Presentation – Austrian GP: Taking the bull by the horns

The circuit doesn’t have a lot of corners, but it’s still very difficult to complete the perfect lap: particularly the last two corners, which are the most enjoyable on the track because they are a bit tricky, and the smallest mistake can ruin a good lap in the final meters. There’s no real trick to this circuit, you just have to put everything together and maintain it throughout the weekend.

If he hasn’t yet raced on it as part of the world championship, the Red Bull Ring is not at all unfamiliar to Esteban Ocon. Private testing, promotional formulas, the Frenchman has covered the 4.326 kilometers of this track numerous times and confides that all the difficulty of the circuit lies in its last two curves where one must be incisive and throw the car to the apex at the right moment to avoid going beyond the curb on exit. Careful not to be too greedy on the inside in the last turn, as the hollow where the curb is placed can be devastating for the entire underside of the car.

The wind that comes across the mountain

Located in the foothills of the Austrian Alps, the original Osterreichring is a very hilly circuit. Built in the late 1960s, the original track measured 5.911 kilometers. Inaugurated in 1969, Formula 1 first arrived there in 1970; Jacky Ickx won the inaugural Grand Prix at the wheel of his Ferrari 312B, marking the 3rd of his eight F1 victories.

The history of the circuit is somewhat chaotic, deemed too dangerous, Formula 1 abandoned it after the 1987 season. Redesigned by Hermann Tilke, the Austrian Grand Prix returned to the calendar from 1997 to 2003 before being abandoned again. In 2005, the circuit was bought by Red Bull, but it wasn’t until 2014 that the F1 circus returned to the Austrian paddocks.

Return a few years back to (re)discover the track through a battle that might remind of a more recent event

With a lot of elevation changes, the circuit offers both uphill sections – mainly in a straight line between turns 1 and 3 – and downhill sections – mainly in curves, including turn 6, the fastest turn. Another important factor is the altitude, as at 700 meters above sea level, the mechanics do not function the same as they do at 200 meters, as will be the case in Silverstone next weekend. The first element affected is the turbocharger, which will receive less air and therefore will need to work harder to produce the same power as at lower altitude.

One year later: Hamilton and another German competitor

Everyone remembers last year’s clash in the final lap between the two Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. The latter, attacked in turn number 3 by the Briton, had more than amply defended his position, causing a collision between the two men.

If Hamilton had come out of it without too much trouble and sped to victory, Rosberg had to settle for a fourth place and a 10-second penalty after being found guilty of the incident.

And as if by chance, this 2017 Austrian Grand Prix comes right after the near-diplomatic incident that occurred between this year’s two title contenders, Sebastian Vettel… and Hamilton! This time, the German has switched and is driving a Ferrari, but the animosity between the two men has taken on another dimension after the intentional wheel bump delivered by the four-time world champion to his rival.

If Vettel got away with no other penalty than a 10-second Stop & Go during the race, he has surely lost the respect of his opponent. The reaction of the Briton will therefore be something to watch at the Red Bull Ring where a Red Bull, that of Daniel Ricciardo, will present itself as the defending winner. An ideal scenario for a race that already promises to be spectacular.

For a long time, Fernando Alonso and McLaren have seemed quite optimistic for the upcoming race on a circuit that should suit the MCL32 well. Especially since the Spaniard and his Belgian teammate, Stoffel Vandoorne, will both be equipped with the latest specification of the Honda engine.

After scoring his team’s first points in Azerbaijan two weeks ago, Alonso wants to take advantage of this momentum to climb out of the black hole he’s been sinking into for over two years. A realistic challenge or another futile effort? A first answer will be provided this weekend in Austria.

To (really) know everything…

For the fifth time this season, the ultra-soft tire is brought by Pirelli, accompanied by the super-soft and soft compounds. Due to highly uncertain weather, the Italian manufacturer has taken care to bring the intermediates – green band – and the rain tires – blue band.

Find below each driver’s allocation choice

The #Fit4F1 shoes that make the driver. #AustrianGP https://t.co/5EIiJtUBK9

— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) 27 juin 2017

Regarding the DRS, the system will be usable on the start-finish line with a detection point at the pit entry exit of turn 9; as well as on the back straight with a detection point before the new turn 2 – note, the FIA has defined as a turn the slight left curve that leads to the braking of turn 3 and where the first sector ends.

The sun will not be omnipresent this weekend in the Spielberg sky. The Free Practice and Qualifying sessions are expected to take place on a dry track with temperatures around 20°C in the morning and 30°C in the afternoon, according to current forecasts. Meanwhile, Sunday’s race will be threatened by showers, so it’s still impossible to predict if it will be declared dry « or wet » by the race management.

Don’t forget the TV schedule.