P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Three factors – including Red Bull’s more efficient DRS – are making for a slightly more comfortable weekend than Red Bull have had in recent weekends, as Mark Hughes explains…
Based on sprint qualifying, the Red Bull Ring seems to be favoring Max Verstappen and Red Bull more than Barcelona did. Verstappen had a slight advantage over Lando Norris in different sectors of the track. The Red Bull’s aero efficiency at the Red Bull Ring played a significant role in their performance compared to Barcelona. Their use of DRS was more effective at this circuit, allowing them to outperform McLaren on the straights. Despite the slight advantage, Verstappen mentioned that the car was well balanced and required minimal adjustments, unlike in previous races. The McLaren team, including Oscar Piastri, also showed consistent speed and performance improvements compared to earlier races. Mercedes, represented by George Russell, faced challenges and was not as competitive in the qualifying rounds at the Red Bull Ring.
