Official 2019 Austrian Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[Piginapoke]

A return to a decent circuit, the Red Bull Ring. We should expect some slip-streaming in qualifying (Max and Daniel fell out over this last year you may remember), and the circuit may favour Red Bull and Max, last year’s winner.

What am I thinking? Of course, Mercedes will win. Bottas stuck it on pole last year, though, so there is hope of at least some competition for Lewis.


Date(s): Friday 28 June 2019 - Sunday 30 June 2019

UK Broadcast Timings (and local time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1; only highlights are shown on Channel 4:





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/championship/events/fia-formul...

Weather forecast:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2766824

Tyre Choices:



2018 Qualifying Result:



2018 Race Result:



2018 race highlights:

https://youtu.be/JNmfS9PSeYg

Lewis Hamilton lost the world championship lead after retiring from a sobering Austrian Grand Prix for Mercedes, as Max Verstappen took an unexpected victory for Red Bull.
Hamilton retired due to a loss of fuel pressure with eight laps to go as he was looking to regain his title lead following a Mercedes strategy blunder and tyre problems.
His retirement, with title rival Sebastian Vettel finishing third in his Ferrari behind team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, put Vettel into a one-point lead heading into the British Grand Prix.

Edited by Piginapoke on Monday 24th June 21:09

[Kenny Powers]

Many thanks for posting. Very much looking forward to the race weekend.

[TheDeuce]

I suppose leaving Mercedes next 1-2 to one side, the big question is whether max will split the two Ferrari's, or at this track can take them both?

I think he can. He's in the mix even on less friendly circuits and I don't see a Ferrari advantage here.

That's my hope at least. I'd love to see a battle for second in the WCC from RB. It's a huge ask of Max given that Gasly isn't exactly there to net points, but a nice idea at least

Max could at least draw level with Seb in the WDC here.

[Deesee]

Similar circuit for car characteristics as per France & Barcelona..

Merc by a country mile, Lewis has won 6/8 this season..

Renault powered cars to have the grunt..
McLaren to have the edge.

Renault power may (should imo) make the 2nd row...

[TheDeuce]

Deesee said:

Similar circuit for car characteristics as per France & Barcelona..

Merc by a country mile, Lewis has won 6/8 this season..

Renault powered cars to have the grunt..
McLaren to have the edge.

Renault power may (should imo) make the 2nd row...

I'm so tempted to disagree with you about Renault power over Honda...

Give me a few days to think it through and perhaps I'll place another wager with you about that one

I do agree that in isolation, between Renault and McLaren, McLaren are a good bet. I'm sure that it's slightly awkward for Renault to be challenged directly by their own customer..

[DanielSan]

DanielSan said:

I predict Toto Wolff to say how fast Ferrari are, how much Mercedes are struggling, Hamilton to also say how much they're struggling, Mercedes to then qualify 1-2 and also finish 1-2 while Verstappen finishes 3rd and the Ferrari's yet again to end up not being fast....

Quicker to just copy it from last week

[Deesee]

TheDeuce said:

I'm so tempted to disagree with you about Renault power over Honda...

? Explain ...

[Deesee]

DanielSan said:

DanielSan said:

I predict Toto Wolff to say how fast Ferrari are, how much Mercedes are struggling, Hamilton to also say how much they're struggling, Mercedes to then qualify 1-2 and also finish 1-2 while Verstappen finishes 3rd and the Ferrari's yet again to end up not being fast....

Quicker to just copy it from last week

Max had no chance for 3rd last week and no chance for 3rd this week..

Everything else spot on..

[Deesee]

Well done Piginapoke,

Did a few of these last year, not easy..

Thank you for the thread (again)

[TheDeuce]

Deesee said:

TheDeuce said:

I'm so tempted to disagree with you about Renault power over Honda...

? Explain ...

I see the Honda PU as at least equal in race power delivery to the Renault PU. And at a pinch probably has a little more to give - on the basis that reliability has been so good so far.

As ever, I'm here to learn. If you see differently explain back.

[Deesee]

TheDeuce said:

Deesee said:

TheDeuce said:

I'm so tempted to disagree with you about Renault power over Honda...

? Explain ...

I see the Honda PU as at least equal in race power delivery to the Renault PU. And at a pinch probably has a little more to give - on the basis that reliability has been so good so far.

As ever, I'm here to learn. If you see differently explain back.

Interesting (we all learn here) i see the (all) the PU (race modes) within roughly 2/3% of each other on the start line, quali modes and reliability however are massively different.

Fuel flow, and fuel storage is massively important, Merc can carry 10kg less fuel than Ferrari for example on a Sunday, that’s a huge advantage in terms of weight, and performance.

Quali power, well is say Merc have say 10% extra, Ferrari 7% Renault are/will deliver 5% extra over the Honda.

The Honda at present is and proudly the tallest dwarf.

[TheDeuce]

Deesee said:

Interesting (we all learn here) i see the (all) the PU (race modes) within roughly 2/3% of each other on the start line, quali modes and reliability however are massively different.

Fuel flow, and fuel storage is massively important, Merc can carry 10kg less fuel than Ferrari for example on a Sunday, that’s a huge advantage in terms of weight, and performance.

Quali power, well is say Merc have say 10% extra, Ferrari 7% Renault are/will deliver 5% extra over the Honda.

The Honda at present is and proudly the tallest dwarf.

So where have Renault been in quali? The RB is quicker through the corners for sure, but then has also held itself on the faster circuits. How do we have a high aero car that can also pull on the straights without at least equal power?

It doesn't make a huge amount of sense to me either if I'm honest. To be firmly ahead of Renault would take a huge chunk of extra power, which I admit isn't to be seen so far.. Perhaps there is something clever going on. The Red Bull is faster through a race than it should be.

If you want the wager - I say Max will end the race ahead of both Renault's

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Only 2 sets of Mediums for HAM, presumably BOT is doing all the free practice running on them?

Really need to get out to this circuit for a road trip, it looks beautiful. Maybe next season...

[Deesee]

TheDeuce said:

Deesee said:

Interesting (we all learn here) i see the (all) the PU (race modes) within roughly 2/3% of each other on the start line, quali modes and reliability however are massively different.

Fuel flow, and fuel storage is massively important, Merc can carry 10kg less fuel than Ferrari for example on a Sunday, that’s a huge advantage in terms of weight, and performance.

Quali power, well is say Merc have say 10% extra, Ferrari 7% Renault are/will deliver 5% extra over the Honda.

The Honda at present is and proudly the tallest dwarf.

So where have Renault been in quali? The RB is quicker through the corners for sure, but then has also held itself on the faster circuits. How do we have a high aero car that can also pull on the straights without at least equal power?

It doesn't make a huge amount of sense to me either if I'm honest. To be firmly ahead of Renault would take a huge chunk of extra power, which I admit isn't to be seen so far.. Perhaps there is something clever going on. The Red Bull is faster through a race than it should be.

If you want the wager - I say Max will end the race ahead of both Renault's

I was talking PU, not cars, that’s a different thing altogether. (Let alone drivers).

[TheDeuce]

Deesee said:

TheDeuce said:

Deesee said:

Interesting (we all learn here) i see the (all) the PU (race modes) within roughly 2/3% of each other on the start line, quali modes and reliability however are massively different.

Fuel flow, and fuel storage is massively important, Merc can carry 10kg less fuel than Ferrari for example on a Sunday, that’s a huge advantage in terms of weight, and performance.

Quali power, well is say Merc have say 10% extra, Ferrari 7% Renault are/will deliver 5% extra over the Honda.

The Honda at present is and proudly the tallest dwarf.

So where have Renault been in quali? The RB is quicker through the corners for sure, but then has also held itself on the faster circuits. How do we have a high aero car that can also pull on the straights without at least equal power?

It doesn't make a huge amount of sense to me either if I'm honest. To be firmly ahead of Renault would take a huge chunk of extra power, which I admit isn't to be seen so far.. Perhaps there is something clever going on. The Red Bull is faster through a race than it should be.

If you want the wager - I say Max will end the race ahead of both Renault's

I was talking PU, not cars, that’s a different thing altogether. (Let alone drivers).

Fair enough.

Deesee said:

Renault power may (should imo) make the 2nd row...

But why would you expect them to make the second row - you think better paced than 2 of either the Ferrari's or one Ferrari and Max's Red Bull here?

[Deesee]

TheDeuce said:

But why would you expect them to make the second row - you think better paced than 2 of either the Ferrari's or one Ferrari and Max's Red Bull here?

I think the Merc may struggle here (well in terms of domination in Quali, one will still be on the front row), Renault and McLaren, are quicker on the straights than the Merc, and are quicker in Medium/High Speed Turns than the Ferrari & Red Bull, add in 3 DRS Zones, this race & Quali should be close..

[exelero]

Deesee said:

TheDeuce said:

But why would you expect them to make the second row - you think better paced than 2 of either the Ferrari's or one Ferrari and Max's Red Bull here?

I think the Merc may struggle here (well in terms of domination in Quali, one will still be on the front row), Renault and McLaren, are quicker on the straights than the Merc, and are quicker in Medium/High Speed Turns than the Ferrari & Red Bull, add in 3 DRS Zones, this race & Quali should be close..

Could we get a double merc DNF please? Just so that they don't win every single race? Oh and Gasly P1

anyway I'm happy to be on page 1

[Deesee]

With a bit of luck, this heatwave that's happening will bring some storms and rain on the weekend.. (well for us watching at home)!

[TheDeuce]

Deesee said:

I think the Merc may struggle here (well in terms of domination in Quali, one will still be on the front row), Renault and McLaren, are quicker on the straights than the Merc, and are quicker in Medium/High Speed Turns than the Ferrari & Red Bull, add in 3 DRS Zones, this race & Quali should be close..

It doesn't really matter if the Mercs fail to lock out row 1, if they fail the second (or possibly both) will be on the second row. Either way a mild Merc struggle wouldn't open up places in row 2 for the Renault powered cars.

As for the rest, all makes sense although my impression is that max has performed better at most circuits this year than the most sensible predictions suggested.

I'm going to hold off making a prediction until a little closer to the day, when we will know who if anyone brings updates or new aero packs.

[Supersam83]

Deesee said:

Well done Piginapoke,

Did a few of these last year, not easy..

Thank you for the thread (again)

Does anyone know where Dr Z is?

Wasn't he one of the main forum members who ran this thread for race weekends?

Not seen his contribution on the forums for a while now. Hope he is ok.