🔥 Austrian GP is under way!

Hey there, Pole-sitters! 👋 

First of all, a warm welcome to all 89 of you who decided to join our newsletter since Tuesday.

We're thrilled to have you in the paddock, ready to rev those engines!

This week, we've got a tank full of exciting updates from Formula 1, and even the Qualifying results. Keep scrolling to see them.

Oh, and have you heard the latest pit lane gossip? The folks at Alpha Tauri are shaking things up like a carbon fiber cocktail! They're changing their name, and we can't wait to see what modern moniker they'll be strutting on the grid. In the meantime, we asked ChatGPT had some ideas.

If it were us, we’d be going for APEX Performance. 🥹 But you could say we’re kinda biased.

So, hang on tight! With the second sprint weekend on the horizon, this race promises a high-octane adventure you wouldn't want to miss.

🎖 Race Qualifying Results

⛰️ Racing at altitude

Austrian Grand Prix takes place at a track that sits a whopping 677 meters above sea level. That's higher than your average rollercoaster ride! Now, what does altitude have to do with racing? Well, my friend, the answer lies in the air.

Air gets thinner with altitude, and many things in a Formula 1 car depend on air pressure to work. Less air reduces car performance.

Compared with Canada, Red Bull Ring altitude decreases air density by roughly 7%. This means it also decreases drag and downforce as well.

As a result, teams will use more loaded rear wings despite the frequent straights of the circuit.

🟠 McLaren set for major upgrades ahead of Austrian GP

Oh, McLaren, McLaren... It seems like their season isn't going according to plan. They had one shining moment, but apart from that, they've been struggling to impress the crowd.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri could only scrape together a measly 17 points.

But McLaren is ready to turn up the heat in Austria with their first serious updates - a new floor, side pods, and sole cover.

At Silverstone, they will then introduce new wings and, in Hungary, an upgrade of the mechanical part of the car. - Read more

💄 AlphaTauri is getting a fancy makeover for the 2024 Formula 1 season

AlphaTauri, the team known for their bold fashion sense and occasional podium finishes, is shaking things up for the 2024 Formula 1 season.

Franz Tost, the longtime boss of AlphaTauri, is stepping aside at the end of this campaign.

In his place, the Ferrari racing director Laurent Mekies will take the wheel.

However, the changes don't stop with the management shuffling.

AlphaTauri is also getting a new name! In an interview with Austria's Kleine Zeitung, the 80-year-old Helmut Marko spilled the pit beans.

He revealed that come 2024, the team will have not one, but two new leaders: Laurent Mekies and the outgoing FIA general secretary, Peter Bayer.

So, the family ties are strong, and they're ready to unleash the full power of their sibling synergy. The team's goal is clear: to align themselves with Red Bull Racing as closely as possible within the regulations. - Read more

🤷‍♂️ Is Nyck de Vries Really F1 Material?

Uh-oh, looks like our F1 rookie, Nyck de Vries, is having a bumpy ride in his debut season with AlphaTauri. Poor Dutchman just can't catch a break in the cutthroat world of Formula 1.

And to add insult to injury, our Nyck finds himself stranded at the bottom of the championship, clutching onto zero points. His best finish so far has been a measly 12th place. That's a far cry from the high hopes we had for him when the season kicked off.

As the season trudges on, the doubts surrounding Nyck's racing abilities are growing faster than weeds in an untended garden. Rumors are swirling like a tornado in the paddock, suggesting that potential replacements might be looming on the horizon. - Read more

🔝 Perez is the king of overtakes

Sergio Perez became overtaking maestro of the track. This guy is a force to be reckoned with as he's left a trail of dust behind him while zooming past a whopping 25 cars!

Haas has been experiencing a few hiccups when it comes to race pace and strategies. They've been in a bit of a turtle race, with Magnussen and Hulkenberg being overtaken over 30 times this season, which is more than any other driver on the grid.

And now, let's shift our attention to Max Verstappen, who took over Checo’s Minister of Defense title as he's the only driver who hasn't been overtaken this season.

Alright, buckle up, and let's dive into the world of Formula 1 Sprints! Whether you're a die-hard racing fan or just casually curious about what all the hype is about, I've got the scoop on how these zippy events work.

So, back in 2021, the Sprint weekend burst onto the scene at the British Grand Prix. The idea was simple yet genius: let's have action-packed racing on all three days of the event. Who needs a nap when you've got adrenaline pumping through your veins, right?

Why did F1 introduce sprints?

Formula 1 is going the extra mile to make sure you're not left out of the global racing extravaganza, no matter where you find yourself on this beautiful planet.

The F1 Sprint is their way of giving fans exactly what they want—more races, more thrills! They heard the roar of the crowd, and they delivered.

How does it work?

An F1 Sprint, a bite-sized racing extravaganza, clocking in at around 100km or 62 miles. That's like compressing a regular race's adrenaline-pumping action into a concentrated burst of speed.

And here's the kicker: pit stops are not a mandatory pitfall! That means these daredevil drivers must push their cars to the limit without the luxury of pit stops to fix hiccups. It's a high-stakes gamble where strategy and tire management play a vital role.

Changes over the years

Sprint has been rocking the grid since 2021. Back then, there were only three venues bold enough to host these lightning-fast sprints.

On Friday, we had the good old qualifying session that set the stage for the main event on Sunday, and on Saturday, we had a shorter, snappier race known as the 'sprint qualifying session.' Sprint qualifying awarded points from 3 to 1 to the top three finishers and established the grid for Sunday’s grand prix.

In 2022, the points system decided to do a little makeover and crank up the excitement level by awarding points to the top eight drivers.

The driver who zooms to victory and claims the coveted P1 spot would now bag a whopping eight points. The points gradually slide down the scale, with eighth place earning a respectable one point.

Oh, and let's not forget, these points are not just a treat for the drivers but also for the constructors' championships.

Changes in 2023

In 2023 the number of sprint races is doubled, with six races across the globe. Also, changes have been made, with race weekends that include sprint races now featuring a change in format. Basically, there will be two completely separate races in one week.

Sprint Saturday ✨

🗓️ All-new weekend format

🔒Sunday's Grand Prix unaffected

⏱️ Friday's qualifying sets Sunday's grid

🆕 New Sprint Shootout qualifying session on Saturday that set’s the Sprint Grid

RELATED: The FIA decided to shake things up and tweak the rules for the Sprint Shootout. Drivers no longer need to use a new set of soft tires in SQ3. - Read more

Sprint Saturdays in 2023

We've got six events on the calendar this year, doubling the fun from the past two years. Azerbaijan kicked off the party in late April, and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc stole the show, taking pole position and victory in the Sprint.

Azerbaijan brought something extra special to the table. It was the first time ever that a Sprint was held on a street circuit instead of a permanent course.

But the fun doesn't stop there! We've got five more events coming your way.

First up, Austria this weekend at the Red Bull Ring. Then, we'll be revving our engines at Belgium's iconic Spa-Francorchamps. The fourth Sprint of the season will zoom off at the ultra-fast Lusail International Circuit in Qatar, a track making a comeback after a FIFA World Cup hiatus.

Then, the Circuit of the Americas in Texas will host a Sprint, and the year's final showdown will take place at Interlagos in Brazil. That means Brazil's track will be the only one to have hosted a Sprint in all three years since its inception.

Sprint Winners

Now, let's shift gears and take a quick look at the winners from previous Sprints in 2021 and 2022.

The man, the myth, the double world champion, Max Verstappen, dominated the Sprint scene, winning three out of six races. He kicked things off with a bang at Silverstone in 2021 and followed it up with triumphs at Imola and Austria.

Valtteri Bottas, the Finnish speedster, also left his mark on the Sprints, bagging two wins at Monza and Interlagos in 2021.

But let's not forget about George Russell, the rising star who made a name for himself in Brazil last year. He not only won the Sprint but also took home his first-ever Grand Prix victory the next day. - Source

🌳 Green is the new fast! Formula 1 is unleashing an energy generation system creating a jaw-dropping 90% carbon reduction in the Paddock, Pitlane, and F1 broadcast area compared to last year's Austrian GP. - Read more

🚫 Hamilton suggests a ban on early F1 car development work. Verstappen disgreees - Read more

💪 Verstappen backs compatriot De Vries after Marko's criticism. - Read more

📝 Leclerc and Ferrari start new F1 contract talks. - Read more

🏎️🏎️ Fernando Alonso has led calls from drivers to bring back one-shot qualifying as a solution to traffic problems around shorter grand prix tracks. - Read more

🕛 Bottas plotting a long career in F1 ahead of contract renewals - Read more

✋ Last year's Austrian GP was marred by sexist catcalling, inappropriate touching, and racist abuse. Lewis Hamilton hopes for a better, more inclusive race this weekend. - Read more

🔮 Alex Albon focuses on a long-term future with Williams in Formula 1 rather than running after Red Bull. - Read more

♻️ Lewis Hamilton welcomes the possibility of environmental protest at the British GP, but only if done in the right way and participants stay clear of the track. - Read more

💸 Toto Wolff has called for Formula 1's cost cap audit process to be completed "very early" to avoid a repeat of Red Bull in 2022. - Read more

🇦🇹 Scheduled June 30th – July 2nd

Red Bull Ring at Spielberg, Austria

TLDR;

1️⃣ Circuit length: 4.318 km
2️⃣ Number of laps: 71
3️⃣ Lap record: 1:05.619 Carlos Sainz (2020)
4️⃣ Corners & DRS: 13 corners with 2 DRS zones

Fun Fact: It’s been 353 days since Ferrari’s last win (2022 Austrian GP)

Schedule

Friday
17:00 - 18:00 Qualifying

Saturday
12:00 - 12:44 Sprint Shootout
16:30 - 17:00 Sprint

Sunday
15:00 Race

Tire preview from Pirelli

🌟 Just like in Montréal, the softest trio of tires in the Pirelli F1 range will be in the spotlight. We have the C3 compound in P Zero White (hard), C4 in P Zero Yellow (medium), and C5 in P Zero Red (soft).

🏎️ Sprint format is spicing up the number of sets of tires given to the teams. Pirelli will once again bring two sets of the hard tire and four sets of the mediums but just six sets of softs.

🏎️💨🕑 With only 10 corners, this circuit holds the record for the shortest lap time in the championship. Ferrari's Carlos Sainz blazed through lap 68 of the 2020 Styrian Grand Prix in an impressive 1m05.619s. He accomplished this feat by driving a Renault-powered McLaren on those trusty P Zero soft (C4) tires.

🔄 Last year, most drivers went for two pit stops, starting on the medium compound before switching to the hard. resulting in plenty of wheel-to-wheel action in the midfield.

🎖 FP1 - Highlights

🕐 Practice final times - top three:

1) Verstappen 1:05.742 (M)

2) Sainz +0.241 (S)

3) Leclerc +0.279 (S)

❌ Hamilton picked up a penalty for exceeding the speed lane limits

😲 Flare landed near the track