The Austrian GP grid

Fernando Alonso will start the Austrian GP from the pit-lane after McLaren replaced the front wing on his car following qualifying.

Alonso was due to start 13th but won’t line up on the grid due to a new front wing spec and pitot static tube change during parc ferme . He would already have been facing engine penalties after taking Renault’s upgraded MGU-K.

The Spaniard is the latest driver to drop down a much-changed Spielberg grid.

Vettel demoted to sixth for blocking

Brendon Hartley has taken more Honda engine elements in what Toro Rosso describe as a “tactical” decision after he qualified 19th – he will serve a 35-place penalty and will start at the back of the grid.

These penalties add to Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc’s. Vettel was handed a three-place grid penalty for impeding Renault’s Carlos Sainz during qualifying, while Leclerc was relegated five places for taking a new gearbox.

Here’s the provisional Austrian GP grid, with the race live on Sky Sports F1 at 2.10pm.

1. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
3. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
4. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
5. Romain Grosjean, Haas
6. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari*
7. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull
8. Kevin Magnussen, Haas
9. Carlos Sainz, Renault
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault
11. Esteban Ocon, Force India
12. Pierre Gasly, Toro Rosso
13. Lance Stroll, Williams
14. Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren
15. Sergio Perez, Force India
16. Sergey Sirotkin, Williams
17. Charles Leclerc, Sauber**
18. Marcus Ericsson, Sauber
19. Brendon Hartley, Toro Rosso***
PIT-LANE START
Fernando Alonso, McLaren****

*issued three-place grid penalty for impeding Carlos Sainz
**issued five-place grid penalty for gearbox change
*** taking engine penalties
**** pit-lane start for changes during parc ferme

Toto Wolff admits Sebastian Vettel’s grid penalty at the Austrian GP should make Mercedes’ race “more comfortable”, but refuses to rule Ferrari out of the victory contention.

The grid drop means Mercedes have lost their main Spielberg threat and Lewis Hamilton’s title rival from the second row.

“Obviously the situation is more comfortable like this,” Mercedes boss Toto Wolff told reporters in Austria.

But with Kimi Raikkonen taking Vettel’s place in third, Wolff insisted that “the problem is not solved”.

He continued: “There is a Ferrari that performs well – Kimi is still there.

“What we have said is that the Ferrari is particularly strong out of traction at Turn Three and into Turn Three it will be difficult.”

Sky Sports F1’s Austrian GP schedule

12.30pm: Austrian GP Pit Lane LIVE!
1.30pm: Austrian GP On The Grid LIVE!
2.10pm: THE AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX LIVE!
4.30pm: Austrian GP Paddock LIVE!

Can Sebastian Vettel recover at the Austrian GP or will Lewis Hamilton extend his championship advantage? Watch every session live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend. Get Sky Sports F1.

(c) Sky News 2018: The Austrian GP grid