Just as the first session was about to start the next storm kicked off. The mechanics had been drying up the garage apron with leaf blowers and rollers, all in vain! It was proper rain not spitting or drizzle. An Audi and a Haas just pulled up at the end of the pit lane to be wheeled back for extreme wet tyres. After five minutes the session was Red Flagged and stopped as drivers were complaining about aquaplaning. It was only Alonso and Verstappen who decided not to go out at all, the best decision possible.
The crowd whooped when the drivers finally took to the track. Bortoleto was the first driver to go off the track and it was muddy, his tyres slew up the water and I was surprised the electrics still worked. Stroll then did the same thing perhaps he felt the Brazilian was trying to steal his crown as the king of cock-ups. Bearman waited until the dying seconds to ruin drivers' last flying laps with Yellow Flags. I was surprised that with engine power somewhat negated due to the conditions more drivers did not outperform their car or benefit from mistakes of those with superior ones. Colapinto, Gasly, Stroll, Bottas, Perez and Bortoleto (whose rear wing could not be fixed after his off) went out. New-for-this race, Camara, went through two places ahead of his team mate, Bearman, a real triumph for the Brazilian who had never raced at this track before. Alonso was in sixth. Norris was the fastest ahead of Russell who has everything to prove.
Linblad had to retire his car a few minutes into the second session because "it was fucked". He was carefully able to pull it right off the track. Half way through, Alonso made the call to go on to Intermediate tyres first. Drivers were trying to set one final fast lap in the last minute but Camara's luck was out, pushing hard he went off and nose-first into the tyre barrier. His car would need removing and the barrier fixed so the session was Red-Flagged giving yet another delay. Hamilton was out in eleventh (but it didn't really matter) followed by Piastri, Camara, Linblad, Sainz and Verstappen. It was a shame that Sainz could not get ahead of drivers who didn't even finish the session, especially when Albon finished sixth, unless his lap was ruined by Camara? Russell was fastest this time.
The final session started late once the barrier was fixed but it started raining again. It looked like they would need to get a lap in asap before it became intense. It was a question of skill, experience and choosing the correct tyre. They went out on Intermediates. Alonso was first out of the pit lane. The cameras didn't leave him. It seemed to be a battle between Norris and Russell.
They got about three minutes driving in before the rain meant it was all over. Russell was furious that he missed out on pole position because he was told to back off as he would get another lap. He handed the pole to Norris. Behind them was Antonelli, new father Leclerc, Lawson, Hulkenberg, Hadjar, Bearman, Alonso and Albon. The last two would be disappointed.
Qualifying took two and a half hours and by that point, I don't think I would have watched all the interviews even if I hadn't run out of tape during Russell's. Camara will start in eleventh, which was not to be predicted and could throw a spanner into the starting works if he makes a mistake off the grid. The Williams start ninth and thirteenth, which is exciting for me, as the Williams Fan.
It is predicted to be a wet race too so let's hope that gives us an unusual winner. If I had to choose, I would pick Albon, Sainz, Alonso but Hadjar or Lawson for the LOLs.
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