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Strategy
We will take the obligatory look at the strategy later. According to Pirelli, two stops are the fastest, although a three-stop strategy like Lewis Hamilton’s in Barcelona cannot be ruled out.
Theoretically, the three-stopper is even faster according to Pirelli when driving freely. Due to additional traffic, however, it should actually be faster with two stops in reality. We are curious.
Read more Analysis: Where would Antonelli have ended up if he had not dropped out?
Verstappen: Rumors don’t interest me
The “Silly Season” is slowly getting underway – but Max Verstappen says he is not interested in any of it. Recently, rumors surfaced that he might leave Red Bull and move to McLaren.
“I pay no attention to that,” he waves off when asked about it. When asked what it would take for him to stay at Red Bull, he answers: “They know, but I don’t have to talk too much about it.”
Meaning: If Red Bull achieves its internal goals this year, Verstappen will definitely stay. But he does not reveal exactly what these goals are.
Mercedes: Have Ferrari on the radar
Despite the pole, Mercedes does not expect an easy ride today. “It will mainly depend on race pace and tire degradation,” says Andrew Shovlin, emphasizing: “We saw enough on Friday to know that it will be a close fight between all teams at the top.”
In addition, “the high temperatures will put a lot of strain on the cars and tires,” he warns. Team boss Toto Wolff makes it clear: “We know our competitors will be right on our heels. They have already proven this pace, so there is still a tough fight ahead of us tomorrow.”
And George Russell also emphasizes: “It will be a close race. Ferrari and McLaren looked strong, and Max will always be a factor. We have to execute our performance well, stay error-free, and make the most of every opportunity.”
Analysis: Where would Antonelli have ended up?
The championship leader starts later from P4, after he prematurely aborted his last attack on pole position yesterday. Antonelli had mistakenly interpreted the yellow flag after Max Verstappen’s accident as a double yellow.
But where would the Italian have ended up otherwise? In fact, Antonelli was somewhat slower than his teammate until then, who needed 16.424 and 29.620 seconds in the first two sectors of his pole lap.
Antonelli had already incurred a deficit that would have been difficult to make up in the last sector. You can find our complete analysis here.
Formula 2: Podium for Goethe
After having bad luck with an early accident yesterday, Oliver Goethe made it to the podium today in the Formula 2 main race. He finished third behind Red Bull junior Nikola Zolow and championship leader Gabriele Mini from Alpine.
For Goethe, it was his first podium in Formula 2 ever.
Read more Formula 1 Live Ticker: The race in Spielberg live!
Mercedes or Ferrari win
According to statistics, Mercedes or Ferrari will definitely win today. Since the Red Bull Ring returned to the Formula 1 calendar in 2014, the race has never been won from outside the first two starting rows.
The last winner from further back was 25 years ago. In 2001, David Coulthard won for McLaren after starting only from P7 – and when the track was still called A1 Ring.
You can read all about it in our large database.
Rain?
Today’s race in Spielberg is also likely to be a heat battle again at over 30 degrees. But: Unlike the previous days, rain is actually possible this afternoon or early evening.
Of course, we are keeping an eye on the situation, but for the next few hours, no cooling thunderstorm is in sight yet.
Verstappen: Cause of accident was the car
The whole controversy at the end of qualifying was triggered by an accident involving Max Verstappen. Red Bull has since clarified, however, that the crash was not caused by the Dutchman himself.
“The dynamics of the incident were quite unusual,” explains Laurent Mekies and adds: “We lost aerodynamic performance at the rear axle, which left Max no chance to catch the car.”
More background information can be found here.
Read more Red Bull defends Verstappen: The cause of the accident was the car!
