Belgium GP Race Report

The biggest talking point before the race was how many laps before Verstappen would be in the lead.  I reckoned he would overtake one car per lap, so 5 laps, as he had had a 5 lap penalty for a gear box change.  

LeClerc held the start for the briefest of rides before Perez overtook him after a couple of corners for the lead.  Piastri sustained damage, coming in to contact with Sainz, and fell back to last, before stopping at the side of the track.  Sainz also accrued serious aero damage, a shredded side, and was a sitting duck and we watched Alonso overtake him (ultimately, it would quietly retire too).  By Lap 4 Verstappen was still in P4.  The overtakes I wanted to see though, were those by Albon, first Stroll, then Norris, having moved from 15th to 8th.  Albon then took poor Sainz.

On Lap 6, Verstappen overtook Hamilton for 3rd and a podium position.  Then a few rounds later, he got past LeClerc for second and now only had to overtake his team mate.  Meanwhile, further back, some drivers took a pit stop.  Norris was struggling with everything and despite some cheery team radio, he just couldn't find a way to make the car work and feel positive about it.  He seemed to have a dreadful race.

There were a few more pitstops and some discussion of rain coming, then it was Lap 17 and Verstappen was past his team mate.

Just as the rain came down and the spectators put on their waterproof ponchos, Norris came in for a very slow stop and put on dry tyres.  The precipitation never came to much as it was gone as soon as it was talked about and blue skies shone over Spa once again.

Verstappen built up a half a minute lead over Perez and earned himself a free pit stop.

After 44 long laps, Hamilton pitted for fresh tyres to try for Fastest Lap and the accompanying point but Verstappen kept that in his pocket.  Norris, amazingly, ended up 7th.  The Ferrari of LeClerc claimed the third spot on the podium.  And now we go on holiday for three weeks; not me but Formula 1.  And when we come back, Verstappen can continue winning.

Belgium GP Sprint Report

The change from August to July for our annual jaunt to the land of rain, in the hope of less rain, meant it was still raining for the Sprint Shootout - or Sprint Qualifying as I like to call it.  The start of the session was delayed as it bucketed down.  When we did start, all cars went out on Intermediate tyres...why not send them out earlier on Wet tyres?

There were no surprises for those who went out after the shorter first session: Zhou, Bottas, Tsunoda (the rise of Ricciardo), Hulkenberg and Magnussen.

In the second session, all drivers were again on Intermediate tyres, designed for a wet but drying track.  Aston Martin threw the dice and switched to dry tyres, with Stroll.  He handled it well for a few corners before being sent into the wall and bringing out a Red Flag and ending the session.  Unfortunately Albon and Stroll's team mate Alonso, were out on their only laps sending both Williams, both Aston Martins and Ricciardo out.

Just as with Race Qualifying, Verstappen pulled out a great last minute lap to claim pole position as the last driver over the line.  Rookie Piastri put his McLaren next to him; a fantastic lap as he hasn't been racing here for 3 years.  Sainz took a rare victory over his team mate LeClerc as they line up 3rd and 4th.  Norris was next, alongside a great job from Gasly.  Then Hamilton and Perez, Ocon and Russell.

Everyone went for some lunch before the sprint race itself started.  However just as it was due to start, the heavens opened and it rained again.  The cars were parked on the grid, so the gazebos went up.  Russell and Wolff had a little banter about the weather, starting with how sorry George felt for the crowd.  It stopped raining and then started again.  A rolling start sort-of started with the Safety Car leading them round on several formation laps.  It felt like a very long time because this is Spa and the track is very very long.  They kept going, even when Verstappen said they might be able to go for Intermediate tyres.

Finally Verstappen held his first place for the rolling start and led into a 12 lap race.  Half the pack pitted, including second place man Piastri, who came out in 11th ahead of all the other stoppers.  On the next lap, the other half pitted (apart from Ocon) and Verstappen came out behind Piasti, leading a grand prix for the first time.  It was chaos in the pit lane and I'm amazed that no "unsafe release" penalties were awarded.

What would happen on Lap 3?  Alonso, celebrating his 78th birthday, went into the wall and brought out the Safety Car.  The whole day shows a dramatic demise for the team.  On Lap 6 the race restarted and Piastri was unable to hold Verstappen off for more than a couple of corners.  Behind them his team mate was overtaken by Hamilton, Sainz and then LeClerc.  Ricciardo was running in 9th and just outside the top 8 places which receive points.  Perez, having been the king of tyre management, couldn't warm them up.  As Norris went for the overtake, he spun off and rejoined the track in 16th putting the rival for his seat into the points.  Red Bull decided to pit and retire the car.  Verstappen was also having problems with his tyres but not enough not to win the race.  

Hamilton was given a rather unfair penalty for his overtake attempt on Perez.  The final order was Verstappen, Piastri and Gasly (with the departing Alpine personnel putting in a good showing to add to their CVs).

No one seemed to know what the rules were for a Sprint format: not the FIA and not the Sky F1 team.  As Piastri pointed out, he was delighted to be not-on-the-podium for this not-quite-a-race.  The drivers were awarded their funny little plaque thingys.  The luxe version of a Blankety Blank chequebook and pen.

There seem to be a number of contenders for the second two spots on the podium in the main race and there is always the hope that Verstappen will spin like Alonso did today, or be penalised like Hamilton was today as he comes though the pack from 5th.  Maybe he will suffer damage like Perez or take a fever.  I remember when these things used to happen but they don't seem to be happening to Max this season.  It must be odd to be him at the moment: on top of your profession but aware that everyone is waiting for your downfall eagerly.  He probably doesn't' realise though.

Belgium GP Qualifying Report

The breaking news was that someone ignored HR's advice and fired the top two dogs at Alpine at the start of the race event.  Alan Pomaine and Otmar Schnafhauzer had to work the weekend and would then be given a year's gardening leave, whilst Pomaine had worked at the team for 34 years.  I'm assuming that redundancy will cost Alpine a full year's cost-capped budget.

Instagram was full of pictures of how wet it has been in Spa but the rain stopped just in time for Quaifying so everyone had to wait 10 minutes for the track to drain of water.  Qualifying did not continue smoothly.  Sargeant had to get a new gearbox fitted but did get out for Q1.  Albon was impeded by Verstappen.  Norris took a bumpy trip through the gravel and had possible front wing damage.  Track limits violations rang up every lap.

Hulkenberg had hydraulic problems and only set a tester lap and went out.  Ricciardo went through but on a lap where he went out of track limits, so was out.  Both Williams went out with Zhou too.

In Q2, the big talking points were the drying track and slick tyres and then Ocon hit the wall and damaged his front wing.  Ricciardo's team mate went first briefly at the end of the session, putting DannyRic to shame.  As the seconds ticked down, the track improved and improved.  Versappen put in a spectactualy poor lap and got through in 10th.  Out went Tsunoda, Gasly, Magnussen, Bottas and Ocon.  Verstappen got very swearing on the radio and his engineer came back equally snappy.

In the final Qualifying session, we hoped that pole was open to more drivers than just Verstappen but ultimately it was Verstappen.  As he is taking a 5 place grid penalty for a gearbox change, LeClerc will be promoted to pole, then Peres, Hamilton, Sainz, Piastri outqualifying Norris, Russell, Alonso and Stroll.

Hungary GP Race Report

Obviously, it was going to be a win for Verstappen so we had to look further back for any interest.

It was a clean start at the front of the grid, with Verstappen making an easy inside corner pass into and out of turn 1.  Hamilton is unused to making pole position starts.  Piastri took his team mate and Hamilton to take second position with Norris putting Hamilton in 4th.  Behind them Zhou nudged Ricciardo into one Alpine who tagged the next, which didn't bring out a Safety Car but the Yellow Flag briefly.  Ocon and Gasly were both retired straight away.  Zhou received a penalty.  The impact split Ocon's seat in half and the Frenchman had to go to the medical centre to have his back checked.

Sainz caught up to his team mate quickly from further back on the grid but was on soft tyres.  Russell made up several places from the back of the grid.  Perez will regret only qualifying in 9th position, as he had to try and get past strong-defender Alonso (obviously he has such a great car that it wasn't too many laps looking at the Spaniard's bahookey).

Albon took an early pit stop on Lap 9, to put on the hard tyres and came out in last place.  It seems a desperate strategy from Williams but other teams reacted.  As the laps went by, Sainz figured out his own pit strategy, still behind LeClerc.  That is until Ferrari had a slow stop, 9.8 months, and LeClerc came out in 11th.    The McLarens took their pit stops one after the other.  Norris built a healthy gap to Hamilton and got a free stop and tried the undercut on Piastri, which worked despite Piastri being served a 2.0 second pit stop.

Hamilton was left flustered behind the McLarens, with some tentative use of the engine restrictions.  His team mate, Russell, kindly let him through as it would be several laps until he pitted.  When he did he was in 14th behind the early stopper Albon who was in 11th.  Returnee Ricciardo continued to pootle about in last place.  Perez had to put in the overtake moves to move up the grid and prove his worth as a driver.

As Hamilton was told to "lift and coast", he was still able to defend against Perez.  Red Bull bought him in for a pit stop as well and he came in at the same time as Piastri.  This was the moment that McLaren found an awful pit stop in their tool box and threw that spanner into the works, whilst Red Bull managed 1.9 seconds.  LeClerc had a ding dong over the radio with his team about strategy or lack of. Alonso then had a poor pit stop.  Perez continued his progress towards the podium.  LeClerc was given a 5 second penalty for speeding in the pit lane.  A lot of the action happened in the pit stops, which hasn't shaped a race in many seasons.

Red Bull, Mercedes and McLaren dominated the top 10, then Ferrari.  The Aston Martins finished 9th and 10th taking the last of the points places.  It no longer looks like Alonso is challenging for a podium at every race.  We can only hope that next year's car is being prepared and it will be a doozy - especially as they have poached everyone apart from Adrian Newey to build it.  Albon continues to shine in his Williams, finishing 11th but failing to get any points this time.  Ricciardo finally fininshed where he started, in 13th place, two places ahead of his team mate.  This must count as a good restart to his racing career?  Verstappen described his car as a "rocket ship", which is fairly accurate and Norris was delighted to finish second.

We were promised a safety car to spice up proceedings but none came.  Hopefully it will rain in Belgium; it's been a very rainy summer so far so I would feel cheated if a little wet weather didn't shake things up at the last race before the break.

Hungary GP Qualifying Report

Because things can't stay the same in F1, their were new tyre regulations for Qualifying.  Hard tyres must be worn in the first session, medium in the second and soft in the third.

It was also very hot in Hungary and this was going to affect how the cars run.  Out in the first session was Albon, Tsunoda, Russell (both a victim and a cause of traffic), Magnussen (new baby, sleepless nights) and Sargeant (a very shoddy lap).  This meant that Toto did some fist-banging and Ricciardo would definitely out-qualify his team mate at his first race back.

In the next session, LeClerc knocked his team mate out of Qualifying.  The story of dominant team mates continued with Ocon ahead of nowhere man Gasly, Alonso was through and Stroll out in 14th and Ricciardo out at last in 13th but still several places ahead of Tsunoda.

Perez had made it through to the final Qualifying session for the first time in ages and, with Ricciardo potentially now nipping at his heels, needed a good result.  Hamilton could not believe it as he took pole (throwing shade on Russell) ahead of Verstappen.  Has the Dutchman been taking fore-granted his premier position this season?  Norris (who was disappointed) and Piastri were on the next row.  Then Zhou (for once ahead of his team mate) and LeClerc (ouch for Ferrari), then Bottas and Alonso (Aston Martin have lost their early promise), then Perez and Hulkenberg.  Is 9th position enough for the Mexican to prove himself?  Surely, he will scythe through the grid tomorrow, however, apart from the Alpha Romeos, I think it will be trickier with some contenders who are bringing significant upgrades every event.

Did the change in tyre rules make a difference?  I don't think so.  Perhaps Williams could have thrown on some softs and got higher up the grid.  If anything I think this rule change benefits the stronger teams.  I'm sure Verstappen will win the race but there is a very tasty battle for 2nd.

GB GP Race Report

As it is our home race, the coverage had so many extra pieces...McLaren playing cricket, Russell taking a ride in a jet fighter and Brundle interviewing Brad Pitt about his new film.  The filming of which involves the car being immersed in the grid, so it was at the back of the grid being filmed being at the back of the grid.

The actual grid hadn't been hit by lots of penalties, so Qualifying actually counted.  Only Bottas was sent to the back as he didn't have sufficient fuel in his car.  Speaking of caras, Cara Delavigne was the celebrity who refused to talk to Martin on his walk.   A better line was "I'll just squeeze by Ralf Schumacher...".  Summing up his F1 career. Then Damian Lewis delivered a never-heard-before jazz version of the national anthem accompanied by a saxophonist.  We usually forward through the anthem but this was so terrible we were gripped and unable to extricate ourselves.

It was a dry start and Norris pointed his car with clear intent towards pole-sitter Verstappen's path.  It was a great start by the Brit  who led the race with his team mate Piastri battling with the Dutchman for second.  Max looked a little rattled or wary, would the rookie take him out?  By Lap 2, Norris had pulled a second clear of Verstappen which was critical for DRS.  The tracker system was so confused by Verstappen not leading that it failed to function for a while.   By Lap 5, the Red Bull was past.  Piastri was told not to overtake Norris, which was a good plan for the team.

LeClerc took an early pit stop and it wasn't long until the race settled down and the action lessened.  Even the pit stops didn't really liven things up.  The Haas of Hulkenberg had been tapped by Perez early doors and he had to stop for a new nose, leaving him running last.  Then on Lap 33, Magnussen's engine caught fire, solidifying a poor race for the American outfit.  The drivers who could, dived for the pit lane for new boots as a Virtual Safety Car was declared.  LeClerc was released into the path of Albon.  Then the Virtual Safety Car became a Real one.  Norris and Verstappen came in from second and first, taking the Hard and Soft tyres respectively.  Norris was happy about this decision.

There were only 13 laps left when the Safety Car went in.  Norris drove very defensively from Hamilton.  Verstappen, as always in the closing laps when he is in the lead, started to worry over the radio, this time about his tyres.  Perez overtook Sainz (on the hard tyre), then Albon powered his Williams past, then LeClerc took his team mate.  Whilst the mid-field battled, Norris was able to stretch to a one second plus gap to Hamilton using his hard tyre, leaving his older countryman behind him.

Ocon retired without explanation early in the race and Gasly followed him with four laps to go.  Williams really need Alpine and Haas to do badly at the moment and they are delivering.  Battling to the end was LeClerc, Albon and Alonso. The Williams needed all his Mercedes power to defend.  With McLaren finishing second and fourth, the long drought (apart from Ricciardo's Monza victory but no one discusses that) is over.  The second Brit on the podium was Hamilton.  He said he didn't have the grunt in the car to overtake the McLaren, which is surprising as they have the same engine and he is in the works car.  Three different teams represented on the podium and not an Aston Martin, so the rest of the season could be interesting.

GB GP Qualifying Report

I don't know if it's global warming but there seem to have been more wet periods of racing this season.  This session was another will it/won't it rain.  Drivers went out on a range of wet and dry tyres and the cars were queued up at the pit lane exit to get out and get a lap in quick.  DRS was also unavailable because of the conditions, which could take away the Red Bull advantage over other teams.

The first casualty of the weather was Hamilton, spinning into the gravel.  Ferrari were one of the teams that went out on wet tyres but then switched to soft, dry tyres, just not quick enough as it started raining again.  The cars became twitchy on the track and now was the time to put in that amazing lap.

Whilst drivers battled the elements the Haas of Magnussen came to a complete stop on the track, with the session was Red Flagged.  There was 3 minutes and 11 seconds left, enough time to put in one more fast lap.

As Verstappen was preparing to go out, he managed to clip the pit lane wall, requiring a new nose.  The last lap was quick with soft tyres all round.  The cheer for Norris taking the first spot was deafening.  Bottas spun off to bring out the double Yellow Flag at the side of the track, anyone who waited 'till last had their time scuppered.  So out went Perez (who was first out but couldn't take advantage of the track conditions improving, collateral in the Bottas stop), Tsunoda, Zhou, De Vries and Magnussen.  Red Bull reserve driver, Ricciardo must be sniffing a seat.  Sainz was unhappy that he had to give up some tyre temperature to help LeClerc. 

In the second session, track limits came in to play with lap times being deleted.  The Brits continued to hear roars from the crowd as they crossed the line each time.  I think the last thing LeClerc needed as he was pushing for a lap to get him through was team radio telling him to push.  As the laps got quicker and quicker, it was Hulkenberg, Stroll (still not able to match his team mate), Ocon, Sargeant (does he have the upgraded parts yet?) and Bottas out.  With a strong showing from McLaren with Piastri ahead of Norris in second and third.

The third session was fairly straightforward.  With DRS available, it was an easy pole for Verstappen, even though he had a yellow sector on his last lap.  It looked like Norris was going to take pole briefly but the McLarens start second and third.   The both Ferraris, then both Mercedes, Albon, Alonso and Gasly.  All the British drivers and even the Thai one, were in the top 10.  

Are the Aston Martins going backwards from their early promise?  Afterwards, Verstappen explained that he didn't need to push full out as the car is so quick.  That's promising.  Piastri definitely has the look of those 45 year old men who still look particularly baby-faced.  See also David Cameron.  Zak Brown was celebrating more than anyone else.  I expect this result saves his bacon somewhat.  Perez didn't seem too disappointed; whether he sees it as a fault by the team or he feels that it's outside conditions.  There has been lots of personnel moving between teams, I wonder if we will see driver line-ups changing too.  Who can continue to bring upgrades this season and who needs to work on next years car?

Austria GP Report

As I've been away on holiday this week, this report is both late and based on the Channel 4 coverage.  I say "coverage", they didn't cover very much.  They barely mentioned the first Qualifying session.  De Vries was last and he only has four races to prove he deserves the seat.  Inspection of track limits violations was taking 3 minutes, so what you were seeing wasn't reflected in the standings.  Given that this was delayed highlights, C4 could have reported the events in a more straight forward fashion.  Perez had a lap time deleted and was out in Q2, he might also have a fight on his hands to keep his Red Bull seat.  At this point, I was wondering why the drivers couldn't stay within track limits.  Was it because they had fewer practice sessions because of the sprint race?  Everyone says it's because they haven't put some destructive material on the ground outside the track, so there's no deterrent.  I would have thought all the penalties was deterrent enough?  Albon went through to the final Qualifying session, showing Williams are making some small progress under Vowles.  LeClerc nearly took pole position, which would have been exciting for a couple of minutes but Verstappen stole it.  Sainz was next and then a good showing from Norris in his upgraded McLaren.

Then we had the Sprint Qualifying.  Hamilton took a disappointing 19th with Russell having a hydraulics failure - a bad start for Mercedes.  The track was slightly wet, so there were some poor decisions made.  C4 didn't even display the result.

The next part of the event was the Sprint Race.  Perez made an aggressive start to take the lead from his team mate but later said he gave the place back.  This coming together bunched up the pack and Norris lost everything.  It was a wet start and Russell was the first to take dry tyres.  Albon went backwards and Sainz managed a clean third.  Ultimately it was an easy win for Red Bull.  It was unlike Alonso to settle for the place behind his team mate.  I have no idea what silver trinket the podium finishers were given.  Answers on a silver post card.

When race day came around, Magnussen and De Vries started from the pit lane.  LeClerc challenged Verstappen from the start.  Tsunoda brought out an early Safety Car when he went through the gravel and the marshals had to sweep it up but it was a boring restart.  At this point the track limit violations started to play a factor.  Briefly the Ferraris fought each other but Sainz was held back.  The mid-field cars were so close that it was tricky to see the order on the track.

Hulkenberg's Haas lost power and he pulled off the track, triggering a Virtual Safety Car.  This time lots of drivers did pit for the mandatory tyre change.  It was then  a case of sitting back to watch and see whether this was the better strategy.  

I had started writing down Black and White flags and penalties but soon gave up as they came thick and fast.  It had looked like it might make the race interesting but it just became an administrative nightmare.  Other interesting points to note include Toto having to go on to team radio to tell Hamilton to stop complaining and just drive the car he has been given and whether 3 DRS zones ruined some good racing up front.  Verstappen took a risky pit stop to get soft tires and get a point for the Fastest Lap.  Norris was awarded Driver of the Day.