It's a Red Bull Ring Redux as part three of F1's triple-header concludes with part two of the Styria/Austria double-header. Almost one year on exactly from the start of the delayed 2020 season, this will be the 26th race in the last 12 months. But how fitting is it to mark the anniversary with the return of a full capacity crowd? 
Same track, same cars, same drivers, but different tyres - oh, the intrigue! Just one week on from Dutch domination, will we see more of the same, or can plucky Mercedes find a second wind to avoid another Spielberg steamrolling?
In the words of Steely Dan, let's Do It Again for Round 9 of the 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship.
The Summary from Styria
There can be no greater predictor of form than having raced and won at the same circuit just last week, so Red Bull will be aiming for another home victory to make it 5-in-a-row in the championship and really cement their position as the team to beat. Can Verstappen repeat his imperious performance, and can Perez get anywhere near him on his 200th GP start?
The definition of insanity will likely be ringing around Brackley as Mercedes gainfully try to upset the odds after last week's humbling. Hamilton has been hard at work in the simulator trying to tame the "wacky" setup and give both him and Valtteri a stronger baseline to work with. The assumed wisdom suggests softer tyres may hurt Mercedes more than most. Another weekend of damage limitation?
It was feast and famine for McLaren after Norris' brilliant best-of-the-rest performance was again truncated by a recalcitrant Ricciardo. The threat of Ferrari grew stronger as the race wore on, and will likely loom large again. A crucial weekend for Daniel to prove he can learn and adapt after his experience from last week. Lando, again, will be aiming to disrupt the big boys in qualifying.
Ferrari will be glad to get another chance at the Red Bull Ring after a bittersweet first attempt. A feeble qualifying juxtaposed by a fierce race showing, albeit mitigated by Leclerc's First Lap Lapse. The softer tyres may help them unlock some of the missing Saturday speed to balance their strong race pace as they look to counterattack McLaren in the ding-dong battle for P3 in the constructors'.
Alpha Tauri, too, will be happy to get a second attempt after a faltering start at their home event. Gasly's weekend was scuppered after missing FP2 and then the entire race after his tangle with Leclerc, whilst Tsunoda made good on his promise to take things slightly easier in his quest for points. The speed is definitely there, but the execution needs to improve.
It's a similar story at Aston Martin as one side of the garage soared while the other half slumped in the first race. A welcome return to form for Stroll, who reaffirmed his title as 2021's Quiet Man, but a tougher weekend for Vettel after a string of good performances. Both cars in the points is the name of the game in order to wrestle back a lowly P5 in the constructors' from the aforementioned Faenza squad.
Alpine's description as Jekyll and Hyde in last week's build-up thread would be better attributed to their drivers after Alonso's turnaround versus Ocon. A typical Alonso performance saw him sneak a couple of points in the mayhem of the midfield, but it wasn't enough to quell the feeling that Alpine is starting to get slightly detached. Ocon will be hoping to escape Q1, at least! Zhou gets his first taste of F1 during a grand prix weekend in FP1, replacing Fernando.
Alfa Romeo's encouraging Sunday pace will give them cause for optimism and an opportunity to steal a few more points as they look to cover off the threat of a George Russell inspired Williams suddenly gazumping them in the championship. Kimi was cruelly denied a points score after a stirring drive, and Giovinazzi, too, was unlucky after getting mixed up in the lap-one melee. A race where starting outside the top 10 with free tyre choice will be a real boon. Ilott subs for Giovinazzi FP1.
The Sad Story of George Russell's Forlorn Search For Points in a Williams presents another chapter this weekend as both driver and team try to find the missing ingredient on Sunday to bring it all together. Russell will have to go some to match his brilliant qualifying performance from last week, but will also be buoyed by the strategic advantage afforded to the lower-midfield. Latifi can count himself hard done by after missing Q2 by 0.033s and then being spun around by the three-wheeled Gasly at turn 3. Nissany subs for Russell FP1.
Haas bookend the grid once again after an underwhelming showing last week. If they put it all together they might just get a whiff of Q2, but their pace on heavy fuel seems hopeless. Another event for learning and experience for the rookie line-up.
Weather, Tyres
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Fri - Dry, cloudy, 21c
Sat - Dry, sunny, 26c
Sun - The usual 90% chance of rain that never materialises, 21c
Soft tyres, wow! Likely to affect the competitive order one way or another. Starting on the C5 on Sunday almost definitely locks you into a two-stop. Q2 should be interesting.
Schedule
BST (UK) | CEST (Most of Europe)
FP1 1030 1130
FP2 1400 1500
FP3 1100 1200
Q 1400 1500
R 1400 1500
Exactly the same as last week. Time zone conversion here.
An extra support series as Formula 3 joins the billing, along with another helping of W Series and Porsche Supercup. Full schedule.
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Thoughts, predictions, birthday wishes, rear-tyre construction chat, needless weather forecasts and all associated championship mind games welcome below 
