For the first time in this Global both pilots of the Ferrari They were eliminated in Q2: a sad deja vu last season. The stable of Maranello sacrificed Q3 to implement the race strategy: the Cavallino wanted to avoid starting the Austrian Grand Prix with the soft eraser.
“Obviously we cannot be satisfied with not being able to bring any rider to Q3 – explained the racing director Laurent Mekies -. But never before has the result of qualifying been read in relation to the race. In fact, with these placings we will have the possibility to choose the type of tires to start with, which should prove to be an advantage over those in front of us on the grid who will have to start on the Softs ”.
“Precisely on the basis of this reasoning we have chosen to try to pass the cut of Q2 with the Medium, a goal missed by a hair’s breadth at the end of a session in which nine riders were enclosed in less than two tenths with many of them using the softer compound ”.
“We expected more or less not to enter Q3 – he confessed Charles Leclerc, twelfth -. I must say that coming out behind a Williams, also with middle school, is a little less expected. I do not deny that I am surprised to see the Williams of George Russell ahead of us today, even considering that they qualified with the averages. It wasn’t a perfect ride on my part. If you look at the times of Carlos and mine we were very close. Certainly I could have done better here and there, and he did the same, but we were at the limit and this was possible today. Starting with the soft would have been particularly difficult for us and we are happy not to have to do it, we hope to be able to take advantage of this strategy ”.
So Sainz, tenth thanks to the penalty of Vettel: “The race pace is there, that’s for sure. We want to see how we can finish tomorrow in front of all those who start on the soft. Finishing in front of Norris, who starts with the average, will be practically impossible. Russell also has the average. He was the biggest surprise, but the Mercedes engine here pushes, it’s not that it’s wrong with Williams. This year’s Williams goes very fast on the forehand. George beat me in qualifying last week, Williams was known to be good. We hope to finish behind Lando with both cars, so we still get points ”.
OMNISPORT | 03-07-2021 23:49
