[ferrarirules]

FORMULA 1 EYETIME GROSSER PREIS VON ÖSTERREICH 2018









Track Layout



Track Information



Timings



Tyre Selection

Additional Information


This race is Round 2 of the three back to back race weekends. Round 1 went to Mercedes but on race pace Ferrari and Red bull were really close. It should be the same case for this race.


Lets see what Austrian GP has in store for us. Let the races begin.

For further information - https://www.formula1.com/en/champion...8/Austria.html

Race and all other sessions would be telecast on Star Sport Select 2 HD/Star Sport Select 2

Image Credits - Motorsport.com/ LAT Images and Formula1.com

[GTO]

As if the Mercedes' weren't fast enough, they've brought a huge aero update to this race.

Source & more information

Read on Formula1.com that Vettel is trailing Hamilton by 14 points; it was the exact opposite situation last year before Austria. Crazy season this one has turned out to be. I think the gap will only extend as this is an out & out Mercedes track (they've won Austria for the last 4 years).

[Chetan_Rao]

Originally Posted by GTO

....this is an out & out Mercedes track (they've won Austria for the last 4 years).

Could be, but there are several factors at play this year different from yesteryear:

1. Merc don't do too well on the regular-tread Ultrasoft tire (the shallower tread tires are/were only available for Barcelona, Silverstone & Paul Ricard).

2. The current track layout is very point & squirt in S1 & S2, which works in Ferrari's favor now (and Red Bull if the engine gains work out) that Merc aren't head and shoulders ahead in the PU dept. Merc will still probably be best through the sweeping S3.

3. Renault are finally releasing their new MGU-K (through Red Bull aren't using it in Austria), but all Renault teams will now have their own qualifying a.k.a. party mode (reportedly worth a 20 BHP bump), so don't count Red Bull out from mixing it up in qualifying and disrupting Merc/Ferrari plans.

4. There are THREE DRS zones this year, so track position is paramount because most lead cars will probably have DRS the same time as the following cars around the short lap. Merc could struggle if they don't have track position and clear air.

Austria could be a three-way, plus the possibility of rain.

[Fullrevs]

1) Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Ultrasofts 1:04.839
2) Valtteri Bottas Mercedes Ultrasofts + 0.127
3) Max Verstappen Red Bull Ultrasofts + 0.233
4) Sebastian Vettel Ferrari Ultrasofts + 0.341
5) Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Ultrasofts + 0.644
6) Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari Ultrasofts + 0.937
7) Romain Grosjean Haas Supersofts + 1.189
8) Esteban Ocon Force India Supersofts + 1.216
9) Charles Leclerc Sauber Ultrasofts + 1.376
10) Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso Supersofts + 1.555
11) Marcus Ericsson Sauber Ultrasofts + 1.561
12) Kevin Magnussen Haas Supersofts + 1.565
13) Carlos Sainz Renault Ultrasofts + 1.588
14) Sergio Perez Force India Supersofts + 1.616
15) Nico Hulkenberg Renault Ultrasofts + 1.640
16) Lance Stroll Williams Ultrasofts + 1.728
17) Fernando Alonso McLaren Softs + 1.773
18) Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren Supersofts + 1.859
19) Brendon Hartley Toro Rosso Supersofts + 2.032
20) Robert Kubica Williams Ultrasofts + 2.585

Saturday will belong to the Mercedes drivers I feel. The ease that they clock the best times on the harder tyre is commendable

Practise 2 is now on Star Select HD 2 and non-HD channels.

[Chetan_Rao]

Looking at practice so far, the Ultrasofts are pointless, barely any gain over the next two grades available this race, esp. factoring the significantly shorter life.

If qualifying stays dry, the top six could possibly try doing Q2 on Supersofts (Bottas has an extra set than the others) so they start on that tire, do a long first stint then switch to the more durable Softs that aren't a big pace disadvantage and far better durability.

Vettel only has two sets of Supersofts and could be marginal in that scenario, while Merc can't risk getting stuck in traffic on Ultrasofts in the race.

Make it rain, puhleeezzz!!!!

[Fullrevs]

Practise 2 times:
1) Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:04.579 Soft
2) Valtteri Bottas Mercedes +0.176 Ultrasoft
3) Sebastian Vettel Ferrari +0.236 Ultrasoft
4) Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull +0.452 Supersoft
5) Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.546 Ultrasoft
6) Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari +0.686 Ultrasoft
7) Romain Grosjean Haas +0.850 Ultrasoft
8) Kevin Magnussen Haas +0.980 Ultrasoft
9) Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso +1.179 Supersoft
10) Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren +1.351 Ultrasoft
11) Carlos Sainz Renault +1.420 Ultrasoft
12) Charles Leclerc Sauber +1.517 Ultrasoft
13) Esteban Ocon Force India +1.554 Ultrasoft
14) Marcus Ericsson Sauber +1.620 Ultrasoft
15) Nico Hulkenberg Renault +1.694 Ultrasoft
16) Sergey Sirotkin Williams +1.747 Ultrasoft
17) Brendon Hartley Toro Rosso +1.753 Supersoft
18) Sergio Perez Force India +1.775 Ultrasoft
19) Fernando Alonso McLaren +1.850 Supersoft
20) Lance Stroll Williams +2.047 Ultrasoft

The updates are doing wonders for the Mercedez drivers. Both appreciating the improved handling of the car. This tripple header back to back races might undo all of Ferrari's efforts and advantage they may have enjoyed earlier in the season.

The fight is on!!

[sgiitk]

After practice 3, it appears to be a two horse race. Mercedes and Ferrari. Other are behind. The two pairs of drivers are within 0.400 seconds. Let us see how the qualification goes.

[Chetan_Rao]

Haas the surprise package in qualifying! Grosjean 6th on the grid.

Strange tire call by Ferrari, starting on Ultrasofts while Merc will be on Supersofts when there wasn't a significant pace advantage. Hoping to undercut or gambling on rain?

Merc pulled 3/10ths of a second on a short lap, which is huge even though Vettel looked a bit tentative on his second run trying to not make a mistake. Upgraded PU and new aero bits working well for them.

Red Bull didn't gain much from what Horner called 'more pre-drinks mode than party mode', and there was some acrimony on lap sequencing with neither driver wanting to go first. Handbags!

[Chetan_Rao]

Vettel gets a 3-place grid drop for impeding Sainz. Seems harsh given the stewards concluded it was unintentional and Sainz didn't lose anything.

Unless rain gets involved, Merc are running away with this tomorrow.

[sgiitk]

@Chetan_Rao; what you say looks true. However, at Austria rain can always play tricks, so watch and wait. After Schumi there is no real rainmeister around. However, given the track water accumulation should not be an issue.

[Chetan_Rao]

If it stays dry, Ferrari need to get creative with strategy to try and get Vettel on the podium and limit WDC damage. If Kimi can jump one of the Mercs and hold them off, it might force Merc's hand to split strategies and get Red Bull into play.

Easier said than done, of course.

[jraj]

My perennial search to find a F1 channel where the commentators don’t hit ecstasy while talking all things Hamilton came to an end when I found the Spanish channel showing the race live with my UVerse package. Spanish commentary and live timing on F1 app is all that I needed.

Given the race condition on lap 63, I just momentarily switched to ESPN to see what the commentary is about and guess what - the discussion is how Lewis could win the race if the top 3 have their tyres blown.

I guess it’s due to these guys that Lewis gets more flak than what he actually deserves

[fz_rider]

Wow! This race was something. Verstappen wins the first race of season. It was all happening, Double DNF for Mercedes, Hamilton losing the championship lead. Oh my God, most scintillating race of the season till now. Happening till the last lap. Good to see Ferrari let Kimi keep his pace. Double podium for Ferrari. Double points for Haas, Force India and Sauber. Super sunday in terms of MotoGp and Formula 1.

[Surprise]

After a long time, its a race that was interesting to watch from first to last lap of the race. Wish Ferrari was able to close in even more to make things more interesting. Getting into the race, Vettel wouldn't have thought he would move advantage into championship points

[Nitrous Power]

What a strategy mistake from Mercedes in terms of not pitting Hamilton during VSC. However, Hamilton’s reaction was a little over the top. It was a mistake and Merc’s chief strategist came on radio and apologized for the same but Hamilton kept whining. These kind of conversations are better inside garage and not on radio. However, I am not complaining as a viewer at all.

On Ferrari’s front, I am happy that Raikkonen was allowed to race and team orderes were not implemented in order to maximize Sab’s lead over Hamilton. However, I feel that this was kind of a parting gift from Ferrari to Kimi.