Austrian Grand Prix Preview
The upcoming Austrian Grand Prix promises to be an exciting and action-packed race with several key story lines to watch out for. Viasport will delve into the performances of various drivers and teams providing a comprehensive analysis of what to expect in the highly anticipated Grand Prix.
Image: Formula 1 Media
One of the main focal points is Ferrari’s performance after a tumultuous period of rebuilding and development. As Ferrari is aiming to regain its former glory, they took a gutsy decision by not splitting their drivers during the safety car period of the Canada Grand Prix unlike most of their competitors. Despite starting lower on the grid, they decided to stick with the medium tyres. While others opted for fresh rubber it seemed like they would drop down the rankings when they eventually had to pit, but surprisingly the strategy worked and it allowed Ferrari to pull off a one-stop race. With Charles Leclerc ending P4 and Carlos Sainz P5, it might seem that Ferrari is back in the game and ready to challenge Aston Martin and Mercedes for second place in the constructor's championship. “We had a solid race weekend” said Carlos Sainz to Sky Sports F1. “It was a shame about qualifying because I think today we could have been right up there with Lewis and Fernando.”
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Although Lewis Hamilton fell just short of securing second place, he remained optimistic and highlighted the positive feedback Mercedes has gotten from the upgrades they have brought to the car. Hamilton’s contribution played a key role in Mercedes achieving consecutive podium finishes, a feat they had not accomplished thus far in the season. When discussing the areas that Mercedes needs address in order to compete with Aston Martin and Red Bull in the future Lewis Hamilton specifically identified rear downforce as a crucial aspect that requires improvement, recognizing the significance of this area to strengthen their overall performance and match their rivals. “I think we can see the positive dynamic in which is cascading and transcending into the organisation” explained Toto Wolff. “We feel the that the car is coming together and we see that our data yields results on track we haven’t felt for a long time and this contributes to being in a good place right now.” Wolff emphasised the significance of avoiding complacency within the Mercedes team, cautioning against assuming that success Is guaranteed.
“We feel the that the car is coming together and we see that our data yields results on track we haven’t felt for a long time and this contributes to being in a good place right now”
George Russell is known for his consistency in performances but has experienced a decline in his recent Grand Prix weekends. However, his preparations for the Austrian GP have been hindered by unfortunate incidents and technical issues raising doubts about his performances. Russell has demonstrated maturity in confidence since joining Mercedes from Williams, giving detailed feedback and improvement messages back to the team. With a strong driver lineup and the team well on their way to solve and figure out previous problems, Mercedes is eyeing the possibility of overtaking Aston Martin in the constructor's championship.
Image: Reuters
Lance Stroll’s performance in the Canadian Grand Prix going from 16th to 9th can be considered decent, however the circumstances surrounding his result overshadowed his performance with owner and father Lawrence Stroll predicting a double podium finish for both Aston Martin cars. In a car as fast as Aston Martin is this year, Stroll’s qualifying well below par and his race underwhelming as he only managed to squeeze into the points. Stroll needs to find consistency and improve his weekend execution as even his supportive and superior teammate Fernando Alonso has noted that the effort needs to come from both drivers to secure second place in the constructors. Stroll’s Formula 1 journey has been a mix of highs and lows highlighting his potential and areas of improvement. As the Austrian Grand Prix approaches Stroll’s objective will be to enhance his consistency and racecraft when being handed such a capable car.
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Sergio Perez is had a tough time for the third weekend in a row this season after another disappointing qualifying. His performance in the race didn’t impress either as he struggled to challenge the Ferrari’s except for a sprinted attempt on the first lap which was ultimately undone by Carolos Sainz at the final chicane. Despite Perez being under contract with Red Bull until the end of the 2024 season, there have been swirling rumours regarding his position within the team. As Red Bull continues its massive dominance winning eight out of eight races, the home race of the Austrian outfit is one where Perez desperately needs to show he belongs in a top team. Helmut Marko and team boss Christian Horner has told Perez to forget about the Driver’s Championship and rather focus on his own racing and performances. As Verstappen more or less has already won this year's World Championship, it will be exciting to see if Perez can find back the form he had in the first three races of the season.