2017AUSTRIAGossip

#AustrianGP - the best social media from Spielberg

Fans with Fernando Alonso (ESP) McLaren banner at Formula One World Championship, Rd9, Austrian

There was a thrilling race on track in Sunday’s Formula 1 Grosser Preis von Osterreich 2017, but what was going on behind the scenes in the build-up to the Spielberg weekend? Here's just some of the highlights...

Boxing clever

PUSH! #hardworkpaysoff #TeamLH pic.twitter.com/dPu4X2xuGI

— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) 29 June 2017 Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton is leaving nothing chance in his bid for a fourth world championship - or perhaps just releasing some pent-up emotions following his on-track clash with a certain Ferrari driver in Baku?

Grojean gets in on the act

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Haas's Romain Grosjean opts for pedalling rather than punching in his bid for ultimate race fitness.

Top tyre shredding

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Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas was one of several F1 drivers to spend their 'weekend off' at the UK's Goodwood Festival of Speed. Not sure the others did this to their tyres in a single run, though...

Garden party

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Williams made good use of the festival - celebrating their 40th year of F1 racing, with cars and drivers past and present.

Birthday boy, Part I

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With musical talent like this, Daniel Ricciardo is probably glad his Red Bull colleagues normally stick to the racing.

Birthday boy, Part II

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Hard to believe the four-time world champion has hit the big three-zero - he barely looks a day older.

Jolly hockey sticks

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It may have been sunny and warm in Spielberg, but the Red Bull boys also found time to cool off on the ice...

State of independence

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Both American team Haas and Daniel Ricciardo chose to mark the United States' special day on social media. Now that's what we call striking a pose...

Kevin gets the nod

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Haas's Kevin Magnussen can't tell whether he's coming or going thanks to this unusual training exercise...

Palmer on court

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Renault's Jolyon Palmer enjoys a spot of tennis action with younger brother Will - and no prizes for guessing who they're supporting!

On the water

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As Palmer basks in the London sun, Max Verstappen takes to the water for more adrenaline-fueled between-race recreation.

Lewis and Lightning McQueen

Cars 3 may not be on general release yet, but a lucky few have had a sneak preview...

Top trousers

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Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz and Daniil Kvyat show how to sport Austrian dress in style...

Fan-tastic

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A handful of fortunate young fans were lucky enough to meet their F1 heroes in Austria after being selected to join the drivers in their pre-race formalities.

Seeing double

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We seriously don't think Fernando Alonso would rather be anywhere else...

Max is amazed

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When this many people turn out to see you race, you can't fail to be touched. Shame the orange-clad army only saw their man once in the race...

Wing men

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It's not just on the track that the Red Bulls are closely matched.

Dropping in

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Think an F1 driver understands speed? Try telling that to this man, who clocked over 800mph when he parachuted from the edge of space.

Violin Verstappen meets Dancin' Daniel

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Don't give up the day job? The videos tell you all you need to know...

Heading home

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Force India's Esteban Ocon and Haas's Romain Grosjean prepare to board the plane - and with 12 points in the bag between them it's two happy Frenchman departing Austria!

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