30/06/2019
NEWS STORY
Whisper it, ever so softly, but today's race could be a little bit special.
After the tedium of Le Castellet we certainly deserve a bit of entertainment, and not only on the final lap.
Also, as it is revealed that Turn 1 at the Red Bull Ring is to be named in honour of the late, great Niki Lauda, and 60,000 red caps have been given out in order that fans can pay their own tribute to the three-time world champion, surely the man deserves a race rather than a procession.
Certainly, the basic elements are there. A fast, flowing circuit that encourages risk but punishes errors, weather that can change almost on a whim, a young buck on pole and numerous drivers out of position for all manner of reasons.
Then there's tyre strategy. Toto Wolff has described Ferrari's decision to start its drivers on the softs as "risky", and while we know the Austrian is prone to making a certain amount of BS comments, one must admit that in terms of strategy Ferrari's track record doesn't exactly fill one with confidence.
Courtesy of the various penalties meted out this weekend, Charles Leclerc is joined on the front row by Max Verstappen, with Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton right behind. Lando Norris starts a superb fifth, ahead of the Alfa duo, with Pierre Gasly just ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Kevin Magnussen.
As if this wasn't enough, behind these we have Grosjean, Ricciardo and Perez.
While the sheer grunt of the Ferrari should see Leclerc out-drag Verstappen to Turn 1, the Mercedes pair aren't exactly slow out of the starting block, and providing they all get through Niki Lauda Kurve (Turn 1) without issue - which cannot be taken for granted - we can expect another drag race to Turn 3.
Furthermore, starting on the softs, while the Ferrari(s) will have pace in the opening laps, they will not enjoy durability, while the Mercedes, and Verstappen, who start on the mediums can look forward to a long opening stint.
The stewards have been busy enough as it is this weekend, and once the lights go out and the red mist descends we can expect drivers to continue to keep them on their toes as they explore the track limits to the maximum. However, other than penalties, running wide here can also incur car damage, as any number of drivers can tell you, step forward Messrs Bottas and Verstappen.
Then there's the wind, which has caused problems for a number of drivers also.
Of course, many want to see Leclerc take his maiden win today, and following his superb performance in qualifying he is clearly capable. However, he is still prone to errors - remember Baku - and let's not forget Ferrari's form in terms of strategy.
Teammate Vettel really needs a boost, but starting from ninth, despite having the fastest car on the grid, means he faces a difficult afternoon. Indeed - and we grit out teeth when we write this - the German could benefit from a strategic gamble, though this is Ferrari we're talking about.
While one can never write-off Hamilton, the Briton hasn't appeared fully at ease this weekend, no doubt mindful of last year's double DNF for his team. That aside, few would really bet against another win today, indeed another 1-2.
Week after week we bang on a bout the midfield battle, and courtesy of that crazy mixed up grid - in all, 18 drivers are starting out of the position they qualified in - we have some added spice today, what with the McLaren pair at either end of the grid and the Alfas starting ahead of the Haas pair. Then there's the Toro Rossos and Hulkenberg.
In terms of tyre strategy, the optimal is a one-stopper, starting on the mediums for 14 to 20 laps and then taking on hards to the finish. Hamilton, Bottas and Verstappen are likely to do this, having set their best Q2 times on the medium.
The second-quickest strategy, which is very close in terms of pace, is to start on the softs for 12 to 16 laps before then switching to the hards.
A two-stopper is slower and to be avoided unless the circumstances of the race make it inevitable. In which case, several permutations are possible using all the compounds, with a similar combined race time.
Overnight, Williams opted to change the front wing on Russell's car, so rather than starting 18th, having qualified 19th, and despite a 3-place grid penalty for impeding Kvyat, he will now start from the pitlane.
The pitlane opens and the drivers begin making their way to the grid. Air temperature is currently 33.5 degrees C, while the track temperature is 51.8 degrees.
Other than the Mercedes drivers and Verstappen, Grosjean, Ricciardo, Perez, Stroll, Hulkenberg, Kvyat, Kubica, Albon, Sainz and Russell, all start on the mediums. Like the Ferraris, Norris, Gasly, Magnussen and the Alfas all start on the softs.
They head off on the parade lap.
The grid forms.
They're away.
A good start from Leclerc, but Verstappen barely moves, the Mercedes pair sweeping by on either side of the Red Bull. Norris and Raikkonen also pass the struggling Dutchman, with Vettel following through in T1.
In T3, Norris goes through on the inside of Hamilton, as Gasly is alongside Verstappen. Hamilton and Norris are wheel to wheel on the run to T3, but the Mercedes is too quick for the McLaren. Indeed, exiting T3 Raikkonen also gets by the struggling Briton.
At the end of lap 1, it's: Leclerc, Bottas, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Norris, Vettel, Verstappen, Gasly, Giovinazzi and Magnussen. No significant incidents on the first lap, other than Verstappen's poor start, which was seemingly down to his anti-stall.
A strong start from Sainz who is already up to 16th. Grosjean has dropped five places.
Verstappen is all over the rear of Vettel as the German harries Norris.
Out front, Leclerc is setting a blistering pace, as Vettel barges past Norris in T3. The McLaren driver subsequently fights back but Vettel appears to have it covered. Now Verstappen closes on the British teenager.
"Is everything OK with the car, because I have no grip," complains Grosjean. "We're checking," he is told.
After 4 laps, Leclerc leads Bottas by 2.250s with Hamilton a further 2.3s behind.
Russell, who started from the pitlane, is up to 18th having passed his teammate and Kvyat.
Vettel sweeps past his former teammate to take fourth.
On lap 7, Verstappen nails Norris at T3, and sets about hunting down Raikkonen.
"This feels like the hottest race I've ever had," says Hamilton. The Briton is told that it is indeed very warm.
Perez is up to tenth, as Magnussen slips down the field. To add to his woes the Dane is under investigation for being out of position at the start.
Verstappen passes Raikkonen at T3 and sets about closing the 3.5s gap to Vettel. The crowd erupts.
As the Haas pair slip to 15th and 16th, it appears they are in for another tough afternoon.
As Albon battle with Grosjean, Russell has a look at the pair. The Thai driver passes the struggling Frenchman as Russell also closes in.
Having dispatched Grosjean, Albon now deals with his Haas teammate.
"We are going to Plan A, Plan A," Leclerc is told.
Magnussen pits at the end of lap 11, rejoining in last on the hards.
The Dane will be stopping again as he has a drive-through for being out of position at the start.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Spielberg, here.
Raikkonen now has his hands full as Norris seeks to take sixth from him.
"Tell me when I can start pushing," says Leclerc. "It's good like this," he is told.
Norris makes a move on Raikkonen in T3, the Finn considers a block but thinks better of it.
In fourth, Vettel is setting a good pace, now just 3.3s down on Hamilton and lapping slightly quicker. A lock-up in T4 doesn't help the world champion's cause.
Lap 16 sees Verstappen post a new fastest lap (9.252).
"It's on a knife edge, but I think I can manage this pace," says Ricciardo who is currently 13th. His teammate is 11th.
Gasly makes a move on Raikkonen in T4, but the Finn holds him off, despite the Red Bull driver's best efforts to go around the outside.
Lap 18 sees a new fastest lap from Vettel, who stops the clock at 9.073.
As Bottas loses ground to Leclerc (4.7s), Hamilton has closed in (1.5s).
Kubica pits at the end of lap 20.
"Push hard, push hard, we're doing well," Vettel is told.
Gasly continues to attack Raikkonen, but the Finn plays with him like a cat with a mouse.
At the end of lap 21, Bottas and Vettel both pit, however, it's another mess from Ferrari who didn't have the German's tyres ready.
Bottas rejoins in 4th and Vettel 8th.
Next time around Leclerc pits, as Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (8.842). Leclerc rejoins in third.
"Come on, push hard," Hamilton is told. "The tyres are good, they're still good," he replies.
As Raikkonen pits, Vettel, who has already passed Gasly, moves up to 6th, 4.7s down on Norris. The Finn rejoins in 15th. Next time around his teammate pits, rejoining in 16th.
Norris pits at the end of lap 25, as do Gasly and Stroll. Norris rejoins in 11th and Gasly 13th, behind Raikkonen.
Hulkenberg and Sainz both pit at the end of lap 26, as Hamilton enjoys a 7.2s lead over Verstappen.
"Check my wing, I think I've lost downforce," reports Hamilton.
As Russell pits, Gasly goes quickest in S1. The Frenchman is currently 12th.
Perez pits at the end of lap 28.
Hamilton is assured that his front wing will be checked when he stops. Indeed, his crew has another front wing ready, just in case.
Vettel posts a new fastest lap (8.750).
"Box, box, box, box," Hamilton is told. He also told that he'll be getting a new front wing.
At the end of lap 30 he stops, 11s late head heads off up the pitlane with fresh rubber and a new front wing. Hamilton rejoins in 5th, 7.4s down on Vettel, who posts another fastest lap (8.345).
Verstappen pits next time around, which hands the lead back to Leclerc. He rejoins in fourth, ahead of Hamilton, which is good news for Vettel.
So, after 32 laps, Leclerc leads Bottas by 4.1s, with Vettel a further 5.2s behind, Verstappen 3.4 and Hamilton 5s. Sainz is sixth, but has yet to stop, as has seventh-placed Ricciardo.
Finally, Gasly passes Raikkonen, albeit for ninth.
"You've got a good tyre advantage on these guys," Verstappen is told. "We can push later in the race."
Kvyat's weekend goes from bad to worse as he suffers a very, very slow pit stop.
Out front, Leclerc posts a new fastest lap (8.344).
Albon pits at the end of lap 35, leaving Sainz and Ricciardo as the only drivers still to stop.
Down in fifth, 20.9s behind the race leader, Hamilton is assured that it is still looking good for later in the race when the "field will bunch up".
As Norris closes on Ricciardo, the Australian is clearly struggling with his tyres. Running behind the pair, Gasly keeps a watching eye.
Norris makes move in T3 but Ricciardo slams the door well and truly shut.
Eventually Norris passes the struggling Antipodean, who will surely pit soon.
Sainz pits at the end of lap 41, the McLaren driver rejoining in 14th.
Lap 43 sees a new fastest lap from Verstappen (8.317), as Norris is told he is doing a fantastic job.
The Briton is told to hold up Ricciardo. "How long for, forever?" He asks. Moments later, Gasly passes the Australian, which was the point of the call.
Verstappen is now 1.3s down on Vettel and closing, as Gasly is 2.5s down on Norris.
On fresh rubber, Sainz goes quickest in S1.
Meanwhile, both Mercedes drivers are being told to "lift and coast".
"We have a significant pace advantage over Vettel in Turn 1," Verstappen is told, "use that."
Ricciardo finally pits at the end of lap 46. He rejoins in 14th.
Verstappen is all over Vettel, and with the aid of DRS mounts his attack. The German has it covered, but this is far from over.
"Come on mate," Verstappen is urged.
The Red Bull driver continues to attack, aware that he will only have tyre advantage for so many laps.
On the run to Turn 4, following a great exit from Turn 3, he passes the Ferrari. The crowd erupts. "Yes boys!" shouts Verstappen.
Vettel subsequently pits, rejoining in 5th 8s down on Hamilton.
As Sainz moves up to 9th, having passed Giovinazzi, Verstappen is just 1s down on Bottas.
"The gap?" asks Vettel, who is 7.2s behind Hamilton.
After 52 laps, it's: Leclerc, Bottas, Verstappen, Hamilton, Vettel, Norris, Gasly, Raikkonen, Sainz and Giovinazzi.
Lap 53 sees a new fastest lap from Vettel (7.787), as he closes to within 6.4s of Hamilton.
"Losing power," reports Verstappen. "Fail 3, Zero Fail 3," he is told. Moments later he nails Bottas at T3 to go second.
With 15 laps remaining, Verstappen is 5.1s down on Leclerc. "Game on," he is told.
Leclerc goes quickest in S3, as he maintains a 5s lead over Verstappen.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Spielberg, here.
Lap 58 sees a new fastest lap from Verstappen (7.766) as he takes 0.5s out of Leclerc's lead.
Sainz passes Raikkonen for 8th, leaving him 4.1s down on Gasly, who is 1.8s down on Norris.
"Engine 11, more performance to the end," Verstappen is told. Nigel Tufnell would be proud.
Indeed, Verstappen posts another fastest lap (7.475), while Vettel posts a PB (7.775).
"Blistering pace Max, keep it up."
The race leader laps 8th placed Sainz. Next up is Gasly.
Now 1.8s down on Hamilton, Vettel goes quickest in S2.
As Leclerc closes on Gasly, Verstappen is just 1.59s behind.
Lap 64 sees Magnussen make his third stop of the afternoon. The Dane switching to softs.
"Verstappen behind one second," Leclerc is told. "Leave me alone," he replies.
Leclerc sweeps past Gasly, but so does Verstappen, who now has DRS.
As Verstappen is all over the back of Leclerc, Vette closes on Hamilton.
Verstappen appears to have nailed the Ferrari in T3, the crowd roars, but the Monegasque holds him off.
Next time around, Verstappen makes the same move, they touch wheels, but the Dutchman is through.
"He turned in on me," says Verstappen. "There was nothing wrong with it," he is told.
"What the hell is that?" asks Leclerc.
Vettel makes his move on Hamilton, the Briton locks-up and the German is through.
Verstappen takes the flag, and as the crowd roars, Vettel closes right up on Bottas. In his determination the Ferrari driver runs wide in the final corner, thus failing to nail the Finn.
Meanwhile, those pesky stewards announce that they are investigating Verstappen's move on Leclerc.
Verstappen wins, ahead of Leclerc, Bottas, Vettel, Hamilton, Norris, Gasly, Sainz, Raikkonen and Giovinazzi.
Perez is eleventh, ahead of Ricciardo, Hulkenberg, Stroll, Albon, Grosjean, Kvyat, Russell, Magnussen and Kubica.
Whatever the outcome of the stewards investigation - and F1 could really shoot itself in the foot here - this is what we needed, racing from lights to flag throughout the field.
While there is heartache for Leclerc, what a superb performance from Verstappen, especially after that fluffed start.
Then there's Mercedes, and Lewis Hamilton, effectively forced into bit parts on a day others took centre stage.
In the moments after the race an email arrives, suggesting that today's drama was like something the Formula One Script Unit would have dreamed up.
Wherever he is, we are sure that Turk Thrust, much like Mr Lauda, will have enjoyed every minute of it.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Spielberg, here.