MERCEDES INVADES RED BULL TERRITORY – AUSTRIAN GP!

In cricket it is well known and possibly accepted that teams prepare pitches to suit their specific needs. In F1 the rules are so designed to emasculate the strong and ensure that the feeble are in with a fighting chance. As such F1 will jog the extra mile to ensure that no advantage is gained and exploited by one team when compared to another.

Parity is the principle that is applied and maintained despite the creativity which the brilliant engineers will employ to ensure victory.

But if I was a betting man I would be tempted to think that the new surface which was laid at the home of the Austrian GP may retain disguised treats which will serve the interests of the team that flies when wings are provided by a popular energy drink! Evidence I cannot provide so I will allow you to do the research.

MERCEDES

Suffice it to say the 2016 F1 championship has outdone itself thus far. A roller coaster could not have provided the topsy-turvy, pulsating drama that we have witnessed. What has not changed however, is the fact that Mercedes still wears the crown but the witihn-the-team war knows no cessation and the defending World Champion and his ambitious teammate are in no way, exhausted when matters relating to their bruising battles arise! More lies on the horizon!

Hamilton for myriad reasons has been on the back foot. A break for Hamilton appears on no card. He will have to fight tooth and nail and hope his machine remains true until the race ends. Luck seems to favor Rosberg more in 2016.

Hamilton is only 24 points behind though so he will be comforted knowing that he is one race away from destabilising Rosberg (if Rosberg dnf and he wins).

It cannot be overlooked that the hungry pack has not lost its appetite for Mercedes steaks and new contenders have emerged who are poised to strike even before the iron is hot. Baku was Hamilton’s nightmare!

What will Austria bring? Will Red Bull fly away with victory at home? Will Vettel stamp his claim on success? Austria will tell on Sunday!

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer