Method 1 heads into the second spherical of a European triple header this weekend for Spherical 10 of the 2024 FIA Method 1 World Championship in Austria.
Max Verstappen will probably be searching for his third consecutive win after taking the chequered flag on the final two tightly-contested races, whereas Lando Norris will probably be hoping to proper the wrongs of final weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, the place he admitted he ought to’ve taken victory.
Scuderia Ferrari may even be hoping to be again within the combine this weekend, after two tough races for Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc, the place their greatest end was fifth. Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Staff will probably be hoping for a 3rd consecutive prime three end, with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton standing on the rostrum in Canada and Spain respectively.
Visa Money App RB will probably be hoping to bounce again after a poor weekend in Spain, which noticed the debut of their new improve package deal disappoint. Daniel Ricciardo wants one other good weekend, with feedback from Dr. Helmut Marko suggesting his time at RB is underneath menace. The Australian has been in respectable type of late although, beating his teammate within the final two rounds.
Aston Martin Armaco F1 Staff had been pointless in Spain, whereas BWT Alpine F1 Staff will probably be hoping for a double factors end for the third time in a row. Pierre Gasly has scored factors on the final three rounds, and has simply signed a brand new long run extension with the group.
Learn under to search out out what the groups have been saying forward of the race weekend, with quotes from the Oracle Purple Bull Racing, McLaren F1 Staff, RB, Alpine, MoneyGram Haas F1 Staff, Williams Racing and Stake F1 Staff Kick Sauber drivers, as nicely the Ferrari and Mercedes group principals.
Max Verstappen — Oracle Purple Bull Racing
“We at all times really feel actually welcome and revel in coming again to Austria, being a house race for Purple Bull. The surroundings and mountains round listed here are nice and it’s at all times good to see the Orange Military followers right here and actually really feel that help from the grandstand.
“It’s one other Dash race this weekend, which at all times finally ends up being a busy and busy weekend for us. It’s actually vital to nail the arrange of the automotive right away and analyse how greatest we construct and enhance on our earlier races, particularly as qualifying is at all times shut right here.
“The observe lends itself to a variety of overtaking so I’m positive it is going to be an thrilling race. The Staff carried out nicely right here final 12 months so hopefully we will do the followers proud this weekend and produce it residence with one other win.”
Sergio Perez — Oracle Purple Bull Racing
“I had a tough weekend in Spain however it’s one now we have learnt from. I struggled with the stability of the automotive all weekend. We couldn’t get the set-up constant and in a window for qualifying or to race the race we wished, the grid place penalty additionally harmed us.
“This weekend in Austria now we have every little thing in place to have a cleaner weekend, the Staff and I do know the place we should enhance and make modifications and we are going to implement them. It’s then my job to get essentially the most out of the automotive, we’ll have restricted operating as a result of Dash weekend, so I have to profit from first apply and assault qualifying and the Dash from the beginning.
“We would like and want an entire weekend. Austria is at all times an amazing race, it’s Purple Bull’s residence and that makes for a superb environment, I’m wanting ahead to it.
Fred Vasseur — Scuderia Ferrari
“The upgrades launched in Spain labored as anticipated, however clearly our opponents haven’t been twiddling their thumbs, and in the mean time there are 4 groups all inside lower than three tenths of each other.
“Now now we have Austria, a observe that takes just a bit over a minute to lap, in order that these aforementioned gaps might change into even smaller.
“We will probably be focusing fully on ourselves, as a result of in Spielberg every tiny element could make a distinction. This weekend additionally sees the return of the Dash format, so the work carried out again in Maranello turns into much more vital, as there is just one hour of free apply previous to qualifying.
“Everybody within the group, together with the drivers, should be on prime of their sport to make sure we don’t miss any alternatives that come our manner. That applies to qualifying, particularly when up towards such robust opponents and likewise by way of how we execute the race. I wish to see us step up a gear in Austria.”
Lando Norris — McLaren F1 Staff
“I’m excited for the Austrian Grand Prix. It’s a very enjoyable observe to drive, and I’ve some nice reminiscences from over time, so I’m wanting ahead to getting on the market. The followers are at all times enthusiastic and create an amazing environment.
“The automotive is in an amazing spot, we’ll take what we discovered from Spain and use it to maintain pushing. We’re not targeted on setting particular targets, our purpose is to maintain enhancing what we do every weekend and we let the outcomes converse for themselves. Let’s see what we will do.”
Oscar Piastri — McLaren F1 Staff
“I can’t wait to get to Austria and hit the bottom operating. I’m actually wanting ahead to getting again within the automotive on Friday and dealing laborious with the engineers to start out the weekend on the entrance foot.
“I used to be aiming for a lot extra in Barcelona however coming away with factors from a irritating one retains issues ticking over. Credit score to the group for the job they’re persistently doing and hopefully we will all preserve the momentum going.”
Toto Wolff — Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Staff
“We knew Barcelona can be measure of our latest progress. The group has labored laborious to enhance the W15 at circuits with a large nook velocity vary, like Barcelona. These incremental positive aspects helped us construct on the momentum from Montreal.
“Though we didn’t have the final word tempo to compete for the win, it was encouraging to be within the combine. Lewis scored a well-deserved podium and George managed his closing stint nicely to take P4. We got here away from the weekend with strong factors however we all know there may be extra work to do to be in with a sensible likelihood of preventing for victories. That work is ongoing, and we’re on a optimistic trajectory.
“We head to Austria trying to proceed that optimistic progress. It’s a very totally different circuit to final weekend. There’s loads of low to mid-speed content material, punctuated by some longer straights. That can present one other problem and reference level for our automotive.
“The group on the entrance of the sphere is tightly packed and we should be at our greatest to problem for the rostrum as soon as once more.”
Daniel Ricciardo — Visa Money App RB
“I’ve received many causes to be enthusiastic about Austria: it’s my 250th F1 Grand Prix, which is fairly wild. I’m going to run a particular helmet design for this weekend, which needs to be enjoyable and it’s a house race for Purple Bull, on the Purple Bull Ring, so there’s at all times a variety of help there.
“It’s good for the group, for the model, it’s a particular one. We’ll be trying to try to flip issues round after Barcelona. We don’t have a lot time because it’s a Dash weekend with just one apply, so we actually should hit the bottom operating. We’re prepared for it!”
Yuki Tsunoda — Visa Money App RB
“I just like the Purple Bull Ring and I benefit from the place itself and the encompassing countryside as I really like nature. I additionally just like the meals, particularly the Schnitzel! It’s a house observe for the Purple Bull household, so I hope we will carry out nicely.
“It’s one other Dash weekend so we solely get the one hour of Free Observe, after which each session counts for one thing. I do know everybody has been working very laborious again within the manufacturing facility to grasp why we had such a tough time in Spain and hopefully, we will make up for it this weekend.”
Pierre Gasly — BWT Alpine F1 Staff
“I flew again from Barcelona feeling actually happy as now we have now made it three points-scoring finishes in a row. Though it’s solely small factors, it’s been three good performances the place we’ve managed to enhance the general package deal even with out including any updates to the automotive.
“We should preserve pushing on and goal a continuation of this way as each level will depend by the tip of the 12 months in a good Championship battle. In fact, there was just a little little bit of disappointment to not be eighth place on Sunday however to be preventing a Purple Bull on advantage proper up till the ultimate lap reveals our degree enchancment and that’s satisfying.
“Triple headers are at all times difficult. After Barcelona we’re straight into Austria and for a busy Dash weekend. Spielberg is a brief lap, the shortest for lap instances in the course of the 12 months, with solely 9 corners. It’s a difficult one with kerbs, laborious braking zones and a variety of high-speed corners.
“It’s at all times an excellent occasion in Austria, an amazing environment and a spot I’ve loved racing. We should take our learnings from Barcelona – particularly excessive velocity efficiency and stability – and apply them right here this weekend.
“Because it’s a Dash now we have to be on the tempo right away and put ourselves ready to compete in each races.”
Esteban Ocon — BWT Alpine F1 Staff
“It was encouraging for us to have efficiency all through the entire weekend in Barcelona the place we once more completed in tenth place and added vital factors to the Constructors’ Championship.
“The automotive was comparatively aggressive proper from the beginning of the weekend and we managed to ship all through Qualifying and be in Q3. The race, on my aspect, was barely tougher.
“There was a variety of sliding and the automotive stability was tough however, even so, we completed comfortably contained in the factors and that’s optimistic. We simply have to assess these particulars to enhance for subsequent time.
“I’ve at all times preferred racing in Austria. I’ve some fond reminiscences right here. Again in 2020, after a 12 months out from racing, racing in Spielberg was the primary one of many season. I keep in mind the very moist Qualifying that 12 months after we managed to qualify in fifth.
“In 2022, we had weekend right here, taking ten factors in fifth place. The observe itself is brief so normally the sphere is shut and each hundredth and thousandth of a second counts. We have now to get our excessive velocity stability proper and the purpose for us is preserve the optimistic pattern going, which implies a watch on Q3 once more and, in fact, useful factors.”
Nico Hülkenberg— Haas F1 Staff
“It’s a brief observe that packs in a variety of enjoyable. The size of the circuit means it bunches us all up over qualifying, which is a problem, however now we have two alternatives because it’s a Dash.
“Final 12 months I scored factors across the Purple Bull Ring, so I do know it may be completed, and we wish to be again scoring factors, in order that’s the mission this weekend.”
Kevin Magnussen — Haas F1 Staff
“It’s a enjoyable observe; I’ve received some good reminiscences from the Purple Bull Ring, that’s the place we’ve had our greatest group end result so I’m wanting ahead to going there once more. We have now fairly an environment friendly automotive so hopefully with our good straight-line velocity we may be good there.
“There’s nonetheless a good variety of high-speed corners, which is probably not our energy, however we appear to be fairly persistently good at most tracks. I’m simply wanting ahead to a enjoyable Dash weekend.”
Alex Albon — Williams Racing
“As we depart Barcelona and head to Austria for the second spherical of the triple header, we hope to bounce again after a troublesome weekend.
“With Austria being a Dash weekend, in addition to the truth that the climate is perhaps an element, there will probably be a possibility to realize end result. On paper, this observe fits our automotive greater than Barcelona so let’s see what the weekend brings.”
Logan Sargeant — Williams Racing
“I’m wanting ahead to heading again to Austria for the second race of the triple header. It needs to be a greater observe for us than Spain, and it’s at all times an thrilling observe to drive with loads of fast corners and lengthy straights.
“The Dash Race will open up some further alternatives, and it seems to be like some rain might have an effect on the race on Sunday, so it’s all to play for.”
Valtteri Bottas — Stake F1 Staff Kick Sauber
“I’ve loved racing in Austria because it was reintroduced on the calendar, and I’m wanting ahead to being again; the observe is an thrilling one, with its fast corners and gradient modifications, and along with the beautiful views and the followers, it’s an general nice expertise.
“Races right here can have a variety of motion and there are a variety of overtaking spots, so it may be enjoyable: I’ve had a collection of fine outcomes right here, too, together with two wins and some podiums, in addition to my first ever one again in 2014 – I can’t imagine it’s been a decade since!
“Wanting again at Barcelona, we had been in a greater place than earlier occasions, however there may be nonetheless some work to be completed to be repeatedly again within the prime ten. With this being a Dash occasion, it’s vital to get the sensation proper from the beginning of the weekend and construct our efficiency on it.”
Zhou Guanyu — Stake F1 Staff Kick Sauber
“It’s good to be again in Spielberg: I’ve loved racing right here over the previous few years and I count on one other entertaining weekend. The observe format is somewhat distinctive – brief, with a number of corners and massive braking zones – and this enables for some thrilling on-track motion: the low variety of corners additionally means each is much more essential when setting a lap in qualifying.
“As we head into the race weekend, I’m motivated and desirous to get again on observe: our efficiency in Barcelona was undoubtedly encouraging, nearer to the place we had been at the start of the season, and all of us, each trackside and again residence in Hinwil, are working laborious to shut the hole.
“Everyone knows how only a tenth might make an amazing distinction in qualifying, and the way that’s much more decisive throughout a Dash occasion. We should preserve targeted and stay on the prime of our sport all weekend lengthy, giving our most on and off the observe.”
