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 likely be on the lookout for his third consecutive win after taking the chequered flag on the final two tightly-contested races, whereas Lando Norris will likely 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 also be hoping to be again within the combine this weekend, after two tough races for Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc, the place their finest end was fifth. Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Crew will likely 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 likely 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 beneath risk. The Australian has been in first rate type of late although, beating his teammate within the final two rounds.
Aston Martin Armaco F1 Crew have been pointless in Spain, whereas BWT Alpine F1 Crew will likely 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 crew.
Learn beneath to search out out what the groups have been saying forward of the race weekend, with quotes from the Oracle Pink Bull Racing, McLaren F1 Crew, RB, Alpine, MoneyGram Haas F1 Crew, Williams Racing and Stake F1 Crew Kick Sauber drivers, as properly the Ferrari and Mercedes crew principals.
Max Verstappen — Oracle Pink Bull Racing
“We at all times really feel actually welcome and revel in coming again to Austria, being a house race for Pink Bull. The surroundings and mountains round listed below 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 necessary to nail the arrange of the automobile immediately and analyse how finest we construct and enhance on our earlier races, particularly as qualifying is at all times shut right here.
“The observe lends itself to loads of overtaking so I’m positive it will likely be an thrilling race. The Crew carried out properly right here final yr so hopefully we are able to do the followers proud this weekend and convey it house with one other win.”
Sergio Perez — Oracle Pink Bull Racing
“I had a tough weekend in Spain however it’s one we’ve learnt from. I struggled with the stability of the automobile 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 we’ve every little thing in place to have a cleaner weekend, the Crew 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 probably the most out of the automobile, we’ll have restricted operating as a result of Dash weekend, so I have to benefit from first observe and assault qualifying and the Dash from the beginning.
“We wish and want an entire weekend. Austria is at all times a terrific race, it’s Pink Bull’s house and that makes for a superb ambiance, I’m trying ahead to it.
Fred Vasseur — Scuderia Ferrari
“The upgrades launched in Spain labored as anticipated, however clearly our rivals haven’t been twiddling their thumbs, and in the meanwhile there are 4 groups all inside lower than three tenths of each other.
“Now we’ve Austria, a observe that takes just a bit over a minute to lap, in order that these aforementioned gaps may change into even smaller.
“We will likely 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 observe previous to qualifying.
“Everybody within the crew, together with the drivers, should be on prime of their recreation to make sure we don’t miss any alternatives that come our means. That applies to qualifying, particularly when up towards such sturdy opponents and in addition by way of how we execute the race. I wish to see us step up a gear in Austria.”
Lando Norris — McLaren F1 Crew
“I’m excited for the Austrian Grand Prix. It’s a very enjoyable observe to drive, and I’ve some nice reminiscences from through the years, so I’m trying ahead to getting on the market. The followers are at all times enthusiastic and create a terrific ambiance.
“The automobile is in a terrific spot, we’ll take what we discovered from Spain and use it to maintain pushing. We’re not centered 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 are able to do.”
Oscar Piastri — McLaren F1 Crew
“I can’t wait to get to Austria and hit the bottom operating. I’m actually trying ahead to getting again within the automobile on Friday and dealing onerous with the engineers to start out the weekend on the entrance foot.
“I used to be aiming for much extra in Barcelona however coming away with factors from a irritating one retains issues ticking over. Credit score to the crew for the job they’re persistently doing and hopefully we are able to all preserve the momentum going.”
Toto Wolff — Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Crew
“We knew Barcelona can be a very good measure of our latest progress. The crew has labored onerous to enhance the W15 at circuits with a large nook velocity vary, like Barcelona. These incremental beneficial properties 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 remaining stint properly to take P4. We got here away from the weekend with stable factors however we all know there’s extra work to do to be in with a practical probability 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 completely different circuit to final weekend. There may be loads of low to mid-speed content material, punctuated by some longer straights. That can present one other problem and reference level for our automobile.
“The group on the entrance of the sphere is tightly packed and we must be at our greatest to problem for the rostrum as soon as once more.”
Daniel Ricciardo — Visa Money App RB
“I’ve acquired 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 must be enjoyable and it’s a house race for Pink Bull, on the Pink Bull Ring, so there’s at all times loads of help there.
“It’s good for the crew, 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 observe, so we actually should hit the bottom operating. We’re prepared for it!”
Yuki Tsunoda — Visa Money App RB
“I just like the Pink Bull Ring and I benefit from the place itself and the encompassing countryside as I like nature. I additionally just like the meals, particularly the Schnitzel! It’s a house observe for the Pink Bull household, so I hope we are able to carry out properly.
“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 onerous again within the manufacturing facility to know why we had such a tough time in Spain and hopefully, we are able to make up for it this weekend.”
Pierre Gasly — BWT Alpine F1 Crew
“I flew again from Barcelona feeling actually happy as we’ve 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 automobile.
“We should preserve pushing on and goal a continuation of this type as each level will depend by the tip of the yr in a decent Championship struggle. In fact, there was slightly little bit of disappointment to not be eighth place on Sunday however to be preventing a Pink Bull on advantage proper up till the ultimate lap reveals our stage 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 through the yr, with solely 9 corners. It’s a difficult one with kerbs, onerous braking zones and loads of high-speed corners.
“It’s at all times an excellent occasion in Austria, a terrific ambiance 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 we’ve to be on the tempo immediately and put ourselves ready to compete in each races.”
Esteban Ocon — BWT Alpine F1 Crew
“It was encouraging for us to have a very good efficiency all through the entire weekend in Barcelona the place we once more completed in tenth place and added necessary factors to the Constructors’ Championship.
“The automobile 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 more difficult.
“There was loads of sliding and the automobile stability was difficult 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 appreciated racing in Austria. I’ve some fond reminiscences right here. Again in 2020, after a yr out from racing, racing in Spielberg was the primary one of many season. I keep in mind the very moist Qualifying that yr after we managed to qualify in fifth.
“In 2022, we had a very good 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 now have 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, worthwhile factors.”
Nico Hülkenberg— Haas F1 Crew
“It’s a brief observe that packs in loads of enjoyable. The size of the circuit means it bunches us all up over qualifying, which is a problem, however we’ve two alternatives because it’s a Dash.
“Final yr I scored factors across the Pink Bull Ring, so I do know it may be finished, and we wish to be again scoring factors, in order that’s the mission this weekend.”
Kevin Magnussen — Haas F1 Crew
“It’s a enjoyable observe; I’ve acquired some good reminiscences from the Pink Bull Ring, that’s the place we’ve had our greatest crew outcome so I’m trying ahead to going there once more. We now have fairly an environment friendly automobile so hopefully with our good straight-line velocity we might be good there.
“There’s nonetheless a good variety of high-speed corners, which is maybe not our energy, however we appear to be fairly persistently good at most tracks. I’m simply trying ahead to a enjoyable Dash weekend.”
Alex Albon — Williams Racing
“As we go away Barcelona and head to Austria for the second spherical of the triple header, we hope to bounce again after a tricky weekend.
“With Austria being a Dash weekend, in addition to the truth that the climate is likely to be an element, there will likely be a chance to realize a very good outcome. On paper, this observe fits our automobile greater than Barcelona so let’s see what the weekend brings.”
Logan Sargeant — Williams Racing
“I’m trying ahead to heading again to Austria for the second race of the triple header. It must 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 appears like some rain may have an effect on the race on Sunday, so it’s all to play for.”
Valtteri Bottas — Stake F1 Crew Kick Sauber
“I’ve loved racing in Austria because it was reintroduced on the calendar, and I’m trying 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 total nice expertise.
“Races right here can have loads of motion and there are loads of overtaking spots, so it may be enjoyable: I’ve had a sequence of excellent 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!
“Trying again at Barcelona, we have been in a greater place than earlier occasions, however there’s nonetheless some work to be finished to be usually again within the prime ten. With this being a Dash occasion, it’s necessary to get the sensation proper from the beginning of the weekend and construct our efficiency on it.”
Zhou Guanyu — Stake F1 Crew 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 structure is slightly distinctive – quick, with just a few corners and large braking zones – and this enables for some thrilling on-track motion: the low variety of corners additionally means every one is much more essential when setting a lap in qualifying.
“As we head into the race weekend, I’m motivated and wanting to get again on observe: our efficiency in Barcelona was undoubtedly encouraging, nearer to the place we have been originally of the season, and all of us, each trackside and again house in Hinwil, are working onerous to shut the hole.
“Everyone knows how only a tenth may make a terrific distinction in qualifying, and the way that’s much more decisive throughout a Dash occasion. We should preserve centered and stay on the prime of our recreation all weekend lengthy, giving our most on and off the observe.”
