Not The F1 News: Susprises and other Austria sensations

Stroll a driver who would have a place on any team on the grid, probably inundated with offers from rival Formula 1 team principals, showed faith in the trillion-dollar F1 project that his gazillionaire father Lawrence Stroll is building.

It started as a go-kart collection for little Lance to trounce every little lad of his generation. What followed was the purchasing of a bunch of little league teams, and then an F1 team before turning the F1 dream into a fully-fledged automotive mega project with that F1 team for Lawrence's lad to live his dream part of that.

Fernando Alonso surprisingly hailed the decision as he feared his extremely talented teammate. Strange as 25-year-old Stroll has kept the 42-year-old Spaniard under pressure to perform. The length of the contract is reportedly, with a ten-year option to remain provided he scores at least a point per season.

Whatever the case, one can imagine - Best Dad in World Ever - Lawrence being bear-hug-relieved that his Lance did not go 'prodigal son' on him despite the massive demand for his lad's services.

The incredible Stroll-news news dwarfed the earlier confirmation that front-runners and super-organised Alpine Formula 1 Team have signed Pierre Gasly with a long-term deal.

The Frenchman is also in high demand by every team on the grid (not as much as Stroll it must be said) and could be on the podium this weekend, now that Formula 1 Saint Flavio Briatore is running things again.

The Italian - victim of the unfortunate but almost forgotten Crashgate 'setup' - was welcomed as a breath of fresh air for Formula 1 and a shrewd signing by the sport's latest genius Luca de Meo, who Briatore will executively advise. Smart thinking by Gasly to ignore the other nine Formula 1 team bosses ringing his phone 24/7 and sign up.

This leads to the driver that no one wants, namely Carlos Sainz Vázquez de Castro. Heavy hitters like Williams, Sauber-Audi and Team Briatore are keen on his signature after he snubbed Ferrari, which opened the door for Hamilton's defection to be Charles Leclerc's teammate from 2025. And the resultant Silly Season dance is what we have, with Carlitos alone on the dance floor.

Sainz can pick and choose they say. After all Toto Wolff is begging. James Vowles is begging. Andreas Seidl is begging. Flav is doing whatever Flav does. Who will Sainz honour? Eeny-meeney-miney-mo, Papa where should I go?

Track limits at Red Bull Ring are now marcated by a gravel trap, no longer tarmac. Mistakes and transgressions beyond the tarmac are punished. Kitty litter or keep it clean? The drivers can decide. An old-school, well-tried and tested method, like a wall, gravel traps have no mercy for the errant. It separates the men from the boys.

A development that F1's huge talent Logan Sargeant was all for. This will reel in his 19 rivals, who are sure to bin it. The Williams driver is best in line to benefit, as whatever happens The Sarge always makes up places and seldom makes mistakes.

In contrast, journeymen Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc were dismayed by the acres of run-off they both relished. Both also fear the dirt on the racing line when they go wide onto the sand. Watch these two beach it at the Red Bull Ring, and Sargeant to take advantage and further impress Formula 1 team bosses who are watching his progress like hawks.

Another much-welcome presence in the Spielberg paddock is Jos Verstappen. Max's father thankfully back in his son's corner and seen briefing engineer Gianpiero Lambiase before FP1 in Austria today. Always bringing a jolly vibe to the place.

Despite that little WhatsApp saga earlier in the year that nearly tanked careers and even the Formula 1 World Champion team. Not forgetting the mean things Jos said about Red Bull boss Christian Horner "exploding" the two appear to have made peace.

At least the World Champion team's 'body language' seems to suggest that scenario. Verstappen senior (as mentioned) holding court in the RBR garage while Horner was possibly somewhere texting someone. In other words: All is back to normal in the Bull-pen.

Confirming that it's business as usual even further, was Helmut Marko still calling the shots at VCARB aka the Red Bull Juniors. Overruling bosses Laurent Mekies and Peter Bayer by making unpleasant noises about their 'promising not so junior' Daniel Ricciardo being replaced by there other promising youngster Liam Lawson sooner than we think.

The popular Aussie lost out on becoming Verstappen's teammate again because Red Bull had no option but to re-sign Sergio Perez, who has been in sparkling form. Always pushing Max to the max and the hope is to beat the Dutchman when possible. So far impossible. Word from the Dan camp is Verstappen was scared of their man. Unconfirmed of course.

So there you go folks. How the F1 news from Red Bull Ring filtered through to my desk, and an alternative angle for our more discerning readers. Sometimes with this wacky sport of ours, you gotta take the p!ss! ;-)