The elevation change, the main challenge of the Red Bull Ring?

On the control screens, the same phrase keeps repeating: « … went off the track then returned normally at turn no. 8. » The blank space can be filled with any driver’s name. All have gone off at least once in the sequence of turns that could be nicknamed « of death »!

« It’s difficult to navigate turn 8 well. You have to go in strong. It’s really fast and you can quickly find yourself going wide on the exit, says Jules Bianchi. But going off the track is not an advantage, you don’t gain time, quite the opposite. You end up in a bad position for the next corner. »

So how do we explain this off-track ballet by all these drivers experienced in many other difficulties? This turn is downhill. At the entry, it’s fine, but you lose grip in the middle, explains Romain Grosjean. He points to three turns with significant gradient changes: 3, 5, and 8. When you enter these turns, you go up, then down on exit, or vice versa. With these elevation changes, the floor, designed to work on a flat surface, is no longer in an optimal condition to fulfill its role. He has indeed suffered many detachments of his floor, which could explain the bad day he experienced today.

The exits were so numerous in turn 8 that at the end of the session, the FIA warned that it would legislate on the issue for the rest of the weekend. « The rule is not to go over the white line with all four wheels, otherwise you’re off track. It should be the same tomorrow », indicates Jean-Eric Vergne, following the drivers’ briefing. The Toro Rosso driver also points out turn 9, which is very bumpy and has a wall very close. Sebastian Vettel had a minor incident there during the first free practice session.

During free practice 3, the goal will undoubtedly be to get through this deadly sequence correctly.

From our special correspondent in Austria