2019 [R09] Austrian Grand Prix, Spielberg, 28-30 June

[Tzk]

They might be better on the reds then everybody else.

Yep, exactly what i was thinking. Past races showed that RB and Ferrari have issues putting enough heat into the tires. The high temps in Austria actually help them to keep the tires hot, but i suspect the Ferrari will work better on the softs, because the softs got the lowest working range. That might be the reason why the Mercs start on mediums, as the Merc tends to put a lot of heat into the tires. Thus i believe that the merc would overheat the softs. That gives us these strategies, depending on how long the Ferraris can make the softs last:

Merc: medium -> hard
Ferrari: soft -> medium (or hard)

What are the rumours, in terms of the detail of the contract?

Roumors are that Verstappens contract includes an exit clause if he doesn't reach a certain position in the championchip. He's currently 4th, so IF this clause exists, it must be "3rd or better". However that's a rumour. We don't know if such a clause exist and the date when it applies (if it exists).

[geogate]

no they arnt detail, just claimed that if he dosnt win a race by, I think it was august, he has clause to allow him to exit contract. That detail hasnt been confirmed, but the existence of performance clauses has been acknowledged

[NathanOlder]

I heard Verstappen contract has a clause that means he can talk to other teams about 2020 if he hasn't won a race by the summer break (Hungary)

[Tzk]

Interesting. Haven't thought about that possibility... Thanks to both of you

[Just_a_fan]

If he uses the break clause, where does he go? He'd need a ready-to-sign deal with Ferrari or Mercedes and not sure there is any suggestion that one is in place.

[NathanOlder]

If he's available then Bottas seat is the only seat available. Unless Seb retires or Ferrari pay him like they did Kimi all those years ago

[Phil]

All very unlikely. I have no doubt Mercedes would want Verstappen eventually and especially for the case that Hamilton retires, but as long as he doesnt and performs at the level he does, why would they? Not for 2020 anyway. 2021 is another thing though, with most contracts expiring and Verstappen being an excellent negotiation chip. Besides, RedBull need Verstappen, so i’d expect them to go big $$$ in trying to retain him.

IMO this news is just all because its this time of year.

[Jolle]

I guess this should be in a silly season thread, but most teams look further ahead then just next year and so are the young drivers. I guess that Verstappen's team is already in talks with both Ferrari and Mercedes for 2021 looking how much they could get. Bit like Alonso already was under contract for Mercedes for 2007 at the end of 2005.

[yelistener]

They lost 6 tenths in qualifying to Ferrari (a good chunk of that on the straights) due to having to run more conservative PU modes than usual (due to the heat, as you suggested).

Wolff said that Austria, due to the altitude and heat, along with Mexico last year, have been two of Merc's weakest tracks.

They were strong, with pace in hand in FP3, then they just never really turned up the wick despite Hamilton putting in a pretty decent lap in Q3.

Edit: Props to the Ferrari PU and cooling architecture; it served LEC well in qualifying.

Mercedes' engine not running full power in quali? Do you have source for that?

Yes, I've seen it 2 places. This was the first (I mentioned it a few pages back)

"Cooling problems have not allowed to take advantage of the full power here in Austria. The 6 tenths lost on against the SF90 are the result."

https://twitter.com/SmilexTech/status/1 ... 8051816449

So it's just a tweet from a journalist? Any other source?

I think it probably has more to do with Mercedes' struggling with the soft. Lewis' Q3 on soft is just 0.6s faster than his Q2 medium. The unusual heat probably brought out their long-gone overheating problem.

[hollus]

From the team themselves: Cooling challenges from heat and altitude

https://www.racefans.net/2019/06/29/mer ... n-austria/

[MtthsMlw]

That might help Leclerc to pull away. The cars will probably overheat after a few laps in dirty air.

[Tzk]

Same as last year. Merc got issues with their tight package and cooling.

[NL_Fer]

I doubt cooling problems prevent powerunit power for 1 lap. It must be the extra cooling vents in the bodywork compromising the aero.

[LM10]

I doubt cooling problems prevent powerunit power for 1 lap. It must be the extra cooling vents in the bodywork compromising the aero.

But surely not 6 tenths.

[Restomaniac]

Turn 1 renamed to the ‘Niki Lauda Kurve’.