02:06 PM
Lap 3 of 71 – Top 10
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VER
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LEC
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SAI
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RUS
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OCO
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MAG
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HAM
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MSC
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RIC
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NOR
Hamilton under threat from Schumacher here…
02:06 PM
Lap 2 of 71 – Verstappen leads Leclerc by 1.0s
Perez stops from last. Ocon in fifth. Hamilton up into seventh after Perez drops back. Both McLarens in the points.
02:05 PM
THE 2022 AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX IS GO
It’s a good start from Verstappen who leads Leclerc away and retains his lead!
Russell gets a good start from fourth and takes Sainz for third at the first corner, but Sainz runs off the track into turn three… and then takes the spot again on the run to the braking zone with a decent exit. Wonder if they need to look at that.
Perez has had a coming together with Russell and Perez goes into the gravel at turn four! Russell stays fourth. Not sure whose fault that one was.
02:03 PM
Tons of orange smoke all about the place now
Some white ones as well. Visibility issues for the fans if not the drivers. Might smell a bit…
Verstappen backs the field up before finding his place at the very front. Fernando Alonso again very slow getting to his slot, as he was getting away from it.
02:01 PM
The formation lap is go
Everyone away cleanly. Alonso quite slow away again but he’s off the line now.
01:59 PM
Not long to go now…
Predictions? It is really hard to see beyond a Verstappen win… even if Ferrari launch it off the line.
Here are the predicted strategies.
01:52 PM
I have been very impressed with Albon at Williams this season
He’s ranking in the top 10 of our driver rankings, as he has been for most of the season. Excellent qualifying on Friday, though slipped back in the sprint yesterday. Still, 15th in that Williams is not too bad at all.
01:51 PM
Looks like they’ve got the brake covers back on Hamilton’s car
Not sure of the issue(s).
01:48 PM
Still some work on Hamilton’s car on the grid
Brake covers off on the front.
01:47 PM
Risk of rain for this race?
Just 10 per cent according to F1.
A little under 15 minutes until the formation lap.
01:41 PM
The Austrian Grand Prix starting grid
1. VER 2. LEC
3 SAI 4. RUS
5. PER 6. OCO
7. MAG 8. HAM
9. MSC 10. NOR
11. RIC 12. STR
13. ZHO 14. GAS
15. ALB 16. TSU
17. LAT 18. VET
19. ALO 20. BOT
01:37 PM
Well, well, well…
Ben with the pap and the scoop.
Looks like Colton Herta will get his first taste of F1 machinery at Portimao tomorrow. https://t.co/IFFs7b5480
— Will Buxton (@wbuxtonofficial) July 10, 2022
What does this mean? It’s anyone’s guess.
01:30 PM
Raw pace ranking after 12 rounds
30 minutes to go until the formation lap begins.
01:26 PM
Big lock up from Perez on his lap to the grid
Into turn three, quite a heavy lock up. Easily done there. Probably wasn’t on his starting tyres. Wonder if he even has the pace to finish ahead of the Ferraris today… he made good progress from 13th yesterday in the sprint.
01:25 PM
Bottas starting from the pit lane today
Alfa Romeo changed the rear wing spec and his rear suspension spec, which incurs a penalty. Has been a trying few races for him and, perhaps, the team after a promising start.
01:20 PM
The pit lane is open!
01:19 PM
Current qualifying head-to-heads between the drivers
01:12 PM
Well, this is nice
01:09 PM
What can McLaren do today?
It has been a frustrating and difficult weekend for them so far. A few points might not be a bad result…
01:03 PM
F1 investigating racist, sexist and homophobic abuse among Austria GP fans
Formula One is investigating alleged racist, sexist and homphobic abuse that has been reported at this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring.
The sport’s organisers released a statement in response to several allegations that some attendees of this weekend’s event in Spielberg have been targeted by fellow race-goers.
12:55 PM
Current constructor standings
12:50 PM
Current championship standings – Top 10
Sadly, I think it would be a surprise if Verstappen didn’t extend his championship lead today.
12:46 PM
Some classic F1 cars out on track here earlier today
Ralf Schumacher in the Williams was my favourite.
12:38 PM
News from Alpine on Alonso’s car
It doesn’t really make much difference as he was going to start from the back yesterday.
Fernando suffered an electrical issue on his A522 yesterday, the root cause of which is still being investigated. We suspect a possible failure of the standard electronic control unit, energy storage control unit or any of the electrical wiring on the chassis or power unit.
— BWT Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) July 10, 2022
12:34 PM
Classification from yesterday’s sprint race
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
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George Russell, Mercedes
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Sergio Perez, Red Bull
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Esteban Ocon, Alpine
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Kevin Magnussen, Haas
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Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
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Mick Schumacher, Haas
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Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren
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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
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Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo
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Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri
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Alexander Albon, Williams
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Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri
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Nicholas Latifi, Williams DNF: Fernando Alonso, Alpine; Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin
This is (roughly) how they will start today, though there are a few changes due to various bits and bobs being changed etc.
11:50 AM
Good afternoon F1 fans
Hello and welcome to our live coverage for the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix from the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. This is the fifth grand prix we have had at this track since the start of 2020 and the drivers know it pretty well because of that. It has been a happy hunting ground for Max Verstappen, who is aiming for his fifth grand prix win here this afternoon.
So far he has taken a clean sweep of the meaningful sessions, taking pole position in Friday’s qualifying session and winning yesterday’s sprint race with relative ease. There was a brief threat from Ferrari in the opening corners, but after Carlos Sainz overcooked it at turn three – letting Charles Leclerc back through to second, it was plain sailing.
The Dutchman and championship leader never extended his lead beyond three seconds but he appeared to be completely in control. Ferrari perhaps cost themselves a little time in fighting each other, but that has been the way of things for a few races now. With the eight points for the victory in yesterday’s sprint, Verstappen extended his title lead yet again. Ferrari were not a million miles away on race pace, but will need to not trip over themselves today.
There was a good comeback drive from Sergio Perez, who went from 13th to fifth in the sprint. Perhaps that shows the true pace of the Red Bull compared to their rivals. George Russell will start in fourth as the lead Mercedes . Lewis Hamilton’s comeback drive from ninth in the sprint did not materialise. He was caught up in an incident at turn one, losing places and then was stuck behind Mick Schumacher for a fair chunk of the race. In any case, the ultimate pace of the Mercedes might have struggled to trouble the podium given Russell finished 13 seconds off Verstappen after 23 laps.
It rained overnight and earlier this morning at the Red Bull Ring but the chances are looking likely for a dry race. Can anyone stop Verstappen? It might take another issue or mechanical fault (or a DNF) to stop him, given how imperious his form is.
We will find out a little after 2pm BST when the lights go out.