Austrian GP 2021 - Practice and Qualifying

[Greig]

Expect it to be more of the same as last week or will the softer tyres mix things up a bit?

[stefa]

What is the weather forecast for this weekend?

[patrese86]

I imagine alot of teams will be running the hard this weekend in the race which was the medium last weekend. A shame for us personally as the C2 worked really well for us.

[jgonzalesm6]

I imagine alot of teams will be running the hard this weekend in the race which was the medium last weekend. A shame for us personally as the C2 worked really well for us.

Definitely a 2 stopper in the race.....provided it does'nt rain.

[tifosi1993]

https://i.imgur.com/xhzXzvo.jpg

[JacKy]

If Charles can figure out to first corner , i think we have a pace to Split bottas / Perez war. Not sure about to race pace tho.

[WS6TransAm01]

Does anyone else find racing at the same venue two weeks in a row with the same track layout a bit dumb?

At least in Bahrain they changed the layout so it was "like" a new track. This is literally the same thing just different tires and maybe weather.

[stefa]

Does anyone else find racing at the same venue two weeks in a row with the same track layout a bit dumb?

At least in Bahrain they changed the layout so it was "like" a new track. This is literally the same thing just different tires and maybe weather.

:thumb

[Tifoso Svedese]

Does anyone else find racing at the same venue two weeks in a row with the same track layout a bit dumb?

At least in Bahrain they changed the layout so it was "like" a new track. This is literally the same thing just different tires and maybe weather.

They could always have gone to Hockenheim or Nürburgring instead since it's nearby but I guess Red Bull wanted extra exposure or something.

As for the weekend, if qualifying pace is good enough to bring Leclerc to Q3 on mediums a top five is very likely.

[Tifoso Svedese]

I don't think Sainz will have the one-lap pace to get to Q3 on mediums no matter even if the car is good-ish so he'll be compromised a lot on Sunday unless he's out of the top 10.

[WS6TransAm01]

They could always have gone to Hockenheim or Nürburgring instead since it's nearby but I guess Red Bull wanted extra exposure or something.

As for the weekend, if qualifying pace is good enough to bring Leclerc to Q3 on mediums a top five is very likely.

Why didn't they? I swear the sport can't help but trip over itself.

[jgonzalesm6]

Does anyone else find racing at the same venue two weeks in a row with the same track layout a bit dumb?

At least in Bahrain they changed the layout so it was "like" a new track. This is literally the same thing just different tires and maybe weather.


They could always have gone to Hockenheim or Nürburgring instead since it's nearby but I guess Red Bull wanted extra exposure or something.

As for the weekend, if qualifying pace is good enough to bring Leclerc to Q3 on mediums a top five is very likely.


Why didn't they? I swear the sport can't help but trip over itself.

Logistic's. It's alot easier for everyone.

[gump1480]

How was our race pace sim today?

[WS6TransAm01]

Logistic's. It's alot easier for everyone.

Then just skip the week. Makes it even easier. It just seems lazy.

[wisepie]

FP2 times are all over the place, hope it's not really representative!:Hmm

[jgonzalesm6]

Then just skip the week. Makes it even easier. It just seems lazy.

There's 23 races this year. The last race is at Abu Dhabi on Dec. 12th. Skipping a week throws the whole scheudle off and putting Abu Dhabi on Dec. 19th.....6 days before X-Mas day whom celebrate it. Then there's a little over month of off....then right back to winter testing.

[SS454]

Good chance it comes down to money somewhere down the line.

[JPMFerrari]

Good chance it comes down to money somewhere down the line.

It's always about the money. :-D

[Greig]

Then just skip the week. Makes it even easier. It just seems lazy.

Feel free to skip it :-)

[Tifoso Svedese]

I think the desperation to have 23 races crammed in no matter what is a bit cringey to be honest.

[ntukza]

Then just skip the week. Makes it even easier. It just seems lazy.

As a fan I'd rather watch 2 races on the same track in two weeks then watch one less race. But if you really find it dumb then I guess you won't be watching this weekend?

[Brembo]

I want more races !!!! F-1 rules !!

[tifosi1993]

https://i.imgur.com/lzI2TDQ.jpg

[KimiBot]

I really dont like this Quali, i think it is dangerous, and feels always like it is matter of time when something really bad happens.

[jgonzalesm6]

All those Max fans in the stands are crazy.

Zandvoort will be EPICALLY CRAZY with Max fans.

[jgonzalesm6]

Nando still has it compared to his team-mate. That was a mega lap by him.

[Nick Singer]

I've got a BMW 520d and I reckon it's faster than our cars today...

[ntukza]

Currently P11 and P12 in Q2 on mediums while many ahead are on softs. I'd keep this way and start the race on mediums.

[tifosi1993]

Both out of Q2

[Toothlessrage*]

Eliminated
*But, in all honesty. Russell put in a brilliant lap.
He deserves that Merc seat.

[drax]

It was the right call to try mediums

[patrese86]

We had to take that risk. Don't want to start on soft tyres.

[Kyss4k]

Really Ferrari? Really? Outpaced by Williams? Good job.

[KimiBot]

Williams is faster than you

[Aziz]

Both out of Q2

Rus is in front of both ferraris

[jgonzalesm6]

Russell makes it into Q3 but both Ferrari drivers are out?????

[tifosi1993]

Yup it was the right call. But still, getting out qualified by a Williams on mediums is pretty hard thing to accept.

[Noquarter]

Vettel? Stupid as ever. Ruin Alonso lap

[elnano14]

Really Ferrari? Really? Outpaced by Williams? Good job.

In race pace we'll eat anyone alive bar the Mercedes and RBR

[ntukza]

Wow, we got outqualified by a Williams on the same tyre! Unbelievable!

[patrese86]

Yup it was the right call. But still, getting out qualified by a Williams on mediums is pretty hard thing to accept.

Yeah but we've gone for a race setup much like last weekend.

[Tifoso Svedese]

Better start both cars on hards now. Make the most of it. Four cars ahead will be in within 10-15 laps and Williams have trimmed off a ton of wing for one-lap speed so will be easy to pick off. Vettel's impeding was so bad that he might get five places too. If he's ninth or worse in Q3 both cars will be ahead of him.

[patrese86]

Vettel? Stupid as ever. Ruin Alonso lap
Hopefully get a grid penalty for that.

[Kyss4k]

In race pace we'll eat anyone alive bar the Mercedes and RBR

So? That doesn't change the thing that we are not able to set the car to be good in both conditions. The best (Mercedes and Red Bull) can.

[JacKy]

How does it even possible to being fastest car on Race pace and slow from williams on qualy.

[Forza Rosso]

Only Honda and Mercedes engines in Q3 ? Not a surprise !

[tifosi1993]

Vettel? Stupid as ever. Ruin Alonso lap

Oh it will be a penalty. Alonso's ideal lap time is 1:04.285, easily had the pace for top 5.

[Tifoso Svedese]

How does it even possible to being fastest car on Race pace and slow from williams on qualy.

Williams have gone for a Monza-like set up and are brutally fast in S1 and will eat even the mediums alive in the middle sector.

[patrese86]

How does it even possible to being fastest car on Race pace and slow from williams on qualy.

We aren't the fastest on race pace but we are ahead of the teams like AM, McLaren etc..if Williams want to shave downforce to get top 10 then let them, we shouldn't sacrifice our race on a saturday at this kind of circuit.

[tifosi1993]

How does it even possible to being fastest car on Race pace and slow from williams on qualy.

Car is less pointy. Also the absence of 3 DRS zones.

[elnano14]

So? That doesn't change the thing that we are not able to set the car to be good in both conditions. The best (Mercedes and Red Bull) can.

We are not competing with Mercedes and RBR this season

[Kyss4k]

We are not competing with Mercedes and RBR this season

Well let's see then if we'll eat Norris alive, who did a great lap on those mediums.

[tifosi1993]

We are not competing with Mercedes and RBR this season

Some people just like that. We had poles in Monaco and Baku. Different track, different results. It's pretty hard to overcome power deficit with 3 DRS zones in a track with 3 long straights, especially in qualifying.

[Noquarter]

Ferrari made the right decision. It is definitely better to start on hard tires. Opposition will quickly destroy soft tyres

[Warp]

We're so slow. Don't take for granted our pace is good.

[tifosi1993]

I do want Norris at the front row. I want him to hold off Bottas and Perez. Hamilton and Verstappen is a tough task but we can definitely get the Merc and Red Bull no.2's tomorrow.

[jgonzalesm6]

Norris realy shining.

[tifosi1993]

LMAO @Mercedes.

[WS6TransAm01]

Got beaten by Williams :rotfl :rotfl :rotfl :rotfl :rotfl

[Tifoso Svedese]

Hammy is going to have a hard time beating Pérez in a tyre management race :lol

[jgonzalesm6]

WOW.....Norris missing pole by 4/100's. Great job by Norris. Nice job by Perez P3.

Mercedes P4 and P5.

Both Alpha Tauri's doing very well.

[jgonzalesm6]

Norris: "Everyone in orange supporting Mclaren, not Max."

[tifosi1993]

https://i.imgur.com/K1mdrMG.jpg

[tifosi1993]

Now I want Norris to get ahead of Max at the start and hold off everyone behind.

[Noquarter]

Mercedes losing so much time in sector 1. They must have a lot more downforce than McLaren.

[stefa]

Really Ferrari? Really? Outpaced by Williams? Good job.

Just saw, wasnt watching Q. Good decision!

[jgonzalesm6]

Now I want Norris to get ahead of Max at the start and hold off everyone behind.

Norris has alot of fast horses behind him when it comes to race pace. Very interesting to see how this plays out but more than likely he drops to P6 and holds it there.

[FerrariF60]

Wow Norris is a beast in that McLaren....poor Ricciardo is nowhere in the other car....either the car has been built in Norris,s favor or richiardo is that bad....but he was shining in the red bull....

[Tifoso Svedese]

Mercedes losing so much time in sector 1. They must have a lot more downforce than McLaren.

Hammy will probably be 40 seconds faster over a full race than Norris.

[nani_s23]

Wow Norris is a beast in that McLaren....poor Ricciardo is nowhere in the other car....either the car has been built in Norris,s favor or richiardo is that bad....but he was shining in the red bull....

Everyone shines at RB :-)

Out of RB, there is the issue.

[Noquarter]

Wow Norris is a beast in that McLaren....poor Ricciardo is nowhere in the other car....either the car has been built in Norris,s favor or richiardo is that bad....but he was shining in the red bull....
Norris go for short glory in qualifying. His tyres don't last long in race. Same as Russell

[Red Empire]

Norris go for short glory in qualifying. His tyres don't last long in race. Same as Russell

He will start at medium and maybe they are in a 2 stops strategy. The point is if a 1 stop strategy is possible an optimum. If not, maybe is not so wrong start on soft. I bet that everyone in soft will select a 2 stops strategy for the race and not so sure with the cars in mediums.

[wisepie]

We may be OK starting in P11/12 but both drivers need to be careful on the opening few corners and laps, we don't want a repeat of the incident with Charles last weekend. Then maybe we can make up for the lack-lustre quali, but it all hangs on a clean start.:pray

[Greig]

Not too much different to last week, eye on the race.

[ntukza]

Ferrari made the right decision. It is definitely better to start on hard tires. Opposition will quickly destroy soft tyres

You mean they DECIDED to qualify 11 and 12?

[Greig]

You mean they DECIDED to qualify 11 and 12?

They decided to focus on race pace rather than qualifying and then destroying tyres and going backwards.

[ntukza]

They decided to focus on race pace rather than qualifying and then destroying tyres and going backwards.

They decided to focus on race pace last week as well, yet last week they qualified better than this. Two consecutive weeks at the same venue and our race pace is the same but our qualifying is worse. So much for improving.

[Greig]

They decided to focus on race pace last week as well, yet last week they qualified better than this. Two consecutive weeks at the same venue and our race pace is the same but our qualifying is worse. So much for improving.

So the race is tomorrow but you already know how our pace is?

p.s Carlos was P12 in qual last week as well.....

[ntukza]

We may be OK starting in P11/12 but both drivers need to be careful on the opening few corners and laps, we don't want a repeat of the incident with Charles last weekend. Then maybe we can make up for the lack-lustre quali, but it all hangs on a clean start.:pray

True. And hopefully they keep clear of each other. I can just see Leclerc going for an overtake on Sainz, which is all good but it just mustn't become ugly.

[ntukza]

So the race is tomorrow but you already know how our pace is?

No I don't, I'm going by what the team said. I'm being optimistic. It might just be worse. Apparently last week our pace was on the level of RB, so best case scenario is that our pace is the same.

[ntukza]

But regardless of what the pace is tomorrow, what we do know is that qualifying today was worse than last week.

[Greig]

But regardless of what the pace is tomorrow, what we do know is that qualifying today was worse than last week.

Pretty similar qualifying really, nothing much has changed in a week.

[FerrariF60]

Pretty similar qualifying really, nothing much has changed in a week.

Exactly, Carlos qualified P12 last week as well, is just that Charles outdrove the car and qualified better....

[chinmay]

Compared using Q3 time
Last week pole time to Leclerc: +0.631s
This week pole time to Sainz: +0.839s

Compared using Q2 time
Last week fastest Q2 time to Leclerc: +0.213s
This week fastest Q2 time to Sainz: +0.632s

[Noquarter]

Ferrari was only 0.2s slower than Lando in Q2 on mediums

[Warp]

Vettel got 3 place penalty. Sainz starts 10th.

[Rob]

Carlos Sainz #55

“Today we decided to take a bit more of a risk by trying to make it into Q3 using the Medium tyre. After a decent first attempt with that tyre, we went for it and unfortunately missed the cut by only 6 thousandths of a second. I’m obviously not happy with that because it was extremely close and we couldn’t show the good progress we’ve made this week. These past few days, we worked hard on the balance, the set up and my driving style and we could have had a good Q3. Anyway, the race is tomorrow and our goal is to have another strong Sunday here in Austria and score as many points as possible.”



Charles Leclerc #16

“Mixed feelings after today’s qualifying. On the one hand, we were aware of the risk of not making it into Q3, prioritising setting our fastest Q2 lap on the Medium compound to suit our strategy. The lap itself was quite good. Unfortunately, some of our competitors finished ahead of us on the same compound, which is the disappointing side of it. Our race pace has been solid this weekend and we have a free choice of tyres for the start. We have to analyse exactly which strategy is the best for tomorrow, considering that there are quite a few cars ahead of us, some of which are starting on Mediums. This makes things a bit more tricky, as our advantage has slightly lessened. We will give everything and make the best of it tomorrow.”



Laurent Mekies, Racing Director

“Of course we cannot be happy given that we didn’t get either of our drivers through to Q3, but more than ever, today’s qualifying result has to be looked at in terms of the race. Starting where we are, we can choose which tyre compound we start on, which should give us an advantage over those ahead of us who are on the Softs. That is why we tried to make the cut into Q3 on the Mediums, which we missed out on by a very small margin at the end of a session in which nine drivers were covered by less than two tenths, several of them running the softest compound. Now we are concentrating on preparing for the race in which strategy and the behaviour of the various tyre compounds will play a key role.”

[jgonzalesm6]

2021 MercedesAMGF1 Valtteri Bottas

https://twitter.com/ScarbsTech/status/1411427225853890561/photo/1

[killer]

Carlos Sainz #55

“Today we decided to take a bit more of a risk by trying to make it into Q3 using the Medium tyre. After a decent first attempt with that tyre, we went for it and unfortunately missed the cut by only 6 thousandths of a second. I’m obviously not happy with that because it was extremely close and we couldn’t show the good progress we’ve made this week. These past few days, we worked hard on the balance, the set up and my driving style and we could have had a good Q3. Anyway, the race is tomorrow and our goal is to have another strong Sunday here in Austria and score as many points as possible.”



Charles Leclerc #16

“Mixed feelings after today’s qualifying. On the one hand, we were aware of the risk of not making it into Q3, prioritising setting our fastest Q2 lap on the Medium compound to suit our strategy. The lap itself was quite good. Unfortunately, some of our competitors finished ahead of us on the same compound, which is the disappointing side of it. Our race pace has been solid this weekend and we have a free choice of tyres for the start. We have to analyse exactly which strategy is the best for tomorrow, considering that there are quite a few cars ahead of us, some of which are starting on Mediums. This makes things a bit more tricky, as our advantage has slightly lessened. We will give everything and make the best of it tomorrow.”



Laurent Mekies, Racing Director

“Of course we cannot be happy given that we didn’t get either of our drivers through to Q3, but more than ever, today’s qualifying result has to be looked at in terms of the race. Starting where we are, we can choose which tyre compound we start on, which should give us an advantage over those ahead of us who are on the Softs. That is why we tried to make the cut into Q3 on the Mediums, which we missed out on by a very small margin at the end of a session in which nine drivers were covered by less than two tenths, several of them running the softest compound. Now we are concentrating on preparing for the race in which strategy and the behaviour of the various tyre compounds will play a key role.”

Starting on the hard compound might not be a bad idea. Both drivers just then need to be patient in the first third of the race.

[killer]

Compared using Q3 time
Last week pole time to Leclerc: +0.631s
This week pole time to Sainz: +0.839s

Compared using Q2 time
Last week fastest Q2 time to Leclerc: +0.213s
This week fastest Q2 time to Sainz: +0.632s

Tyres were a step softer, were they not?

[330 p4]

But regardless of what the pace is tomorrow, what we do know is that qualifying today was worse than last week.

That's a fact. I would add though tyres are softer this week so may have to take even more out of the quali pace for great tyre life in the race. I'll tell you tomorrow after the race.

[ntukza]

Wow Norris is a beast in that McLaren....poor Ricciardo is nowhere in the other car.... either the car has been built in Norris,s favor or richiardo is that bad....but he was shining in the red bull....

I'm starting not to buy this theory. Vettel struggled because apparently Ferrari built the car to suit Leclerc, yet here's Sainz doing surprisingly well. Red Bull was built for Verstappen yet Perez is doing okay and could have even beat Max in one of the races. Aston Martin is apparently built for Lance yet Seb is able to beat him now.

[ntukza]

Williams have gone for a Monza-like set up and are brutally fast in S1 and will eat even the mediums alive in the middle sector.

They were strong in quali and strong in the race last week. What makes you think they'll suddenly sacrifice that race pace?