Austrian GP: FP3 Signs of progress for Williams Racing
By Andrew Hooper
July 4 2020
The final practice session for the 2020 Austrian GP would see the Williams Racing Team have a session of mixed fortunes. For Nicholas Latifi his session would end in the barrier after having spun his car at Turn one. It was expected that his car would be ready for qualifying. For George Russell the session would produce a far more encouraging result with George finishing in 16th, been as high as 13th at one time during the session. It was even more encouraging to see George improve on his qualifying simulation lap times. Next stop qualifying which could produce an encouraging result for Williams. But definitely signs of improvement from the FW43.
Williams
Racing Austrian GP Saturday Practice
Team Summary:
The Saturday practice session for the 2020 Austrian GP would get underway
with several drivers coming out for installation laps. The first timed lap
would come from Sainz with a 1m:06.307 running on the medium. He would
improve with a 1m:06.264 as he continued to lap by himself. Both Renault's
would come out running on the soft tyre. More drivers would join them as
Ricciardo went quickest only to see Bottas quicker running on the medium
tyre. The track was now very busy as Vettel went quickest with a 1m:05.159
running on the soft tyre.
Both Williams drivers were out and their times would see them drop down the
order to be 18th and 19th. At the front Hamilton was now quickest with a
1m:05.140 running on the medium tyre. Vettel was second followed by Leclerc,
Ricciardo, Bottas, Verstappen, Stroll, Albon, Ocon and Sainz in tenth. The
session would be red flagged when Nicholas would crash at Turn one
extensively damaging his car. The Williams drivers were in 19th and 20th as
Nicholas's car was cleared. The session would restart Verstappen would move
into fourth ahead of Ricciardo. Vettel would go quickest using the soft tyre
with a 1m:04.851. But Leclerc would move ahead with a 1m:04.703. But both
Mercedes were on soft tyre runs and Hamilton would go quickest with a
1m:04.130 followed by Bottas and Leclerc.
Twelve minutes remaining and there were only a few cars out on the track.
Ricciardo was now sixth with Verstappen out on the soft tyre. Verstappen was
able to move into third as George came out. George would set an impressive
1m:05.894 to be 13th. He would continue to improve his times setting a
1m:05.565 seeing him 14th. He would drop to 16th. An impressive result. The
top ten would be Hamilton from Bottas, Verstappen, Perez, Leclerc, Albon,
Vettel, Stroll, Gasly, and Norris tenth. The Williams drivers were 16th and
20th. Next stop qualifying which could produce an encouraging result for
Williams. But definitely signs of improvement from the FW43.
Nicholas Latifi:
Nicholas would be the first out for Williams running on the soft tyre. He
would set a 1m:07.737 to be 12th. He would drop to 18th despite a 1m:07.049.
But it would go wrong for Nicholas losing his car at Turn one going into the
barrier. He would say on the radio "Sorry guys" as there was extensive
damage to his car. He would be out for the session.
George Russell:
George would also take to the track with just over forty minutes remaining.
He was also on the soft tyre. George would set a 1m:07.006 to be 11th.
George would say that his tyres did not feel well balanced, worse than
yesterday. George was forced to pit with the red flag caused by his
team-mate. With the restart he would return for a further run on the soft
tyres. George would improve with a 1m:06.746 pitting after a short run. He
would return for a further soft tyre run but would pit briefly returning
again on a soft tyre. George would set an impressive 1m:05.894 to be 13th.
He would drop down the times but he would set an improved time with a
1m:05.565 seeing him 14th. He would drop to 16th evens o this was an
impressive result as he pitted with the end of the session.
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