F1 Austrian Grand Prix weekend betting preview, free tip & where to watch

F1 tips, best bets and analysis for the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring on Sunday.

When to watch

Sky Sports F1, 2.10pm Sunday

Best bets

Sergio Perez top-six finish
1pt 11-10 Hills

Austrian Grand Prix preview

Racing Point caused a stir in preseason by unveiling a car that was clearly very closely based on last year’s championship winning Mercedes.

Their laptimes in testing were certainly encouraging – particularly considering they concentrating on running the harder compounds of tyre.

As Force India the team gained a reputation for working wonders with a limited budget, finishing fourth in the constructors standings in 2017 and 2018.

The team received a significant cash injection from new billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll, and there are reasons for thinking Racing Point can lead the midfield this season.

Sergio Perez has claimed five podium finishes in his six years with the team.

Although last season’s challenger wasn’t among the strongest the team have produced, Perez finished in the top seven in five of the final nine races of the season.

That is enough to suggest a top-six should be within the Mexican’s compass on Sunday if the car is as big a step forward as it appears to be.

And if Ferrari’s early-season issues are as serious as they look, then Racing Point look primed to be a major beneficiary.

Lewis Hamilton's history of Spielberg drama

Lewis Hamilton has few fond memories of racing at the Red Bull Ring since it returned to the calendar in 2014, and the Mercedes ace will be hoping for better luck as he kicks off his bid for a seventh drivers championship.

2014 A spin in qualifying left Hamilton starting ninth on the grid. Two slow pitstops during the race meant he had to settle for second place behind teammate Nico Rosberg.

2015 Despite taking pole position, Hamilton lost the lead to Rosberg at the start. Any hopes of victory were lost when the Briton was handed a five-second penalty for unsafely rejoining the track after his pitstop.

2016 Hamilton's sole victory at the Red Bull Ring came after he collided with Rosberg while passing the German on the final lap, costing the team a 1-2 finish.

2017 A penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change saw Hamilton start eighth on the grid. He finished fourth in the race, which was won by his teammate Valtteri Bottas.

2018 A strategic blunder from the team lost Hamilton a healthy lead, but that was academic as he retired with a fuel pressure issue on lap 64.

2019 The Mercedes cars weren't at their best in the scorching hot conditions. After a long pitstop to change a damaged front wing, Hamilton finished fifth, 22 seconds behind winner Max Verstappen.

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