Motor Racing
Austrian Grand Prix Preview: Red Bull set to continue dominance
The ninth race of the Formula 1 season, the Austrian Grand Prix, commences on Sunday, with Red Bull Racing looking to continue its undefeated streak.
We preview all the action below.
Austrian Grand Prix – Sunday 14:00 GMT
Throughout the years since the Grand Prix’s revival in 2014, Austria has predominantly belonged to Mercedes and, more recently, Red Bull Racing. In 2021, Max Verstappen emerged victorious twice, including the Styrian Grand Prix. Last year, he claimed victory in the sprint race, while Charles Leclerc secured Sunday’s triumph for Ferrari.
It seems highly likely it will be another Red Bull triumph this Sunday, with Verstappen the heavy 3/10 favourite to claim his seventh win of the season already, with Fernando Alonso next in the betting at 15/2.
Known as the fastest circuit of the year, despite not being the shortest, the Red Bull Ring stretches across 4.3 kilometres. With ten corners, notable braking zones arise at corners 1, 3, and 4, presenting prime opportunities for overtaking. The straight sections leading to these corners allow drivers to utilise the DRS system for an added advantage.
Red Bull opposition look to close gap
The question arises: can Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Mercedes make significant strides forward? Red Bull has exhibited remarkable dominance throughout the season, particularly on race days. Their RB19 consistently crosses the finish line in first place, often with a substantial lead over their rivals. However, in Canada, the margin was narrower, with Verstappen only ten seconds ahead of runner-up Fernando Alonso. This suggests a potentially more thrilling spectacle in the weeks to come.
Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Mercedes have been diligently refining their cars throughout the campaign. Mercedes introduced updates for their W14-B in Monaco and Spain, resulting in three podium finishes for the German outfit, whilst in the recent race in Montreal, Ferrari showcased impressive speed on hard and medium tires.
The Aston Martin team finds themselves slightly frustrated as they approach Sunday’s race, which will feature a Sprint Shootout format. This means they will have limited practice time to fully assess the effectiveness of the upgrades they introduced in Montreal. Nevertheless, there is a sense of optimism within the team, as they believe the Red Bull Ring circuit is particularly well-suited to take advantage of these upgrades.
The qualifying session promises an enthralling display. In the previous season at the Spielberg short circuit, Verstappen clinched pole position, but the gaps were minimal. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz trailed the Dutchman by a mere two and seven hundredths of a second, respectively, in their RB18s. Should Ferrari improve their qualifying performance from Canada, a fierce battle between these rival teams may unfold on Sunday.
