2024 Austrian GP Sprint Race Preview

Now, it is time for James Punt’s 2024 Austrian GP Sprint Race preview. He’s already fired in a two point winning margin bet for the shootout, fingers crossed for more of the same.   

2024 Austrian GP Sprint Race

This is the dress rehearsal for the main event tomorrow. I am not a fan of sprint race weekends. It is just too repetitive. Later today we have another qualifying session, much like the one we had yesterday.

We have the top two drivers in the championship starting on the front row, Verstappen on pole and Norris alongside him. The two were well clear of the rest of the pack, led by the second McLaren of Piastri. With this just being a short race with no pit stops, that 2-3 for McLaren is not the great strategic advantage that it may be over a Grand Prix distance.

It does look like a straight fight between the two friends and this might be a scene setter for not just the rest of the weekend, but the season.

Corners vs Straights

The Red Bull was notably faster in the fast corners, the McLaren a little faster on the straights. So long as Verstappen gets the better start, he should be able to keep Norris behind. For his part, Norris will hope to make a jump in the very early part of the first lap, in which case he will be hard to beat. There are three DRS zones on the track but they are not the most powerful on the calendar.

Mercedes look to be the third force again this weekend, with Russell being the happier of their two drivers. Ferrari are fourth best, but Leclerc starts back in tenth after failing to set a time in Q3 after his car switched off in the pits. Leclerc’s season has unravelled very quickly since winning his home race and he is cutting a frustrating figure. Alpine cemented their place as the fifth best car by getting both drivers into the top ten.

Max Has Good Sprint Record

Verstappen has won both the previous sprint races here and both of the sprint races this year. In Miami, Norris started the sprint from pole but made a bad start and ended up a distant sixth. In China, Norris managed to put the fastest car into ninth on the grid. He crashed at the start and retired on the first lap. Verstappen won the sprint from pole.

Norris does not have any good experiences from the first two sprints to draw on. This is the bit of his game he needs to polish. Getting the job done. The very least he needs today is second place. The main event is on Sunday and he needs to have his head right for that. This is just an appetizer.

Frustrations

Norris is having a frustrating time, and so are those backing him! He could quite easily have won at least two of the last four races, but he has had to settle for second place. He is now admitting that the Drivers’ Championship is a realistic target.

Previously, he may have been happy with second place, the only thing that concerns him now is the gap to Verstappen. That brings some pressure. He is going H2H with Verstappen and usually coming second. He has to turn that round, but not do anything stupid in trying.

It does look like straight fight between the two, both are also track specialists which explains the separation to the rest of the field. Verstappen is the 1.50 favourite. Norris 3.75.

Norris Overpriced

In my book, Verstappen is the correct favourite, but 3.75 for Norris looks bit too big. Certainly, if this was a full race distance, Norris would be a great bet. The McLaren is just that bit better on the tyres and I feel that could be the difference on Sunday.

Will tyre wear be an issue over a third race of a race distance? Probably not, but it will be quite hot, and if Norris can pressure Verstappen all the way, then he could have the faster car at the end.

Given what has transpired so far this season with my Norris bets, this may be another good value loser, but the odds on Norris just look a touch generous. He has two chances to win, at the start, or at the end.

2024 Austrian GP Sprint Race Tip: 1 point Lando Norris to win @ 3.75 with Betfred

There isn’t much else of interest. I was going to lose my mind and back Sergeant to beat Albon, but at 1.67, he looks about right with a four place start. I am happy to just watch this dress rehearsal and hold fire until the main event tomorrow.

I’ll have a look at this afternoon’s qualifying session later, but I’m not expecting much value.

-JamesPunt