Austrian Grand Prix: Formula One qualifying – live
? F1 qualifying updates from 3pm BST
? Hamilton on the march | Mail Philip your thoughts
At the start of the season, the Ferrari was quick off the grid but heavy on the tyres and unable to match the Mercedes over race distances. But, writes Giles:
In Barcelona, Ferrari brought eight aerodynamic upgrades to their car, their biggest developments and they proved enormously effective … Ferrari’s SF26, in its upgraded configuration, demonstrated it was a serious package, hugely impressive through the corners and crucially now also less punishing on the tyres as a result of new wheel rims. As the defending world champion, McLaren’s Lando Norris, noted, “if they had a better engine they’re dominating”. In Austria they should boast a better engine.
The Red Bull engine was assessed to be the top-performing machinery – a decision still questioned by Red Bull, understandably given the superiority of the Mercedes. However, the measurement considers only the internal combustion engine output not the electrical element of the power unit. There is scant room for complaint here given it was a methodology that was agreed by teams and engine manufacturers.
In the interim, with Aduo a goer, Ferrari were considered to be more than 4% off the Red Bull benchmark, entitling it to two engine upgrades this season, with Mercedes between 2% and 4%, giving it one. Eyebrows have been raised as to why Ferrari were ready with an engine upgrade so soon after the engine assessment was announced on race day in Monaco, the intimation being they were gaming the system.
Continue reading...
