27/09/2020
NEWS STORY
Should Ross Brawn be reading this, we have a few words of advice.
Back in the day he was a regular, he even thanked us once while running his own team after we tipped him off regarding some technical pictures which had been offered to us.
Now he's with F1 however, and the inhabitants of F1 Towers do not like us, in much the same way they don't like Christian Sylt.
They are not happy with the fact that we don't tow the party line or point out errors, requests for comment are ignored and we are even refused official press releases.
Anyway, as Ross continues to ponder ways to spice up the sport, not least with reverse grid, why not try reverse GP weekends.
By that we mean make Friday the big day and Sunday the afterthought, for at least that was drivers like Valtteri Bottas would have a cat in hell chance of beating Mr Hamilton.
On Friday, as is the norm, Valtteri set the pace - and what a pace it was - and then, despite everything thrown at him in qualifying, Mr Hamilton did what he always does, dominate.
While we're at it Ross, as technical boss of the sport, is it possible that you could make the cars just a little bit less bulletproof?
From 9 races this season, ignoring accidents, there have been 17 retirements. When you consider that one of these was due to a loose wheel and another two due to 'accident damage', that means that from 178 starts there have been just 14 DNFs due to engine or gearbox issues, brakes or electrics. Ye Gods, back in the day you could expect 14 retirements in one race.
All that aside, on paper today's race could be a bit of a thriller, should the pieces fall into place.
First off we have that half-mile (800m) drag race to Turn 2 - Turn 1 being a mere blip en route - which offers Max Verstappen (and Valtteri) the best chance of getting ahead of Hamilton. Of course, the Briton - following his qualifying nightmare - starts on softs, while his teammate and Verstappen start on the mediums.
However, just behind these are Perez, Ricciardo, Sainz, Norris and Gasly, who will be only too keen to profit from any mistakes ahead, assuming that don't in fact become the problem.
Other than being the best overtaking point on the circuit, Turn 2 is also where a number of drivers, including Hamilton, have been caught out by the crackdown on track limits, so caution will be the key.
Other than track limits, which are also being closely monitored in the final corner, the dusty and bumpy track surface has been catching drivers out all weekend, hence the number of incidents, be it crashes for Sainz, Latifi and Vettel, spins for just about everyone or mere excursions through the run-offs.
Adding to the grip issue is the fact that this year there are fewer support races, which is why from the outset drivers have been complaining.
Over enthusiasm, coupled with a dose of stupidity, was the root cause of this morning's F2 crash at Turn 3, which, if nothing else, should serve as a warning that this is a circuit that will bite back if you taunt it.
Thankfully, this means that, unlike some races, the result will not be decided at the first corner, especially when you factor in the tyre strategy of the three main contenders.
New gearboxes for Albon and Latifi overnight mean that both drivers incur 5-place grid penalties, dropping the Thai driver to 15th on the grid and the Canadian from 19th to 20th.
In terms of tyre strategy, the quickest is to start on the softs then switch to the hards after approximately 12 laps. Just as quick but very marginal on wear is softs for 14 laps and mediums for 39 laps. As usual, this can be done the other way round.
Slightly slower is a medium-hard one-stopper: mediums for 22 laps and hards for 31 laps.
Finally, the quickest two-stopper will involve two stints on the softs of 12 laps and one on the mediums, possibly running the medium in the 29-lap middle stint.
Of course, should Hamilton win today he will equal Michael Schumacher's record of 91 Grand Prix wins, a feat that just a few years ago seemed unimaginable. However, whether he does it today or next month, the Briton is clearly cruising towards his seventh title, equalling the legendary German is that achievement also.
At the other end of the grid, Kimi Raikkonen, who has lost none of his fire, today equals Rubens Barrichello of 322 starts, and to think that it wasn't that long ago Max Mosely deemed the Finn to young and inexperienced for F1.
The pitlane opens and one by one the drivers head out... and Hamilton is already in trouble, the Briton under investigation for performing a practice start outside the designated area.
Air temperature is 28.7 degrees C, while the track temperature is 41.6 degrees. It is bright and sunny. Risk of rain is 0%.
Other than Verstappen and Bottas, Leclerc, Stroll, Russell, Vettel, Grosjean, Giovinazzi, Magnussen and Latifi start on mediums. The rest are on softs, including Albon starting from 15th, bar Kvyat and Raikkonen who start on hards.
They head off on the warm-up lap. All getting away.
The grid forms.
They're away. Hamilton gets away well, as do Verstappen and Bottas, however the Finn crucially gets ahead of the Red Bull on the run to Turn 1.
As Verstappen harries the Finn, he in turn is under pressure from Ricciardo, and Turn 2, as Bottas attempts to go around the outside of Hamilton, Ricciardo has the inside line on the Dutchman.
Bottas runs a little wide as he seeks to pass Hamilton, while Verstappen misses the corner completely as does Sainz further back.
However, while the Dutchman rejoins the track correctly the Spaniard clips the barrier and bounces across the track.
"I made a mistake, I'm really sorry," says the Spaniard.
Norris, who lost a heap of positions after being bogged down at the entry to Turn 2, runs over some debris from his teammate's car, and expresses concern that there could be damage.
Verstappen makes short work of Ricciardo, while further back Stroll spins after getting a tap from Leclerc. The Racing Point appears to be out of the race.
At first the yellows are waved, and then the safety car is deployed.
Hamilton leads Bottas, Verstappen, Ocon, Ricciardo, Perez, Gasly, Leclerc, Magnussen and Grosjean. Both Haas' in the top ten!
Albon pits at the end of lap 1, as do Norris and Russell. All three switch to the hards.
Behind the safety car, Norris reports "something is not right".
"I've got some flat-spots," warns Magnussen, "they're not terrible, but they're there."
The safety car is withdrawn at the end of lap 5.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Sochi, here.
The field waits on Hamilton, who finally floors it. Unlike Tuscany there are no incident, the field spread out evenly.
Out front Hamilton posts a fastest lap (40.056), as he builds a 1.3s lead in just one lap.
At which point it is announced that the Briton has a 5s penalty for that practice start. Indeed he gets another 5s penalty for those two practice starts. That's 10s.
At the other end of the filed, Norris has passes Albon for 18th.
Verstappen complains that he has no rear grip, as Raikkonen passes Latifi for 14th. The Canadian complaining that he has "no power".
Perez is being looked at for not following the rejoining instructions at Turn 2.
Told about his penalties, Hamilton asks: "XXXX," he replies, "where is that in the rule book?"
Russell, Norris and Albon are involved in a real scrap for 16th, the three pals not giving one another any quarter.
Bottas is told to start closing the (1.522s) gap to Hamilton. Verstappen is a further 1.4s behind.
A massive lock-up for Russell as he continues to fend off Albon and Norris.
"We're going to need to up the pace," Hamilton is told, the Briton already seeing wear on those softs is told that he will soon be pitting.
"Do not stop me guys, do not," warns Hamilton as he goes quickest in S2, subsequently crossing the line at 39.773.
Perez is all over Ricciardo as they battle for 5th. The Mexican makes a brilliant move on the Renault in Turn 4, gently squeezing the Australian out as he holds the racing line.
As Ricciardo pits, Hamilton posts another fastest lap (39.693).
At the end of lap 16, Hamilton finally pits. He serves the full 10s penalty and rejoins in 11th, ahead of Raikkonen and Ricciardo. Giovinazzi also pitted.
With Albon have passed Russell and set off after Ricciardo, Norris now passes the Williams.
"Why did we have to serve it, why not add it after the race," asks Hamilton.
Grosjean and Latifi both pit at the end of lap 18.
Out front, 4.4s clear of Verstappen, Bottas posts a new fastest lap (39.439).
As Ocon and Gasly pit, Hamilton passes Vettel to take seventh. Ocon rejoins in 9th and Gasly 13th, behind Albon.
Magnussen pits at the end of lap 19, rejoining in 14th, just ahead of his Haas teammate.
Perez, running third, pits at the end of lap 20, the Mexican rejoining in 6th, behind Hamilton.
The leading three, Bottas, Verstappen and Leclerc, have yet to pit and all are on mediums. Likewise Vettel, who in 7th has a train of drivers running in his wake.
All of which is good for Perez who has a 5.4s lead over Vettel.
"I don't want info any more Bono," says Hamilton, "it doesn't make any difference," the Briton still feeling he was brought in too early.
As Ocon continues behind Vettel, the Frenchman is ordered to let his Renault teammate through. However, in the process the Australian runs wide at Turn 2 and rejoins the track incorrectly.
Verstappen pits at the end of lap 25. He rejoins in 4th, ahead of Hamilton.
A lap later Bottas pits, the Finn rejoining still in the lead.
Sure enough, Ricciardo is under investigation for failing to follow the race director's instructions.
Vettel firmly slams the door on former teammate Ricciardo, who has Ocon in hot pursuit.
No mistakes at Turn 13, as last of the late brakers, sweeps by the Ferrari.
At which point the Australian is handed a 5s penalty for his Turn 2 misdemeanour.
Albon pits at the end of lap 27, switching the youngster to mediums.
Ocon passes Vettel for 8th as Leclerc pits. The Ferrari driver rejoins in 7th, behind Ricciardo but ahead of Ocon. Prior to the stop Ocon had been told to push as hard as he could, clearly it wasn't enough.
Hamilton closes on Kvyat, and as the Briton prepares to pass the Russian, Verstappen is a further 12.6s up the road.
Kvyat pits at the3 end of lap 30, as does Vettel. The Russian rejoins in 8th and the German in 15th.
Told of his penalty, Ricciardo says he'll make up for it, the time to be added to his race time.
"I don't care about behind, what's the gap in front," demands Gasly.
After 33 laps of 53, it's: Bottas, Verstappen, Hamilton, Perez, Ricciardo, Leclerc, Ocon, Kvyat, Raikkonen and Gasly, though the Alfa driver has yet to pit.
Gasly sweeps by Raikkonen, who offers no resistance, to take 9th.
Bottas, having gone quickest in S1, is told to maintain his pace for four more laps as he enjoys a 13.4s lead over Verstappen.
Appraised of the situation, Verstappen responds: "I'll focus on my own race."
Raikkonen pits at the end of lap 35, the Finn rejoining in 16th behind former teammate Vettel following an issue with his front-left
Kvyat closes on 7th placed Ocon.
12s down on Bottas and 10s ahead of Hamilton, Verstappen posts a PB (38.432).
Albon makes a typically great move on Giovinazzi, albeit for 13th.
"That's me boys, I really don't know what to do," says Grosjean, "I've no rears, it like back to Friday." The Frenchman is currently 12th, 5s behind his Haas teammate.
To add to his woes, Grosjean runs wide as he is passed by Albon, and in the process loses ground to Giovinazzi also.
Lap 41 sees Bottas go quickest in S1, with Hamilton going quicker moments later. The Briton is now 9s behind Verstappen.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Sochi, here.
Vettel, who has had an anonymous afternoon, passes Grosjean in Turn 2 for 14th. In the process the pair touch and the Haas runs wide and over the markers.
The incident has been "noted".
The VSC is deployed in order that new track markers (polystyrene bollards) can be installed following Grosjean's demolition derby.
The VSC is immediately withdrawn, which is bad news fort Gasly who has pitted thinking it would last a little longer. He rejoins in 11th on mediums.
After 44 laps, it's: Bottas, Verstappen (+11.2s), Hamilton (+9.5s), Perez (+9s), Ricciardo (+12.7s), Leclerc (+8.3s), Ocon (+6.6s), Kvyat (+0.6s), Norris (+20.8s) and Albon (+0.3s).
As Gasly closes on Albon and Russell, the Red Bull and McLaren drivers are in their own little world as they battle for 9th.
As the pair battle, Albon makes a mistake which not only allows Norris to get clear, but Gasly to close in and pass the Thai.
Unsurprisingly, Grosjean is under investigation for that Turn 2 incident earlier.
Gasly is now all over Norris, the Frenchman on 3-lap old mediums and the Briton on 44 lap old hards. The end result is inevitable.
As Gasly disappears up the road, Albon closes in on the McLaren.
A mistake by Norris on the back straight sees the Briton lock-up heavily, thereby allowing Albon through.
He subsequently pits, rejoining in 15th on mediums as Verstappen posts a new fastest lap (37.715). The Red Bull driver is currently 7s down on Bottas and 11.2s clear of Hamilton.
Giovinazzi makes a good move on Magnussen for 11th.
Lap 51 (of 53) sees Bottas go quickest in S1. Is the Finn looking to go for that fastest lap point?
In fact, Gasly posts a new fastest lap (37.231), but this is instantly eclipsed by Bottas (37.030)
At the other end of the field, Raikkonen is all over former teammate Vettel.
A late stop for Russell, who switches to a fresh set of softs.
As we ponder whether Russell is targeting fastest lap, Hamilton goes quickest in S1.
Bottas takes the flag as Hamilton has aborts his lap and 'settles' for third. Further back, Kvyat is all over Ocon as they battle for seventh, however, the Frenchman holds off the Russian.
Verstappen is second, ahead of Hamilton, Perez, Ricciardo, Leclerc, Ocon, Kvyat, Gasly and Albon.
A 5s time penalty for not rejoining the track properly at Turn 2 doesn't actually affect Albon who remains 10th, likewise Ricciardo who remains 5th despite his penalty.
Giovinazzi is eleventh, ahead of Magnussen, Vettel, Raikkonen, Norris, Latifi, Grosjean and Russell.
Not the thriller we'd hoped for but certainly controversial for those two penalties for Hamilton are going to be discussed long into the night.
Indeed, with 10 penalty points the world champion is only two points away from a race ban.
In terms of history, Hamilton has to wait another couple of weeks, while Raikkonen 'celebrates' his 322nd race with a typically bullish performance.
Bottas dedicates the race to his "critics", repeating his infamous "to whom it may concern" mantra.
Indeed, even as he speaks, social media is alive with 'Bottas' one of many trends, along with 'Hamilton', 'Lewis' and 'Albon'.
However, as Bernie would argue, all publicity is good publicity... isn't it?