Two spicy team duels, one with Mick Schumacher. In addition, the previously dominant world champion at his employer’s home race and frustrated title holders with a lot of activity ahead of them.
It’s going to be loud, it’s going to be orange, it’s going to be an atmospheric spectacle. The Austrian Grand Prix is set to become the next Max Verstappen show. The world champion and world championship leader in Formula 1 from the Netherlands did the preparatory work for a weekend full of points.
Verstappen and his fans
It is also worn by the loud “Orange Army”. Standing, sitting and cheering all along the course are his supporters. Orange is trump. “That was great,” said Verstappen after his sovereign victory in the sprint race.
Ferrari and the team duel
fans remember. Especially the current Ferrari team boss. “I heard the boos from the grandstand because I was here,” said Mattia Binotto. In 2001 it happened. The then team boss Jean Todt radioed Rubens Barrichello in Spielberg: “Let Michael pass for the championship.” (German: Let Michael pass for the championship.) Michael meant Michael Schumacher, who celebrated the second of his five World Cup triumphs in a row with the Scuderia that year. It became the prime example of team orders.
And that’s exactly what Binotto doesn’t want to waive in the responsible position. This in turn means that Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz could grind each other down in an internal duel. Closely watched by the competition who would benefit from it. “I don’t want to comment on that, but we accept it gratefully,” said Red Bulls motorsport boss Helmut Marko. By the way: Leclerc and Sainz follow behind Verstappen on pole.
Eyes on the number 47
Mick Schumacher was pretty pissed off. The fact that he is now ninth on the starting grid behind his teammate Kevin Magnussen (7th) and record world champion Lewis Hamilton (8th) should also motivate the 23-year-old after the first reduction in frustration. Even if he keeps the starting place, it would be the next points. But after he didn’t really feel supported by the team during the sprint, and certainly not by his teammate, he should have at least one in particular in his sights to overtake.
The back view
A four-time world champion, a two-time world champion. Together they are 75 years old. Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso. Neither of them even finished the sprint race that decided the starting grid on Sunday (3 p.m. / Sky). Alonso couldn’t even start in the Alpine, Vettel was called into the pits of Aston Martin one lap before the end. That means the highly decorated duo will have to start the race from behind. Oh yes, and Vettel is now driving and working on probation: Because he simply ran away frustrated at the drivers’ meeting on Friday, the race commissioners imposed a fine of 25,000 euros.
