It's the Sprint Weekend
This weekend marks another exciting round of Sprints as part of Formula 1's new format introduced this season. On Friday, teams will battle it out in a normal qualifying format to determine the grid positions for Sunday's race at the Red Bull Ring. Then on Saturday, there will be a standalone Sprint day with shorter qualifying sessions (Sprint Shootout) split into three parts that set the grid for an intense Sprint race itself.
With an inviting track known for great racing and unpredictable weather conditions often playing a role at this venue, fans can expect a thrilling weekend filled with action-packed moments.
The trio trying to close in on Red Bull
In recent races, Ferrari has displayed impressive performance by challenging Red Bull's dominance. Charles Leclerc secured pole position in Baku, ending Red Bull's streak. In Canada, Aston Martin and Mercedes emerged as strong contenders alongside Ferrari.
Notably in Montreal, Leclerc and Carlos Sainz showcased their competitive level by losing only around a second per lap compared to Fernando Alonso after making pit stops – indicating their ability to keep up with their main rivals. Although Max Verstappen downplayed these results by attributing them partially due to specific track layouts or weather conditions favoring other teams during individual races, it still raises excitement about potentially tighter competition moving forward.
Can Williams remain competitive?
Williams had an encouraging performance last time out in Canada when Alex Albon secured a stunning seventh-place finish. The team's major upgrade showcased the car's true potential as Albon successfully executed a one-stop strategy, defending his position against rivals.
Williams aims to bring the same new parts for Logan Sargeant in Austria, hoping for continued competitiveness. Even a slight improvement will keep Williams in contention for points as they trail Alfa Romeo by only two points in the constructors' championship. Fans eagerly await to see if Williams can sustain their strong performance at the Red Bull Ring.
An upgrade for McLaren
McLaren is another team ready to heavily update their car during the upcoming races. Team Principal Andrea Stella expressed dissatisfaction with their launch-specification car earlier this season and planned significant upgrades throughout subsequent events.
The MCL60 will undergo substantial modifications spread across multiple races, with Austria being targeted for the first major step forward. Despite not scoring any points in the past two races after consecutive double-points finishes in Monaco, McLaren remains optimistic about moving ahead of midfield competitors through these developments.
Additionally, Lando Norris has previously achieved podium finishes at the Red Bull Ring twice – setting high expectations for McLaren's performance this weekend.
Celebrating Dietrich Mateschitz's influence
This race holds special significance as it marks Formula 1's return to Austria since Dietrich Mateschitz passed away last October at age 78. As co-founder of Red Bull and instrumental figure behind upgrading and reintroducing top-level motorsport events at his home circuit, Mateschitz left an indelible impact on motorsports globally through his teams on F1 grid and support provided to aspiring young drivers across various racing categories.
The Austrian Grand Prix presents an opportunity to pay tribute and celebrate everything Mateschitz contributed locally and internationally within motorsports – making it an emotional weekend filled with commemorative moments.
