24/06/2018
NEWS STORY
While this morning's F2 race took place in bright sunshine and the sort of temperatures one associates with the south of France, it is expected that things will be a little different this afternoon.
Currently it is predicted that there will be a thunderstorm around an hour before the race with further storms of varying intensity until this evening.
Aware how quickly conditions changed yesterday, and how only certain parts of the track were affected - reminiscent of Spa - who are we to argue.
If the forecasters get it wrong we are in for a Mercedes 1-2 as Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas make the most of that engine upgrade.
Sebastian Vettel will fight Max Verstappen for third, the Ferrari likely to have the advantage, while Daniel Ricciardo - who is hoping for either heavy rain or intense heat - will no doubt claim fifth.
Kimi Raikkonen, who had a dreadful Q3 yesterday, is likely to spend the afternoon swearing into his team radio or exchanging angry gestures with the Haas duo, particularly Kevin Magnussen.
Other than both its drivers running different set-ups - Ricciardo on high downforce (hence the desire for rain) and Verstappen on low - the Red Bulls, along with the Mercedes pair, are also on a different tyre strategy to Ferrari, as they will be starting on the supersofts while the red cars are on ultras.
While we all celebrated the return of F1 to France, and indeed Paul Ricard, there really is an element of 'same old, same old' about it, even down to the likelihood of it being a one-stopper.
Perhaps Fernando Alonso summed it up best yesterday, when he said: "The same as in the last few races," he predicted... "a train of cars all Sunday.
"Those on pole will be fastest, they will start first and run away. The second ones will start second and run away. The third ones will start third and will run away... the weather could play the most important part. If it rains like this morning or if there's changing conditions it will probably be a more chaotic race. If it doesn't rain, it will be more complicated to overtake."
And there you have it, the best chance of getting a decent race this afternoon is if the forecasters have got it right and the heavens open up.
Should that be the case, all bets are off, and almost any one of the 20 drivers on duty could spring a surprise... imagine the reaction were Charles Leclerc to do a Sebastian Vettel, emulating the time the German claimed his first win, in the Toro Rosso at Monza.
While not much can be expected of the Sauber, certainly in dry conditions, let's not forget that in his most recent outings young Mr Leclerc has given a very good account of himself in battles with the likes of Alonso, so is not likely to give up that eighth place without a fight.
An early clue as to the sort of mayhem we might witness this afternoon should the weather gods opt to have fun, is given when Sebastian Vettel arrives later for the drivers' parade and has to take a life in the Mercedes safety car in order to catch up with it.
According to Pirelli, the quickest strategy is a one-stopper. One stint on ultrasofts for 20-25 laps, followed by a stint on supersofts to the flag - though this strategy can also be reversed, so supersoft then ultrasoft. Second-quickest strategy is also a one-stopper. One stint on ultrasofts for 21 laps, followed by a stint on softs to the flag. Finally, there's also a chance of a two-stopper but it's not as quick. This would comprise two stints on ultrasofts of 19 laps each, then one stint on supersofts to the flag. These strategies are all weather dependent of course!
As the pitlane opens it appears that the race will start in sunshine however, the storms are still predicted to arrive within the first twenty minutes of the race.
Air temperature is currently 25 degrees C, while the track temperature is 47 degrees.
The national anthem - one of the better ones - out of the way, the drivers disappear ensuring that the extended media access is a waste of time.
Niki Lauda, asked if rain will play a part in today's race, looks up at the sky and shrugs his shoulders. "Being a pilot, no," he replies.
Of course, being that we are starting in the dry, the Ferrari duo must make the very most of those ultrasofts at the start and on the run to T1.
All are on ultras bar Hamilton, Bottas, Verstappen, Bottas, Gasly, Ericsson, Alonso and Vandoorne who are on supersofts, while Hulkenberg and Perez are on softs.
Verstappen is told that he will be kept informed in terms of wind direction, but is also advised to keep an eye on the flags around the track.
All get away on the parade lap without any issues.
They're away, and as they head towards T1, the Mercedes duo head off Vettel, while Ricciardo moves across to cover Raikkonen.
Into T1 and Vettel hits Bottas after locking-up, catching the left rear of the Mercedes. In the confusion Verstappen cuts the first corner in a bid to avoid the mayhem happening all around him.
"Nose damage," reports Vettel.
Further around, Gasly loses his car and takes out an innocent Ocon... a wheel from the stricken Force India bouncing across the run-off.
The safety car is deployed as the debris from the various incidents is cleared.
Hamilton leads Verstappen, Sainz, Ricciardo, Magnussen, Leclerc, Raikkonen, Perez, Grosjean and Hulkenberg.
Ocon and Gasly are both out while Bottas slowly heads back to the pits with a puncture. Stroll also pits, as do Sirotkin, Vettel, who has sparks flying his from his front wing which is askew and rubbing against the track, and Alonso.
Vettel rejoins in 17th behind Alonso, and ahead of Bottas, both the Ferrari and Mercedes drivers are now on softs.
The Vettel/Bottas incident is under investigation, the Gasly/Ocon incident also.
Gasly blames Ocon, claiming "I was on the inside and he didn't see me". Ocon, indeed, appearing to have had an earlier 'clash' with Grosjean. The Haas driver than had an encounter with Raikkonen.
Bottas is advised that Vettel is under investigation.
Replay shows Sainz doing brilliants to avoid the melee in T1 and take third in the process.
The Gasly incident will be investigated after the race.
At the end of lap 5, the safety car is withdrawn.
This time the field is nicely strung out and there are no incidents.
Leclerc is all over Magnussen, while further back Alonso spins at T4.
Raikkonen makes short work of Leclerc and sets off after Magnussen, three Ferrari-powered cars running together.
Next time around Leclerc and Grosjean are side by side into T1 with Perez and Hulkenberg right behind.
Out front Hamilton leads Verstappen by 1.3s with Sainz a further 3s behind.
Vettel is up to 13th while Bottas is still 16th.
Hamilton sets a blistering pace out front, the Briton posting a string of fastest laps.
As Raikkonen hangs on the rear of Magnussen, Vettel is all over Ericsson. The German nails the Swede at the Chicane and now sets his sights on Vandoorne.
Vettel passes Vandoorne with ease and now targets Hulkenberg, who should put up a bit more resistance.
Ricciardo passes Sainz in T8 and now seeks to close the 5sd gap to his Red Bull teammate.
Vettel is handed a 5s time penalty for causing a collision.
Told he needs to "clear Ericsson as quickly as possible", Hartley duly obliges. His next target won't be quite such a pushover, it's Bottas.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Paul Ricard, here.
As Raikkonen passes Sainz also, the Finn looks to close the 2s gap to Ricciardo. The Finn still on his ultras and the three leaders on supers.
Vettel goes down the inside of Hulkenberg at T11, the Ferrari now up to 10th.
Alonso passes Sirotkin to take 17th.
Grosjean is under investigation for leaving the track and gaining an advantage on lap 1... which surely must apply to Verstappen also.
Vettel is now all over Perez, but 24s down on his title rival.
The German passes the Mexican at the chicane, now setting off after Grosjean who is just 1s ahead.
In fact Vettel has three Ferrari-powered cars ahead, Grosjean, Leclerc and Magnussen - before he gets up to fifth placed Sainz.
Grosjean all but gets out of his car to wave Vettel past, as the Ferrari moves up to 8th.
Making great use of the tow from the Force India, Hulkenberg nails Perez at the chicane.
Moments later Bottas passes the Mexican and sets off after Hulkenberg.
"Let's get that Haas," Hulkenberg is told, "it looks like he's in trouble."
Sirotkin is under investigation for going unnecessarily slowly behind the safety car.
As he closes to within 3.4s of Ricciardo, Raikkonen posts a new fastest lap (36.769).
Vettel passes Leclerc at the chicane, the German going fastest in S2 in the process. Elsewhere, Hamilton responds with a new fastest lap (36.637).
Having been the slower of the Bulls for the last couple of laps, Verstappen now ups his pace and goes quickest in S1.
Vettel makes short work of Magnussen and now targets Sainz who is 1.6s ahead.
Bottas isn't finding it quite so easy, the Finn is currently 11th, all over the back of Grosjean.
Mercedes reveals that Bottas is losing downforce as a result of floor damage following that first lap tag with Vettel.
The Finn goes through on the inside in T11 to take 10th from Grosjean.
Vettel leaves Sainz for dead on the long run down the Mistral to the chicane, the German now up to fifth and 17s down on his next target, teammate Raikkonen.
"I just got pushed out the track again," complains Grosjean about the Bottas move.
"Possible rain in twenty minutes," Alonso is warned. "Still all to play for."
Magnussen and Leclerc are engaged in a great scrap for seventh, the Sauber around 2s clear of ninth-placed Hulkenberg.
"There's a bit of weather over the hills," Ricciardo is told, "be aware, we're watching it."
Leclerc appears to have tyre issues, as Magnussen gets away, the Sauber runs wide only to be subsequently passed by Hulkenberg.
Lap 24 sees another fastest lap from Hamilton (36.178).
"There is something wrong with the tyres," says Leclerc.
Verstappen pits at the end of lap 25, the Red Bull driver taking on softs. He rejoins just ahead of Vettel.
Yet another fastest lap from Hamilton (35.663) as he extends his lead over Ricciardo to 10.9s.
Sirotkin is given a 5s time penalty for driving unnecessarily slowly behind the safety car.
Sainz pits at the end of lap 26, rejoining in 15th behind Ericsson.
No further action to be taken over Grosjean gaining an advantage by running wide.
Replay shows Sainz locking-up as he entered the pitlane.
Ricciardo pits at the end of lap 28, the Australian rejoining in 5th behind Vettel.
Magnussen also pits, as does Perez. In fact, it's not a pit stop for Perez, he appears to be retiring.
"What happened," asks the Mexican. "Possible engine issue," he is told. That'll be the new updated Mercedes engine.
Grosjean is now under investigation for causing a collision on lap 1. WTF?
After 30 laps, it's: Hamilton, Raikkonen, Verstappen, Vettel, Ricciardo, Hulkenberg, Bottas, Leclerc, Grosjean and Vandoorne. However, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Leclerc and Vandoorne have still to stop.
Grosjean is given a 5s time penalty... which we are sure will be taken in the spirit in which it was given.
Leclerc pits at the end of lap 31 and switches to the supers, rejoining in 16th.
On his fresh rubber, Verstappen posts a new fastest lap (35.598).
Leclerc passes Stroll at the chicane to take 15th.
"Box, box, box, box," Hamilton is told on lap 33, he subsequently obeys. On softs he rejoins in second, 3.8s down on Raikkonen.
Elsewhere, Ricciardo is within DRS range of Vettel.
Raikkonen pits at the end of lap 34, switching to softs the Finn rejoins just behind Vettel who has been passed by Ricciardo, the German, on those old tyres, unable to offer any real resistance. "Nice job mate, good move," the Red Bull driver is told.
Grosjean pits at the end of lap 34 also.
On his fresh rubber, Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (35.348), as Leclerc passes Alonso for 13th.
At his stop Grosjean was told about the penalty, it didn't go down too well.
A new fastest lap from Raikkonen (34.810) as he hunts down his Ferrari teammate who is clearly struggling. The Finn is on supersofts.
Magnussen passes Vandoorne to take 9th, as Hulkenberg finally pits. The German rejoins in 10th on supers.
Leclerc is a man on a mission as he passes Hartley for 11th.
Raikkonen is all over Vettel, but the German isn't making it easy for his Ferrari teammate.
The Finn eventually passes the German on the back straight, Vettel currently lapping 2s off the pace.
Down in 12th Alonso isn't happy. "No brakes, no tyres, we're out of the points... I don't care too much."
Bottas pits at the end of lap 39, however a problem at the right-rear means it's a long stop. He rejoins in 9th on supers.
Next time around Vettel pits, rejoining in fifth, albeit 35s down on his teammate and 56s down on his title rival.
Vandoorne also pits.
Lap 41 sees another fastest lap from Raikkonen (34.594) as he closes to 5.4s of Ricciardo.
On fresh rubber, bow Bottas goes quickest (34.225).
Bottas and the Ferrari duo all setting a blistering pace, as Raikkonen sniffs a podium finish.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Paul Ricard, here.
With ten laps remaining, it's Hamilton, Verstappen (+5.2), Ricciardo (+11.7), Raikkonen (+2.9), Vettel (+35.1), Sainz, Magnussen, Bottas, Hulkenberg and Leclerc. Grosjean, 6.4s down on Leclerc, is the only other driver on the lead lap.
Ricciardo and Raikkonen weave their way through the backmarkers.
Vandoorne passes his McLaren teammate to take 12th, this seemingly the third successive race in which the Woking outfit hasn't scored any points.
Making full use of DRS, Raikkonen nails the king of the late brakers himself at the chicane, passing the Red Bull to take third.
A late stop (lap 47) for fresh rubber for Alonso.
With 5 laps remaining, Bottas is all over 7th placed Magnussen.
Ericsson passes Stroll for 13th, the Williams driver now under pressure from Hartley and Sirotkin.
"Loss of power," says Sainz as he falls into the clutches of Magnussen and Bottas. "Keep pushing," he is told, as he find himself losing positions and slipping down the order.
Out come the yellows as Stroll stops at T10. "Tyre blew," he reports.
Replay shows the tyre detonating and causing damage to the front wing as the car subsequently slithers into the barriers.
The virtual safety car is deployed as the wreckage from that wing is cleared.
With two laps remaining, it may well be that the race ends behind the safety car.
All of which has helped Sainz hold on to 8th.
The VSC is withdrawn with one lap remaining.
Now we need a cloudburst!
Hamilton takes the flag, and in the process retakes the title lead.
Bottas makes a late charge on Magnussen but it's too little too late.
As the flag is waved, Alonso is on the pits following an issue with his left rear after his late pit stop, but the Spaniard will still be classified, albeit 16th.
In summary, Hamilton win, ahead of Verstappen, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Vettel, Magnussen, Bottas, Sainz, Hulkenberg and Leclerc.
Grosjean is eleventh, ahead of Vandoorne, Ericsson, Hartley and Sirotkin.
Mercedes maintains a 23 point lead in the Constructors' Championship, while Hamilton now has a 14 point lead in the driver standings.
"I feel very grateful for a solid weekend," race winner Hamilton tells Franck Montagny, "and my guys, I've been with them six years and they're still pushing the boundaries, never giving up, so I'm forever grateful for all their work here at the track and back at the factory.
"This is a great day," he adds, somewhat breathlessly, "I enjoyed the race. The weather was good and the fans have been crazy today, it's been really good to see so many people. For me personally, it's the best French Grand Prix I've ever had."
"It was good," says Verstappen. "I tried to follow Lewis, he was controlling the pace but I had a good race. Of course, I didn't really have to work very hard for it but it's always good to be on the podium."
Asked by Jean Alesi about the start, he replies: "At the end of the day everybody was trying to go, trying to get a good position, and at the end of the day people can make mistakes."
"The track was slippery at the first corner," says Raikkonen, "I went on the outside, but it was the wrong side, so I had to slow down a bit. Then we did a decent recovery and in the end we had a lot of speed and I managed to get on the podium."
In the ante room ahead of the podium, Hamilton is surprised to see Vettel names 'driver of the day', the Briton feeling he was the deserved winner. However, he does agree with the time penalty handed to the German for that first corner clash with Bottas, feeling the Ferrari driver deserved more.
So much for those thunderstorms... now it's off to the Red Bull Ring where we can expect a certain home team to be keen to put on a show.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Paul Ricard, here.