It might have been 7 months since we last had an F1 race, however the wait was definitely worth it as the Austrian Grand Prix ensured the 2020 F1 season started with a bang. However while there were some explosive highs for some, others were left to rue missed out on opportunities. We select the winners and losers from the Red Bull Ring …
READ MORE: How Hamiltons Austrian GP strategy backfired on him and played into Bottas hands
Winner: Lando Norris
” Cant believe I went from a full-time @Twitch streamer to third youngest ever F1 podium finisher in a matter of days,” Tweeted Lando Norris the morning after the sensational day in the past.
Amazing times ahead of Norris, McLaren– and indeed Formula 1.
That he clocked his very first Fastest Lap– on his last lap– to snatch a podium, having currently barged previous Sergio Perez when he realised time was pressing, revealed the Briton has the cutting edge all excellent motorists require.
For much of in 2015, he was in Carlos Sainzs shadow, but he break out of that in Austria on Sunday, proving to McLaren that while Sainz might be leaving for Ferrari, in him they have a star of the future who will press the inbound Daniel Ricciardo hard.
The Briton was among the stars of lockdown, opening the door to inside his life for fans via social networks throughout and improving his already growing legion of support.
SEE: Norriss emotional radio message after his first podium– and McLarens jubilant response
DHL Fastest Lap Award: Austria
Loser: Max Verstappen
In the accumulation to the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, Max Verstappen would have done extremely well if he had a Euro for every time he was inquired about the capacity of protecting a hat-trick of wins in Austria or his possibilities of taking the title this year.
Unfortunately for him, this weekend didnt turn out the way numerous anticipated it would. His qualifying performance was strong, and he was well-placed to challenge for the win having actually been promoted to 2nd on the grid, after Lewis Hamiltons penalty for failing to slow under yellow flags in qualifying, and kept pace with race leader Valtteri Bottas.
FOUND OUT MORE: Verstappen rues loss of easy podium in Austria season opener
An electrical issue robbed him and the fans of a potential battle for the win, with Honda now working with the group to investigate what went wrong. The only saving grace, perhaps, is that defending champion Hamilton was only classified fourth, lessening the points damage– however Verstappen will see this as a substantial opportunity missed.
Verstappen began on the front-row after opposing Hamiltons certifying infringement
Winner: Charles Leclerc
The Monegasque must have been crestfallen when the team told him they needed to modify the instructions of the vehicles advancement so dramatically, a brand-new car would be introduced from Hungary onwards. He didnt let his head drop.
Fortunate. Thats how Charles Leclerc explained this weekend– and while thats certainly real offered Ferrari got here with an automobile that was near similar to the one they ran at pre-season testing, you have to make your own luck– and Leclerc certainly did that.
FOUND OUT MORE: P2 feels like success– Leclerc hails Austria healing as one of his best races
And regardless of a hard series of session and a tough certifying, he got the most out of the vehicle and kept his nose tidy in the race– unlike team mate Vettel. A perfectly performed technique and great usage of fresh tyres in the last stint enabled him to eliminate for 2nd. An impressive feat provided he was almost a second off pole in qualifying.
Brakes– and a lack of them. That was the story of Haas Austrian Grand Prix weekend. Typically the Red Bull Ring is a track where they have actually enjoyed good outcomes, and preliminary feedback was the automobile is better this year, and crucially, they appear to comprehend it.
From P7 on the grid, Leclerc took an unlikely podium. Will he duplicate it next week?
Losers: Haas
But race day brought little delight, with overheating on both cars and trucks leading to brake problems for Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen, which ultimately forced their retirements.
ENJOY: Austrian Grand Prix 2020: Magnussen spins out of the race
This was a miserable start to 2020 for the American group on paper, and their 6th double non-points complete in succession drifting back into in 2015, however there were twinkles of hope that they have a much better structure with which to work from this year.
A double-retirement for Haas due to brake failures topped off an unpleasant weekend
Winner: Valtteri Bottas
Sure, Bottas typically runs well at Austria, however he still needed to provide when it counted– and the Finn didnt put a foot incorrect, “dodging bullets” as he put it to protect triumph in the season-opener for the second succeeding season to open a 13-point lead on Hamilton.
Porridge and oat-based pancakes have actually been Valtteri Bottas fuel of choice over the winter, as he seemed fitter, quicker and better than ever for his newest chance at the title– and the early indications are his brand-new regime is working.
LEARNT MORE: Bottas states he evaded numerous bullets to win season-opening Austrian Grand Prix
There is a long method to go, naturally, and Hamilton will likely return– but Bottas understands if hes to have any possibility of winning a maiden world championship, he needs to stack the pressure on early doors– and then keep his foot on the gas. This dominant win offers him an opportunity to do that.
Bottas starts 2020 with a win. Is this the start of Bottas 3.0s reign?
Loser: Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamiltons remarkable maturity has actually implied he can take the rough with the smooth therefore he was accepting of the reality Austria “was just among those weekends”.
The Briton was punished twice, as soon as in receiving stopping working to slow for yellow flags, and then once again in the race for contact with Alex Albon for the second time in three races.
CHECKED OUT MORE: Hamilton accepts charge for Albon clash as he admits he cant believe it took place once again
4th isnt terrific, but his confidence and ability is such hell know he can make those up– and this defeat (which incidentally was the 4th time in a row hes failed to make the podium in Austria) will likely just serve to encourage him to come back more powerful.
VIEW: Albon and Hamilton crash contrast
Winner: Sergio Perez
The Mexican described his Racing Point RP20 as the finest vehicle hes ever driven, and he put it to excellent use around the Red Bull Ring, at one point searching course to take a podium only to lose out to chauffeurs on fresher tires after a third Safety Car.
The weekend began with a rather undesirable nasal violation for Sergio Perez (take a look at his social channels to see the video of his Covid-19 test) however it just got better from there.
VIEW: PADDOCK PASS: Get all the reaction after a wild race day in Austria
But sixth still equals his finest finish in the Austrian Grand Prix, and hell be buoyed by the reality his car appears like a midfield beater, with a potential hazard to attack the leading 3.
A 5-second penalty for speeding in the pitlane dampened Perezs day, but a best-ever surface at Austria was his outcome
Loser: Sebastian Vettel
This was not Sebastian Vettels finest race. The German had a hard time all weekend with the car and in the race just didnt have self-confidence on the brakes.
That perhaps explains why he got it all incorrect when he was combating Carlos Sainz into Turn 3. There appeared to be slight contact, with Vettel the loser as he spun around and dropped to the back of the field.
CHECKED OUT MORE: Im happy I spun only as soon as, states Vettel after explaining Ferrari as undriveable in Austria
After months of work and unmatched cooperation in between Formula 1, governing body the FIA and all 10 teams, a modified opening calendar was produced and a stringent set of safety procedures were put in place to allow F1 to go racing one once again.
Winner: Formula 1
Vettel wasnt happy after spinning in Austria. He called his cars and truck “undriveable” over the radio.
Now, its only the very first race– and nobody in F1 is taking anything for granted– but to survive the first weekend with no significant issues and no positive Covid-19 results from more than 4,000 tests as off Saturday, all while staging a cracking race, is a good start.
He recovered to 10th– the very first time hes finished in that position in 241 starts– but that is barely something to compose house about and he will anticipate far better, specifically as his team mate was way up in second.
CHECKED OUT MORE: The Ross Brawn column: Great to see Norris come of age as F1 returns with a thriller in Austria
Ultimately, it was the fans and the sport that triumphed after an extraordinary go back to racing in 2020
Loser: Reliability
So it was possibly a surprise to see only 11 of the 20 cars and trucks make it to the chequered flag– whereas in last years race, there was not a single retirement.
The groups are rusty, naturally, and aside from some doing really little running in a shakedown, they havent run their cars and trucks in earnest given that pre-season testing in February– so niggles creeping in are to be expected.
Formula 1 vehicles have actually ended up being near bulletproof over the last few years, such is the technical expertise of the engineers up and down the pit lane.
CHECKED OUT MORE: Bottas beats Leclerc and Norris to win significant Austrian GP as Hamilton is punished
It might have been 7 months because we last had an F1 race, however the wait was definitely worth it as the Austrian Grand Prix made sure the 2020 F1 season kicked off with a bang. We select out the winners and losers from the Red Bull Ring …
READ MORE: How Hamiltons Austrian GP strategy backfired on him method played into Bottas hands
And despite a hard series of practice sessions and a tough qualifying, he got the a lot of out of the car and kept his nose clean in the race– unlike group mate Vettel. That was the story of Haas Austrian Grand Prix weekend. Typically the Red Bull Ring is a track where they have delighted in good outcomes, and preliminary feedback was the cars and truck is much better this year, and crucially, they appear to comprehend it.
