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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
   
  Russell
   
 

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.

   
  Latifi
   
 
Pos Driver Car Gap
1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m04.130s
2 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 0.147s
3 Max Verstappen Red Bull-Honda 0.283s
4 Sergio Perez Racing Point-Mercedes 0.475s
5 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 0.573s
6 Alexander Albon Red Bull-Honda 0.595s
7 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 0.721s
8 Lance Stroll Racing Point-Mercedes 0.788s
9 Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri-Honda 0.819s
10 Lando Norris McLaren-Renault 0.820s
11 Esteban Ocon Renault 0.907s
12 Daniel Ricciardo Renault 0.958s
13 Carlos Sainz Jr. McLaren-Renault 1.047s
14 Daniil Kvyat AlphaTauri-Honda 1.160s
15 Romain Grosjean Haas-Ferrari 1.233s
16 George Russell Williams-Mercedes 1.435s
17 Kevin Magnussen Haas-Ferrari 1.518s
18 Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo-Ferrari 1.524s
19 Kimi Raikkonen Alfa Romeo-Ferrari 1.643s
20 Nicholas Latifi Williams-Mercedes 2.919s
   
  Latifi
   
 

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Austrian GP: FP3 Signs of progress Williams Racing
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