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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari F1-75
Prime
Formula 1 Austrian GP
Analysis

Why Ferrari can take it to the wire in Austrian GP

Squabbling between Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz allowed Max Verstappen to convert first position in qualifying to an untroubled victory in the Austrian Grand Prix sprint race. But for all of the Red Bull driver's dominance over 23 laps, Ferrari can take heart from the F1-75's long-run pace, which could lend Sunday's race over a much longer duration a very different look.

Ferrari could be accused of being more effective at beating itself than it is Red Bull right now. Unreliability ensured a win in Spain and possibly Azerbaijan went up in smoke. Then 1-2s were squandered at Monaco and Silverstone by highly questionable strategy calls.

The way the pitwall then allowed Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to trip over one another in the sprint race in Austria on Saturday, followed by the two drivers’ decidedly grumpy body language, suggests Ferrari is still leaving the door wide open for Red Bull. But should it take control of the intra-team battle in time for the full grand prix at Speilberg, it just might be able to exploit one of the RB18 machine’s few weaknesses to pounce for a very late victory.

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