F1 Styrian Grand Prix LIVE RESULTS: Latest updates as practice gets UNDERWAY – UK start time, stream, TV channel

LEW CAN’T BE SERIOUS

Christian Horner has taken a pop at Lewis Hamilton after the F1 champion raised suspicion over whether Max Verstappen’s Red Bull was legal.

Hamilton repeatedly made reference to Red Bull’s new Honda engine and their superior “straight-line speed” following Verstappen’s win in France.

F1 rules mean that teams must run the same engine specification all season and cannot perform upgrades.

That was confirmed by Merc boss Toto Wolff ahead of the Austrian GP, who also admitted their rivals’ speed was due to better aerodynamics, prompting a reaction from Horner.

The Red Bull boss said: “I think Toto has answered it very well and I think that maybe he should explain it to his driver.

“I listen with interest sometimes to the theories that Lewis has, which are some way from reality.

“We run less drag, less rear wing, and as a result go quicker down the straights sometimes.”

Mercedes and Red Bull have been at loggerheads this season over the legality of wings and tyre pressures as they both look to exploit holes in the rulebook.

And the row continues to rumble on, as Red Bull have lobbied the sport’s governing body, the FIA, to look into Merc’s front wing.

Verstappen told SunSport: “I do think that when you are checking the rear wing, you should also be checking the front wing.

“The front wing has a bigger effect on the car. It’s up to the FIA now to do these checks, because clearly they have done checks on the rear wings.”

TOP TEN FP2

1. VER – 1:05.412
2. RIC – Good performance after slow start in McLaren
3. OCO
4. HAM – Just over three tenths back
5. ALO – Second-highest lap count (39)
6. VET – Briefly led an Aston Martin one-two as conditions improved
7. NOR
8. STR
9. PER
10. GIO

CHEQUERED FLAG

Well this looked like a session disrupted by downpours as it got underway.

Instead, we saw more pieces of gravel thrown into the air than drops of rain – plus a pit-lane spin from one Valtteri Bottas.

Max Verstappen leads the timesheet having also claimed FP1.

FIVE TO GO

Will anyone come in for a fresh crack at a hot lap?

The conditions have been surprisingly good for the teams to get in some long runs, amid the threat of rain.

STEINER NONPLUSSED

Haas team boss Guenther Steiner tells Sky Sports that Valtteri Bottas’ spin is just ‘one of those things’.

He knows that every driver wants to put rubber down on their pit box to help the grip on their future launches, although spinning off while doing so is not recommended.

MAC ATTACK

McLaren’s pit crew were out as Valtteri Bottas flew past them, sideways.

It was very fortunate that his Mercedes did not collect anybody and race director Michael Masi is told over radio: “That’s absolutely ridiculous, he could have taken our guys out.”

FIFTEEN-POINT TURN

That was Valtteri Bottas getting on the gas as he left the pit lane to get some quick heat into his tyres.

But the wheelspin as he hit the painted tarmac spun his car, which mercifully avoided the walls on both sides.

After a bit of jimmying from his mechanics, the Finn is underway.

OOPSIE

Valtteri Bottas has just spun in the pit lane.

Not a good idea.

GIVES YOU WINGS

Max Verstappen certainly enjoying the Red Bull’s speed this session and is top with a 1:05.412, with Sergio Perez back in ninth.

But the race simulations mean lap counters are also pretty key with the entire pack clocking up 20 times around the Red Bull Ring so far, aside from Nicholas Latifi (17) and Pierre Gasly (zero).

POWER UP

Christian Horner has taken a pop at Lewis Hamilton after the F1 champion raised suspicion over whether Max Verstappen’s Red Bull was legal.

Hamilton repeatedly made reference to Red Bull’s new Honda engine and their superior “straight-line speed” following Verstappen’s win in France.

F1 rules mean that teams must run the same engine specification all season and cannot perform upgrades.

That was confirmed by Merc boss Toto Wolff ahead of the Austrian GP, who also admitted their rivals’ speed was due to better aerodynamics, prompting a reaction from Horner.

The Red Bull boss said: “I think Toto has answered it very well and I think that maybe he should explain it to his driver.

“I listen with interest sometimes to the theories that Lewis has, which are some way from reality.

“We run less drag, less rear wing, and as a result go quicker down the straights sometimes.”

RACE RUNS

The fuel is loaded up and tyres pushed to the limit with the pack undertaking race simulations.

They will be very happy to see conditions remain dry for the time being.

TOP TEN AT HALFWAY

1. VER
2. RIC
3. OCO
4. HAM
5. ALO
6. VET
7. NOR
8. STR
9. PER
10. SAI

PAIN IN THE GAS

Nothing from Pierre Gasly this session and his chances of a runout look slim.

A power unit issue is denying us the Frenchman for the time being.

Perhaps Nikita Mazepin was wishing he was back in the pits as he skidded across the gravel after Turn 4, knocking off Carlos Sainz’s naming rights for the bumpy patch.

LEW KNOW IT

And there it goes.

Lewis Hamilton bumps downs Sebastian Vettel and takes first with a 1:05.796.

Times are tumbling but the clouds are gathering, so this short period could decide the session with Esteban Ocon now jumping Hamilton.

ASTON’S MERRY WITH GOLD

It’s a one-two for Aston Martin!

The rain has momentarily subsided, the Soft tyres are on and Sebastian Vettel is leading FP2, just ahead of Lance Stroll.

BOTTAS ON THE SOFTS

No Hard tyre nonsense for Valtteri Bottas.

Going straight on the Softs, the Mercedes star looks to be setting a qualifying type hot lap and yet is still slower than Max Verstappen.

The Dutchman remains top despite being on a slower tyre…

Meanwhile Lewis Hamilton is in the pits after tickling Carlos Sainz’s gravel at Turn 4.

SAINZ OFF

Carlos Sainz skirts across the gravel after going around Turn 4.

The Spaniard luckily doesn’t collect anyone as he reverses back onto the track with a handful of stones brought back to the pits for his troubles.

MOST DRIVERS OUT NOW

Just Valtteri Bottas and Pierre Gasly yet to hit the track.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner is hanging back from his seat on the pit wall to get a feel for the weather, but Sergio Perez radios in to say the rain is not yet heavy enough to worry about.

RAIN IS COMING

Spots of rain noticeable on Max Verstappen’s camera as he races around on the Hards, putting in a 1:06.722 to go top.

Lewis Hamilton is also on the Hards potentially to get some race simulating done before the damp arrives.

AWAY WE GO

It’s dry for FP2 in the Styrian hills of southern Austria – but rain is predicted at some point this session.

FIVE MINUTE WARNING

FP2 is almost upon us at Red Bull Ring…

Stick with us for our (hopefully) uninterrupted coverage!

HIT THE BUTTON

Lewis Hamilton’s biggest challenge in his glittering F1 career could be beating George Russell – according to Jenson Button.

Button said: “It will be a big shift for Lewis to have a young kiddie come to his team who has already proven himself to be very, very quick in that car.

“That is mentally tough. It is going to be a challenge and if Lewis comes out on top, it will be his biggest achievement.

“It’s funny. George jumped into Lewis’ car in Bahrain and Lewis wished him luck. But Lewis didn’t comment at all on social media about how he went in the race because I think he was shocked by how quick he was.

“There is definitely something there and if they are team-mates it is going to be tricky for Lewis which is what we all want to see.

“But it is probably not what Mercedes want. It is much easier having a driver that is not as quick as Lewis in the team as long as he is bringing in the points. But at the moment, that’s the problem – Valtteri isn’t doing that.”

W SERIES UNDERWAY

The first practice session for the 2021 W Series competition has just finished up at Red Bull Ring.

British racer Alice Powell tops the timesheet ahead of Beitske Visser, Sarah Moore and reigning champ Jamie Chadwick.

The W Series is racing this week and next alongside F1, before trips to Silverstone, Hungary, Spa, Zandvoort, Austin and Mexico.

LEW CONCERN

Lewis Hamilton has admitted his fears at having 400,000 fans come through the gates at Silverstone next month.

The UK Government gave the green light to a full house for the British Grand Prix BEFORE the expected full reopening of the country, as a test event.

But Hamilton said: “I can’t tell you how excited I am to see people and to see the British crowds because it is the best crowd of the whole year.

“[But] I watch the news so I hear about the cases going up massively in the UK. So, on that side, I worry for people.

“Look, I don’t want to turn it into a negative. As I said, I am excited to see so many people.

“But I know that UK rates have increased since people are loosening up a little bit and not everyone is vaccinated.

“So, I do worry about people. It feels a bit premature to me. But it’s not my choice if people go there. I hope we learn something from it, and I hope everyone just stays safe, keeps their mask on.”

LIMITLESS

FP1 saw a number of drivers have their times deleted for infringing on track limits.

The final two corners at Red Bull Ring are the particular danger zones this weekend and at least one wheel must be planted on the red-and-white kerbs for the right-handers.