I want to try something new. For fans of Motorsports this thread will follow the F1 Grand Prix circuit.

This weekend is the second race of this year's triple header. Started last week with the French Grand Prix won by Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, this week in Red bull's Österreichring and going into next week at Britain's Silverstone.

Current standings has
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) in the lead with 145 points
Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 131
Daniel Ricardo (Red Bull Racing) 96
Valtierri Bottas (Mercedes) 92
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 83

Constructors Standings
Mercedes 237
Ferrari 214
Red Bull Racing 164
Renault 62
McLaren 40

The Austrian Grand Prix is holding in Red Bull's own Österreichring also called the Red Bull Ring in Southeastern Austria and reentered the F1 circuit in 2014

Currently Mercedes have a 1-2 lead in practice with Lewis Hamilton racing fastest with a best time of 1:04.579
Valterri Bottas second with +0.176
Sebastian Vettel +0.236
Daniel Riccardo +0.452
Max Verstappen +0.546

Mercedes upgraded their engines in the last race in France and dominated. Here they have an aerodymamic upgrade as well and look to be well ahead of the pack.

Charles Leclerc, who might replace the Iceman Kimi Raikkonen in Ferrari next year continued his impressive form in the Sauber with the 9th best time.

Fernando Alonso, former 2 time F1 champion and winner of June's Le Mans 25 hour race is still being messed up by McLaren with the 17th fastest time. 17 out of 20. Damn. McLaren admit they have a problem with the car and cannot fix it in the wind tunnel leaving only race weekends to tryout potential solutions. WTF!

Updates will follow at Qualifying and the race Tomorrow.

Mods, help will be well appreciated.

Aaand there ends qualifying for tomorrow's race. As expected, Mercedes locks out the front row. But unexpectedly, Bottas pips Hamilton for pole position. I'm really beginning to like this Bottas guy. Cool as ice like the other Finn in Ferrari but is proving to be quite the racer.

So here's how they line up tomorrow.

TOP TEN:
Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Romain Grosjean (Haas)
Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
Carlos Sainz (Renault)
Nico Hulkenberg (Renault)

BOTTOM TEN
Esteban Ocon (Force India)
Pierre Gasly (Toro Rosso)
Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
Lance Stroll (Williams)
Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren)
Sergio Perez (Force India)
Sergey Sirotkin (Williams)
Charles Leclerc (Sauber)
Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso)
Marcus Ericsson (Sauber)

Daniel Riccardo had a disappointing session. Finishing below Romain Grosjean who had a wonderful qualifying session in the American built Haas.

Fernando Alonso continued his wretched time with McLaren, running wide and damaging his front wing. With all the drama during practice, we wonder if they have enough spare parts for tomorrow's race.


Leclerc penalised five grid places for an unscheduled gearbox change.

Mercedes 1-2. Bottas and Hamilton celebrate after qualifying.

WHAT A RACE!

Hamilton pips bottas at turn 1 as the race begins. Raikkonen also makes a quick start and gets pass Bottas. Almost passes Hamilton as well and then things went from bad to worse for Mercedes. Bottas has a gear box problem when his hydraulics fail. Then Mercedes makes a tactical error and didn't pit Hamilton under the virtual safety car after Nico Hulkenberg's engine blew up.

By the time all pit stops were done, Hamilton was over 20 seconds behind Vettel. And then, his engine totally lost power and he also retired. So from a possible 1-2 finish for Mercedes to a disastrous double DNF (Did Not Finish). For Hamilton, first DNF in 33 races.

Almost a disaster for Red Bull at their home track. Max verstappen gets up close to Raikkonen who was leading the race. Daniel Riccardo even managed to get past Raikkonen with Red Bull lookin at a 1-2 podium finish and then Riccardo is forced to retire from the race with a mechanical fault. Verstappen touches Raikkonen slightly but it gives him the opportunity to overtake Raikkonen.

So a 1st place finish for Verstappen and a DNF for Riccardo. Mixed fortunes, eh?

Look how tight the space Kimi tries to squeeze in between the 2 Mercedes at Turn 1. They don't call him the iceman for nothing

So the race finishes with Max Verstappen first, Raikkonen and Vettel rounding up the podium. Excellent race for the Haas team. A really great weekend for as Romain Grosjean finished fourth and Kevin Magnussen just behind him. Highest point finishes for Haas. Ever.

Alonso also impresses finishing 8th for McLaren.

So here are the current standings.

Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 146
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 145
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 101
Daniel Ricardo (Red Bull Racing) 96
Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) 93

Constructors Standings
Ferrari 247
Mercedes 237
Red Bull Racing 189
Renault 62
Haas 49