2362 replies to this topic

[TomNokoe]

After months of waiting, 40 pages of build-up, a weekend full of drama, shocks, and surprises - race-day has finally arrived!

 

A shorter thread to get the ball rolling, or should it be "wheels turning"?   ... it's the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix!

 

--
 

 

 

The Grid

 

 

 

Tyres and Strategy

 

Eat your heart out, Mario Isola (IMO the official graphic is worse this year)

 

 

 

Weather Forecast

 

Time Zones

 

 

Pre-race musings

Will Mercedes' qualifying advantage hold through to the race?
Can Verstappen make the alternative strategy work?

Are Pirelli's strategy predictions accurate?

What effect will the warmer temperatures have?
Can Ferrari recover from their qualifying woe?

Which midfielder(s) can spoil the podium party?

Will Alpha T / Alfa R / Haas or maybe Williams surprise us?

One stop, two stop?

 

Assorted predictions, speed trap analysis, and joyful optimism welcome below ... don't forget the poll!

_
 

Once again, farewell Buddy

 

Edited by TomNokoe, 05 July 2020 - 09:09.

[TomNokoe]

How many days left, Damon?

 

[shure]

It's very hard to look past the Mercs for the win, both here and for the season, particularly given the limited development this year.  I think Hamilton is better than Bottas and don't think Bottas will be able to keep him behind.  Only a miracle will prevent another WDC.

 

If Max doesn't try anything banzai to get ahead, then barring reliability I don't see anyone taking him.  I fear this might be a little processional at the front

[Ev0d3vil]

No rain?

[SophieB]

Nice one, TomNokoe.

 

 

Don’t forget the F2 Sprint race starts in a couple of minutes!

[Henri Greuter]

Never before in racing history so many fans have eagerly awaited with so much expectations and so much high hope for such a long time for something .....

 

 

 

 

 

 

..... in vain.......

[Kleli]

I think it will be an easy win for Hamilton. He has had the edge over Bottas all weekend except for Q3. If Hamilton doesn't pass him in the first 5 laps he will get pass Bottas through a better strategy. P3 will be Max who has had the edge over the midfield.

[Anja]

I fully expect the "Podium will be 2 Mercs and Max" option to happen for like 90% of the season. 

[SophieB]

Fully expecting pitstop madness today!

[TauriJ]

No rain?

Good, not needed today. I wanna see a real pecking order.

 

But next weekend could be totally different. Low temperature and possible rain predicted.

[PayasYouRace]

Fully expect Lewis to win. I’d really like to see Lando sneak a podium though. 

[statman]

the biggest question for today is:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

will Ferrari be in the points at the end of the race?

[Marklar]

I'm just here for the remote trolley post race

[SophieB]

I'm just here for the remote trolley post race

? The mind boggles. 

[Marklar]

? The mind boggles.

https://www.racefans...rt-finish-line/

[SophieB]

https://www.racefans...rt-finish-line/

Huh. That is not far off from what I imagined from your post, the scutters from Red Dwarf delivering mics to the driver for interviews.

[Ali623]

This is generally a good track for Bottas, but I'm expecting Hamilton to be all over him if he's not leading by lap one, could be a very good battle between the Mercs though. I think they'l leave the rest for dead, including Verstappen unfortunately. 

 

Interestingly Perez seems to have mega race pace in the RP, could be a problem for Red Bull? 

 

Bottas to win, just. Hamilton second, Max behind and Perez fourth.

Edited by Ali623, 05 July 2020 - 09:58.

[Miles749]

Never before in racing history so many fans have eagerly awaited with so much expectations and so much high hope for such a long time for something .....

 

 

 

 

 

 

..... in vain.......

 

It could be very interesting fight behind the Mercedes. We'll see if Red Bull is significantly ahead of the midfield (I'm not convinced they are) and even if they are not there will be plenty of fighting between Ferrari, Racing Point, McLaren and Renault. 

[SenorSjon]

Good, not needed today. I wanna see a real pecking order.

But next weekend could be totally different. Low temperature and possible rain predicted.

Forecasts always have rain... We know better.

[sportyskells]

The Porsche cars are on track as we speak

[jAnO76]

Which corporate sponsor will brand the trolley? Zoom? Microsoft teams? AskJeeves?

[B38]

This is generally a good track for Bottas, but I'm expecting Hamilton to be all over him if he's not leading by lap one, could be a very good battle between the Mercs though. I think they'l leave the rest for dead, including Verstappen unfortunately. 

 

Interestingly Perez seems to have mega race pace in the RP, could be a problem for Red Bull? 

 

Bottas to win, just. Hamilton second, Max behind and Perez fourth.

 

A lot will depend on the race start and the first two laps. VER will start on the yellow tire and last year the Honda powered cars were not as quick from the starting line as the Renault powered cars so he is vunerable in the first laps. If Norris overtakes Verstappen in the first lap and then fight him hard in the next laps and thus ruin Verstappens (and his own) race strategy, than Perez will have a good chance to get on the podium.

However if Verstappen starts well and behind him there is a fight between Norris, Albon and Sergio, then I expect : Mercedes p1-p2 ; Gap ; VER p3 ; Gap ; fight for p4.

Edited by B38, 05 July 2020 - 10:53.

[JonathanProc]

TV graphics are still showing "Yellow Flag Sector 3" for yellows that are actually in sector 2.

[Marklar]

Never change, Pirelli

[Risil]

One-stop it is!

[SilverArrow31]

Been watching the F2/F3 highlights, the fight into turn 2 and 3 on the first lap will be mega!

[ExFlagMan]

Bernd Mylandar to lead the most laps!

[Jvr]

Been watching the F2/F3 highlights, the fight into turn 2 and 3 on the first lap will be mega!

I believe you mean T3 and T4 (T2 is that little kink leading to the highest point of the track).

[SilverArrow31]

I believe you mean T3 and T4 (T2 is that little kink leading to the highest point of the track).

Ahh thanks yeah I do

[PayasYouRace]

I believe you mean T3 and T4 (T2 is that little kink leading to the highest point of the track).

 

This is why corner names are much better.

[ForzaFormula]

This is generally a good track for Bottas, but I'm expecting Hamilton to be all over him if he's not leading by lap one, could be a very good battle between the Mercs though. I think they'l leave the rest for dead, including Verstappen unfortunately.

Interestingly Perez seems to have mega race pace in the RP, could be a problem for Red Bull?

Bottas to win, just. Hamilton second, Max behind and Perez fourth.

All depends on the start and strategy, max could get a fast start mix it up with the mics and have s potential better strategy on the mediums, Hamilton or bottas could also get a poor get away, could be collisions anything can happen.

[statman]

Isola (Pirelli) on Verstappen starting on medium:

 

Last year the medium was the preferred choice for the top teams to start the race. This circuit requires a lot of grip from the rear tires and is therefore heavy on the rear tires ”, Isola said in an interview with MotorLAT . “ Today's temperatures are even higher than they were during qualifying. The track temperature will even rise to about 50 degrees. "That's why I expect Max's choice to be an advantage, especially if the weather forecast is the same as Saturday or even warmer. " Although the race will most likely be a one-stop strategy, Verstappen will probably get the advantage after all. “ If you look at the different strategies on paper, soft-hard and medium-hard are very close together. So there is not a big difference. ”

Although there is no advantage in the strategy itself, Red Bull probably has more breathing space around the planning of the strategy. " However, when you start on the medium, you are much more flexible in planning the strategy, " concludes Isola.

[TomNokoe]

Pre-race drama!

Red Bull protesting Hamilton's lack of penalty for yellow flags in Q3.

[JBJ]

Pre-race drama!

Red Bull protesting Hamilton's lack of penalty for yellow flags in Q3.

And rightly so

[kernel]

Pre-race drama!

Red Bull protesting Hamilton's lack of penalty for yellow flags in Q3.

 

Stewards have already decided no further action - I don't get what this accomplishes.

[FLB]

Pre-race drama!

Red Bull protesting Hamilton's lack of penalty for yellow flags in Q3.

Nev-ver change, Red Bull...

[CSF]

Red Bull.   

[Goron3]

Pre-race drama!

Red Bull protesting Hamilton's lack of penalty for yellow flags in Q3.

Not surprised. It's a bit dodgy, but I feel like it's more mind games than anything else.

 

Me: I want to see Max and Lewis side by side into T1.

Red Bull: Hold our drink.

[Pete_f1]

Hamilton win, or the Mercs come to blows before the third turn

[jannyg]

Never change, Pirelli

Sorry for my ignorance.

Shouldn't there be an option for starting on Mediums then pitting to softs to end the race on the fastest compound? I thought this is what Red Bull are doing with Max.

Surely a disadvantage to start on mediums and never run the softs?

Edited by jannyg, 05 July 2020 - 11:50.

[Jordan44]

Pre-race drama!

Red Bull protesting Hamilton's lack of penalty for yellow flags in Q3.

Clown show. Fans don't want to be waiting 4 hours for a verdict after qualifying and then learn an hour before the race the matter still isn't settled.

Edited by Jordan44, 05 July 2020 - 11:48.

[Marklar]

Pre-race drama!

Red Bull protesting Hamilton's lack of penalty for yellow flags in Q3.

how is this 90 minutes before the race still allowed? 

[Anja]

Unless they have some new concrete arguments or evidence, it really seems like pointless mindgames. 

[Marklar]

Calling it now that the stewards will make their decision after the race. Now that would be peak F1.

[P123]

I imagine Red Bull being unhappy given Max's Mexico penalty.... but a protest? I'd be surprised if they could.

[FLB]

Calling it now that the stewards will make their decision after the race. Now that would be peak F1.

Weil, I, for one, am already entertained.

[TomNokoe]

Never change, Pirelli

Isola (Pirelli) on Verstappen starting on medium:

Let's remember, the tyres are exactly the same as last year.

Ambient temps are lower, track temperature almost the same. But race pace is much faster.

Last year's strategies

[kernel]

Calling it now that the stewards will make their decision after the race. Now that would be peak F1.

 

Not really. He was summoned to the Stewards 10 minutes ago. Meaning they are currently meeting and I would assume the outcome delivered within the next 30-45mn.

[FLB]

how is this 90 minutes before the race still allowed? 

I've just figured it out: this isn't aimed at Mercedes. This is aimed at the FIA, to give them something frivolous to do. Kind of like a denial-of-service attack.

 

 

Remeber the little letter yesterday that Red Bull and Vettel got about social distancing? Now imagine a properly pissed off Dr. Marko...

 

https://www.motorspo...-to-wear-masks/

Edited by FLB, 05 July 2020 - 11:55.

[TomNokoe]

IMO RB are just trying to unsettle Merc/LH