F1 Austrian GP: The halfway stage of the F1 2022 season will be marked at the Austrian Grand Prix as Red Bull looks to continue their dominance at the Red Bull Ring. Meanwhile, Ferrari, McLaren, and AlphaTauri will look to change their fortunes and get their season back on track. Follow Formula 1 Updates and Austrian Grand Prix Live on InsideSport.IN.
The top three teams in the standings which are Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes are fighting it out for the championship this season as Red Bull looks far more competitive against the other two teams. But, the rest of the teams are fighting it out for the midfield spot like the McLarens and AlphaTauri’s. Let’s take a look at the teams which feature on this list.
F1 Austrian GP: Ferrari
Ferrari did have a good result under their belt at the British GP but they have given away many points to Red Bull and to that extent even the race wins too. Carlos Sainz managed to win his first F1 race in his 150th race start but the Italian side made it tough for themselves and couldn’t capitalize on getting big points to cut the deficit of Red Bull.
🇬🇧 Winning my first F1 GP, with Ferrari and this crowd, in Silverstone… Amazing. It was a tough race mentally with fights, a restart, fuel-saving, Safety-Car… But we made it. Let’s enjoy today, but full focus on Austria tomorrow!
–#Carlossaiz pic.twitter.com/upe6WbNxac
— Carlos Sainz (@Carlossainz55) July 3, 2022
Meanwhile, the strategic calls they took also saw Leclerc drop from the podium finishes and finish fourth. Both the drivers were desperate for a good result but Sainz has one under his belt and Leclerc still reels to find that one result that will get his season back on track.
Moreover, this time the race is in the home of Red Bull as they have dominated the Red Bull Ring over the years. Max Verstappen would be eyeing a change of fortunes after finishing seventh in British. Ferrari needs to step up as Red Bull won in their home race and give a sucker punch to the Milton-Keynes side.
McLaren
Lando Norris has been finishing in the top ten this season barring just three races in which he registered one DNF and two 15th spot finishes in Bahrain and Canada. But he hasn’t been able to push his team ahead in the standings or even in the race finishes as his best finish came in Imola where he claimed the third spot.
On top of it, Daniel Ricciardo has had a torrid start to the 2022 season as only twice he has managed to finish in the top ten. The Australian’s best finish this season came at his home race in Australia where he showed great race pace and claimed the sixth spot. But, apart from it, he has been reeling behind as he hasn’t been able to prove his worth to the side.
This honey badger loves to sprint. 💨#AustrianGP 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/pIUqjbup9R
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) July 6, 2022
If McLaren needs to be on top of the midfield fight then they have to change their approach and just back their drivers. If not, then things are looking a bit shaky for them and they will somehow give in to the pressure they have from their surroundings.
AlphaTauri
The sister concern team of Red Bull, AlphaTauri have been reeling behind this season and are placed seventh overall behind Alpine and Alfa Romeo. Both their drivers have also not put up a show where they really showcased their class.
Yuki Tsunoda has had two top-ten finishes till now but also has one DNS and one DNF against his name. His best finish this season came at Imola where he claimed the seventh spot but other than that he has not been able to prove his worth to the side.
After 10 rounds… #BritishGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/UsVsT4D38d
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 3, 2022
Pierre Gasly, who recently signed a new contract with the team locking him till 2023, also endured a poor start to the season. He has three DNFs against his name and his best finish came at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix where he finished fifth overall. The team is seventh and isn’t in the right spot as they should be in the top five. But, at the Austrian GP, they will look to change their fortunes and get a kick start to their season.
