With a few grid penalties being taken, Qualifying was already almost redundant as a method of arranging the starting grid; we just had to enjoy Sainz' supreme performance to gain pole. LeClerc was clearly frustrated in second and Verstappen had a double-word champion bounce and nonchalance about his third place. Amidst it all, the paddock was waiting with pitch forks and placards to hear what punishment would be handed to Red Bull for their breach of the cost cap last year, with many people comparing it to the Spygate of yesteryear. Then the Red Bull camp was shaken by the death of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz. How much this unsettles their future is unsure. The team chose to celebrate their co-founder by playing the Rolling Stones instead of their usual dross and wearing jeans.
On race day, the stars were out to see the spectacle. They'd actually already missed it as Ricciardo arrived on track horseback and may as well have continued that way for the heady heights on 17th on the grid and finishing a thrilling one place off last, after a gripping battle with Latifi. Geri Halliwell manhandled Ed Sheeran about the Red Bull garage for maximum publicity.
The passing of Mateschitz was somewhat preempted as he had been ill but what to do on race day was somewhat hastily prepared with David Coulthard trotted out to ask the crowd to applaud for an unspecified length of time. Anyone associated with Red Bull was given front line status for this and drivers unblessed by the caffeinated spirit of extreme sports regulated to two lines back. As Hamilton ranked in this number, he made sure to fist bump a large number of children, who didn't know who he was, who had been lined up next to the grid, presumably to promote inclusivity.
Hamilton then put in a complaint to his team about his brakes on his out lap, mechanics worked furiously to completely replace the brakes on both sides. No problem with his start though.
Verstappen made a great start from second place and Sainz a poor start from pole and was then bumped by Russell. He spun, going to the back of the grid, radioing in with puncture then being wheeled into the garage. I think he did longer driving Sky TV presenters around the track than he did in the race. The Aston Martins did very well off the grid, in third and fifth on the second lap. I'm sure it's not a spoiler to say they didn't finish that well.
Latifi spun his Williams on Lap 6, a notable race for him, as this is the first time his accidents have only had a negative effect on himself.
The race went on and Verstappen was struggling with wind.
People came into the pits, people came out. Not much happened. Then Bottas spun and beached himself in the gravel, which is quite a feat as CotA is mainly tarmac run off area. A Safety Car came out and gave LeClerc, Vettel and Alonso a cheap pit stop.
Just after the Safety Car period finished, another started as Alonso took off over next year's team mate, Stroll. I wonder who the new boss will blame, his expensive new star or his son? I have no idea how but Alonso pitted and rejoined the race, still ahead of Ricciardo and Latifi. Stroll was out of the race and with footage of cars driving through a lot of debris and smoke, the true extent of the damage was to be seen.
Gasly continues to be in the wrong place at the wrong time this season, being more than 10 car lengths behind the car in front during the Safety Car period and getting a 5 second penalty for that. Turns out that, in the taking of the penalty, he was also in the wrong place at the wrong time and got another 5 second penalty.
Hamilton pitted to try the undercut with 20 laps to go and set off a fantastic chain of events. Verstappen responded but had a shocker of a stop with a wheel gun failing. LeClerc must have been told to do whatever Max did and also pitted, exiting the pits ahead of his rival. In turn, they were behind Vettel leading the race with Hamilton behind him. Hamilton overtook Vettel and went off to fight for his first win of the season and Vettel went into the pits for an abysmal stop that saw him drop right out of the points. Predictably, Verstappen hunted down and overtook first LeClerc then Hamilton to take the win. The action continued to the very end with Vettel and Magnussen racing for a few points and Russell taking the point for Fastest Lap off Red Bull.
Overall, probably one of the best races so far this season: a challenge for the drivers, nothing controversial coming out from the race directors and some great battles for the spectators.
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