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And they're off! 1:59: The tyre blankets come off and the drivers roll off their starting positions for the formation lap. We expect supersoft runners to stop for the first time between Lap 8 and Lap 11. Two-stopping will be the order of the day. --- 1:57: Just minutes away from the start of this race then. The grandstands are packed, the sun is out, it's a great day for racing. Worth noting who start on softs today: Button, Maldonado, Perez, Bianchi, Ericsson, Chilton. That means Force India has split its drivers' strategies again, as Hulkenberg is on the supersoft tyre. Romain Grosjean will start today's race from the pits. --- 1:55 Fernando Alonso also turned in a super qualifying yesterday, putting the Ferrari fourth. Even he admitted afterwards it flattered him - but it's another example of Alonso squeezing every inch from his car as possible. Team-mate Kimi Raikkonen lines up in eighth. ---
--- 1:50: Aside from Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas, one of the stars of qualifying was Daniil Kvyat. He starts seventh, directly behind the Red Bull of Daniel Ricciardo - who he was only two tenths shy of in qualifying. The other 'rookie of the season' candidate, Kevin Magnussen, lines up ahead of Kvyat in sixth. Those two are definitely worth keeping a close eye on this afternoon. -- 1:47: In case you missed it, Lewis Hamilton's qualifying was far from ideal on Saturday. A spin in Q3 means he starts today from ninth. Nico Rosberg, meanwhile, starts from third. Could be a crucial race in the context of the championship this afternoon. --- 1:44: Felipe Massa is one of just two non-Mercedes drivers to lead a lap this year. He led two laps in Canada, while Daniel Ricciardo has led three. Great chance for him to add to that today you would feel. I am fascinated to see the Williams pair battling for first off the line. Given how the team's season has gone so far, Claire Williams and co must have lost a bit of sleep at the prospect of their drivers going into that tight corner two abreast.... --
-- 1:40: To give you an indication of the scale of Williams' achievement yesterday, it has not locked out the front row of the grid since 2002. --- 1:34: It's much hotter today than on Friday or Saturday, meaning tyre degradation will be a massive issue for these drivers today. We know the likes of Force India have been good with its tyres this year, while McLaren has been pretty much the opposite. Could be crucial in determining the pecking order today. --- 1:30: Hello and welcome to ESPN's coverage of the Austrian Grand Prix! After Felipe Massa's shock pole yesterday in a dramatic qualifying session we have a super race in store this afternoon. |
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Lap 1 |
Good start from Rosberg as he jumps past Bottas into Turn 1 but behind that Hamilton is absolutely flying, dispatching Raikkonen into the first corner. He's up to fifth by Turn 5! Terrible start for Kvyat, who drops to 10th. Ricciardo also got away terrible and is down to ninth! Alonso can't hold off Hamilton coming through Turn 8 and suddenly Hamilton is right behind Rosberg, who slipped behind Bottas! What a lap from Hamilton. |
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Lap 2 |
Vettel is going slowly! More woe for the world champion at Red Bull's home race. "Tell me what to do please" is the response on the radio. |
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Lap 3 |
Massa leads, Bottas just one second down on his team-mate. Vettel slowed but gets going as the train of the cars comes past and nearly makes contact with a Force India! Looks like Ricciardo had to take evasive action to move out of the way as well. Vettel a lap down but seems to be going - he reports his drive has returned. |
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Lap 4 |
Bottas, Rosberg and Hamilton all in DRS range of the guy in front.Grosjean rejoins the race after another visit to the pit lane. |
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Lap 5 |
Seeing a replay of Lap 1 again, Ricciardo ran wide onto the asphalt at Turn 1 which would explain why he lost ground to the guys behind him. He's now down in 10th. Bottas took second back from Rosberg into Turn 2, he just had far more drag than the championship leader coming into the first turn. Wonderful start from Hamilton, too. |
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Lap 6 |
DRS is now enabled. Let's see how Williams' tyres are here, that will be the difference between a win and a podium for Massa and Bottas today. Expecting pit stops in the next few laps. |
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Lap 7 |
Perez is up to 15th from 11th. Force India looking good again... |
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Lap 8 |
Hamilton starting to climb all over the back of Rosberg now, he's just five tenths down on his team-mate. Massa is warned to keep looking after the rear left tyres by squeezing the throttle a little more gently. |
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Lap 9 |
Vergne is the first driver to pit for soft tyres. A little gap emerging between Bottas and Rosberg now. Williams really a match for Mercedes on the supersoft tyre, as we saw in qualifying. |
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Lap 10 |
Hulkenberg pits for soft tyres too. He was stuck in a train of traffic behind Kvyat. The softs go him, keep an eye on the Force India drivers this afternoon. Perez started on the softs and currently 10th - after the stops he will be in a great position. |
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Lap 11 |
Flurry of activity in the pit lane, Magnussen, Kvyat, Ricciardo all come in. Maybe they are all reacting to Hulkenberg? They know they need to cover off the Force India here.... But Hulkenberg seemingly stayed out ahead of all of them. There may have been an unsafe release from Toro Rosso into the path of Ricciardo there as well. |
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Lap 12 |
Rosberg dives into the pits from third. Hamilton therfore moves into third - 2.6 second pit stop for the championship leader. Important lap for Hamilton now. |
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Lap 13 |
Hamilton stays out, as do the Williams drivers. Very interesting. Hamilton taking advantage of having some clean air in front of him. Seeing a replay of Kvyat's pit stop, he's definitely been released into the path of Ricciardo but it doesn't appear the Red Bull driver had to take evasive action. Hamilton is right behind Bottas but Rosberg is flying on the soft tyre as he sets a fastest first sector out of anyone. Surely Williams needs to pit its drivers... |
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Lap 14 |
Hamilton dives into the pits but Williams stays out! Gutierrez stops in the pit lane and is wheeled back into the Sauber garage. Hamilton comes out and Rosberg is already well clear of the pit exit. Great outlap from Rosberg and Hamilton lost nine tenths at the pit stop. |
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Lap 15 |
Race leader Massa comes into the pits for soft tyres. Has Williams left it too late? Alonso pits from third. Massa emerges in between Rosberg and Hamilton! Terrible call from Williams and Hamilton dives down the inside of Massa into Turn 2 for second! Rosberg gets past Raikkonen, who is yet to pit, for on-track third. |
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Lap 16 |
Great stop from Bottas - he gets out in front of Hamilton and Massa! He holds off Hamilton into Tuirn 2 but runs deep. Perez now leads the race, albeit having not stopped the race, but he's on soft tyres so should keep going until mid-distance. Great drama in this race now. Amazing job by Williams to get Bottas out in between the Mercs, that pit stop was 2.0 seconds which is lightening fast. |
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Lap 17 |
Rosberg needs to dispatch Perez now. Perez held a train of cars behind him in Canada for nearly 20 laps - which arguably helped Rosberg earn a podium as he would surely have been passed by that train were it not for Perez. Perez told not to get defensive in front of Rosberg - Force India knows its in a race with drivers further back. |
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Lap 18 |
Williams must be kicking itself. Great job with Bottas but you have to wonder why it took them so long to respond to what Mercedes were doing. Mercedes and Williams still on very similar times on the soft tyre, which is a surprise. |
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Lap 19 |
Alonso is still a net fifth, as Button is yet to pit. Raikkonen really lost out in those first pit stops and is now down in 13th, behind the likes of Ricciardo and Kvyat, who have also pitted. |
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Lap 20 |
Hamilton once again warned to manage his brakes. Gutierrez gets a ten second stop/go penalty for that unsafe release, Sauber releasing him without his right rear properly. |
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Lap 21 |
Rosberg edging up to Perez in front but the Force India is lapping well still, he was only 0.02s down on Rosberg's lap time. Hamilton getting closer and closer to Bottas, he's only a couple of tenths down on the Williams. |
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Lap 22 |
Hamilton told he can have a "few stabs" at Bottas with the 'overtake button' but that he is not completely safe on fuel. "Use them wisely" is the message. Perez the quickest man out on track in the lap. Remarkable again from the Force India driver. |
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Lap 23 |
Vettel pits for fresh softs. He's still dead last after his earlier issues. Hamilton not getting much closer to Bottas and it seems like Massa is edging closer into that battle as well. |
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Lap 24 |
Hamilton asked to do a little bit of 'lift and coast' just to save some fuel. That isn't going to help his chances of catching and passing Bottas out in front. This might explain why Rosberg is not really making much inroads with Perez either. Mercedes clearly in fuel management mode currently. |
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Lap 25 |
Out of the top five, Hamilton still appears to have used less fuel. He's lapping nearly half a second faster than Rosberg, interestingly. Hulkenberg passes Maldonado, who is yet to pit, for ninth place into Turn 2. |
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Lap 26 |
Kvyat is off at Turn 4 and it appears he has a right rear puncture as he navigates it down an exit road. After such a promising qualifying it's fallen apart today for the rookie. Red Bull sponsored cars having a nightmare on home soil... He complains he had "no brake pedal". Scary stuff. |
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Lap 27 |
Rosberg dives down the inside of Perez into Turn 2 and Bottas follows suit on the run down to Turn 3, giving himself some breathing space from Hamilton. Perez defends from Hamilton into the final corner which will help Rosberg and Bottas. Hamilton now all over the back of Perez, who must be due a pit stop soon. |
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Lap 28 |
Rosberg sets a fastest lap in fresh air, a 1:13.706, as Hamilton dispatches Perez for third into Turn 2. Perez surely needs to pit now, Massa is next in line... this could get spicy again. Massa of course saying "I'll think twice" before passing Perez in future. He needs to do it soon as Perez stays out for another lap. |
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Lap 29 |
Hamilton sets a new fastest lap, a 1:13.558 and he's reeling in Bottas after losing a bit of time behind Perez. |
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Lap 30 |
Well Massa doesn't need to worry about passing Perez as he dives into the pits. He gets another set of soft tyres, so Perez will need to stop again. That cost Massa hugely there, the race is really falling apart for the pole-sitter. Bottas is now duelling with Rosberg for the lead! Hamilton is right up behind Bottas as well so a real duel for the lead now. |
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Lap 31 |
Vettel is still dead last but has pitted for a new set of tyres. Rosberg lapped far slower than Bottas and Hamilton last lap and now he's got attention from Bottas behind. Does Rosberg have a problem? He's losing time still in that first sector. |
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Lap 32 |
Rosberg pulls out a bit of a gap in the second two sectors but he seems to be struggling through S1. Rosberg wobbling through Turn 2 under braking, right where Hamilton spun out of qualifying yesterday. Looks like Rosberg ran wide into Turn 1 two laps ago. Vettel also lost his front wing before that pit stop, trying to pass Gutierrez for 21st. Not a great afternoon for the world champion. |
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Lap 33 |
Rosberg eeking out a bit of a gap again so he may just be in fuel save mode. I'd say Hamilton has to get past Bottas soon if he wants to challenge Rosberg for the win this afternoon. |
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Lap 34 |
Traffic ahead for the leaders. Stewards investigating Vettel and Gutierrez for that incident earlier. Vettel may be the one in trouble here, as he just got too close to the Sauber and made contact. |
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Lap 35 |
Rosberg has moved out of DRS zone of Bottas, Hamilton still in range of the Williams driver though. He seems too far back to do anything this lap however as the leading pack dispatch the lapped cars with ease. |
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Lap 36 |
Hamilton no closer to getting past Bottas. The gap still eight tenths. Massa has dropped two seconds behind Hamilton. Vettel told to box this lap, looks like Red Bull will be retiring the car. What a horrid afternoon for Vettel - lots of jokes going round on Twitter that Red Bull gave him Webber's 2014 car. |
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Lap 37 |
Hulkenberg moves over for Perez, after a message from Force India, which moves the Mexican into seventh. |
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Lap 38 |
Rosberg just did a fastest third sector on his last lap so he's now finding a really groove out in front. Massa now three seconds down on Hamilton with Alonso slowly edging in behind - could be trouble brewing for Williams. |
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Lap 39 |
Seems like the Mercedes drivers have just been let loose. Hamilton told it's "hammer time" - which I can only assume means he can stop saving fuel and attack Bottas. The gap now seven tenths but he looks too far back to do anything in the first DRS zone. |
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Lap 40 |
Hamilton pits from third. Are they trying to undercut Bottas? Really poor stop from Mercedes, four seconds. He rejoins fifth as Rosberg is called in as well. |
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Lap 41 |
Rosberg's pit stop a second faster than Hamilton's so he will emerge comfortably ahead after what should be the final pit stop for Mercedes. Advantage Rosberg, this race looks like his to lose at the moment. Big calls needing to be made in the Williams garage now. Perez runs really wide at Turn 8. Bottas pits - big moment now, this could be the difference between second and third. |
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Lap 42 |
Wow - Hamilton sets a new fastest lap, a 1:12.217, and that means Bottas rejoins behind the second-placed Mercedes. Williams off the mark with their calls today. |
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Lap 43 |
Massa might well be needing to call on his best defensive skills now, as Alonso is closing in behind. He dives into the pit lane, meaning Alonso leads a lap for the first time this season. |
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Lap 44 |
Hamilton closing the gap on Rosberg now, he's absolutely flying. A few tenths fastest on the last couple of laps. Alonso's sector times still really good as well. He still needs to stop again but this could be crucial laps if he wants to get close to Massa, they could be in a race for fourth. |
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Lap 45 |
Hamilton is told his brakes are fine after asking if they were ok - looks like Hamilton is setting up for a challenge on Rosberg, he's certainly saved enough fuel. Alonso pits from his brief lead, comes out 11th on track, but there's a group of cars in front of him yet to take their second stop. |
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Lap 46 |
Perez, yet to stop again, back in front of his old chum Massa in fifth. Raikkonen rejoins P11 from his second stop, taking on fresh softs. |
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Lap 47 |
Bottas, who is currently fourth on track, told everything is ok for P3 as Alonso still needs to pit again - this would be his first career podium as well. Williams seems content to settle for third and fourth currently. |
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Lap 48 |
Alonso pits from the lead and comes out in sixth, quite a way off Massa. Perez urged to "come on mate", so I'd imagine he needs to pit again from fourth. That means Massa and Alonso are a net fourth and fifth. |
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Lap 49 |
The gap at the front now 1.5s. Button and Perez yet to make their second stops for new rubber. |
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Lap 50 |
Hamilton told "you are both in the same position, it will need management" when he asks whether his team-mate has a braking issue. Interesting development at Mercedes, this could hamper any thrilling finish between the Mercedes drivers. |
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Lap 51 |
Rosberg has found another three tenths on Hamilton, who got stuck in traffic behind Gutierrez. Perez seemingly in a battle with team-mate Hulkenberg, who is back in ninth - about a pit stop behind. Massa won't be enjoying being sat behind that car until he pits though. |
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Lap 52 |
Hamilton told his rear tyres are looking a little better "for you", and that a challenge at the end of the race could be possible. This game could still be on then. We saw Rosberg struggling earlier with his rear tyres. Behind them, Bottas in a race of his own for third - all he needs to do is bring the car home for P3. |
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Lap 53 |
Some dark clouds forming in the distance.... it is surely too late in this race to have an impact. |
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Lap 54 |
Raikkonen told he is racing Button and needs a couple of tenth - responds by saying "you should give me more power!" |
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Lap 55 |
Massa is really losing out behind Perez, with Alonso now 2.9 seconds behind his former team-mate. By staying out Perez is slowly moving ahead in his actual position, I'd say he's currently in between Button and Magnussen in eighth. |
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Lap 56 |
Perez pits and releases Massa, who needs to get his foot down now with Alonso lurking. Another great race performance from Perez, he really comes into his own on Sundays. He slots into eighth, ahead of Hulkenberg, who now has Ricciardo all over him. Grosjean gets a little wide coming through Turn 1. He's running down in 15th, while Maldonado is 13th, so another frustrating weekend for Lotus. |
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Lap 57 |
Unfamiliar territory for Ricciardo this season as he moves up behind Hulkenberg, he's half a second down so he's within DRS zone. As good as his form has been, you can't help but feel Vettel has had all the bad luck on his side of the garage this season. Though I doubt there will be all that much sympathy... |
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Lap 58 |
Hamilton has 14 laps to pass and catch Rosberg, with that gap still firmly 1.5s. Button pits for the second time, taking on those supersoft tyres the McLaren hates so much. He comes out behind Raikkonen, so the Ferrari clearly responding well to his engineer. |
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Lap 59 |
Massa is nibbling away at the gap to Bottas in front but Hamilton has lost a huge chunk of time to Rosberg, complaining on the radio his brakes are now on the limit. Alonso now just 1.7s off Massa's gearbox, a few good laps here and the Spaniard could be on for something really special. |
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Lap 60 |
Perez sets a fastest lap on the supersoft tyre, a 1:12.142. Vergne pits from 13th to retire, complaining his brakes are gone. |
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Lap 61 |
Seems Massa came across Vergne at the wrong time, losing further time to Alonso - who is now just one second down on the Williams and into DRS range. |
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Lap 62 |
Yesterday Alonso said Massa was his fastest ever team-mate. Don't expect him to be so friendly in these last few laps now, he can surely sniff fourth. Massa gets a bit held up behind Ericsson but seems to get away with it. |
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Lap 63 |
Massa pulls out a 1.4s gap to Alonso so clearly he's coping fine with the pressure of the Ferrari. The gap out in front now around the two-second mark. Perez is absolutely flying and is nearly within DRS range of Magnussen for sixth. Ricciardo has backed off Hulkenberg slightly, with Raikkonen four seconds down on that scrap for eighth. |
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Lap 64 |
"Guys give me some updates where I can be quicker" says Hamilton. He's still not given up the fight just yet. Perez just set a fastest middle sector of anyone, he's absolutely flying still. A key result for him after his crash in Canada. |
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Lap 65 |
Perez told it's his call - but he will have two laps in "Mode Two", meaning a more aggressive fuel mode, whenever he wants to use it on Magnussen in front. Out in front, Hamilton has cut that gap down to 1.5s after asking where he could go faster. Only six laps left for Hamilton to make a move. |
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Lap 66 |
Alonso's charge has withered. Magnussen runs wide coming into Turn 1 and Perez won't even need Mode Two as he sweeps by the McLaren into Turn 2. Perez into sixth, valuable points for him and for Force India. |
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Lap 67 |
I think Hamilton will run out of laps but he's narrowed the gap to 1.3s with five laps left. Perez told to use DRS to secure P6 and then bring the car home. Really good drive from Perez, again. |
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Lap 68 |
Hamilton 1.2s down on Rosberg now. Is Rosberg struggling with tyres now? Can't imagine Mercedes is enjoying this on the pit wall. Hamilton nearly into DRS range but he's got barely any time to make a move. Surely Rosberg has enough in the bag. Hamilton drops off in the middle sector, he appeared to lock up somewhere. |
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Lap 69 |
Hamilton told he's now "Strap-Six" until the end of the race, which may well mean he's got his most aggressive fuel setting for the rest of the race. I don't think he's going to have enough laps as the gap is not coming down at all. |
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Lap 70 |
Two laps left. The gap is 1.2s so it will need something pretty special to catch Rosberg. Bianchi ahead could give Hamilton an advantage of some sort but he dives out of the way at the first opportunity. The gap is nine tenths as they cross the line - Hamilton in DRS range for the final lap! |
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Lap 71 |
Rosberg locks up coming out of Turn 3 but Hamilton wobbles through it as well! So close for Hamilton but he wasn't close enough. Rosberg wins the Austrian Grand Prix Hamilton's charge just not enough, a few more laps and you would have fancied him for a win. Solid, if unspectacular, drive from Rosberg out in front. Bottas claims his maiden podium as Hulkenberg loses out to Ricciardo on the final lap! The Red Bull gets up to eighth as Hulkenberg loses a place on the last lap for the second race in a row. |
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Good reaction from Hamilton and Rosberg in parc ferme, shaking hands and mimicking their playful fight from Bahrain. Strong showing from Mercedes, a well managed race. The winning three celebrate on the podium, with Bottas getting most of the spray in his face following his maiden career podium. Rosberg extends his lead and Hamilton doesn't look too unhappy, which is probably understandable considering where he started the race. Mark Webber doing the interview on the podium today. That smile must have been beaming since Vettel hit his problems early... |
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