First practice with Audi shock: Verstappen flashed the Ferrari duo with yellow

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All hell breaks loose at Audi, which already owns 25 percent of Sauber. Former CEO Rupert Stadler was sentenced this week to probation over the global diesel scandal. And Ingolstadt’s current CEO, Markus Duesmann, has already been fired.

Consequences for Sauber-Audi?

Apparently behind the scenes there had been a crisis and internal strife for weeks. Now the Supervisory Board spoke a strong word. Formula 1 sponsor Duesmann gone – is that a bad sign for the joint project with Sauber from 2026? Well, his successor should also be positive about the future of Formula 1.

what really happened Andreas Seidl (47), CEO in Hinwil, to Blick: “You have to ask Audi!” The German will not give official interviews until 2024…

The Hinwil starting places 2023

Until then, Seidl must at least announce the new or old driver combination for the Sauber team (Alfa leaves, flirting with Haas). Not an easy task. Unfortunately, Bottas and Zhou’s form fluctuations are huge. Is this only related to the C43?

Well, at 5 p.m. qualifying for the main race on Sunday over 71 laps starts here. We show you the earlier starting places for 2023.

• Bottas: 12/14/19/14/10/15/16/15
• Zhou: 13/12/17/16/14/19/13/20

Just 60 minutes of training…

So the drivers only had 60 minutes at 18 degrees and still sunny weather to get to zero for qualifying. Not an easy task on the only 4318 m long mountain and valley course with 65 m difference in altitude. After 30 minutes, the 20 cars were separated by just 1.6 seconds.

At the front Hamilton, Verstappen, Alonso – the three drivers who dominated the most races in 2023. Behind Pérez Albon in the Williams (but already with soft tyres), Stroll and Tsunoda.

Ferrari bluffed with fuel

The two Ferraris were only in 16th and 17th – the reds, like engine partner Haas plagued by tire anxiety, seemed to be running on a lot of fuel. Leclerc only switched to the red soft rubber eight minutes before the end and set a best time of one minute.

Verstappen immediately took that away from him – and then Sainz came in the other Ferrari. With a time of 1:05.983, the Spaniard was the first to stay under 66 seconds. Until Verstappen (with medium tyres) snatched the stage victory from him – 1:05.742.

Alfa Sauber in danger?

The field then widened again to 1.6 seconds! And Alfa Sauber? 10th Zhou, 14th Bottas – in qualifying that would mean at least the Finn fighting a quick exit in the first part (if five are eliminated).

The results of the 1st training session

Source : Blick