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Audi: Do the upgrades work?
The Audi drivers landed yesterday in P10 and P14. Nico Hülkenberg explains: “Overall it was a solid day. […] Today I also tested the new update package for the first time.”
“It’s always difficult to make direct comparisons between different tracks, but the first impression was positive. We gathered some useful information,” said the German.
Teammate Gabriel Bortoleto adds: “We are bringing some upgrades this weekend, and it looks like they are serving their purpose, but it’s still too early for a final judgment.”
Now we have to look at the data to get a clearer picture.
Haas: Another better weekend?
Haas also had a bad weekend in Barcelona and remained without points. However, after Friday, they are more optimistic than Williams. “Overall it was a positive day,” says Oliver Bearman after P13.
“Honestly, I am satisfied with the progress,” he reveals and explains: “After Barcelona, there were a few things we had to focus on, and I think the car is currently in a good area.”
Esteban Ocon adds: “The tire wear seems to be significantly lower here despite the heat than in Barcelona, which is quite positive. We have a clear idea of the direction we want to go tomorrow and what we need to improve.”
Williams: Bigger problems than expected
Williams had actually hoped to be better positioned for Spielberg than recently in Barcelona. However, yesterday they again only landed in P17 and P18.
“We did not expect to have such big difficulties on this track, but the heat also contributed to tire wear,” explains Alexander Albon.
“It’s not because the whole team isn’t trying hard enough, and we are trying different things. But we haven’t found the right balance yet,” says Albon.
Carlos Sainz also speaks of a “difficult Friday” and admits: “Unfortunately, we are still very far behind, and we have to make a performance leap overnight if we want a chance at Q2.”
All the best!
Congratulations go first at the start of the day to Nico Rosberg. The 2016 world champion celebrates his 41st birthday today. To celebrate the day, I have dug up this photo series from the archive once again:
Read more No grip, no pace: New engine doesn’t save Ferrari
Nico Rosberg’s last race day in Formula 1
Longruns
Which team did the best long runs in training in Spielberg? You can find out in our video analysis of yesterday’s Friday, which you can watch again now in the replay.
There will of course be a livestream again this evening on the Formel1.de YouTube channel. Kevin Scheuren and Stefan Ehlen will report at 9:00 PM with the analysis of qualifying.
Temperatures in focus
Also today in qualifying and tomorrow in the race, the drivers in Spielberg face a heat battle again at over 30 degrees. Kimi Antonelli explains: “The hot conditions will continue to make the situation quite challenging, especially regarding tire management.”
“It is important to keep the tires in the right working window without overheating them,” explains the championship leader, who was the fastest man yesterday. But not only the tires suffer from the heat at the Red Bull Ring.
Andrew Shovlin from Mercedes emphasizes: “Apart from some tricky corners and the tendency to overheat the rear tires, the altitude and the associated temperatures posed an additional challenge for the power unit and the cooling system.”
Qualifying day
Hello and welcome to a new edition of our Formula 1 live ticker. It is Saturday and thus the qualification for the Grand Prix of Austria is on the agenda this afternoon.
Qualifying in Spielberg starts at 4:00 PM, and already at 12:30 PM we have the third and final practice. Here in the ticker, we provide you as usual with pictures, information, and voices directly from the paddock at the Red Bull Ring.
Ruben Zimmermann will accompany you through the day here, and if you have questions, suggestions, or complaints, you can use our contact form. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Here you can read our live ticker from yesterday again.
Read more Ocon: Rumors about my future at Haas are «I don’t give a damn»
