In the round-up: Mercedes’ George Russell blamed his disappointing qualifying result on Friday on being “just not quick enough”
In brief
Russell “just not quick enough” on Friday
Russell will start from 11th on the grid for Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix after he was eliminated from Q2. His team mate Lewis Hamilton progressed and took fifth on the grid.
Although Russell had his best time deleted for exceeding track limits, it would not have improved his starting position. He admitted he struggled for pace on Friday from the very start of practice. “Just not quick enough today,” he said.
“I think from the first laps in practice, just hadn’t got the right feel with the car. It’s difficult when you go into a sprint race weekend, you don’t have a lot of time to make some changes. Obviously P11 is not the best position, but we’ve had some good results from further down the field so far this year so all is not lost.”
Martins holds on to F2 pole
Victor Martins secured pole for this weekend’s Formula 2 feature race at the Red Bull Ring after beating Frederik Vesti and his ART team mate Theo Pourchaire to the top spot.Martins set the pace throughout the session, setting the early benchmark of a 1’14.926. He would shave three tenths of a second off that time in the final minutes and secure his second pole of the season.
Championship leader Vesti will start Sunday’s feature race on the front row, with Pourchaire in third. Jak Crawford will start on reverse-grid pole for today’s sprint race.
Saucy picks up F3 pole after Aron penalised
Paul Aron lost pole position for the FIA Formula 3 feature race on Sunday for a track limits violation, handing the top spot on the grid to Gregoire Saucy.
Aron’s best time had originally seen him take pole by almost two tenths over Saucy, before the stewards deleted his fastest time, demoting him to fifth. Dino Beganovic will start alongside Saucy on the front row, with Gabriel Bortoleto in third.
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Rob Marshall, McLaren's F1 engineering and design director (Somerset County Gazette)
'A former Taunton School student is to become McLaren's Formula 1 technical director of engineering and design from next January. Rob Marshall, who studied at Taunton from 1975 to 1986, is currently chief engineering officer at Red Bull Racing, where he has been for the last 17 years. Rob returns frequently to Taunton School, most recently in December when he offered expert advice and design ideas to students building a Greenpower racing car.'
Still dreaming Correa has sights set on Formula 1 (Reuters)
'If I look at the big picture and try to take myself out of the equation I think it is unbelievable that I am here. I know the level I am driving now is already higher than where I was in 2019 before the accident.A lot of it is due to the accident to be honest.'
David Malukas says he's unlikely to return to Dale Coyne Racing for 2024 IndyCar season (Indy Star)
''We’re very much talking with other teams, and there’s plenty of offers from people who still want me, and it’s looking very good for next year, but the trajectory as of now looks like I’m not going to be with (Dale Coyne Racing) next year. I’ll be somewhere else.''
Drugovich to participate in Rome rookie practice (Formula E)
'The young Brazilian, who topped the timesheets during the Berlin Rookie Test earlier this year, will now get a second chance to impress during Rome’s Rookie Free Practice session. The opportunity, which is exclusively for rookie drivers, will see some of motorsport’s brightest talents navigate the iconic Italian street circuit and find their feet in the electric machinery.'
Multiple W Series drivers haven't received their prize money (Top Gear)
'Multiple other drivers - as well as suppliers and employees of W Series - have been left out of pocket, with three-time champion Jamie Chadwick allegedly among those who haven’t been paid.'
Lando Norris leaps to defend female F1 journalist after reporter's 'rude' on-air remark (Mirror)
'Yeah, um, good question,' he replied, before smiling and adding: 'You ask the best questions here, well done.' But the shock was visible on his face as another reporter then interjected, despite the interview being on camera. 'You are one hell of a liar,' said the unknown male reporter, who was off camera at the time. Becker's reply was: 'Wow, this is not true,' while Norris retorted: 'I'm not.'
10 Years of Toto Memories at Mercedes (Mercedes via YouTube)
'To mark his 10th anniversary with the Team, we got Toto to look back at some of his most memorable moment on and off the track.'
AMF1 Team and partners celebrate Pride Month together (Aston Martin via YouTube)
Aston Martin host a panel with Racing Pride to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride month in June.
We always endeavour to credit original sources. If you have a tip for a link relating to single-seater motorsport to feature in the next RaceFans round-up please send it to us via the contact form.
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Very happy to be on pole here at the Red Bull Ring 💪 This is a great start @redbullracing, but there’s still a busy weekend ahead 👊
Thanks for all the support out here, so great to see! 🙏#OrangeArmy #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/UdT8keJtEY
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) June 30, 2023
Because I’m a nerd, I spent the morning walking around the surviving section of the old Österreichring. Those of a certain age will recognise this view of the Flatschach into the fearsome banked Tiroch Kurve. What a track! #AustrianGP 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/vLI0FevRFz
— Sean Kelly (@virtualstatman) June 30, 2023
A flare landed by the edge of the circuit earlier in practice. #F1 #AustrianGP #RaceFans pic.twitter.com/k0dvN3rNro
— RaceFans (@racefansdotnet) June 30, 2023
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- Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory
Comment of the day
As Sergio Perez is eliminated from Q2 after three consecutive track limits violations, reader Tommy Scragend makes an astute observation…
There’s something ironic about a driver known for his prowess on street circuits being unable to keep within the white lines. No doubt he’d have managed it just fine had there been a wall there.
Tommy Scragend
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Tom Moloney, Pj and Jesper Mug!
On this day in motorsport
someone or something
1st July 2023, 1:39
Today’s pick of CotD highlights the fact that any sort of knowledge of F1 is actually detrimental to composing a comment deemed worthy of that honour.
We’re talking about the very same Sergio Pérez who smashed into the wall at the exit of Ste Dévote in Monaco during qualifying, thus qualifying last.
Astute observation, my foot.
David BR (@david-br)
1st July 2023, 13:51
It’s true Pérez is relatively quicker on street circuits, but it’s not really down to some combination of precision and greater risk taking. He’s better at 90 degree corners where car balance and optimal line are less important (compared to faster flowing corners) and smooth brake and throttle control have a higher reward. Added to that factor is that this year, as he said, he’s tried to emulate Verstappen’s driving technique more. Probably not a good idea.
LyndaMarks
1st July 2023, 2:19
I’d guess it’s much easier to see and judge where you are in relation to a barrier thats as high as the car than it is a white line painted on track.
But of course fans who have never sat in an F1 car know exactly how much visibility drivers have to spot white lines right?
I think fans and even the commentators tend to have a pathetically over simplistic view on some things most the time and act like everything is easier than it likely actually is.
Oh there meant to be the best drivers in the world so mistakes aren’t allowed and we know better than them so will call they awful with our criticism from a place of vast knowledge as we sit on our sofas.
S
1st July 2023, 3:12
Why are you making it seem as though driving an F1 car is fundamentally different to any other open-wheeler, closed-body racing car or even a road car? If they don’t know where their wheels are, that’s a major problem.
F1 drivers are not super-heroes – they are merely pushing to the point that ‘mistakes’ are practically inevitable. They are not aiming for 10cm margin for error, but 10mm. They are bound to get it wrong many times.
And in all sports, exceeding the limits of the playing surface or breaking any other rule deserves a penalty. That’s how sports work.
In this case, the drivers were choosing to drive too fast to make those corners and they were punished.
If Verstappen is correct and they look like amateurs, then it is entirely their own fault and completely deserved. They all should know the rules.
SteveP
1st July 2023, 11:41
+1
They chose to drive into the corner too fast for the cornering ability of the car.
Verstappen should note that there were drivers is lesser cars that kept it between the lines.
Sikhumbuzo Khumalo
1st July 2023, 5:28
Comment of the day for me. You hit the nail on the head.
Keith
1st July 2023, 3:04
Folks should try a little high performance driving on a circuit themselves. It’s very instructive, going through a curve as fast as you can (65mph?) how you can push out and can’t do anything about it (except back off which may induce a spin). Difference is that in autox you get 2 sec penalty for a cone.
Jere (@jerejj)
1st July 2023, 5:58
I like Correa’s optimism, but unfortunately for him, more likely no than yes.
Bummer Mercedes Youtube channel didn’t choose a 2021 Abu Dhabi GP final lap garage image.
Hopefully, no more flares near the track edge this weekend – simply risky & stupid.
COTD makes a decent point, although others make even better counter points.