Red Bull Ring Speed Trap: who is the fastest of them all?

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Despite its 63-second mad dash short layout, the Red Bull Ring is still considered a power circuit where engine muscle adds crucial value to a driver's performance.

With that in mind, one look at the Speed Trap readings from Saturday's qualifying session tells us all we need to know about Ferrari's plight in Austria.

Ferrari struggle in qualifying: 'that's where we are'

Charles Leclerc who qualified P7 is the field's clear laggard, his SF1000 clocking in at 312.4 km/h or 10 km/h slower than Lewis Hamilton's Black Arrow.

As a reminder, Leclerc topped the speed trap readings one year ago with 323.2 km/h. Sebastian Vettel is hardly better, so where has the velocity gone?

For many, the latter was lost in the confidential paragraphs inserted into the secret and controversial agreement - or rather settlement - sealed by Ferrari earlier this year with the FIA after the latter's investigation into the inner workings of the Scuderia's 2019 power unit.

Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto repeatedly contends that his team owes its current massive under-performance mainly to the SF1000's aero characteristics, the weakness of which will hopefully be solved by an upcoming upgrade package.

But Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says he's heard that tune sung one time too many by Binotto.

"I can’t listen to that anymore," said the Austrian on Saturday.

"I’d like to cheer everybody up at Ferrari because this is a fantastic company with fantastic people but I have no reason to cheer Mattia up.

"They haven’t shown great performance today, we want them to be competitive and race with us, race under the same rules." Ouch!

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.