Austria: pre-qualifying 2018


A significant question about this race and the next (UK, just a week away) involves the Mercedes engine. The new spec looks very powerful (the margin isn’t enormous but the season’s so tight any advantage is significant), but Perez had a rare retirement last time, because of fears over his engine. Before introducing the new spec, which was delayed, there were concerns over its reliability.

In the first practice session, Hamilton was a tenth ahead of Bottas, with similar gaps back to Verstappen and Vettel. Ricciardo and Raikkonen came next, with Grosjean, Ocon, Leclerc and Gasly rounding out the top 10. It’s a sign of Leclerc’s strong performances that seeing him in the top 10 isn’t especially surprising (worth noting Ericsson was 11th).

The second session had the same top two, with Vettel very close behind. Ricciardo, Verstappen and Raikkonen were next, then came Grosjean and Magnussen, Gasly and Vandoorne.

Final practice Vettel was fastest, a very small margin ahead of Hamilton with Bottas not far behind. Raikkonen was a little further back and then there was quite a big gap to the Red Bulls (Verstappen ahead of Ricciardo). Grosjean and Magnussen were next, then Sainz and Leclerc, who split the Renaults.

Both Verstappen and Leclerc had to stop late on in third practice due to their power/engines cutting out (Renault and Ferrari, respectively).

Current forecast is that rain is improbable for qualifying and the race will be dry.

Because the lap is so short it’s likely to be very close in qualifying. And, alas, another one stop race seems probable, minimising strategic shenanigans. The kerbs are capable of damaging cars and ripping off front wing end plates, so scruffiness will not be rewarded either.

Qualifying is like to be very tight between the Mercedes and Vettel with the off-chance of Raikkonen getting in on the action. Red Bull should dominate the third row, leaving (probably) the Haas and Renaults teams, and Leclerc, to squabble over the rest in Q3.

The odds seemed too tight to tempt (Hamilton under evens, Vettel around 3, Bottas 5) so I have no tip to offer. Should be a good qualifying, though.

Morris Dancer

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