Italy GP Qualifying Report

Another week, another driver announcement.  Eighteen year old Kimi Antonelli sat next to Toto to hear him sing his praises as he takes the Mercedes seat for 2025.  He looked like a tiny little boy.  The wee man drove the car during FP1 and gifted Wolff an expensive crash.  Also making his F1 debut in Free Practice was Franco Colapinto, who was replacing Sargeant (at last) in Williams.  Monza is a strong track for the team, so the pressure was immediately on.  Vowles said that there was nothing more Williams could do to help Sargeant with his driving career, so it will be interesting to see why they have gone for a rookie instead of Mick Schumacher,

In the first Qualifying session, there were a few offs, Sainz had a moment towards the start.  Colapinto had the second biggest run in with the gravel.  Magnussen however bought out the yellow flags with his, which was right at the end and damaged other people's laps too.  This may have been because his car had broken down.  Out went Tsunoda, Stroll, Colapinto (no surprise, Vowles only wants him ahead of the Saubers and Haas) and then both Saubers.

Alonso was happy with 11th in Q2, he was ahead of Ricciardo, Magnussen, Gasly and Ocon.

McLaren weren't sure how strong they would be at this track but Norris took pole, with Piastri behind him.  Russell put in a quick lap to take 3rd place, then both Ferraris at their home track (LeClerc ahead of Sainz), Hamilton, Verstappen, Perez and finally Albon in the Williams beat Hulkenberg in the Haas.

It looks like it could be a great race as Ferrari will turn up the wick, Mercedes have something to offer and Verstappen will push for a podium, if not a win.  (Perez will fall backwards).

Netherlands GP Race Report

There were slight changes to the grid since Qualifying, Albon's disqualification putting him last and next to his team mate, as his upgraded floor was too wide.  Hamilton lost three places from an already disappointing Qualifying position, having impeded Perez.  Magnussen started from the pit lane after changing his engine.  However, it was a dry if very windy start to the race, with the potential for it to catch some drivers out, the out lap would be a very important information-gathering exercise.

Verstappen made an excellent start and Norris didn't get a look in, with the Red Bull being over a second ahead by lap 3.  Piastri struggled off the line and lost a place to Russell.  The cars are very evenly matched at the top and there is no room for mistakes.  Norris did reel him in over the next 18 laps and was able to get past easily and cleanly.  

The pit stops were spread about, with some choosing to undercut or cover off competitors but there were no direct head-to-heads.  Norris was out ahead of Verstappen after the pit stops, luckily he had built up a 5 second plus gap which allowed for the McLaren mechanics to make a slight error in the stop.  During Gasly's stop, he clipped his mechanic's hand as he left the box, which the stewards investigated.  Surely it is up to the team whether they choose to sacrifice staff not the FIA?

Piastri fell away during the race and could not chase LeClerc in the inferior Ferrari for third position.  Russell, who had looked racy couldn't challenge Piastri though.  He was pitted for an extra stop and fresh tyres but came out behind Sainz and Perez, he may as well have stayed out to see what would have happened.  Albon had fought his way into the points but then kept losing places lap after lap.  

Norris took the win and was able to grab the point for Fastest Lap on his final time around the track.  Vestappen and LeClerc completed the podium, with the Ferrari driver bewildered how he got there.  It was then Piastri, Sainz, Perez (holding up quite well and needed), Russell, Hamilton, Gasly (a good result for Alpine) and Alonso.

Hulkenberg finished just outside the points, having made an usual early one stop.  He would be leaving the track but the Haas motor homes would be staying behind as the team haven't paid the Russians money owed.  Ricciardo finished 12th, 5 places ahead of his team mate, which is a result he needed.

Both Saubers finished last, it makes you wonder what Audi see in the team.  Have they discovered an oil reservoir under the factory?

Very unusually for Zandevoort, there were no Safety Cars, not even a Yellow Flag - we were all relying on Sargeant to spice things up a bit but, as always, he didn't deliver.

Netherlands GP Qualifying Report

Logan Sargeant had Latified up FP3 with a huge smash and a resulting fire.  You could see a mechanic say "Fuck's sake" in the Williams garage.  He wouldn't be participating in Qualifying and it reduced other drivers' track time.  The team will be very glad when Sainz steps into the seat next season.

This big summer break announcement has been overshadowed by Jonathan Wheatley's resignation from Red Bull and new position at Audi, which in turn has been overshadowed by an interview given by Toto Wolff to a Dutch newspaper hinting that George and Kimi Antonelli will be the Mercedes drivers for 2026 if not 2025.

Finally, after 25 days off, we went racing, at least to score the best place possible on the grid.  In the first session, there was a bit of argy-bargy between Perez and Hamilton.  Sargeant didn't make it out, with both Saubers, Ocon and Ricciardo.  The questioning will continue about his position at RB now.  The Ferraris put in quick laps as the circuit got faster, being pipped by Russell, who was complaining about lack of grip and, finally, Perez, who had to use a new set of tyres.

The second session saw a lot of the top drivers driving furiously to get through to the final session.  Sainz and Hamilton were both knocked out, along with Tsunoda and both Haas.  Albon was 7th in his Williams, Sainz's team next year.

Again, there was no drama in the third session and the quick laps were all put in over the last couple of minutes.  Verstappen held provisional pole but it was taken by Norris.  Piastri and Russell line up behind them followed by Perez, LeClerc, Alonso, Albon (before he was disqualified), Stroll and Gasly (vastly out-qualifying his team mate).  Both Williams will start from the back of the grid; the car was heavily updated and the floor did not comply with regulations.  Hamilton was given a three place penalty for the incident with Perez.

I think the drivers at the front will fight hard and, if there's rain and wind, it could be anybody's race.