eighth.
Hamilton had two thrilling battles with Verstappen in a duel of ex-champions, with the Dutchman eventually having the upper hand over his old foe whose three-stop strategy did not pay off.
Russell relief as title race opens up
Italian teenager Antonelli remains top of the championship, with Russell back in second 40 points back. Hamilton dropped to third, 46 points off the top.
"Incredible to be back on the top step. It's been a little while, so I will definitely enjoy this one," a relieved Russell said.
"Single lap, race pace, was very strong this weekend - on a track that was probably not well suited to my style.
"The tough races definitely test you psychologically. These last two weekends for me have been vitally important to remind myself I can do it," he added in reference to Sunday and Barcelona where he was second behind Hamilton, while Antonelli failed to finish.
Impressive Red Bull
Russell conceded that "Max and Red Bull were incredibly quick this weekend, so kudos to them."
Verstappen may have had a real chance to get his first season win if he had started higher up on the grid than fifth, having crashed during his last fast lap in qualifying.
But he was satisfied overall, saying: "To be second and that close to a win is extremely positive.
"It was a very good race for us. The first few laps were quite fun and then it was basically trying to manage your tyres."
How the race unfolded
Russell won the start from the Ferraris while Antonelli went off the track three times in a turbulent opening, having to hand back a place to Leclerc in one of the incidents.
Hamilton got past Leclerc into second while Verstappen climbed from fifth to third past Antonelli and then Leclerc.
Antonelli moved into fourth past Leclerc in lap seven and Hamilton also appeared a little slower as Verstappen closed in.
Russell was three seconds ahead after 10 laps while Verstappen robustly overtook Hamilton, who however rebounded immediately in similar fashion as the ex-champions fought fiercely but without contact.
A furious Verstappen wanted a penalty for Hamilton but the stewards took no action after taking a look at the battle.
The duel soon resumed after the first pit stops, with Verstappen prevailing and then starting to hunt down Russell.
The gap rose to 10 seconds after the second stops and although Verstappen closed in again, Russell held on for a morale-boosting victory a week before his British home race in Silverstone.
It was meanwhile a nightmare for Cadillac as Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez had to retire early, with the brakes of both drivers on fire.
