Two weeks after the Miami Grand Prix, it’s the race with the longest name: “MSC Cruises Gran Premio del Made in Italy e dell’Emilia-Romagna” … or just Imola 🙂
Qualifying
Qualifying session 1 (Q1)
GAS, sporting a Senna tribute design on his helmet, leads the early runners out of the pit lane
Everyone on the soft compound tyres except RUS, LEC and SAI on mediums
OCO 1:16.645
RUS pits without setting a lap time
LEC 1:16.463
ALB runs wide, kicks up some gravel but recovers
NOR 1:16.194
VER 1:16.013
PIA 1:15.940
Some cars getting fully airborne over the kerbs
Brief yellow flag as SAR runs wide across a gravel trap
NOR 1:15.915
ALO runs wide, struggles to extract himself from the gravel trap
5mins left; bottom 5 are ALO, HUL, ZHO, ALB, SAR
Everyone on track for a final flying lap – I’m surprised those at the top feel the need to run again
HUL 1:15.841
ALO pits – he’s P20 so there must be serious problems in that Aston Martin
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are SAR, RIC, ZHO, MAG, ALO
VER 1:15.762
RIC P7, BOT to P16
Back of the grid: BOT, SAR, ZHO, MAG, ALO
Replay of PIA blocking MAG; the stewards have noted it
SAR’s lap time was deleted so he drops to P20
Qualifying session 2
RUS and HAM are first on track; HAM asks “Where is everyone?” maybe he thinks he shouldn’t have come out so early
RUS 1:16.200
HAM 1:16.197
VER 1:15.386
LEC 1:15.328
TSU was close to putting a wheel in the gravel at the final turn but he goes P2!
5mins left; bottom 5 are RUS, GAS, OCO, STR, ALB
ALB P12
OCO P8, HAM P11
GAS P14
RUS P6, HUL P11
HAM P7, RIC P11
HUL P6, OCO P11
STR P13
RIC P9, PER P11
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are PER, OCO, STR, ALB, GAS
VER 1:15.176
PER P11
Middle of the grid: PER, OCO, STR, ALB, GAS
Top 10 shootout is between VER, LEC, TSU, NOR, PIA, SAI, HUL, RUS, HAM, RIC
Replay of radio from RUS complaining that the team sent him out on used tyres and caused unnecessary pressure
Qualifying session 3
RIC remains in the pits while everyone else heads out
HUL 1:16.308
VER 1:14.869
NOR P2
TSU P3
PIA P3
SAI P4
LEC P3
RUS P6
HAM P8
Order after the first run: VER, NOR, LEC, PIA, SAI, RUS, TSU, HAM, HUL, RIC
HUL P9
RIC P8
SAI P5
LEC P3
Chequered flag; order is VER, NOR, LEC, PIA, SAI, RUS, TSU, RIC, HAM, HUL
RUS P6
HAM P8
VER 1:14.746
NOR P2
PIA P2
Front of the grid: VER, PIA, NOR, LEC, SAI, RUS, TSU, HAM, RIC, HUL
Provisional grid: VER, PIA*, NOR, LEC, SAI, RUS, TSU, HAM, RIC, HUL, PER, OCO, STR, ALB, GAS, BOT, ZHO, MAG, ALO, SAR
*PIA under investigation for impeding MAG in Q1
Race
Grid: VER, NOR, LEC, SAI, PIA*, RUS, TSU, HAM, RIC, HUL, PER, OCO, STR, ALB, GAS, BOT, ZHO, MAG, SAR, ALO*
*ALO will start from the pit lane following changes in parc ferme
*PIA was given a 3 grid spot drop for impeding MAG in Q1
VER leads everyone away on the formation lap
Everyone starting on medium tyres except PER, ZHO & SAR on hards, and GAS & ALO on softs
Air temperature 26°C; track 46°C; humidity 51%; 10% chance of rain
01/63: VER leads through Turn 1
Everyone cleanly through the first corners
HAM up to P7; HUL has passed TSU too
02: VER, NOR, LEC, SAI, PIA, RUS, HAM, HUL, TSU, PER, RIC, OCO, STR, ALB, GAS, MAG, BOT, ZHO, SAR, ALO
DRS enabled
03: VER fastest lap 1:20.596
04: LEC has his teammate SAI and PIA with DRS behind him
05/63: VER, NOR, LEC, SAI, PIA, RUS, HAM, HUL, TSU, PER
VER has 1.5sec lead
HUL has TSU and TSU with DRS behind him
There’s a DRS train behind ALB (P14)
07: RUS is 2sec behind PIA
09: ALB, GAS, BOT, ALO all pit; they all switch to hard tyres
ALB has a problem – the wheels not on properly
10/63: VER, NOR, LEC, SAI, PIA, RUS, HAM, HUL, TSU, PER
VER 1:20.543
ALB trying to stay out of the way of the front runner as he tries to get back to the pits
11: ALB pits again; back to mediums
12: RIC pits from P11; hards go on; rejoins P16
13: TSU pits from P9; hards; rejoins P15
Replay of ALO leaving the box – there’s flames from his front left brake but no-one seems concerned
14: HUL pits; hards; rejoins inches behind TSU
15/63: VER, NOR, LEC, SAI, PIA, RUS, HAM, PER, STR, OCO
VER over 5sec clear
16: PIA closing on SAI aided by DRS
17: Radio for LEC, “We are going Plan B” – when was the last time they stuck with Plan A?
18: PER locks up, runs wide into the gravel but recovers, bringing some gravel onto the track with him
PIA still on SAI’s tail
20/63: VER, NOR, LEC, SAI, PIA, RUS, HAM, PER, STR, OCO
VER gets his Red Bull airborne and he clatters over the kerbs
TSU rapidly closing on SAR
22: RUS pits from P6; hards go on; rejoins P10
23: NOR pits from P2; hards; P6… no, PER has passed the McLaren
10sec stop-go penalty for ALB for the unsafe release
24: PIA pits from P4; hards; P8
Black and white flag for VER for exceeding track limits; once more and he’ll get a penalty
NOR has taken P5 from PER
25/63: VER pits from P1; hards; P4
NOR f/lap 1:20.468
PIA passes STR for P7
26: LEC pits from P1; hards; P6
PIA f/lap 1:19.907
27: LEC takes P5 from PER
PIA follows LEC and passes PER for P6
HAM has run wide
28: SAI pits, as does HAM; hards for both; SAI rejoins P6, HAM P9
Replay shows HAM locked up and ran wide
29: TSU squeezes past SAR for P12
HUL passes the Williams too
30/63: VER, NOR, LEC, PIA, PER, SAI, RUS, STR, HAM, ZHO, TSU, HUL, SAR, RIC, GAS, BOT, ALO, OCO, ALB
Yet to pit are PER, STR, MAG, ZHO and SAR
SAI steals P5 from PER
31: ALB pits; serves his 10-sec stop/go penalty; he’s now 2 laps down
RUS looks to pass PER but PER defends, causing RUS to back off but then the Mercedes manages to take P6
Half distance
32: SAR pits
33: TSU takes P11 from ZHO
HAM makes an easy pass on STR for P8
34: Radio from asking why he’s so much slower than the other guys; he’s told they’re using their tyres more
35/63: VER, NOR, LEC, PIA, SAI, RUS, PER, HAM, STR, MAG, TSU, HUL, RIC, BOT, ALO, OCO, ZHO, GAS, SAR, ALB
HAM tucked up behind PER
37: HAM takes P7 from PER
38: PER pits from P8
OCO past ALO
39: PER takes P10 from RIC
40/63: VER, NOR, LEC, PIA, SAI, RUS, HAM, TSU, HUL, PER
41: PER blasts past HUL for P9
MAG trying to get around ZHO; small contact
42: ALO makes a 2nd pit stop; mediums go on
PER closing on TSU… and takes P8
43: LEC has DRS behind NOR
MAG backs off from his battle with ZHO to let NOR and LEC through
44: ALO f/lap 1:19.851 (he’s P19)
Radio for LEC telling him he’s the fastest one on track
45/63: VER, NOR, LEC, PIA, SAI, RUS, HAM, PER, TSU, HUL, STR, RIC, BOT, OCO, ZHO, MAG, GAS, SAR, ALO, ALB
46: STR has caught up to HUL
NOR has opened the gap just enough to deny DRS for LEC
47: STR around the Haas to take P10
LEC has DRS again
48: LEC cuts the chicane
49: MAG finally gets past ZHO for P15
50/63: VER, NOR, LEC, PIA, SAI, RUS, HAM, PER, TSU, STR, HUL, RIC, BOT, OCO, MAG, ZHO, GAS, SAR, ALO, ALB
51: MAG takes P14 from OCO
53: RUS pits from P6; mediums go on; rejoins P7
PER f/lap 1:29.686
54: Radio for VER telling him the gap to NOR is under 5secs so don’t exceed track limits
Radio for ALB telling him to retire the car – I’m surprised they didn’t do this earlier
55/63: VER, NOR, LEC, PIA, SAI, HAM, RUS, PER, STR, TSU; out: ALB
NOR is closing on VER – gap is under 3secs
RUS f/lap 1:18.589
56: Radio from VER whining about TSU not making it easy enough to lap him – you can tell he’s getting flustered
57: NOR under 2secs behind VER
Race control – incident involving ZHO noted
58: Gap 1.6sec; NOR will get DRS in a couple of laps at this pace
NOR pushing very hard
59: VER has picked up his pace and the gap is still 1.6secs
Radio for NOR saying he can push harder in Turn 9; “I’m pushing as hard as I can mate; thank you” 🙂
60/63: VER, NOR, LEC, PIA, SAI, HAM, RUS, PER, STR, TSU, HUL, RIC, MAG, BOT, OCO, ZHO, GAS, ALO, SAR; out: ALB
NOR still pushing but VER is keeping the gap stable
61: OCO takes P14 from BOT
ALO pits; softs go on; rejoins P19
Radio from VER, “The battery is empty”; he’s given a setting change
62: NOR has a twitch; he’s pushing so hard – hopefully it doesn’t bite him
Gap is 1.2secs
63 = final lap: NOR now under 1sec behind VER but he has to stay that close when they reach the DRS detection point
VER takes the chequered flag
NOR was 0.7sec behind
Provisional result: VER, NOR, LEC, PIA, SAI, HAM, RUS, PER, STR, TSU; HUL, MAG, RIC, OCO, ZHO, GAS, SAR, BOT, ALO
DNF: ALB
Fastest lap: RUS
NOR gets the fans’ vote for Driver of the Day
[2024 calendar and driver line-up]
