Checo takes P6 with Lance P9 in strong Saturday performance

‍Checo and Lance impressed in the RP20 to make it two cars in the Top 10 on the grid for Sunday’s Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix.

Our boys were able to clock up the laps and work through their programmes in the hour-long FP3 to prepare for Qualifying.

Having already underlined their Top 10 potential, both drivers then wasted no time in fighting at the front of the field at the beginning of Qualifying.

Lance and Checo’s first runs in Q1 – a 1.04.678 and 1.04.543 respectively – were comfortably inside the Q2 cut-off, before both drivers undertook their second and final efforts.

Lance found a good chunk of time to post a 1.04.309 lap time to go P4 at the end of the session, with Checo close behind in P7.

The drivers picked up where they left off in Q2, as Checo first lapped in 1.03.982 to go P5 in the first half of the session.

Despite already lapping well inside the Q3 cut-off, the Mexican would then find further time on the soft compound tyre, improving to 1.03.860 and leaping back up to P5.

Lance made his best effort on the soft tyres count by setting his 1.03.955 time in the final minutes of the session, almost matching Checo on his way to P6.

The competition proved just as stern in Q3, as Checo quickly set his first flying lap of 1.04.141 to move into P4, before returning to the garage to prepare for his last Qualifying effort.

It was one in, one out, as Lance then took to the track inside the final five minutes – the Canadian initially moving into P6 with his 1.04.029 lap.

Checo then finished his second flying effort with a 1.03.868 – almost three tenths faster than his earlier Q3 run.

That resulted in an impressive P6 on the grid, while Lance grabbed a solid P9 for tomorrow’s Grand Prix.

Checo: “I’m happy with sixth on the grid: I matched Albon for fifth, but unfortunately he set the lap before me! It was a good performance by the team – the car has been consistent and is working well, and it was a good lap in Q3.

“I’m confident for tomorrow because I think our race pace should be strong, and we’ll be in the mix to fight for points, but we’ll also see how all the other teams stack up. The first lap is always tricky here, but if we can keep it clean and tidy I think we can gain some ground through the first few corners.

“It’s such a buzz to be back racing and let’s see what we can do tomorrow.”

Lance: “It was a positive qualifying for the team and both cars in Q3 is a great way to start the season. The team has done a strong job over the winter to develop a competitive car.

“My Q3 lap was clean, and it was a good shot, but there’s always room for improvement to optimise the lap. It’s really tight here between all the cars, so a couple of tenths makes a big difference and can cost you as many as five or six places.

“That’s what the fans back home want to see, as well as the drivers. We’re in a good position to score points in tomorrow’s race and it’s going to be an exciting one.”

‍Otmar Szafnauer, CEO & Team Principal: “It’s great to be trackside again and today’s qualifying session was the first proper chance to see just where we sit relative to our competition.

“After promising form in practice, we knew that getting both cars into Q3 was achievable, so it’s satisfying to be lining up in sixth and ninth for tomorrow’s race. Checo and Lance were tidy and consistent throughout the session – just what’s needed on such a short lap where a few tenths can cost you a handful of positions.

“I believe we’ve got a competitive race car for tomorrow – based on the data from the long runs we did in second practice.

“The weather forecast suggests hotter temperatures tomorrow – which will add another challenge – but I think we’ve put ourselves in a good position to race for points with both cars.”