2024 Austrian Grand Prix, Saturday – LAT Images
Russell secured third position on the grid for the Austrian GP, surpassing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, whose best lap was invalidated for exceeding track limits at turn 6. He will start behind the current Formula 1 champion, Verstappen, who claimed pole position, and Norris, who qualified in second.
Russell’s performance in the Sprint Race was impressive, finishing fourth just a few hours before the main race qualifying session on Sunday.
In the Mercedes press release on Saturday, Russell expressed his satisfaction with the result of his third-place qualifying, stating: “We can be pleased with P3 and the starting position on the second row for tomorrow’s Grand Prix. The team has made tremendous efforts to bring our recent upgrades, and it’s fantastic to see that the car is performing well. We anticipate a tough battle with our competitors, especially Ferrari. Although we still seem to be slightly behind McLaren and Verstappen, we are moving in the right direction.”
The Sprint format introduced in 2024 allows teams to make changes to their cars between the Sprint Race and qualifying. Russell revealed that Mercedes made adjustments, including modifying the wing level, aiming to improve performance in long races. He mentioned: “We made some adjustments, including the wing level, after the Sprint. This should help us manage tire degradation during tomorrow’s race. We were willing to sacrifice some performance in a quick lap to enhance our race performance.”
Russell acknowledged that Verstappen and Norris have an advantage over Mercedes, stating: “Realistically, our race will probably be with those behind us. It is crucial that we do not compromise our race too much by fighting with them. Let’s wait and see how things unfold.” He concluded by highlighting the consistent qualifying performances among the top three places of the team in the last three races.
On the other hand, Lewis Hamilton, driving the other Mercedes car, had a less successful Saturday compared to Russell. He failed to overtake Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz in the Sprint Race, finishing in sixth place. Hamilton was also surpassed by his teammate and qualified in fifth.
“The Sprint turned out to be a bit frustrating,” reflected the seven-time Formula 1 champion. “I managed to get close to Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari, but I couldn’t fully challenge him. As a result, we made some adjustments to the car after the Sprint, which made a difference. We were able to improve its overall balance, allowing us to take a step forward. Although my middle sector fell slightly short, my last lap in Q3 was decent. P5 was an improvement over the Sprint Qualifying, so overall, it was an acceptable day,” he explained.
Hamilton continued, echoing Russell’s comments: “The changes we made to the car should benefit us in tomorrow’s race. I am hopeful that we will have a better race pace than we demonstrated in today’s Sprint. If we want to be in contention for a podium place, it will be crucial to overtake Sainz. Let’s wait and see what we can achieve,” he concluded.
Summing up Mercedes’ Saturday in Spielberg, team principal Toto Wolff said: “Overall, it was a solid day for us, but it also highlighted what we are currently lacking to compete at the front. Both George and Lewis had good performances in the Sprint – as usual, it’s challenging to gain positions when everyone is on the same tires. However, George drove well to regain his position against Sainz and finish in P4, with Lewis right behind in P6.
“We made some adjustments to the setup for qualifying in order to provide the drivers with a more balanced car for tomorrow’s race,” the Austrian emphasized.
“As we saw yesterday, Max was unbeatable in the high-speed corners during the second half of the lap, and the two McLarens remained frustratingly close but out of reach. Our drivers are separated by just six hundredths of a second – with another car between them. We inherited a position from Piastri, which puts both cars on the clean side of the grid for the start, and we hope to be able to push hard from there to score as many points as possible.
“The Sprint demonstrated how evenly matched the top four teams are, and a tenth of a second in the right part of the track can make all the difference. So, we hope to be able to maintain the momentum in tomorrow’s race,” Wolff concluded.
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Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen secured an exciting victory at the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday. Verstappen, from the Red Bull Racing team, led the race from start to finish, surpassing his competitors and securing the first position on the podium.
The race in Monaco is known to be one of the most challenging on the Formula 1 calendar, due to its narrow streets and tight corners. However, Verstappen demonstrated skill and determination in mastering the track and resisting the pressure from his rivals.
This is Verstappen’s second consecutive victory this season, consolidating his position as one of the main drivers in the championship. With this result, he also extended his lead in the drivers’ championship.
The second place went to Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, who fought to get closer to Verstappen but couldn’t overtake him. However, Hamilton showed his skill in defending his position against attacks from other drivers.
In third place, we had Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, who achieved an exciting podium for the Italian team. Leclerc, who is from Monaco, received warm support from his local fans throughout the race.
The next stage of the Formula 1 championship will be the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which promises to be another thrilling race. Verstappen and Hamilton will continue their battle for the title, while other drivers will seek to improve their performance and move up in the standings.
Formula 1 fans are certainly eager to see what the rest of the season holds and if Verstappen can maintain his advantage and win his first world title.
