Grand Prix 2017 Austrian Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

Well, the Austrian Grand Prix has a lot to live up to. Barcelona, Montreal and Baku have all proved excellent races and we're all hoping that the same can happen in the lush, green hills of Central Europe.

The title race has had its first real flashpoint with Vettel's wheelbanging at turn 16. This could have represented a massive swing to Hamilton but for an ill-fitted headrest. As it was, Vettel eked out 2 points on his British rival. Watch for fireworks.

It's not a case of Finnish friends in the second cars either. Bottas and Raikkonen collided again in Baku. While the chaotic race enabled Bottas' recovery, the two need to keep out of each other's sides to boost their chances in the Constructors' Championship.

Max Verstappen will be outrageously frustrated. He's getting into very good positions - almost certainly a race win in Baku - but is not completing the races. It looks like a finish will coincide with a decent result, but to finish first...

Ricciardo, meanwhile, stayed calm in Baku to take the win while so many others screwed up around him. Chief amongst them were Force India, who'll not rival Red Bull if they allow acrimonious team rivalries to bin huge points.

Williams return to the scene of their 2014 front row with Lance Stroll on a huge high. Massa was just ahead of him too before a DNF. Toro Rosso may well be closer to them here though!

Renault contributed only to the attrition in Baku, so Magnussen took the big points in the 7/8 battle that Hulkenburg vacated. I've heard that Grosjean has been having brake issues.

McLaren scored points! So did Sauber! The McLaren/Sauber/Honda podium at Silverstone in 2008 has never seemed further away...

As for the circuit; it is not the Österreichring. Nevertheless, this small circuit is awkward and challenging, and often provides interesting racing. Last year was dramatic - wet qualifying, Vettel's tyre blowing, Rosberg getting ahead, the chase, Nicosteer. More of the same, please!
 
....but Danny Rics car always keeps going so he'll prob be lining up Austrian celebs to do shoeys. Arnie maybe? Or that Yodel guy.
 
Or that Yodel guy.

???

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- WAS -
AUSTRIA - Soft - Super - Ultra - TOT

HAM - 2 - 3 - 8 - 13
BOT - 1 - 4 - 8 - 13
VET - 1 - 5 - 7 - 13
RAI - 2 - 4 - 7 - 13
VER - 2 - 2 - 9 - 13
RIC - 2 - 2 - 9 - 13

- USED -
AUSTRIA - Soft - Super - Ultra - TOT

HAM - 2 - 1 - 4 - 7
BOT - 0 - 2 - 4 - 6
VET - 0 - 3 - 3 - 6
RAI - 2 - 2 - 3 - 7
VER - 1 - 1 - 4 - 6
RIC - 1 - 1 - 4 - 6

- HAS -
AUSTRIA - Soft - Super - Ultra - TOT

HAM - 0 - 2 - 4 - 6
BOT - 1 - 2 - 4 - 7
VET - 1 - 2 - 4 - 7
RAI - 0 - 2 - 4 - 6
VER - 1 - 1 - 5 - 7
RIC - 1 - 1 - 5 - 7
 
All they need for the race is one used set of Ultrasoft and one new set of Supersoft so that leaves plenty for qualy. Why did anyone bring any Softs?
 
New tyres in Austria:
- WAS -
AUSTRIA - Soft - Super - Ultra - TOT

HAM - 2 - 3 - 8 - 13
BOT - 1 - 4 - 8 - 13
VET - 1 - 5 - 7 - 13
RAI - 2 - 4 - 7 - 13
VER - 2 - 2 - 9 - 13
RIC - 2 - 2 - 9 - 13

- USED -
AUSTRIA - Soft - Super - Ultra - TOT

HAM - 2 - 3 - 6 - 11
BOT - 0 - 3 - 7 - 10
VET - 0 - 4 - 6 - 10
RAI - 2 - 3 - 6 - 11
VER - 1 - 1 - 8 - 10
RIC - 1 - 1 - 8 - 10

- HAS – after qualification
AUSTRIA - Soft - Super - Ultra - TOT

HAM - 0 - 0 - 2 - 2
BOT - 1 - 1 - 1 - 3
VET - 1 - 1 - 1 - 3
RAI - 0 - 1 - 1 - 2
VER - 1 - 1 - 1 - 3
RIC - 1 - 1 - 1 - 3
 
It was smart thinking by Mercedes to send Hamilton out on SuperSofts in Q2; with a 5 place drop he was bound to have at least one driver who is slightly off the pace on front of him. As it is he also has Grosjean and Perez to deal with, but he will have clear air for several laps after the first round of pit stops on a set of tyres which should still be quite fast and then he goes onto a set of tyres which should make him the fastest driver on the circuit.

It must have been tempting for Ferrari to send out Vettel on the SuperSofts to ensure that he never gets that clean air; the tactics of the leader are often dictated by the man behind him. Had I been in charge I would definitely have tried it.
 
apparantly bottas lap of 1:04.2 is the shortest polelap for 27 years, after nigel Mansell 1:04.4 at 1990 French gp at paul ricard (about month before I was born :whistle:) I was trying to get a youtube clip of it but I couldn't find one

& also the rate of the progress. weirlein qualified dead last but 8 tenths quicker than the dominant Mercedes pole lap In 2016
 
I think if lewis makes a good start he could be In the poundseat with the ultrasoft abit like the perez strategies at sauber a few years ago. but is the risk/reward scenario because you cant win it at the 1st corner but you could also lose it

found the Verstappen 3 stint Q3 very strange, because it almost him under too much pressure because it was just 1 lap flyers & maybe the 2 stint would've been better mentally because if he felt he had the option of a 2nd flying lap then he probally would've gone quicker with relaxing & wouldn't have overdrived the car
 
Ideal Lap (sum best sectors) in the Qual:
Qual – No – Driver – Qual Result – Ideal Lap – Flaw
1 - 77 - V.BOTTAS - 01:04,251 - 01:04,058 - 00,193
3 - 44 - L.HAMILTON - 01:04,424 - 01:04,269 - 00,155
2 - 5 - S.VETTEL - 01:04,293 - 01:04,293 - 00,000
4 - 7 - K.RAIKKONEN - 01:04,779 - 01:04,727 - 00,052
6 - 33 - M.VERSTAPPEN - 01:04,983 - 01:04,732 - 00,251
5 - 3 - D.RICCIARDO - 01:04,896 - 01:04,825 - 00,071
7 - 8 - R.GROSJEAN - 01:05,480 - 01:05,263 - 00,217
8 - 11 - S.PEREZ - 01:05,605 - 01:05,334 - 00,271
10 - 55 - C.SAINZ - 01:05,726 - 01:05,449 - 00,277
12 - 14 - F.ALONSO - 01:05,602 - 01:05,490 - 00,112
11 - 27 - N.HULKENBERG - 01:05,597 - 01:05,526 - 00,071
9 - 31 - E.OCON - 01:05,674 - 01:05,541 - 00,133
 
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