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Perez claims he was blocked before being penalised for track limits as he lost out on front row to end up P15.
Sergio Perez saw three lap times deleted in Q2 for track limits infractions that meant he ended up down in 15th – but he insisted his last issue only happened because he was blocked on track and was forced to run wide.
30 Jun 2023
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
‘Three lap times deleted in Q2’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...047968068.html
Christian Horner brutally honest about Sergio Perez after Austrian GP qualifying shocker
Perez became the first Red Bull driver in 15 years to fail to qualifying in the top 10 for four race weekends in a row, leaving his team principal Horner visibly annoyed
18:27, 30 Jun 2023
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
Christian Horner could not mask his frustration as he spoke bluntly about Sergio Perez's later qualifying shocker. And that left Horner visibly annoyed as he spoke to Sky Sports after the session. "He's got the pace today and had a car that was easily capable of being on the first or second row," said the team principal.
"He was matching Max's times... stay in the white lines! Strike one, strike two, 'Checo, just stay in the white lines'. Then strike three and he was out. So it's hugely frustrating because he could have been there and he could have done it."
Sky's Damon Hill pointed out that Verstappen had two laps deleted for track limits violations himself. But, as Horner pointed out in response, the Dutchman's reaction was to bear it in mind and make sure he got a time on the board afterwards.
‘Brutally honest’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...dbull-30364108
Perez: Q2 exit shows F1's track limits system is "wrong"
18:57 Fri, 30 Jun 2023.
By: Jonathan Noble
Motorsport.com
Sergio Perez thinks the track limits system in Formula 1 is "wrong" after he had three laps deleted for running wide in qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver failed to make it into Q3 at the Red Bull Ring after failing to set a clean lap during the session.
And while being clearly outside the white lines in the first two runs, Perez thinks it's unfair that he was also penalised on his final effort when he felt he had been disturbed by the Williams of Alex Albon. "There's so many things I can control and unfortunately, with this one, you're closing a good lap and then all of a sudden you are blocked, and you have a penalty," he said. "I think the system is wrong. It is just frustrating that we don't have a good system and we are not able to consider when these things happen."
Perez was aware that everything hung on the final run but reckoned it was all under control until traffic got in his way. "I was on a good lap," he said. "But then all of a sudden on my final lap, I found I think Albon, and I just went straight. I could not stop. I think I lost a 10th or a bit more than that just by going straight, but the stewards wouldn't consider that I was blocked."
‘Track limits system in Formula 1 is "wrong"’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/p...rong/10489658/
Perez should have “easily” been on the front row of the grid – Horner
2023 Austrian Grand Prix
Posted on 30th June 2023, 19:24
Written by Keith Collantine
RaceFans
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner made clear his displeasure at Sergio Perez’s failure to join his team mate on the front row of the grid at this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix. “He’s got the pace today,” Horner told Sky. “He’s got a car that was easily capable of being on the first or second row, he was matching Max’s times – stay in the white lines. It was strike one, strike two – ‘Checo, just stay in the white lines’, strike three – and that was it.”
“It’s hugely frustrating because the frustrating thing is we know he can do it,” said Horner. “He did a [one minute] 4.9 on that lap, he was three hundredths off Max. He could have been four tenths slower and still been in. In Q2, that’s not the time to be doing it. So that was the frustrating thing because he could have done it today.”
Perez blamed Alexander Albon for getting in his way at turn 10 on his last effort to claim a place in Q3. “It’s not going to have helped” said Horner, “but then you build in a little bit more margin.” “So Checo’s frustrated, we’ll turn the page, he’ll race hard tomorrow, but it’s just annoying because we know he could have been there,” Horner added.
‘Checo’s frustrated, we’ll turn the page’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/06/30/...e-grid-horner/
Christian Horner says Sergio Perez still has Red Bull's full support
21:34 Fri, 30 Jun 2023.
The Straits Times
SPIELBERG, Austria - Red Bull boss Christian Horner said Sergio Perez still had the team’s full support despite failing to qualify in the top 10 for the fourth race in a row on Friday while team mate Max Verstappen again secured pole position.
The Mexican had three quick laps deleted for failing to stay within the lines and will start 15th in Sunday’s Austrian Formula One Grand Prix at Spielberg’s Red Bull Ring. “Everybody’s fully behind (Perez),” Horner told Sky Sports in response to speculation about possible driver changes. Any talk of replacing Checo is wide of the mark.”
‘Red Bull's full support’;
https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/f...s-full-support
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Verstappen leads all-Red Bull front row for Austria sprint race.
Max Verstappen secured pole position for the sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix ahead of team mate Sergio Perez in second and Lando Norris third.
2023 Austrian Grand Prix sprint race qualifying
Posted on 1st July 2023, 12:01
Written by Will Wood
RaceFans
The pole winner for Sunday’s grand prix took pole for Saturday’s sprint race by almost half a second, while Norris was less than a tenth of a second slower than Perez in third. Nico Hulkenberg was a surprise fourth for Haas, but is under investigation for an unsafe release from the pit lane. Both Mercedes of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton will start the sprint race well down the order, in 15th and 18th, respectively.
Verstappen switched to his second set of fresh soft tyres and managed to shave even more time off his previous best, lowering it to a 1’04.440. Perez improved on his final lap to move ahead of Norris and secure an all-Red Bull front row for the sprint race, while Hulkenberg ended the session in fourth place behind Norris but ahead of the two Ferraris of Sainz and Leclerc.
The two Aston Martins of Alonso and Lance Stroll will start seventh and eighth, with Esteban Ocon ninth and Kevin Magnussen completing the top ten in the second Haas.
‘All-Red Bull front row’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/01/...a-sprint-race/
Sprint Shootout – 2023 Austrian Grand Prix
1st July 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
Q3
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing -1:04.440
2. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +0.493
3. Lando Norris McLaren +0.570
4. Nico Hulkenberg Haas +0.644
5. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +0.696
6. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +0.805
7. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +0.818
8. Lance Stroll Aston Martin +0.907
9. Esteban Ocon Alpine +0.926
10. Kevin Magnussen Haas +1.472
‘Austrian Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from the Shootout to set the grid for today’s 2023 F1 World Championship Sprint at the Red Bull Ring’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/sprint-sho...and-prix-82504
AS IT HAPPENED: Follow all the action from the Sprint Shootout in Austria
01 July 2023
Formula One - Official Site
‘AS IT HAPPENED’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...tKNqkxfh9.html
2023 F1 Austrian Grand Prix - Sprint - LIVE UPDATES!
1st July 2023, 10:35
Reporting By: Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
‘LIVE UPDATES!;
https://www.crash.net/f1/live/2023-f...t-live-updates
Lewis Hamilton comments may anger F1 bosses after Mercedes' Austrian Grand Prix stinker
Mercedes has a sprint qualifying to forget on Saturday with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell both left frustrated.
12:20, Sat, Jul 1, 2023
By Charlie Gordon
Daily and Sunday Express
Ending up a dismal P18, where he will start the sprint race later on Saturday, Hamilton pulled no punches when asked about his disappointing result. "The timing wasn't right," he told Sky Sports. "The sprint race doesn't really matter anyway. I'll just have some fun from the back. It is what it is. I don't really feel anything about it.
"I wish I was still out there but not today. There's nothing really to say, we'll focus on our job today. We could easily have been much further up there but I'll just have some fun at the back."
Stating that the sprint race 'does not really matter' is unlikely to sit well with senior F1 figures, considering Austria is hosting only the second sprint weekend of the 2023 season following their increased use of the format.
'Does not really matter';
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ian-grand-prix
Verstappen prevails in Austrian GP Sprint Shootout
01/07/2023 at 12:00
Michael Delaney
F1i.com
Max Verstappen topped qualifying for this afternoon's Sprint at the Red Bull Ring, the Red Bull driver edging in the frantic session teammate Sergio Perez and McLaren's Lando Norris
Haas' performance was noteworthy, with the US outfit placing both its driver among the top ten, with Nico Hulkenberg clocking in an impressive fourth at the end of SQ3.
There were worries in the Ferrari camp at the outset when Sainz reported a brake by wire failure, the Spaniard compelled to pit.
‘Verstappen prevails’;
https://f1i.com/news/479014-verstapp...-shootout.html
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Max Verstappen wins eventful Austrian Grand Prix sprint after Sergio Perez left furious.
A thrilling scrap for the lead took shape just seconds after the start of the race, with Perez diving down the inside of Verstappen after getting a better jump off the line. The Dutchman managed to regain the advantage shortly afterwards, though, before Hulkenberg took full advantage of the situation by passing Perez for second place.
16:04, Sat, Jul 1, 2023
By Archie Griggs
Daily and Sunday Express
Max Verstappen cruised to a straightforward victory in the sprint event at the Austrian Grand Prix on Saturday despite being given an early scare by Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez. The reigning champion was made to work hard to retain his advantage on the opening lap after he was overtaken by his Mexican colleague, who briefly led but was unable to keep Verstappen at bay for too long.
The Red Bull duo appeared to leave each other frustrated as a result of the heavy-handed tactics used in their short-lived battle, with Verstappen saying via team radio: "He pushed me off man, what the f***." Perez was also unhappy after Verstappen braked late into Turn Three while racing wheel-to-wheel and asked his race engineer: "What's wrong with Max?"
‘Eventful Austrian Grand Prix sprint’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...-Perez-F1-news
Sprint Results – 2023 Austrian Grand Prix
1st July 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing – 24 laps
2. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +21.048
3. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +23.088
4. Lance Stroll Aston Martin +29.703
5. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +30.109
6. Nico Hulkenberg Haas +31.297
7. Esteban Ocon Alpine +36.602
8. George Russell Mercedes +36.611
9. Lando Norris McLaren +38.608
10. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +46.375
‘Austrian Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from today’s 2023 F1 World Championship Sprint, the second of the year, from a damp Red Bull Ring’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/sprint-res...and-prix-82521
SPRINT: FORMULA 1 ROLEX GROSSER PREIS VON ÖSTERREICH 2023
01 Jul 2023
Formula One - Official Site
‘As it happened’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/f1-live-...tml#lap-by-lap
2023 Austrian GP Sprint: Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez in thrilling battle for the lead at the start
01 Jul 2023
Formula One - Official Site (Video)
Pole-sitter Max Verstappen lost his lead into Turn 1 to team mate Sergio Perez on the Sprint start in Austria, before battling back past his fellow Red Bull driver to lead in the wet, as Nico Hulkenberg grabs P2.
‘Thrilling battle for the lead at the start’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...745698010.html
Verstappen leads Red Bull 1-2 in wet Sprint
1st July 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
As the race started Perez initially got the better of his teammate but things got a little messy at T2, Verstappen getting back through while Perez fell into the clutches of Hulkenberg with the Haas taking P2 at the next corner. Things also went wrong for Norris at T2, he got caught behind the Red Bulls and seemed to go into anti-stall which left him a sitting duck and he got swamped, falling down to P10.
While Verstappen pulled ahead at the front, Perez remained on the back of Hulkenberg but with no DRS available it made things harder for the Mexican to make it past the Haas. Perez finally got the better of Hulkenberg on lap 12, just as Sainz had closed up to the pair to join the fight.
In the end Verstappen took the chequered flag 21 seconds ahead of Perez while Sainz took P3. Lance Stroll came home just ahead of Alonso to give Aston Martin P4 and P5 while Hulkenberg was the highest placed of those who changed tyres and took P6 for Haas.
‘Verstappen leads Red Bull 1-2’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/verstappen...t-sprint-82525
Max Verstappen demands Red Bull talks and confronts Sergio Perez after Austrian GP sprint
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez almost came together on the opening lap of an exciting Austrian Grand Prix sprint.
16:14, Sat, Jul 1, 2023
By Charlie Gordon
Daily and Sunday Express
Max Verstappen wasted no time in calling for talks after winning the Austrian Grand Prix sprint on Saturday. A near miss involving his Red Bull team-mate, Sergio Perez, had both drivers venting over the team radio before going on to dominate the contest.
‘Max Verstappen wasted no time in calling for talks’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...nd-prix-sprint
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With Perez out of way, Ferrari are “ready to attack” Verstappen in Austria.
When the results of Saturday’s sprint race set the grid for Sunday’s grand prix, it would effectively form the first 100km of a 400km two-part race. That meant that drivers, teams and fans all had a fairly solid idea as to how the rest of the race would play out, having seen who looked strong and not so strong in race conditions.
2023 Austrian Grand Prix pre-race analysis
Posted on 2nd July 2023, 0:01
Written by Will Wood
RaceFans
With the revised format for 2023, where the sprint race is set by its own qualifying session and has no bearing on the starting order for the grand prix, there are far fewer concrete conclusions that can be drawn from what happens on Saturday. And when it rains, as it did at the Red Bull Ring, there is even less that can be drawn from the first race of the weekend.
One conclusion which can be drawn – which no one needed a sprint race to discover – is that Max Verstappen and Red Bull are going to be very tough to beat yet again. Once Verstappen reclaimed the lead from team mate Sergio Perez on the opening lap, he quickly re-established his dominance over him and everyone else.
“Ready to attack”;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/02/...en-in-austria/
The Ferrari threat to Verstappen and Norris in the mix – What To Watch For in the Austrian GP
01 July 2023
Chris Medland
Special Contributor
Formula One - Official Site
From Ferrari putting the pressure on Verstappen to Lando Norris excelling in Austria again, and from Sergio Perez needing another fightback drive to question marks over what the race conditions will be, we highlight some key areas to look out for when the lights go out at the Red Bull Ring… 1. A Ferrari threat to Verstappen. Max Verstappen continued his dominant run of form with a fourth consecutive pole position on Friday, but his biggest challenge comes from a team that were also strong at the previous Sprint event in Azerbaijan.
2. Norris in the mix at his strongest track. There just seems to be something about Lando Norris and the Red Bull Ring, with the McLaren driver once again excelling in Austria this weekend. 3. Perez and Russell out of position. And Norris’ cause is helped by two drivers who could have been threats starting so far out of position.
4. Albon chasing more points. While the likes of Ferrari and McLaren were hoping for stronger performances in Austria, the same can’t be said of Williams despite Alex Albon’s stunning result in Canada. That was a circuit that really suited the FW45, and the update that Albon had was boosted by a fresh power unit to try and take advantage.
‘5. Unknown weather and strategies’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...rafFoKDtd.html
Power unit: Ferrari-powered cars to receive plenty of fresh elements
01 Jul 2023, 23:00
By Balazs Szabo
F1 Technical
Several Ferrari-powered cars will complete tomorrow’s Austrian Grand Prix with a host of fresh power unit components while reigning world champion Max Verstappen has also started using his second and last control electronics on home turf for his team. F1Technical's senior writer Balázs Szabó reports on the engine situation from the Red Bull Ring paddock.
The current generation of F1 power units features seven different elements: the internal combustion engine (ICE), motor generator unit-heat (MGU-H), motor generator unit-kinetic (MGU-K), turbocharger, energy store (ES), control electronics (CE) and exhaust. Over the course of the 2023 season, a driver may use no more than four ICEs, MGU-Hs, MGU-Ks and turbochargers, two energy stores and control electronics, and eight of each of the four elements that make up a set of exhaust systems.
All four drivers racing for the customer Ferrari teams, Alfa Romeo and Haas received fresh internal combustion engines for the Austrian Grand Prix. Interestingly, it will be only the third new engine for Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu, Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg despite Ferrari’s reliability issues in the earlier part of the 2023 F1 season.
‘Power Unit’;
https://www.f1technical.net/news/24063
Leclerc wants to know why he’s “struggling like crazy” in mixed conditions
2023 Austrian Grand Prix
Posted on 2nd July 2023, 8:142nd July 2023, 0:23
Written by Will Wood and Claire Cottingham
RaceFans
Charles Leclerc says Ferrari must figure out why he struggles in changeable conditions after he lost three places during the Austrian Grand Prix sprint race. A three-place grid penalty for impeding Oscar Piastri in sprint race qualifying left Leclerc ninth on the grid. In the race, which started on a damp track but finished with conditions dry enough for slick tyres, he fell back further, finishing 12th.
It was the third consecutive weekend in which Leclerc had been left frustrated by a result from a competitive session in changeable conditions. In Spain, he was eliminated in Q1 after lacking pace on a damp track, then he failed to reach Q3 in Canada after he was again eliminated on a drying track.
Asked by RaceFans after the sprint race how he would describe his afternoon, Leclerc said: “eventful, but slow.” “At the moment, I’m struggling like crazy whenever it’s half-dry, half-wet, with slicks,” he said. “I’m just completely off the pace. So we need to understand, because now it’s three races in a row that we find ourselves in those conditions and I keep struggling.”
“Struggling like crazy”;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/02/...ed-conditions/
Austrian GP Sprint Race Recap: Thrills, Overtakes, and Surprises at the Red Bull Ring!
July 1, 2023
BaylaSportsF1
In an intense battle for track position and grip at the start of the Austrian GP Sprint race, the top three drivers all encountered difficulties at the start of the Sprint race.
Nico Hulkenberg seized the opportunity and secure second place for Haas. However, the real drama unfolded when Max Verstappen forcefully pushed Sergio Perez wide off the track, hinting at tensions between the Red Bull teammates since their team order dispute in Brazil last year.
Verstappen managed to break away comfortably, with Hulkenberg maintaining second position while fending off Perez’s initial advances with similar lap times. It wasn’t until lap 12 that Perez managed to reclaim second place, followed by Carlos Sainz at Turn 3 on the subsequent lap as Hulkenberg struggled with traction on the drying circuit.
‘Thrills, Overtakes, and Surprises’;
https://baylasportsf1.com/austrian-g...red-bull-ring/
“All good” between Verstappen and Perez after chat over first-lap near-misses
2023 Austrian Grand Prix
Posted on 2nd July 2023, 9:132nd July 2023, 0:24
Written by Keith Collantine
The Red Bull team mates say they cleared the air with each other following a series of close calls between the pair on the first lap of the Austrian Grand Prix sprint race. Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez complained about each other’s moves after the start of yesterday’s first race at the Red Bull Ring.
“He pushed me off, man, what the fuck?” fumed Verstappen when Perez edged him onto the grass at the exit of turn one after taking the lead from the pole-winner at the start. Verstappen reclaimed the place at the next corner, repaying the favour to Perez by forcing him onto the asphalt run-off. Perez was on his outside at the next corner as well, and again Verstappen stayed well wide of the inside line, but did not go far enough to put Perez into the gravel.
“All good”;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/02/...p-near-misses/
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F1 Austrian Grand Prix 2023 results: Verstappen dominates CONTROVERSIAL race.
The race was riddled with penalties for track limit violations, with a number of drivers heading marginally off the track – and some, including Lewis Hamilton, getting quite het up about it.
Sunday 2 July 2023 16:38
Chris Deeley
GPFans
Max Verstappen looked back to his imperious best on Sunday in Spielberg, driving away from the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc to win a race that looked closer on the timing screen that it did in reality.
Verstappen pitted with a couple of laps to go in order to have a dart at the fastest lap of the race, cutting his advantage over the Monegasque driver. However, he did lose his incredible 250+ lap streak of laps led in grands prix earlier in the race when he came out of the pits behind Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr.
Leclerc finished second, ahead of a fast-finishing Sergio Perez who claimed the final podium spot ahead of Carlos Sainz.
‘CONTROVERSIAL race’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...oversial-race/
Race Results – 2023 Austrian Grand Prix
2nd July 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Results (Classification):
1. Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing – 71 laps
2. Charles Leclerc Scuderia Ferrari +5.155
3. Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing +17.188
4. Carlos Sainz Scuderia Ferrari +21.377
5. Lando Norris McLaren +26.327
6. Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +30.317
7. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +39.196
8. George Russell Mercedes +48.403
9. Pierre Gasly Alpine +57.667
10. Lance Stroll Aston Martin +59.043
‘Austrian Grand Prix – Here are the complete results from today’s 2023 F1 World Championship race from the Red Bull Ring’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/race-resul...and-prix-82536
LIVE COVERAGE: Follow all the action from the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix
02 July 2023
Formula One - Official Site
‘As it happened’;
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...Or1NQEbvb.html
2023 F1 Austrian GP - Can Verstappen hold off the Ferraris? LIVE UPDATES
2nd July 2023, 13:32
Reporting By: Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net
‘LIVE UPDATES’;
https://www.crash.net/f1/live/2023-f...s-live-updates
Verstappen wins in Austria while penalties play a part behind
2nd July 2023
by Emer Hedderman
FormulaSpy
Austrian Grand Prix – Despite briefly losing the lead during the pit stops, Max Verstappen dominated while the Stewards handed out a rake of time penalties. As the lights went out to start the Grand Prix, Verstappen held his lead despite Leclerc’s best efforts but further back Lewis Hamilton got the better of Lando Norris for P4 while Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg demoted Lance Stroll from P6 to P8.
On lap 69, Red Bull asked Verstappen to cool his tyres but the race leader wanted to pit for a fastest lap attempt as he had a 23 second gap to Leclerc. Verstappen got his way though, switched to the softs and emerged back out a few seconds ahead of Leclerc. He took the fastest lap with a 1:07.012 on the last lap.
Leclerc got on the podium for the second time of the season, the last time being in Baku, where the first Sprint weekend of the season was. Perez took the final podium spot ahead of Sainz and Norris. After being beaten by his teammate in the Sprint yesterday, Alonso was the highest placed Aston Martin today with a P6. The two Mercedes ended the day in P7 and P8, Hamilton still ahead of Russell while Gasly and Stroll rounded out the points positions.
‘Verstappen wins’;
https://formulaspy.com/f1/verstappen...t-behind-82539
Verstappen wins Austrian GP, Perez third after great Sainz fight
2nd July 2023, 15:49
By Matt Beer
The Race
Max Verstappen gave Red Bull yet another routine 2023 Formula 1 race win at the Austrian Grand Prix, while Ferrari produced its strongest performance of the season so far in his wake. Charles Leclerc took second place, while Carlos Sainz only just failed to keep the second Red Bull of Sergio Perez off the podium after a gallant effort.
Ferrari tried its best to stop Red Bull running away with the event at the track it owns. Leclerc made a spirited first-lap bid to pass Verstappen before the champion began to edge away, and then the two teams diverged on strategy under an early virtual safety car prompted by Nico Hulkenberg’s Haas-Ferrari stopping with what he felt was an engine failure.
Verstappen’s insistence on making a last-moment pitstop for softs so he could reclaim fastest lap from Perez might have given Ferrari some hope given Leclerc was only 23s behind when the leader came in. But a smooth Red Bull stop meant Verstappen rejoined 4s ahead and got the fastest lap he sought too.
‘Another routine 2023 Formula 1 race win’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/verst...t-sainz-fight/
Nine drivers hit by F1 penalties as Verstappen has time to play with in Austrian GP.
July 2nd 2023
Author Dominic Tobin
Motor Sport Magazine
Max Verstappen look threatened by Charles Leclerc early in the 2023 Austrian GP but ended it with so much time in hand, he could make an extra pitstop and claim the fastest lap. Behind him was a charging Sergio Perez — and a penalty bonanza
It was a race that brought almost half the grid penalties for exceeding track limits, a stunning drive from 15th to the podium for Sergio Perez, and hard-fought battles in the midfield. But at the front — as usual — Max Verstappen had such an advantage that he was able to pit for soft tyres with two laps remaining, set the fastest lap and cross the finish line with 5sec to spare.
Sainz crossed the line just over 4sec behind the Mexican and may look ruefully at the 5sec penalty for exceeding track limits too often. He was the highest-placed car to be penalised, and one of eight for track limits (with Nyck de Vries getting a penalty for squeezing Kevin Magnussen). A miserable Lewis Hamilton was an early victim after telling his team that he couldn’t avoid running outside the white lines: “I can’t keep it on the track, the car won’t turn!” Later in the race, team boss Toto Wolff jumped on the airwaves, telling his seven-time world champion: “The car is bad, we know. Please drive it.”
‘Nine drivers hit by F1 penalties’;
https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...?nowprocket=1#
F1 Austrian GP: Lewis Hamilton blasts 'bulls***' and complains at Lando Norris after penalty
2 Jul 2023
Lewis Larkam
Lewis Hamilton has been hit with a five-second time penalty for abusing track limits during the F1 Austrian Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion was pinged for multiple track limits infringements early on in Sunday's 71-lap grand prix.
Hamilton insisted in his defence that he "can't keep it on the track. The car won't turn." Hamilton said via team radio after being told about his penalty: "Just have a look at those because some of those are bull**** calls." He said, separately, about Sergio Perez: "This guy has been off every single time!"
Hamilton was also complaining about Norris exceeding track limits, after his own penalty, Sky commentators said. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff came onto the pitwall to calm Hamilton down, Sky also reported. “Lewis, the car is bad, we know," Wolff told Hamilton. "Please drive it!”
“The car won't turn";
https://www.crash.net/f1/news/103044...ty-austrian-gp
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Eight drivers given post-race penalties as Austrian Grand Prix results change dramatically.
The FIA have examined “well over 1,200” instances of potential track limits breaches during the Austrian Grand Prix, with eight drivers given post-race penalties as a result.
02 Jul 2023 8:58 PM
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com
Who has been penalised? The FIA confirmed in a statement that they would be examining each and every potential breach of track limits, and a significant chunk of the grid has now had additional time added to their race time. But eight drivers have been penalised for multiple breaches, as follows:
• Carlos Sainz – 10 seconds
• Lewis Hamilton – 10 seconds
• Pierre Gasly – 10 seconds
• Alex Albon – 10 seconds
• Esteban Ocon – 30 seconds (combination of 2 x 10-second penalties and 2 x 5-second penalties)
• Logan Sargeant – 10 seconds
• Nyck de Vries – 15 seconds (combination of 10-second and 5-second penalties)
• Yuki Tsunoda – 5 seconds
These penalties are all additional to what has already been served in the Austrian Grand Prix, with several of these drivers having already served in-race punishments.
‘Eight drivers given post-race penalties’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/austri...-track-limits/
FIA CHANGE Austrian GP results with TWELVE post-race penalties
Sunday 2 July 2023 21:57
Matthew Hobkinson
GPFans
Austrian Grand Prix results after FIA ruling
The final classification from Styria after the changes is as follows:
1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull]
2. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari]
3. Sergio Perez [Red Bull]
4. Lando Norris [McLaren]
5. Fernando Alonso [Aston Martin]
6. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari]
7. George Russell [Mercedes]
8. Lewis Hamilton [Mercedes]
9. Lance Stroll [Aston Martin]
10. Pierre Gasly [Alpine]
‘TWELVE post-race penalties’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...-aston-martin/
Pierre Gasly hits out at ‘nonsense’ confusing Austria track limits
02 Jul 2023 8:15 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
Pierre Gasly branded track limits at the Austrian Grand Prix a “nonsense” which was impossible for the viewers to follow and drivers to obey. “We’ve been talking all weekend and I think it would have been easier for everyone, [at] home, in the steward’s room, and all of us drivers to just drop it, but there is a rule. I love football, the rule in football is the same and that was the way it was this weekend.”
“I do believe if you go 10 centimetres wider you anyway damage your car and lose performance. Ultimately four, five centimetres, I don’t think it’s right to be penalising and dropping in qualifying, it was just nonsense. 43 lap times deleted, when you follow on TV, you have no clue on what’s going on and who is actually in, who is actually out.”
“As drivers inside the car with the visibility that we have, it’s pretty much impossible to really notice this one or two centimetres, whether you’re on the line and you’re always going to take it to the limit. So either put some grass there, no one’s going to go there, or just leave it as it is, make life easier and let us use the track limits, but I’m sure it’s going to be reviewed.”
‘Nonsense’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/pierre...-track-limits/
How 1200+ track limit reviews overwhelmed F1’s policing system
2nd July 2023, 19:23
By Scott Mitchell-Malm
The Race
Formula 1’s Austrian Grand Prix result was thrown into confusion as the sheer volume of track limits penalties effectively overwhelmed the FIA’s policing system. More than 100 laptimes were deleted in Sunday’s race after drivers repeatedly exceeded track limits, mainly on the entry and especially the exit of the final corner, but more than 1200 potential offences had to be reviewed by race control.
Race control was tasked with “a reconciliation of all deleted laps with penalties applied”. And it soon emerged that more sanctions would be coming post-race, although the top three finishers were safe.
Time penalties would then be retroactively enforced. Whereas some drivers could serve five-second penalties (or 10 seconds in the case of repeat offender Yuki Tsunoda) during the grand prix in their pitstops, these additional penalties would be added to the offending drivers’ race times.
‘Overwhelmed F1’s policing system’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/how-1...licing-system/
Ranked: The best and worst-behaved F1 drivers on Austrian Grand Prix track limits
02 Jul 2023 9:13 PM
Sam Cooper
PlanetF1.com
There was an anxious wait on Sunday night for some of the drivers as stewards announced they were looking into 1,200 incidents of possible track limits.
While the actual number of deleted laps was far fewer, it was still significant with the stewards scrubbing 83 laps out of the record books after the race had finished. But who were the worst offenders? And who managed to keep it on track at all times?
Zero instances – George Russell and Zhou Guanyu
One instance – Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso
Two instances – Charles Leclerc and Valtteri Bottas
Three instances – Sergio Perez, Lando Norris, Lance Stroll, Oscar Piastri and Nico Hulkenberg
Four instances (five-second penalty) – Kevin Magnussen
Six instances (15-second penalty) – Carlos Sainz, Lewis Hamilton, Logan Sargeant and Nyck de Vries
Seven instances (15-second penalty) – Pierre Gasly
Nine instances (20-second penalty) – Alex Albon and Yuki Tsunoda
10 instances (30-second penalty) – Esteban Ocon
‘Track limits’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/ranked...-track-limits/
FIA reveal STUNNING number of deleted laps during Austrian GP
Sunday 2 July 2023 22:27
Matthew Hobkinson
GPFans
During a chaotic Austrian Grand Prix, the issue of track limits was a constant flashpoint. After the race, it was revealed that Race Control had to deal with more than 100 deleted lap times during the 71 lap grand prix.
And with Aston Martin now protesting the result of the race, it has become clear that the number of infringements was somewhat overwhelming for the stewards on duty during the frantic contest.
‘100 deleted lap times’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...-track-limits/
-
Put the gravel back, FIA tells Red Bull Ring after 20 track limits penalties in race.
The FIA has again urged the operators of the Red Bull Ring to install gravel traps at its final corners following an “unprecedented” spate of track limits offences.
2023 Austrian Grand Prix
Posted on 2nd July 2023, 21:502nd July 2023, 21:55
Written by Keith Collantine and Claire Cottingham
RaceFans
Seven drivers received penalties for exceeding track limits at least four times. One, Yuki Tsunoda, was given a further penalty during the race for committing seven infringements. Following the race Aston Martin lodged a protest claiming further track limits breaches have been overlooked. Race Control was already in the process of examining the track limits infringements which had occurred.
An FIA spokesperson confirmed it had not been possible to investigate every possible track limits breach which was raised during the race. “Due to the specifics of the circuit layout and the propensity of many drivers to repeatedly drive outside of the boundaries of the track, an unprecedented situation arose which resulted in all potential infringements not being able to be reviewed during the race,” said the spokesperson. The FIA had “already begun a full review of the track limits infringements” before Aston Martin protested the result of the race.
The spokesperson pointed out the FIA has previously urged the Red Bull Ring to install a gravel trap at the exits of turns nine and 10, where the majority of today’s incidents occurred. “In order to address the issue for future events we will renew our recommendation to the circuit to add a gravel trap at the exit of turns nine and 10. We note that while this is not a straightforward solution in relation to other series that race here, it has proved to be very effective at other corners and circuits with similar issues.”
‘Put the gravel back’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/02/...lties-in-race/
Christian Horner: Track limits made F1 look 'amateurish' during Austrian Grand Prix
19:02 Sun, 02 Jul 2023.
By George Dagless
Give Me Sport
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has said F1 looked 'amateurish' over the course of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend at different times, thanks to track limits. Red Bull dominated the weekend once again with Max Verstappen winning the Sprint on Saturday and then the Grand Prix on Sunday here at the Red Bull Ring, whilst Sergio Perez finished inside the top three with a second and then a third respectively.
Indeed, it was a very strong weekend all round from the Bulls but Horner could not hide his frustrations at something away from his team - track limits. "I think it made us as a sport look a little bit amateurish with so many infringements," he said. "The problem is, it's very difficult for the drivers to see they can't see the white line from the car. So you're just purely doing it on feel, and the circuit invites you to go there.”
"So I think that it is something that needs to be looked at for next year to perhaps add more of a deterrent for the drivers to be drawn onto that part of the circuit." Horner certainly wasn't the only person to express his dismay at the track limits over the course of the weekend, with the drivers growing frustrated and annoyed by some of the more marginal rulings.
‘Track limits made F1 look amateurish’;
https://www.givemesport.com/christia...an-grand-prix/
Our verdict on F1’s Austrian Grand Prix penalty chaos
3rd July 2023, 05:22
The Race
After 1200+ track limits offences in the Austrian Grand Prix overwhelmed Formula 1’s systems and procedures, an FIA review and an Aston Martin protest left the Red Bull Ring result in total flux. The final outcome was a further 12 penalties spread across eight drivers, changing the positions of 14 of the 19 finishers in a decision announced five hours after the finish.
Here’s what our writers made of Sunday’s chaotic events and what we think should happen as a consequence:
DRIVERS HAVE TAKEN LIBERTIES – NOW THEY CAN’T
Scott Mitchell-Malm
THERE MUST BE PROPER INVESTMENT IN A REAL SOLUTION
Edd Straw
THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TACKLED AFTER QUALIFYING
Gary Anderson
GRAVEL ISN’T THE ANSWER
Glenn Freeman
‘Verdict on F1’s Austrian Grand Prix penalty chaos’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/our-v...penalty-chaos/
Frustrated Lewis Hamilton reacts to Austrian Grand Prix penalty as result changed
Lewis Hamilton is still waiting for his first win of the 2023 Formula One season - as reigning champion Max Verstappen and Red Bull continue to dominate the sport
23:24, 2 Jul 2023
By Tom Blow Sports Writer
The Mirror
Hamilton finished seventh at the Red Bull Ring but dropped a place following a track limits investigation by the FIA. The Mercedes favourite received a 10-second penalty to drop to eighth, with Carlos Sainz and Pierre Gasly also losing points for the same offence.
Hamilton offered his opinion on Instagram after Sunday's race. He wrote: "There are days when I can say I’m truly proud of myself and days like today when frustration takes over. In a race it can feel like you’re hanging off a cliff and losing the strength to hold on.”
‘Frustration takes over’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...-prix-30374714
Video: Why Austrian GP broke F1’s track limits policing system
3rd July 2023, 05:22
The Race
The major changes to the Austrian Grand Prix result five hours after the finish were a consequence of Formula 1’s upgraded track limits policing system being overwhelmed by the sheer number of offences at the Red Bull Ring.
Why did it happen, what made this year so much worse and can anything be done about it? Our latest video tackles all those questions and more:
‘The Race Video’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/video...licing-system/
Where Is The (Track) Limit? - Austrian GP Review F1 2023
23:18 Sun, 02 Jul 2023.
Motorsport.com
Why did the FIA give out 12 penalties after F1's 2023 Austrian Grand Prix? The Red Bull Ring is no stranger to track limit violations, but after reportedly checking 1200 of the laps raced at the Austrian GP, the FIA changed up the final order for a large portion of the grid with 5 and 10s penalties. Mixed into this was McLaren's best result of the year with Lando Norris in 4th, another strong win by Verstappen, a lacklustre weekend for Mercedes and an unusual race for Ferrari. Martyn Lee is joined by Jon Noble and Matt Kew to discuss these talking points and more after the Austrian GP Sprint Race weekend.
‘Austrian GP Video Review’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/video/...1-2023/599238/
-
Verstappen “loved all the articles” claiming Red Bull’s rivals were getting closer.
Max Verstappen said he enjoyed reading speculation Red Bull’s rivals had closed the gap to them prior to his dominant win in Austria today.
2023 Austrian Grand Prix
Posted on 2nd July 2023, 18:082nd July 2023, 21:56
Written by Will Wood
RaceFans
When it was put to him that today’s race showed Red Bull’s nearest rivals had not closed the gap to them, Verstappen said: “Exactly. But I loved all the articles about it. Some weekends work a bit better for you and some don’t,” he explained. “For me, Montreal wasn’t that fantastic in the race from our side. Here I think we did a really good job and naturally the gap is a bit bigger.”
Despite taking his seventh win of the season and his fifth consecutive victory to hold a commanding 81 point lead in the drivers’ championship over team mate Sergio Perez, Verstappen says he is not concerning himself with thinking about the championship picture just yet. “I’m just enjoying the moment, driving with this car, working with the team,” he said.
“I think the whole weekend we have done a really good job. A sprint weekend is always very, very hectic and a lot of things can go wrong and luckily a lot of things went right for us this weekend. So I’m just very happy with this weekend and we’ll focus again on Silverstone.”
“Loved all the articles”;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/02/...etting-closer/
F1 Austrian GP Results, Updated Points: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Making it Look Too Easy
Verstappen wins fifth race in a row, builds up nearly insurmountable lead in championship standings.
PUBLISHED: JUL 2, 2023
BY PHILLIP HORTON
AutoWeek.com
Hey, Guess What—Verstappen Won Again
At least this time Max Verstappen didn’t quite lead every lap of the Austrian Grand Prix, though it certainly felt like it. Verstappen had 10 whole laps not in first place during the course of the 71-lap race at the Red Bull Ring, but only because he and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc ran divergent tire strategies.
By the time proceedings shook out, during the closing stages of a race that took place in front of an orange-clad army of Verstappen fans, the reigning world champion was over 20 seconds up the road and cruising home.
Verstappen had such a margin that he made another pit stop for soft tires, used the penultimate lap of the race as a preparation lap, and made a successful attempt for the fastest lap—earning the bonus point—on the final lap.
‘Red Bull Making it Look Too Easy’;
https://www.autoweek.com/racing/form...look-too-easy/
Red Bull reduce rivals to irrelevance in home rout overshadowed by penalty farce
2023 Austrian Grand Prix review
Posted on 3rd July 2023, 10:50
Written by Will Wood
RaceFans
Entering last season’s long winter, Ferrari and Mercedes dreamed of somehow dethroning Red Bull once the new year began. But by the time the spring months reached their end, those hopes had already been mercilessly crushed by the world champions and scattered to the summer winds. June brought new optimism for their pursuers. While Max Verstappen and his RB19 continued to monopolise the top step of the podium, there had been plenty of promise for those seeking to chase down the champions.
Although the three podium finishers had successfully avoided earning penalties for exceeding track limits, the same could not be said for the rest of the field. In an unprecedented development a total of 20 individual penalties for exceeding track limits were handed out between nine drivers during the race – almost half the field. Making matter worse, it took until five hours after the race for 12 of those penalties to be handed out and the final results published.
It had been a day where Formula 1 had made itself look “amateurish,” according to Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. But that could certainly not be said of Verstappen’s performance across the weekend once again. The world champion once more crushing any hopes of his rivals that he could possibly be caught any time soon. But despite continuing their perfect run of results in the 2023 season so far, Horner says Red Bull have not lost their appetite for winning just yet.
‘Red Bull reduce rivals to irrelevance’;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/03/...penalty-farce/
Red Bull chief speaks out after Max Verstappen ignores team orders at Austrian GP
Max Verstappen demanded Red Bull mechanics follow his requests as the Dutchman secured his 42nd career win in Austria.
12:07, Mon, Jul 3, 2023
By Luke Chillingsworth
Daily and Sunday Express
Red Bull’s Helmut Marko has opened up on Max Verstappen after the Dutchman ignored team orders at the Austrian Grand Prix. Verstappen was told over team radio that pitting for new tyres to go for the fastest lap was not worth it but pushed mechanics to change their mind.
Race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase revealed the risk of stopping “was not worthwhile”. But Verstappen made clear he would “prefer to box” and hinted his old rubber would not go quicker.
He told Auto Motor und Sport: “There were discussions on the radio. Before Max got too restless, we wanted to do what he wanted and make him happy. Otherwise, he would have set the fastest lap on old tyres. That would have been even more risky. He drives with unbelievable ease, as we have come to expect from him.”
“Prefer to box”;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ian-grand-prix
Perez admits fitness concerns for British GP as he’s “really far from 100%”
2023 Austrian Grand Prix
Posted on 3rd July 2023, 12:13
Written by Ida Wood
RaceFans
Sergio Perez navigated the Austrian Grand Prix weekend while fighting fever-like symptoms, and his health remains a concern heading into this weekend’s British Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver fell ill on Wednesday night in Austria and skipped his media duties on Thursday, but was on track when action began on Friday.
Perez said he was feeling “definitely not great” after completing Sunday’s 71-lap race at the Red Bull Ring. “I haven’t had a good rest. Every night I’ve had a fever and I think when that happens and then you are on medications, automatically you are not 100% at all.” He is concerned his illness will continue to affect him at this weekend’s British Grand Prix, as the high-speed Silverstone circuit places severe demands on drivers’ fitness.
“It’s a very demanding sport, in the car and out of the car,” said Perez. “I’ve just been really sick, so I really hope that I can recover in a few days, because Silverstone is another very hard race, very demanding. “I really need time. I’m really far from 100% at the moment.” Perez was “really happy” to rise from 15th on the grid to claim his fifth podium of the year despite feeling ill.
“Really far from 100%”;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/03/...-far-from-100/
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‘Lewis, the car is bad, we know . . . just please drive it’ – Mercedes’ Wolff has snappy exchange with Hamilton.
Toto Wolff insists his public rebuke of Lewis Hamilton at the Austrian Grand Prix will have no impact on the British driver’s Mercedes future.
Sun 2 Jul 2023 at 19:28
The Irish Independent
‘Public rebuke’;
https://www.independent.ie/sport/oth...123007170.html
Lewis Hamilton given public dressing-down by Toto Wolff during awful Austrian Grand Prix.
Lap one of the Austrian Grand Prix went well for Hamilton who overtook Lando Norris – but the rest of his afternoon was a disaster including a public telling-off from Mercedes chief Wolff.
16:21, 2 Jul 2023
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
Lewis Hamilton was told off by an irritated Toto Wolff TWICE during the Austrian Grand Prix as the seven-time world champion lost his cool. Hamilton lost his temper after he was given a penalty for exceeding track limits. He was one of several drivers to be given such a punishment as the Formula 1 stewards applied the law mercilessly.
First to be on the receiving end of his ire was Sergio Perez. Hamilton was constantly accusing the Mexican of going outside the white lines – becoming such a distraction that Wolff intervened to ask him to focus on his driving. That first message from the Austrian was fairly polite, and Hamilton obliged for a while.
But later in the race he was moaning again, this time about Norris who had slipped ahead of him. This time, as Wolff felt the need to intervene again, the Mercedes chief had clearly lost his patience and snapped at the seven-time world champion. "Lewis, the car is bad, we know – please drive it," was his abrupt message.
‘Public dressing-down’;
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...radio-30373051
Toto Wolff fed up with Lewis Hamilton as Mercedes boss interrupts team radio message
Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton was spoken to his by team boss Toto Wolff during the Austrian Grand Prix.
15:26, Sun, Jul 2, 2023
By Joe Krishnan
Daily and Sunday Express
Hamilton picked up a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits more than three times, having been shown a black and white flag by race control. And he fumed on the radio as his issues with the brakes appeared to slow him down, meaning he had to try and use the maximum of the track to avoid losing time.
As Hamilton continued to complain to his race engineer Peter Bonnington on the team radio, Wolff stepped in with a stern message to his driver - something that is rarely seen from the Austrian chief - as he was seemingly fed up with his flurry of complaints. Wolff said to Hamilton: "Lewis the car is bad we know, please drive it."
Hamilton had been furious with Sergio Perez escaping a penalty for exceeding track limits at Turn 10 when he was chasing the Red Bull star and it appeared the 103-time race winner had become irritated by his five-second penalty, which saw him lose places to Norris and Fernando Alonso.
‘Mercedes boss interrupts team radio message’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ian-GP-F1-news
Toto Wolff at a loss after ‘bruising day’ with Mercedes’ pace drop in Austria
02 Jul 2023 5:08 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com
clearly downbeat Toto Wolff saw his Mercedes team struggle for pace in the Austrian Grand Prix and does not know why. “Our car had no pace today,” Wolff told Sky F1. “It’s a bruising day I would say because we had such a good upward trend and then you have to take such a day. “There was no pace. No inkling why yet.”
During his opening stint Hamilton was complaining that his brakes were not working correctly, though Wolff had a different theory for why Hamilton had this feeling at the wheel of the W14. Rather than dodgy brakes, Wolff feels the actual problem was that as Hamilton battled Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez at that stage of the race, he was actually finding that sliding on the Pirelli tyres was destroying the grip.
“I think that the moment you slide those tyres, either on braking or through the corners, you just have no grip and this is what happened,” Wolff reasoned. Hamilton will likely take encouragement from the fact that next up is his home race, the British Grand Prix, a race he has won a record eight times.
‘Toto Wolff at a loss’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/toto-w...-loss-austria/
Russell laments Mercedes’ “substantially worse” pace in Austria
18:33 Sun, 02 Jul 2023.
By: Matt Kew
Motorsport.com
Lewis Hamilton led team-mate George Russell for a 7-8 result at the Red Bull Ring. Seven-time champion Hamilton finished 39 seconds behind runaway victor Max Verstappen, who might have crossed the line a further 20s ahead had he not made a late pitstop to successfully take the bonus point for fastest lap away from Red Bull stablemate Sergio Perez.
Russell said the drop back down the order caught the team by surprise as the pace was “substantially worse” than predicted. He told Sky Sports: “I'm sure we'll get to the bottom of it. But we still have the same car as we had two races ago in Barcelona when we were flying.”
“So, the only thing that's probably different is the tyres. Something we need to understand. It definitely doesn't feel as we want it to. The car's moving around a lot, a little bit worse than all of the other circuits. But the pace was substantially worse than we were expecting.”
‘Mercedes’ “substantially worse” pace’;
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/r...tria/10490750/
Wolff DUMBSTRUCK over Mercedes lack of pace
Sunday 2 July 2023 22:57
Matthew Hobkinson
GPFans
Speaking after the race, Wolff was left scratching his head over why the W14 struggled so much on track. “The car had no pace today," he told Sky Sports. "It’s a bruising day I would say, because we had such a good upward trend, and then you have to take such a day. There was no pace, and no inkling why yet.” “I think the moment you slide those tyres, be it on braking or through the corners, you just have no grip, and this is what happened [for Hamilton]."
Vast number of penalties were handed out for exceeding track limits during the race, including one for Hamilton. And Wolff believes that changes need to be made to prevent a repeat event occurring next season. “The stewards are doing their job," he said. "It’s what the rule says. I think we’ve either got to go back to the sausage kerb and need to take into consideration the teams and drivers shouldn’t complain if they break their cars, because that’s clear.
‘Wolff DUMBSTRUCK’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...eorge-russell/
Wolff sought to 'calm things down' with Hamilton radio intervention
03/07/2023 at 08:19
Phillip van Osten
F1i.com
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was an untypical presence on the team's radio during Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix as he sought to "calm things down" amid Lewis Hamilton's complaints and struggles. When asked by his race engineer Peter Bonnington to steer clear of the track's limits, Hamilton quipped: "I can’t keep it on the track, the car won’t turn!".
Perceiving that his driver was unsettled, Wolff intervened and twice urged Hamilton to focus on the job at hand. "Lewis, the car is bad, we know. Please drive it," he said on his second intervention.
After the race, the Austrian justified his in-race radio rebuke. "You should hear us talking on the phone and meeting each other. That was nothing," said Wolff as he played down the moment. "We have had a bad weekend, all of us in the team, and that just makes us stronger.”
‘Wolff sought to calm things down';
https://f1i.com/news/479459-wolff-so...ervention.html
Toto Wolff explains why he issued Lewis Hamilton a stern team radio warning at Austrian GP
Toto Wolff called out Lewis Hamilton in a team radio warning during yesterday's Austrian Grand Prix.
09:20, Mon, Jul 3, 2023
By Luke Chillingsworth
Daily and Sunday Express
Wolff has since clarified why he got involved, revealing it was simply to “calm” Hamilton who was getting flustered over the microphone. He explained: “It was only for the best interests of the driver and the team. Sometimes there is a certain moment when you need to calm things down, but I meant well.”
“We had a lot of discussion beforehand about track limits and I wanted to make sure we were getting the best out of the package, which wasn’t performing, and just giving it our best shot.” Mercedes struggled for pace in Austria with the German marque taking a noticeable step back in performance.
Hamilton explained: “Didn't expect to be as bad as we were today. I don't really have an answer for it really. It was definitely surprising. The feeling of the car was very much the same feeling I've had all last year. It was definitely different than the last two races, the last two races were way, way better. In terms of the characteristics of the car, it was fundamentally the same (as last year)."
‘Wolff has clarified why he got involved’;
https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...-grand-prix-f1
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Sainz accuses Ferrari playing him for a 'FOOL' in Austrian GP.
Carlos Sainz has accused Ferrari of failing to treat him as an equal with team-mate Charles Leclerc, after the Spaniard revealed that he felt "like a fool" with the team's strategy.
Monday 3 July 2023 08:57 - Updated: 15:02
Matthew Hobkinson
GPFans
"We have to analyse the situation," he told DAZN ES. "Clearly, I’m not happy right now about what happened today. When you feel you have such rhythm and when you are supposed to be doing team work, and you see these things happening, it makes you feel like a fool. Not the best feeling, for sure."
"I’m not too happy today," he also told Fox Sports Premium MX. "I had a lot more pace than fourth...being a team player during the first stint and then be compromised like that with a pit stop behind Charles really affected my race... You are being a team player all the time and you have the pace but some decisions by the team leave you like a fool.”
‘Playing him for a FOOL';
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...grand-prix-f1/
Sainz’s ire at strategy Ferrari was ‘convinced’ was right
07:44 Mon, 03 Jul 2023
By Josh Suttill
The Race
Carlos Sainz was left frustrated with a “compromising” pitstop that helped turn a potential first 2023 grand prix podium into a sixth place finish at the Austrian Grand Prix – but team boss Fred Vasseur says Ferrari was “convinced” the strategy was right.
Leclerc was able to re-emerge from his pitstop in second place, but the VSC ending and slow pitstops for both Sainz and Leclerc meant Sainz dropped behind both Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris – who had been able to pit immediately after the VSC was deployed.
It also cost Sainz several seconds to Leclerc and he put the blame on that pitstop timing for his initial five-second penalty for track limits abuse, too. Sainz ultimately finished within five seconds of eventual third-place finisher Sergio Perez on the road, even if Perez didn’t have to push after he’d cleared Sainz and a further penalty was coming Sainz’s way regardless.
‘Sainz’s ire’;
https://the-race.com/formula-1/sainz...-strategy-ire/
Sainz' race "compromised" by VSC call
03/07/2023
NEWS STORY
Pitpass
Carlos Sainz believes his Grand Prix was compromised by Ferrari's decision to pit him under the Virtual Safety Car that followed Nico Hulkenberg’s retirement. "My race was compromised from that point onwards," he insisted. "But if I look at the pace, I was very quick out there.
"I'm just frustrated," he admitted. "It's been a few races that I have a lot of pace in the car. I wish I could maximise it a bit more because I'm very quick this year, especially in the race. I feel like I've done a big step forward. But P4 I guess is not bad, but I think today P2 or P3 was on the cards.”
"I'm very happy with my performance today. I think I did some very clean, neat moves. I defended well. As soon as I was arriving to one car, I was passing them. I was managing my tyres well at the same time that I was attacking. That's why I guess I'm frustrated right now because I struggle to see the positive on this P4 with all the pace and overtaking and defending that I did.”
‘Compromised by Ferrari's decision’;
https://www.pitpass.com/75560/Sainz-...ed-by-VSC-call
Ferrari respond to team orders call that left Carlos Sainz with ‘sour feeling’
03 Jul 2023 11:00 AM
Oliver Harden
PlanetF1.com
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has defended the team orders that left Carlos Sainz with a “sour feeling” at the end of the Austrian Grand Prix.
The Spaniard went on to suffer a slow stop when both Ferraris headed to the pit lane during an early Virtual Safety Car and was ultimately classified sixth after incurring a post-race time penalty for exceeding track limits, whereas Leclerc held second place to secure the team’s second podium finish of 2023.
Sainz later expressed his annoyance with Ferrari’s management of the race, telling Formula 1: “Obviously frustrated with the final outcome after having such a strong pace on the mediums, feeling also like I was playing the team game and not getting rewarded with a good result, which obviously leaves you always with a sour feeling.
‘Sour feeling’;
https://www.planetf1.com/news/explai...-carlos-sainz/
Ferrari chief dismisses Sainz's ‘FOOL’ claims after Austrian GP
Tuesday 4 July 2023 18:42
Shay Rogers
GPFans
Ferrari President John Elkann has dismissed Carlos Sainz's claims that he was treated 'like a fool' during the Austrian Grand Prix, after the Scuderia chief claimed that "everyone is happy". Speaking to Fox Sports Premium MX, Sainz claimed that “You are being a team player all the time and you have the pace, but some decisions by the team leave you like a fool.”
But according to TuttoSport, Ferrari President John Elkann was pleased with the result, and the signs of improvement that his team are showing as the year progresses. “Today was the best race of the season. Everyone is happy. It was good to see Sainz fighting for the third position with Red Bull; it means we’re going in the right direction. The mood of the drivers is good and positive, and they showed that during the race. We’re seeing progress, and this is what we needed.”
‘Progress’;
https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/11...ohn-elkann-f1/
Ferrari’s Frédéric Vasseur: Austria result “proves we are working in the right direction”
July 4, 2023
By Ashley Cline
The Checkered Flag
Scuderia Ferrari came away from the Austrian Grand Prix with solid points and increased confidence in the potential of their upgraded SF-23, with Charles Leclerc securing second place and Carlos Sainz crossing the line fourth before being hit with a post-race track limits penalty that brought him down to sixth.
Ferrari Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur: “Today’s strong result for the team, added to yesterday’s podium with Carlos, proves we are working in the right direction. If we look back, we had a good race in Canada and today we confirmed the progress made on a completely different track layout with a different surface. We still need to make another step forward if we want to fight with Red Bull and we are working hard to achieve that.”
“Working in the right direction”;
https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...ght-direction/
Sainz “frustrated” over Ferrari strategy as he remains without a podium in 2023
2023 Austrian Grand Prix
Posted on 3rd July 2023, 15:05
Written by Ida Wood and Claire Cottingham
RaceFans
Carlos Sainz Jnr said the Austrian Grand Prix was one of his strongest performances of 2023 but believes Ferrari’s strategy compromised his race. Sainz said Ferrari “need to analyse what we could have done” when he was brought into the pits behind his team mate after the VSC was deployed. “Clearly my race was compromised by that pit stop there. I guess the team had a reason to stop both cars. And if not, I don’t know.”
“We had agreed before the race to work as a team in the first stint to open the gap to the cars behind, so they didn’t want to fight. I followed the plan, even though I had quite a bit of pace and I was quite comfortable there and probably could have gone faster. It’s a shame that after all doing the teamwork and then the pit stop arrives, and you’re compromised the way I [was].”
Sainz reckoned a double Ferrari podium “was possible, especially with the pace I had.” “I’m just frustrated. It’s been a few races that I have a lot of pace in the car, a lot of race pace, and I wish I could maximise it a bit more,” said Sainz, who would have matched his best 2023 result of fourth had he not been penalised. I’m very quick this year, especially in the races. I feel like I’ve done a big step forward, if you look at my pace yesterday and today. But P4 I guess [was] not bad. But I think today P2 or P3 was in our hands.”
“Frustrated”;
https://www.racefans.net/2023/07/03/...odium-in-2023/
