2023 Austrian GP Sprint Race Preview & Tips – JP
2023 Austrian GP Sprint Race Preview
We were ever so close to getting a big payday with Norris and Hulkenberg. We were also out of luck with our bet for qualifying. James Punt usually doesn’t go without a winner for long, his 2023 Austrian GP Sprint Race preview is below.
2023 Austrian GP Sprint Race
It was VERY close but no cigar for our two 176.00 e/w bets for the Sprint Shootout. Norris was sitting in 2nd place until Perez pipped him by 0.077 seconds in the dying seconds.
Hulkenberg was a very honourable 4th. We just needed a little more rain to keep the track damp and cool. The fact that it rained shortly after the end of the session just rubbed salt into the wounds.
Max Verstappen was a very comfortable winner in the end and Red Bull get the front row lock out they should have had yesterday. Perez got it right when it didn’t really matter. He now needs to max out his points and try and extend his lead over Alonso in the championship.
Weather Watch
The weather could play a part once again today. It was proper wet for the F3 race this morning but it has become increasingly dry with the occasional light shower dampening the circuit.
The rain has kept the track quite ‘green’ and as a result it is improving as more rubber goes down. The track temperature was some 26 degrees lower than it was in FP1 yesterday and that played to the strengths of the likes of Haas and maybe the McLaren.
With the McLaren of Norris featuring the big upgrades, we don’t know if it will revert to type and fall back over a longer distance, or if the update has addressed that weakness. Certainly Nico Hulkenberg knows his job is to drop as few places as possible.
Tyre Deg Issues Ferrari
Ferrari clearly didn’t enjoy the cooler temperatures which was interesting. Their big problem over race distances was tyre deg. Getting the tyres up to temperature quickly helped them in qualifying in the early races, but it meant the tyres got worn out in the race.
Has their latest update cured that? It would explain their relative loss of pace today. If so, they should be better over the race distance, but of course this is a short sprint race so we would not see the full picture.
Aston Martin haven’t been on the pace at all this weekend, hot or cold. Mercedes had a ‘mare today Hamilton out in Q1 and he starts 18th, Russell then suffered a hydraulic failure and couldn’t take part in Q2. He starts 15th. They should have been in Q3 but they haven’t looked at their best this weekend.
The forecast, for what it’s worth, says a mostly cloudy session, 18 degrees (so track around 23) with a 70% chance of light showers. Much the same as for qualifying temperature wise, with a threat of rain.
Max’s To Lose
Max Verstappen is the 1.25 favourite and deservedly so. It is his to lose.
Norris is 2.00 for a podium finish and it would appear to be between him and the two Ferraris to get what should be third place. Both teams have had the trait of going backwards over a race distance but this is just a short race so tyre deg is less of an issue, and their respective upgrades may have addressed that weakness.
I prefer the chances of Norris as he is the track master, nobody goes better here. Verstappen has the car to win but stick Lando in the Red Bull and he’d be lapping the field.
Any rain to cool the track would only help him and there are some showers due to dampen the track before and during the session. I can’t go big on it as it is a step into the unknown tyre wear wise, even Norris says he doesn’t know what their race pace will be.
2023 Austrian GP Sprint Race Tip: 1 point Lando Norris to finish in the top 3 @ 2.00 with Ladbrokes
Breaking News – As I type, Leclerc has been handed a three place grid penalty for impeding Piastri in qualifying. That leaves him starting 9th and promotes, Ocon, Stroll and Alonso up one place. That helps Norris’ chances.
The points only go down to 8th place. It is hard to see anyone coming from too far back to reach the top 8 in the short format.
Ocon now starts 8th and he just needs to hold off Leclerc, easier said than done. In the Baku Sprint race only one driver outside the top 8 finished inside the top 8. That was Lance Stroll, who started 9th and it was Alex Albon who dropped out.
Hulkenberg starts 4th, Albon started 7th in Baku. If the weather stays cool enough for the Haas to look after their tyres, then Hulkenberg should hang on to some points. He is an experienced driver and will make his Haas as wide as possible.
The Ferraris will be hard to keep back but now Leclerc starts from 9th place. The hulk is 1.67 to finish top 8 with Skybet which is about right.
Top 10 Market
Ladbrokes are betting on top 10 finishes and Alex Albon makes some appeal at 2.50. He has been 10th or 11th in every session so far and the Williams has made some real progress with the update brought in for Canada.
It looks like the car has a bigger sweet spot and is not just a one trick pony. The track does suit its mains strength of straight line speed, but he is holding his own across the lap. He starts 11th with the Haas of Magnussen ahead of him. He is just about worth a punt.
