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Formula 1: Max Verstappen fastest in Styrian GP practice as Daniel Ricciardo crashes
By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer
Last updated on 1 hour ago1 hour ago.From the section Formula 1
Live text and audio commentary of the Styrian Grand Prix is live on the BBC Sport website
Red Bull's Max Verstappen headed Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas in second practice at the Styrian Grand Prix.
The Dutchman pipped Bottas by just 0.043 seconds, with the Racing Points of Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll third and fourth.
Renault's Daniel Ricciardo had a heavy crash at Turn Nine early in the session, and limped away from the car.
World champion Lewis Hamilton was only sixth, unhappy with both the balance of his Mercedes and his fastest lap.
That is still an unlikely scenario, however, as there a number of potential solutions if qualifying is washed out.
Verstappen was impressive on both short and long runs, beating Bottas on his qualifying simulation lap, and then lapping at very similar pace when they switched to race preparation, despite being on the harder medium tyre with the Finn on the soft.
F1 Breakdown: Jack Nicholls previews new Formula 1 season
Hamilton said: "It felt relatively normal but it was quite far off. There is a lot of work needed to do to find out why. I was feeling pretty good in P1 and at the start of P2 but then it started to drop off. It does seem the others are pretty quick or we have slowed down."
Racing Point's pace was a further emphasis of their rise to become real contenders this season with a car that has been dubbed the 'Pink Mercedes' for its likeness to last year's world championship-winning car.
Perez was just 0.217secs off the outright pace, with Stroll his usual 0.3secs or so behind his team-mate.
McLaren's Carlos Sainz was fifth, ahead of Hamilton and the second Red Bull of Alexander Albon, who had two spins in the course of the day.
Charles Leclerc was the fastest Ferrari in ninth place after trialling a new front wing and new floor, the first of a series of developments scheduled to come to the car aimed at reducing the performance shortfall it suffered at the opening race of the season.
His team-mate Sebastian Vettel was down in 16th. Leclerc was ahead of Renault's Esteban Ocon.
This is the first time in F1 history that a circuit has hosted two races in a single season, this weekend's event named after the region in which the Red Bull Ring is situated, following on from last Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix.
Swami
By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer
Last updated on 1 hour ago1 hour ago.From the section Formula 1
Live text and audio commentary of the Styrian Grand Prix is live on the BBC Sport website
Red Bull's Max Verstappen headed Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas in second practice at the Styrian Grand Prix.
The Dutchman pipped Bottas by just 0.043 seconds, with the Racing Points of Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll third and fourth.
Renault's Daniel Ricciardo had a heavy crash at Turn Nine early in the session, and limped away from the car.
World champion Lewis Hamilton was only sixth, unhappy with both the balance of his Mercedes and his fastest lap.
- Styrian Grand Prix coverage on the BBC
- I'm focused on retaining world title and fighting racism - Hamilton
- Leclerc warned for breaking coronavirus rules
That is still an unlikely scenario, however, as there a number of potential solutions if qualifying is washed out.
Verstappen was impressive on both short and long runs, beating Bottas on his qualifying simulation lap, and then lapping at very similar pace when they switched to race preparation, despite being on the harder medium tyre with the Finn on the soft.
F1 Breakdown: Jack Nicholls previews new Formula 1 season
Hamilton said: "It felt relatively normal but it was quite far off. There is a lot of work needed to do to find out why. I was feeling pretty good in P1 and at the start of P2 but then it started to drop off. It does seem the others are pretty quick or we have slowed down."
Racing Point's pace was a further emphasis of their rise to become real contenders this season with a car that has been dubbed the 'Pink Mercedes' for its likeness to last year's world championship-winning car.
Perez was just 0.217secs off the outright pace, with Stroll his usual 0.3secs or so behind his team-mate.
McLaren's Carlos Sainz was fifth, ahead of Hamilton and the second Red Bull of Alexander Albon, who had two spins in the course of the day.
Charles Leclerc was the fastest Ferrari in ninth place after trialling a new front wing and new floor, the first of a series of developments scheduled to come to the car aimed at reducing the performance shortfall it suffered at the opening race of the season.
His team-mate Sebastian Vettel was down in 16th. Leclerc was ahead of Renault's Esteban Ocon.
This is the first time in F1 history that a circuit has hosted two races in a single season, this weekend's event named after the region in which the Red Bull Ring is situated, following on from last Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix.
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Lewis Hamilton takes Styrian GP pole position in heavy rain
By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer
Last updated on 41 minutes ago41 minutes ago.From the section Formula 1
Live text and audio commentary of the Styrian Grand Prix is live on the BBC Sport website
Lewis Hamilton was in scintillating form as he took a stunning pole position in treacherous wet conditions at the Styrian Grand Prix.
The Mercedes driver was a remarkable 1.216 seconds clear of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who spun as he tried to beat Hamilton's time.
Carlos Sainz took an excellent third place for McLaren as first-race winner Valtteri Bottas was fourth.
Renault's Esteban Ocon was fifth, ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris.
That's Hamilton's 89th career pole position - and one of his best
Hamilton's wet weather skills
The start of qualifying was delayed by 46 minutes as a storm front hit the Styrian mountains, but Hamilton was the man to beat once the cars took to a streaming wet track.
In the wettest conditions seen in a Formula 1 qualifying session for some time, Hamilton was fastest in all three sessions, underlining the wet-weather skills he has shown through out his career.
Verstappen threw everything at Hamilton on his final lap, having moments at Turn Five and Turn Seven before losing control completely with a spin at Turn Nine.
Hamilton was already 0.787secs clear of the field as he headed into the final lap of the session but he pulled out another huge performance on his final lap to take another half-second off his own best time.
"What a tricky day," he said. "The weather's obviously incredibly difficult for all of us.
"A lot of the time you can't even see where you're going. I had one big moment the lap before the last, a big aquaplane, but I was able to improve on the last lap. I love these days.
"I hear tomorrow is going to be a much more sunny day and we have prepared for both conditions."
Alfa Romeo's Antonio Giovinazzi spun in at the end of Q1, but there were fewer casualties given how heavy the rain was across the session
McLaren excel again
The starting positions give Hamilton a good chance of closing the 13-point lead team-mate Bottas built with his victory in the first race of the season on the same track last weekend.
The Finn was a sobering 1.428secs slower than his team-mate in the demanding conditions and beaten by a strong performance by Sainz.
The Spaniard achieved his career-best grid position, making it two weekends in a row in which a McLaren has started a race third, after Norris was promoted a place by a grid penalty for Hamilton.
Norris will be demoted three places on the grid as a result of a penalty for overtaking when passing yellow caution flags in Friday practice so will start the race ninth.
Ferrari had another dismal day, Charles Leclerc failing to make it into the final top 10 shoot-out in 11th place. Team-mate Sebastian Vettel did make the final session but was slowest and 10th.
But it was a good day for Williams' George Russell, who made it into the second knock-out session for the first time and will start an impressive 12th.
Red Bull's Alex Albon waits in the garage as the rain sets in
Swami
By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer
Last updated on 41 minutes ago41 minutes ago.From the section Formula 1
Live text and audio commentary of the Styrian Grand Prix is live on the BBC Sport website
Lewis Hamilton was in scintillating form as he took a stunning pole position in treacherous wet conditions at the Styrian Grand Prix.
The Mercedes driver was a remarkable 1.216 seconds clear of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who spun as he tried to beat Hamilton's time.
Carlos Sainz took an excellent third place for McLaren as first-race winner Valtteri Bottas was fourth.
Renault's Esteban Ocon was fifth, ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris.
That's Hamilton's 89th career pole position - and one of his best
Hamilton's wet weather skills
The start of qualifying was delayed by 46 minutes as a storm front hit the Styrian mountains, but Hamilton was the man to beat once the cars took to a streaming wet track.
In the wettest conditions seen in a Formula 1 qualifying session for some time, Hamilton was fastest in all three sessions, underlining the wet-weather skills he has shown through out his career.
Verstappen threw everything at Hamilton on his final lap, having moments at Turn Five and Turn Seven before losing control completely with a spin at Turn Nine.
Hamilton was already 0.787secs clear of the field as he headed into the final lap of the session but he pulled out another huge performance on his final lap to take another half-second off his own best time.
"What a tricky day," he said. "The weather's obviously incredibly difficult for all of us.
"A lot of the time you can't even see where you're going. I had one big moment the lap before the last, a big aquaplane, but I was able to improve on the last lap. I love these days.
"I hear tomorrow is going to be a much more sunny day and we have prepared for both conditions."
Alfa Romeo's Antonio Giovinazzi spun in at the end of Q1, but there were fewer casualties given how heavy the rain was across the session
McLaren excel again
The starting positions give Hamilton a good chance of closing the 13-point lead team-mate Bottas built with his victory in the first race of the season on the same track last weekend.
The Finn was a sobering 1.428secs slower than his team-mate in the demanding conditions and beaten by a strong performance by Sainz.
The Spaniard achieved his career-best grid position, making it two weekends in a row in which a McLaren has started a race third, after Norris was promoted a place by a grid penalty for Hamilton.
Norris will be demoted three places on the grid as a result of a penalty for overtaking when passing yellow caution flags in Friday practice so will start the race ninth.
Ferrari had another dismal day, Charles Leclerc failing to make it into the final top 10 shoot-out in 11th place. Team-mate Sebastian Vettel did make the final session but was slowest and 10th.
But it was a good day for Williams' George Russell, who made it into the second knock-out session for the first time and will start an impressive 12th.
Red Bull's Alex Albon waits in the garage as the rain sets in
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Lewis Hamilton takes dominant Styrian Grand Prix win after Ferraris collide
By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer
Last updated on Less than a minute agoLess than a minute ago.From the section Formula 1
The Hungarian Grand Prix is live on 5 Live and the BBC Sport website
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton cruised to a comfortable victory in the Styrian Grand Prix.
The world champion's first victory of the year was founded on a stupendous performance in wet qualifying, in which he took pole by more than 1.2 seconds.
Hamilton led from pole position, headed only at the pit-stops, as team mate Valtteri Bottas overtook Red Bull's Max Verstappen late on for second.
The Ferraris retired early after colliding with each other on lap one.
It was another dark day for the Italian team, after another uncompetitive showing in qualifying, as Charles Leclerc apologised for a rash move on the first lap that took out both cars.
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No problems for Hamilton
Hamilton, who has pledged to continue the fight against racism this year in parallel with his quest for a record-equalling seventh world title, was in total control of the race from the start.
He converted his pole position into a lead at the first corner, survived an early safety car period following a collision between the two Ferrari drivers, and never looked back.
The fight was all behind him, as Mercedes sought to get Bottas ahead of Verstappen.
The Finn had qualified fourth in the rain, 1.4secs slower than Hamilton, passed McLaren's Carlos Sainz by lap six, but was not able to make much progress towards the Red Bull.
Hamilton celebrated his first win of the season by raising his fist on the podium, reminiscent of the 1968 Olympics, when two African American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised a black-gloved fist during the US national anthem
When Red Bull made Verstappen's pit stop for fresh tyres on lap 24, Hamilton was brought in three laps later, while Bottas was left out 10 laps longer than the Dutchman.
The aim was to give him a tyre off-set and greater pace at the end of the race.
And it worked. Bottas crept up on Verstappen and was with him with five laps to go.
Bottas looked to have the move down on the straight down to Turn Four on lap 66, but Verstappen fought back around the outside of the corner and held on to the place.
But his valiant defence lasted only another lap before Bottas was able to storm past to complete a Mercedes one-two.
He retains the championship lead over Hamilton, but it is now down to eight points.
The Ferraris collide during the first-lap melee
Disaster for Ferrari
Ferrari had worked flat out to bring upgrades to their car ahead of this race, after showing a dismal pace the week before.
But they did not have the effect they had hoped and the cars could qualify only 10th and 11th, and Charles Leclerc started a further three places back after a three-place grid penalty for blocking in qualifying.
But things got much worse in the race. Leclerc made an over-ambitious move up the inside of Turn Three on the first lap as Vettel was hemmed in on the outside and the two cars collided.
Vettel's rear wing was torn off and Leclerc suffered floor damage and both had to retire.
Another anti-racism protest
Drivers took the knee or stood once again before the race
Hamilton led the majority of drivers in taking the knee ahead of the race.
Their anti-racism protest was not as well co-ordinated as it had been at the same track for the season-opening Austrian Grand Prix last weekend, but the message was clear.
A handful of drivers were not present for the moment ahead of the playing of the Styrian regional anthem, but all who were wore "end racism" T-shirts other than Hamilton's, whose said "Black Lives Matter".
Of those who were there, only Charles Leclerc, Verstappen, Kimi Raikkonen and Daniil Kvyat chose not to kneel.
Flying Racing Points
Sergio Perez in particular and Racing Point in general did not have a good day in the wet in qualifying, with the Mexican down in 17th on the grid, but the so-called 'Pink Mercedes' was soon making up ground.
The likes of McLaren and Renault said before the race that they were concerned about the Racing Point's pace, and their worries were well founded.
Perez picked off driver after driver in a car that has drawn criticisms because of its likeness to last year's Mercedes - which Racing Point admit they have copied - until after the pit stops he was up into the top six.
He passed Daniel Ricciardo's Renault on lap 48, with just over 20 to go, and set off after Alexander Albon.
Perez was passed by Norris at the end of the grand prix
Perez was soon with Albon, but while the Anglo-Thai had been having an unremarkable race in the second Red Bull, he picked up his pace and was able to hold Perez back.
The Mexican finally made a bid for the position with two laps to go but came to grief as he tried to pass at Turn Four in a mirror of the collision between Hamilton and Albon at the same place last week.
Perez was alongside on the inside but Albon tried to hang on around the outside and tagged Perez's front wing on the exit.
Perez limped around the remaining two laps, but was passed by McLaren's Lando Norris for fifth at the final two corners of the last lap.
Their scrap was part of a hectic midfield battle in the closing laps, as Norris took advantage of Perez's team-mate Lance Stroll racing with Renault's Daniel Ricciardo for seventh and McLaren's Carlos Sainz, who qualified a brilliant third, faded in the race to finish ninth.
Driver of the day
Superb as Hamilton was, let's give it to Perez for his clinical drive up from the back of the grid, which included a superb overtaking move around the outside of the fast Turn Six on Ricciardo. A shame it came to grief in the collision with Albon
What happens next?
The races are coming thick and fast in this coronavirus-interrupted season, and another follows this coming weekend, the Hungarian Grand Prix.
What they said
Lewis Hamilton: "Firstly big thank you to my team. What a weird year but great to be back driving with this kind of performance. The team did a fantastic job, it was just for me to bring it home. I tried to get fastest lap but not going to get it with 40-lap-old mediums compared to someone with fresh tyres."
Valtteri Bottas: "It was a good battle with him [Max Verstappen]. I had a bit more pace at the end than him. Racing so close is always good fun. It could've been more satisfying and I could've been more satisfied but I'm looking forward to next week."
Max Verstappen: "I tried to push for victory but we are just a bit too slow. I pushed as hard as I could. I tried to make it difficult for Valtteri to pass me, even though I knew he was going to get me the next lap. It was fun because the rest of the race was a bit boring."
Swami
By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer
Last updated on Less than a minute agoLess than a minute ago.From the section Formula 1
The Hungarian Grand Prix is live on 5 Live and the BBC Sport website
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton cruised to a comfortable victory in the Styrian Grand Prix.
The world champion's first victory of the year was founded on a stupendous performance in wet qualifying, in which he took pole by more than 1.2 seconds.
Hamilton led from pole position, headed only at the pit-stops, as team mate Valtteri Bottas overtook Red Bull's Max Verstappen late on for second.
The Ferraris retired early after colliding with each other on lap one.
It was another dark day for the Italian team, after another uncompetitive showing in qualifying, as Charles Leclerc apologised for a rash move on the first lap that took out both cars.
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No problems for Hamilton
Hamilton, who has pledged to continue the fight against racism this year in parallel with his quest for a record-equalling seventh world title, was in total control of the race from the start.
He converted his pole position into a lead at the first corner, survived an early safety car period following a collision between the two Ferrari drivers, and never looked back.
The fight was all behind him, as Mercedes sought to get Bottas ahead of Verstappen.
The Finn had qualified fourth in the rain, 1.4secs slower than Hamilton, passed McLaren's Carlos Sainz by lap six, but was not able to make much progress towards the Red Bull.
Hamilton celebrated his first win of the season by raising his fist on the podium, reminiscent of the 1968 Olympics, when two African American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised a black-gloved fist during the US national anthem
When Red Bull made Verstappen's pit stop for fresh tyres on lap 24, Hamilton was brought in three laps later, while Bottas was left out 10 laps longer than the Dutchman.
The aim was to give him a tyre off-set and greater pace at the end of the race.
And it worked. Bottas crept up on Verstappen and was with him with five laps to go.
Bottas looked to have the move down on the straight down to Turn Four on lap 66, but Verstappen fought back around the outside of the corner and held on to the place.
But his valiant defence lasted only another lap before Bottas was able to storm past to complete a Mercedes one-two.
He retains the championship lead over Hamilton, but it is now down to eight points.
The Ferraris collide during the first-lap melee
Disaster for Ferrari
Ferrari had worked flat out to bring upgrades to their car ahead of this race, after showing a dismal pace the week before.
But they did not have the effect they had hoped and the cars could qualify only 10th and 11th, and Charles Leclerc started a further three places back after a three-place grid penalty for blocking in qualifying.
But things got much worse in the race. Leclerc made an over-ambitious move up the inside of Turn Three on the first lap as Vettel was hemmed in on the outside and the two cars collided.
Vettel's rear wing was torn off and Leclerc suffered floor damage and both had to retire.
Another anti-racism protest
Drivers took the knee or stood once again before the race
Hamilton led the majority of drivers in taking the knee ahead of the race.
Their anti-racism protest was not as well co-ordinated as it had been at the same track for the season-opening Austrian Grand Prix last weekend, but the message was clear.
A handful of drivers were not present for the moment ahead of the playing of the Styrian regional anthem, but all who were wore "end racism" T-shirts other than Hamilton's, whose said "Black Lives Matter".
Of those who were there, only Charles Leclerc, Verstappen, Kimi Raikkonen and Daniil Kvyat chose not to kneel.
Flying Racing Points
Sergio Perez in particular and Racing Point in general did not have a good day in the wet in qualifying, with the Mexican down in 17th on the grid, but the so-called 'Pink Mercedes' was soon making up ground.
The likes of McLaren and Renault said before the race that they were concerned about the Racing Point's pace, and their worries were well founded.
Perez picked off driver after driver in a car that has drawn criticisms because of its likeness to last year's Mercedes - which Racing Point admit they have copied - until after the pit stops he was up into the top six.
He passed Daniel Ricciardo's Renault on lap 48, with just over 20 to go, and set off after Alexander Albon.
Perez was passed by Norris at the end of the grand prix
Perez was soon with Albon, but while the Anglo-Thai had been having an unremarkable race in the second Red Bull, he picked up his pace and was able to hold Perez back.
The Mexican finally made a bid for the position with two laps to go but came to grief as he tried to pass at Turn Four in a mirror of the collision between Hamilton and Albon at the same place last week.
Perez was alongside on the inside but Albon tried to hang on around the outside and tagged Perez's front wing on the exit.
Perez limped around the remaining two laps, but was passed by McLaren's Lando Norris for fifth at the final two corners of the last lap.
Their scrap was part of a hectic midfield battle in the closing laps, as Norris took advantage of Perez's team-mate Lance Stroll racing with Renault's Daniel Ricciardo for seventh and McLaren's Carlos Sainz, who qualified a brilliant third, faded in the race to finish ninth.
Driver of the day
Superb as Hamilton was, let's give it to Perez for his clinical drive up from the back of the grid, which included a superb overtaking move around the outside of the fast Turn Six on Ricciardo. A shame it came to grief in the collision with Albon
What happens next?
The races are coming thick and fast in this coronavirus-interrupted season, and another follows this coming weekend, the Hungarian Grand Prix.
What they said
Lewis Hamilton: "Firstly big thank you to my team. What a weird year but great to be back driving with this kind of performance. The team did a fantastic job, it was just for me to bring it home. I tried to get fastest lap but not going to get it with 40-lap-old mediums compared to someone with fresh tyres."
Valtteri Bottas: "It was a good battle with him [Max Verstappen]. I had a bit more pace at the end than him. Racing so close is always good fun. It could've been more satisfying and I could've been more satisfied but I'm looking forward to next week."
Max Verstappen: "I tried to push for victory but we are just a bit too slow. I pushed as hard as I could. I tried to make it difficult for Valtteri to pass me, even though I knew he was going to get me the next lap. It was fun because the rest of the race was a bit boring."
Swami