(Spielberg) Who can prevent a Red Bull home triumph? The Austrian team, which has been crushing the competition since the start of the F1 season, will be difficult to disrupt this weekend at the Austrian Grand Prix, the ninth round of the season which will mark the return of sprint racing.
Eight races, eight victories: the record of the team led by Christian Horner speaks for itself and nothing seems to be able to prevent them from achieving another success on the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg.
Max Verstappen, double reigning world champion, has won the last four races and will aim for the pass of five on a track where he has already won four times in F1 (three Austrian GPs and a Styrian GP).
“Hopefully we can put on a great show for the fans out there to support us. We are always happy to come back here, where I have already achieved very good results, and I will try to add a new trophy to the team’s collection,” said the Dutchman.
The main question will be whether his team-mate Sergio Pérez can turn the tide after three disappointing events to deliver another double for Red Bull, following the three achieved in the first four Grands Prix of the year.
“I’m always impressed with the amount of Mexican fans that make the trip. But I will have to focus on the track, because I know how important it is for me to be consistent this weekend and to get a good result, which I am capable of”, underlined the Mexican.
The second sprint of the season after Azerbaijan at the end of April will change the course of the weekend and could bring a little more spice to a season that has been rather lackluster so far.
“It will be the second sprint of the season, they are always more hectic than the normal races. The weather seems quite unpredictable which could also be a game changer,” predicted the Dutchman.
Although Mercedes and Aston Martin have narrowed the gap slightly on the untouchables RB19 thanks to new additions to their single-seaters in recent weeks, the dominance of Red Bull, which scored its 100th F1 victory in the last Grand Prix in Canada, should continue in Styria. However, the two teams remain on the lookout for the slightest failure of the reigning world champions.
“It was great to get back on the podium in Canada. The improvements to the car seemed to work well and we will continue to optimize the set-up in Austria, where we will try to score as many points as possible to regain second place in the constructors’ championship,” explained veteran Spanish Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin).
Mercedes, on the upward slope for three races, intends to defend its place of dolphin in the Alps thanks in particular to its seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who won twice at Spielberg in ten participations.
“Even though both of our cars didn’t finish the race, the podium in Canada was a good result and we saw some encouraging signs for our updates to the car. We will try to build on the momentum of the last two races to continue our positive trajectory,” said Austrian Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who will also be at home.
The Ferraris, who made a good comeback in Montreal, finishing in 4th and 5th place after starting in 10th and 11th position, will also try to continue their recovery on a circuit where Monegasque Charles Leclerc had won the last year.
Alpine, which announced Monday the arrival of new American shareholders who paid 200 million euros to afford 24% of the team’s capital, will want to bounce back after a frustrating Canadian weekend.
“We will have opportunities this weekend with the sprint format. These are two qualifying sessions and two races where we will have to be present from the first lap. We feel unfinished after our disappointment in Baku, the first sprint of the season, and I’m ready to fix it in Austria,” announced Pierre Gasly, only 12th in Montreal.
