down to the wire

Lewis Hamilton misses out on a podium finish as Valtteri Bottas edges Sebastian Vettel in Austrian Grand Prix

Brit was unable to catch Daniel Ricciardo in third place as 20 points now seperate him and his German rival

VALTTERI BOTTAS won the Austrian Grand Prix while his Mercedes teammate, Lewis Hamilton, had to settle for fourth place.

Championship leader, Sebastian Vettel now has a 20 point lead in the championship thanks to his second-place finish.

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Lewis Hamilton was unable to catch Daniel Ricciardo on the last lap in AustriaCredit: Getty Images
Valtteri Bottas remained composed as he held off Sebastian VettelCredit: Reuters

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo held off a late challenge from Hamilton, who started in eighth, for his fifth podium in a row.

It was a thrilling start as pole-sitter Bottas got off to a flyer. The Finn's speedy getaway was so good that Vettel complained over the radio that he felt it was a jump start.

However, the Mercedes driver was cleared of any wrongdoing by the stewards, despite Vettel's complaints.

However, there were problems for Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who has endured a miserable couple of races.

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The Dutchman was cheered on by 12,000 orange-clad fans but his race was over by the first corner.

Verstappen made a poor start and the anti-stall kicked in. However, he was then caught up in collision caused by Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat.

Valtteri Bottas proudly lifted the winner's trophy on the podiumCredit: AP:Associated Press
The three drivers celebrated on the podiumCredit: Reuters
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Valtteri Bottas has put himself firmly in the race for the Drivers' ChampionshipCredit: Reuters

The Russia boomed up the inside and locked-up his brakes as he left it far too late and he slammed into Fernando Alonso.

The Spaniard's McLaren then clattered into Verstappen sending the two out of the race, while hapless Kvyat was issued with a stop-and-go penalty.

Out in front, Bottas was unchallenged and set about opening up a gap over Vettel while Hamilton quickly set about make his way through the field, passing Sergio Perez and then Romain Grosjean before tucking in behind Kimi Raikkonen.

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However, the three-time world champion could not find a way past the Finn and in a panicked message to his team he panted "I've got to get by, guys".

Mercedes responded by calling him into the pits on lap 32 for the quicker ultrasoft tyres and after a 2.4second stop he returned to the track still in fifth place.

Valtteri Bottas won the Austrian Grand PrixCredit: Getty Images
Sebastian Vettel finished in second as his lead over Lewis Hamilton increasesCredit: Getty Images
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Daniel Ricciardo just about managed to hold off Lewis Hamilton on the last lapCredit: Getty Images

Kimi Raikkonen's pitstop moved Hamilton into fourth but on lap 50, the fragile ultrasoft tyre looked like it was at the end of its life.

Mercedes weighed up the options of whether to call in Hamilton for a second stop however, the Brit continued to throw the hammer down and he started to catch Ricciardo.

Hamilton, clearly unhappy with the state of his tyres, willed his Mercedes on while out in front, Vettel was catching Bottas.

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It led to a grandstand finish as Vettel pressed the Finn while Hamilton had two attempts to pass Ricciardo.

But both manage to hold their position as Bottas crossed the line ahead of Vettel while Ricciado edged his battle with Hamilton.

Brit Jolyon Palmer missed out on the points and finished in 11th place in his Renault.

Haas's Kevin Magnussen and Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz also retired alongside Verstappen and Alonso.

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