......which takes place over 71 laps of the 4.318-kilometre Red Bull Ring in Spielberg on Sunday, June 27.
USUAL REMINDER>>>> GET YOUR BLOODY GTP TIPS IN.
Link: http://www.the-fastlane.co.uk/forums/vi ... 17&t=17153
(You might want to check the weather forecast.... see below)
So, it’s advantage Verstappen after France but can Hamilton hit back in Red Bull’s backyard?
For the first time in years, we are arriving at Grands Prix not knowing who is going to win.
Up until last year, the Red Bull Ring has become a happy hunting ground for owners Red Bull, with Max Verstappen triumphing in 2018 and 2019. But when they were expected to triumph at the Austrian double header in 2020 – they didn’t deliver the goods. So what Red Bull can we expect this year? And will Mercedes rebound from their strategic defeat in France?
First Grand Prix
1970
Number of Laps
71
Circuit Length
4.318km
Race Distance
306.452 km
Lap Record
1:05.619 Carlos Sainz (2020)
Spielberg
When was the track built?
The fearsome, original Osterreichring was originated in 1969 as a replacement for the Zeltweg airfield circuit. The track known today as the Red Bull Ring was more or less created over the winter of 1995-6, when Hermann Tilke was engaged to turn the Osterreichring into a shorter, more modern race track.
When was its first Grand Prix?
The A1-Ring, as it was then called, was opened in 1996, with Formula 1 arriving at the circuit a year later. Jacques Villeneuve won the race, while Jean Alesi had a spectacular crash when his Benetton climbed up the Ferrari of Eddie Irvine. Alesi’s team mate Gerhard Berger, meanwhile, used his home Grand Prix to announce his F1 retirement.
What’s the circuit like?
It’s only wee, bless it, but the Red Bull Ring packs a lot into a short lap. The first half rewards power, as the cars blast along three straights separated by a pair of uphill right-handers. But then as the drivers work their way downhill, the circuit becomes a regular toboggan ride, as the cars canyon through a series of quick corners, including the exhilarating Rindt right-hander, named for Austria’s first F1 champion.
(The videos are there, you just have to click to watch on youtube)
Heidfeld smashes into Sato, Hamilton and Rosberg come to blows and Ferrari team orders are met with a chorus of boos - the Spielberg track has never been short on drama.
Weather Forecast.
the weather forecast for the free practice, race and qualifying sessions.
The Styrian round is the first of two at the Red Bull Ring this season, and we have a mighty title scrap on our hands as Lewis Hamilton trails Max Verstappen by 12 points and Mercedes are 37 points behind the home team Red Bull.
But will it be rain or shine in Spielberg this weekend?
The forecast, below, is looking increasingly adverse with showers expected throughout the weekend and a decent chance of rain on race day. Scroll down for the full forecast.
The Styrian GP weather forecast, with a 40%+ chance of rain every day
FRIDAY, JUNE 25 – FP1 AND FP2 WEATHER
Conditions: Partly cloudy and quickly unsettled from the middle morning to the evening. The chance of thundery showers will increase from noon. FP2 could be wet.
Maximum temperature expected: 25 Celsius
Chance of rain: 40%
SATURDAY, JUNE 26 – FP3 AND QUALIFYING WEATHER
Conditions: Sunny spells during the morning followed by another unsettled afternoon. Low chance of rain for FP3, increasing to moderate for qualifying.
Maximum temperature expected: 22 Celsius
Chance of rain: 40%
SUNDAY, JUNE 27 – RACE WEATHER
Conditions: Unsettled with a moderate chance of rain for the race.
Maximum temperature expected: 21 Celsius
Chance of rain: 40%
TYRES
what tyres will Pirelli bring for the 2021 Styrian Grand Prix?
For this weekend's Grand Prix, Pirelli have supplied teams with C2 (hard), C3 (medium) and C4 (soft) tyres. That's the same allocation that drivers used for the French Grand Prix. However, the tyres are once step softer for the Austrian Grand Prix on July 2-4 – with C3, C4 and C5 compounds in use.
Mario Isola, Pirelli's Head of F1 and Car Racing, explained: "Once again after last year Austria hosts a back-to-back race, which means that the teams have plenty of data on this track and recent experience of how to deal with its particular challenges and tactics.
Pirelli's infographic for the 2021 Styrian Grand Prix. Min starting pressures: 21.5 psi (front) | 20.0 psi (rear); EOS Camber Limit -3.50° (front) | -1.75° (rear)
"However, having two different tyre nominations is a first for the Red Bull Ring, so it's going to be interesting to see how the teams get to grips with the softest C5 tyres for the second race weekend – and how the new selection influences strategy in order to create different opportunities compared to the preceding Steiermark [Styrian] Grand Prix."
Pirelli add that the Austrian round has been a one-stop contest in the past, but the softer nomination for July's Austrian Grand Prix could push teams to stop twice.
LAST YEAR
A lot has happened in the last 12 months, and this weekend we’re heading back to the venue that re-started Formula 1 after the COVID-19 pandemic hit, with a familiar feel to the races ahead. Just like last year, there will be two races on consecutive weekends at the same track - the first time it’s happened this season
On both occasions in 2020 we saw drama and excitement in Austria, with the final laps often seeing something special.
The first race saw late contact between Lewis Hamilton and Alex Albon earn the defending champion a time penalty and leave him vulnerable, with Valtteri Bottas winning, Charles Leclerc being promoted to a surprise second and Lando Norris producing the fastest lap of the race on the final lap to pip Hamilton to third.
Although Hamilton responded with a stunning lap in the wet to take pole for race two and went on to win, another remarkable finish followed when Sergio Perez hit Albon fighting for fourth, broke his front wing, and Norris overtook Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll and then Perez into the final corner to snatch fifth.
Last lap Lando.....
Discuss away..... or, let the massed debating for the Styrian race commence.
) I like a good prediction game as 
