Pole position qualifier Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP and third placed qualifier Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing in parc ferme during qualifying for the F1 Grand Prix of Tuscany at Mugello Circuit on September 12, 2020 in Scarperia, Italy. (Photo by Dan Istitene - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
F1 arrives in Austria with the Styrian GP for a double header for the second year running
The F1 season is going to continue in the eighth leg of the 2021 season as all teams move to Austria, home of the Red Bull Racing team.
This year around, Styrian GP precedes the Austrian GP sharing the same track circuit over a fortnight. Austria has held incredible races in the past going back to the first in 1963.
Leaders’ Red Bull will be aiming to extend their lead as Max Verstappen hopes to replicate his performance in France to make it 4 wins in a row for the Bulls. Last year, Lewis Hamilton took control from start to finish as he won the inaugural 2020 Styrian GP – named after the stunning mountainous region where the 2.6-mile track is located.
The qualifying will be on Saturday with three rounds of high-pressure action as Hamilton aims to win pole having last won in Barcelona. Verstappen impressed in qualifying in France, having done enough to hold on to first spot during the race.
Time for F1 Styrian GP 2021 Qualifying: 2 pm GMT
The qualifying on Saturday will also be expecting unlikely rains, which builds the excitement of the race after last year’s battle.
The race on Sunday has high repercussions as Verstappen holds a slender lead with 131 points. Hamilton follows with 119 points and is right on the Dutch’s tail as he aims to break Michael Schumacher’s F1 World Championship record.
Time of F1 Styrian GP 2021 Race: 2 pm GMT
Mercedes won both races last year with Valterri Bottas winning the opening race of the season. This should give the 7-time Champions an advantage over their rivals, despite lacking pace this season.
Hamilton also was knocked out of the race in Azerbaijan as he finished out of the points after a small mistake. He will be hoping to bank on his experience and overcome Verstappen who is a serious contender for his throne.
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