Formula 1, Round 11: The 2024 Austrian Grand Prix

This season has been wild, with yet another close race in Spain pointing to tight battles on every track. And we don’t have to wait long for the next round of excitement, as the Sprint format is back in Spielberg, adding even more racing to look forward to.

Picking a Favorite Is Getting Harder

Heading into the last race in Spain, all eyes were on Red Bull, expecting them to have the fastest car. But the question quickly shifted after the race. Max Verstappen took another victory, but Lando Norris was the real showstopper, looking fastest over the race distance. Norris couldn’t turn his pole position into a win after dropping to third at the start and struggling to pass George Russell early on, but his raw speed was undeniable. McLaren thinks it was just small details that kept them from the win.

McLaren has been on fire, either winning or coming second in the last six races, showing great consistency. Their car has arguably been quicker than the Red Bull in most of the past five rounds.

Red Bull’s strong execution might still make them the favorites heading into their home race, but it’s also where McLaren’s comeback started last year. Plus, Norris has always done well here, so it’s another tough race to predict.

Fluctuating Form

McLaren’s consistency is impressive, but Mercedes has also made significant gains recently, building momentum and confidence. They were in the hunt for the win in Canada but fell off the pace a bit in Spain. They’ll be looking to improve at the Red Bull Ring.

Ferrari has had a rollercoaster too, bouncing back after a tough time in Canada where they didn’t score any points. They were back in the fight near the front in Spain, but with fifth and sixth in both qualifying and the race, there’s still work to do to truly challenge for the top spots. Even with new upgrades, they couldn’t quite reach the podium. Instead, we saw some tense moments between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, including a heated discussion post-race and Sainz hitting back at Leclerc’s complaints.

That dynamic will be interesting to watch, much like what’s happening at Alpine. Their drivers raced cleanly and scored double points for the second race in a row in Spain. This could hint at a shift in the competitive order, especially as Aston Martin dropped out of the points. Are Alpine moving ahead, or was this just track-specific?

Then there’s the curious case of Red Bull. After a strong showing in Canada, they had an underwhelming Spanish Grand Prix despite bringing more upgrades. With all the teams so closely matched, there are no guarantees anymore.

Another Sprint Weekend

With four different drivers from four different teams taking pole in the last four races, a race weekend with more competitive sessions than usual is perfectly timed. Austria will host the third Sprint weekend of the year, after China and Miami. With just one practice session before Sprint Qualifying and the Sprint itself, there’s even more opportunity for surprises and epic battles for points.

With the field so close and the threat of rain throughout the weekend, this Grand Prix could throw plenty of challenges at the teams and drivers, adding to the unpredictability we’ve been seeing regularly.

Driver Market Movement

The tension between the Ferrari drivers has seen Leclerc accusing Sainz of trying to be too flashy at his home race, with Sainz’s future still undecided. Sainz wants to make a final decision soon, as the uncertainty is weighing on him. While Williams and Sauber/Audi are the main contenders, Alpine could also be an option.

Kevin Magnussen mentioned that a lot of movement in the driver market would happen once Sainz made his decision. Valtteri Bottas hinted that firm decisions and contracts could be made soon, possibly by the end of the Austria race weekend. Stay tuned for updates.

Track Limit Changes

The Red Bull Ring is fantastic for racing, but last year’s race saw a major issue with track limits penalties, with over 1,200 incidents for race control to review, delaying the final results.

To avoid a repeat, the FIA and the circuit have made changes. Gravel traps have been added to the outside of Turns 9 and 10, and moved closer to the exit of Turn 4, making it harder for drivers to exceed track limits without consequences. AI technology will also be used, with a blue line on the exit of certain corners to help flag potential incidents automatically, speeding up decision-making in real time.

These changes don’t alter the track layout, preserving its character while aiming to reduce the number of post-race penalties. But don’t be surprised if drivers still get caught out.