21/06/2015
NEWS STORY
Whilst Lewis Hamilton took a convincing pole position on Saturday, which if nothing else allowed sections of the media to celebrate a year of Mercedes poles, let's not forget that for much of the weekend he has looked slightly uncomfortable here.
Indeed, let's not forget that until his own mishap on that final qualifying run, Nico Rosberg looked set to spoil his teammate's party.
Of course, at the other end of the grid there is no party, the Red Bull and McLaren drivers as confused as to where on the grid they start - after the application of all those penalties - as guests at a banquet where no official seating arrangement has been provided.
Last night we tweeted that: "As @McLarenF1 ponder another engine change, @JensonButton Button may be forced to do first 5 laps of #AustriaGP on foot"
If it wasn't all so utterly pathetic and damaging to the sport it would be funny.
Fact is, after the tedium of Montreal we need a good 'un, especially as this circuit, like the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, has provided so many classics in the past.
In the final stages of this morning's GP2 race there were some sports of rain but nothing serious, however, with overnight rain (again), there is (hopefully) more of the wet stuff to follow.
Two hours before the start we tweeted that we think Rosberg will win, the German having looked confident all weekend, though the way countryman Nico Hulkenberg is performing at present maybe he could do something special... with a little help from the weather gods.
Not for the first time it was mixed qualifying session for Ferrari, Sebastian Vettel doing a sterling job of putting the F-15T third on the grid. However, Kimi Raikkonen blames the team for a lack of information which meant he was unable to complete another lap and therefore failed to make it to Q2. We're sure the Finn will give a good performance this afternoon, but why does he have to make it so difficult for himself and at the same time alienate his team?
On the other hand, Vettel should be able to give the Mercedes duo a run for their money, Hamilton, in particular, admitting that he fears the ever-improving red cars.
Williams - indeed, all Mercedes powered cars will be strong here - and Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas must head into this afternoon's race feeling very confident. The Brazilian, in particular, needing a decent points haul.
With Hulkenberg a superb fifth on the grid, following what was an admittedly crazy qualifying session, mixed emotions for Force India also as Sergio Perez starts from thirteenth.
In fact the Mexican qualified sixteenth, but courtesy of all those penalties...
Strong performances (again) from both Toro Rosso drivers, however, it was Verstappen who made it to Q3 and will start from seventh. Whilst Sainz feels he will be, like his teammate, a "sitting duck" following changes made to his car in anticipation of a wet qualifying, we can expect another strong performance from the Spaniard.
Another star of qualifying was Felipe Nasr, the Brazilian putting his Sauber on eighth. Whether this can be converted into a decent points haul however remains to be seen.
Truth be told, the Lotus duo was expecting to be higher up the grid, Romain Grosjean's cause not helped by a technical issue which meant he was unable to run in Q3. Nonetheless, we are confident the Enstone team will not go home empty handed.
For Red Bull it will be another difficult day, the power shortcomings of the Renault very obvious here. However, the Austrian outfit's problems are nothing compared to McLaren which has admitted that today will be treated like a glorified test session.
Other than their grid penalties, or rather because of their penalties which could be served in full, Ricciardo, Alonso and Button all face time penalties, the Australian will need to stop for 5s at his first pit stop, the Spaniard gets a drive-through and the Briton a 10s stop and go. Got that?
With no sign of its 2015 car, indeed many believe there is no such thing, Manor will target getting both drivers home, no doubt hoping for a helping hand from the weather gods.
Even if the weather gods opt not to play a part in today's activities and the race turns out to be as much of damp squib as Canada, there are plenty of fireworks in the paddock as fans' disenchantment with F1 finally begins to hit home.
Last year's event was a sell-out and it will be interesting to see how many unfilled seats there are this afternoon. The news that Silverstone is currently offering a 44% discount (Hamilton's race number) is worrying, especially when you consider it used to be one of those races that sold-out (in the old fashioned term) early.
Some would use the word 'crisis', others might feel that to be a tad over the top. Fact is, fan interest in F1 is falling, as opposed to discontent.
The penalties meted out this weekend will not have helped, not Dietrich Mateschitz renewal of his threat to walk away. Then there is the recent criticism by a number of highly respected drivers and former drivers.
Bernie Ecclestone and CVC's, 'let them eat cake' approach may not work for much longer. The peasants are revolting. Though maybe an action packed race on a classic track might appease them a little.
As if to tantalise us, an hour ahead of the race, like yesterday, legends like Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Nelson Piquet (Snr), Riccardo Patrese, Gerhard Berger and Jean Alesi took to the track in a variety of equally legendary cars. Sadly, Pierluigi Martini's run in a Minardi was brought to an early close due to a turbo fire. Nonetheless, it brought back memories of how wonderful it all used to be, how wonderful it's meant to be, how wonderful it can be.
On paper, the fastest strategy is theoretically a two-stopper (start on supersoft, supersoft again on lap 31, soft on lap 60). However, because of traffic the more likely scenario is a one stopper: start on supersoft, then change to soft on lap 25. Then again, if it rains... all bets are off.
The pitlane opens and one by one the drivers head out.
To remind you, Raikkonen starts from 14th, ahead of Kvyat, Merhi, Ricciardo, Alonso and Button.
Following events in Graz yesterday, rather than assemble at the front of the grid for the national anthem, the drivers stand beside their cars... like the old days.
Air temperature is 14 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 27 degrees. According to race official there is a 30 percent chance of rain. Indeed, Ricciardo is told there are a few light spots of rain, which he may see on his visor, however, it is unlikely to settle.
All are on options (supersofts), bar Maldonado, Perez, Raikkonen and Ricciardo.
The field heads off on the warm-up lap, noticeable gaps in many of the stands. Remember, whilst this is the second Austrian GP, there is no German race this year.
The grid forms.
They're away. A great start from Rosberg who holds off a determined challenger from Hamilton. At the back Alonso and Raikkonen collide... big time. The safety car is deployed.
Thankfully, despite the severity of the incident - the McLaren is on top of the Ferrari - both drivers are out of their cars and OK. Kvyat pits.
Rosberg leads Hamilton, Vettel, Massa, Hulkenberg, Verstappen, Bottas, Nasr, Sainz and Grosjean.
Replay shows that the Finn's Ferrari, which has made a great start, was hit from behind by the McLaren exiting T2, pushing it into the barriers and then climbed over the top of it.
As the Safety Car continues to lead the field, which it will do for some time judging be the damage, Stevens pulls off to the side of the track.
With Ericsson having pitted, so too does Button, the Briton ken to know if his teammate is OK. Unable to serve his penalty whilst the Safety Car is on track, Button, like Stevens, reports debris on the track.
Hamilton is told to be "mindful of pressures at the re-start".
The Safety Car pulls off at the end of lap 6, Rosberg leading the field as the race resumes. Further back Sainz and Grosjean have a slight coming together, the Lotus losing a couple of positions as he runs wide.
Off the leash, Rosberg posts a fastest lap (13.607) as he builds a 1.5s lead. Massa is all over Vettel. Button finally serves his penalty.
Ericsson is under investigation for a jumped start, as Button pits for the third time, the Briton seemingly destined to retire the car. Indeed, we hear the Briton being told: "Box this lap, we need to retire the car".
Possibly the worst weekend in the Woking outfit's long, proud history.
Currently fifth, Hulkenberg is under attention from Verstappen and Bottas, with Nasr and Sainz not far behind.
Ericsson is handed a drive-through for that jumped start.
Another fastest lap from Rosberg (12.157) as he extends his lead to 2.4s, the Briton now 3s clear of Vettel.
As Verstappen is told his front brake is hot, Perez is told that his strategy is looking good as the Lotus duo behind will soon need to pit. At which point Grosjean runs wide.
Ericsson serves his drive-through at the end of lap 13.
Grosjean is told that he needs to pass Perez as it is revealed that the Alonso/Raikkonen clash will be investigated after the race. The Spaniard amassing the next load of penalty points before this race is even over
Bottas, courtesy of DRS and the extra grunt from the Mercedes, passes Verstappen to take 6th. The Finn's next target is Hulkenberg, 2.2s up the road.
Grosjean has a go at Perez but the Mexican is having none of it. Elsewhere, Hamilton taking small bites out of Rosberg's lead.
Kvyat is warned that due to bodywork damage incurred earlier, his car's balance will suffer.
As Vettel falls 6s behind Hamilton, clearly Ferrari is not yet anywhere near the Mercedes pace. That said, let's see how the German manages on the prime rubber.
Asked if he is being held up, Maldonado, who has a front row view of the Perez/Grosjean battle, replies: "Yes, a little bit."
A scrappy lap 20 sees Hamilton fall 2.4s behind his teammate.
Ericsson slows on the pit straight but then somehow gets it going again. Clearly a momentary lack of power.
"A brief and very disappointing #AustrianGP for the team," admits McLaren. "Time to get our heads down for testing and Silverstone."
Grosjean pits at the end of lap 23, allowing teammate Maldonado to take the fight to Perez. The Venezuelan is currently 1.5s down on the Mexican.
Next time around it's Nasr who pits, as Bottas makes short work of Hulkenberg, going around the outside of the German in T3, to take fifth. The Force India driver subsequently pits, rejoining in ninth, ahead of the Red Bull duo. As Sainz also pits, Raikkonen watches the action from the Ferrari garage.
For a few corners Grosjean and Nasr battle, as Bottas pits and immediately resumes battle with Hulkenberg. Replay shows the Finn nearly having a coming together with Verstappen in the pits. Unsafe release?
After 28 laps, Rosberg leads Hamilton by 3.5s with Vettel a further 8.7s down the road, 4.2s ahead of Massa. Perez is fifth, ahead of Maldonado, Hulkenberg, Bottas and Ricciardo. The leading six have yet to stop.
Sainz is handed a 5s time penalty for speeding in the pitlane.
Kvyat and Verstappen battle for 10th, the Dutch youngster eventually leaving the Russian for dead, much to the delight of his crew.
As Grosjean adds to Kvyat's misery, Sainz complains that he has no power.
On lap 33, Rosberg is told to push hard as he is about to pit. The German duly stops, rejoining 21.7s later in fourth place. His in-lap was scrappy, the Mercedes driver clearly struggling with his tyres.
Next time around Massa pits as Perez, Maldonado, Hulkenberg and Perez scrap for fifth.
At the end of lap 35 Hamilton pits. He rejoins 21.8s later in third, behind his teammate.
"I've got a problem with the gearbox," complains Grosjean, the Frenchman having run wide.
Vettel pits at the end of lap 36, as does Grosjean. A dreadful stop for the German, a problem with the right-rear. He rejoins in fourth, 4s down on Massa.
Bottas passes Maldonado to take sixth as it is revealed that Hamilton is under investigation for crossing the line at the pitlane exit.
Meanwhile, in all the excitement Sainz and Grosjean appear to have retired.
Hamilton gets a 5s penalty for crossing the pitlane exit line. Currently 5.3s down on Rosberg this means he is effectively 10.3s behind.
After 40 laps, with all but Ricciardo having stopped, it's: Rosberg, Hamilton, Massa, Vettel, Bottas, Hulkenberg, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Kvyat and Maldonado.
As Kvyat and Maldonado battle for ninth, Nasr joins in the fun, the Sauber driver making a great move on the Russian to take tenth.
Kvyat continues to slide down the timesheets, the Russian now passed by Perez.
In fourth, Vettel is taking around 0.4s a lap from Massa who is 3.4s up the road.
"Worth keeping an eye on Daniel Ricciardo," says Pirelli, "the only driver yet to stop, now up to eighth place."
Shortly after, it is teammate Kvyat who pits.
Perez out-brakes Nasr to take tenth, the Mexican back in the points. Elsewhere, Ericsson pits.
As Maldonado shadows Ricciardo, Vettel continues to close in on Massa, the Williams driver working his way through the back-markers.
Eventually, the Renault-hampered Red Bull is put out of its misery by the Mercedes powered Lotus of Maldonado. Ricciardo subsequently pits and also serves his penalty. He rejoins in 11th, 4.8s down on Nasr.
A three-time winner in 2014, Ricciardo is shown the blue flags as Massa and Vettel prepare to pass.
Maintaining a 2s advantage over Vettel, a podium finish at the cost of Ferrari would be a nice result for the popular Brazilian.
"From 19 to 14 in two corners... :-)," tweets Alonso, "the rest... impossible to avoid the car of Kimi when lost control.. Glad to see we are all ok!!"
Now 0.6s down on tenth-placed Nasr, Ricciardo senses a points finish. As Massa closes in the Australian makes a move on the Sauber but overcooks it and loses the position. He subsequently reclaims it, though Nasr hasn't given up the fight.
Elsewhere, Maldonado has closed right up on Verstappen and Vettel is just 1s down on Massa.
"I have very bad vibration, very bad" reports Perez.
In his pursuit of Verstappen, Maldonado gets out of shape in T1 giving the Toro Rosso driver a little breathing space.
Rosberg also has a vibration; "getting stronger on the right-front", he reports.
Heart in the mouth moment as Merhi tries to keep out of Vettel's way in the final corner as the German hunts down Massa.
Despite his vibration, Rosberg is assured that there are no concerns. Nonetheless, Hamilton is now just 4.5s behind. Plus that 5s penalty.
Verstappen and Maldonado appear to trade rubber as their battle continues. Eventually however, the Dutch youngster locks-up in T1 - after a major wobble from Maldonado - and overcooks it, losing seventh in the process.
As the pair resume battle they are passed by Rosberg, giving him a little breathing space as Hamilton is left behind.
Rosberg takes the flag, ahead of Hamilton, Massa, Vettel, Bottas, Hulkenberg and Maldonado, the Lotus driver a lap down on the leaders.
Verstappen is eighth, ahead of Perez, Ricciardo, Nasr, Kvyat, Ericsson and Merhi.
As it is, the 5s penalty incurred by Hamilton wasn't needed, the Briton losing the race at the start.
On the podium, guest MC Gerhard Berger asks Rosberg: "Why don't you drive every race like this?" Indeed Gerhard, indeed.
Check out our Sunday gallery, here.