On Saturday evening, the clouds that had dominated the sky over the Red Bull Ring finally gave way to the sun. It had been a day of triumph, tragedy, and controversy in the Styrian mountains, with Max Verstappen and Red Bull at the center of it all.
Verstappen claimed victory in the sprint race, showcasing Red Bull’s speed and prowess. However, the race was not without its share of bizarre clashes and intense battles, including Verstappen’s clash with Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton and his fight with teammate Sergio Perez. The day was also marked by a somber moment of reflection for the tragic passing of Dilano van ‘t Hoff, Verstappen’s compatriot, in a Formula Regional Championship race.
Amidst the events of the day, Ferrari found glimmers of hope. While Verstappen’s sprint win didn’t reveal much about the main race, it confirmed that both Verstappen and Red Bull remained fast. However, the likelihood of a direct battle between Verstappen and Perez on Sunday was low, despite their aggressive moves in the sprint race.
Carlos Sainz, Ferrari’s driver, had a respectable performance, finishing third in the sprint. He struggled with tire wear and oversteer in the wet conditions but remained optimistic, citing the aggressive balance setup they had chosen. Despite the challenges faced, Sainz believed it was not a negative sign for Ferrari.
Looking ahead to the main race, Ferrari’s chances hinged on several factors. The team had performed well at the Red Bull Ring in the past, and their strategic run plan during FP1 seemed to pay off, with Charles Leclerc pushing Verstappen hard for pole position. Ferrari appeared to have gained straight-line speed compared to Red Bull in qualifying, but their performance over a race stint was the ultimate concern.
While Mercedes and Aston Martin conducted high-fuel running in FP1, Ferrari focused on qualifying simulation preparation. Lando Norris’s upgraded McLaren also added an element of uncertainty to the race outcome. However, Ferrari was cautious about their race chances, acknowledging that a dry race would truly test their progress in tire degradation.
The team’s performance in 2022, where they got their tire settings and strategies right while Red Bull did not, gave them some confidence. Nonetheless, Verstappen’s car advantage this year made Ferrari realistic about their hopes. Sainz expressed satisfaction with the improvements in high-speed corner performance and balance, but the true test would be how they compared to Verstappen and Mercedes in the dry race.
Leclerc, too, was confident that his confidence issues in mixed conditions would not affect him in a fully dry race. His struggles in qualifying for the sprint race had been disappointing, but he remained determined to perform better.
Ultimately, a dry race would provide Ferrari with a chance to showcase their progress in tire degradation. With faint glimmers of hope, the team aimed to turn their optimism into tangible success. However, Verstappen still stood as the heavy favorite, given his dominant form and six wins from the opening eight races.
Photo by: Jake Grant / F1 Flow Images
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Formula 1 race
What were the highlights of the Austrian GP?
The highlights of the Austrian GP included Max Verstappen’s victory in the sprint race, clashes between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, and Verstappen’s battle with his teammate Sergio Perez. There was also a moment of reflection for the passing of Dilano van ‘t Hoff, and Ferrari showed promising signs of challenging Red Bull.
How did Ferrari perform in the sprint race?
Carlos Sainz finished third in the sprint race, struggling with tire wear and oversteer in wet conditions. However, he remained optimistic, considering the aggressive balance setup they had chosen. Despite the challenges faced, Sainz believed it was not a negative sign for Ferrari.
What were Ferrari’s chances of challenging Red Bull in the main race?
Ferrari’s chances hinged on several factors. They had performed well at the Red Bull Ring in the past, showed improvements in high-speed corner performance, and gained straight-line speed compared to Red Bull in qualifying. However, their performance over a race stint and tire degradation would be the ultimate test of their ability to challenge Red Bull.
How did Lando Norris and McLaren impact the race?
Lando Norris and McLaren introduced significant upgrades, which they believed were working well based on factory data. Norris had a strong history at the Austrian track and expressed confidence in their pace. While they could potentially impact the race, McLaren remained cautious about their chances.
Who was the favorite to win the Austrian GP?
Max Verstappen, with his dominant form and six wins from the opening eight races, stood as the heavy favorite to win the Austrian GP. However, Ferrari and other teams aimed to challenge him and capitalize on any opportunities that arose during the race.
More about Formula 1 race
- Austrian Grand Prix – Official Website
- Max Verstappen – Official Website
- Ferrari – Official Website
- Red Bull Racing – Official Website
- McLaren – Official Website
3 comments
Ferrari and red bull had some epic battles in da sprint race! Sainz struggle with tire wear, but he still optimistic. Red bull still lookin strong but ferrari gonna push hard. Can’t wait for da main race, gonna be intense!
ferrari still has hope to challenge red bull! such intense battles, clash between verstappen n hamilton was crazy. ferrari did well in da sprint race, sainz struggle with tire wear, but he optimistic. red bull favorite but ferrari gonna give dem a fight!
Verstappen and red bull dominatin the race! but ferrari showin some signs of improvement. Sainz did great in da sprint, tire wear was an issue but he stayin positive. Exciting to see if ferrari can challenge red bull in da main race!