We now head to the hills for the second time in recent years, where Williams threw away a win. Can Hamilton carve a path through Europe unlike last year? Is Valtteri's contract with the Scuderia now set in stone after his podium? Will Fernando gain his first points? Will Austria (the shortest lap on the circuit) throw up surprises? please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Number of times held 28 First held 1963 Most wins (drivers) please log in to view this image Alain Prost (3) Most wins (constructors) please log in to view this image McLaren (6) - Now unlikely Circuit length 4.326 km (2.688 mi) Race length 307.146 km (190.848 mi) Laps 71 FP1 - 9am FP2 - 1pm SP3 - 10pm Q - 1pm R - 1pm 4 Points: exfat, di Fredsta!, 3 Points: Max Whiplash, DHCanary, EternalMSC, SgtBhaji, dhel, happyal, jonnybaws 2 Points: Pie!, Paco Montoya, Eat Sleep Watch F1 Repeat, ErnieBecclestone, ched999uk, 51LV3R8RR04, BrightLampShade, El_Bando, eddie_squidd, Slicks of Stoneham, PaulK 1 Point: BojackHCAFCman, StGeordie, Dell Boy, TomTom94, allsaintchris, Mystic Nutmeg, cosicave, taeleon, fevriul, St. TheJudeanPeoplesFront, LewisFTW, dicostu333
http://www1.skysports.com/f1/news/12536/9879097/austrian-gp-talking-points Take a look at the comparison video of the 2003 Ferrari against the 2013 Williams for pole.
This is one of those tracks where I can't decide if I wanna go hi, med or low downforce when I race on F1, despite the large variations in sector times the overall lap is fairly similar.
I've voted Hamilton, but I'm just hoping for a decent show. The last few races have been a little disappointing.
Fernando Alonso is set to start the Austrian GP at the back of the grid as a result of a strategic decision by his McLaren team to take an engine penalty this weekend. The Spaniard’s car will, however, be armed with the new short-nose front-wing that the team are introducing at the Red Bull Ring after it passed the mandatory crash test last week. With just one new unit available, Jenson Button’s car will be fitted with the fitted with the older – and longer – specification. Alonso and Button’s roles were reversed earlier in the season when the Englishman was given first use of the upgrade McLaren brought to China in April. Alonso, who has yet to trouble the scorers since returning to McLaren for the 2015 season, has retired from the last three races due to mechanical failures. According to Sky F1 analyst and columnist Mark Hughes, McLaren are set to trigger a grid demotion this weekend with the introduction of new engine components in 'an attempt to have a clean Hungarian GP at a track where car should be more competitive.' After venting his frustration from the cockpit of his ailing MP4-30 in Canada, when he complained McLaren were in danger of looking like amateurs, Alonso has urged the team to use the remainder of 2015 as an elongated ‘test session’ for 2016. With the position we are in and the performance we have, I think concentrating on next year is the clever option for us now," the two-time world champion said. “I don't have any problem starting every single race from the pit lane if we keep improving the car. That's the main priority now, to concentrate on next year's performance, so let's see what the team can offer."
So if he can only serve a few of those places on the grid, does he start from the back straight, or have to serve a drive through every lap?
Shocker for Vettel again. Out so early in FP1. Alonso seemingly out as well early on, but that's hardly news this season!
The Ferrari doesn't seem to bad, especially as we haven't seen it in Vettel's hands as of yet for a true comparison on 1 lap pace. The McLaren's look woeful in both pace and reliability - so bad.
Last years P2 times. 1. L. Hamilton Mercedes 01:09.542 37 2. N. Rosberg Mercedes 01:09.919 50 3. F. Alonso Ferrari 01:10.470 40 4. V. Bottas Williams 01:10.519 44 5. F. Massa Williams 01:10.521 39 6. S. Vettel Red Bull 01:10.807 39
Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ at lunchtime, McLaren racing director Eric Boullier said it was "likely" that Button would take more engine penalties this weekend - a tactical move by the sounds of it. Well, a tactical and emotional move, because they don't want Button to take a penalty at Silverstone if they can help it. Then comes the Hungarian GP, on a track where they hope they'll be able to pick up a few points. All very well and good with the teams taking tactical penalties, but there is no point if you then miss out on the running time to optimise performance.
Tactical penalties are great, provided they don't then blow any more engines or systems in the meantime, or in any of the sessions in GB or Hungary. Bold move by McLaren considering reliability is not a strength at the moment.
Kimi Raikkonen has been lapping on soft tyres and here’s a breakdown of his times: tyre age: 19 laps current stint: 12 laps 1 out lap 2 1:12.9593 4 1:12.830 5 1:13.266 6 1:12.506 7 1:13.744 8 1:12.693 9 1:14.125 10 1:12.487 11 1:12.914 12 1:12.955
