F1 Styrian Grand Prix qualifying LIVE: FP3 CANCELLED, qualifying could happen tomorrow, Hamilton may face quarantine – The Sun
LEWIS HAMILTON ended practice two in a disappointing sixth place as Max Verstappen took the lead in a crucial session.
With torrential rain forecast all day today, there is a chance that qualifying may not be held at all with yesterday's positions forming the grid on Sunday.
- Practice one result: 1) Verstappen 2) Bottas 3) Perez
- Start time: 2pm
- FP3 cancelled due to torrential rain.
- Ross Brawn says qualifying may have to be held tomorrow.
- Practice two positions will form the starting grid if qualifying cannot take place.
- Lewis Hamilton 6th in FP2.
- Hamilton could be quarantined in Hungary.
- Rain forecast all day today.
Follow all the latest build-up in our live blog below…
DOING THINGS BY HALF
Half points have been awarded in Formula 3 after the race was abandoned.
UNDER LOCK AND KEY
Lewis Hamilton faces being QUARANTINED for next week's Hungarian Grand Prix, writes SunSport's Ben Hunt.
The FIA had hoped to get an exemption for all of those who have been part of F1's bubble given the strict testing protocols for Covid-19.
However, it is understood that Hungarian ministers have taken a dim view of pictures of pubs being opened and overcrowded beaches.
While all European residents will be free to travel to the track and walk around the city, UK citizens have been told they must stay locked in their hotels when not at the track.
It means that drivers, Hamilton, Lando Norris and George Russell, not to mention key team members such as F1 chief, Ross Brawn, and team bosses Christian Horner and Claire Williams risk a whopping €15,000 fine for driving to and from the F1 track – or even popping out for bowl of goulash.
RICCIARDO FINE
Daniel Ricciardo has been given the all-clear to race after his horror crash.
The Australian was seen limping after he climbed out of his car – which took huge damage.
But Ricciardo said: “I'm OK. I just hit my knee on the steering column when it came in.
“I'm just a bit bruised. But they checked it – literally just some bruising.
“So it's all good. I'm fine.”
QUALIFYING COULD BE HELD TOMORROW
So with the heavens opening, plan B will be for qualifying to be held tomorrow morning.
This was the case with Austin in 2015 and Japan in 2019.
If that can't happen then they would take times from the latest practice session.
That would ordinarily be P3 but as it's pouring they would refer to P2.
RAINED OFF
As it continues to pour in Austria…
RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY
Well, reports from the ground in Austria have confirmed it is absolutely belting down there currently.
There were early rumours the F3 race could be limited in terms of laps.
HAMILTON ON ALONSO'S RETURN
The two have a famously frosty relationship.
And Hamilton is not so sure all of Alonso's experience will count for all that much.
He said: “I would imagine there's pros and cons [on being experienced].
“Experience counts for a lot and particularly when you're working for a team like Renault, who like every team are pushing to develop and move forwards and evolve, experience can help the team move in the right direction. That will definitely be a bonus for them.
“I don't know what it's like to be 40 yet so I don't know about the physical challenges.”
SEB STORY
Lewis Hamilton hopes that Sebastian Vettel does not call time on his F1 career after leaving Ferrari at the end of the season.
“If Seb was to stop before his time I think that would be a shame, I think he's got a lot more to give to the sport and a lot more to achieve,” said Hamilton, who overtook Vettel's trophy haul in 2018.
“It's all about making sure we have as many top drivers as possible, so we want to keep the world champions.
“Seb is a world champion, Fernando is a world champion, and I think that's only good for the sport.”
WELCHAM HOME
Lewis Hamilton has welcomed the return of his former McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso to Formula One.
“Why would I not?” Hamilton said asked about the Spaniard's comeback.
“Ultimately, I think the more top drivers we have, the better it is for the sport. I've not spoken to him so I don't know his reasons, but congratulations to him.”
Alonso won two F1 titles in 2005 and 2006 driving for Renault, while Hamilton has six wins and is going for his seventh this year.
GOOD MORNING F1 FANS
All eyes will be on the sky as Formula 1 teams wake up this morning.
Qualifying is set to begin at 2pm after FP3 at 11am but the high potential for thunderstorms and a huge downpour has those in doubt.
If qualifying and FP3 cannot take play today or on Sunday morning, the FP2 timesheet will be used to make up the grid.
And that would be good news for Max Verstappen, who was fastest in Friday practice. Another unpredictable day at the track saw the Red Bull ace beat Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, after the Mexican topped FP1.
Lance Stroll took fourth with Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton following behind.
The prospect of starting sixth did not please the defending world champion after a tough day on the track.
He said: “If we have to start in sixth, that would suck. I would be starting further back than I did last week, so it would make it challenging.
“We have a lot of work to do in the background to figure out why the car felt good in first practice and then dropped off.”
Elsewhere, the Ferraris both continued to struggle with Sebastian Vettel 16th and Charles Leclerc ninth in FP2.
Lando Norris will be demoted three places on whatever grid he is part of after a punishment for overtaking under yellow flags.
And the McLaren ace was left baffled by back pain under braking during Friday’s running.
He said: “I don't know where the pain is in my chest, and yeah I hit the brakes and the compression spikes up massively. So I'm just afraid to brake massively, which is not ideal around here.”
TV TIMES
Tuning in tomorrow?
Free Practice 3 gets underway at 11am UK time.
Then qualifying begins at 2pm with big fears over potential thunderstorms in the Styrian Mountains at that time.
Also scheduled, weather permitting, are the F2 and F3 support races.
The F3 race starts at 9.20am before F2 lights out at 3.35pm, with both series featuring two races over the weekend.
'MISTAKE'
Daniel Ricciardo accepted responsibility for the FP2 shunt that has set his Styrian GP hopes back quite a bit.
After a disappointing first weekend, the Aussie was seen limping away from his Renault after it hit the barrier at speed at the penultimate corner.
Ricciardo said: “It was a mistake, it all happened very quickly so I'm not sure what went wrong. I turned in and just lost the car straight away.
“I know these things happen with cars and in Formula One, so it's not out of the ordinary. I'm OK, however, I feel bad for the guys. We'll just move on.”
ALL ACTION
A very busy and potentially very decisive FP2 session in the books this afternoon.
EYE ON THE SKY
Tomorrow’s weather is set to play a huge part in the race outcome with rain predicted to hit the qualifying session.
So what is the current forecast?
Accuweather rate the chances of precipitation in Spielberg tomorrow as 76 per cent, with 45 per cent chance of thunderstorms.
Any thunder and lightning would likely stop the running in its tracks.
The morning/afternoon splits place slightly more emphasis on the chance of rain after lunch, making for a worrisome wait to see how the weather holds up.
And, of course, with the Red Bull Ring in the mountains there is always that extra level of unpredictability to consider…
BREATHLESS
Lando Norris has complained of a severe back pain that forced him to limit his time on track during practice for the Styrian GP.
The Brit, who took his maiden podium here at the Red Bull Ring last Sunday, has been left baffled by the agony.
He said: “I don't know where the pain is in my chest, and yeah I hit the brakes and the compression spikes up massively. So I'm just afraid to brake massively, which is not ideal around here.
“I feel fine now, and walking around, but it's something that when I'm driving just causes me a lot of pain, particularly in the high-speed corners and when I'm braking.
“I've spoken to my specialist and he tried to figure it out but it's not as obvious as just pointing it out and so on.
“I've been on painkillers and whatever but it's been setting me back a lot. It's been pretty frustrating.”
LEW'D HOPE NOT
Lewis Hamilton hopes tomorrow's qualifying does not get wiped out by adverse weather conditions.
The FP2 result will be instated as the race grid if qualifying is a wash-out and an alternative time on Sunday cannot be found – leaving the Mercedes man in sixth.
He said: “If we have to start in sixth, that would suck. I would be starting further back than I did last week, so it would make it challenging.
“We have a lot of work to do in the background to figure out why the car felt good in first practice and then dropped off.
“The others were quick and Valtteri had good pace, so hopefully we will be in a better position tomorrow.”
CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH
F1 have confirmed there have been no positive tests for the coronavirus in another week of testing.
A statement said: “The FIA and Formula 1 can today confirm that between Friday 3rd July and Thursday 9th July, 4566 tests for COVID-19 have been performed on drivers, teams and personnel.
“Of these, zero people have tested positive.”
TOP TEN
Here's how the drivers line up after FP2… and potentially for Sunday's race.
VERSTAPPEN TOPS FP2
Max Verstappen tops the timesheets ahead of Valtteri Bottas while Sergio Perez is third.
Hamilton only sixth fastest and is not happy. Plenty of work to do for Mercedes.
But what about Ferrari? Leclerc is ninth and Vettel 16th, behind the Williams of George Russell.
That is a shocker for the Italian team.
WOW, FERRARI ARE POOR
Vettel gets a crack on soft tyres but is released into the path of Nicholas Latifi.
The Williams rookie blasts past Vettel and says over the radio “I don't know what the Ferrari is doing.”
Neither do they, it seems….
FIVE MINUTES TO GO
And, Vettel's Ferrari is BEHIND George Russell's Williams.
That's incredible. Yes, I know it is practice, but still…
It shows you just how far Ferrari have fallen.
HAMILTON IS NOT HAPPY
This from Mercedes –
Lewis isn’t happy with the car, as can be seen from the gap to the front on a single lap.
We completed a set down in the garage to check what we can in session in terms of alignments etc.
We will make best use of the rest of the session on track and then be able to investigate more thoroughly this evening.
ALBON SPINS
Another high-profile error for Alex Albon, who spins off the track.
No blame for Lewis Hamilton on that occasions.
And what on the world champion? He is currently sixth quickest.
A WORD ON PIERRE GASLY
Who does not get many mentions here, but he is super angry at his AlphaTauri team.
Feels he is being used to give his teammate, Daniil Kvyat a tow and giving the Russian a better lap time.
Gasly is in 11th and Kvyat in 12th.
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