The Official 2018 Austrian Grand Prix Thread **SPOILERS**

[Dr Z]

Date(s): Friday 29 June 2018 - Sunday 01 July 2018

UK Broadcast Timings (and local time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1 and Channel 4.

Session	Day	Sky F1	Channel 4	Session Start	Local Time
Practice 1	Fri	0945	0955	1000	1100
Practice 2	Fri	1345	1355	1400	1500
Practice 3	Sat	1045	1055	1100	1200
Qualifying	Sat	1300	1255	1400	1500
Race	Sun	1230	1300	1410	1510

Red Bull Ring, Spielberg



Live timing for all sessions available here:

https://www.formula1.com/en/f1-live.html

Lap times, PU component use, technical reports and Stewards' decisions for the weekend will appear here:

https://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula-one-world-c...

Weather forecast:

http://www.myweather2.com/Motor-Racing/Austria/A1-...

The tyre choices:



2017 Qualifying



2017 Race

---

This is one of my favourite tracks. Short lap, fast corners, tricky braking zones, blind apexes, elevation changes. Love it.

The FIA have added an extra DRS zone for this year’s race, so that’s 3 zones with 3 detection points. We’ll have to find out how it will influence the racing, to be honest I do get bored of easy DRS overtakes as we saw in Paul Ricard. However, if it will help some strategy divergence due to a smaller pace delta needed to pass another car on similar pace, then is it a good thing?

There was a mix of car setup approaches seen last year at this track, and as we saw in Canada, the extra DRS zone might well encourage teams to run more wing levels. Similar to Canada in terms of % full throttle per lap, fuel consumption and loads for the ERS.

All three of the top teams should have a more equal chance at winning this one, as we also return to the default spec of tyres. Pirelli have this to say:

• It’s one of the shortest laps of the year (but the fastest in terms of lap time) with relatively low energy loads being placed through the tyres and good grip from the asphalt.
• The first two sectors are fast and flowing, while the third sector is slower and more technical.
• The mountain location means weather can be unpredictable, with sunshine and showers.
• With lots of elevation, many corners are blind: finding a set-up that gives confidence is key.
• A one-stopper was the most common choice last year, but with a few different variations.

Mario Isola - Pirelli Head of Car Racing said:

Austria features the same tyre nomination as France, but they are very different tracks, although both with the characteristic in common of being revamped circuits based on a historic venue. This also gives the Red Bull Ring quite an old-school feel that the drivers always appreciate. The track is more about acceleration and braking rather than lateral demands, but Austria has always the ability to produce a few surprises, also because the field is closely packed together on the short lap, so dealing with traffic is often a factor. One of the peculiarities of Austria is the fact that most of the corners are right-hand turns, but the two most demanding corners are left-handers. This means that the loaded tyres go into them almost ‘cold’, as they are not otherwise stressed throughout the lap.

Renault have finally announced they are bringing their long awaited MGU-K to this race. Praise be! Only a few Renault powered drivers can take it without a penalty though.

F2 timetable:

Edited by Dr Z on Thursday 28th June 11:35

[HustleRussell]

About time

Ferrari circuit this year methinks.

[Drive Blind]

thanks and well done Dr Z again for starting these informative threads

Austria 2016 - the scene of the Rosberg 'forgetting to turn' incident

the turn captain
not yet
captain t +10 seconds
not yet
captain!
RIGHT FULL RUDDER, SOUND COLLISION

[parabolica]

Didn't realise this was one of C4's all live shows; should be a good weekend. I'm going with Bottas to repeat his win from last year, although I'd hedge my bets given his luck so far this year. Reckon Max will be up there this weekend too.

[majordad]

What’s Alonso’s odds?

[skinny]

majordad said:

What’s Alonso’s odds?

Of finishing?

[parabolica]

skinny said:

majordad said:

What’s Alonso’s odds?

Of finishing?

Or getting 20 laps into the race and then complaining about the car?

[Dr Z]

Drive Blind said:

thanks and well done Dr Z again for starting these informative threads

Austria 2016 - the scene of the Rosberg 'forgetting to turn' incident

the turn captain
not yet
captain t +10 seconds
not yet
captain!
RIGHT FULL RUDDER, SOUND COLLISION

Indeed this track has had some 'interesting' moments in the past. You shall not pass!

With such a short lap, I imagine the usually close midfield will be even closer. Every millisecond counts.

[Jasandjules]

Drive Blind said:

RIGHT FULL RUDDER, SOUND COLLISION

Perfect user name for the subject matter.....

[Drive Blind]

Dr Z said:

Indeed this track has had some 'interesting' moments in the past. You shall not pass!

the opposite of the 2002 Ferrari finish - You shall pass very easily. Boooooooo

[slipstream 1985]

Clearly a merc engine track last year but this year the ferrari unit is better.

[sandman77]

slipstream 1985 said:

Clearly a merc engine track last year but this year the ferrari unit is better.

I’m not so sure. The upgrade Merc brought last week seems to have the edge over the Ferrari.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

One of the few left I really want to drive and experience live.

[Mr Dendrite]

Race start 2;10 UK, 3;10 local. Is this another late start because of football? They seem to be shifting the start times around a lot this year, ok gives me a bit more time to lever myself from the Sunday lunch table but runs the risk I'll already be dozing off by the warm up lap !

[Joshsl]

Could this be the year they drop below the 1min lap time? I’m looking forward to it and I think it is Ferrari’s race to loose

[Dr Z]

Joshsl said:

Could this be the year they drop below the 1min lap time? I’m looking forward to it and I think it is Ferrari’s race to loose

I reckon pole position will be in the low 1min 3sec.

[rdjohn]

Dr Z said:

Joshsl said:

Could this be the year they drop below the 1min lap time? I’m looking forward to it and I think it is Ferrari’s race to loose

I reckon pole position will be in the low 1min 3sec.

So that could mean a fastest lap of 67 seconds. I think Ferrari will manage to lose the race. Perhaps a loose wheel will come off.

[hairyben]

Pressure on vettel not to funk it up.

The importance of this triple header can barely be over stated IMO; there's a lot of pressure and it'll continue relentlessly and I think a lot of teams will be waiting on the outcome before finalising driver lineups, so for Lewis to kickoff round one with the win and assume the lead while vettel screws it makes the Lewis fanboy in me very happy.

Will adamsverstappen family be there for such an important race for max and RB, what effect might this have on max given his cleaner races were in their absence I believe? Were they at France?

[Big Nanas]

Mr Dendrite said:

Race start 2;10 UK, 3;10 local. Is this another late start because of football? They seem to be shifting the start times around a lot this year, ok gives me a bit more time to lever myself from the Sunday lunch table but runs the risk I'll already be dozing off by the warm up lap !

No, it clashes with the football which starts at 3pm UK time. Bit annoying really. An hour earlier and it would be fine.

[Dr Z]

So 8 races and a third of the Championship into this year, this is how top 5 drivers in the WDC table are looking compared to last year:

Driver	2017	2018	vs 2017
Hamilton	139	145	+6
Vettel	153	131	-22
Ricciardo	92	96	+4
Bottas	111	92	-19
Raikkonen	73	83	+10

Hamilton is 14 points in front of Vettel now, while Vettel was 14 points in front of Hamilton after 8 races last year.

Edited by Dr Z on Wednesday 27th June 13:09