Two weeks after Spain, F1 is in France … well, French-speaking Canada 🙂
(I’ll probably come back and fill in Free Practice info)
Qualifying session 1 (Q1)
The track is damp – probably the green-ringed intermediate tyres because it’s not raining and may well dry up soon… or maybe there will be more rain
Radio from ZHO reporting a loss of power as he heads into Turn 3
ALO squirms out of the hairpin
ZHO stops off track but it’s in a fairly dangerous place – yellow flags are replaced by red; Q1 suspended
ZHO has managed to get the Alfa Romeo moving again, so he might be able to get back to the pits under his own steam which would mean he could rejoin the session (He wouldn’t be allowed to rejoin Quali if the marshals remove the car and bring it back to the pits on a truck)
Replay of ZHO leaving the pit lane shows the Alfa’s Ferrari engine sounding like a bag of hammers
ZHO’s back in the pit lane with 2mins before Q1 restarts
SAR is top of the timing chart (1:27.231) given only he and teammate ALB had set a time; most people had to abandon their first flying lap
Queue starts to form at the pit exit because the weather forecast looks like rain is heading towards the circuit
Green light; Q1 resumes
Radio from SAR, “Rain in Turn 2”
VER 1:24.106
Onboard with ALO; a lot of porpoising!
ALO 1:23.581
VER 1:22.843
PER cuts the chicane, as does LEC
ALO 1:22.655
VER 1:21.988
HAM struggling for grip but goes P4
Everyone giving the Wall of Champions plenty of clearance – it’s tricky even on a dry track
Radio for VER asking if it’s ready for dry tyres; definite No
5mins left; bottom 5 are DEV, PIA, TSU, SAR, ZHO
Some cars pitting for new inters
HAM squirming out of Turn 12 again
PIA goes P15, relegating STR to P16
VER 1:21.739
TSU P15, MAG P16
ALO 1:21.583
MAG P11, TSU P16
STR P8, BOT P16
A Ferrari going slowly into the final turn as he tries to be the last one to start a final flying lap – that’s really dangerous – SAI causes GAS to cut the corner; NOR nearly collects SAI; there’s got to be a penalty for SAI
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are BOT, TSU, DEV, SAR, ZHO
BOT P7, OCO P16
ALO 1:21.481
OCO P5, GAS P16
VER 1:20.851
DEV P17
ZHO P18
SAR P18
TSU P16
GAS P17
Back of the grid: TSU, GAS, DEV, SAR, ZHO
Replay of SAI dithering at the end of Q1 – that was ridiculously dangerous – he deserves a huge penalty
Radio from GAS saying SAI should be banned, “I was doing 300”
Stewards will investigate Turn 13 incident involving GAS and SAI after the session
Qualifying session 2
Everyone still on inters
Radio for NOR telling him the rain will be intermittent
There are dry patches but there’s still some damp ones
Radio from NOR, “I think we could get away with a slick (tyre)”
ALB and BOT are on dry soft tyres
Radio from LEC saying he wants to pit for dry tyres; he’s told to set a lap time before pitting
VER 1:20.135
Yellow flags – STR (on inters) slides the Aston Martin sideways towards a barrier but stops safely and rejoins the track – oh no, looks like he tapped his front wing
RUS 1:20.098
ALB fastest in sector 3
PER pits for soft tyres
STR pits for a new front wing but stays on inters
ALB 1:19.471
Reports of rain falling in a few places
SAI yet again dithering in the middle of the track before Turn 13 – he was lucky that ALB didn’t wipe him out – it’s SO stupid
ALB 1:18.725 (still on softs)
Radio from HAM asking if they should switch to slicks but he’s told about the rain in Turn 10; he pits and takes on softs
5mins left; bottom 5 are PER, HUL, STR, MAG, BOT
More rain on the camera lens, but half the field are still on dry soft tyres … actually it’s only PER on inters
Black and white flag for LEC for not following race director’s instruction re: rejoining the track
HAM pits; inters go on
STR blocks OCO – the AlphaTauri drivers are not having a good day
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are LEC, PER, STR, MAG, BOT
STR P13
Radio from LEC shouting at his team that the tyres were not ready
PER P12
LEC P11
Middle of the grid: LEC, PER, STR, MAG, BOT
Qualifying session 3
Top 10 shootout is between ALB, VER, NOR, PIA, ALO, SAI, RUS, HUL, OCO and HAM
Red Bull send VER to wait at the end of the pit lane with about 2mins before Q3 starts
Radio for HUL telling him the rain is getting “worse and worse”
Everyone on inters for their first run… even so VER has a big twitch
VER 1:27.059
OCO P2
HUL P3
ALO P2
NOR P3
PIA P6
ALB P6
SAI P6
HAM P3
RUS P4
Order after the first run: VER, ALO, HAM, RUS, NOR, OCO, HUL, SAI, ALB, PIA
VER 1:25.858
Yellow flags – PIA is off
ALB’s time has been deleted because he cut the final chicane
Looks like PIA is stuck
HUL P2
Red flag with 7:11 left
Replay shows PIA lost the tail as he accelerated out of the turn, spun it around and slammed the rear into the wall
The weather radar looks very wet – will they be able to improve on those lap times?
3mins until Q3 restarts; there’s a race to be at the front of the queue – SAI is ahead of VER
Radio from ALO, “I don’t think (anyone) will improve (their time)”
Green light as Q3 resumes; everyone on inters
Radio from VER, “It’s a lot wetter already”
Radio for SAI, “Even heavier rain in 2 minutes”
VER pits
5mins left; order is VER, HUL, ALO, HAM, RUS, OCO, NOR, SAI, PIA, ALB
HUL pits, as does OCO
SAI runs off at Turn 1
Red Bull putting full wet tyres on VER’s car
Everyone returns to the pits – they’re not even going to try running on full wets
Front of the grid: VER, HUL, ALO, HAM, RUS, OCO, NOR, SAI, PIA, ALB
Provisional grid: VER, HUL, ALO, HAM, RUS, OCO, NOR, SAI*, PIA, ALB, LEC, PER, STR, MAG, BOT, TSU, GAS, DEV, SAR, ZHO
*SAI has got see the stewards for the incidents at the end of Q1 and Q2; I would put money on him getting a grid penalty
Post-Quali penalties:
- SAI: 3 grid spot penalty for impeding GAS in Q1
No mention of SAI impeding ALB in Q2 in exactly the same dangerous manner 🙁 - HUL: 3 grid spot penalty for failing to follow red flag procedure
He’s lucky because most red flag infringements get a much bigger penalty - STR: 3 grid spot penalty for impeding OCO in Q2
- TSU: 3 grid spot penalty for impeding HUL, but no further action re: impeding LEC
Revised grid: VER, ALO, HAM, RUS, HUL*, OCO, NOR, PIA, ALB, LEC, SAI*, PER, MAG, BOT, GAS, STR*, DEV, SAR, TSU*, ZHO (*penalties applied)
Pit lane is open and drivers can do practice starts at the end of the pit lane before heading to the grid
Air temperature 17°C; track 28°C; humidity 68%; risk of rain 10%
Ferrari have got LEC’s car up on stands so they can replace the legality plank while he’s on the grid
A much better grid walk for Martin Brundle – it’s teams and fans, not the “we’re just here to be seen” crowd
Grid: VER, ALO, HAM, RUS, HUL, OCO, NOR, PIA, ALB, LEC, SAI, PER, MAG, BOT, GAS, STR, DEV, SAR, TSU, ZHO
VER leads everyone away on the formation lap
Front 11 are all on medium compound tyres; PER, MAG and BOT on hards; GAS on softs; rest of the field on mediums
Strategy suggestions are starting on medium for a 2-stop race, or hards for a 1-stopper
01/70: VER leads into Turn 1
HAM ahead of ALO
PER challenging SAI for P11
MAG cuts the final corner, rejoins P15
02: VER, HAM, ALO, RUS, OCO, HUL, PIA, NOR, LEC, ALB
TSU pits; long stop
03: VER fastest lap 1:18.075
Replay of MAG taking to the grass, avoiding an accident at the end of lap 1
04: ALO f/lap 1:17.438
ALO brushes the wall with his rear right wheel
05/70: VER, HAM, ALO, RUS, OCO, HUL, PIA, NOR, LEC, ALB, SAI, PER, GAS, STR, MAG, BOT, DEV, SAR, ZHO, TSU
VER f/lap 1:17.203
LEC closing on NOR
06: ALO has DRS to attack HAM
PIA takes P6 from HUL
07: Yellow flag – SAR has stopped in Turn 6
Radio for SAR was an urgent message telling him to stop the Williams; “critical message”
08: Virtual Safety Car deployed so the marshals can remove SAR’s car
VSC ending
09: DRS enabled again
Radio from HAM saying his rear tyres are getting “super hot”
10/70: VER, HAM, ALO, RUS, OCO, PIA, HUL, NOR, LEC, ALB, SAI, PER, GAS, STR, MAG, BOT, DEV, ZHO, TSU; out: SAR
11: RUS has DRS behind ALO
GAS pits from P13; swaps from softs to hard tyres; slow stop; rejoins P19
HUL is leading the train of NOR, LEC,ALB
12: Radio from VER, “I think I hit a bird”
Yellow flag – looks like RUS has hit the wall!
Safety Car deployed
13[SC]: VER pits; hards go on
HAM, ALO, OCO all pit
Did Mercedes release HAM into ALO’s path?
Replay shows RUS take too much kerb, slam the rear right wheel into the wall and then tap it with his front wing too
RUS has made it back to the pits; the mechanics have a close look and give it the thumbs up; RUS rejoins P19
NOR was also released into the path of ALB
14[SC]: Pit lane incident involving HAM and ALO noted – unsafe release
Radio for RUS asking for feedback on the car; “It’s a bit bent but it’s ok”
It’s odd the Ferrari didn’t pit either LEC or SAI – they’re still on mediums; everyone else now on hards
15/70[SC]: VER, HAM, ALO, LEC, SAI, PER, MAG, BOT, OCO, PIA, NOR, ALB, TSU, ZHO, HUL, STR, DEV, GAS, RUS
Pit exit incident involving OCO, BOT and MAG noted – overtaking under the safety car
16[SC]: SC in at the end of this lap
VER backs everyone up and weaves to warm his tyres
17: Clean restart
Race control: NOR’s unsafe release “noted”
18: VER f/lap 1:17.145
NOR dives inside teammate PIA into the hairpin, takes P10
19: VER f/lap 1:16.682
LEC locks up
20/70: ALO f/lap 1:16.575
PIA cuts the chicane, rejoins P12
BOT takes P8 from MAG
21: NOR steals P9 from MAG
Stewards: pit exit incident involving OCO, BOT and MAG – no further investigation – positions given back
22: ALO squeezes past HAM in the final chicane
23: HAM hangs onto ALO’s tail but ALO breaks the DRS and starts to pull away
No further action for the unsafe releases (HAM and NOR)
24: VER has a 3sec lead over ALO, who in turn is just over 1sec ahead of HAM
PIA takes P10 from MAG
25/70: VER, ALO, HAM, LEC, SAI, PER, OCO, BOT, NOR, PIA, MAG, ALB, TSU, ZHO, HUL, STR, DEV, GAS, RUS; out: SAR
Turn 10 incident involving NOR noted – driving unnecessarily slowly (presumably behind the SC)
27: ALB harrying MAG for P11
RUS is still down in P19; he has DRS behind GAS
28: STR pits; more hard tyres; rejoins P19
29: Radio from VER, “No grip on this tyre”
Brief yellow flag – not sure why
30/70: VER, ALO, HAM, LEC, SAI, PER, OCO, BOT, NOR, PIA, ALB, MAG, TSU, ZHO, HUL, DEV, GAS, RUS, STR
32: HUL pits; more hard tyres
34: VER over 5sec clear of ALO
GAS pits, so RUS finally moves up to P15
35/70: VER, ALO, HAM, LEC, SAI, PER, OCO, BOT, NOR, PIA
DEV and MAG wheel to wheel through Turns 1, 2 and 3
DEV locks up; MAG can’t turn in because DEV is there; both take to the escape road
Yellow flag for DEV and MAG
MAG and then DEV reverse and rejoin the track
38: PER pits from P6; mediums go on; rejoins P7
PIA pits too; hards; P13
NOR given 5-sec penalty for “unsportsmanlike behaviour”
39: SAI pits from P5; hards go on; rejoins P5
Radio for HAM telling him to use up this tyre
40/70: VER, ALO, HAM, LEC… LEC pits; hards; rejoins still P4
Incident involving DEV and MAG under investigation – causing a collision
41: HAM pits from P3; mediums; rejoins P3
42: ALO pits; hards go on; P2
PER f/lap !:16.410
Incident involving DEV and MAG – no further action
43: VER pits; mediums; P1 with a 5sec lead still
PER f/lap 1:16.149
45/70: VER, ALO, HAM, LEC, SAI, PER, ALB, RUS, OCO, BOT, NOR, STR, PIA, GAS, HUL, TSU, ZHO, DEV, MAG; out: SAR
HAM f/lap 1:16.003
46: HAM just under 5sec behind ALO
MAG passes DEV for P18
47: HAM f/lap 1:15.879
48: HAM f/lap 1:15.396
Radio from ALO asking when he can stop doing “lift and coast” to save fuel, “I want to win the race”
49: RUS has DRS behind ALB
TSU past HUL for P15
50/70: VER, ALO, HAM, LEC, SAI, PER, ALB, RUS, OCO, BOT, NOR, STR, PIA, GAS, TSU, HUL, ZHO, MAG, DEV
51: Radio for HAM, “The wind is picking up”
53: ALB now has RUS, OCO, BOT and NOR all in the DRS train behind him
55/70: VER, ALO, HAM, LEC, SAI, PER, ALB, RUS, OCO, BOT, NOR, STR, PIA, GAS, TSU, HUL, ZHO, MAG, DEV
RUS slowing; he’s told the brake wear is too high, so cool the brakes and pit at the end of this lap
56: RUS pits; retires
57: HAM under 2sec behind ALO, but it looks like ALO is still having to lift and coast
59: ALB is struggling for grip with his old tyres
60/70: VER, ALO, HAM, LEC, SAI, PER, ALB, OCO, BOT, NOR, STR, PIA, GAS, TSU, HUL, ZHO, MAG, DEV; out: RUS, SAR
61: Radio for HAM telling him ALO is “nursing a rear brake issue”
HAM’s pushing hard, kicking up dirt out of the final turn
Radio for ALO, “HAM is 1.9sec behind”; “Leave it to me”
62: ALO’s picking up his pace in order to deny DRS to HAM
63: HAM now just over 2sec behind ALO
64: NOR attacking BOT for P9; BOT defends but NOR eventually takes the place
65/70: VER, ALO, HAM, LEC, SAI, PER, ALB, OCO, NOR, BOT
ALO opens the gap a little more – HAM now 3sec back
67: Radio from NOR reporting that “the rear wing on the Alpine is hanging off”
69: PER pits from P6; softs go on; rejoins still P6
70/70: Official timing shows NOR’s 5sec penalty applied but they shouldn’t do that until the race has ended
VER takes the chequered flag; Red Bull’s 100th win
NOR has a look at passing OCO in the hairpin; OCO defends; NOR pulls alongside on the straight; NOR has the inside line for the final corner but runs out of space; NOR has to cut the corner, rejoins behind OCO
PER f/lap 1:14.481
Provisional result: VER, ALO, HAM, LEC, SAI, PER, ALB, OCO, STR, BOT; PIA, GAS, NOR*, TSU, HUL, ZHO, MAG, DEV (*NOR’s penalty drops him to P13)
DNF: RUS, SAR
Fastest lap: PER on lap 70
[2023 calendar and driver line-up]