2026 Austrian Grand Prix - Spielberg, June 26 - 28

[CjC]

Wow, as usual it looks tight here. 4 teams in it as well too

[search]

Antonelli didn't improve on the 2nd set of softs, after having almost a half a second advantage on the first one. So I would think he normally should have significant room for improvement.

But on the other hand, Mercedes tends to drop back from FP3 to Quali, so maybe there's hope for the competition indeed.

[venkyhere]

watch out for Ferrari in Quali

[atanatizante]

We're seeing the same top speed delta between Ferrari PU cars and Mercedes, driven by a conservative PU map and different deployment mappings. That said, they seem to have cranked up the power a bit, so the real speed delta probably won't show until Q3. This is encouraging given the FP3 timesheets. It's the same strategy (progressively ramping up the power) they used in Barcelona, with the caveat that they had to run conservatively here due to the new upgraded ICE.

[erudite450]

So far this season, the new race director has been using the VSC properly. I have felt at some points in the last few seasons that the safety car was being overused.

On a related note, I hope he won't be afraid to allow the drivers race in the wet when the time comes.

[Badger]

We're seeing the same top speed delta between Ferrari PU cars and Mercedes, driven by a conservative PU map and different deployment mappings. That said, they seem to have cranked up the power a bit, so the real speed delta probably won't show until Q3. This is encouraging given the FP3 timesheets. It's the same strategy (progressively ramping up the power) they used in Barcelona, with the caveat that they had to run conservatively here due to the new upgraded ICE.

Disagree. This seems like a very normal trace gap given we know they are still not equal on power. Just slightly different deployment strats.

[venkyhere]

https://postimg.cc/14gDZsRJ https://postimages.org/

We're seeing the same top speed delta between Ferrari PU cars and Mercedes, driven by a conservative PU map and different deployment mappings. That said, they seem to have cranked up the power a bit, so the real speed delta probably won't show until Q3. This is encouraging given the FP3 timesheets. It's the same strategy (progressively ramping up the power) they used in Barcelona, with the caveat that they had to run conservatively here due to the new upgraded ICE.

The speed trap is in sector2 just before T4, but it's excluded from the 'sector2 top speed' data. So not sure whether Ferrari are really 'hiding' or whether they have a different deployment strategy to the others.
I am noticing another anomaly - top speed of VER in the twisties & start-finish line, is much lower than HAD, whilst the sector1 and T4 top speeds aren't that far apart. Which could mean VER was driving with 'more than quali level' fuel load, thus penalizing his acceleration.

That said, I still think Mercedes were running conservative PU mode in FP3 and that they will leapfrog everyone else by atleast 3 tenths, come Q3.

[PlatinumZealot]

Georgie boy struggling. Mental blow again by the italian teen.

[PlatinumZealot]

Charles finally gets a tiny upper hand after being on the back foot all weekend.

[PlatinumZealot]

Lucky Maxie boy.

[search]

that was a very tiny lift by Russell

[djones]

Surely that’s not only a lap deleted but a penalty for George?

[F1NAC]

that was a very tiny lift by Russell

But it wasnt single yellow…

[FrukostScones]

that will not gonna stand surely?

[Mogster]

that was a very tiny lift by Russell

Aye. When he could see someone’s gone in hard against the barriers also…