F1Minute - Bitesize Formula One News

The British Grand Prix started behind the safety car after the formation lap was completed in the dry but a sudden downpour meant wet tyres were mandatory. The action started properly after five laps, and many drivers opted for intermediate tyres, with Hamilton, Verstappen and Pérez benefitting from waiting later. Sebastian Vettel was the first to opt for dry tyres, and from then on it was a matter of making them last to the end of the race.

Lewis Hamilton took pole position for the British Grand Prix, but he had to do the work twice after finding his first effort of Q3 was deleted due to exceeding the track limits. He managed to repeat the feat to take pole ahead of Rosberg and Verstappen.

Lewis Hamilton was the fastest driver on track for both practice sessions ahead of the British Grand Prix. In FP1, he led the way with Nico Rosberg and then Nico Hülkenberg behind him. Sebastian Vettel made a brief appearance with an updated version of the halo cockpit device before returning his Ferrari to the more traditional state.

Ferrari confirmed today that they re-signed Finnish driver Kimi Räikkönen for another full season alongside Sebastian Vettel, taking his total seasons with the squad up to seven, albeit with a break in the middle.

The Austrian Grand Prix had a little bit of everything, and then a just a little bit more besides. It all began with Felipe Massa having to start from the pit lane as Williams made changes to his car. The resulting gap on the grid confused Pascal Wehrlein, who pulled one space too far and rapidly had to reverse before the starting lights went out. He wasn’t penalised, though, and remained focused enough to finish in tenth place, picking up a crucial point for Manor.

Rain hit midway through qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix which meant the final top ten shoot out was a tense and mixed up affair. Drivers started on the intermediate tyre and had to decide when to switch to the dry tyres at the opportune moment.

Nico Rosberg was the fastest driver in both Friday practice sessions for the Austrian Grand Prix, but they appeared to be scrappy sessions for everyone. In FP1, Hamilton had a spin and Grosjean narrowly avoided colliding with him. Daniel Ricciardo had to take avoiding action for an out of control Ericsson.

The Austrian Grand Prix has struggled in its short comeback so far to differentiate itself from other European races, but this weekend it will have the honour of being the first track to allow an F1 fan to wave the chequered flag. A competition, instigated by Red Bull, owners of the race track, is in place, for fans to take a picture of themselves doing something creative with a chequered flag at a special booth at the circuit, and they might get chosen for the crucial job.

Lewis Hamilton has admitted he’s disappointed by the performance of the power units on his side of the garage, as the defending champion moves to his last free engine of the year. Hamilton will have a fresh motor in Austria, and his previous engine difficulties have put him close to a grid drop penalty.

Carlos Sainz may have been disappointed when former teammate Max Verstappen was given the call up to Red Bull leaving him behind, but he can be satisfied in having done enough to earn a third consecutive season with Toro Rosso. The Spaniard has been signed for the 2017 season, with Red Bull keen to keep their hands on their driver amid growing interest in his skills.