Another exciting Qualifying yesterday saw HAM go up in flames without setting a lap time, HAM not even complete his out lap, and MAG slide off into the tyre wall when the rain started in Q3.
The provisional grid was: ROS, VET, BOT, RIC, ALO, MAS, BUT, VER, HUL, MAG, KVY, SUT, PER, GUT, GRO, BIA, RAI, KOB, CHI, ERI; HAM & MAL will need the stewards OK to allow them to race.
FIA announced “Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and McLaren’s Kevin Magnussen will start Sunday’s race in Hungary from the pit lane after both their cars sustained damage in qualifying severe enough to necessitate chassis changes.”
Tyre compounds: prime = medium (white lettering); option = soft (yellow)
There was rain about 30 minutes before the start of the race but it’s stopped now.
Air temperature 21°C; track 29°C; wind 1.0m/s; it’s grey & overcast
Updated grid: ROS, VET, BOT, RIC, ALO, MAS, BUT, VER, HUL, KVY, SUT, PER, GUT, GRO, BIA, RAI, KOB, CHI, ERI, MAL; HAM & MAG will start from the pit lane.
Radio for SUT – everyone starting on inters (intermediate wet tyres)
ROS leads everyone away on the formation lap
KVY hasn’t left his start position – he’s stuck on the grid
Radio from KVY – no engine
KVY pushed into the pit lane
HAM and MAG leave their garages and head to the end of the pit lane; they’ll be allowed to leave the pits once the field is in Turn 1
Grid forms up
KVY’s spot is left empty; he’s in the pit lane, behind MAG and HAM
01/70: Everyone off the grid; lots of spray
BOT around VET, and so is ALO
VET reclaims P3
HAM off track
Radio for HAM – any damage? Front left; brakes just gave up
02: ROS, BOT, VET, ALO, BUT, RIC, HUL, MAS, VER, PER
ALO runs wide
No timing information on the official FIA app 🙁
03: ROS fastest lap 1:45.177
DRS enabled
HAM still complaining about his brakes
Replay of turn 1 shows HAM’s spin – small tap of the barrier with his front left wing
04: ROS f/lap 1:44.422
Radio from HAM complaining about vibration
05/07: ROS, BOT, VET, ALO, BUT, RIC, HUL, MAS, VER, PER
ROS f/lap 1:44.232
Radio for VER – may be more rain coming soon so look after inters
HAM is up to P16
06: ROS f/lap 1:43.566 – still not fast enough to switch to dry tyres
HAM runs wide as he closes on BIA
HAM takes P15
07: ROS runs wide in Turn 1
HAM past GRO for P14
RIC closing on BUT
08: HAM inside RAI for P13
Big off for ERI
Safety Car deployed
Medical Car deployed too
Everyone heading for the pits
ERI is out of the car and walking away
09[SC]: PER and GUT side-by-side as they exit the pit lane
Unsafe release for BUT
10/70[SC]: Everyone who stayed out now pitting – ROS, BOT, VET, BIA
Radio from BUT asking about rain; might come soon
Only BUT and MAG (the McLaren pair) are on inters; everyone else on options (soft compound)
11[SC]: SC in at the end of this lap
GRO in the tyre wall
SC will stay out
GRO is out of his car
12[SC]: Radio from ROS – “shall I stop using the brakes?”(!!) – move the bias forward
Radio for HAM – no rain for half an hour
Radio for BUT – can we make this tyre work? Rain in 7 or 8 minutes
13[SC]: Marshals move GRO’s Lotus off the track
SC in at the end of this lap
RIC really slowing and backing everyone up
SC enters the pit lane
RIC tears off a visor strip
14: RIC gets the green flag
BUT takes P1
Radio for BUT – rain looks less likely so push
Radio for BUT asking how long before these tyres are dead – one more lap
15/70: BUT, RIC, MAS, MAG, VER, ROS, ALO, VET, HAM, PER
RIC harrying BUT
16: BUT pits – rejoins P17
Huge gap behind MAS as MAG holds everyone up
MAG pits
HUL has stopped on track – replay shows PER hit his teammate in the final turn
Replay shows PER also tagged VET
17: ALO f/lap 1:32.838
MAL spins in Turn 1 – replay shows MAL hit BIA
18: RIC f/lap 1:31.509
ALO f/lap 1:30.977
BIA and MAL both pit
19: RIC f/lap 1:30.877
ALO f/lap 1:30.643
BUT setting fastest Sector 3 even though he’s down in P15
20/70: RIC, MAS, ALO, VER, ROS, VET, HAM, PER, BOT, GUT; retirements: HUL, GRO, ERI
RIC f/lap 1:30.053
HAM looking for a way round VET
Radio for HAM – front left brake getting a little hot
21: RIC f/lap 1:29.686
HAM right on the rear wing of VET
22: RIC 5.5sec ahead of MAS
RIC f/lap 1:29.489
Radio for VET – move brake bias forward
Radio for MAS – same message (move brake bias forward)
23: Big crash for PER against the pit wall
Replay shows PER run wide out of the final turn, spins him into the wall
There’s a lot of debris on the main straight but it’s off-line
PER gets himself out of the car
That’s both Force India drivers out of the race
24[SC]: RIC pits from P1
MAS pits too, as does BOT
Marshals clearing the car and debris
25/70[SC]: Radio from ROS – tell Charlie to check people are slowing under yellows
26[SC]: KOB stopped at Turn 12
SC in at the end of this lap
Order is ALO, VER, ROS, VET, HAM, RIC, MAS, GUT, RAI, SUT; KVY, BUT, BOT, MAG, CHI, BIA, MAL
27: Green flag
RIC attacking HAM, who in turn is looking to pass VET
Radio from HAM asking about who is on new tyres; RIC behind him is
28: BUT takes P11 from KVY
29: ALO f/lap 1:29.081
DRS enabled
VER is holding up the pack, letting ALO get away
RAI cuts the chicane as he fights with his Ferrari
BUT past SUT for P10
30/70: ALO, VER, ROS, VET, HAM, RIC, MAS, GUT, RAI, BUT
31: ALO f/lap 1:28.439
KVY pits
HAM all over the rear of VET but can’t pass him
Radio for RIC – think about how to use tyres
32: ALO has built a 3.5sec lead over VER
33: ROS pits; options; rejoins P13
VET wide out of final turn; spins; taps the pit wall right where PER had his accident
34: HAM f/lap 1:28.423
GUT pits; retires
HAM alongside VER; VER defends; clean fight; HAM finally makes the move
VET pits; primes
35/70: VER pits; primes; rejoins P12
Replay shows mechanic trying to remove brake tape from ROS’ front left
36: HAM f/lap 1:27.540
RIC f/lap 1:27.355
Order is ALO, HAM, RIC, MAS, RAI, BUT, SUT, MAG, BOT, ROS
37: Radio for ROS confirming when HAM pits he’s rejoin ahead of ROS
ROS is tucked up behind BOT
Grey clouds overhead
38: Radio for HAM – one more lap
BUT pits
ROS inside BOT for P8
39: ALO pits from P1; options; rejoins P5
40/70: HAM pits; primes; slow on the front right; rejoins P5, ahead of ROS
MAG and SUT pit too
41: Order is RIC, MAS, RAI, ALO, HAM, ROS, BOT, MAL, VET, VER; retirements: GUT, KOB, PER, HUL, GRO, ERI
42: RIC 12.5sec ahead of MAS
RAI pits; rejoins alongside VET
BBC interview PER – “fully my fault”; yup
RAI stays ahead of VET
VET runs wide as he tries to fight back
43: Can RIC go to the end or will he need to pit again?
RAI catching MAL
44: RAI takes P7
MAL pits
45/70: RIC, MAS, ALO, HAM, ROS, BOT, RAI, VET, VER, BUT
46: MAS pits; rejoins P6, ahead of RAI
47: Radio for HAM – ROS is 1sec behind but has another stop so don’t hold him up
49: HAM’s not holding up ROS but he’s not going to make it easy for his teammate to pass
50/70: RIC, ALO, HAM, ROS, BOT, MAS, RAI, VET, VER, BUT; SUT, MAG, KVY, MAL, BIA, CHI; retirements: GUT, KOB, PER, HUL, GRO, ERI
51: Radio for HAM – let Nico pass on the main straight
But ROS hasn’t exactly been getting close enough to even think about a pass
52: RAI closing on MAS
MAS locks up a little under pressure
Radio from ROS complaining HAM hasn’t let him through
53: ROS isn’t even in DRS range of HAM, so do Mercedes expect HAM to park and wait for ROS to pass?
Radio from RIC – struggling with the rears
54: Leaders are lapping the Marussia pair of BIA and CHI
55: RIC pits from P1; clean stop; rejoins P4, behind ROS
56: RAI still looking to pass MAS
57: ROS pits from P3; options; rejoins P7, behind RAI
Radio for ROS – push to the end, quali times every lap
58: RIC f/lap 1:26.763
59: ALO 3sec ahead of HAM, who has RIC 4.5sec behind
RIC f/lap 1:26.608
ROS is right on the tail of RAI
60/70: ALO, HAM, RIC, BOT, MAS, RAI, ROS, VET, VER, BUT
HAM closing on ALO, but RIC is closing on HAM even faster
BOT pits
ROS dives down the inside in Turn 1; takes P5 from RAI
61: HAM now only 1.2sec behind ALO, but RIC is 1.0sec behind HAM
ROS uses DRS and newer tyres to pass MAS for P4
62: ALO, HAM & RIC nose to tail – top 3 covered by 1.4 sec
ROS f/lap 1:26.083
Radio for HAM – use higher RPM, shorter gears, good on fuel
63: Radio for RIC – battery is good (to use for overtaking)
ALO cuts the chicane – did he gain an advantage? will he have to let HAM pass?
Radio from HAM pointing out ALO gained an advantage
64: HAM fakes a move into Turn 1
RIC has newer tyres, so HAM has to watch for an attack
ROS f/lap 1:26.019 but he’s too far back to be able to catch the top 3
65/70: ALO, HAM, RIC, ROS, MAS, RAI, VET, BOT, VER, BUT
ROS f/lap 1:25.724
RIC tries around the outside of HAM but runs wide
Radio for ROS – keep pace up and you’ll catch them at the end
66 = 5 laps left: HAM locks up his front left
HAM still filling ALO’s mirrors
Radio for HAM – use the revs
67: ALO closing up to lap KVY
ROS makes the same move again, but this time he makes it stick; takes P2 from HAM
68 – 3 laps left: RIC dives inside ALO into Turn 1 – takes P1!
Amazing couple of laps from RIC
HAM closing on ALO again
ROS under 5sec behind HAM
69: HAM looking at a pass again
ROS 1.5sec behind HAM
RIC is pulling away from ALO
70/70 = final lap: ROS on the tail of his teammate
HAM runs wide, pushes ROS onto the grass – that allows ALO to open a gap
RIC takes the chequered flag
ALO, HAM and ROS so close together
Provisional result: RIC, ALO, HAM, ROS, MAS, RAI, VET, BOT, VER, BUT; SUT, MAG, MAL, KVY, BIA, CHI
DNF: GUT, KOB, PER, HUL, GRO, ERI
Wow, what a race!
Huge grin from RIC
Long anthems, especially for the constructor
ALO and HAM not looking as excited on the podium, even though it’s ALO’s best result of the season & HAM went from pit lane to podium
RIC: “a lot of fun”; (the pass on ALO) “had to be done”
ALO: “extremely satisfied”; “very, very happy”
HAM: “it’s been a pretty crazy weekend”; “car’s been fantastic, when it’s going”
There’s a 3-week break until the next race (Spa, Belgium).
My GridBids picks for the race: ROS (P4), HAM (P3), RAI (P6), MAL (P13), GRO (DNF), BUT (P10) & SUT (P11).
“You scored 36 points for this race and have a total of 511 points this season. You ranked 119 for this race and 114 overall.”