1875 replies to this topic

[f1paul]

Its been a dramatic and eventful Austrian GP so far with cars crashing and smashing kerbs in practice which resulted in some drama on a Friday! How strange?

 

Oh Seb…

 

 

Max as well?

 

Not so Valtteri 2.0 (even though it was never a thing) 

 

Leclerc was fastest in FP2, FP3 and topped each session in qualifying.

 

He did something similar in Bahrain of course but we all knows what happened then. Whenever a Ferrari gets in a position to win, they always find a way to erm.. not win.

 

Surely, it will not happen AGAIN!

 

So after much deliberation and how the FIA can't do maths. We did get a grid....albeit it took them four hours. Out Marklar did it in about half an our so why can't four middle aged men do it?

 

Anyway. this is what we got in the end...

 

As you can see the big talking point is that Robert Kubica starts 17th. 

 

I love the simplicity of the Austria track.

 

 

It looks like the Bahrain track to me..

 

 

But Austria is better.

 

What do they have in common? They both produce great racing for these big, wide, overcomplicated F1 cars.

 

 

Tyre chat ^

 

Everyone in the top nine starts on the softs apart from Hamilton, Bottas and Verstappen. Hopefully we get some strategy variation.

 

 

Weather? Hopefully someone at the track can tell us how hot it is. From the interweb, its going to be 33 degrees celcius. And guess what, it's meant to rain tomorrow in Spielberg and for most of the week. It will be 36 races since the last wet race (Singapore 2017). What is it that F1 does not like about the rain (apart from safety cars and red flags).

 

We should be all set for a good race then, it can't be worse than last Sunday.

 

Will Leclerc get his maiden F1 win?

Wil Verstappen make it back to back Austrian wins?
Will Hamilton make it five ins in a row?

Will Bottas upset the odds?

Can Vettel get on the podium?

And who on earth will come out on top in the madness of the midfield?

 

We'll find out in 2 and a half hours from now.

 

I hope we get a good battle and no penalties that upset the race, and I really hope the leaders don't crash at the first turn. (unless the top six all tangle, but that won't happen)

 

Enjoy. 

 

 

 

Edited by f1paul, 30 June 2019 - 10:45.

[RECKLESS]

Valtteri leading the votes for a second. Now I've seen it all!

[Marklar]

Mercedes 1-2, but with Bottas ahead of Hamilton, so that there is a little bit less crying.

 
 

jk

 

It's time for Leclerc to get his Bahrain win back. Fingers crossed. If he wins the start I'm confident since he then can control the pace and save his tyres long enough to make it work while having the straight line advantage to fend Verstappen or the Mercedes off.

Generally I think that anyone in the top 4 has a decent shot as of now. Obviously how they are after the start is crucial. If one of the Mercedes manages to get between Verstappen and Leclerc and the other not, I can see Mercedes sacrifying the other car to potentially hold up the early pitting Leclerc at the pitstops. Verstappen most likely wont have this luxury since Gasly is so far back.

[Risil]

Aerial photo of the track, with "full" layout visible (sadly the Bosch and Rindt curves are no more). You know you want to.

 

[SolalMS]

Both F2 races encountered serious tyres issues. Can we expect the same for the F1 race ?

[MasterOfCoin]

Wow it does look similar to the Bahrain track...

[RECKLESS]

Mercedes 1-2, but with Bottas ahead of Hamilton, so that there is a little bit less crying.

You sure? We Bottas cryers are a pretty rare bunch, whereas...

;)

[Risil]

I was only semi-following qualifying so I'd like to deposit my happy surprise about Giovinazzi's good qualifying performance. Go Alfa/Sauber!

[PayasYouRace]

Aerial photo of the track, with "full" layout visible (sadly the Bosch and Rindt curves are no more). You know you want to.

 

 

 

Looks like the grandstand hasn't moved though. You can see the original line of the curve in the service road.

[PayasYouRace]

I was only semi-following qualifying so I'd like to deposit my happy surprise about Giovinazzi's good qualifying performance. Go Alfa/Sauber!

 

Nice to see a bunch of fresh names in the top ten.

[muramasa]

　

I dont know how but I too think a Merc will somehow manage to get a win again

[sportyskells]

Reanult says 0% of rain

[Risil]

Leclerc and Verstappen have tremendous opportunities to grab a win. The outcome is still in doubt on Sunday morning, which is really all I hope for.

[Risil]

Reanult says 0% of rain

 

Isn't that percentage a bit high?

[pitlanepalpatine]

Odds are Ferrari will forget to bring wheels for Charlie's pitstop and Bottas is gonna be stuck behind Verstappen so my bet is on Hammy, Max and Bottas as the podium. Magnusson crashes into Vettel or the other way around.

[Marklar]

No DRS I guess   

[BuddyHolly]

Prediction just for the hell of it:-

1: Ham, 2: Bot, 3: Ver

 

(was tempted to put Lec 2nd but I'm betting Ferrari find some way to scupper him, be it accidental or not)

[SonGoku]

I think LEC will dominate this, he has the car under him to do it.

[Risil]

No DRS I guess   

 

A moving DRS zone!

[PayasYouRace]

I'd really like to see Charles get it this time, after so cruelly losing out in Bahrain.

[TomNokoe]

Leclerc/Verstappen front row is great. Expecting a few fireworks. High hopes for Lewis, it would be great if he just stuffed everyone. Worried for Vettel, I don't think today is the day he breaks his "winning from X position" duck. Maybe a podium if he's lucky.

Can confirm it's as hot as forecasts suggest. Everyone is hunting for a pocket of shade. Thankfully it's only a 80 minute race! Looking forward to lap 1.

[PayasYouRace]

. High hopes for Lewis, it would be great if he just stuffed everyone.

 

I think it would be greater if he stuffed it into a couple of rivals and someone else got the win for a change.

[Risil]

Leclerc/Verstappen front row is great. Expecting a few fireworks. High hopes for Lewis, it would be great if he just stuffed everyone. Worried for Vettel, I don't think today is the day he breaks his "winning from X position" duck. Maybe a podium if he's lucky.

Can confirm it's as hot as forecasts suggest. Everyone is hunting for a pocket of shade. Thankfully it's only a 80 minute race! Looking forward to lap 1.

 

What's the food like?

[ANF]

Leclerc/Verstappen front row is great. Expecting a few fireworks. High hopes for Lewis, it would be great if he just stuffed everyone. Worried for Vettel, I don't think today is the day he breaks his "winning from X position" duck. Maybe a podium if he's lucky.

Can confirm it's as hot as forecasts suggest. Everyone is hunting for a pocket of shade. Thankfully it's only a 80 minute race! Looking forward to lap 1.

We can expect a red flag then. Thanks.

[Marklar]

So Pirelli says Ferrari will have no problems with softs.

Means they will have, gotcha

[Risil]

I think it would be greater if he stuffed it into a couple of rivals and someone else got the win for a change.

 

It's different when you're there though. Somehow it's easier to admire a crushing performance when you're watching from trackside. One of my favourite memories from visiting a motor race was a dominate Ben Spies WSBK double in the sunshine at Donington. Maybe because it's easier to tell a story about it afterwards. "Lewis killed them. Hot. Over in 80 minutes."

[Anja]

It's just not healthy to actively hope for a good race and anything other than another Merc win at this point. Better to expect nothing and be positively surprised in case the miracle does indeed happen 

[Danyy]

So that’s what was happening in this pic lol

[PayasYouRace]

Adrian causing havoc with his RC car?

[Retrofly]

I really hope Max and LeClerc dont crash, we need to see a good battle upfront, with the merc guys not there this is the best chance, though I have a feeling Leclerc will just disappear into the distance.

[TomNokoe]

What's the food like?

Fine. Racetrack food. You have to load cash onto a prepaid card, which is quite handy because it's super fast for everyone. Queues minimal.

My German isn't great. Yesterday I ended up with two Frankfurters on a paper plate alongside a rock solid bread-roll, instead of a Hot Dog as intended.

[Zoe]

Ok, for the first time since years (and probably for the last time for a while) I'll give my prediction:

 

Lewis will overtake Valtteri pretty soon and then Max. Charles will fade away, struggling with tires and Valtteri will play rear gunner again keeping everyone at bay. Lewis at the winners interview "the beat crowd in years, thanks to the team, I was struggling sooo much with the tires".

 

At least one safety car period for wings breaking or other parts falling off a car.

 

And I'm gonna enjoy my afternoon nap during the GP

[Danyy]

Adrian causing havoc with his RC car?

It looks likes Guenther crashing into himself

Edited by Danyy, 30 June 2019 - 11:22.

[P123]

I'd really like to see Charles get it this time, after so cruelly losing out in Bahrain.

Always nice to see a first time winner. And as you say, he's due one after Bahrain.

[Lights]

Looks good for the first non-Mercedes victory this season. Ferrari hasn't looked this strong since Bahrain. 

 

I expect Leclerc to win and Vettel to make it to the podium, with either Max or Lewis filling the other spot.

[P123]

I think it would be greater if he stuffed it into a couple of rivals and someone else got the win for a change.

Err.... hopefully nobody is stuffing it into anybody, and if he doesn't win it's because whoever does has better pace!

[Marklar]

Fine. Racetrack food. You have to load cash onto a prepaid card, which is quite handy because it's super fast for everyone. Queues minimal.

My German isn't great. Yesterday I ended up with two Frankfurters on a paper plate alongside a rock solid bread-roll, instead of a Hot Dog as intended.

It's literally called Hot Dog in German too, though 

[TomNokoe]

It's literally called Hot Dog in German too, though

I read the menu wrong - Frankfurter mit Geback !

[red stick]

Leclerc has to make it by Max and Vettel starts next to Magnussen and just ahead of Grosjean.  If Ferrari does have a good day it will be because the racing gods decided to be kind.  

[Astandahl]

Looks good for the first non-Mercedes victory this season. Ferrari hasn't looked this strong since Bahrain. 

 

I expect Leclerc to win and Vettel to make it to the podium, with either Max or Lewis filling the other spot.

Vettel third? How?

[NateF]

This 2:10 start is such bs, when are they going to revert to 1:00 starts?!

[Danyy]

Wow the FIA guy actually sounding confused by their own rules

Edited by Danyy, 30 June 2019 - 11:38.

[red stick]

Vettel third? How?

 

Kind racing gods?

[Astandahl]

This 2:10 start is such bs, when are they going to revert to 1:00 starts?!

Never. They did it due to the "american market" probably.

[gillesfan76]

Yep I'm hoping Leclerc wins this. I expect that after getting his first win, he'll gain a lot in confidence and will step it up a gear.

[bibliophagos]

Leclerc was fastest in FP2, FP3 and topped each session in qualifying.

 

 

 

Not that it really matters, but for the sake of correctness: Verstappen topped Q1

[barzini]

Charles, Max and Bottas will collide.

P1 Ham
P2 Vet
P3 Kimi

Or this will be a beginning of an epic duel between Max and Charles that will last over a decade.

[f1paul]

This 2:10 start is such bs, when are they going to revert to 1:00 starts?!

Why it is bs?

 

Do you not think about how its even worse if you're watching F1 in the east of the world e.g. Australia, New Zealand.

 

People watching F1 in Europe have nothing to complain about. 

 

People in Asia and Oceania do. 

[TomNokoe]

Bottas tends to struggle the most on the first laps, end of stints and after VSC, so Lewis is in for a long afternoon if he doesn't get the job done early.

I like to imagine a scenario where the top 4 (Leclerc, Max, Lewis, Vettel), are all converging. Maybe if Max wins the start he will back the others up.

[thegamer23]

Max will go for it in Lap 1, Turn 2 probably    . 

I expect some drama.

Lando for the win

Edited by thegamer23, 30 June 2019 - 11:41.