Austria: pre-qualifying 2019

Paddy Lowe has officially left Williams after a period of leave. Given how dreadful the car is, and his job was improving performance (which went backwards), this is not hugely surprising.

Last year was interesting because both Mercedes suffered DNFs having qualified 1-2 (Bottas ahead). I think it was a rare double reliability failure. Verstappen went on to win with both Haas in the top 6.

In first practice, Hamilton was quickest, a tenth and a half ahead of Vettel. The German was a tiny margin ahead of Bottas, with Leclerc a tenth and a half off the Finn. Verstappen and Gasly were a short distance down the road, with Sainz within a tenth of the Frenchman. Ricciardo was four-tenths further back, narrowly ahead of Magnussen, with Norris next up.

However, it was odd to note that every Ferrari time was on the medium tyre and every Mercedes time on the soft.

Unusually, I caught some of second practice, and the wind was causing significant problems for many drivers. Verstappen introduced his car’s rear end to the barriers, and Bottas ploughed nose-first into a wall. Vettel also had an off-track excursion but was able to stop his car smashing into anything, and Sainz went rallying too.

Leclerc ended up top by three-tenths, Bottas following. Gasly and Hamilton were close behind, followed by Sainz, Grosjean, and Raikkonen, with Vettel, Verstappen, and Norris rounding out the top 10.

Leaving aside the wind, which could make qualifying a lottery and the race unpredictable if it keeps blowing so strongly, McLaren are looking in good shape once again, and Haas perhaps also seeming rather happier than last weekend.

In final practice, Leclerc was fastest, a tenth and a half ahead of Hamilton. Bottas was a tenth further back, with Vettel half a tenth off the Finn. Verstappen was two-tenths further back, and then there was half a second to Norris. Gasly, Sainz, Giovinazzi, and Kvyat rounded out the top 10.

Looks a bit tighter than I expected amongst the top four, though we’ll have to see how qualifying unfolds. Leclerc’s worth considering, I think, and perhaps Vettel too.

Checking the odds, which took a little while to appear, once again, Leclerc was just 2.75 for fastest qualifier, (a third the odds each way, so only really worth backing as a straight up winner). Bottas was 4, Hamilton 1.9, and Vettel 7.5. The Vettel odds might be the most wrong. He was three-hundredths behind Bottas and a tenth off Hamilton. Hmm.

Decided to back Vettel at 7.5 (8 with boost) each way for fastest qualifier. Whilst likelier to fail than win, the odds are too long.

Sainz is getting a grid penalty due to an engine change, so he’ll start at or near the back. Shame, as the McLaren has been looking good, and Sainz in particular. Hulkenberg has mixed fortunes, getting a change to an upgraded engine and a five place grid penalty.

The windy weather could make both qualifying and the race a little unpredictable.

Qualifying is at 2pm, UK time, the race tomorrow is at 2.10pm.

In line with recent habits, the pre-race ramble will be up tomorrow morning (allows the markets to wake up without faffing about waiting).

Morris Dancer