2015 Austrian Grand Prix - 19-21 June

[Moose]

Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria
4.326km (2.668mi)
71 laps


Pole 2014:1:08.759 (Filipe Massa)


Qualifying:


Race:

[WaikeCU]

Since Williams did well last year. I think they could end up with a fight with Ferrari here in Austria. Mercedes would yet again disappear in the horizon.

[ChrisF1]

Mods, can we un-pin Monaco and put Austria to the top?

Looking forward to this, I was doing a 300 mile bike ride on the Austrian GP weekend so I haven't seen an F1 car on track here since 2003

[Phil]

Yeah, I much enjoyed last years race too. I think Lewis goes well here; And I'm convinced he would have had pole by quite a margin last year if it wasn't for the error in the last corner which had his lap-time erased. I also quite like the altitude changes. Hopefully Ferrari will be a little closer too in terms of pace. Would spice things up a bit!

[Vasconia]

A nice track, one of my favourites, sorrounded by beautiful landscapes.

I dont expect a so fast Williams here but I hope they will battle with Ferrari, as I see Mercedes even stronger than last year I think that they will repeat the result of the last season.

Anyway I pray for a very strong Ferrari and Vettel reaching the second position on qualy, at least this could add some excitement to the race.

[evered7]

Looking at the results of qualifying and the gap in race distance I have high hopes for Ferrari. They can challenge for the win I think. Williams might be closer to Ferrari than the previous races.

[MercedesAMGSpy]

A beautiful track. Mercedes will be strong, but I think Vettel will stay with them.

[SamH123]

Not sure what happened to Raikkonen in Canada, but Vettel was a good match for Hamilton in race pace, generally being slightly quicker than Hamilton when in clear air so maybe Vettel can keep up with the mercs here...

Honda have lots of upgrades, Ron Dennis made a very positive sounding comment on the grid on Sunday, although a power track won't suit them again

[Phil]

When comparing Vettel to Hamilton in Canada, don't forget that Vettel was on a two stop race, vs. the Mercedes who were on a one stop. Mercedes had to make their tyres last a bit longer, where as Vettel came in fairly early (lap 7), so his stints were were slightly offset with stronger tyres and different stint lengths on an equal heavy car. On the same strategies, I suspect Ferrari might have been close, perhaps a bit slower, but definately not quicker.

I expect the same for Austria. Mercedes on top, but Ferrari close, but not close enough.

[f1316]

Agreed that would be great to see vettel with a trouble free weekend to gauge Ferrari's real pace; I think he could give Mercedes something to think about and make it difficult for them to nurse any issues they might have.

My only concern would be that raikkonen had to save quite a lot of fuel in Canada so with another high % full throttle track, they might have to do the same.

Massa beat the pole record last year so wonder how fast they can go this year (albeit the lap record is actually quicker than the pole record - immense pace on light fuel load by Michael that year, back when quali was with race fuel)

[George-Jung]

Pole 2014:1:08.759 (Filipe Massa)

Are you seriously? =D>

[gray41]

Any guesses on this years Pole time?

Into the 1:07s?

[SiLo]

Judging by the times from Canada I would say that pole might JUST break into the 1.07's. I'd be more inclined to say very low 1.08. Don't forget its a very short track so any difference in pace is made smaller by shorter lap length.

[SectorOne]

Guessing 1:08.2 pole.

This could get very interesting as i´m expecting Williams and Ferrari to be really close in Qualifying and Race.

[tranquility2k4]

From memory (and just rewatched qualifying highlights to confirm) Hamilton was about 4 tenths up after Sector 2 on his first lap over Bottas, who ended up just 8 hundredths behind Massa in the end, before running wide at the last corner. Rosberg went faster in sector 3, so one can assume an optimal Merc would possibly have gone 5 tenths faster. Rosberg really wasn't in the zone.

If you then take into consideration that this year's car has a better engine and by now a better car, they could easily be well into the 1:07 bracket, as last year the pole time could have been a 1:08.2 using my logic above.

My prediction is a 1:07.6