Schumacher reveals his monster mode – Austria GP: Up and down

On the rolling hills of Styria, the Austrian GP featured plenty ascending and descending to the sound of cow bells, yodelling and V6 hybrids.

Tardy marshals, incredible repair jobs and F1’s own Alan Partridge make up this week’s Going Up, Going Down.

Goin’ Up

You’ll like me when I’m angry

Mick Schumacher is NOT HAPPY! 😬 pic.twitter.com/vwmqowExHO

— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) July 9, 2022

Mick Schumacher seemed to undergo some kind of Incredible Hulk transformation post-sprint at the Red Bull Ring after feeling he’d been left hung out to dry by his Haas team.

The American squad’s young driver believed he was faster than team-mate Kevin Magnussen, but wasn’t allowed through, eventually ceding positions as he fell into the clutches of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas to dropped out of the Saturday points.

Schumacher couldn’t have looked more furious when interviewed afterwards, and the fans loved it – more than a few commented on social media how the Haas man looked more than a little like his dad circa-’98 after his infamous Spa incident with David Coulthard.

Channelling the fire and fury of his father – combined with his own characteristic self-restraint – the young German ace took sixth in the grand prix the next day, a week after scoring points for the first time at Silverstone.

Seems like Mick will garner more success if he stays in monster mode.

Alonso admonishment 

Fernando Alonso wagging his finger at Yuki Tsunoda mid-race 🤣 pic.twitter.com/YpLSHJbrxR

— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) July 10, 2022

Providing another entry into his self-proclaimed ‘greatest driver ever’ highlights reel which we can only assume Fernando Alonso keeps on file in his personal museum, the Spaniard was seen wagging his finger at Yuki Tsunoda while driving at 200mph after the AlphaTauri pilot pushed him onto the grass briefly.

As tellings-off go, they don’t come much faster – wonder if Tsunoda was paying attention, or focusing on the corner ahead instead?

Miraculous Merc mechanics

After both drivers trashed their respective Silver Arrows in qualifying, all Mercedes mechanics proved to be quicker than a Kwik Fit fitter by having both cars ready the next day for the race, with apparently no issues on either from the accidents – despite changes being made right up to lights out on the grid.

This was all the more impressive during the GP, as the two Mercs appeared to run perfectly to third and fourth – despite Russell’s prang – whilst certain other red and blue cars have fallen to pieces this season apropos of nothing.

Formula Partridge

George Russell is fast becoming the Partridge of F1 – and there’s nothing wrong with that.

After producing F1’s most famous powerpoint to secure his place on Mercedes‘ junior roster – surely up there with Gilles Villeneuve’s snowmobile exploits and Juan Manuel Fangio driving thousands of miles across Argentina – then describing a minor paddock misdemeanour as “reckless”, Russell went full ‘A-ha’ Austria.

A video emerged of fans screaming and begging the driver to give them back their football when cycling past at Silverstone, but all Russell does is a blissfully regal pedal-past – circling said ball – whilst waving. He later blamed “the instructions being a little bit vague”.

GEORGEEEE. THE FOOTBALLLL 😅 Watch to the end for a surprise 👀 pic.twitter.com/Bj06w2RPA1

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) July 9, 2022

Goin’ Down

Letting the side down

Reports of abuse from small minorities of crowds towards other spectators was pretty abhorrent, but hopefully in F1’s new socially-assertive age, it can tackle discrimination in what should be a space for everyone to enjoy the sport.

Moving the goalposts

Alex Albon complained of stewards “moving the goalposts” in Austria, and you can’t blame him.

The Williams ace was given a penalty for apparently pushing Lando Norris off at Turn 2 when the FW44 understeered as it was being pinched to the apex, whilst Russell received similar treatment after being clipped by Sergio Perez in Turn 3, who it appeared had plenty more room available to him. It didn’t appear either offending driver could’ve done much more in circumstances when the bold outside overtaking manoeuvres were attempted on them.

“We’ve talked about let them race after Silverstone and then we can’t race in Austria,” said Albon. “We don’t really know what we can and cannot do.”

Late to the party

More than a little worrying was the sight of marshals appearing to hesitate whilst attending to Carlos Sainz’s conflagrated Ferrari, the Spaniard in the tricky position of being unable to get out of his flaming Ferrari without it rolling back down the hill, towards the live race track.

One could be seen putting a fire extinguisher then running off, whilst another flailed about with a wedge to put under the car’s wheel with Sainz still in his machine – it all made for a tense few moments before he finally got out.

Marshalling is never easy of course, but you would think there is better provision for the fact that the entire track is basically on a hill.

AlphaTawdry

Another torrid weekend for Faenza’s favourite team, which hasn’t scored since Baku, four GPs ago.

Gasly seemed lost at sea in Styria, as he often has this year, whilst Tsunoda appears to have more a measure of AlphaTauri’s 2022 car but can’t deliver consistently.