Austrian GP Driver Ratings
About this episode
Matt and Tommy break down their driver ratings for the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring, grading the grid from zero to ten. From the struggles of Cadillac teammates Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas to standout midfield performances by Pierre Gasly and Gabrielle Bortoletto, the hosts debate who overdelivered and who fell flat. They also compare their scores with fan ratings, offering a detailed look at the simulated grid's performance, team reliability issues, and standout drives from rookies like Oli Bearman.
Oh, so you thought a fairly standard set of results would lead us to having exactly the same Driver Ratings grades with no controversial differences? Think again...
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Red Bull Ring
"We've got our grades from zero all the way to 10 for all of the 22 drivers that we saw race around the Red Bull Ring."
A famous, fast race track located in the scenic mountains of Austria. It is owned by the Red Bull energy drink company and hosts the Austrian Grand Prix.
A 4.318 km (2.683 mi) motorsport race track in Spielberg, Styria, Austria, owned by Red Bull. It features dramatic elevation changes and three long straights, making it a high-speed circuit that rewards engine power and efficient aerodynamics.
Silverstone
"So hopefully for Silverstone, they will have a working functioning car with the upgrade package."
A legendary race track in England where the very first Formula 1 race was held in 1950. It is known for being incredibly fast and windy.
A historic motor racing circuit in England, widely considered the home of British motorsport and the site of the first-ever Formula 1 World Championship race in 1950. It is famous for high-speed corners like Copse, Maggots, and Becketts.
VSC
"Of course, Bearman did gain a little bit under the VSC in the initial stop, but he's finished 36 odd seconds behind Bearman come the end..."
A digital speed limit system used during races when there is a minor hazard on the track. Instead of a real car leading the pack, drivers must slow down to a safe speed shown on their steering wheel screens.
Virtual Safety Car. A system used in Formula 1 to reduce speeds during minor incidents without deploying the physical safety car. Drivers must reduce their speed by a set percentage (usually around 30-40%) and maintain a minimum lap time ('delta') displayed on their steering wheels.
lift and coast
"While Liam was basically lifting and coasting and just managing his brakes, everything, they were just strict instructions from the team."
A trick drivers use where they take their foot off the gas pedal a bit early before hitting the brakes for a turn. It helps save fuel and keeps the car's brakes and engine from getting too hot.
A driving technique where a driver releases the accelerator ('lifts') before braking ('coasts') into a corner. This is primarily used in racing to conserve fuel, manage engine and brake temperatures, and reduce wear on components.
team orders
"I think V-Carb, apart from the, the naughty teammate incident, a team orders incident, sorry. I don't know what more they could have really done in both qualifying and the race."
When a racing team tells its two drivers over the radio to stop fighting each other or to let one pass the other to help the team get more points.
Instructions given by a racing team's management directing their drivers to behave in a specific way, such as holding positions, swapping places, or letting a faster teammate pass. While controversial among fans, it is a strategic tool used to maximize team points.
silly season
"And yes, it's going to be a very interesting, silly season for sure when all that kicks off."
The time of year when everyone in racing starts gossiping and making deals about which drivers will switch to different teams for the next season.
A colloquial term in motorsport referring to the period of the year, typically during the summer break, filled with intense speculation, rumors, and negotiations regarding driver transfers and contract renewals for the upcoming season.
power units
"Indeed. And you have not as per the aduo results, but as per most of people with a brain, the best engine on the grid. Power units, yes."
The incredibly advanced hybrid engine systems used in modern Formula 1 cars, combining a traditional gas engine with powerful electric motors.
The highly complex hybrid propulsion systems used in modern Formula 1 cars since 2014. They consist of a 1.6-liter turbocharged V6 internal combustion engine (ICE) integrated with two electric motor-generator units (MGU-K and MGU-H) and an energy store.
Lewis Hamilton
"Lewis Hamilton started third, finished fifth. I've gone for a seven out of 10 for Lewis Hamilton."
One of the most famous and successful race car drivers in history, having won seven Formula 1 world championships.
British Formula 1 driver, widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time, holding the record for the most wins, pole positions, and podium finishes in F1 history. He won world championships with McLaren and Mercedes before making a historic move to Ferrari.
double-waved yellow
"Puts it on the front row, maybe in another universe. There's a double-waved yellow, and he's starting on pole position..."
A warning flag waved by track workers meaning there is a major hazard ahead. Drivers must slow down a lot and be ready to stop if necessary.
A flag signal shown to drivers indicating a hazard that wholly or partially blocks the track and/or marshals working on or beside the track. Drivers must reduce speed significantly, not overtake, and be prepared to change direction or stop.
Max Verstappen
"Max Verstappen started fifth, finished second. I have gone for a 9 out of 10 for Max Verstappen."
A dominant Dutch Formula 1 driver who races for Red Bull and has won multiple world championships with his incredibly fast and aggressive driving.
Dutch Formula 1 driver racing for Red Bull Racing, who became the youngest ever F1 driver and race winner. He is a multi-time World Champion known for his aggressive racecraft and exceptional wet-weather driving skills.
Kimi Antonelli
"Kimi Antonelli started fourth, finished third. My grade for Kimi Antonelli is an eight out of 10."
A young, highly talented Italian racing driver who was signed by the Mercedes Formula 1 team at a very young age due to his incredible speed.
Italian racing driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a highly touted Mercedes junior driver who bypassed Formula 3 to compete directly in Formula 2 before being promoted to a Formula 1 seat with Mercedes.
George Russell
"Why is George Russell got pole position? Yada, yada, yada. But it soon transpired that George Russell read the rules correctly and put it on pole and did exactly what he needed to do as a driver."
A fast British Formula 1 driver who races for the Mercedes team and is known for his precise driving style.
British Formula 1 driver who currently races for Mercedes. A graduate of the Mercedes junior program, he won the GP3 and Formula 2 championships before debuting in F1 with Williams in 2019, eventually moving to Mercedes in 2022.
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