Austrian Grand Prix – Back in the border area – Sport

No spectators – but the same games as always: When you return after a 215-day break, Formula 1 should note that it has to find its way around in the new normal.

The fear of the new normal had finally disappeared on Saturday morning, 0.30 a.m. local time in Styria. After almost six hours of consultation, the first protest was decided before the restart of the Formula 1 season, which started with a long delay (Sunday, October 15th / RTL and Sky). Red Bull Racing had doubted the automatic control system (DAS) of the recently black silver arrows from Mercedes, the protest was put off. The steering device allows the drivers to pull the steering wheel backwards in a straight line, similar to jet pilots, so that they can adjust the lane to the next curve. This gives the car additional stability. The industry leaders’ idea is revolutionary. No wonder envy breaks out there.

By then, the regular viewers of the motorsport scene had been worried whether the forced break due to Covid-19 would not have suddenly brought excessive sense and serenity to the premier class. Budget cap, early race cancellations in countries considered to be of health concern, a clear collective position against racism (“We race as one”), a cautious opening concept for the Austrian Grand Prix. But after eight months without a race, they quickly picked up the familiar mechanisms. Red Bull Racing, which sees its chances for challengers diminished by the ease of driving for the Mercedes drivers, washes away any malice after the clear decision of the race stewards: they only wanted to clarify as early as possible what is allowed and what is not – and not only in the first place to postpone the official result for a long time with an appeal after the race. Yes, the question of honor. For now, it’s answered. But there would also be a deal to be worked out between Ferrari and the FIA, which is supposed to keep an apparently unfair increase in engines for red racing cars under the table last autumn.

At the start in Spielberg, did Sebastian Vettel also make an exemplary announcement that the longest drive is honest and clarify how he was chilled in Maranello? Who knows what else there is to work up: the Racing Point racing car, which is supposed to be a copy of the previous Mercedes. Or the striking parallels between the Haas racing cars and the Ferrari? Oh, how good that a pandemic can’t seem to do anything to this sport. In the last year of its Formula 1 broadcasting sovereignty, RTL once again exulted with an accompanying vocabulary that “betrayed, sold, betrayed, hypocritical, misleading”. All knowing that the old conflicts will create new ones. Red Bull boss Christian Horner nods after his nightly decision against his point of view: “This case is done. But it is also a stab in the wasp nest …” Allegedly, his engineers are already busy replicating the system. Business as usual.

Formula 1 is back at the limit – in every respect

A 215-day break inspired the frenzied vanity fair, although that’s only the third longest distance between two races. “All of a sudden”, it says in a first inventory of the emotional world at Alfa Romeo, “it feels as if we had never been away. The muscles know what they have to do again, the voices on the box radio seem familiar, we are back.” Back to the limit, in every way. Formula 1 is the first championship to resume international sport and to fill the summer slump left by the European Football Championship and the Olympics. Jean Todt, the president of the FIA, the German automobile association, regularly sends his seemingly frenetic encouragement via Twitter to the tranquil Mur Valley: “Motorsport is back!” or “We feel pride and responsibility and will do everything we can to make it a success.”

This includes enormous blistering, which was previously only known for tires in motorsport. There are 57 large groups that have to stay alone, plus 100 subgroups on the hermetically sealed route area. 4032 people were tested in the week before the Grand Prix, all so far negative. In the coming week, when the Grand Prix of Styria will be held at the same location, there will be 7,000 more tests.

Everybody knows the constraint of mask from everyday life, now even the Texans. In the paddock, the talk rounds and the pit garages, however, it seems a bit strange. But the strict restrictions, including the Formula 1 accompanying horse, are said to persist in the first eight races, although optimists in Spa-Francorchamps expect a certain number of spectators to be allowed in late August. It is not even certain when and where the second half of the season will continue – perhaps in Mugello, Portimao or even Hockenheim. Toto Wolff is annoyed that there are no particularly large protective measures in his home country, only the Red Bull Ring is hermetically shielded. “But if it’s the only chance we can do sports again, it’s okay.” For some it may also be very practical, because with a mask the loss of face is not so obvious.

In itself, racing drivers shouldn’t really miss taking sides in the stands in view of the engine noise. Nevertheless, champion Lewis Hamilton, who likes to soak up the energy from the environment, sees his original fears (“I feel empty, but it’s better than nothing”) confirmed despite the pretty green alpine panorama of Spielberg. He wrote to his fans on social media: “I can’t describe how much I miss you all. It makes a big difference not to have you here.” So he has to have fun alone for the time being, in the front row with his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas, to whom he was just inferior in qualifying. For the race, however, the general distance requirement has been abolished.