Austrian GP Preview: Carlos Sainz to Alpine, Lando Norris’ Challenge to Max Verstappen and Everything Else You Can Expect

Max Verstappen enters the Austrian GP with a lead of 69 points over Lando Norris. Despite the field bunching up together, the Dutch Lion is still the strongest force to reckon with. Interestingly, the drama on and off the court in 2024 has compensated for the boring 2023. McLaren and Ferrari have stolen wins with Lando Norris giving Verstappen sleepless nights in the past two races. However, going into the weekend, other updates stand alongside the Lando-Max battle. Let us take a look at things to look forward to in the upcoming Austrian GP weekend.

Carlos Sainz to Alpine? Here is what we know.

The lap record holder of the Red Bull Ring, Carlos Sainz, has been entering every race weekend as the “cork in the bottle”. Kevin Magnussen stated that every other driver is waiting for the Spaniard to finalize his future so that the silly season can get going. The two obvious seats of Alpine and Aston Martin had Pierre Gasly and Lance Stroll resign with their team, creating another unsettling wave amongst the out-of-contract drivers. But where the question remains. Where will Sainz go?

According to an article in L’equipe that reported Pierre Gasly resigning with Alpine (which was confirmed earlier today), Carlos Sainz is now very likely to sign with Alpine for 2025. Sainz was very close to Williams, but he has now been attracted by a 2026 release clause offered by Alpine. If that is the case, then the Williams F1 Team should begin looking for Alex Albon’s teammate.

Can Lando Norris pull a 2022 Charles Leclerc to defeat Max Verstappen at Red Bull’s home?

In 2022, Charles Leclerc was the championship leader and later Max Verstappen’s closest competitor (right before Maxie destroyed everyone in the second half of the season.) However, despite Ferrari and Leclerc’s top form, the trajectory began taking a dip. But Leclerc’s last hurrah was the Red Bull Ring in Austria. Leclerc took the lead when the Sprint winner and championship leader Verstappen pitted on Lap 12. Leclerc pitted much later (Lap 27) and retook the lead on Lap 37. Verstappen pitted in the same lap as the threat of Sainz kept growing for the Dutchman. This is how Leclerc’s last win of the season was scripted by the speed gods.

While it was a straightforward ballgame for Max last year, Lando’s growing threat can cause a repeat of Leclerc 2022. Lando Norris and McLaren have become championship contenders. For Lando, it is the first time, and for the team, it is after more than a decade. After tasting blood post winning the Miami GP, Lando has never not challenged for the win. When the team instructed him to fight for a podium position, he sent a clear message to them and the world that he wanted to take a go at Verstappen. This zeal and field’s fastest machine beneath him can be a horror story in the making for Christian Horner and his golden boy.

Other rumors: Mick Schumacher’s Alpine Test, Sergio Pérez’s exit clause, Mercedes back in the game?

Though with Gasly confirmed and strong rumors surrounding Sainz’s move to the Enstone-based team, there isn’t much left to speculate. However, Mick Schumacher and Jack Doohan will undergo an F1 test with Alpine as the French team continues to mull over its 2025 driver lineup.

To add to the rumor mill, Sergio Perez’s recent performance has been the talk of the town. Despite Red Bull re-signing him, his form continues to dip. Struggling to make it out of Q1, the Mexican driver isn’t in the greatest form, and if rumors are to be believed, then Red Bull might take a call based on his performance.

The next one is Mercedes, being back in the fight. For the German team, last two race weekends have been the best of the year so far. George Russell took the pole and podium in Canada, whereas Lewis Hamilton took the podium in Spain. The team has finally been able to unlock the potential of the upgrades.

The upcoming days in F1 will be a thriller showdown on and off the track. With so much happening in the F1 circus, which rumor are you placing your bets on?