Red Bulls in a spin at Austria GP as Alonso makes case for podium

Formula 1 is in the Alpine hills of Austria for the first time since 2003 and one of only three drivers to have experienced race conditions at the track put on an impressive display in free practice.

Double world champion Fernando Alonso may have been a wet-behind-the-ears rookie the last time he raced at the renamed Red Bull Ring, but that didn’t stop the Ferrari man quickly familiarising himself in Friday’s run out.

Alonso was third fastest after second practice, only 0.311 off the pace set by championship leader Nico Rosberg, with Lewis Hamilton, unsurprisingly, sandwiched in between.

Mercedes are again proving the benchmark during a dominant season, with no-one else given a squeak of pole position behind 4/9 favourite Hamilton and his German team ‘mate’ Rosberg at 7/4.

However, given Alonso’s knowledge of the circuit formerly known as the A1-Ring, and the impressive performance of his Ferrari in practice, the 5/2 about a podium finish come race day has plenty of attraction.

The Spaniard has already clocked up a third position in China, while missing out on the champagne-spraying fun by a single placing on three other occasions during the first seven races.

It was a different and slightly embarrassing story for the Red Bulls at their home Grand Prix. The Austrian-based team’s drivers were 13th and 15th fastest respectively.

Both men left the track after overcooking the final corner. But while Canadian Grand Prix winner Daniel Ricciardo damaged his car’s floor by taking his Red Bull onto the grass then skidding back onto the track, it was far more dramatic for Vettel.

The world champion’s same error threw his machine into a double spin before luckily finishing back on the tarmac with his Red Bull pointing in the right direction.

Much more is expected from the team over the weekend however, with Ricciardo priced at 1/1 and Vettel at 5/4 to be on the podium after Sunday’s chequered flag.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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