Vettel like a “young driver”: Once upon a time there was a top Formula 1 team that won 16 world titles. We’re talking about Ferrari. At the start of the 2020 season, the Scuderia is only a midfield team – even if Charles Leclerc came in second with a lot of racing luck. And there was once a four-time world champion who made too many individual mistakes. We’re talking about Sebastian Vettel. The German braked too late in the 31st round of the Austrian Grand Prix, avoided the collision with Carlos Sainz, but fell back at the end of the field due to a spin. “Bitter is the understatement of the year,” said sky expert Ralf Schumacher about the campaign. “That can happen to a young driver, but not Sebastian.” Vettel was tenth in a world championship point.
The race result: Valtteri Bottas won the race in Austria. It was a start-finish win for the Finn. Teammate Lewis Hamilton finished second, but dropped to fourth due to a five-second penalty. Leclerc and Lando Norris (McLaren) completed the podium. In total, only eleven cars crossed the finish line.
Red-Bull-Protest: In the 2020 season, which has been shortened due to the corona pandemic, every victory, every podium, but also every failure can have a double impact. Red Bull is therefore fighting with all means – even off the track. The protest against the DAS steering system was rejected on Friday. When Hamilton was not punished after qualifying despite an ignored yellow flag, the Verstappen team protested again. Successful this time, video material provided by Red Bull showed Hamilton’s violation. Therefore, the Briton was downgraded three places – and Max Verstappen started from second place.
Kneeling is not common: World champion Hamilton (read more about his involvement against racism here) had suggested kneeling together for the minute’s silence before the start. The drivers had discussed the proposal in their joint meeting – and decided against a uniform knee. Six pilots stopped: Charles Leclerc, Verstappen, Kimi Raikkonen, Daniil Kvyat, Carlos Sainz, Antonio Giovinazzi. Leclerc explained his motivation on Twitter. Verstappen said that “everyone has the right to express themselves in a way that they like best.” I will not kneel down, but I respect and support the personal decision of each driver. “
Start phase: The first race of the season started unspectacularly. The drivers at the top started similarly, when it got tight in the first corner, everyone left enough space. So Bottas stayed at the top and was able to break away a bit. As in previous years, the Mercedes was built to drive without traffic at the top.
Eleven rounds of hope: Verstappen started second after the protest of his team and kept this place with little effort. “A podium finish would have been possible today without any problems,” said the Dutchman after the race. He spoke in the subjunctive because he had to park his car in the eleventh round with electronics problems.
Safety Car, die erste: In lap 26 the time for the first tire change came closer. Haas driver Kevin Magnussen thought so too, who slowed down and triggered a safety car phase with an unfavorable parking space. Almost all drivers immediately went to the pits and had new tires fitted. The field moved closer, Bottas was able to maintain its leadership over Hamilton on the flying restart.
Safety Car, the second: When Williams driver George Russell had to park his car on lap 51, Bernd Mayländer came onto the track again in the safety car. Bottas and Hamilton fell by the wayside, everyone else changed tires again. Mercedes had to be vigilant because of the lurking competition, also because the racing engineers urged both drivers to drive carefully due to gearbox problems.
Safety Car, die dritte: It was only a few seconds before Kimi Raikkonen lost a tire and Mayländer had to get out. When resuming, the top riders were close to each other. Alex Albon, second Red Bull pilot, attacked Hamilton. The gap left by the world champion was a little too short, Albon turned after the following collision and was eliminated in the end. For the race stewards, the fault was with the Mercedes driver, the five-second penalty will put Hamilton under pressure in the upcoming races.
When the boss speaks: Would that be a bang for Formula 1? Imagine Sebastian Vettel joining the world champion racing team after his Ferrari out. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has been trying in recent weeks not to let the rumor die completely. The story would just be too good. However, Daimler boss Ola Källenius was present in Spielberg and gave an interview before the race: “We’ll stay with our two boys,” said the Swede before the race at Sky. Another door closes for Vettel.
Green light for Silverstone: Formula 1 requires 15 seasonal races to be able to book all TV money. So far there are eight European races on the calendar, but behind the double appointment in Silverstone (August 2nd and 9th) there were still question marks. They have now dissolved, the British government exempted the Formula 1 team from the otherwise valid 14-day quarantine obligation when entering Britain. Now teams and pilots remain in Spielberg, next Sunday (July 12th) the second race of the season is coming up: The Grand Prix of Styria.
