Alonso, in the attack on the headquarters of Red Bull; where the sprint returns

The Spanish Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)which confirmed two weeks ago -by finishing second in Canada– His status as a great promoter of Formula One World Cup, with six podium finishes in the first eight races, he will try to stop the Red Bulls at their own headquarters. Within Red Bull Ring in Spielberg (Styria), the circuit hosting this weekend the Austrian Grand Prix. The ninth of the year; and the second has a sprint format.

In the second youth, just one month shy of turning 42, the Asturian double world champion (2005 and 2006), who increased his number of podiums in the premier category to 104, is the only one to stand this season so that the very dominant Austrian team, where the Dutchman Max Verstappen -where he finished in less than ten seconds Canada– leads the championship with enormous authority, with 195 points. Exactly 69 more than his partner, the Mexican Sergio Perez -winner of the only two races not scored by the previous one-; where he commands, with an iron fist, the World Cup of Constructors.

alonso -what to Montreal equal to his best position of the season, that of Monaco– is third overall, 78 points behind Verstappenwhat to Canada brought to 100 the number of victories of red bull in its (relatively) short history in F1. Matches the mythical 41 ayrton senna, winner of three World Cups for Brazil before dying in an accident San Marino Grand Prix of 1994, in Imola (Italy).

“It’s amazing to be back on the podium Canada. The improvements we are making Montreal they seem to work well; so we will try to optimize them continuously Austria“, commented the great Asturian pilot, winner 32 times in the premier class, who will once again aim for the long-awaited ’33’ in Spielberg. With some evolutions in his car having an effect, as also pointed out by his new team leader, the Luxembourger Mike Crack.

At only 25 years old, ‘Mad Max’ He is fifth in the historic list of premier class winners, led by the English Lewis hamiltonwith 103: twelve more than the other seven-time world champion, the German Michael Schumacher. And after his performances in the last two races, (especially) in montmelo (Barcelona) -where Mr. scoredSpanish Grand Prix– and in Canada, Verstappen It clearly points to a third title in a row.

In the new sports idol of Netherlands They joined him two Sundays ago, on the podium of the circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Alonso and Hamilton (Mercedes); fourth in the World Cup, with 102 points. More than thirty-four than any other Spaniard, Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) who finished fifth in the Montreal, behind his partner, the Monegasque Charles Leclerc: winner last year Austria.

The ‘Scuderia’, that he has not achieved success since then and is far from where he wants to be, he is fourth in the manufacturers’ championship (with 122 units); wherein Aston Martin -the great revelation of the season- occupies third place (154), only thirteen behind Mercedes: very far, yes, from the 321 points with which he clearly aims to reaffirm the constructors’ title Red bull.

In Austria the second Grand Prix of the year will take place -after the one in Azerbaijan– which will be held in the new sprint format. In a reduced race, in the third part of the Sunday route, which will distribute points to the first eight classified. The winner will add eight; the second, seven; and the third, six. So, one after the other, up to the eighth: that will add one to your box. That, on Saturday.

This Friday the only free practice will be held, before the ‘real’ qualifying session -the usual one, with three elimination rounds of 18, fifteen and twelve minutes-; which will dictate the starting formation for Sunday’s race. Scheduled for 71 laps, to complete a 306.4-kilometer route.

On Saturday, the morning session will be dedicated to reduced qualification (the ‘sprint shoot-out’), with three rounds also -Q1, Q2 and Q3, but of shorter duration: the first round will last twelve minutes; the second, ten; and the third, eight-, which will command the grid of the afternoon sprint test. About a third of the route on Sunday. On a track of 4,318 meters -the fifth shortest in the championship- and ten curves -seven of them on the right- with one of the fastest laps in the entire World Championship: just 63 seconds.

Within Red Bull Ring, where it is customary for many fans from their country to color their stands orange, Verstappen celebrated four of his 41 F1 victories – three in Austrian GP and one of the Styria– and won the sprint last year. In a Grand Prix to finish second, behind leclerc and precedes the Sir Lewis.

“In Austria, we always race at home. I love to see our team’s circuit stands full of compatriots; and I’m really looking forward to trying to add another trophy to the team’s collection,” he admitted. ‘Mad Max’ with a view to the Styrian test. “This is the second Grand Prix of the year with a sprint race, which is more busy and complicated than the normal ones,” said the leader of the World Championship.

The first sprint of this course, at Baku -the capital of Azerbaijan-, he won ‘Checo’ Perez, who next July 15 will star in a ‘road show’ in the streets of Madrid. The Mexican signed up, first leclerc and of Verstappenthe first of six short tests this season.

The other four will be played Belgium, Qatar, United States and Brazil.

A day before recording his second victory of the season, his sixth in F1, ‘Czech’ -who is aiming for his thirty-first podium in the division of honor- won, ahead of leclerc and of Verstappena sprint already Sainz finished fifth; and alonsosixth.

In Spielberg -which, if it doesn’t rain- it will be shot with tires from the softest range of compounds: C3 (hard, distinguished by the white stripe), C4 (medium, yellow stripe) and C5 (soft, red). Only one week until the next one Grand Prix, of Great Britain, that will occur in the circuit Silverstone (England). Where Sainz celebrated his first victory; who is still chasing his first podium of the year: what is his sixteenth in F1.

Over the next five weekends, four of the 22 Grand Prix of a World Cup that closes on November 26, will be held in Abu Dhabi. On July 23 will take place, at hungry -outside of Budapest-, he Hungarian Grand Prix; just a week before Belgium: in Spa Francorchamps.