The FIA have declared a heat hazard warning (temps expected to exceed 31°C) for this weekend, for the first time, and it means the teams have to add cooling for the drivers even if the drivers choose not to use it.
The question I posed after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix was what would happen to PIA’s 5sec penalties for a false start; looks like it won’t be carried into this race.
Free Practice
- FP1: ALO (1:31.116), LEC, VER, HAM, PIA
ALB’s weekend started with a brake fire
GAS took to the escape road at Turn 14
PIA felt HAM was in the way - FP2: PIA (1:30.714), HAD, VER, ALO, NOR
NOR brushed the wall; HUL almost did the same
HAM clipped the tyre barrier out of T14
Ferrari released LEC from the garage, right into NOR; it was a slight contact but it broke the McLaren’s front wing
RUS went nose-first into the TecPro barrier at Turn 16, bringing out the red flag
The rear of LAW’s RB stepped out at T17, smacking the wall and damaging both his front-right and rear-right - FP3: VER (1:30.148), PIA, RUS, ANT, NOR
LAW ran high on a rumble strip, losing the rear end and slamming into the wall again; trashing the right side of the RB for a second time in two sessions; red flag
NOR clearly impeded SAI but neither were on a quick lap
SAI locked up and used the escape road at T14; teammate ALB did the same at T16
TSU blocked HAM as they jostled for track position
Penalties
Ferrari were fined €10,000 for the unsafe release of LEC in FP2
HAM was investigated for failing to comply with a red flag but no further action was taken
Qualifying
Qualifying session 1 (Q1)
HAM 1:29.765
Yellow flag – GAS has stopped in Turn 11 – sounds like it’s an oil problem
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are BOR, HUL, OCO, GAS, TSU
TSU P10, COL P16
HUL P13, STR P16
BOR P16
OCO P19
Back of the grid: BOR, STR, COL, OCO, GAS
Qualifying session 2
RUS 1:29.562
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are SAI, HUL, LAW, TSU, LEC
LEC 6, HUL P11
Middle of the grid: HUL, ALB, SAI, LAW, TSU
Top 10 shootout is between RUS, VER, ANT, NOR, PIA, LEC, HAM, HAD, ALO, BEA
Qualifying session 3
BEA 1:30.166
RUS brushes the wall but the car seems OK
RUS 1:29.165
ANT P2
HAD P3
ALO P5
NOR P3
LEC P4
HAM P4
PIA P2
VER P2
Order after the first run: RUS, VER, PIA, ANT, NOR, HAM, LEC, HAD, BEA, ALO
No improvement for NOR, RUS, LEC
Chequered flag; order is RUS, VER, PIA, ANT, NOR, HAM, LEC, HAD, BEA, ALO
No improvement for ANT, ALO, HAM, PIA, VER
Front of the grid: RUS, VER, PIA, ANT, NOR, HAM, LEC, HAD, BEA, ALO
Provisional grid: RUS, VER, PIA, ANT, NOR, HAM, LEC, HAD, BEA, ALO, HUL, ALB, SAI, LAW, TSU, BOR, STR, COL, OCO, GAS
Post-Quali Penalties
RUS, BOR, HUL and TSU investigated for failing to slow under yellow flags; no further action
Both Williams drivers (ALB & SAI) have been disqualified for rear wing infringements, but they have been allowed to race
GAS’ Alpine has had some changes while under parc ferme so he’ll have to start from the pit lane
SAI will start P18 with ALB (and GAS) starting from the pit lane
Race
Pit lane is open; drivers can make their way to the grid
Grid: RUS, VER, PIA, ANT, NOR, HAM, LEC, HAD, BEA, ALO, HUL, LAW, TSU, BOR, STR, COL, OCO, SAI; GAS, ALB in the pits
It rained about an hour ago
The cars are on intermediate tyres and they’re kicking up a little spray in a few areas
Radio for RUS asking what he thinks about starting on inters or slicks; RUS says it’s too wet for slicks
A few drivers have locked up into Turn 13
Mercedes mechanics are checking the power steering on both RUS and ANT’s cars
RUS leads everyone away on the formation lap
Despite various drivers saying it was too wet for slicks, they’re all starting on mediums except VER on used softs; HAD, ALO, TSU, STR and COL are also on softs
The field seems quite spread out – RUS will have a long wait for the grid to form up
01/62: RUS leads into Turn 1
NOR inside PIA for P3
LEC is ahead of ANT
HAD past ALO
NOR’s front wing looks damage
PIA cuts Turn 16
02: RUS, VER, NOR, PIA, LEC, ANT, HAM, HAD, ALO, BEA
03: Radio for NOR telling him the front wing damage is “nothing to worry about”
04: ALO takes P8 from HAD
05/62: RUS, VER, NOR, PIA, LEC, ANT, HAM, ALO, HAD, BEA
RUS is 2.5sec clear of VER
06: PIA continues complaining to his engineer about the contact with NOR at the start
07: Yellow flag
08: Radio from OCO, “I have a problem with the brakes”
10/62: RUS, VER, NOR, PIA, LEC, ANT, HAM, ALO, HAD, BEA, HUL, LAW, COL, STR, BOR, OCO, TSU, SAI, GAS, ALB
11: VER still unhappy with the downshifts; his comment is bleeped
12: RUS’ lead is almost 6sec
14: TSU pits from P17; hard tyres go on; rejoins P19
BOR pits; his front wing is broken; new wing and hard tyre goes on; P20
NOR taps the wall
15/62: COL pits; mediums go on; P18
17: McLaren tell NOR to pit to undercut VER … but a last-minute call tells him to stay out
20/62: VER pits from P2; hards; P7
Radio for VER telling him “out lap is critical”
21: HAD pits; hards; P17, alongside COL into the corner and HAD comes out ahead
22: LEC pits from P6; hards; P10
25/62: RUS, NOR, PIA, ANT, HAM, VER, ALO, LEC, HUL, LAW, STR, OCO, SAI, GAS, ALB, BEA, HAD, COL, TSU, BOR
HAM pits, which gives VER some clear track; right front was a bit slow; hards; P9
GAS pits; hards; P20
26: RUS pits from P1; hards; P3
ANT pits; hards; P7
Radio for NOR asking if he’ll let PIA pit first; he initially says yes but then says no
27: NOR pits; hards; P4
Radio for HAD telling him there’s a problem with the engine; HAD’s understandably frustrated
28: PIA pits; left rear was slow; hards; P4
ALO pits; front right refuses to tighten up; hards finally go on; P15
BEA dives past ALB to steal P12
30/62: RUS, VER, NOR, PIA, LEC, ANT, HAM, LAW, STR, OCO
Radio for ALO telling him how many laps are left; “If you talk to me every lap, I will disconnect the radio”!!
31: half distance
32: RUS is only 3sec ahead of VER, and VER is slowly closing on RUS
33: HAM closing on ANT
34: Chug! Ready for NOR reminding him to have a drink
35/62: RUS, VER, NOR, PIA, LEC, ANT, HAM, LAW, STR, SAI, BEA, ALB, HAD, ALO, COL, TSU, HUL, BOR, GAS, OCO
SAI closing on STR (STR is still on the soft tyres that he started on)
37: ALO past HAD for P13
VER briefly off in Turn 2
38: STR defends P9 from SAI
39: STR pits to finally swap soft tyres for mediums; P20
40/62: RUS, VER, NOR, PIA, LEC, ANT, HAM, LAW, SAI, BEA
Radio from VER describing the rear as a handbrake; he’s given some setting changes
41: NOR is 1.8sec behind VER but complains he’s already suffering from the dirty air
42: RUS laps STR
ALO right on ALB’s tail
43: ALB tries to defend but runs wide and ALO takes P11
Radio from VER complaining about the car’s balance again
45: HUL spins, recovers
46: HUL pits; P20
47: NOR has DRS behind VER
HAM pits; softs; still P7
48: RUS opens his lead while VER defends P2 from NOR
49: Radio from PIA, still unhappy about that lap 1 move by NOR
50/62: RUS, VER, NOR, PIA, LEC, ANT, HAM, ALO, WQI BEA
51: NOR still has DRS behind VER
RUS has lapped TSU (P11)
53: NOR right on VER’s rear wing, but he can’t afford to be taken out by the Red Bull
NOR starts to pull alongside but VER squeezes him against the wall
54: PIA closing on NOR as VER holds him up
ANT’s passed LEC for P5
55/62: RUS, VER, NOR, PIA, ANT, LEC, HAM, ALO, BEA, HAD, TSU, SAI, COL, STR, ALB, BOR, LAW, OCO, HUL, GAS
56: Radio for HAD checking he understands the VER/NOR situation – that sounds like “let the Red Bull through but block the McLaren”
LEC lets teammate HAM take P6
HAD lets both VER and NOR through
59: NOR still has DRS behind VER, but he’s not really made an attack yet
60/62; RUS, VER, NOR, PIA, ANT, HAM, LEC, ALO, BEA, SAI
HAM runs deep in Turn 16, then reports he’s “lost his brakes”
Replay shows sparks from HAM’s front left brake
61: LEC reclaims P6 from HAM
62/62: NOR still can’t get close enough to really attack
RUS takes the chequered flag
HAM’s struggling to get home; ALO very nearly caught him
Provisional result: RUS, VER, NOR, PIA, ANT, LEC, HAM, ALO, BEA, SAI; HAD, TSU, STR, ALB, LAW, COL, BOR, OCO, GAS, HUL
Post-race Penalties
HAM given 5sec penalty for “Leaving the track without a justifiable reason, multiple times.” – this drops him to P8
ALB received a reprimand for incorrect use of the pit lane during a reconnaissance lap
NOR’s podium means McLaren have won the Constructors’ Championship
[2025 calendar and driver line-up]
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