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Why Max Verstappen had no chance for the victory in Austria

With Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen both in the front row, the motorsport world looked out after a long-awaited duel between the two best F1 drivers of the moment. Verstappen the man who triumphed twice on the Red Bull Ring and shot off the starting blocks in the previous race, and Hamilton, the man who had little luck in the season opener.

A day earlier, during qualifying, the duo proved their qualities in our very tricky wet conditions. However, there was no question of a dreamed duel, since the Mercedes was far too strong. The hole behind the top 3 was immense and if Hamilton had wanted he would have rounded the entire field minus teammate Valtteri Bottas and Verstappen.

The Red Bull was certainly better

Who looks at the balance of the Red Bull sees that the car was better than a weekend earlier. However, the car’s shortcomings became very apparent in the rain. As more rain fell during qualifying, Verstappen started to fight more with his RB16. As a true rodeo driver, he managed to keep his car on track for a long time.

Mercedes is currently in a class of its own in terms of downforce and grip in the faster corners. The Germans gain a lot of time in the semi-fast corners, including in the last sector.

Red Bull, on the other hand, wins time in the slower corners and has good traction. Team boss Toto Wolff acknowledged that there is still room for improvement for his team in this area. Looking at two races on the Red Bull Ring, it can be concluded that Verstappen was able to compensate to some extent for the shortcomings of his car, something that Albon did not succeed.

Mercedes’ W11 is also slightly better in terms of chassis and downforce than Red Bull’s RB16. During qualifying, with little fuel and new tires, this is most clearly visible. In the races it is Verstappen who with his car control ensures that it is a draw.



Honda is short

Little is left of the acclaimed top speed during the winter tests. Mercedes is just faster in a straight line and certainly when the block is turned full open. In qualifying, Mercedes builds up the power old-fashioned, until the party mode is turned on in Q3. Then the tenths fly away from time. On the Red Bull Ring it was enough for at least four tenths per round.

Helmut Marko said in Austria that he wants Honda to take more risks. This is not the first time a requirement from Red Bull. Rather a grid penalty than having no chance of winning in advance. With the big differences between the two top teams and the rest of the field, a grid penalty hardly hurts.

Mercedes also used party mode at the crucial moment: at the start, at a restart after the safety car, or to overtake Verstappen in the case of Bottas. Honda never had a serious answer.

Hamilton and Bottas also took two to three tenths per lap in the first sector with their normal racepace. The difference was small in sector two, but also in the last sector the Mercedes drivers often took one to two tenths.

No heat

The heat had to be the Achilles heel of Mercedes and the advantage of Red Bull. In recent years, the Red Bull has been doing very well under very harsh conditions. Verstappen often suffered less from extreme tire wear and then struck.

On Friday it was still 32 degrees in Spielberg, on Sunday barely 20 degrees. This meant that Mercedes had no problem and Red Bull therefore no advantage.

Verstappen rescue for Red Bull

There was only one driver who could make it a bit difficult for Mercedes and that was Verstappen. Teammate Alexander Albon was in no way to be seen. The Brit is structurally lacking to increase pressure during a GP weekend or to frolic with the Mercedes.

In fact, Albon has to compete against the Racing Points and McLarens. For Mercedes, the red carpet was further extended in Austria, because who could threaten them during a pit stop? An undercut over overcut? Everything was possible and Mercedes forced Verstappen and Red Bull in one direction: an early stop, as a result of which the tires of Verstappen were worn down to the canvas in the last 10 laps. Even Bottas managed to overtake the Dutchman so easily.

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