Styrian GP Race Report

My race predictions were: Verstappen for the win, Norris as the surprise contender, Russell not to score points (though I hoped he would prove me wrong) and Alonso to get a good points haul.

All predictions of rain seemed to have disappeared in a ray of hot sunshine, so with track conditions of 50 degrees, the drivers lined up for a 3 DRS zone race.

With a host of Sky personnel missing, Paul di Resta finally found his place in F1...holding a microphone on a long pole.

There were a lot of excellent starts off the grid.  With LeClerc and Gasly tangling, and Gasly subsequently out of the race, Ricciardo was up 4 places and Russell up 2.  Norris was able to hold Perez up for 10 laps then the Red Bull driver was able to take the final podium position.

Roughly a third of the way through the race, the pit stops started to happen.  Unfortunately Russell was served a 18.3 second pit stop and exited 17th (he should have been 13th), with Perez following him with a 4.8 second stop.  With Hamilton getting a 2.2 second stop, the pressure was back on for the Red Bull pit crew.  They delivered in 2.0 seconds and kept the lead.  How long could Norris keep going on his soft tires as everyone switched to the hardest option?  Not long and Sainz jumped him through strategy.

The race ploughed on without incident, with Russell quietly retiring his Williams on lap 39.  There was a great battle between former Ferrari driver Raikkonen and his replacement LeClerc, the latter taking a chunk off the Finn's wing.  For a while 9-12th places running had three world champions driving, with 7 championships between them.  They also battled with Raikkonen overtaking his buddy Vettel.

Ultimately the Red Bull had significantly better straight line speed.  Unless Mercedes think of something special quickly, next weekend is going to be a repeat of this.  Verstappen really must be thinking that this could be he era.  I'm getting deja vu with the young Vettel.

How did I do with my predictions?  Verstappen - yes.  Norris - finished 5th, best of the rest, Russell correct, Alonso - only 2 points.

The idea of going over those ridged curbs for 71 laps (and doing it all again next week) is not for me.