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Lap 1️⃣
What exactly happened in Q3?
After Max Verstappen's off at Turn 9, the onboards from the two Mercedes cars tell two different stories.
Kimi Antonelli immediately reacts to the flashing yellow marshal panel by lifting off the throttle, applying heavy braking and reducing speed significantly.
George Russell's approach is more subtle. He briefly lifts off the throttle, quickly downshifts twice to 4th gear (allowing additional MGU energy recovery), then gets back on full power all the way to the finish line.
Former F1 race winner Juan Pablo Montoya described Russell's reaction as incredibly clever, suggesting he read the situation instantly and understood the regulations perfectly. However, a closer look at the telemetry shows that George had already used 4th gear through the final corner on his previous Q3 flying lap, suggesting this wasn't an improvised decision.
The data
Antonelli - Turn 9 approach: ~312 km/h
Minimum speed: ~217 km/h
Russell (Pole Lap) - Turn 9 approach: ~311 km/h
Minimum speed: ~232 km/h
Interestingly, on Russell's previous Q3 flying lap, his minimum speed through the same corner was 230 km/h. In other words, despite the yellow flag, he actually carried more speed through the incident zone on his pole lap!
Why was the lap allowed?
The FIA requires drivers to demonstrate a clear speed reduction under single yellow flag, but it doesn't specify exactly how much time must be lost. Russell's final sector tells the story:
Pole lap Sector 3: 20.069 s.
Previous Q3 lap Sector 3: 20.042 s.
That's a difference of just 0.027 seconds (27 milliseconds). Russell briefly lifted, complied with the single yellow-flag requirement, recovered energy through the double downshift, and then accelerated at full power to the finish line. The result was a legal lap that was only 27 milliseconds slower in the final sector than his previous attempt.
That's classic Formula 1—where understanding the regulations combined with precise execution and timing can be almost as valuable as outright speed!
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Lap 2️⃣
Are Red Bull back in the hunt?
Against Ferrari and McLaren, the answer appears to be yes. Against Mercedes, the picture is less clear.
Austria marked Red Bull's second major upgrade package of the season, and the overall performance gain looks significant. The team has successfully reduced excess weight, while tyre degradation appears to have improved noticeably over longer stints.
There is still room for improvement mainly on the aero side around the rear wing, but the latest upgrades have clearly moved the team in the right direction.
Of course, Max Verstappen has always been exceptionally strong at the Red Bull Ring. However, Isack Hadjar's impressive performance suggests the progress isn't solely down to Verstappen's brilliance—the upgraded RB21 genuinely looks more competitive.
Silverstone will provide the first true benchmark for the new package. It's a completely different type of circuit and another venue where Verstappen has repeatedly delivered outstanding performances.
If Red Bull can remain competitive there, the battle at the front could become much more interesting over the second half of the season.
As for McLaren and Ferrari, this radio message from Lewis Hamilton's race engineer during yesterday's Austrian Grand Prix summed up the challenge perfectly
Fighting Max is quite expensive.
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Lap 3️⃣
Why F1 wheel rims are more important than you think
F1 tyres are often described as "black magic", and managing their temperature is one of the biggest performance factors during a race.
When track temperatures climb well above 50°C, teams rely on much more than tyre pressures and race strategy. The wheel rims themselves feature carefully engineered internal structures, cooling channels and air passages designed to control how heat is transferred to and from the tyres.
The goal is to find the perfect balance: generate enough temperature for immediate grip at the start of a stint and during qualifying, while preventing the tyres from overheating as the stint progresses.
The photo above was taken during the Spanish Grand Prix and shows just how much engineering goes into a component that most fans rarely notice.
Lap 4️⃣
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Lap 5️⃣
THIS WEEK’S PRIZE
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1️⃣ Complete the Reflex Champion Reaction Time Challenge HERE 👉
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Lap 6️⃣
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