Google+ Jack Leslie F1: 2015 Austrian Grand Prix In Pictures

22 June 2015

2015 Austrian Grand Prix In Pictures

The Red Bull Ring is set in a beautiful location, with the surrounding scenery producing some stunning photographs.
© Octane Photographic
Nico Rosberg took his second consecutive Austrian Grand Prix victory on Sunday. Here is the race weekend in pictures.

All of the images featured in this piece are courtesy of Octane Photographic. See more of their work here

Friday 
© Octane Photographic
Despite overnight rain, the track surface was largely dry for first practice on Friday morning. Conditions were tricky though, with plenty of off-track excursions, spins and trips across the run-off areas.
© Octane Photographic
Rosberg set the pace in practice one for Mercedes, with a best time of 1:10.401.
© Octane Photographic
Gearbox issues for Sebastian Vettel in both FP1 and FP2 cut short his running, but he still finished the afternoon session at the top of the timesheets.
© Octane Photographic
It was a tough start to the weekend for McLaren, with more reliability issues limiting the team's progress. However, Fernando Alonso did debut the team's new upgrades.

Saturday
© Octane Photographic
Third practice started in the dry, with Vettel leading the way for Ferrari before heavy rain arrived mid-way through the session.
© Octane Photographic
The rain shower arrived just as drivers were queuing up on dry tyres after a red flag, meaning they had to limp back to the pits. Fortunately for the fans, most of the field returned to the circuit for some running in the wet.
© Octane Photographic
Intermediate tyres were used early on in Q1 before drivers switched to slicks. A miscommunication saw Kimi Raikkonen fail to complete a final lap and he was eliminated.
© Octane Photographic
Jenson Button also exited qualifying in Q1, behind Sergio Perez and ahead of Raikkonen, Roberto Merhi and Will Stevens.
© Octane Photographic
Marcus Ericson was one of the five drivers in the Q2 drop-zone. Pastor Maldonado was the first to be eliminated, followed by Ericsson, Carlos Sainz Jr, Daniel Ricciardo and Alonso.
© Octane Photographic
Max Verstappen put in another strong qualifying performance. In the final session, he finished seventh - just behind Valtteri Bottas and ahead of Daniil Kvyat, Felipe Nasr and Romain Grosjean.
© Octane Photographic
Lewis Hamilton bounced back in Q3 to take pole position, despite going off on his final lap. Rosberg was second, ahead of Vettel, Felipe Massa and Nico Hulkenberg.
Sunday
© Octane Photographic
The drivers' parade saw the 2015 field squeezed into an old, open-roof bus - ditching the usual classic cars or trailer towed by a lorry.
© Octane Photographic
A number of classic cars then took to the track to entertain the crowds, including the 1983 Brabham.
© Octane Photographic
Rosberg got the best launch from the grid to take the lead into Turn 1. It was a clean first corner, but it all kicked off at Turn 2 after a big crash between Raikkonen and Alonso.
© Octane Photographic
The Safety Car was deployed to clear the debris, helping drivers to save fuel and increase the length of the first stints.
© Octane Photographic
When the race resumed, Rosberg eked out a comfortable lead over Hamilton, and it would be extended through the pit stops - where the championship leader was given a five-second time penalty for crossing the exit line.
© Octane Photographic
We saw some good racing throughout the midfield pack - including a pass by Bottas around the outside of Hulkenberg at Turn 3.
© Octane Photographic
Rosberg crossed the line to take his second win in Austria, closing to within 10 points of Hamilton in the title fight.
© Octane Photographic
It was exactly the result Rosberg needed, after losing out to his team-mate in Canada.
© Octane Photographic
Hamilton was second, with Massa completing the podium in third. Vettel, Bottas and Hulkenberg were next up.

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