EL2 at the Red Bull Ring: Hamilton and Mercedes continue

For now, this Austrian Grand Prix (July 3-5) is a bit The Sound of Music in the clan Mercedes. The W11 and their famous double-axis direction unfold their score, skillfully led by the soloists Lewis Hamilton et Valtteri Bottas. 

After being the fastest in Free Practice 1, the six-time world champion doubled the lead on Friday afternoon with a time of 1'04''304 at the end of the 4,318 km Styrian route. The Finn finished at 0”197. 

The teasing minds (of which we are one of course) will say that Mercedes achieves the hat-trick since Sergio Pérez and his Racing Point RP 20, strongly inspired by the 2019 Flèche d'Argent, set the 3rd fastest time, nevertheless more than six tenths behind. The latest version will always go faster but the Pink Panthers show great promise. 

Timorous in the morning, the Ferrari SF1000 are showing a little more of their scarlet snout this afternoon. Sebastian Vettel is in 4th place, 0”657 behind the leading Mercedes. The German is one breath ahead of the highest ranked Renault RS20, that of Daniel Ricciardo. The Australian precedes his future teammate McLaren Lando Norris and the second Racing Point of Lance stroll. 

Victim of leaving the track at turn 6, Max Verstappen must settle for 8th time, more than 9 tenths behind Hamilton's time. Charles Leclerc and his Ferrari follow closely. His future sidekick in Maranello, Carlos Sainz (McLaren), completes the Top 10 at the gates of which Esteban Ocon fails very narrowly. 

In the second half of the table, we find the French Romain Grosjean (Haas) and Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri) in 16th and 17th place respectively. Discreet session also for Alfa Romeo (Antonio Giovinazzi is 14th, Kimi Räikkönen 19th), while Nicholas latifi (Williams) brings up the rear. 

Summary of this Friday day: Mercedes enters the first qualifying session of the season as the big favorite. Not really a surprise.