The outlook for the Styrian Grand Prix

Are pneumatic strategies once again prevailing?

During Q2, the different teams started with different tyre options. Only Max Verstappen and the two Mercedes drivers chose to use the yellow tyres (mediums) while all the others were forced to use the red-banded tyres (softs).

This could make for a very eventful first sector as the two men on the front row, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, will be on supposedly slower tires, which could give ideas to Lando Norris and especially Sergio Perez, a master at managing his black tires on Sunday afternoons.

But the rain, always a possibility in the middle of the Austrian Alps, could come and change everything by then.

George Russell’s first points at Williams?

Since the start of the season, Williams has made it known that its car is intentionally very precise in terms of setup. The idea is to maximize the chances of scoring points on certain tracks, rather than being at the back of the pack all season.

The Red Bull Ring has been identified as an ideal circuit. Competing in two races there was therefore good news for the men and women of Grove. They can smile this Saturday evening as George Russell will simply start in the top 10! Although he had to stay just eight thousandths away from making it into Q3, the British driver gained a place thanks to Yuki Tsunoda’s penalty.

After his very good performance at the French Grand Prix, the young driver can finally hope to score his first points for Williams, after almost two and a half seasons. Is this enough to definitely convince Mercedes to promote him next season?

Can Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon make a comeback?

These are clearly the big losers of the day. While we thought there was a glimmer of hope at Paul Ricard, Daniel Ricciardo once again faltered against his younger teammate. The five tenths between the two men during Q2 made the difference between qualification and elimination. In the end, the Briton will start third and can aim for another podium while the Australian is relegated to thirteenth position and knows he will have to fight in the middle of the pack, with all the risks it involves, to try to score some points, crucial in the fight for the Constructors’ championship.

At Alpine, the contrast is just as striking as Esteban Ocon failed to get out of Q1 for the second time this season while Fernando Alonso made it to Q3. Even though he has resigned for an additional three years, the Frenchman must react as he was quite clearly dominating his illustrious teammate at the beginning of the season.