The hills are alive, with the sound of V6 hybrids…again.
The Burning Questions
Can Mercedes find anything to challenge Red Bull more than last weekend?
Will the softer tyres make much of a change to the pecking order?
Any chance of some rain this time?
The Track
THE STATS
- Track Length: 4.318 km
- Laps: 71
- Race Distance: 306.452 km
- Maximum Speed: 327 km/h
- Lap Time at Full Throttle: 74%
- First Grand Prix: 1970 (Spielberg) | 1963 (Austria)
- Race Lap Record: Carlos Sainz | McLaren | 2020 | 1:05.619
- Outright Lap Record: Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 2019 | 1:28.319
- Most Driver Wins: Alain Prost/Max Verstappen | 1983, 1985, 1986/2018, 2019, 2021
- Most Constructor Wins: McLaren | 1984, 1985, 1986, 1998, 2000, 2001
The Trivia
- The 2002 Austrian Grand Prix was one of the most controversial races ever, as Rubens Barrichello was forced to hand over the win to teammate Michael Schumacher after the final corner
- The “Bull of Spielberg” took one and a half years to be built – it is 18 metres high and weighs 68 tons
- There were eight different winners in the eight Austrian Grands Prix between 1970 and 1977
- At the 1982 Austrian Grand Prix, Elio de Angelis won by just 0.05 seconds to Keke Rosberg
The Weather
The Quotes
Max Verstappen | “We are at the same track but different compounds and it is going to be more difficult with everyone having raced here one weekend already.”
Valtteri Bottas | “We can [catch Red Bull]. We are working hard to do it. We see on Sunday but it is possible.”
Lando Norris | “100% I am doing better this year than last year. I had moments last year where I was doing as well as I am this year but more inconsistently. I am happy with how I’ve been doing. I don’t think I get ahead of myself or get too confident or cocky. I always want more. I am never satisfied with what I’ve done.”
Fernando Alonso | “Favourite at the moment probably is Max because he is performing better. Things can change quickly depending on the performance of the teams and the updates to the car etc.”
The Friday Form
Practice 2 Top 5
1 | Lewis Hamilton | 1:04.523 | 31 Laps
2 | Valtteri Bottas | 1:04.712 | 34 Laps
3 | Max Verstappen | 1:04.740 | 35 Laps
4 | Lance Stroll | 1:05.139 | 33 Laps
5 | Sebastian Vettel | 1:05.268 | 37 Laps
Practice 1 Top 5
1 | Max Verstappen | 1:05.143 | 37 Laps
2 | Charles Leclerc | 1:05.409 | 33 Laps
3 | Carlos Sainz | 1:05.431 | 33 Laps
4 | Valtteri Bottas | 1:05.445 | 31 Laps
5 | Yuki Tsunoda | 1:05.474 | 35 Laps
The morning session went much as expected with Max Verstappen topping the times – albeit with a surprise 2-3 for Ferrari – but Mercedes hit back with a 1-2 in the afternoon.
The Silver Arrows also appear to be at least a match for the Red Bulls on race pace, judging by the long runs in Practice Two, so we could yet have a close fight this weekend
The Aston Martins also looked strong, finishing the afternoon in fourth and fifth, and it would appear that the colder, damper conditions are playing somewhat into the hands of the low-rake cars.
THE PHOTOS
The Predictions
Podium
Pole Position
Fastest Lap
Driver of the Day
