[Official] Austrian Grand Prix

[Born Racer]

Starting a new job and it's taking away a lot of time to do previews, unfortunately.

Anyway, it's time for a lot of racing, what with the Sprint as well.

[veeten]

FP1 is happening right now. Enjoy.

[steve_r]

I wonder who will come second?

[v8supes]

Im baffled? They are having a qualifying session for a qualifying session? What on earth is a "Sprint shootout?"

Why does everything change EVERY weekend?

[bjohnsonsmith]

The Austrian GP usually produces a good race. I gave it 8 last year and like last year there is a sprint race, however I don't like the new format. Last year the Austrian GP was won by Charles Leclerc and that was his last GP win.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Q1 has been red flagged, with under 12 minutes to go, as Bottas goes off and is unable to restart the car.


Edit: He managed to restart it.

[bjohnsonsmith]

That was a great qualifying session with track limits dominating. I've never seen so many lap times deleted. After all that, it's shame we won't have the race proper tomorrow, instead we have the sprint race.

[Richard C]

Would love to hear conversation in garage with Perez as to why he was unable to just give up a bit to ensure no track limit issues.

Richard

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by v8supes

Im baffled? They are having a qualifying session for a qualifying session? What on earth is a "Sprint shootout?"

Why does everything change EVERY weekend?

No they're not, it was qualifying for the GP.

And it doesn't.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by v8supes

Im baffled? They are having a qualifying session for a qualifying session? What on earth is a "Sprint shootout?"

Why does everything change EVERY weekend?

The format has changed for this year and was first introduced at Azerbaijan.

The qualifying session today, set the grid for the GP race on Sunday. The sprint shoot out tomorrow, sets the grid for the sprint race tomorrow afternoon, which is a stand a lone race and has no effect on Sunday's race.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

Starting a new job and it's taking away a lot of time to do previews, unfortunately.

Good luck with the new job!

Richard

[S griffin]

Verstappen fastest on the team’s track. No surprise there

[Teretonga]

Originally Posted by Richard Casto

Would love to hear conversation in garage with Perez as to why he was unable to just give up a bit to ensure no track limit issues.

Richard

On a SKY interview with Horner he expressed frustration that Perez was trying to match Perez. He said that Perez was capable of putting it on the front row but why not just bank the lap by staying within the white line.
All he needed was to get through to Q3.

He also said that there was no question about seeking a replacement for Perez, that he had the full support of the team.

[S griffin]

Lots of track limit deletions. This will keep happening as long as the penalty for going wide is only a judicial. That's how it is

Anyway, while I don't often say much in favour of RBR, at least they are giving Checo their full support which is good to see

[seanyb505]

Wet sprint start

[bjohnsonsmith]

That was an exciting start, with both RBs nearly taking each other out.

[v8supes]

Perez has to get the boot soon, surely?

[ScotsBrutesFan]

Can we have those conditions at every race please

[bjohnsonsmith]

Unfortunately, after the exciting start, I missed most of the sprint race because my brother called me but from what I did see of it, it looked like a good race.

[v8supes]

It was quite a decent race i thought, plenty going on. Would it have been like that in the dry? Who knows. Verstappen literally walked it though.

[Richard C]

Sprint was fantastic. Wet track and changing conditions was a major factor in setting up some great racing. I am hoping Lando can convert qualifying pace to race pace. Lando looked racy today, so I am hopeful for tomorrow.

Richard

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by v8supes

Perez has to get the boot soon, surely?

I understand (and mostly agree) with people asking this. But he is currently second in the championship. Red Bull have never had a 1-2 in the drivers championship, despite the Vettel and Max dominance years. So right now he's doing a better job than any number 2 Red Bull driver in history.

[S griffin]

That sprint race was one of the best of it's kind, although the conditions helped.

Really close stuff between the Red Bulls at the start, but once again, no stopping Max. At least there was plenty happening behind. Norris really went from hero to zero after being caught up in the Red Bull mess on lap one. Good drive by Hulkenberg, getting up to 2nd on the first lap. Was hoping he could take both Red Bulls, that would have been interesting. In the end he dropped back, but what a recovery after switching to slicks. Seems mediums were more suited to the track conditions that the wets. The amount of time he gained on the Astons on the last lap was mega

Now onto the main race. If it's half as exciting as the sprint race, that would be good. Nice to see Norris up there and Stroll really seems to have found a bit extra to be up there, ahead of Alonso.

[peebee2]

Originally Posted by Richard Casto

Would love to hear conversation in garage with Perez as to why he was unable to just give up a bit to ensure no track limit issues.

Richard

He clearly lifted more but the front washed out with the draft from the car close ahead.

[Sodemo]

I thought Max was taking unnecessary big risks in a few of those early moments on the first lap.