Before the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix weekend began, I posted five prediction polls on the Lights Out twitter account. How many of the questions did you get right? Find out below!
1. HOW MANY TEAMS WILL BE ON THE PODIUM?
1. How many different teams will finish on the podium at the 2020 #AustrianGP? #LightsOutF1Predictions #F1
— Lights Out ●●●●● (@LightsOutF1Blog) July 2, 2020
YOUR PREDICTION: TWO
CORRECT ANSWER: THREE
63% of you predicted that only two teams would finish on the podium at the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix. Presumably, the majority thought that Mercedes and Red Bull would dominate proceedings. And to some extent you were right, until Red Bull suffered a double DNF and a five second penalty dropped Lewis Hamilton down the order. In the end, three different teams finished in the top three. Valtteri Bottas won for Mercedes, while Charles Leclerc took an unexpected podium finish for Ferrari. In third place, Lando Norris scored the first podium of his career with McLaren.
2. WHAT WILL THE POLE TIME BE?
2. Last year’s #AustrianGP pole time was a 1:03.003. What will the 2020 pole time be?#LightsOutF1Predictions #F1
— Lights Out ●●●●● (@LightsOutF1Blog) July 2, 2020
YOUR PREDICTION: 1:02.701-1:03.003
CORRECT ANSWER: 1:02.701-1:03.003
Valtteri Bottas took pole position for the 2020 Austrian Grand Prix with a 1:02.939. The lap was a new track record at the Red Bull Ring. Bottas has now taken three poles at this circuit. It’s the only track where he has taken multiple pole positions.
3. HOW MANY POINTS WILL RENAULT SCORE?
3. How many points will Renault score in the 2020 #AustrianGP? #LightsOutF1Predictions #F1
— Lights Out ●●●●● (@LightsOutF1Blog) July 2, 2020
YOUR PREDICTION: BETWEEN 6 AND 10
CORRECT ANSWER: LESS THAN 5
Prior to this weekend, the Renault works team had not scored a point in Austria since Alain Prost won for the team in 1984. For a while it looked like that stat would remain true, especially as Daniel Ricciardo retired early on in the race. Esteban Ocon, however, was able to make up places and finish eighth. His four point tally fell a little short of your prediction of Renault picking up a minimum of six points.
4. WILL LANCE STROLL REACH Q3?
4. Will Lance Stroll reach Q3 at the 2020 #AustrianGP? #LightsOutF1Predictions #F1
— Lights Out ●●●●● (@LightsOutF1Blog) July 2, 2020
YOUR PREDICTION: NO
CORRECT ANSWER: YES
The Racing Point car looked on form all weekend, but Lance Stroll’s low Q3 appearance rate didn’t convince 58% of you that both Racing Point cars would make it through to Q3. Nevertheless, Stroll did indeed reach Q3 and lined up ninth on the grid for the race. It was only his sixth appearance in the final part of qualifying from his 63 Grand Prix appearances.
5. HOW MANY CARS WILL FINISH THE RACE?
5. How many cars will finish the 2020 #AustrianGP? #LightsOutF1Predictions #F1
— Lights Out ●●●●● (@LightsOutF1Blog) July 2, 2020
YOUR PREDICTION: 17
CORRECT ANSWER: 11
The 2020 Austrian Grand Prix was a race of attrition, with no less than nine drivers failing to finish. It’s only the second time in the last twelve years that eleven or fewer drivers have reached the end of a Grand Prix.
Let us know how you got on with this race’s predictions! There’ll be more at the next race, follow us on twitter to take part: @LightsOutF1Blog!