Belgium GP Race Report

Early morning posts on Instagram showed that it was still raining in Spa....so you know you're in for a thrilling race.  Forty minutes before the race, the cars took to the grid.  They all took the chance to do a couple of laps to gauge the conditions, just as I was commenting that, with the rain coming down, it was unlikely all drivers would make it round safe to the grid, Perez went over the wet paint and grass, into the wall and out of the race (just as Red Bull signed him for a second season).  Jos Capito, Team Principal of Williams, commented before the race that you could be out in the first corner or you could be on the podium.  After the formation lap, Verstappen radioed in that it was fine to race.  Further back the grid however, the drivers were complaining.  We even heard from Giovanizzi (I assume he was the only driver not to swear on the radio).  So the race was red flagged and the cars lined up in the pit lane.  Hamilton had water leaking in the top of his helmet.  I'm surprised that they're not waterproof.

And so it went on, we waited and waited.  Red Bell made a compelling case for getting Perez's car fixed and back in the race.  What did the drivers do during the break?  Alonso had a coffee, Sainz was on his phone, Norris played ball, Ricciardo clowned around, some drivers chatted to their dads.  The broadcasters were really pushing for a postponement until tomorrow, it was never going to happen but when you're desperate, you're desperate.   Mercedes pit wall personnel asked race control if they could leave their bar stools for a coffee and were given permission.  After three hours the safety car led the cars out of the pit lane.  Just to help with visibility, the Dutch fans let off their orange flares.

Spa isn't usually too dull a race but this took the biscuit.

So who were the winners and losers from this bizarre two lap, no over-taking allowed race?

Winners

Russell - got second place and half points for that position

Perez - got a "get out of jail free" card and was able to rejoin the race, after his car was fixed during the lengthy pause

Mazepin - got fastest lap, however no point (or half point) as he wasn't inside the top 10

Losers

Bottas - started 13th, finished 13th

Alonso - started 15th, finished 15th

Raikkonen - had been penalized with a pit lane start for changing his wing to one of different specification (although this meant he didn't have to sit in the rain on the grid for 25 minutes)

Ferrari - both started out of the points and finished outside the points

Norris - lucky to be able to participate in this race after his massive crash yesterday in Qualifying, both in body and car.  In the rebuild the gearbox was changed so that he was also handed a five place grid penalty. so started 15th and therefore out of the points.

The crowd - the "true fans" who stood in the rain.  Let's hope there's some financial recompense.

I was very pleased that my race predictions of Verstappen for the win and a big points haul for Williams were spot on.

Belgium GP Qualifying Report

It was a long Summer break and I was so pleased to be back to the F1 race weekend routine.

There was big news at Spa...no, not Russell vs. Bottas but the new helmet cams.  An amazing addition to the coverage, with teams worrying whether what is seen on the steering wheels might be compromising.

Even more exciting, rain!  For most of the first qualifying session, Williams were first and second, having, for once, chosen the best strategy.  Which was the intermediate tire, everyone else was on full wets when it just wasn't wet enough.  The contrast between the two Williams drivers became apparent when the rest of the field changed to inters and many of the drivers set times inbetween Russell and Latifi.  This may be the first time Latifi has made it into the second session.  Norris showed his strength in the wet conditions by finishing the session at the top, with team mate Ricciardo just scraping through. Brits are far more used to this weather than Aussies.

The rain eased off during session 2 and the fun petered out.  Norris remained at the top of the timing sheet, Ricciardo answered his doubters (somewhat) by getting through in 9th.  Latifi scored his best qualifying of his F1 career in 12th, splitting the Ferraris, who were also both out.   I guess the points haul before the break has relaxed the Canadian into F1 at last.  At least Sainz and LeClerc were in similar positions, managing to get equal amounts out of the car.  Disparities continue between Ocon (10th and through) and twice world champion Alonso (out in 14th) and Stroll (out in 15th, also son of the team owner) and four times world champion Vettel (6th and through).  All eyes are on Russell and Bottas, because most seats are secure up and down the pit lane, but here are many questions over the choice of drivers made by the teams.

Again, the weather changed for the third session, when the rain came down much harder.  Vettel and Norris were calling in on the radio for the session to end.  It did end, when Norris had a major spin.  Hot off his PR triumphs of litter-picking at Silverstone and Pride T-shirt wearing in Hungary, Vettel ignored the red flags to drive round to check Norris was okay, knowing he would be first on the scene.  Brundle had picked up the spin almost before it happened as the McLaren didn't appear on the TV coverage as the angle changed.  You forget how good he is.  

Norris's car span and span - I wonder if you just close your eyes?  Awful damage but you could see the monocoque was working.  Norris did seem to be pushing very hard, however, if he'd done it later in the session, he probably would have pole position (albeit with a pit lane start).

During the pause, Latifi commented that the Williams car would be best in the wet....well...

When the cars came out again, the condition were wet but stable.  All the cars put in a banker lap.  Then Williams pulled out another strategy coup (you wait a very long time and then two come along at once...!), having saved a set of tires.  Russell put in a pole lap but was the first to cross the line at the chequered flag.  We had to wait for Hamilton to beat him.  No.  Vettel?  No.  Verstappen?  Yes.  Russell is on the front row alongside Verstappen.  Despite being written off for most of the season, Ricciardo finished in 4th.  A thrills and spills qualifying of a true Belgian variety.  

Hungary GP Race Report

From extreme heat in Hungary, the race started with drizzle.  Always a situation to make a grand prix fan get excited for the race.

We all thought Bottas had ruined the race on turn 1, lap 1 with a very old school style pile-up.  Breaking too late, he tagged Norris who went into Verstappen and he shunts Perez.  You could say he completely sabotaged Red Bull's race.  This took out LeClerc, Stroll, Perez and  Bottas, sent Norris and Verstappen to the end of the pack and brought out the safety car, followed by a red flag.  A real humdinger of an incident.  Bottas sat at the side of the track, refusing to go back to the pits like a toddler who knows they are in real trouble.  I haven't seen anything like it in a decade.

The red flag then completely mitigated the length of the exciting period of rain.  As the drivers went round for the standing start, Russell predicted that all the drivers would box for slick tires as the track was now dry.  This led to the crazy image of Hamilton alone on the grid as all the other cars were in the pit lane.  They would have to wait for him to pass the pit lane exit before they come out.  With Russell in the Williams being first so taking second place!  We were wrong, the race was just getting started and Bottas had not killed the party.

Hamilton came in the next lap, putting Ocon in the lead.  Something went wrong with Russell's Williams and every driver overtook him so he ended in 7th (turns out it was a steward's call as he undertook in the pit lane).  The late call for the Mercedes meant that Hamilton was plum last and very far back.  This set up a Verstappen and Hamilton tangle in the future, although Verstappen had a severely damaged car.  One of the racers (unnamed on BBC Five Live podcast) predicted that Verstappen would take Hamilton out during this race.  I waited for the lap to come round...it never did as it was all sorted out by pitstops and backmarkers.

Hamilton couldn't blame his team for this as it was his call not to come in.

With Russell now in 7th, his team mate was 3rd and in a podium position.  Ever the gentlemen (well just out of short trousers and possibly still in Huggies Drynites), he radioed in to his team to tell them to prioritise Nicky as he had such a good position.

In the midst of all this Raikkonen was unsafely released in the pit lane into Mazepin's car.  Having avoided the first lap calamity, the Russian was out of the race.  At least he didn't have far to walk back.  The Finn was given a 10 second penalty.  I think Kimi will quit this year as he will be tired with constant Steward's interventions.

The action was still coming, Hamilton could not get passed the cars in front of him and, barely a quarter of the way into the race, Verstappen was battling Mick Schumacher for 1 point and 10th place.  Lap 20 out of 70, saw Hamilton take an early pit stop, covered off by Verstappen and Ricciardo (Don't know why McLaren thought he was in the mix?).  The undercut worked and Hamilton was ahead of both of them.  Which is probably fair given he has the best and least damaged car running.

For the first time ever, we were shown footage of a Haas battling with a Williams and the overtake.  A topsy turvy race for sure.  Ricciardo and Verstappen following Russell soon after. 

The director was flicking from the race at the front, Ocon vs. Vettel, and Hamilton and Verstappen's progress through the pack.  Vettel suffered a shocking 3.3 second pitstop (0.3 seconds longer than needed).  Ocon covered him off and this put Alonso in the lead.  The old champions to the fore.  Ocon's pit stop was 1 second shorter than Vettel's and he maintained his lead, the undercut being lost.

We watched Alonso hold Hamilton up, the first driver to really take the fight to him this race.  Is it surprising that Lewis made such a come back from last place?  Even though no one can overtake at Hungary?  (I disagree).  With such a good car, that avoided all damage in Lap 1, not at all.  When Alonso finally locked up, Hamilton slipped through.  He made short work then of taking Sainz.  Hamilton took the podium place.  There was 9 seconds and 4 laps left now for Hamilton to take 2nd...or 1st.  We waited with baited breath and no, it was third place for him.  Vettel back on the podium and Ocon taking his maiden victory.

Would Ocon have won if Alonso had not done such a good job of holding Hamilton up?  Lewis complained about the Spaniard's deft work, however as Alonso basically did what Hamilton did to Vertappen last race...hah.  Fernando did get Driver of the Day though.  Ricciardo's awful season continues as he finished outside the points with 6 cars out (5 if you don't count Mazepin, which I don't).  Finished 11th basically means he finished 16th.

Clearly all drivers are filmed reacting to winning prior to the season starting, to put up on the big screens straight away at the end of a race.  We got to see Ocon's today, I wonder what Alonso did and Latifi and Raikkonen?  And...and.

Ultimately the real joy of the race comes when you look a little further down the grid.  5 points for Williams with 8th and 9th position.  Surprisingly Latifi ahead of Russell, perhaps Nicky will get the Mercedes seat??  I suppose Benetton winning again is enjoyable too.  Even Vettel finishing second is rather something...it gives Alonso and Raikkonen hope for their futures.

I can't remember the last time 6 drivers retired from a race, let alone by lap 5.

In other points to note, Vettel should be commended for wearing not only his Pride rainbow helmet but also T-shirt and mask on the grid, protesting against recent legislation in Hungary.

So, with Brundle at Silverstone, Sky viewers were treated to Rosberg in the commentary box.  And what a race for your rookie commentary (at least in English and as far as I know).  He did a good job although Crofty did the lion's share of actually speaking.  There were also a lot of throws to Karun and Ted.

Post-script: Vettel stopped on track...why?  Because he'd run out of fuel.  This means that the FIA could not collect the litre of fuel required for testing.  So he was disqualified.  Hamilton took second and Sainz third, the race never seems to end these days.