Austrian Grand Prix: Starting Grid

Austrian Grand Prix: Starting Grid

Originally written by Joas van Wingerden. This version is a translation.

Sunday 1 July 2018 12:30

Mercedes' domination of the Austrian Grand Prix looks set to continue this weekend after Valtteri Bottas led Lewis Hamilton in a Silver Arrows front-row lockout in Spielberg on Saturday. After taking his first pole position of 2018, Bottas was boosted further by the news that Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel was demoted from third to sixth.

Vettel was punished for blocking the Renault of Carlos Sainz Jr in Q2 - running slowly on the racing line as the Spaniard was winding up a flying lap.

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It means that Kimi Raikkonen jumps up behind the Mercedes pair, although the veteran has not made up a place on the opening lap since the 2016 season, so Bottas and Hamilton may be able to safely focus on each other.

Max Verstappen moves up to the second row, however, and will be targeting a fast start as Red Bull look for rare success in their home race at a track which bears their name.

The lower half of the grid was shaken up by a slew of penalties, starting with Charles Leclerc's five-place grid drop for a change of gearbox.

Fernando Alonso will start from the pit lane after a change of front-wing setup broke parc ferme rules, while Toro Rosso also changed Brendon Hartley's engine on race morning, swapping him with Marcus Ericsson at the back of the grid.

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