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2021 Formula 1 World Championship
Round 8
Styrian Grand Prix
Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria
Sunday 27 June, 15:00 CAT
McLaren-Mercedes will be looking to strengthen their grip on third place in the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship when the eighth round of the 2021 season, the
Stryian Grand Prix, is held at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria on the afternoon of Sunday 27 June.
The papaya-clad cars driven by Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo came home in fifth and sixth respectively at this past weekend’s French Grand Prix, allowing McLaren to open up a 16-point lead over Ferrari to be the ‘best of the rest’ behind the leading duo of Mercedes and Red Bull Racing-Honda.
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“It’s a crazy situation,” Ricciardo, who appears to be coming to terms with his McLaren, said in regard to Ferrari’s loss of pace. “What’s really encouraging after a race like this is, after Saturday, we weren’t quite there yet – but this shows that we shouldn’t get discouraged. It still allows a lot of hope for a Sunday and days like today prove there’s still some big opportunities.”
The Scuderia pilots of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz both finished out of the points as the Italian team’s recent pace vanished in Paul Ricard – something they will have to work hard to avoid at the Red Bull Ring.
"It's quite clear, quite evident that today we must have got something really wrong to be so far off the pace," admitted Sainz, while Leclerc added: "It's been one of the most difficult races of my time in Formula 1."
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Ferrari’s struggles could even open the door for AlphaTauri-Honda to make up ground from fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship, with Pierre Gasly having put together a run of six straight point finishes.
“There are still a few things we need to review but all in all, P7, fourth best car, we can’t complain about that. A lot of good battles, so I think it was a strong race,” said the Frenchman.
Red Bull Ring
Built: 1969 (current configuration since 2011)
Length: 4.318 kilometres
Turns: 10
Race lap record: 1:05.619 – Carlos Sainz, McLaren-Renault, 2020
F1 World Championship – Drivers’ standings
1 – Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing-Honda, 131 points
2 – Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 119
3 – Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing-Honda, 84
4 – Lando Norris, McLaren-Mercedes, 76
5 – Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, 59
F1 World Championship – Constructors’ standings
1 – Red Bull Racing-Honda, 215 points
2 – Mercedes, 178
3 – McLaren-Mercedes, 110
4 – Ferrari, 94
5 – AlphaTauri-Honda, 45
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