Austrian GP (Red Bull Ring) | July 8–10, 2022

stormybadger8 said:Exactly...
Regarding that situation with George Russell, they really could have just let it slide as a racing incident, couldn't they?
Especially when you consider that we were right at the race start, there was absolute chaos everywhere, and if one looks closely, Sergio Perez actually had significantly more room than George Russell to avoid any contact, and so forth...
However, the situation involving Pierre Gasly is much, much harder to justify, because there weren't other cars nearby, Gasly was acutely aware that Sebastian Vettel was right there, and Vettel didn't have any substantial space to maneuver to avoid the impact, and so on...

But honestly, handing out penalties in both cases feels somewhat farcical; in fact, they shouldn't have issued them at all.
Because if we are being realistic, if a penalty for forcing another driver off the track is effectively only five seconds when the race itself is only marginally longer,
then wouldn't it be most logical for Charles Leclerc or Max Verstappen to simply push people off the track from now on, rather than engaging in proper racing and leaving space for one another as they ought to...?

That five-second penalty makes absolutely no sense to me. If they are going to penalize collisions, then they should go all the way with a disqualification. Then you would see how suddenly everyone starts leaving plenty of room on the track. Both Perez and Vettel had their races ruined. Well, let those responsible for the collision deal with the consequences too.

cosmicstag16 said:Why did they call a VSC when Carlos Sainz's engine gave out? He parked quite far from the track and wasn't endangering anyone. It seems to me this season they are just itching to throw a VSC or a Safety Car for every little thing.

It is because they are terrified that some other car might fly off right toward where Sainz's car is sitting. All of this—these VSCs and Safety Cars—is simply foolishness; they disrupt the rhythm of the race, they nullify the advantage that certain drivers have worked so hard to build, and ultimately, they just allow the drivers to take a breather. While human lives are certainly being saved, one cannot help but feel that the essence of true racing has died.

Robert Cox46 said:There was a recovery vehicle clearing a car out of the runoff area. I have to say, I was a bit surprised that they only called for a Virtual Safety Car.

It makes sense, but I can't help but wonder if just a yellow flag in Sector 2 would have done the trick—maybe combined with a quick heads-up to the drivers that there was a recovery vehicle blocking the track in that section.

With that yellow flag out, drivers are forced to slow down through that sector and overtaking is strictly off the table. I don’t want to sound like I'm complaining, but it honestly feels like the drivers are being given a bit too much of a safety cushion in this scenario.

graniteharbor502 said:That 5-second penalty is just nonsense—seriously. If they're gonna hand out penalties for contact, they might as well go all the way with a disqualification. Then maybe drivers would actually think twice about leaving some breathing room on the track. It totally wrecked the race for both Perez and Vettel. If they want to play that way, let them deal with the fallout too.

It’s all because they're terrified some other car is gonna fly off right where Carlos Sainz is sitting. Honestly, this whole thing is ridiculous—all these VSCs and SCs just kill the flow of the race, wipe out any lead a driver worked hard to build, and basically give everyone a free nap mid-race. Sure, lives are being saved, but racing? It’s dying.

Why can't they just cap the speed during an SC to something reasonable and keep the gaps between cars the same?

Brian Perez79 said:I guess you could wonder why they don't just cap the speed during a Safety Car period to something reasonable, so that the gaps between drivers stay exactly where they were. Maybe it would make things more predictable, but I suppose there's a reason they don't.

Well, that’s exactly what just happened. 😁
That’s called a Virtual Safety Car, and I guess it works exactly the way you described. 🙂

Raymond Anderson4 said:It makes sense, I suppose, yet I find myself wondering if merely deploying a yellow flag in sector two wouldn't suffice, perhaps accompanied by a notification to the drivers that there is a vehicle on track clearing debris or managing an incident.

Because a yellow flag—which necessitates slower speeds within that specific sector and strictly prohibits overtaking—seems quite sufficient, and while I have no desire to dwell on the obvious, it strikes me that the drivers would be adequately protected under such a scenario.

You might want to ask Jules Bianchi about that...

hiddensailor7 said:Well, that’s basically what just happened 😁
That’s the whole point of a VSC—the Virtual Safety Car—it works exactly the way you described 🙂

I get that—but why wouldn't they just use the VSC instead of a full Safety Car when things get messy? Like, just drop the speeds even lower if there's a bigger wreck

graniteharbor502 said:Just ask Jules Bianchi...

It was raining back then, too. If it had been raining yesterday, of course there would have been a VSC.
I can't quite recall if there was a VSC or just a yellow flag when Jules went off...

It was likely a case of poor communication; a lot of factors probably collided at once.

In my opinion, during those high-pressure moments, the FIA should perhaps use a dedicated radio frequency to broadcast information to everyone simultaneously. If that's even feasible—given how driver and pit wall comms work—it would be like a direct broadcast. They state the situation, and there’s no need for feedback from the drivers since we shouldn't be stuck waiting on teams to relay track updates to their cars.

Brian Perez79 said:Why can't they just, I don't know, cap the speed at some reasonable limit during an SC and let the drivers keep their spacing?

Look, the Safety Car comes out when marshals are actually on the track or right near it... you have to bunch everyone up in a smaller area so nobody ends up running over a marshal. It’s basic safety! And yeah, that obviously kills the gaps between drivers. But when there aren't any marshals out there, a VSC does the job just fine and you don't deal with that massive loss of distance.

Brian Perez79 said:I wonder why they don't just have the VSC use even lower speeds than the Safety Car when there's a major accident.

I suppose it’s because when a serious incident occurs, the goal is to bunch all the cars up in a single line. That way, the crews clearing the track get a guaranteed window where they can work without any interruptions.

With a VSC, the debris or the incident might be spread out across different parts of the track, so you don't really get that continuous gap. It feels like someone is constantly passing through that section, regardless of how slow they are going.

Regarding the Perez vs Russell racing incident, or the Vettel vs Gastly situation—honestly, Gastly is clearly at fault here. I have absolutely no desire to waste my breath debating this. It’s quite simple: Gastly forced Vettel off the track entirely.

Anyone who actually thinks George Russell is at fault here, or believes he deserves a harsher penalty, should probably just stop watching Formula 1 altogether or go buy a pair of glasses.

By the end, only five drivers were still on the same lap.
Was Mercedes actually competitive at Silverstone, or was it just a total illusion?
I’m asking rhetorically, mostly because back in Austria, their gap to the leaders was sitting at another 0.5-0.6 seconds per lap.
It’s also worth noting how smoothly George Russell recovered from his penalty; he cruised into P4 without breaking much of a sweat after starting P19. They’ve got at least a 0.3 second per lap advantage over the rest of the grid. They had an edge before, too, but I really expected them to be breathing down the leaders' necks. The hype was that they’d catch up in performance by Barcelona at the latest.

Haas has managed to claw their way into points-scoring territory for two races straight now. Alpine and McLaren are still ahead, but in Austria, they looked—at least on paper—like they were racing on level ground.

We have two races coming up with completely different track layouts, so we'll find out if what I wrote above holds water or if it was just some kind of Austrian magic.

Jacob Castillo70 said:Anyone who thinks George Russell is at fault here, or that he deserves a harsher penalty, should probably just stop watching Formula 1 altogether or go buy some glasses.

George Russell got screwed. On top of that ridiculous five-second penalty, he also took two penalty points.
Maybe they're finally settling the score from Silverstone. 🤔

And Red Bull (along with Sergio Perez) showed once again how arrogant and out of line they are with their take on the incident. Do these people ever actually look in a mirror first!?

Jacob Castillo70 said:If anyone truly believes that George Russell is at fault for that incident, or if they are genuinely convinced that he ought to have faced a more severe penalty, then I find myself wondering if they should perhaps consider choosing another sport because Formula 1 simply isn't for them—or perhaps they might benefit from investing in a better pair of glasses.

Roger Wright94 said:It appears that George Russell has been unfairly penalized. Beyond that rather absurd five-second penalty, he was also saddled with two penalty points on his license. One truly has to wonder, does the officiating body ever consider the broader context of these decisions?
Perhaps they have finally decided to settle the score with him over what happened at Silverstone. 🤔

It seems that Red Bull—and Sergio Perez as well—have once again displayed an incredible amount of audacity and sheer impudence regarding their stance on the recent incident. One truly has to wonder, do these people ever bother to take a moment to look in the mirror first?

Has anyone had the chance to review the official document released by the FIA regarding the penalty? It really makes one wonder about the underlying logic applied here, doesn't it? One can't help but sit back and contemplate whether the regulations are being interpreted with the level of consistency we all expect from such a governing body. Is it merely a matter of strict adherence to the rulebook, or are there nuances at play that the public isn't seeing? It's quite a heavy subject to digest, especially when you consider the implications this might have on the championship standings moving forward. I find myself lost in thought over the potential ripple effects this decision will cause across the entire paddock.


Pietro Fittipaldi offers his perspective on the collision from a driver's point of view:
I find myself returning to this particular moment in the footage, wondering if we all truly grasped the sheer weight of what was unfolding on that track. Is it not fascinating how a single sequence can shift the entire momentum of a season, leaving us to wonder if any of our earlier predictions held even a shred of merit? One begins to contemplate the immense pressure placed upon these drivers, who must navigate such high-stakes environments while the eyes of the entire nation are fixed upon their every move. Does anyone else feel that sense of quiet anticipation, that heavy stillness before the storm breaks? It seems to me that we often overlook the psychological toll this takes, focusing instead on the mechanics and the telemetry, when perhaps the true battle is being fought within the mind of the athlete. I suppose I am merely ruminating on the complexity of it all, but isn't that the very essence of why we watch?

Is it not an established principle that the responsibility always lies with the driver on the inside of the turn to ensure they don't drift wide and force the driver on the outside off their line? One simply cannot expect George Russell to navigate that corner as if he were out there on a solitary practice lap with no one else in his periphery.

In the recent races, I’ve been feeling like some drivers might be subtly gaining or losing an advantage during the VSC periods—not while the VSC is actually active, since everyone slows down then, but specifically regarding how the gaps shift right before and after the period begins. Yesterday, it seemed to me that having yellow flags in the specific sector where Carlos Sainz finished the race should have been plenty, so I guess I'm wondering why they felt the need to slow everyone down across the entire track. It also caught me off guard when Ferrari decided to bring Charles Leclerc in for a pit stop instead of maybe running the numbers to see if Max Verstappen could actually catch him before the finish; it feels like they might finally be starting to take some cues from Red Bull Racing and Mercedes, since those teams seem to have much more polished strategists on their side lately.

Anyone who can't get behind Sergio Perez and Sebastian Vettel trying to fight for position—especially when they take a line on the outside—is either missing the point or just doesn't belong in Formula 1.
Honestly, you might want to choose another sport because F1 definitely isn't for you.
Though I guess it’s not surprising; this new generation of fans seems totally out of touch with reality, so how could they possibly understand Formula 1?

People love to list the "top 20 drivers," but the moment any of them actually sees an opening to overtake—particularly on the outside—some of you are immediately ready to call for a penalty...
Kudos to Sergio Perez and Sebastian Vettel for giving it a shot...
It didn't work out this time and their races are pretty much ruined, but they'll get it right next time.
These two proved they have both the guts and the tactical sense to spot an opportunity to outmaneuver an opponent...
And don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the drivers on the inside shouldn't be penalized...
It's just incredibly difficult to judge whether they could have avoided the collision or if a retirement was inevitable.

I honestly think those outside overtakes have turned into a disaster waiting to happen lately. It feels like 90% of them end in a wreck because there’s just zero room on the inside, so they end up clashing wheels.
It seems like Alexander Albon is the only one who keeps getting caught up in that mess with Lewis Hamilton.

swiftmaker12 said:Those two actually showed some guts and used their heads by seeing a way to get past the competition...
And look, I'm not saying we should punish the drivers who were holding the inside line...

Sergio Perez is driving a car that’s clearly superior to George Russell's. So, honestly, it was just a matter of time before he pulled ahead. If Sergio Perez had just played it smart, he wouldn't have been forcing an overtake and crashing into someone who isn't even in his league to begin with.

Regardless of who's at fault here—though I'm leaning toward it being a driver error—Sergio Perez was just being impatient.

Roger Wright94 said:Only five drivers actually stayed on the same lap by the end.
Was Mercedes' performance at the Circuit of Americas just a total illusion?
I’m asking myself—purely rhetorically, of course—because looking back at Austria, Mercedes was lagging behind the leaders by another 0.5-0.6 seconds per lap.
It’s also worth pointing out how smoothly George Russell recovered from his penalty. He looked so relaxed, almost effortless, cruising into P4 after being way back in P19. They have at least a 0.3 second per lap advantage over the rest of the field. They had it before too, but I really expected them to push much closer to the front. The hype was all about them catching up in performance by the time we hit Barcelona.

Haas has managed to score points in two races straight now. Alpine and McLaren are ahead of them, sure, but in Austria, they seemed right there in the mix.

We’ve got two more races coming up with totally different track layouts, so we'll see if what I wrote above holds water or if it was just some kind of Austrian magic trick.

The track was short, so that’s why only five drivers ended up on the same lap.

It’s hard to tell where Mercedes actually stands. They fell apart during qualifying, and then during Lewis Hamilton's race, those two Haas cars just kind of gummed things up a bit.

McLaren should probably be sweating a little; they are definitely sliding down the rankings, and now they're sitting even with Alpine in the standings.

To me, Alpine looks like they have the fourth fastest car on the grid. They seem quicker than McLaren and Haas, even if they can't quite touch Mercedes yet.

swiftmaker12 said:Anyone who refuses to support Sergio Perez and Sebastian Vettel when they attempt to fight for a position using an outside line maneuver is either completely out of touch or simply doesn't understand Formula 1.
Choose another sport because F1 definitely isn't for you.
Though I suppose we shouldn't be surprised; this new generation of fans watching F1 has no grasp on reality, let alone the nuances of the sport.

You all claim to be talking about the top 20 drivers, yet the moment any of them spots a genuine opportunity to overtake—especially on the outside—some of you are ready to call for penalties...
Kudos to both Perez and Vettel for taking that shot...
It didn't work out this time and their races were ruined, but things will turn around next time.
These two proved they have the guts and the tactical intelligence to recognize a chance to outmaneuver an opponent...
And I am not suggesting that the drivers on the inside should be penalized...
It is incredibly difficult to judge whether a collision could have been avoided or if it would have resulted in a retirement...

George Russell was turning the wheel to the absolute limit and wasn't even pinning the throttle until Perez hit him. It was a clean racing incident.

Maybe focus a little more on how much Perez messed up. He clearly has a much faster race car, the race has already started, which means they are likely heavy on fuel and the tires haven't properly reached operating temperature, yet he drives like an idiot attempting a high-risk move. The gamble failed, and he ended up in the gravel. End of story...