Spain GP Qualifying Report

The paddock gossip this week has been whether Bottas will be replaced mid-season if he doesn't start performing.  Mercedes and their team principal, Wolff, issued an unequivocal statement that he has a year long contract to race with them.  I wonder if this includes becoming the reserve driver.  Like most politicians, if they clearly state there will be no change to current policy, a think tank is currently working on it for them.  I have also noticed that there has been more coverage of Russell in his Williams, following him around on a lap, in the pits.  Hmmm.  (Crofty also called him Bottarse during his commentary).  Also Mick Schumacher continues to receive more media coverage than any backmarker rookie ever.

Other drivers facing the pressure include Ricciardo, there has been intense scrutiny of his Q1 exit last weekend even though he made some places up in the race.  Button identified him as the big One to Watch this week on his Instagram Stories, even though he has spent 7 days going over his qualifying pace with the media acknowledging and explaining his failures.  Ultimately you have do your talking on the track and he did outqualify his teammate here.

Raikkonen being fastest of anyone in sector 1 for a significant part of Q1, was still part of the no surprises eliminated drivers: Tsunoda, Raikkonen, Schumacher, Latifi and Mazepin.

No surprises in Q2 either: Stroll, Gasly, Vettel, Giovinazzi and Russell out.

Surprises in Q3?  Perez spun mid-session bringing out yellow flags, obliging cars to slow down as they pass the scene of the crime.  This had an impact on a couple of drivers out on quick laps.  With two and half minutes to go, every car left their garage at the same time to put in what would hopefully be their very quickest lap.  In the end not many bested their first lap and predictably the top three are Hamilton, Verstappen and Bottas.  I could have written this report before the session started.  The grid means that Hamilton has reached 100 pole positions, which is only important really in that it gives the media something to fill the time/columns with as they aren't able to discuss such a boring qualifying.  Please do leave a comment and tell me which is your favourite Hamilton pole lap (he names Singapore 2018).