As it happened: Austria 2017 - The race

• 12:30

  Hello F1 fans and friends, how have you been? Recovered from Baku and all ready for Austria? Then you're in the perfect place!

• 12:31

  Circuit Data

  Red Bull Ring
  Local timezone	+02:00 GMT
  First race	1963
  Number of laps	71
  Circuit length	4.326km
  Race distance	307.020km
  Start offset	0.126km

• 12:31

  Valtteri Bottas has secured pole position for the race today, and Lewis Hamilton qualified third but takes a five place grid penalty to drop back down the top ten.

• 12:32

  It's looks sunny but cloudy above the Spielberg track at the moment, which could mean mixed conditions as the afternoon unfolds.

• 12:32
  Soft

  Supersoft

  Ultrasoft
• 12:34

  Williams may have been celebrating a podium last time out in Baku, but this weekend they have qualified towards the rear of the field. Both cars dropped out in Q3 which was a disappointing sight.

• 12:34

  The two Haas drivers suffered issues in qualifying too, with Magnussen picking up suspension failure, and Grosjean stopping out on track in Q3 (and halting all the final flying laps).

• 12:36

  Starting Grid

  1	V Bottas	Mercedes
  2	S Vettel	Ferrari
  3	K Räikkönen	Ferrari
  4	D Ricciardo	Red Bull
  5	M Verstappen	Red Bull
  6	R Grosjean	Haas
  7	S Pérez	Force India
  8	L Hamilton	Mercedes
  9	E Ocon	Force India
  10	C Sainz	Toro Rosso

• 12:37

  Tweet from @SauberF1Team: Ready to race! 25 min until the #AustrianGP, @Ericsson_Marcus starts from the grid, @PWehrlein from the pit lane

• 12:38

  Wehrlein is starting from the pit lane as there were some changes made to the turbo on his Sauber whilst under parc fermé conditions.

• 12:40

  The grid is bustling as cars are pushed into position and the mechanics make their final preparations. Frankie Dettori has also been spotted pottering around.

• 12:42

  Felipe Massa, on the grid: "Not where we want to be in qualifying, but I really hope we can do anything that helps and makes us gain positions, and finish in a different position that we started in. We’ll try anything."

• 12:42

  Daniil Kvyat on the state of the track today: Not too dissimilar compared to yesterday, nothing really outstanding so let’s see what the weather will be doing. It's 50/50 I would say, hard to predict, it will be interesting if it rains but we will see."

• 12:44

  2017 Race Wins

  Pos	Driver	Total
  1	Sebastian Vettel	3
  2	Lewis Hamilton	3
  3	Valtteri Bottas	1
  4	Daniel Ricciardo	1

• 12:46

  Jolyon Palmer, on the grid: "This first lap’s one of the crazier ones. We’ve got to try and keep her nose clean, I’m quite happy to be starting on the inside here, there’s a lot of people running wide here normally."

• 12:46

  Sergio Pérez: "We are in a good position, there’s everything to play for today. The weather, as well, we don’t know what’s going to happen, so hoping for a good one today."

• 12:47

  The drivers have made their way to the front of the grid for the national anthem.

• 12:48

  

  @karunchandhok: Sunny on the grid - rain clouds not far we're told. The pole man @ValtteriBottas looking relaxed here on the grid.

• 12:52

  Risk of rain for the session is 60%.

• 12:52

  However, Marcus Ericsson has just been told over the radio that there is no rain on the radar at the moment.

• 12:53

  This is Red Bull's home track, of course, so they've got that advantage going for them this weekend. There are a huge number of Max Verstappen fans in the crowd as well.

• 12:54

  Race Battle

  Red Bull	Finished Ahead
  D Ricciardo	5
  M Verstappen	3

• 12:55

  Lance Stroll, dashing back to his car: "We’re not starting where we want to start. It’s a long afternoon, weather is… it could rain, you never know what could happen on days like today."

• 13:00

  There are plenty of wary eyes watching the Force India pair as well, after two races of inter-team battles that haven't always ended well. Today they are starting one behind the other on the grid, Sergio Pérez ahead, and with one Lewis Hamilton between them.

• 13:01

  A great mix of starting tyres for the grid today. The top ten all except for Hamilton are on the ultrasofts, with Lewis on the supersoft.

• 13:01

  Outside the top ten, Hülkenberg, Magnussen, Stroll and Wehrlein are on the red supersofts. Palmer and Massa are going all in on the yellow softs. And that leaves both McLarens, Kvyat and Ericsson on the purples.

• 13:02

  The formation lap is underway, it's a speedy one this time out, plenty of weaving going on to warm up that rubber.

• 13:03

  Bottas pulls to a halt in that pole position slot and the pack lines up behind him.

• 13:03

  Race started.

• 13:04 Lap 1

  Hamilton has easily passed the Force Indias, so the two pink cars are together on track.

• 13:04 Lap 1

  Fernando Alonso has dropped down the order, looks like he was hit by someone.

• 13:04 Lap 1

  Räikkönen has dropped back a couple of places after being pushed wide off track. He's in fifth.

• 13:05 Lap 2

  Max Verstappen has dropped to the very read of the field, the car is crawling slowly around the track, will he even make it back to the pit lane?

• 13:05 Lap 2

  Seems like Kvyat hit Alonso as both those drivers have come into the pit lane.

• 13:06 Lap 3

  Team radio to Max Verstappen: "Okay Max, please pull over and switch the engine off. Retire the car. Sorry mate."

  Five retirements out of seven for Max.

• 13:07 Lap 3

  Vettel has reported to his crew that Bottas may have jumped the start. Meanwhile, Räikkönen passes Grosjean to take fourth place.

• 13:07 Lap 3

  Replays at last, into the first corner, Kvyat just didn't brake, hit Alonso who in turn bumped into Verstappen. The Red Bull driver had a really poor start and that's why he was in the mix anyway.

• 13:08 Lap 3

  Alonso has retired from the race at this point, but Kvyat managed to rejoin the race.

• 13:08 Lap 5

  Tweet from @redbullracing: Up and underway for the #AustrianGP Daniel up into P3. Max involved in a collision at turn one

• 13:09 Lap 5

  Kvyat had a great start, Sainz had a poor one. Kvyat got past his teammate but then forgot to brake into the first corner and caused chaos.

• 13:09 Lap 6

  Incident involving V Bottas noted - jump start.

• 13:10 Lap 6

  Turn 1 incident involving D Kvyat under investigation - causing a collision.

• 13:11 Lap 7

  Tweet from @Jamesallenonf1: That lunge by Kvyat will anger @redbullracing management as it led to Verstappen retiring. Could be like post Sochi 2016 anger

• 13:12 Lap 8

  Driver Positions

  Pos		Driver	Stops
  1	0	V Bottas	0
  2	0	S Vettel	0
  3	1	D Ricciardo	0
  4	-1	K Räikkönen	0
  5	3	L Hamilton	0
  6	0	R Grosjean	0
  7	0	S Pérez	0
  8	1	E Ocon	0
  9	8	F Massa	0
  10	8	L Stroll	0

• 13:12 Lap 8

  Both Williams drivers have somehow got into the top ten which is an impressive feat!

• 13:13 Lap 8

  Lewis Hamilton has passed Romain Grosjean to move into fifth place, he complained he wouldn't have much chance of overtaking before the race started but he's doing okay so far.

• 13:14 Lap 10

  Drive through penalty for D Kvyat - causing a collision.

• 13:15 Lap 11

  We're only ten laps in and are seeing blue flags already - that's due to Daniil Kvyat being so far behind after his early pit stop - and he now takes his drive through penalty as well.

• 13:17 Lap 12

  Early gap analysis - Bottas comfortable out front but Hamilton clawing his way back into the fight.

  Gap Analysis

  Pos	Driver	Gap
  1st	BOT	1:09.181
  2nd	VET	+4.570
  3rd	RIC	+7.674
  4th	RAI	+12.073
  5th	HAM	+16.181

• 13:17 Lap 13

  Tweet from @pirellisport: We're expecting one stop to be the optimal strategy; supersoft to soft being the theoretical quickest choice.

• 13:18 Lap 13

  Verstappen has made his way back to the pit wall and is chatting with Christian Horner. It sounds like his sluggish start might have led to a retirement anyway, regardless of the collision with Alonso.

• 13:19 Lap 14

  Kimi Räikkönen is in the midst of a heated and quite technical discussion with his race engineer. Something isn't working in the Ferrari and he's quite annoyed about it.

• 13:21 Lap 16

  Nico Hülkenberg comes in for an early pit stop, he's taken on the yellow softs and his back out on his way.

• 13:22 Lap 17

  Fernando Alonso: "We did a good start, we took benefit from Verstappen and Carlos Sainz bad start. We were already P10 into the first corner. People from behind came too fast and hit us."

• 13:23 Lap 17

  

  Credit: @HaasF1Team

  @HaasF1Team: Great shot from the start.

• 13:24 Lap 19

  One to Watch

  K Räikkönen	vs.	L Hamilton
  4th	+0.854s	5th

• 13:25 Lap 19

  Vettel is informed he is on Plan A, which is presumably a one-stop strategy.

• 13:27 Lap 21

  Magnussen is hunting a place in the top ten and chasing the Williams of Stroll, but has to deal with some significant blistering on his own tyres.

• 13:29 Lap 23

  Fastest lap from Valtteri Bottas, 1:08.959.

• 13:29 Lap 23

  Team radio to Lewis Hamilton: "The front left brake is climbing, so just do what you can do to keep it cool."

• 13:31 Lap 24

  Tweet from @pirellisport: Interestingly the asphalt that was laid last year offers quite a lot more grip than it did in 2016. Getting quite close to pit stop window

• 13:32 Lap 26

  Incident involving V Bottas - no further action warranted.

• 13:33 Lap 26

  Hamilton is still stuck behind Räikkönen, it's looking like the tyres don't have the life left to get past the Ferrari at the moment.

• 13:37 Lap 29

  Max Verstappen: "I’m very disappointed but also for the fans, I think they were the best crowd I’ve seen so far and I couldn’t even do a start or a first corner for them, instead of 71 laps. I don’t know what to say, it’s a lot of bad luck lately but of course we’ll try and do better in Silverstone."

• 13:38 Lap 30

  Tweet from @HaasF1Team: Lap 30/71 - @KevinMagnussen with an issue. Retiring when he gets back to garage.

  Big plume of smoke from the back of that car, and it sounds awful.

• 13:38 Lap 31

  Team radio from Kevin Magnussen: "Oh man, I just can't believe this. F*** this."

  Oops!

• 13:40 Lap 32

  Hamilton comes into the pits first, takes on the ultrasoft tyres and heads off on his way.

• 13:40 Lap 32

  Pit Stop Analysis

  Driver	L Hamilton
  Team	Mercedes
  Pit lane	20.761s
  Stopped	2.4s

• 13:41 Lap 33

  Vandoorne also comes into the pit lane for his first stop of the day. He's put on the red supersofts.

• 13:42 Lap 34

  Räikkönen is told that Hamilton did such a good out lap that they didn't bother to pit him, knowing they'd lose a place. Instead he's remained out for plan B.

• 13:43 Lap 34

  Daniel Ricciardo has come into the pits though, red supersofts on the sole remaining Red Bull.

• 13:43 Lap 35

  Sebastian Vettel stops next.

• 13:44 Lap 35

  Pit Stop Analysis

  Driver	S Vettel
  Team	Ferrari
  Pit lane	21.750s
  Stopped	2.5s

• 13:44 Lap 36

  That leaves two Finns out in front, Bottas and Räikkönen both having yet to stop.

• 13:45 Lap 37

  Lots of pit stops happening in the midfield now. Palmer, Stroll, Wehrlein and Sergio Pérez all taking their first and perhaps only stops of the afternoon.

• 13:46 Lap 37

  Tweet from @Max33Verstappen: Not what we hoped for. A clutch problem meant a bad start. My race was over before it really started. Feeling sorry for all fans

• 13:47 Lap 37

  Romain Grosjean has also pitted, in response to Pérez's stop. He's running eighth now. Ahead of him Ocon and Massa haven't stopped yet.

• 13:48 Lap 38

  Incident involving S Vandoorne under investigation - ignoring blue flags.

• 13:48 Lap 39

  Tweet from @RenaultSportF1: Jo rejoins in P12, Nico is now back up to P14. And Vandoorne is back into our warm #Renault embrace.

• 13:48 Lap 39

  Hamilton reports: "Got far too much front wing." Fresh tyres, different balance on the car.

• 13:49 Lap 40

  Tweet from @ChrisMedlandF1: Hamilton complaining about the handling of his car. His pace reflects it as he's losing time to Vettel and Ricciardo ahead

• 13:49 Lap 40

  Super slo-mo replays of Hamilton's car show some extreme blistering in places.

• 13:51 Lap 41

  "There's not much left in the tyre," Valtteri Bottas comes in from P1, taking his first stop of the afternoon. That puts Räikkönen in the lead of the race.

• 13:52 Lap 42

  Pit Stop Analysis

  Driver	V Bottas
  Team	Mercedes
  Pit lane	22.387s
  Stopped	3.4s

• 13:52 Lap 42

  That was a relatively slow stop for Bottas, the right front was just a little problematic to add an extra few tenths to his time.

• 13:53 Lap 43

  At this point we now have just Kimi out front and Massa in P6 that have yet to stop.

• 13:54 Lap 44

  Bottas is close up behind Räikkönen now, dipping this way and that and looking for a way past. He pulls to the side and makes the move to retake the lead of the race.

• 13:55 Lap 45

  Bottas disappears into the distance as Räikkönen finally comes in to the pits for fresh tyres.

• 13:55 Lap 45

  Pit Stop Analysis

  Driver	K Räikkönen
  Team	Ferrari
  Pit lane	21.662s
  Stopped	2.7s

• 13:56 Lap 46

  Drive through penalty for S Vandoorne - ignoring blue flags.

• 13:56 Lap 46

  Team radio to Carlos Sainz: "Box, box, Carlos. We need to retire."

• 13:58 Lap 47

  Felipe Massa is the final driver yet to stop, he's going very long into this race. 46 lap old tyres.

• 13:58 Lap 49

  In Massa comes to the pits, and drops down to ninth place.

• 13:59 Lap 49

  Gap Analysis

  Pos	Driver	Gap
  1st	BOT	1:08.271
  2nd	VET	+4.123
  3rd	RIC	+8.654
  4th	HAM	+12.941
  5th	RAI	+21.459

• 13:59 Lap 49

  Vandoorne has completed his drive through, the pit wall inform him they didn't lose track position, only time.

• 14:01 Lap 50

  Driver Positions

  Pos		Driver	Stops
  1	0	V Bottas	1
  2	0	S Vettel	1
  3	1	D Ricciardo	1
  4	4	L Hamilton	1
  5	-2	K Räikkönen	1
  6	0	R Grosjean	1
  7	0	S Pérez	1
  8	1	E Ocon	1
  9	8	F Massa	1
  10	8	L Stroll	1

• 14:02 Lap 51

  Räikkönen is starting to close the gap on Hamilton, fresher tyres. Massa also hunting Ocon ahead, fresher tyres on the Williams.

• 14:02 Lap 51

  Team radio from Lewis Hamilton: "Struggling out here."

  "Okay, copy, we'll look at options."

• 14:04 Lap 53

  Speculation now that Hamilton will have to come in for another pit stop. It would drop him behind Räikkönen, but he's falling into the clutches of the Ferrari as it is anyway.

• 14:05 Lap 54

  Radio to Sebastian Vettel suggests there might be some rain towards the end of the race.

• 14:06 Lap 54

  Kimi Räikkönen sets the fastest lap of the race so far - 1:07.680.

• 14:06 Lap 55

  One to Watch

  L Stroll	vs.	J Palmer
  10th	+1.192s	11th

  Fighting for that final points position, Williams versus Renault.

• 14:08 Lap 56

  Valtteri Bottas is making his way through the backmarkers, which has affected the fights going on in the midfield. Massa had to move out the way and thus lost time to Ocon ahead.

• 14:08 Lap 57

  Tweet from @deepalir: Raikkonen now looking rather keen as he sets the fastest lap of the race... and promptly goes off track.

• 14:10 Lap 58

  Räikkönen was passing the Renault of Palmer, who didn't help him out. Kimi had to take to the dirty side of the track, and so into the next corner he had no grip and ran wide. Palmer got back in front, which means Kimi has to do it all again!

• 14:10 Lap 58

  He does get ahead this time though, and safely stays ahead of the lapped car.

• 14:11 Lap 59

  Lewis Hamilton sets the fastest lap - 1:07.608. That suggests the car is coming back to him now after his complaints about the balance earlier. The pit wall told him to have patience, and it has paid off.

• 14:12 Lap 59

  Tweet from @hoomhom: When I see VAN it makes me think that's what Stoffel is driving.

  Like a delivery van.

  Delivering another disappointing race.

• 14:13 Lap 61

  The gaps are starting to close, but of course we only have ten laps left now so may run out of time for any position changes.

• 14:16 Lap 63

  Hamilton within 1.5 seconds of Daniel Ricciardo, hunting a podium position to limit the damage today.

• 14:17 Lap 64

  Vettel is hovering around 2 seconds behind Bottas, so will need to push hard to challenge for the win now.

• 14:18 Lap 65

  Tweet from @ForceIndiaF1: Weatherman Checo reports rain!

  Only a little drop though.

• 14:21 Lap 68

  Very dull final few laps here, it has to be said. Drivers still in the hunt, but running out of time.

• 14:22 Lap 69

  Getting through the backmarkers costs Vettel, as Bottas sails past Pérez but the Ferrari driver takes a little longer to elbow his way through.

• 14:23 Lap 70

  Jolyon Palmer desperately in the hunt for that final points position - he's just about a second behind Stroll, dipping in and out of DRS range.

• 14:23 Lap 70

  Vettel half a second behind Bottas. Hamilton half a second behind Ricciardo.

• 14:24 Lap 70

  Hamilton gets a great exit to hunt the Red Bull down, he pulls alongside Ricciardo but Daniel keeps his head and stays ahead with the benefit of the racing line.

• 14:24 Lap 71

  Final lap, two tense battles!

• 14:25 Lap 71

  Team radio to Daniel Ricciardo: "Last lap, get your elbows out, this is for the podium."

• 14:25

  Valtteri Bottas wins the Austrian Grand Prix!

• 14:26

  Vettel crosses the line second, Ricciardo holds on to third. No changes, despite all that tension.

• 14:26

  Grosjean gets a great result in sixth, a double points finish for Force India, and Stroll keeps hold of tenth.

• 14:28

  Ricciardo is just roaring on the radio, he has no words just grrrring like a bear. "Nice job," he's told, when his engineer can stop laughing.

• 14:28

  Gap Analysis

  Pos	Driver	Gap
  1st	BOT	1:08.391
  2nd	VET	+0.658
  3rd	RIC	+6.012
  4th	HAM	+7.430
  5th	RAI	+20.370

• 14:29

  Race Winner

  Driver	V Bottas
  Team	Mercedes
  Race time	1:21:48.527
  Race distance	306.452km
  Average speed	224.757km/h

• 14:30

  Tweet from @McLarenF1: chequered flag. Stoff finishes P12, with Fernando retiring from the race due to an unlucky first lap incident.

• 14:30

  Championship Standings

  Pos	Driver	Pts
  1	S Vettel	171
  2	L Hamilton	151
  3	V Bottas	136
  4	D Ricciardo	107
  5	K Räikkönen	83

• 14:31

  Championship Standings

  Pos	Team	Pts
  1	Mercedes	287
  2	Ferrari	254
  3	Red Bull	152
  4	Force India	89
  5	Williams	40

• 14:31

  Ricciardo to Bottas: "Your start?"

  Vettel: "He jumped it, 100%."

• 14:32

  Tweet from @redbullracing: It's P3 and a fifth consecutive podium for @danielricciardo!

• 14:33

  I didn't think it was all that bad of a race, except for a few laps towards the end - but it picked up again in the final two to get very exciting. A good and interesting result, as well. Great for Bottas to pick up his second race victory, and another podium for Ricciardo.

• 14:34

  Bottas has closed the gap to his teammate in the championship, so there are now a few fights to peruse as the second half of the season gets underway.

• 14:35

  Williams' comeback is worth a mention, as they had a disastrous Friday and qualifying but got a double points finish. Force India also took home points, though, so that fight isn't close yet.

• 14:36

  Daniil Kvyat has endured another disappointing and difficult race. Sometimes it seems like he's turned the corner and other times you just feel like his career is hanging on by a fingertip.

• 14:37

  Just a one week gap until the British Grand Prix, with the challenging and popular Silverstone playing host to the tenth round of the season.

• 14:37

  I'll be back to cover the race lap by lap, and I do hope you'll join me for what will hopefully be another exciting race weekend!