The F1 season finally geared in and the engine for everyone ignited as 20 engines roared on the Red Bull Ring. The Friday Free Practice session were taken part in by all 20 drivers and gave a slight sense of how the season, or more prominently how the weekend will work out.
This is what the Friday Sense tells brains:
- Mercedes will dominate the weekend and even the season as Mercedes came in on with two 1 – 2 finishes in the two Free Practice Sessions. Mercedes have a strong driver duo and they know how to handle their respective cars.
- The Mercedes duo’s car’s also did not seem to have the very overpowering cooling problems as on race day in 2019. If this how it continues, Max Verstappen does not seem to be much of a threat as well.
- The Mercedes duo also seemed to be properly known to the track and the track seemed to be known to them. They were able to smoothly set some good lap timings.
- Sergio Perez might pack some surprise for the viewers as he seemed to handle his Racing Point car, which resembles the Mercedes in many ways and has a Mercedes Engine, quite beautifully. He was well versed with how to handle his car. He was able to do something that defines a driver and push his car to the limit. Doing which there was even some oil and smoke issues in FP1.
- If his car keeps up the performance and he is able to continue his handling of the car and stay well versed with track layout and the low and high speed corners, he might just end up in the list of Top 7 drivers of the race day, not only in terms of performance but also in terms of the leaderboard.
- Renault might end its contract with Daniel Ricciardo on a note, when Daniel will be the one who would have helped Renault in the 2020 season. His teammate Esteban Ocon also pushed the car but still failed to enter the Top 10 in either of two Free Practice sessions but Daniel Ricciardo finished 8th and 5th in the First and the Second Free Practice session respectively.
- Hence, in the Austrian Grand Prix, Ricciardo does seem to be in a position to finish on a high if he is able to qualify in the top 6 racers on the grid.
- Williams were still underperforming. It seems as if that they might need one or two more season to finish in the top ten at Austrian Grand Prix.
- Red Bull seem to be going good enough with some probable surprises packed for the Grand Prix.
- Christian Horner also hinted at having a standby DAS system like that of Mercedes’. If the stewards approve the legality of the DRS system before the FP3., then all cars will have the permission to use their version of the DAS throughout the upcoming races.
All in all, it seems as if Mercedes are in for a win and there are several combinations which will become clearer after FP3 and the Qualifying Session.
BEST OF LUCK TO ALL THE CONSTRUCTORS AND THE DRIVERS!
spielens 