Turkey GP Race Report

I saw Button on Instagram before the race commenting that it was spitting heavily and looked like good conditions for a great race.  By the time the Sky coverage had started it was properly raining and intermediate tire weather.  It was exactly the right kind of rain for a fun race, enough for the talent to show but not hours of red flag coverage.

It was a clean start with no losers apart from Alonso, who was tapped by Gasly and spun out, returning to the track in 18th from 5th.  At the back of the pack, Alonso then tagged Schumacher.  Both were duly served 5 second penalties and all my race predictions of one of the two getting a podium went out of the window.

Hamilton was starting from 11th after an engine replacement penalty.  He took Vettel quickly off the line.  Tsunoda held him up for quite a few laps, once taken, he was able to get past Stroll and then Norris, which made the Japanese driver look very good for a change.

Hamilton then slowly chased down his championship rival's team mate, Perez.  Finally, he was close enough to over take and over five corners they were side by side until Perez triumphed.  With Hamilton wishing that his wingman, Bottas, was more like this one.

Then the pit stop window came.  Ricciardo had previously become the track's guinea pig and tried a new set of intermediates early and failed but now the time had come to get a fresh set.  Vettel thought he'd try a set of medium, slick, dry weather tires and it took him less than a lap to decide that was a poor mistake, even sliding as he came into the pitlane.  The Red Bulls (in their fine one-off white Honda tribute livery) both pitted and Bottas from the lead too.  LeClerc led, with Fastest Lap under his belt.  He slid.  Would he change his tires or keep going to the end?  He questioned his team and they gave him permission.  Was this Hamilton's plan too?  There was a glimmer of hope for something a bit different from the Verstappen/Hamilton podium tussle.  Mercedes made the call for Hamilton to come in for new tires but Hamilton questioned them and stayed out.  Ultimately LeClerc couldn't make it stick and he came in for new tires after being overtaken for the lead by Bottas.  And Hamilton stayed out.  With 7 laps to go, he pitted and came out in 5th place.   Cue some old-skool whinging about tires and strategy decisions.  His press pen interview was surprisingly chipper.

Crofty got excited because he'd spotted a dark, rain cloud in the distance.  Many spectators would be happy with a Bottas, Verstappen, LeClerc podium.  Perez took LeClerc.

Bottas took his 10th (and final?) win in Formula 1 along with Fastest Lap.  Only 10th?  That's why he's going to Alfa Romeo,.

The moral of the story...a wet race only produced good racing when it is changeable.  When the drizzle is constant for the full two hours, it's just round and round as usual.  A dull race with Verstappen that they key to getting a podium was "staying awake".  Sainz was awarded Driver of the Day by the public.  Not sure why?  He started at the back and finished...not sure where.