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<strong>Qualifying:</strong> Bottas on pole, Ferrari behind midfield teams

Qualifying: Bottas on pole, Ferrari behind midfield teams

Published on 04 Jul 2020 16:02
5
By: Fergal Walsh

Valtteri Bottas has taken pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix while Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel was knocked out in Q2.

Bottas took pole position after setting the fastest lap during the first round of times in Q3, but couldn't improve on his second attempt after he found himself skating through the gravel in the middle sector.

His teammate Lewis Hamilton, who topped the opening three practice sessions ahead of qualifying, slotted into second place with a time that was 0.012s slower than Bottas'.

Red Bull's hopes of sealing pole position were dashed as Max Verstappen was over half a second down on Bottas. However, the Dutchman managed to progress from Q2 on the medium compound, meaning he will be on the more durable tyre for the start of Sunday's race.

Alexander Albon failed to move onto the fourth row of the grid, and was out-pace by the McLaren of Lando Norris, who was two and a half tenths of a second faster than the Red Bull driver.

Following Vettel's Q2 exit, Ferrari's woes were deepened after Charles Leclerc could only set the seventh fastest lap in Q3, behind the leading Racing Point of Sergio Perez.

Ferrari understood that it would be off the pace compared to the top teams heading into the weekend, however its dramatic lack of pace will see it ask serious questions as it prepares to introduce an upgrade in Hungary.

Carlos Sainz was eighth for McLaren, ahead of Lance Stroll and Daniel Ricciardo, who rounded out the top ten.

Due to not progressing into the top ten, Vettel will have free choice of tyres for the start of Sunday's race, lining up ahead of Pierre Gasly and Daniil Kvyat in the AlphaTauris.

Esteban Ocon's first qualifying session as a Renault driver ended with a P14 result, ahead of Romain Grosjean who managed to outpace his teammate Kevin Magnussen.

Magnussen will line up on Sunday's grid in 16th while George Russell recorded a strong result for Williams after a torrid 2019 campaign, slotting into 17th ahead of both Alfa Romeos.

Antonio Giovinazzi succeeded in getting the better of veteran teammate Kimi Raikkonen. The grid's only rookie Nicholas Latifi rouned out the field in the Williams.

F1Grand Prix Austria - Qualifying

Red Bull Ring - 04 July 2020

Driver

Team

Time

Difference

Laps
1

Valtteri Bottas

Mercedes

1:02.939

19
2

Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes

1:02.951

+0.012

21
3

Max Verstappen

Red Bull Racing

1:03.477

+0.538

23
4

Lando Norris

McLaren

1:03.626

+0.687

17
5

Alexander Albon

Red Bull Racing

1:03.868

+0.929

18
6

Sergio Perez

Racing Point

1:03.868

+0.929

19
7

Charles Leclerc

Ferrari

1:03.923

+0.984

20
8

Carlos Sainz jr

McLaren

1:03.971

+1.032

18
9

Lance Stroll

Racing Point

1:04.029

+1.090

17
10

Daniel Ricciardo

Renault

1:04.239

+1.300

15

Q2
11

Sebastian Vettel

Ferrari

1:04.206

+1.267

13
12

Pierre Gasly

Alpha Tauri

1:04.305

+1.366

14
13

Daniil Kvyat

Alpha Tauri

1:04.431

+1.492

14
14

Esteban Ocon

Renault

1:04.643

+1.704

12
15

Romain Grosjean

Haas F1

1:04.691

+1.752

14

Q1
16

Kevin Magnussen

Haas F1

1:05.164

+2.225

8
17

George Russell

Williams

1:05.167

+2.228

10
18

Antonio Giovinazzi

Alfa Romeo Racing

1:05.175

+2.236

8
19

Kimi Räikkönen

Alfa Romeo Racing

1:05.224

+2.285

9
20

Nicholas Latifi

Williams

1:05.757

+2.818

12

Kean

Posts: 692

How 'bout Norris and McLaren!

2
Jul 4 2020 - 16:31

Photos Austria 2020

Open the whole photo album

F1 News Valtteri Bottas Lewis Hamilton Sebastian Vettel Mercedes Ferrari

Replies (5)

Kean

Posts: 692
How 'bout Norris and McLaren!
- + 2
- Jul 4 2020 - 16:31
ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475
Let's go Mclaren! That was brilliant. I think a mixed podium is very feasible tomorrow. Would so love to see Mclaren or Racing Point on the podium.

Lowlights:

Kimi outqualified once again. Ocon is really far from Ricciardo. Seb... not sure what happened there.
- + 0
- Jul 4 2020 - 17:00
- Kean
  
  Posts: 692
  Agreed that Kimi and Ocon were big disappointments, Vettel was 0,1 off Leclerc, so I put that down to Ferrari having a really poor package quali-wise, might be better in race trim. But Norris, Verstappen and Bottas were outstanding. Also have to give it up to Stroll who is closer to Perez now. Also Russell did a great job.
  + 0
  
  Jul 4 2020 - 17:37
abhidbgt

Posts: 283
A league of their own indeed. Hope that podium contains a McLaren. Ferrari a second down on its own time from last year. They have moved backward in search of downforce.
- + 0
- Jul 4 2020 - 17:07
Kean

Posts: 692
Saw the comparisons from last year, the Ferrari powered cars are 0,6-1,1 sec slower than last year. Also surprised to see that Red Bull are slower than last year. I believe that Ricciardo could have managed better seems the yellow flags hurt him on his run.
- + 0
- Jul 5 2020 - 08:50