[Race] Austrian Grand Prix 2017 – Round 9 of 20 – Grand Prix Weekend Thread

[Richard C]

Formula arrives in Austria as part of the fast paced set of mid-summer races. With long straights, the track is fast and engine performance is key to success. Can Hamilton repeat his win from last year? The press is eager to push forward poor relations between Hamilton and Vettel left over from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Will that be a factor in this race? Can McLaren/Honda show new form with an upgraded engine package for both drivers?

Circuit Map



2016 Race Report

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Austrian_Grand_Prix

Discuss!

[Richard C]

I didn't watch any video of it, but the transcript of Thursday's press conference was painful. Both Vettel and Hamilton (particularly Vettel) didn't want to dwell on the incident from last race, but the press was having none of it and pressed hard.

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/a...milton-927262/

Richard

[chillibowl]

thanks for the intro Richard.

the transcript makes it seem worse then it was. for sure there were a lot of idiotic and repetitive questions but from the video i thought LH and SV in particular handled it well and with some good humour which didnt really translate well on the transcript.

Ferrari's race poster.



https://twitter.com/ScuderiaFerrari?...Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Renault's race poster (they really have this yellow theme going on...obviously! i liked at first but feel like its getting a bit boring now.)



https://twitter.com/renaultsportf1

[cds_uk]

Poor old Jolyon, only 7 laps in fp2 when the bulk of the others were up in the 40's, he is properly out of luck this year isn't he.

[chunterer]

He's out of something!

Hamilton hit with a 5 spot penal.

New Honda seems better on an outright power circuit.

Sainz kicking up a stink at Red Bull. Better to explain more in sill season thread.

[bjohnsonsmith]

I'm looking forward to this. With the dust from Baku, not really settled, taking in past results and current practice sessions, Lulu Mercedes have the upper hand.

[bjohnsonsmith]

It all happened in the last minute of Q3, with Grosjean stopping on the middle of the track, ruining chances of anyone's trying to get that last quick lap in and Vertappen going off into the gravel but saving the car.

Congrats to Bottas on his second pole. Lewis seemed to have trouble getting the car to do what he wanted. It looked like he was under steering into the corners and losing grip. Nevertheless, he qualified third, however with the grid penalty he starts 8th. So much for me saying Lewis and Mercedes have the upper hand.

[ASCII Man]

You could say Grosjean did it on purpose to hang on to his position. Like some German type person did a bunch of years ago. I wouldn't put it past him in any case.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Almost a clean start as Verstappen goes off at turn 1. Looks like he got hit from behind.

Bottas is being investigated for a jump start.

[Richard C]

Kvyat was a bit of an idiot at the start. Effectively taking out Max at their home race can't sit well at Red Bull.

Richard

[billy bleach]

Did Vettel really just say "one more lap" to Bottas on Parc Fern? What a Pr*ck

[ASCII Man]

Yeah, what a prick for joking around with someone.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Congrats to Bottas, kept it together from start to finish. A good drive from Ricciardo and Vettel extends his lead in the championship with second. Otherwise a pretty dull race.

[GT6]

A good race plenty of close races at the end even if no one actually managed to pass

[newlaprecord]

Love this track, one of the oldies but goodies, not an overtaking paradise, but always deliver solid shows.

Seen the "drivers after the race" videos, read the press realeses, but not one word of appology from Kvyat...and I think what he did was really, really bad driving, not just bad F1 driving, it was bad driving for a drunken Xbox party. 3 penalty points for brushing rubber for Vettel, and only two for someone who plays bowling with 2 other cars at the start like that...odd.

[S griffin]

Not the best race, until the last few laps. Bottas does a brilliant job, atm I'd say he's maybe another Patrese and Berger, a great number two, who can occasionally beat everyone else on merit. I'd be happy if he proves he's more than that though

Good race for Grosjean, not a brake problem in sight, shame Kevin's suspension went in qualifying then his gearbox went in the race, as he again looked strong

How Hamilton and Ricciardo still were able to push to the end with horribly blistered tyres, just shows their commitments. Certainly livened up a quiet race

Flav once suggested Webber should go to Lourdes to cure his bad luck, maybe it's about time Max did the same, five retirements from the last seven races, how he managed not to get angry in his C4 interview shows he is not going to give up. And shame for Fred too, Kyvat just seemed to lock up and have no control under braking

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by ASCII Man

Yeah, what a prick for joking around with someone.

Hopefully Bottas just replied - 'In your dreams mate.....'

[TrapezeArtist]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Kyvat just seemed to lock up and have no control under braking

Well, yes, that's the way it is when you're too late on the brakes in the first corner. You either stay on the brakes and hit someone. Or ease off the brakes and hit someone.

[owrforever]

Bottas' start was legendary! A real benchmark.

[S griffin]

Yeah and not a jump start, no matter what that Vettel geezer thinks

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by owrforever

Bottas' start was legendary! A real benchmark.

It was but 'cry baby' Vettel is still bleating saying he jumped the start, despite the officials (who actually have the relevant data) say he didn't.
(I'm just starting to wonder what conspiracy theories the boy will come up with at the next race if someone has the nerve to be quicker than him?)

[bjohnsonsmith]

I have to admit, when I watched the race yesterday, I thought Bottas jumped the start. However the car's transponder and telemetry said otherwise, so that's how it is.

[Mike Bell]

I liked DC's comment on C4- something about Seb 'must be living in a parallel universe'.........

[bauble]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

It was but 'cry baby' Vettel is still bleating saying he jumped the start, despite the officials (who actually have the relevant data) say he didn't.
(I'm just starting to wonder what conspiracy theories the boy will come up with at the next race if someone has the nerve to be quicker than him?)

Yeah! Him and that Aussie whinger, Ricciardo, another one to doubt good old Valterri's start. I can't abide people like that, always got something negative to say. Thank goodness there is no one like that on this forum.

I think we should start a petition to get Vettel flung out of the sport altogether, after all he is upsetting all of Lewis's fans, and that just won't do.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by bauble

Yeah! Him and that Aussie whinger, Ricciardo, another one to doubt good old Valterri's start. I can't abide people like that, always got something negative to say. Thank goodness there is no one like that on this forum.

I think we should start a petition to get Vettel flung out of the sport altogether, after all he is upsetting all of Lewis's fans, and that just won't do.

I'm just beginning to think that you have a problem with people if their name begins with a 'V'...