After another mediocre Qualifying effort from Mercedes, Ferrari have taken the front row of the grid just as they did in Bahrain.
Provisional grid: VET, RAI, BOT, HAM, VER, RIC, HUL, PER, SAI, GRO, MAG, OCO, ALO, VAN, HAR, SIR, GAS, STR, LEC, ERI*
*ERI was given a five place grid penalty for ignoring yellow flags in Q1 but he was already P20
Reminder: the top 4 are starting on the soft compound tyres on which they set their best Q2 time; the next 6 are on the ultrasofts they used in Q2; and the rest of the grid can choose which compound to start the race on.
Air temperature 19°C; track 39°C
VET leads everyone away on the formation lap
GAS is starting on the medium tyre – looks like he’s planning on a 1-stop strategy
01/56: VET defends from RAI
BOT steals P2
HAM drops back to P5 behind VER
VER past RAI too
HUL and SAI battling over P7
02: VET, BOT, VER, RAI, HAM, RIC, HUL, SAI, GRO, MAG, ALO, STR, OCO, PER, SIR, VAN, HAR, LEC, GAS, ERI
STR has jumped from P18 to P12 in the first lap
03: DRS enabled
VET fastest lap 1:38.417
Radio from OCO complaining about losing positions because of his teammate
04: VAN closing on SIR to challenge for P15
05/56: VET, BOT, VER, RAI, HAM, RIC, HUL, SAI, GRO, MAG, ALO, STR, OCO, PER, VAN, SIR, LEC, GAS, HAR, ERI
Replay of the start shows a little contact between ALO and PER but hopefully not going to be investigated
07: GRO lets teammate MAG past for P9
Radio from GRO – clearly not happy about having to let MAG past
10/56: VET, BOT, VER, RAI, HAM, RIC, HUL, SAI, MAG, GRO, ALO, OCO, STR, PER, VAN, SIR, LEC, GAS, HAR, ERI
BOT consistently about 2sec behind VET
11: HAR pits
12: OCO pits; new soft tyres going on
ALO attacks GRO for P10 but the Haas stays ahead
13: SAI pits, followed by PER
SAI goes on to mediums
14: HUL pits; mediums to replace his ultrasofts
15/56: VET, BOT, VER, RAI, HAM, RIC, MAG, GRO, ALO, STR, VAN, SIR, HUL, LEC, GAS, SAI, OCO, ERI, PER, HAR
GAS defends P15 from SAI
16: SAI attacks again; passes GAS this time; takes P15
17: Radio from HAM complaining he’s unable to close on RAI
SAI takes P14 from LEC
GRO pits
18: VER pits from P3; medium tyres
RIC pits too – arrives at the Red Bull box just as VER leaves
Radio for HAM – “do the opposite to RAI”
19: HAM pits; mediums; rejoins just ahead of MAG and RIC
20/56: BOT pits from P2; mediums go on; rejoins P3 well ahead of VER
VER f/lap 1:37.755
21: VET pits; mediums; exits as BOT is coming down the main straight; BOT clearly ahead of VET into Turn 1
HAM f/lap 1:36.878
22: HUL takes P10 from VAN
23: HUL closes on STR and easily past him for P9
25/56: RAI, BOT, VET, VER, HAM, RIC, MAG, ALO, HUL, SAI, SIR, OCO, GRO, PER, ERI, VAN, STR, HAR, GAS, LEC
MAG pits; rejoins P10
26: Replay of STR leaving the pit lane; VAN alongside through Turn 1; a little contact as VAN runs wide and goes ahead
27: BOT attacking RAI through T1, T2; takes P1
VET through too for P2
28: VET close enough to BOT to get DRS
RAI pits from P3; mediums go on; rejoins P6
BOT opens just enough gap to remove VET’s DRS
29: LEC loses the Sauber’s tail; just into the gravel trap but keeps it running and rejoins
Visible graining on BOT’s rear right tyre
30/56: BOT, VET, VER, HAM, RIC, RAI, HUL, SAI, MAG, OCO, GRO, PER, ALO, VAN, STR, GAS, SIR, HAR, LEC, ERI
GAS locks up, runs into teammate HAR; spins HAR; damage to both Toro Rosso
There’s a lot of debris left at the hairpin
31: Safety Car depolyed
32[SC]: VER pits; softs go on
RIC pits too; also softs
HUL, SAI, OCO all pit
Incident involving GAS and HAR under investigation
Replay of GAS running over the debris he caused
Replay of VER passing GAS on the pit-in, before the pit lane starts
34[SC]: Lapped cars are allowed to pass SC and unlap themselves
SIR pits
Radio from HAM – “fronts are super-cold”
35/56[SC]: SC in at the end of this lap
BOT, VET, HAM, VER, RAI, RIC, MAG, HUL, GRO, ALO, SAI, VAN, OCO, STR, PER, GAS, SIR, LEC, ERI, HAR
36: GRO attacks ALO for P9; SAI takes a look too; ALO stays ahead
GAS given 10sec penalty for the incident with HAR
RAI looks at VER into the hairpin; VER defends P4
37: GRO takes P12 from OCO
RIC inside RAI at the hairpin; steals P5
38: DRS enabled
39: VER takes a look at HAM; around the outside; HAM defends; VER runs wide; rejoins behind RIC
40/56: BOT, VET, HAM, RIC, VER, RAI, HUL, MAG, ALO, SAI, GRO, OCO, PER, VAN, STR, GAS, SIR, LEC, ERI, HAR
Replay shows no contact between HAM and VER
RIC all over the tail of HAM
RIC dives inside HAM into the hairpin; makes it stick – great move for P3
41: VER closing on HAM again
RIC closing on VET
Remember both Red Bulls stopped for fresh soft tyres under the SC; rest of the top 6 are on mediums
VER inside HAM to take P5
42: RIC uses DRS to close up on VET and blasts past the Ferrari for P2
43: RAI now closing on HAM
Radio from HAM asking if they should have pitted under SC
44: VER inside VET but VET slams the door; contact; they both spin
HAM avoids them; RAI passes HAM
Incident involving VET and VER under investigation
45/56: BOT, RIC, RAI, HAM, VER, HUL, VET, MAG, ALO
RIC squeezes inside BOT – there’s barely any room but RIC makes it cleanly to take P1
46: RIC, BOT, RAI, HAM, VER, HUL, VET, MAG, ALO, SAI, OCO, GRO, PER, GRO, VAN, STR
Radio for VET – “don’t give up”
10sec penalty for VER for causing the collision with VET
47: RIC f/lap 1:36.221
GRO makes a late pit stop; rejoins P20
49: RAI closing on BOT; RAI had a later pit stop so his mediums are slightly fresher
50/56: RIC, BOT, RAI, VER*, HAM, HUL, VET, ALO, SAI, MAG, OCO, PER, VAN, STR, GAS*, SIR, ERI, GRO, LEC, HAR (*time penalties to be applied)
BOT having to defend from RAI
51: RAI all over the rear of BOT
53: Half a look from RAI into Turn 1
VER closing on RAI, adding to the urgency of RAI making a pass on BOT
HAR pits, retires
54: BOT 0.7sec ahead of RAI, with VER just 0.5sec further back
ALO closing on VET
55/56: RIC, BOT, RAI, VER*, HAM, HUL, VET, ALO, SAI, MAG
ALO past VET for P7
Radio from VET whining that ALO pushed him wide
56 = final lap: RIC f/lap 1:35.785
Incident involving ALO and VET noted by stewards
RIC takes the chequered flag
Provisional result: RIC, BOT, RAI, VER*, HAM, HUL, ALO, VET, SAI, MAG; OCO, PER, VAN, STR, GAS*, SIR, ERI, GRO, LEC
DNF: HAR
*VER +10sec drops him from P4 to P5
*GAS +10sec drops him from P15 to P18
HAM takes the all-time record for consecutive points finishes, with his 28th top 10 finish in a row.
It’s the first time in the current turbo hybrid era that Mercedes have gone three races without a win.
“Gasly was given the first two penalty points on his licence while Verstappen’s moves him onto a total of five for the current 12-month period. The stewards determined both drivers were predominantly to blame for the collisions.”
https://www.racefans.net/2018/04/15/verstappen-and-gasly-given-penalty-points-for-crashes/