Here we are, at the last race of the season, with a close battle over the Drivers’ Championship crown: NOR is just 12 points ahead of VER, with PIA only four points further back. The disqualification of both McLarens in Las Vegas and their odd strategy in Qatar has made the competition a lot tighter than it could have been. Hopefully it will be decided by a clean fight but that feels overly optimistic given the past few seasons.
It’s the last time we’ll see the Sauber name in F1; next season they’ll be Audi.
News since Qatar:
- Red Bull say they “sincerely regret” comments made at the Qatar GP, claiming ANT pulled over to let NOR through, that led to the Mercedes driver receiving death threats. In a properly governed sport, Red Bull would have been penalised for making such wild claims but that has been RB’s modus operandi for many years and they consistently get away with their toxic attitude.
- I can’t think why that made me remember that there’s talk of Whiny Spice (Christian Horner) joining Aston Martin, although owner Lawrence Stroll has told his staff that’s “not happening”; Adrian Newey will be their team principal next year.
- In other Red Bull news, HAD will be promoted from the junior team to take TSU’s seat next season; it looks like TSU will instead be test/reserve driver for Red Bull, with a new driver (Arvid Lindblad) alongside LAW.
Free Practice
- FP1: NOR (1:24.485), VER, LEC, ANT, HUL
Nine rookies get a chance to do some laps in an F1 car so many of the regular drivers sat out, including PIA, HAM and ALO
LEC spun off at Turn 5
BEA lost power, his Haas suffering a hydraulic leak
VER reported “something broken” but when asked to be specific he just said “it’s everywhere” - FP2: NOR (1:23.083), VER, RUS, BEA, HUL
PIA locked up in Turn 6
VER impeded NOR; I’m sure he’ll blame an ambiguous radio message informing him of the McLaren’s approach
ALB reported problems with the Williams’ engine
COL locked up and cut Turn 6 - FP3: RUS (1:23.334), NOR, VER, ALO, PIA
HAM spun off, into the tyre barriers in Turn 9, bringing out the red flag to suspend the session
A slow-moving TSU sitting on the racing line very nearly caused NOR to plough through him – that was very nasty!
Mercedes released ANT right into TSU, damaging both cars
Penalties
ALO and STR did not attend the Fan Engagement activity on Friday and so Aston Martin was fined €25,000 (for each driver) of which €15,000 is suspended for a period of 12 months.
Red Bull was fined €10,000 and TSU was given a warning for impeding NOR – I’m sure if it was a different team they would have had a bigger penalty because that was a very dangerous situation
Williams were fined €5,000 for the unsafe release of ALB
Mercedes were fined €10,000 for the unsafe release of ANT
Qualifying
Qualifying session 1 (Q1)
PIA 1:22.605
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are STR, BOR, OCO, GAS, COL
GAS P15, HUL P16
STR P10, GAS P16
COL P20
OCO P12, ALB P16
BOR P14, HAM P16
HUL P18
Back of the grid: HAM, ALB, HUL, GAS, COL
Qualifying session 2
RUS 1:22.730
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are LAW, ANT, STR, OCO, BEA
OCO P8, SAI P11
STR P14
BEA P11
Middle of the grid: BEA, SAI, LAW, ANT, STR
Qualifying session 3
VER 1:22.295 thanks to a tow from TSU
NOR P2
PIA P2
RUS saves a slide
Chequered flag; order is VER, PIA, NOR, LEC, RUS, BOR, ALO, HAD, OCO, TSU
ALO P6
HAD P9
LEC P3
PIA P2
NOR P2
VER 1:22.207
RUS P4
Front of the grid: VER, NOR, PIA, RUS, LEC, ALO, BOR, OCO, HAD, TSU
Provisional grid: VER, NOR, PIA, RUS, LEC, ALO, BOR, OCO, HAD, TSU, BEA, SAI, LAW, ANT, STR, HAM, ALB, HUL, GAS, COL
Penalties
None
Red Bull have dropped TSU for next season but they’ll be expecting him to help VER win, and TSU is already known to be bit of a mobile chicane. And of course Red Bull also have HAD and LAW in their junior team, so a big tactical advantage.
How much will the FIA stewards influence the result? Will McLaren shoot themselves in the foot?
Race
Pit lane is open; drivers can make their way to the grid
Air temperature 27°C; track 32°C; humidity 56%
Grid: VER, NOR, PIA, RUS, LEC, ALO, BOR, OCO, HAD, TSU, BEA, SAI, LAW, ANT, STR, HAM, ALB, HUL, GAS, COL
VER leads everyone away on the formation lap
Most are starting on medium compound tyres, including VER and NOR; PIA, TSU, ANT and STR are on hards; HAM, ALB and HUL on softs
Was that a puff of smoke from VER’s engine as he did a burn out before reaching the grid, or is that wishful thinking?
01/58: VER cuts right across to block NOR
Everyone cleanly through Turn 1
LEC and ALO have passed RUS
ALO looks around LEC but the Ferrari defends P4
PIA around NOR to steal P2
02: VER, PIA, NOR, LEC, ALO, RUS, BOR, HAD, OCO, TSU, LAW, BEA, SAI, HAM, ALB, STR, ANT, HUL, GAS, COL
DRS enabled (This is the last race for DRS – new rules for next season mean no DRS assistance)
03: VER over 1.5sec clear of PIA
COL noted for a start procedure
HAM and ALB noted for leaving the track and gaining an advantage
Radio from RUS asking the team to check his brakes as the pedal is going long
04: NOR isn’t close enough to PIA to get DRS, so LEC can close up a bit
RUS up the inside of ALO to reclaim P5
LEC close enough to fill NOR’s mirrors
HAM all over BEA’s rear wing
05/58: VER, PIA, NOR, LEC, RUS, ALO, BOR, HAD, OCO, TSU, LAW, BEA, HAM, SAI, ALB, STR, ANT, HUL, GAS, COL
VER nearly 2.5sec ahead of PIA
07: Radio for NOR, “We’ve asked PIA to pick up the pace a bit”
08: HUL pits; hards go on; rejoins P20
09: HAM and ALB pit; hards for both; rejoin P18 and P19
So that’s all the soft starters now on hard tyres
10/58: VER, PIA, NOR, LEC, RUS, ALO, BOR, HAD, OCO, TSU, LAW, BEA, SAI, STR, ANT, GAS, COL, HAM, HUL, ALB
11: Radio for NOR telling him VER’s tyres are starting to grain up and NOR’s are in better shape
14: LAW gets a 5sec penalty for driving erratically
15/58: VER, PIA, NOR, LEC, ALO, RUS…
RUS pits from P6; hards; P14
HAD and BEA pit too; both go onto hards
16: BOR pits, as does COL
17: NOR pits, followed by LEC and ALO; they rejoin P9, P10 and P15
NOR has joined a DRS train behind LAW, i.e. a Red Bull driver
18: Radio from RUS complaining LEC is moving under braking
NOR dives inside ANT to take P8
NOR takes P7 from SAI
19: SAI pits; hards; P19
NOR lines up STR; passes STR and LAW in one move; NOR now P4
20/58: OCO pits; hards; P17
LEC past RUS, and then past STR and LAW in one move
21: VER, PIA, TSU, NOR, LEC, LAW, STR, RUS, ANT, HAM (HAM downwards have all stopped)
How difficult will TSU make it for NOR to pass him?
Radio for TSU telling him NOR is going to catch him in a couple of laps; “I know what to do” – not at all ominous
23: NOR has DRS to close on TSU
TSU’s dropped his lap time
NOR forced off track but at least there’s no contact
24: VER pits from P1; hards; P2
25/58: PIA, VER, NOR, LEC, TSU, RUS, STR, HAM, ANT, ALO
Replay shows NOR had all four wheels off the track when he passed TSU, but also TSU was weaving and squeezed NOR
Even the SkySports commentators say TSU isn’t allowed to do that, but now it’s down to the stewards to decide
26: Both NOR and TSU are under investigation
27: ALO takes P9 from ANT
29: RUS looking for a way round TSU
30/58: PIA, VER, NOR, LEC, TSU, RUS, STR, HAM, ALO, ANT, BOR, HUL, OCO, BEA, ALB, HAD, SAI, GAS, COL, LAW
RUS takes P5
TSU given 5sec penalty for weaving
No further action for NOR leaving the track – phew
31: I wonder when McLaren will pit PIA – it looks like he’s already been undercut by NOR
32: Radio for TSU telling him about the 5sec penalty; TSU claims innocence, but that is the Red Bull way
HAM pits; mediums; P19
33: TSU pits; serves 5sec penalty; mediums; P18
ANT pits too; mediums; P20
Only PIA and STR yet to pit
35/58: PIA, VER, NOR, LEC, RUS, STR, ALO, BOR, OCO, BEA, HUL, SAI, HAD, GAS, COL, HAM, TSU, LAW, ANT, ALB
Radio for NOR telling him they’ll follow LEC if the Ferrari pits
36: HAM takes P15 from COL
ALB noted for speeding in the pit lane – that’s usually an automatic penalty
37: Radio for PIA asking about the tyres; he says the rears are going off
HAM past GAS for P14
38: VER pushing hard, catching PIA but the McLaren still has to pit
39: ALB gets 5sec penalty for speeding in the pit lane
OCO around BOR for P8
40/58: PIA, VER, NOR, LEC, RUS, STR, ALO, OCO, BOR, BEA
HAM inside HAD for P13
LEC pits from P4; mediums; P5
NOR told to box
41: VER under 0.5sec behind PIA
NOR pits from P3; new hards; rejoins still P3
VER inside PIA to take P1 – “no shenanigans” say SkySports, but that’s what you expect from everyone but Red Bull
42: PIA pits from P2; mediums; still P2
The current order means NOR will be World Champion
LEC inside RUS for P4
43: Radio for PIA encouraging him to chase down VER
STR and HUL pit
HAM past BOR for P9
44: LEC about 1sec/lap faster than NOR and 4.5sec behind NOR – will PIA slow to give NOR DRS?
PIA is over 22sec behind VER – almost a full pit stop
45/58: VER, PIA, NOR, LEC, RUS, ALO, OCO, BEA, HAM, BOR, SAI, HAD, TSU, ANT, ALB*, STR, LAW, HUL, GAS, COL (*5sec penalty to be applied)
46: GAS given 5sec penalty for exceeding track limits
48: Radio from VER asking if LEC is catching NOR
ANT takes P13 from HAD
50/58: VER, PIA, NOR, LEC, RUS, ALO, OCO, HAM, BEA, BOR, SAI, TSU, ANT, STR, HAD, ALB*, HUL, LAW, GAS*, COL
51: The gap between NOR and LEC has stabilised at 4.5sec
HUL around ALB for P16
HAM has DRS behind OCO
52: VER’s second warning for exceeding track limits – why is he pushing so hard? He’s over 16sec clear of PIA
53: LEC is falling back from NOR
55/58: VER, PIA, NOR, LEC, RUS, ALO, OCO, HAM, BEA, BOR, STR, SAI, TSU, HUL, ANT, ALB*, HAD, LAW, GAS*, COL
NOR is slowly closing on teammate PIA
56: STR easily past BOR for P10
HUL past TSU for P13
58/58: VER laps next season’s teammate HAD
VER takes the chequered flag, followed by PIA and NOR… which means NOR takes the Drivers’ World Championship title
Provisional result: VER, PIA, NOR, LEC, RUS, ALO, OCO, HAM, BEA, STR; HUL, BOR, SAI, TSU, ANT, ALB*, HAD, LAW, GAS*, COL
NOR has a good blub in his helmet as he’s congratulated by his engineer and Zak Brown
He’s does some doughnuts on the grid before parking at the board that shows he’s World Champion
Congratulated by VER and PIA, and then his parents
Nice to see his mum give PIA a hug too
Fingers crossed there’s no post-race penalties that change the top 3
Penalties
Other than the in-race penalties, nothing yet
Final race classification: VER, PIA, NOR, LEC, RUS, ALO, OCO, HAM, HUL, STR; BOR, BEA, SAI, TSU, ANT, ALB, HAD, LAW, GAS, COL
Drivers’ Championship Points:
- NOR 423
- VER 421
- PIA 410
- RUS 319
- LEC 242
- HAM 156
- ANT 150
- ALB 73
- SAI 64
- ALO 56
- HUL 51
- HAD 51
- BEA 41
- LAW 38
- OCO 38
- STR 33
- TSU 33
- GAS 22
- BOR 19
- COL 0
- DOO 0
Constructors’ Championship Points:
- McLaren 833
- Mercedes 469
- Red Bull 451
- Ferrari 398
- Williams 137
- Racing Bulls 92
- Aston Martin 89
- Haas 79
- Sauber 70
- Alpine 22
[2025 calendar and driver line-up]
