Driver Rankings: Who was the most impressive driver in Austria?
About this episode
Ed Straw and Matt Beer debate the controversial driver rankings from the Austrian Grand Prix. They dive deep into why George Russell claimed the top spot over Max Verstappen, and whether Kimi Antonelli was judged too harshly for his qualifying mistake. The hosts also address feedback from The Race Members Club, questioning Oscar Piastri's fifth-place ranking despite outperforming his McLaren teammate, and explore how driver execution versus team strategy influences these highly detailed ratings.
George Russell and Max Verstappen returned to the front in Austria - but will either of them claim the coveted top step of the podium in our driver rankings, or will it go to someone else entirely? Matt Beer, armed with questions from The Race Members' Club, joins Edd Straw to run the rule over his Red Bull Ring driver rankings, including whether he got the top two in his rankings the right way around and whether one driver is being unreasonably picked on when it comes to deciding who comes last...
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George Russell
"The race is on and George Russel and Max Vestappen return to the front in Austria"
A highly skilled British Formula 1 driver who races for the Mercedes team and is known for being extremely fast, especially in qualifying.
British Formula 1 driver racing for Mercedes-AMG Petronas. Known for his exceptional qualifying speed and precise execution, he graduated to Mercedes after a stellar junior career and three seasons with Williams.
Max Verstappen
"The race is on and George Russel and Max Vestappen return to the front in Austria"
An incredibly fast Dutch driver who has won multiple Formula 1 world championships with the Red Bull team.
Dutch Formula 1 driver and multi-time World Champion racing for Red Bull Racing. Renowned for his aggressive driving style, relentless race pace, and exceptional car control in all weather conditions.
Red Bull Ring
"joining me to discuss how I rank the driver's performance at the Red Bull Ring is Matt Behr."
A famous, very fast race track in the mountains of Austria owned by the Red Bull company, known for its beautiful scenery and long straightaways.
A 4.318 km (2.683 mi) motorsport race track in Spielberg, Styria, Austria, owned by the Red Bull energy drink company. It features dramatic elevation changes, three long straights, and high-speed corners, making it a fast and challenging circuit for Formula 1.
Kimi Antonelli
"I'd like to start with a point about the championship leader, Kimmian Snally, who only managed 9th in your rankings."
A young Italian racing prodigy who is considered one of the most exciting new talents in motorsport, widely expected to be a future F1 superstar.
Italian racing driver who rose rapidly through the junior single-seater ranks to secure a seat in Formula 1. Highly touted as a generational talent, he was signed to the Mercedes driver development program at a young age.
double yellow
"for the crime of actually thinking it was a double yellow rather than a single yellow and lifting off in a responsible way and blowing a shot at pole."
A safety flag shown to drivers meaning there is a major hazard ahead. Drivers must slow down immediately and are not allowed to try to set a fast lap time.
A trackside flag signal indicating great danger on or near the track. Drivers are required to slow down significantly, be prepared to stop, and must abort their current flying lap during qualifying sessions.
downforce
"Esteban Ocon was lacking downforce. So you had people who had problems and setbacks"
The invisible air pressure pushing down on a race car to help its tires stick to the road, letting it go around corners incredibly fast.
The aerodynamic force that pushes a race car down into the track surface. This increases tire grip, allowing the car to travel through corners at much higher speeds without sliding.
Oldsmobile Intrigue
"...you going on the attack or are you going down the intrigue route? I'm going on the attack. I'm going to go s..."
The Oldsmobile Intrigue is a standard four-door family sedan made by General Motors in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It was designed to look and feel more modern than older, boxier cars from the same brand. It was built for everyday commuting and family driving.
The Oldsmobile Intrigue was a mid-size sedan produced by General Motors from 1998 to 2002 as part of an effort to import-fight and modernize the Oldsmobile brand. It featured a sleek, European-inspired design and was notable for its relatively sophisticated driving dynamics for a GM W-body car of its era. The Intrigue represents the final generation of vehicles built before GM phased out the historic Oldsmobile brand entirely in 2004.
virtual safety car
"if Antonelli had stayed out when that virtual safety car came out for science and been able to get a cheaper pit stop"
A digital safety system that forces all cars to slow down to a safe speed instantly, without needing a real safety car to lead them around.
A safety system that imposes a strict speed limit (delta time) across the entire track without deploying the physical safety car, usually used to clear minor incidents safely.
Racing Bulls
"we're racing balls territory for the rest of this episode because we've got Arvid Lindblad"
A Formula 1 team owned by Red Bull that acts as a sister team, helping to train younger drivers for the main Red Bull team.
The Formula 1 team officially known as Visa Cash App RB (formerly Scuderia AlphaTauri and Toro Rosso). Operating as the sister team to Red Bull Racing, it serves as a competitive midfield competitor and a development ground for Red Bull junior drivers.
Liam Lawson
"because we've got Arvid Lindblad who you put only sixteenths compared to Liam Lawson's fourth"
A talented young racing driver from New Zealand who got his chance in Formula 1 through Red Bull's driver development program.
New Zealand racing driver who entered Formula 1 through the Red Bull Junior Team. Known for his impressive stand-in performances and strong racecraft in midfield machinery.
Arvid Lindblad
"because we've got Arvid Lindblad who you put only sixteenths compared to Liam Lawson's fourth"
A highly-rated young British-Swedish racing driver backed by Red Bull who is climbing the junior ranks toward Formula 1.
British-Swedish racing driver who joined the Red Bull Junior Team at a young age. He made a strong impression in junior single-seater categories like Formula 3 before progressing up the ladder toward Formula 1.
team orders
"but it's the ignored team orders and the role that played in your harsh ish ranking of Lindblad that people are really interested in"
Rules given by a team's bosses telling their drivers not to fight each other or to let one driver pass the other for the good of the team.
Instructions given by a racing team's management directing their drivers to behave in a specific way, such as holding position or letting a teammate pass, to maximize the team's overall championship result.
undercut
"Lawson undercuts back past him later so they end up in the kind of right order"
A strategy where a driver changes their tires earlier than the car in front of them, using the speed of the new tires to get ahead when the other car finally stops.
A pit stop strategy where a driver pits earlier than the car ahead to use the grip of fresh tires to set faster lap times, thereby jumping ahead when the rival eventually pits.
lift and coast
"and attack him while he's lifting and coasting into a corner and then have a fairly robust move."
A trick where a driver lets off the gas pedal early before a corner to let the car glide, which helps save fuel and cools down the brakes.
A driving technique where the driver releases the throttle early before a braking zone and coasts briefly before applying the brakes. This is primarily used to save fuel or manage brake and tire temperatures during a race.
Gabriel Bortoleto
"I added this in because I didn't think I made it clear enough with Bortoletto third and Lawson fourth why Bortoletto was ahead"
A fast young Brazilian racing driver who won a major junior championship and is being trained by McLaren to reach Formula 1.
Brazilian racing driver who won the 2023 FIA Formula 3 Championship. Part of the McLaren Driver Development programme, he is known for his smooth driving style and precise qualifying laps.
Silverstone
"we've got Silverstone coming up next obviously as well so thanks Matt for your challenges"
A famous, very fast race track in England that hosted the very first Formula 1 World Championship race in 1950.
A historic 5.891 km (3.660 mi) motor racing circuit in Northamptonshire, England. Famous as the home of the British Grand Prix, it is renowned for high-speed corners like Copse, Maggots, and Becketts.
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