04/07/2021
NEWS STORY
As if Lewis and Toto didn't have enough to put up with, what with Red Bull's 'illegal' rear wing, tyre pressure, pit stops and engine upgrade, it appears they now have to put up with someone else bending the rules to suit their own dubious purposes.
Step forward Lando and McLaren, whose engine must surely have something extra for the Briton to have out-qualified the seven-time champion yesterday.
Four successive defeats was one thing, but the fact that others might now be almost in a position to threaten the Black Arrows doesn't bear thinking about. After all, just how many technical directives is Michael Masi expected to issue?
On the face of it, other than the presence of Norris, we expect today's race to be pretty much like last week, with Max extending his championship leader ever further.
Lewis and Valtteri will be there or thereabouts, but unable to really challenge the Dutchman.
Much is being made of the "titanic" struggle we are witnessing between the main players this year - according to Paul di Resta one of the greatest ever - their rivalry compared to the many others witnessed over the many decades.
However, the fact is that we rarely get to see Max and Lewis go head-to-head in the classic, Villeneuve/Pironi sense, or Mansell and Piquet or Senna, or Stewart and Rindt, courtesy of the bloody aero which begins to play havoc once the Red Bull and Mercedes get anywhere near one another.
For us, a 'classic' head-to-head is the sort of thing witnessed in karting where aero doesn't play such a defining role. That said, we don't want to see F1 go down the 'spec series' road.
It just annoys us when we are told that we are witnessing one of the greatest rivalries ever... because we are not, though that's not the fault of the drivers who would surely love to get their elbows out a little more often.
With that off our chests, we wonder where Lando will finish today. A win is surely too much to expect, but could he really be a threat to the Mercedes pair?
Max will have support from Sergio, who managed to qualify in the final moments on the mediums, having looked very much as though he would be reduced to a soft start once again.
The Mexican did well last week so it will be interesting to see if he can make further progress this time around.
The AlphaTauris have looked strong all weekend, however both drivers qualified on the softs and therefore they are expected to drop away soon after the start, which is where the Ferrari pair come in.
The Maranello team made much of the fact yesterday that it was not too disappointed at having failed to make it into Q3, for other than having strong race pace this leaves Charles and Carlos free to start on mediums.
Also starting on the yellow-banded rubber - along with the Mercedes and Red Bull duos and Norris - is Russell, who did magnificently to qualify ninth on the mediums.
We do not expect miracles this afternoon from the youngster, but surely he deserves a point or two.
Of course, George will be given added impetus by the fact that Toto is still considering Lewis' teammate for 2022 and beyond, even though the world champion wants to continue with his current wingm... teammate.
With his - unfair in our humble opinion - grid penalty meaning he will start eleventh, Seb will still start on softs, however he has looked good all weekend and should be a cert for a point or two as should teammate Lance.
Despite his insistence that being impeded by Seb has destroyed his hopes of winning points today, never, ever write-off Fernando's hopes. Indeed, the more p*****-off he is, the better he usually performs.
Two drivers who really need to step up today are Ricciardo and Ocon, the Frenchman appearing to have gone totally off-radar since agreeing a new deal with Alpine
Once again we refuse to go down the Weather Gods route simply because we feel that they are either playing with us or saving themselves for something special at Silverstone.
We can't help but feel that one of the Alfas could surprise today, indeed there is an underlying feeling that today's race won't be as 'clean cut' as last week, if only due to the tyres being a step softer.
Talking of tyres, even with the softer tyre nomination the 71-lap race should still be a one-stopper.
For those frontrunners who opted for the medium tyre, switching to hards is probably the best strategy - and likely to be echoed by many of the other drivers starting on the same compound.
Otherwise, a two-stopper, with two stints on the softs plus a medium or hard stint (which could be the middle stint) or using all the three compounds is a good option as this could provide an interesting 'sprint' alternative.
Ultimately, a lot of the strategy will be influenced by track temperature.
One really uplifting this so far this weekend has been the presence of fans again, particularly Max' traveling orange army, coloured smoke, air horns, cheering and Mexican waves is exactly what the sport has needed over the last season and a half.
The pitlane opens and the cars begin to head out, among the first is Verstappen who elicits a huge roar from the partisan crowd.
"100% something's not right," reports Russell, on his way to the grid, "with the rear of the car, 100%". He is told to continue to the grid.
Air temperature is 19.9 degrees C, while the track temperature is 29.2 degrees. It is somewhat overcast, with reports of a few spots of rain. Indeed, race control assures us that there is a 60% chance of rain... at which point the sun breaks through.
Other than the Bulls, Mercedes, Norris and Russell, Leclerc, Ricciardo, Alonso, Giovinazzi, Ocon, Latifi, Schumacher and Mazepin start on mediums, while Sainz and Raikkonen are on hards. Gasly, Tsunoda, Stroll and Vettel are on softs.
They head off on the formation lap, all getting away cleanly.
Orange smoke fills the air as Verstappen leads the field past the stands.
The grid forms, Verstappen and Norris pointing their cars inwards towards one another.
They're away! On the run up the hill to Turn 1 Verstappen leads, while Norris covers off Perez who is ahead of Hamilton. All get through Turn 1 cleanly though Ricciardo runs a little wide.
On the run to Turn 3 Gasly is all over Bottas, and while the Finn shuts the door on the AlphaTauri, up ahead Hamilton looks at the inside of Perez.
In Turn 4 Hamilton is alongside Perez but the Mexican stands his ground, while Gasly continues to attack Bottas.
The safety car is deployed when Ocon goes off at the exit to Turn 3 after getting caught between Schumacher and Giovinazzi, who clouts the left-front wheel of the Alpine in the process.
"I'm out guys, that's it ****," says the Frenchman, "****!"
At the end of lap 1, it's: Verstappen, Norris, Perez, Hamilton, Bottas, Gasly, Tsunoda, Stroll, Vettel and Leclerc. Russell is down to 12th as Ocon climbs from his car.
The safety car is withdrawn at the end of lap 3.
They're away again, Verstappen leads while Perez and Norris are side by side as are the Mercedes pair. Perez goes off in Turn 4 as he battles Norris, the Mexican dropping down to 10th in the process.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Spielberg, here.
"He pushed me off," declares Perez, as Hamilton and Bottas continue their scrap for third.
As Norris falls 2.4s behind Verstappen, Hamilton is all over the rear of Norris.
Giovinazzi is under investigation for overtaking before the safety car line.
The Italian, who pitted at the end of lap 1 following his clash with Ocon, is handed a 5s penalty for overtaking before the safety car line.
As the Mercedes pair pursue Norris, Vettel and Ricciardo are all over Stroll with Perez in hot pursuit.
Told Gasly is posting 10.4s, Norris replies: "I don't care!"
A mistake sees Bottas drop 2s behind Hamilton whose tyres are suffering in Norris' dirty air.
All the while Verstappen is pulling further and further ahead. Indeed, the race leader posts a new fastest lap (9.091).
The Alpha pair are clearly struggling, and behind a train is forming, however leading that train are the other soft shod pair, the Aston Martins.
Tsunoda pits at the end of lap 12, switching to hards he rejoins in 19th.
The stewards are investigating the Norris/Perez incident.
Gasly pits at the end of lap 13, also switching to hards he rejoins in 18th ahead of his teammate.
Leclerc passes Perez in Turn 3, the Mexican fights back but to no avail.
Stroll pits at the end of lap 14, the Canadian rejoining in 19th.
The only driver still on softs, Vettel is under pressure from Ricciardo, who has Leclerc and Perez in his wake.
Tsunoda is under investigation for crossing the white line at the pit entry.
Ricciardo passes a clearly struggling Vettel for fifth. The German immediately pits, rejoining in 19th.
After 18 laps, Verstappen leads by 8.3s, while Norris heads Hamilton by just 0.323s. Bottas is 3.4s down on his Mercedes teammate.
Norris is handed a 5s penalty for forcing another driver (Perez) off track. To add insult to injury the Briton is subsequently passed by Hamilton who goes around the outside of the McLaren in Turn 4.
"His rear brakes are on fire," says Stroll of Hamilton.
"Such a great driver Lando," says Hamilton.
Tsunoda is handed a 5s penalty for crossing the white line at the pit entry.
The stewards are earning their money today.
"You have a 5s penalty but it's OK," Norris is told. "For what?" shouts the McLaren driver.
After 25 laps, it's: Verstappen, Hamilton, Norris, Bottas, Ricciardo, Leclerc, Perez, Sainz, Russell and Raikkonen. Sainz and Raikkonen, of course, on hards.
"I feel we're so f****** slow," complains Gasly, currently languishing in 12th.
Bottas is told he has a pit stop gap to Ricciardo while Norris doesn't.
"It's getting slowly a bit worse," says Verstappen of his tyres, as Ricciardo pits (at the end of lap 29). The Australian rejoins in 12th, behind Gasly and ahead of Latifi.
Next time around Norris and Bottas pit. The Briton serves his penalty, meaning that he leaves after Bottas.
The Finn rejoins in third on hards, while Norris is fourth. Russell also pits, the Briton rejoining in 16th.
Hamilton pits at the end of lap 31, the world champion still in second.
Next time around Verstappen pits. Another classic (illegal?) stop from Red Bull sees the Dutchman rejoin still leading by 12.8s.
Bottas posts a new fastest lap (8.689), as Perez has a slight issue with his stop. The Mexican rejoins in 10th.
Leclerc pits at the end of lap 34, a slow-ish stop sees him emerge behind Ricciardo and Perez.
Bottas is advised to stay away from the kerbs as Hamilton has already sustained damage.
Sainz and Raikkonen, currently 5th and 6th, and on hards, are the only drivers still to stop.
Russell passes Stroll in Turn 3 for 13th.
Raikkonen pits at the end of lap 37, the Finn rejoining in 14th.
As he hunts down Gasly, Ricciardo is told: "Do your thing Daniel, do your thing". Perez is just 0.582s behind.
"We've got the margin to stay within the white lines," Verstappen is told, "so stay off the kerbs."
Gasly, Ricciardo, Perez and Leclerc almost running as one.
Leclerc makes a move on Perez in Turn 4, but the Mexican isn't having it. They touch and the Ferrari driver runs wide.
"Did he, did he break my car," asks Leclerc, who is told that everything looks OK.
The Perez/Leclerc incident is under investigation. Indeed, moments later the Mexican is handed a 5s penalty for forcing another driver off track.
In 7th, Ricciardo is told that Gasly will need to pit again.
After 45 laps Verstappen has an 18s lead, almost enough for a further stop and a point for fastest lap.
Ricciardo makes a move on Gasly but is unable to pull it off. The Frenchman subsequently pits, rejoining in 12th.
Leclerc and Perez are side by side, and once again the Monegasque goes off after the Mexican refuses to yield.
"Come on, this guys a ****," shouts Leclerc.
In all honesty Charles, it's called racing. Elsewhere, Stroll has pitted and rejoined in 17th.
Norris is told that Bottas is not allowed to overtake Hamilton after the world champion incurred damage on the kerbs.
As Sainz finally pits, at the end fo lap 48, Hamilton warns that he doesn't think he'll be able to make his tyres last.
Sainz rejoins in 9th, behind Tsunoda on mediums.
As Vettel pits at the end of lap 50, Bottas is told that he is free to race his Mercedes teammate, the German team clearly aware of the threat from Norris should it continue as it is.
Meanwhile, a new fastest lap from Verstappen (8.439).
"We will invert the cars into Turn 1," Hamilton is told, as Perez is given another 5s penalty.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Spielberg, here.
Bottas duly passes his teammate, now 22s down on the leader. Norris is just 0.666 behind. Yes, that's 0.666.
Tsunoda pits again.
Norris attempts to go around the outside of Hamilton in Turn 6 but fails, however at Turn 7 he finally nails the world champion who subsequently pits.
Another penalty for Stroll, this time for speeding in the pitlane.
Hamilton rejoins in fourth, 21s down on Norris and 10s ahead of Perez, though the Mexican has a further 10s in penalties (thus far).
And Tsunoda is under investigation for crossing the line at pit entry again.
On fresh rubber, Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (8.126) but Verstappen responds with an 8.012.
Tsunoda is handed another penalty.
After 57 laps, Verstappen leads, with Bottas + 25.5, Norris + 1.4, Hamilton + 19.5, Perez + 11.3, Ricciardo + 3.1 and Leclerc + 0.5. Sainz is 8th, 3.7s behind his Ferrari teammate, and ahead of Gasly and Russell.
Leclerc makes an opportunistic move on Ricciardo but fails.
Lap 58 sees another fastest lap from Verstappen (7.835).
At the end of lap 59 Verstappen pits, the Dutchman rejoining still leading but now on fresh hards.
Alonso is all over the back of Russell as the pair battle for that last point.
Leclerc trying everything in the book - and then some - in his efforts to pass Ricciardo for 6th.
Another fastest lap from Verstappen (6.200) as he laps the battling Russell and Alonso.
Raikkonen very angry at being told he is getting the black and white flag for exceeding the track limits numerous times. "Why didn't you tell me," he shouts.
Sainz passes his teammate in Turn 3 in what looks suspiciously like an orchestrated move. The Spaniard is 1.5s down on Ricciardo on much fresher rubber.
Alonso continues to hound Russell, the Spaniard finally passing the struggling Williams on the run to Turn 4 courtesy of DRS.
Meanwhile, with two laps remaining, Sainz is 0.599s behind Ricciardo.
To add to his misery, Russell is now under attack from another world champion, Kimi Raikkonen.
Sainz passes Ricciardo for sixth, the Australian unable to offer any resistance.
Verstappen takes the flag and the crowd erupts, orange smoke fills the air.
Bottas is second, ahead of Norris, Hamilton, Sainz, Perez, Ricciardo, Leclerc, Gasly and Alonso, the penalties having been applied.
However, Raikkonen has clashed with Vettel, the German having passed the Finn who was unable to make a move stick on Russell. The Aston Martin and Alfa Romeo spin off into the gravel.
Russell claims eleventh, ahead of Tsunoda, Stroll, Giovinazzi, Latifi, Raikkonen, Vettel, Schumacher and Mazepin.
So, four successive wins becomes five, and to add to their misery, Norris did indeed finish ahead of Hamilton, even with that penalty.
Not sure we can even call this "incident filled" for in many ways the afternoon was dominated by the stewards.
A totally dominating win for Max and Red Bull which sees them extend their championship leads to 32 and 44 points respectively.
No doubt upgrades will be the talk of the day, but in all honesty Mercedes now appears to have more than Red Bull to worry about.
Quite what Hamilton will feel about moving aside for his teammate remain to be seen but under the circumstances it was the correct decision.
Norris will fully deserve the plaudits, the youngster driving a brilliant race, as did Sainz.
Perez will rue those incidents, but again we cannot help but feel that the stewards have been just a little too enthusiastic.
Considering where he started, Ricciardo will rightly be happy with 7th, then again, when you consider where his teammate finished the Australian still has much work to do, especially on Saturdays.
An ambitious but ragged performance from Leclerc, while Gasly will feel that he deserved more.
While Alonso deserved a something after yesterday's Q2 incident it is a pity that it had to come at the expense of young Russell.
"Incredible to be honest," says Verstappen, who barely appears to break sweat, "the car was unreal.
"On every tyre set we put on, it was really enjoyable to drive," he adds. "A great effort by the whole team, these two weeks here have been incredible."
"As a team, we got some decent points considering the gap we had to Red Bull on pure pace," says Bottas, the Finn clearly aware of the task he and the team faces.
"It was a good race, it was exciting," grins Norris. "I'm disappointed because we should have been in second place. He went off the track himself, we didn't push him so I'm frustrated.
"I could keep up with (Bottas) even in the dirty air, so it's nice to know we can be there. It's the first race in many years we've actually been racing a Mercedes and a Red Bull."
From the back-to-backs of the Red Bull Ring we now head to Silverstone where the sport is trial its latest gimmick.
Despite the 60% threat of rain the Weather Gods refused to play, it is unlikely that they won't make their presence felt in two weeks at the height of the Great British Summer.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Spielberg, here.