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Team Summary:
Prior to the start of qualifying for the 2021 Steiermark Grand Prix it was
announced that Bottas would receive a three place grid penalty for spinning
in the pit lane during Friday practice. The first drivers would start to
come out including both Haas cars and both of the Williams. The track would
become very busy with more drivers coming out. The times were coming quickly
as we now had Norris fastest with a 1m:04.584 but Verstappen goes quicker
with a 1m:04.489. Leclerc was now third while the Williams drivers had
dropped to 12th and 14th. Bottas was now second ahead of Norris with
Hamilton fourth. The Williams drivers were now 14th and 16th but one of the
cars would jump up to be eighth dropping to ninth.
The top four cars would not coming out for further runs but every car from
fifth downwards were out including both Williams. With the runs completed we
would see Tsunoda fourth followed by Perez, Hamilton, Leclerc, Gasly,
Stroll, and Sainz tenth. The Williams drivers would finish in 12th and 16th.
The second period would see a large number of drivers coming out on the
medium tyre including both Mercedes. A 1m:04.724 from Bottas with Giovinazzi
second. Verstappen would set a 1m:04.540 to be quickest from Bottas and
Russell. But Perez would move ahead of Russell also on the soft tyre to be
second. Hamilton was down in fifth and Giovinazzi sixth. Hamilton would move
up to third while Verstappen set a 1m:04.433 only to see Gasly go quickest
with a 1m:04.429 using the soft tyre. Verstappen was second followed by
Norris, Perez, Hamilton, Tsunoda, Stroll, Alonso, Bottas, and Sainz tenth.
The final Williams had dropped to 13th.
Bottas would have another run and was now third. Hamilton would return on
another set of medium tyres being the only driver on the track. But all the
drivers except Gasly would return including the Williams. The remaining
Williams would go 10th but only for moments dropping to 11th as others went
faster. Of the other drivers Perez would go quickest with a 1m:04.197 from
Norris, Gasly, Verstappen, Bottas, Hamilton, Alonso, Tsunoda, Leclerc and
Stroll tenth.
The final period of qualifying would see Verstappen quickest after his first
run with a 1m:03.841 followed by Hamilton, Norris, Bottas, Perez, Gasly,
Leclerc, Tsunoda Alonso and Stroll yet to set a time. Stroll would set a
time that would see him eighth. Tsunoda would hamper Bottas such that the
incident would be under investigation. Hamilton will fail to improve but
Bottas would move up to second but will start the race from fifth with his
penalty. Hamilton was third followed by Norris, Perez, Gasly, Leclerc,
Tsunoda, Alonso and Stroll tenth. The Williams drivers would then finish
qualifying in 11th and 16th with both having tyre choice for Sunday's race. |
