Formula One is back after the mandatory summer break. It’s hard to remember what’s happened since Belgium, but here are a few news items:
- the 2025 driver line-up is almost settled, with the announcements of SAI joining Williams and Alpine promoting Jack Doohan from being their reserve driver
- Red Bull’s sporting director, Jonathan Wheatley, is leaving to become Audi’s Formula 1 team principal. (Audi are taking over the Sauber team for next season) Audi have already announced ex-Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto as chief operating and technical officer
- Peter Bonnington, HAM’s race engineer, has been promoted to Head of Race Engineering at Mercedes
Quick check on the Championship standings
- Drivers: VER (277 points), NOR (199), LEC (177), PIA (167), SAI (162)
- Constructors: Red Bull (408), McLaren (366), Ferrari (345), Mercedes (266), Aston Martin (73), RB (34), Haas (27), Alpine (11)
Free Practice
- FP1: NOR (1:12.322), VER, HAM, SAI, RUS
A wet and wild session, with strong wind and puddles making the Zandvoort circuit even trickier than usual, although it did start to dry out
Quite a few drivers ran wide and/or spun
After the session, Williams were fined €100 for SAR speeding in the pit lane - FP2: RUS (1:10.702), PIA, HAM, NOR, VER
Still windy but the session was dry
VER locked up at the same spot where PER had just run off
HUL off across the gravel, into the tyre wall, bringing out a brief red flag
SAI had a gearbox issue
After the session, Williams were fined €5,000 for the unsafe release of ALB; Sauber received the same penalty for the unsafe release of ZHO - FP3: GAS (1:20.311), MAG, BOT, NOR, ALO
Wet session again
HUL aquaplaned through the run-off area and hit the tyre wall; RUS almost did the same
SAR touched the grass, spun his Williams into an Armco barrier, catching fire and spreading debris across the track
Long red flag
Do Williams have enough spares to rebuild his car?
VER overtaking in the pit exit and crossing the solid white line; will there be penalties at his home race? My money’s on no
After the session, Haas received a reprimand for allowing HUL to drive back to the pits after damaging his car when he hit the barrier in Turn 11
(I’ve used a photo of SAR’s accident as the thumbnail for this post)
Qualifying
Air temperature 25°C; track 31°C; humidity 67%; risk of rain 40%
Qualifying session 1 (Q1)
Williams have been working flat out to get SAR’s car rebuilt after his FP3 incident
HUL is first on track, followed by ZHO
HUL took a lot of kerb in Turn 4, and now there’s smoke from the Haas
HUL 1:13.062
BOT 1:12.825
GAS 1:12.296
STR 1:11.832
PIA 1:11.541
HAM 1:11.375 on mediums – everyone else on soft tyres … no, the FIA timing chart is wrong, HAM’s on softs too
Race control – HAM, PER incident – impeding incident noted
Replay shows HAM was as far out of the way as he could be
5mins left; bottom 5 are RIC, TSU, BOT, ZHO, SAR (SAR has not left the garage yet)
Queueing in the pit lane as they try to leave room ahead ready for their fast lap
Radio from VER complaining about sliding
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are OCO, BOT, SAI,ZHO, SAR
SAI 1:11.327, relegating PER to P16
(LEC P2)
BOT P18
RUS 1:11.049
PER 1:11.006
Back of the grid: RIC, OCO, BOT, ZHO, SAR
Radio from OCO calling his Alpine “a disaster”
Radio from PER whining about HAM daring to be on track – another petulant child at Red Bull
Qualifying session 2
Ferrari send both drivers out right away
SAI 1:11.835
LEC 1:11.665
PIA 1:10.505
NOR 1:10.496
(PER P5) – who will he blame that on?
5mins left; bottom 5 are MAG, GAS, TSU, HUL, ALB
Only the top 4 (NOR, PIA, RUS, VER) remain in their garage
HUL P11
GAS P5, SAI P11
TSU P6, ALO P11
ALB P5, STR P11
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are STR, ALO, SAI, HUL, MAG
ALO P8, LEC P11
SAI P9, HAM P11
STR P4, TSU P11
HUL P14
HAM P11
LEC P6, SAI P11
Middle of the grid: SAI, HAM, TSU, HUL, MAG
Top 10 shootout is between NOR, PIA, RUS, STR, PER, LEC, ALB, VER, GAS, ALO
Qualifying session 3
Track temp is down to 29°C, 2 degrees cooler than when Quali started
PIA 1:10.193
VER P2
NOR 1:10.074
LEC P4
GAS P5
RUS P4
Order after the first run: NOR, PIA, VER, RUS, LEC, GAS; STR, PER, ALB and ALO are still in the pits
STR P6
ALO P5
VER 1:10.029
NOR 1:09.673
PER P4
ALB P7
LEC P6
Chequered flag; order is NOR, VER, PIA, PER, RUS, LEC, ALO, ALB, STR, GAS
PIA P3
RUS P4
Front of the grid: NOR, VER, PIA, RUS, PER, LEC, ALO, ALB, STR, GAS
Provisional grid: NOR, VER, PIA, RUS, PER, LEC, ALO, ALB, STR, GAS, SAI, HAM*, TSU, HUL, MAG, RIC, OCO, BOT, ZHO, SAR
*HAM has been summoned to see the stewards for allegedly impeding PER in Q1
Post-Quali penalties
ALB’s car is under investigation after the F1 Technical Delegate found his Williams’ floor is “outside the regulatory volume”
No word yet on HAM’s investigation
There was some strange timing of publishing docs: The final qualifying classification (doc 41) was published at 2057CET yesterday, including ALB’s disqualification from Quali but without any mention of a penalty for HAM. This morning I saw Doc 38 (HAM’s penalty) has been published at 1051CET today, but the time of the decision (in the doc’s header) is 1948CET yesterday, i.e. before the final qualifying classification. Why wasn’t the penalty decision published at the time it was taken? Deliberate obfuscation? Incompetence? Both are possible given it’s the FIA.
Revised grid: NOR, VER, PIA, RUS, PER, LEC, ALO, STR, GAS, SAI, TSU, HUL, RIC, HAM*, OCO, BOT, ZHO, SAR, ALB*; MAG* in pit lane
*HAM was given a 3-place grid penalty for not parking on the grass to allow a Red Bull to have all the track
*ALB’s disqualification from Quali and subsequent appeal to be allowed to race means he’ll start at the back of the grid
*Haas worked on MAG’s car during parc farme so he’ll start from the pit lane
I’m not sure where the FIA learned to count. HAM qualified P11; he was given a 3-place penalty for not parking on the grass when PER wanted all the track (ridiculous!) which would put him P14, but then ALB lost his Quali time (he was P8) so surely HAM should be P13? Apparently not – somehow he’s P14 on the grid
Race
Pit lane is open; drivers can make their way to the grid
Air temperature 19°C; track 28°C; humidity 65%
NOR leads everyone away on the formation lap
Top 10 are all starting on the medium compound tyre; TSU on softs; HUL and RIC on mediums; HAM on softs; OCO mediums; BOT softs; ZHO, SAR, ALB on mediums; MAG will leave the pit lane on hard tyres
01/72: NOR has a poor start, so VER leads into Turn 1
PIA also passed off the start line; RUS takes P3
HAM and BOT (both on softs) have passed RIC
02: VER, NOR, RUS, PIA, LEC, PER, GAS, ALO, SAI, STR, HUL, TSU, HAM, BOT, RIC, OCO, ALB, SAR, ZHO, MAG
DRS enabled
HAM takes P12 from TSU
BOT tries to pass TSU but TSU blocks him
03: VER fastest lap 1:16.106
VER has already opened a gap over 1sec so no DRS for NOR
Radio from SAR reporting “a lot of understeer” from his rebuilt Williams
04: PIA using DRS to close on RUS
05/72: VER, NOR, RUS, PIA, LEC, PER, GAS, ALO, SAI, STR, HUL, HAM, TSU, BOT, RIC, OCO, ALB, SAR, ZHO, MAG
06: A couple of DRS trains emerging – PIA, LEC, PER and ALO, SAI, STR, HUL, HAM
Replay of the start shows NOR struggling to get off the line
08: Front runners are already being told to manage their tyre temps/wear
HAM tucked up behind HUL
09: SAI has a look inside GAS but backs off
Strange radio call for NOR asking “Who do you think we’re racing? Just Max?”
10/72: VER, NOR, RUS, PIA, LEC, PER, GAS, SAI, ALO, STR
HAM finally takes P11 from HUL
11: SAI inside GAS through turns 1 and 2, to take P7
12: HAM now has DRS behind STR
Radio for PIA asking for his thoughts on Plan A or Plan B – don’t they have strategists on the McLaren pit wall?
13: ALB pits; hard tyres go on; rejoins P20
14: HAM takes P10 from STR
Radio from VER, “The car doesn’t want to turn in Turn 10”
15/72: VER, NOR, RUS, PIA, LEC, PER, SAI, GAS, ALO, HAM, STR, HUL, TSU, BOT, RIC, OCO, SAR, MAG, ZHO, ALB
NOR now has DRS behind VER
HUL and TSU pit; onto hard and medium tyres respectively
ALB f/lap 1:15.520 on hard tyres
HAM takes P9 from ALO
16: BOT pits; switches from softs to hards; P20
NOR right on VER’s rear wing
17: Radio from VER complaining his “tyres are numb, they don’t grip”
18: NOR takes P1
When the commentators complement VER on being “very fair” just shows how much everyone expects him to do something dirty
19: NOR has opened over a 1-sec lead, robbing VER of DRS
20/72: NOR, VER, RUS, PIA, LEC, PER, SAI, GAS, HAM, ALO, STR, RIC, OCO, MAG, SAR, HUL, TSU, ALB, BOT, ZHO
Radio from NOR reporting his brake pedal is going long
HAM looking for a way round GAS
21: Radio for NOR telling him brakes look ok from their side; NOR says it might just be the wind
22: NOR has opened 2-sec lead
LEC right on PIA’s tail
23: HAM inside GAS but the Alpine fights back and hangs on to P8
Radio from VER, “I can’t go any faster, the car isn’t responding to my inputs”
24: HAM pits from P9; swaps to hard tyres; rejoins P16
25/72: NOR, VER, RUS, PIA, LEC… LEC pits; hards; rejoins P9
26: RUS pits from P3; hards; bit of a slow stop; P9
27: ALO doesn’t fight as RUS takes P8
HAM past OCO for P14
28: VER pits; hards; P5
RUS f/lap 1:14.532
29: NOR pits; hards; P4
30/72: PIA, PER… PER pits; hards; bit of a slow stop; P9
HAM past MAG for P11
RUS inside GAS for P6
31: SAI pits; hards; P9, right on PER’s tail
STR and OCO pit too
32: NOR f/lap 1:14.391
ALO pits; hards; P15
34: PIA pits; hards; P5
So now everyone is on hard tyres, although MAG started on hards so he’ll have to pit soon
Replay of GAS’ stop – he was released while a mechanic was adjusting the front wing but fortunately the mechanic got his hand away just in time (but they’ll probably still get a penalty)
35/72: NOR, VER, LEC, RUS, PIA, PER, SAI, HAM, HUL, MAG
NOR has ~7.5sec lead
Race control have noted GAS’ unsafe release
36: Half distance; air temp is unchanged but track has risen to 32°C
37: NOR f/lap 1:14.312
PIA f/lap 1:14.237
38: Race control have noted STR speeding in the pit lane, which is pretty much an automatic penalty
39: STR given 5-sec penalty
40/72: NOR, VER, LEC, RUS, PIA, PER, SAI, HAM, HUL, MAG
PIA blasts past RUS for P4
Five cars heading into Turn 1 but they sort themselves out and exit cleanly
41: NOR over 10-sec clear of VER
SAI f/lap 1:14.117
ALO takes P11 from ALB
MAG pits; mediums; P19
43: PIA closing on LEC; he’s now under 2secs behind the Ferrari
45/72: NOR, VER, LEC, PIA, RUS, PER, SAI, HAM, HUL, GAS, ALO, STR, ALB, RIC, OCO, SAR, TSU, MAG, BOT, ZHO
SAI has a look at passing PER; PER slams the door
46: SAI has another look but PER defends P6
PIA still tucked up behind LEC
47: Third time lucky for SAI as he takes P6 from PER
49: LEC closing on some backmarkers so this could help PIA
HAM pits from P8; softs go on; rejoins still P8, now about 7-secs ahead of HUL
50/72: NOR, VER, LEC, PIA, RUS, SAI, PER, HAM, HUL, GAS, ALO, STR, RIC, ALB, OCO, SAR, TSU, MAG, BOT, ZHO
Red Bull mechanics try a dummy move; take the tyres back into the garage
51: TSU slows to let LEC and PIA through
HAM f/lap 1:13.883
52: SAR has TSU and MAG on his tail but has to let LEC and PIA lap him
53: NOR laps STR (P12)
55/72: NOR, VER, LEC, PIA, RUS, SAI, PER, HAM, HUL, GAS
RUS pits from P5; used softs; P7 – SAI was catching him, so this is an interesting gamble because RUS will now have to pass PER and SAI to get back to P5
58: NOR over 15-sec clear of VER
RUS under 15-sec behind PER and closing in; RUS is almost 2-sec/lap faster than PER
59: GAS closing on HUL
60/72: NOR, VER, LEC, PIA, SAI, PER, RUS, HAM, HUL, GAS, ALO, STR, RIC, OCO, ALB, SAR, TSU, MAG, BOT, ZHO
RUS under 11sec off PER
HUL defends P9, forcing GAS around the long way but the Alpine takes the place
62: PIA just outside DRS range of LEC
63: HAM f/lap 1:13.878 – he’s about 2-sec behind teammate RUS
64: ALO around the outside of HUL to take P10
65/72: NOR, VER, LEC, PIA, SAI, PER, RUS, HAM, GAS, ALO, HUL, STR, RIC, OCO, ALB, SAR, TSU, MAG, BOT, ZHO
67: PER has picked up his pace so RUS might not catch him
70/72: NOR, VER, LEC, PIA, SAI, PER, RUS, HAM, GAS, ALO
NOR’s lead almost 20-secs over VER
72/72: Unfortunately Mercedes’ gamble isn’t going to pay off for RUS but it was worth trying
NOR takes the chequered flag and sets f/lap 1:13.817
Provisional result: NOR, VER, LEC, PIA, SAI, PER, RUS, HAM, GAS, ALO; HUL, RIC, STR, ALB, OCO, SAR, TSU, BOT, ZHO, MAG
No retirements; in fact the only yellow flag was MAG running through the gravel trap right at the start
[2024 calendar and driver line-up]
