The Austrian GP wasn’t won solely on pace but through tyre management, strategic execution and surviving one of the hottest races so far. Whilst these temperatures made matters more difficult for the teams, it allowed us spectators to observe a more even race, and we even began to see McLaren and Max Verstappen’s Red Bull recover some of the pace they appear to have lost in previous rounds. Today’s focus looks toward these track conditions alongside the question of: “How could Mercedes have improved Antonelli’s strategy, and are they to blame for his P3?”

Race Results:

1. George Russell
2. Max Verstappen
3. Kimi Antonelli
4. Oscar Piastri
5. Lewis Hamilton
6. Isack Hadjar
7. Lando Norris

DNF:
19. Lance Stroll
20. Carlos Sainz
21. Sergio Perez
22. Valtteri Bottas

Race Breakdown:

Can Strategy Beat the Heat?

On Sunday, Pirelli (the exclusive tyre supplier for Formula One), reported a track temperature of 62°C prior to the beginning of the grand prix. This forced teams into taking on a different strategy (typically involving more frequent pit stops), with even the hard tyre no longer being as durable as it usually is.

This levelled out the field in terms of all the drivers being on the same tyres, and therefore not one received an advantage in relation, however those who were better at managing said tyres would outperform those who did not. Whilst it was important for engineers to coach drivers into tyre management, they also had to manage the temperature of the car’s components; a problem which had terminated various drivers’ races early, such as Bottas whose brakes set alight on just lap 3.

As Formula One continues to race in these extreme temperatures, weekends like Austria raise questions about how the sport and teams should adapt. The teams themselves may need to become more educated and aware of the dangers that these temperatures pose, both to the driver and the car. They can then manufacture a car that can better withstand these and they can better manage the core temperature of the driver;

Alternatively, it is the sport that may need to adapt, perhaps by adjusting the duration of the races for driver safety, or (Pirelli) designing new tyres that are more suitable for these high track temperatures.

Have Mercedes damaged Antonelli’s title dreams?

Incidents in the race forced the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile-governing body for international motorsport) to bring out two virtual safety cars. However, Mercedes did not respond correctly to these racing incidents, causing Antonelli to narrowly miss out to Verstappen by 0.3s and instead finish at the bottom of the podium, with his teammate at the top in P1.

The most controversial of these moments was with the first VSC. Antonelli was exiting the pit lane as this virtual safety car was introduced, and this meant that he lost around 20 seconds during his pit stop, compared to 10 if he had pitted a lap later, under the VSC. Now, whilst this may simply be an unfortunate event and bad luck, it is questioned whether Mercedes could have predicted the virtual safety car and therefore altered their plans slightly.

This question is important as the car that needed to be recovered was on the edge of the track, down a straight, where it was highly likely that drivers would need to slow down for the safety of the marshals; something experienced strategists should be mindful of.

The most significant part of all this is that it was not an isolated event, and later on in the race, Antonelli once again pitted a lap before a VSC was introduced. Had Mercedes communicated better with the driver or been more aware of the developing situation on the track, then this would have allowed Antonelli to save 20 seconds over his opponents, with many not pitting under these VSCs.

With there only being a 2 second gap between Antonelli and leader Russell, it can be pondered whether under the correct circumstances Kimi Antonelli would have challenged both drivers ahead, perhaps allowing him to gain vital points in the championship. Instead, there is now a narrow 40 point gap between the two Mercedes drivers, putting additional pressure onto Antonelli and the team itself, as the time may be nearing where they have to make the tough decision; favour a driver or risk it all.

The Racing Brief Verdict:

The Austrian GP highlighted two growing themes in Formula One. It taught teams and fans about what the future of the sport holds, in terms of climate, and that we need to consider how to adapt to this, so the sport can continue safely. Secondly, whilst Mercedes gained vital points in the Constructor’s Championship, they will continue to be faced with questions about what could have been for Antonelli and whether the incidents concerning strategy during this Austrian GP end up being championship-defining moments. We are approaching the time, particularly with the long summer break ahead, where Toto Wolff has to decide whether to prioritise one driver in the championship fight. Both drivers have strong arguments, with Russell being much more experienced and Antonelli being determined to take risks and produce some hard racing, showing positive progress so far.

Key Takeaways

• McLaren continue to show more pace, closing the gap at the front
• Mercedes poor planning may have cost Antonelli crucial championship points
• The time is growing closer for Wolff to make a decision concerning team strategy in the title fight
• The changing climate is likely to have an influential impact on the sport