Ferrari’s race strategy is going to be interesting as they have VET starting on supersofts and RAI on ultrasofts, based on the tyres on which they set their best times in Qualifying session 2 (Q2). Between them they have the Mercedes and Red Bull pairs on supersofts, so RAI will (presumably) be the first of the front runners to pit.
Provisional grid: VET, HAM, BOT, RIC, VER, RAI, OCO, PER, SAI, STR, SIR, ALO, LEC, HUL*, MAG, VAN, GAS, ERI, HAR, GRO
*HUL dropped from P9 to P14 due to a gearbox change
GRO also had a gearbox change but he was already P20
No mention of a penalty for HAR nearly causing a collision in Q1
The wind is still very gusty – the earlier F2 race saw 10km/hr differences in average lap speed because of the weather.
Air temperature 17°C; track 27°C; wind is between 9 and 31km/h
Green lights – the pit lane is open and cars head out for a partial lap before finding their spot on the grid
Looks like ERI has missed a braking point and taken to the escape road
Did RAI just tap the wall? His Ferrari’s tail stepped out and it looked like he tapped the tyres with his rear right wheel
LEC uses an escape road too
Looks like everyone has made it to the grid
The way they assembled the Azerbaijan flag during the anthem was neat, having people carry the three separate bars and then meet up
VET leads everyone away on the formation lap
HAR and GAS starting on soft tyres; most of the midfield on supersofts
01/51: Everyone cleanly through Turn 1
But contact in Turn 2 – looks like SIR has a puncture
RAI nudges OCO in T3, pushing the Force India into the wall
Safety Car deployed
ALO has a puncture, limping back to the pits
02[SC]: VET, HAM, BOT, RIC, VER, RAI
RAI pits – soft tyres go on, as well as a new nose
ALO makes it to the pit lane – both right tyres are gone
Replay of ALO and HUL making contact
03[SC]: VET, HAM, BOT, RIC, VER, SAI, STR, PER, HUL, GAS, LEC, VAN, GRO, RAI, HAR, MAG, ALO, ERI; retirements: OCO, SIR
PER and GRO pit
Replay shows SIR run into the back of OCO
Radio for ALO reporting damage to the floor
04[SC]: Replay of RAI and OCO collision; OCO was clearly ahead but could have left more space for RAI; both drivers are blaming the other
Radio for VET reporting location of debris still on track
05/51[SC]: VET, HAM, BOT, RIC, VER, SAI, STR, HUL, GAS, LEC, VAN, RAI, HAR, GRO, PER, MAG, ALO, ERI; retirements: OCO, SIR
SC in at the end of this lap
VET weaving like crazy as HAM tries to stay right on his tail, waiting for the restart
Was he still weaving after the SC line? It’s not clear where they can start racing
06: VER dives inside RIC; RIC has to back off to let VER take P4
SAI takes advantage of RIC backing out – he’s past too
07: VET fastest lap 1:51.316
SAI makes a move on VER but VER holds on to P4
Radio from HAM – “need more grip”
08: VET f/lap 1:49.587
SAI has DRS but VER defends P4 from the Renault
HUL closing on RIC
09: HAM f/lap 1:48.376
HUL uses DRS and slipstreams past RIC for P5
Radio from VER complaining his battery isn’t charging; told it’s because he’s using it all
Radio for HUL passing along the news of VER’s battery issue
10/51: VET, HAM, BOT, SAI, VER, HUL, RIC, STR, LEC, RAI, GRO, GAS, PER, VAN, ALO, HAR, MAG, ERI
HUL past VER to take P5
11: HAM f/lap 1:47.192
RIC alongside VER into T1
HUL tags the wall with his rear left – he’s broken it – parks in the escape road
12: HAM f/lap 1:47.053
RIC around the outside of VER but VER defends pretty hard – was there contact?
Replay shows VER squeezed RIC and front wheel contact
LEC takes P7 from STR
13: VET f/lap 1:46.825
Radio from RIC asking about charging his battery too
14: GAS pits
There’s a branch on T2 but doesn’t look like the marshals are rushing to clear it
15/51: VET, HAM, BOT, SAI, VER, RIC, LEC, STR, RAI, PER, GRO, ALO, VAN, ERI, HAR, MAG, GAS; retirements: HUL, OCO, SIR
RAI takes P8 from STR
16: VET f/lap 1:46.722
SAI pits; soft tyres; rejoins P13
HAM fights a gust of wind; runs wide but stays out of the wall
17: RAI takes P6 from LEC
Radio for HAM warning him of tailwind in T16
18: Race control report DRS detection inactive – manual activation permitted
ERI in the escape road; reversing toward the track; rejoins
19: HAM f/lap 1:46.597
20/51: HAM f/lap 1:46.331
10sec penalty for MAG for incident with ERI
21: HAM f/lap 1:46.120
STR seems surprised as PER dives inside him; STR locks up and PER takes P8
22: HAM runs wide in T1
Radio from HAM – “these tyres are done”; “OK, box, box”
23: HAM pits from P2; soft tyres go on; did he cross the white line as he left the pit lane; rejoins P3
SAI inside ALO for P11
24: 5sec penalty for PER for overtaking under the SC
25/51: VET, BOT, HAM, VER, RIC, RAI, PER, LEC, GRO, SAI, ALO, STR, MAG, VAN, GAS, HAR, ERI; retirements: HUL, OCO, SIR
Half distance
26: Radio from VER – “I’m just stuck now”
27: RIC f/lap 1:45.883
28: RIC takes P4 from VER but VER fights back, forces RIC to back off and VER reclaims P4
Radio from HAM – “still waiting on these tyres” (to get up to performance); told “they’ll go the distance”
29: Radio from GRO – “this is insane” – is he refering to PER?
30/51: BOT f/lap 1:45.827
VET, BOT, HAM, VER, RIC, RAI, PER, GRO, SAI, LEC, STR, ALO, MAG, GAS, HAR, VAN, ERI
Radio from RAI – struggling with low tyre temps
31: VET pits; soft tyres go on; rejoins P2, comfortably ahead of HAM
32: VER f/lap 1:45.771
34: BOT f/lap 1:45.595
Radio from VER – “tyres are very cold”
Track temp has dropped 2°C since the start of the race
35/51: BOT, VET, HAM, VER, RIC, RAI, PER, GRO, SAI, LEC, STR, ALO, MAG, GAS, HAR, VAN, ERI
RIC f/lap 1:45.419
RIC makes the move stick this time – he’s taken P4 from VER
36: HAM f/lap 1:45.412
38: BOT f/lap 1:45.149
RIC pits; ultrasofts go on; rejoins P5
39: VER pits; ultras too; rejoins P4, just ahead of RIC
40/51: BOT, VET, HAM, VER, RIC, RAI, PER, GRO, SAI, LEC, STR, ALO,
VER defends into T1
RIC runs into the rear of VER – they’re both out!
Safety Car deployed
41[SC]: BOT pits
VET pits too, followed by HAM
SC will lead cars through the pit lane
Unsafe release by Ferrari – RAI left the box with a McLaren alongside
42[SC]: Replay shows VER moved twice under braking
Lapped cars passing the SC
43[SC]: BOT, VET, HAM, RAI, PER, GRO, SAI, LEC, STR, ALO, MAG, GAS, HAR, VAN, ERI; retirements: VER, RIC, HUL, OCO, SIR
Radio from HAM pointing out front tyres are glazed; told “keep working them”
GRO has put it in the wall behind the SC!
Medical Car deployed but GRO is out of the car and seems to be OK
Radio from GRO claiming ERI hit him but ERI was miles away
44[SC]: Medical Car picks up GRO
Flatbed truck picking up GRO’s car
45/51[SC]: BOT, VET, HAM, RAI, PER, SAI, LEC, STR, ALO, MAG, GAS, HAR, VAN, ERI; retirements: GRO, VER, RIC, HUL, OCO, SIR
46[SC]: Marshals still loading the Haas onto the recovery truck
Truck starts to move off as the SC leads the pack past it
Indy is so much better at handling these situations – big safety vehicles protect the marshals, and prevent cars hitting the recovery truck
47[SC]: SC in at the end of this lap
BOT lets the SC pull away but then sets off early
48: VET locks up into T1, runs wide; HAM takes P2; RAI also passes VET
Radio from VET – “big flat spot”
49: BOT has a puncture – he touched some debris
PER takes P3 from VET
50/51: HAM, RAI, PER, VET, SAI, LEC, ALO, STR, VAN, HAR, GAS, ERI, MAG
51 = final lap: VET closing on PER, trying to harry him into a mistake
HAM takes the chequered flag
RAI P2, PER P3, VET P4
Provisional result: HAM, RAI, PER, VET, SAI, LEC, ALO, STR, VAN, HAR; ERI, GAS, MAG
DNF: BOT, GRO, VER, RIC, HUL, OCO, SIR
Oh, MAG has been given a 10sec penalty for the incident with GAS … but he was already outside the points
PER served his 5sec penalty when he pitted under the SC – apparently that’s legal
However he’s been summoned to see the stewards for a potential illegal use of DRS
Next race = Spain in 2 weeks.
“Azerbaijan Grand Prix victor Lewis Hamilton was late to the podium because he went to tell Mercedes Formula 1 team-mate Valtteri Bottas that the win should have been his.”
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/135687/hamilton-delayed-podium-to-console-bottas
https://www.pitpass.com/61651/Hamilton-stopped-off-to-comfort-Bottas
“Sergey Sirotkin has been handed a 3-place grid penalty for the forthcoming Spanish Grand Prix.”
“Summoned by the stewards at race end, the Russian rookie was judged wholly to blame for the first lap clash which saw him run into the back of Sergio Perez, the Mexican going on to claim a podium finish.”
“It was such a mess in the first few corners,” said the Russian.
“Mess or not, the stewards, deciding that the Russian cause a collision, a breach of of Article 2d of Chapter IV, Appendix L of the Sporting Code, handed him a 3-place grid penalty for the race in Barcelona and 2 penalty points.”
https://www.pitpass.com/61632/Sirotkin-handed-grid-penalty-for-Spanish-GP
Red Bull Formula 1 drivers Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo have both been given a reprimand by the FIA for their part in the collision that put them out of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Following discussions with the drivers and team representatives, the FIA deemed that both the Australian and the Dutchman were equally to blame for what happened – resulting in both being given their first official reprimands of the current season.
In a statement issued by the stewards, they noted that Verstappen had made two moves to defend his position – but they added Ricciardo also played his part in what happened by braking so late.
“Both drivers contributed to the collision,” said the statement. “The driver of car 33 [Verstappen] made two moves, both of which were relatively minor.
“The driver of car 3 [Ricciardo] admitted he left his move to overtake on the left, too late.
“It was obvious to the stewards that although the incident had its origins in the moves by car 33, the driver of car 3 also contributed to the incident.
“Both drivers expressed regret about their respective contributions to the incident, during the stewards’ hearing.”
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/135691/verstappen-and-ricciardo-reprimanded-by-fia
https://www.formula1.com/en/video/2018/4/SAY_WHAT__The_best_team_radio_from_Azerbaijan.html
“The stewards have taken no action against Kimi Raikkonen and Esteban Ocon over the first-lap crash which put the Force India driver out of the race.”
https://www.racefans.net/2018/04/29/raikkonen-and-ocon-cleared-over-lap-one-crashthe-stewards-have-taken-no-action-against-kimi-raikkonen-and-esteban-ocon-over-the-first-lap-crash-which-put-the-force-india-driver-out-of-the-race/
“Sergio Perez has kept his podium finish in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix following an investigation for a DRS infringement. The Force India driver incorrectly activated his DRS twice during the race but the stewards ruled this had been in error and he did not overtake any cars as a result of it.
Lance Stroll and Kevin Magnussen were also cleared of activating their DRS incorrectly during the race.”
https://www.racefans.net/2018/04/29/perez-avoids-penalty-for-drs-infringement/
https://www.pitpass.com/61639/Perez-Stroll-and-Magnussen-escape-punishment-for-DRS-infringement
“Sergio Perez scored a shock podium for Force India in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. But he can consider himself fortunate as he was able to serve a penalty during a Safety Car period. […] Around 40 minutes later the stewards issued Perez a five-second time penalty (plus two points on his licence) for the incident. By this time he had recovered to seventh place but had Romain Grosjean’s Haas four seconds behind him.
Previously drivers were not allowed to serve time penalties during Safety Car periods. Jules Bianchi did this during the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix and was given a further five-second time penalty for doing so.
However the interpretation of the rules has changed since then. As FIA race director Charlie Whiting explained yesterday, drivers are now allowed to serve time penalties such as these during Safety Car periods. “Five seconds is five seconds whatever you do. It doesn’t matter if it’s done under Safety Car or what. It has to be done the next time the car comes into the pits. So whether he just waits five seconds and does a tyre change, five seconds is five seconds, it doesn’t matter when it’s done.”
https://www.racefans.net/2018/04/30/why-perez-was-allowed-to-serve-his-penalty-during-the-safety-car-period/
I’m not convinced by Charlie’s logic, but hopefully they will apply this consistently in other races too.