Austria: Lessons from Free Practice 1 and 2

Well and truly underway, the 2020 Formula 1 season experienced a unique takeoff. As the first global championship to resume after the coronavirus epidemic, there were changes for everyone. No public in the stands, fewer media constraints, the drivers actually had more peace, moving more easily in a paddock reduced to the essentials.

On a fresher track than last year, the first laps already allow several categories to emerge:

Mercedes above everyone – the unknown Red Bull – a first group Racing Point / Ferrari / Renault / McLaren – a second group AlphaTauri – Alfa Romeo – Haas.

Mercedes already above the fray

Mercedes continues its momentum from the 2019 season: the German team dominated the free practice sessions on the first Friday of 2020. And in what manner, a double in FP1 as in FP2, and more than half a second each time on the first opponent, Max Verstappen on Friday morning (+0.602”), Sergio Pérez on Friday afternoon (+0.641”).

Inside the double, Lewis Hamilton beat Valtteri Bottas each time. Fast during qualifying pace, the W11 was also the quickest in race pace. Also helped by favorable temperature (remember the effects of the heatwave on the W10 in 2019!), Mercedes approaches the first qualifying session of the season with confidence, aided by its DAS system on the steering wheel, considered legal in 2020 by the FIA, but officially contested by Red Bull, which filed a protest after FP2.

The Unknown Red Bull

At first glance, Red Bull Racing’s Friday seems disappointing. Third in the morning, six-tenths behind Hamilton, Max Verstappen finished further back in FP2, eighth and nine-tenths off the pace still set by the Mercedes driver.

Add to that several errors: a spin by Verstappen in the first corner in FP1 and a straight-off into the gravel of turn 6 in FP2, without damage. A spin was also a negative point for Alexander Albon in FP2.

So, is the RB16 more unstable than its predecessor? Not so fast! Max Verstappen hasn’t lost confidence: according to him, Friday was “a good day.” And the Dutchman broke his front wing during his fast lap! There’s still optimism with Christian Horner this afternoon and this statement to Sky Sports F1: “Our lap times don’t show where we really are.” As a reminder, the Austrian team won the last two races held at the Red Bull Ring, in 2018 and 2019.

Christian Horner, on Red Bull Racing’s form: « our lap times don’t truly reflect where we actually are! »

Ferrari (too?) set back

Mattia Binotto had warned: barring a huge surprise, Scuderia Ferrari will not be at the top of the timing sheets after the qualifying tomorrow night. The first indication came this Friday, with a modest 4th place as the best result achieved by Vettel in FP2.

On soft tires, the four-time world champion lost six-tenths of a second on a flying lap compared to Hamilton. The Scuderia’s team principal confirmed it: plagued with aerodynamic issues, the Italian car is not as fast as expected, with poor correlation between the factory and the track.

A little slower in qualifying pace than his teammate, Charles Leclerc finished in a modest 9th place, after a 10th place on Friday morning, achieved with medium tires. The first session was also used to do a series of flying laps in race pace. But this excuse doesn’t hide the shortcomings of the SF1000.

Securing the second row this Saturday is already an achievement for Vettel and Leclerc, especially against the pack of outsiders. Be cautious about the fuel loads: Scuderia Ferrari might have been hiding their game, and could therefore be in a better position than expected.

Racing Point leads the outsiders, ahead of McLaren and Renault

Confirmation of the February winter tests: Racing Point was formidable this Friday, both in qualifying and in race pace. On the stopwatch, Sergio Pérez finished FP2 ahead of Max Verstappen. The Mexican was also faster than the Dutchman in a race simulation, on the medium tire.

Slightly further back, Lance Stroll was on the brink of the top 10 in FP1 (11th), and more competitive in FP2, with a 7th place.

Noticed several times for a suspicious smoke discharge from the rear of the car (an oil leak cost Pérez a few minutes in FP1), the RP20 also continues to make headlines with a design very similar to the 2019 Mercedes. Let’s recall that Racing Point has an engine and gearbox partnership with the German manufacturer.

Not yet powered by Mercedes (which will be done at the beginning of 2021), McLaren is also one of the reliable contenders in the early laps on the track. Both Sainz and Norris finished both sessions in the top 10: the Spaniard was even in the top 5 in the morning. In the afternoon, it was the Englishman’s turn to outperform his teammate, with Norris securing 6th place, two-tenths behind Pérez. But for Sainz, the Racing Point drivers are already “too far away to try to fight with them!”

Last in this hunting pack, the Renault F1 Team also reassured itself, with Daniel Ricciardo’s performances, 8th in FP1 and especially 5th in FP2. More difficult for Ocon, who was returning to an official Formula 1 session this Friday after a year and a half absence. But the Frenchman is on track for his goal: to finish in the points!

For Carlos Sainz, the Racing Point drivers are already too far ahead to try to fight with them!

A second pack with an AlphaTauri-Alfa Romeo-Haas-Williams quartet

Even though the gaps were tight between 3rd place and the end of the ranking (only one second between Pérez and Grosjean’s 16th place in FP2), we still notice that 4 other teams are slightly more behind at the end of the first free practice sessions.

Spun off in the 1st but also in the 2nd turn, Daniil Kvyat (12th) lapped six-tenths faster this Friday afternoon than his teammate, the Frenchman Pierre Gasly (17th), who complained about traffic preventing him from completing a clean lap. Both AlphaTauri drivers still mentioned grip issues with their new car.

Just ahead of AlphaTauri in FP1 but a bit behind in FP2, the Alfa Romeo team moderately starts its weekend, with Antonio Giovinazzi consistently ahead of Kimi Räikkönen. Only 15th and 19th, “Iceman” went on a little rallycross sequence in FP2, going straight into the gravel, without dramatic consequences.

Arriving without upgrades, Haas blew hot with Magnussen’s 11th place in FP2, but also cold, with Grosjean’s brake issues in FP1, as the Frenchman couldn’t even complete a timed lap in the first session of the season!

Still at the bottom but not out, Williams hung on to the last wagons, with George Russell in 18th place in FP2, between Pierre Gasly and Kimi Räikkönen. Last this Friday afternoon, more than nine-tenths (!) behind “Iceman,” rookie Nicholas Latifi mainly accumulated laps (86) and had a small harmless spin in FP2. Enough to move up from last place this Saturday at the end of Q1? As for all drivers, everything will also depend on the track evolution and the weather, warmer for this day of qualifications. A rise in temperatures could very well shuffle a few cards…