Deleted lap times and VET’s accident in Q2 made for an exciting Qualifying session yesterday.
Provisional grid: HAM, VER, BOT, PER, RIC, SAI, OCO, NOR, GAS, ALB*, LEC, KVY, STR, RUS, VET, GRO, GIO, MAG, LAT*, RAI
*ALB and LAT each have a 5-grid spot penalty for gearbox changes [FIA]
As expected, the drivers have been told they cannot wear clothing bearing any slogans or messages while doing official duties after grands prix [BBC]
HAM: “I don’t know how to make the strategy work today, but where there’s a will there’s a way”
BOT: “I think [the medium] that’s the best tyre to start on”
RIC: “Plan A for everyone will be a one-stop, so track position will be crucial”
HAM is under investigation for “practice start outside the designated area”
Grid: HAM, VER, BOT, PER, RIC, SAI, OCO, NOR, GAS, LEC, KVY, STR, RUS, VET, ALB, GRO, GIO, MAG, RAI, LAT
HAM leads everyone away on the formation lap
MAG slow to get away but he manages to catch up and reclaim his P18
01/53: BOT ahead of VER right off the line
VER cuts Turn 2
SAI cuts T2 too but clips the wall as he tries to rejoin the track
STR spins, into the barrier
Safety Car deployed
The medical car has stopped for SAI
02[SC]: HAM, BOT, VER, OCO, RIC, PER, GAS, LEC, MAG, GRO, KVY
ALB, NOR, RUS all pit
Replay shows STR was rear-ended, causing him to spin into the wall
03[SC]: Radio from NOR, has he got damage?
Replay looks like SAI tags NOR’s rear right wheel as they went into Turn 2
04[SC]: Replay shows STR and LEC touched; STR was ahead
05/53[SC]: SC in at the end of this lap
HAM, BOT, VER, OCO, RIC, PER, GAS, LEC, MAG, GRO, KVY, GIO, VET, LAT, RAI, RUS, ALB, NOR; out: SAI, STR
HAM backs everyone up as the SC heads for the pit lane
06: BOT looking a tow behind HAM
VET looking for a way round GIO
NOR takes P17 from ALB but ALB reclaims the spot; second bite, NOR makes the move stick
07: HAM fastest lap 1:40.056
Race control: 5sec penalty for HAM for practice start violation 1
Race control: 5sec penalty for HAM for practice start violation 2
WHAT!? Why 2 violations?
Well, the stewards have decided to make the race interesting
08: KVY takes P10 from GRO
Race control: no investigation necessary for the STR/LEC incident
I don’t understand why Sky commentators keep talking about serving the penalty at the pit stop – it’s not a stop-go penalty, it’s a straight forward time to be added
09: DRS enabled
Radio from VER, “I have no rear grip – it’s insane”
RAI attacking LAT; RAI takes P14
10/53: HAM*, BOT, VER, OCO, RIC, PER, GAS, LEC, MAG, KVY
*HAM’s 10sec penalties puts him effectively P7, behind GAS
12: Radio for BOT telling him “start closing the gap to Lewis”
13: RUS locks up into Turn 13; ALB steals P16
KVY takes P9 from MAG
NOR passes RUS too
14: Radio for HAM, “We need to up the pace”
Radio from HAM saying he doesn’t want to pit; “Don’t stop me now, do not!”
15/53: HAM, BOT, VER, OCO, PER, RIC, GAS, LEC, KVY, MAG, GRO, GIO, VET, RAI, LAT, ALB, NOR, RUS
HAM f/lap 1:39.773
RUS pits to change his flat-spotted tyres
16: HAM f/lap 1:39.693
RIC pits from P6; rejoins P14
ALB takes P15 from LAT
17: HAM pits; team DO wait 10sec before servicing the car; rejoins P11, behind VET
18: BOT f/lap 1:39.439
GRO pits from P9; LAT pits too
LEC all over the rear wing of GAS
19: BOT f/lap 1:39.375
OCO and GAS pit; that bumps HAM up to P8
HAM passes VET for P7
20/53: BOT, VER, PER, LEC, KVY, MAG, HAM, VET, OCO, RAI, RIC, ALB, GAS, NOR, GRO, GIO, LAT, RUS; out: STR, SAI
MAG pits
RIC takes P9 from RAI
21: BOT f/lap 1:39.221
PER pits from P3, last of those who started on soft tyres; rejoins P6
22: BOT f/lap 1:39.081
HAM is ~39sec behind BOT but BOT will need to pit soon
Radio from NOR complaining of oversteer on every entry, asking how to make it stop
24: Radio from HAM still complaining about being pitted so early
25/53: BOT, VER, LEC, KVY, HAM, PER, VET, OCO, RIC, RAI, ALB, GAS, NOR, MAG, GRO, GIO, LAT, RUS
RIC passes teammate OCO into Turn 2 but RIC cut the corner
26: VER pits from P2; new hard tyres go on; rejoins P4, just behind KVY
Radio for BOT, “box, box”
Half distance
27: BOT pits from P1; hards; rejoins still P1 with LEC some way behind
RIC under investigation for cutting T2
VER takes P3 from KVY
RIC closing on VET
28: RIC passes VET for P7
OCO now closing on VET
RIC given 5sec penalty for cutting T2
29: LEC pits; rejoins P7
30/53: BOT, VER, KVY, HAM, PER, RIC, LEC, OCO, VET, RAI, GAS, NOR, MAG, GRO, GIO, ALB, LAT, RUS
31: KVY pits from P3; VET pits too
32: Radio for RIC telling him he’s got a 5sec penalty; “I’ll drive faster” – was that sarcasm?
33: GAS looking for a way round RAI
35/53: BOT, VER, HAM, PER, RIC*, LEC, OCO, KVY, GAS, RAI, NOR, MAG, GRO, GIO, ALB, VET, LAT, RUS
*RIC has 5sec penalty to be added
36: BOT f/lap 1:37.807
KVY catching OCO
RAI pits – he’s the last one to stop; slow stop due to the front-left
38: ALB squeezes past GIO for P13
40/53: BOT, VER, HAM, PER, RIC, LEC, OCO, KVY, GAS, NOR, MAG, ALB, GRO, GIO, VET, RAI, LAT, RUS; out: str, sai
41: GIO around the outside of GRO for P13
42: VET closes on GRO; GRO cuts T2; VET takes P14
GRO tried to weave between the polystyrene bollards but instead destroys them
43: ALB takes P11 from MAG
Incident involving VET and GRO has been noted
VSC deployed so the marshals can replace the bollards at Turn 2 – ridiculous!
GAS and GRO pit but VSC ends
45/53: BOT, VER, HAM, PER, RIC, LEC, OCO, KVY, NOR, ALB, GAS, MAG, GIO, VET, RAI, LAT, RUS, GRO
BOT has 10.7sec lead over VER; HAM is 9.5sec behind VER
NOR has ALB and GAS right on his tail
46: NOR defending really well
GAS attacks ALB; takes P10
GRO under investigation for cutting T2 … no further action
47: GAS now lining up NOR; takes P9
48: NOR struggling with his tyres; ALB closing on him
NOR locks up; ALB takes P10
NOR pits
49: VER f/lap 1:37.715
BOT laps VET (P13)
50/53: BOT, VER, HAM, PER, RIC, LEC, OCO, KVY, GAS, ALB, GIO, MAG, VET, RAI, NOR, LAT, GRO, RUS
51: RAI all over VET’s rear wing
GAS f/lap 1:37.231
52: BOT f/lap 1:37.030
RUS pits from P18; softs go on – can a Williams take fastest lap?
53/53: –
BOT takes the chequered flag
ALB P2
HAM P3
ALB given 5sec penalty for cutting T2
KVY looking to pass OCO but the Renault takes P7
Interviews:
BOT: “The start was going to be the first opportunity – actually it was a bit compromised because there was a massive bee, or something, that hit my visor, so I couldn’t really see where I should brake, so that’s why I went too deep.”
VER: “Very low grip on the insides. It cost us a bit but otherwise quite interesting.”; “I was just trying to do my own race today. I think we managed it well. I am very happy with second especially after two DNFs.”
HAM: “It doesn’t matter, it’s done now so I’ll take the points and move on but congratulations go to Valtteri.”
Provisional result: BOT, VER, HAM, PER, RIC*, LEC, OCO, KVY, GAS, ALB*; GIO, MAG, VET, RAI, NOR, LAT, GRO, RUS
*5sec penalties for RIC and ALB don’t change their position
BOT fastest lap 1:37.030
DNF: SAI, STR
“Sainz blames ‘misjudgement’ for race-ending opening lap crash in Russia”
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.watch-sainz-out-of-russian-gp-on-opening-lap-after-turn-2-crash.1C6b0fRT2CyVqHt1rBdTfX.html
“‘Ridiculous he didn’t get a penalty’ – Stroll furious with ‘sloppy’ Leclerc after Lap 1 clash”
https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.ridiculous-he-didnt-get-a-penalty-stroll-furious-with-sloppy-leclerc-after.pWydc0nyf468oPdndebG3.html
“Alexander Albon and Daniel Ricciardo both received five-second time penalties for cutting the corner at turn two without driving through the designated route back onto the circuit. The pair were also given a single penalty point each on their licences for the infringement. Ricciardo is now on three penalty points, while Albon is on five.”
https://www.racefans.net/2020/09/27/albon-and-ricciardo-given-penalty-points-grosjean-cleared-over-turn-two-infringement/
“The stewards have cancelled the two penalty points Lewis Hamilton was given for his practice start violations in the Russian Grand Prix. They have instead issued a €25,000 fine to Mercedes over the error.”
“Hamilton is therefore now on a total of eight penalty points instead of 10. He will receive an automatic one-race ban if he reaches 12.”
https://www.racefans.net/2020/09/27/stewards-cancel-hamiltons-two-penalty-points-for-practice-start-violations/