After a thrilling race in Barcelona which saw Max Verstappen showcase all his talent and skill to pick up his seventh win of the season, racing is back as we head to Austria at Red Bull’s home ground for the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix.
More points are up for grabs as Sprint returns this weekend.
Gearing up for the Austrian race, here’s my predictions for the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix.
Red Bull have their talisman Max Verstappen powering them every weekend, bringing home not just the trophies but also keeping them on top of the Constructors’ Standings. Red Bull currently hold a 60-point lead in the Constructors’ Championship over Ferrari, which is mainly due to the strong start to the season from both their drivers.
Post the 2024 Miami Grand Prix, however, Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Pérez, has been having a horrid time—not just on Sundays but also on Saturdays. Pérez has finished only twice in the last four races, and even those have been P8 finishes, far lower than what the Mexican racer would have liked to achieve given the machinery at his disposal.
Pérez was handed a contract extension recently. Ironically, it is since then that his form has gone for a toss. He really needs to get up the grid and support Verstappen regularly, especially given the strong performances of both Ferrari and McLaren. There will not be a better place for Pérez to get back into form than in front of Red Bull’s home fans, and he has shown in the past that he can rise to the occasion.
Expect Pérez to do well in Austria.
Pole prediction: Max Verstappen
Race winner prediction: Max Verstappen / Lando Norris
On paper, with seven wins under his belt, it might look like another dominant season from Red Bull’s reigning World Champion, but in reality it has been anything but.
For not just one but a host of races this season, Red Bull haven’t been the strongest car on Sundays. That accolade has been boasted by McLaren, who have made big ground over the winter break; with two extremely talented drivers, the British team look like serious contenders.
Lando Norris even took his first-ever career win this season and, had he been more clinical, he should have had at least three more wins under his belt this season.
McLaren have been pushing Red Bull to the limit, and Norris’ pole last Sunday proved just that. The Woking-based team’s pace is something that is not to be taken lightly, so expect them to do wonders at Red Bull’s home once again this Sunday.
Don’t be too surprised to find either Norris or Oscar Piastri on the top step of the podium.
Dark horses: McLaren
Aston Martin suffered their second weekend without points in Spain after a woeful outing for Fernando Alonso—in front of his home crowd—and Lance Stroll.
The Silverstone-based team looked sharp at the start of the season, and many expected them to be one of the dark horses this year. Ten races into the season, however, and Aston Martin lie fifth in the Constructors’ Standings, yet to get on the podium, something they had done multiple times by this point last year.
That said, at a Sprint weekend where there are more points up for grabs, count on Aston Martin to leave Austria with a good haul of points.
Also read: Formula One Sponsors 2024
Circuit: Red Bull Ring
Venue: Spielberg, Styria, Austria
Practice Session 1 time: 16:00, June 28
Sprint Qualifying time: 20:00, June 28
Sprint time: 15:30, June 29
Qualifying time: 19:30, June 29
Main race time: 18:30, June 30
Where to watch: F1 TV Pro / FanCode
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