11/09/2022
NEWS STORY
It was at Monza two years ago that Ross Brawn insisted reverse grids were the way to add spice to F1.
The F1 MD was speaking in the wake of an Italian Grand Prix that proved to be a perfect storm in terms of those chains of natural events that can turn races on their heads.
Lewis Hamilton was penalised for entering the pitlane while still closed after Kevin Magnussen had stopped on track. Then, following a huge crash for Charles Leclerc, the race was re-started, only for Hamilton to be handed a time penalty that subsequently dropped him to the back of the field.
Due to the various tyre strategies and the timing of the incidents, at the re-start the original grid was basically reversed and with Hamilton indisposed the way was open for teammate Valtteri Bottas to clean up but the Finn basically missed an open goal.
At race end it was Pierre Gasly who took a famous victory, ahead of Stroll, Norris, Bottas, Ricciardo, Hamilton, Ocon, Kvyat and Perez.
"Yesterday's race showed the excitement a mixed-up pack can deliver and with next year's cars remaining the same as this year, our fans could be treated to the similar drama we saw this weekend at Monza," opined Brawn in his post-race debrief.
"With a reverse grid sprint race, teams will set their cars up differently," he insisted. "Right now, Mercedes set their cars up to achieve the fastest lap and then to control the race from the front. If they know they have to overtake, they will have to change that approach. We will continue to evaluate new formats with the aim of improving the show but always maintaining the DNA of Formula 1.
"What was fascinating was watching how the Mercedes - with such superior aerodynamics over its rivals - had such difficulties overtaking. You could see Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas' performance was compromised by being out of position in the pack. It was astonishing how such a dominant car struggled in traffic."
Thankfully the evidence wasn't convincing enough, and the reverse grid concept has been consigned to history.
However, looking at today's grid, it appears Brawn might have found another means of achieving his dream.
Courtesy of the grid penalties handed out to nine drivers, only one - pole-sitter Charles Leclerc - starts from the same position in which he qualified.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen starts from seventh, and Carlos Sainz and Hamilton from the back row.
With George Russell now joining Leclerc on the front row, and the McLarens of Lando Norris and (2021 winner) Daniel Ricciardo right behind, Brawn will be salivating.
However, as we have said before, when these circumstances come about naturally it is fun to watch, but today's grid is the result of engine penalties and it is artificial.
However, as Brawn no doubt prepares another call for reverse grids, let's make the most of what we've got, and what we've got is intriguing.
Leclerc has an open goal, but this is Ferrari we are talking about, therefore it remains to be seen how the likes of Russell and Norris can capitalise on the early absence of Verstappen.
The world champion has problems of his own, for he has that wily old fox, Fernando Alonso ahead of him and rookie Nyck de Vries behind.
Sergio Perez starts from 13th, ahead of Ocon, Bottas and the Haas pair, while Sainz and Hamilton fill the back row.
This being Monza, overtaking isn't easy, and the fear is that this afternoon could be one long DRS train. Indeed, Hamilton half-jokingly suggested that he might take an iPad with him in order to watch Game of Thrones during the race.
Sadly, with the sun shining the Weather Gods look unlikely to lend a hand, while Pirelli admits that it is likely to be a one stopper.
However, this is Monza, a circuit that is known for throwing up surprises, just ask Gasly or Ricciardo, so perhaps its best to forget about Brawn and his desire to spice things up and just sit back and enjoy what we have.
The best one-stopper on paper involves starting on the soft to make the most of its initial grip, before moving onto the hard, which should provide a consistent and competitive performance in the warm conditions. The alternative one-stopper consists of a longer initial stint on the medium before then going on to the hard.
The pitlane opens and Verstappen is first out, but soon he is joined by his rivals.
Leclerc complains that his car is bottoming more than normal.
Air temperature is 27 degrees C, while the track temperature is 43 degrees. Risk of rain is 0%.
Ahead of the minute's silence for Her Majesty The Queen, Sylvester Stallone is spotted on the grid, the actor who tried hard to make an F1 movie a few years back but was thwarted by a certain Mr E.
Having admitted that he'll be happy to finish second, Verstappen makes a pint of shaking (Ferrari chairman) John Elkann's hand.
All are on mediums bar Leclerc, Russell, Verstappen, de Vries, and Ocon who are on (fresh) softs. As ever - and, no, we don't know why - the Aston Martins start on used (medium) tyres.
Verstappen clearly on an all-out attack strategy, as are Leclerc and Russell.
They head off on the formation lap. The field is incredibly strung out, and as Leclerc heads into the Parabolica, Tsunoda is still rounding the second Lesmo.
The grid forms.
They're away! Great starts from both Leclerc and Russell, while further back Gasly is quick out of the stall. Into the first part of the first chicane, Leclerc is on the inside with Russell to his left, Ricciardo is third, just ahead of Verstappen and Gasly.
Norris has had a dreadful start, thought to be anti-stall related and has lost a number of places.
Zhou misses the first part of the first chicane, and Russell misses the second, while further back Bottas and Magnussen touch, leaving Hamilton no option but to also cut the second part of the chicane as he takes avoiding action.
"He pushed me wide," complains Russell of Leclerc.
At the end of lap 1, it's: Leclerc, Russell, Ricciardo, Verstappen, Gasly, Norris, Alonso, de Vries, Zhou and Vettel. Sainz is up to 16th while Hamilton is 19th.
Verstappen p[asses Ricciardo at the first chicane for third, as Stroll passes his Aston Martin teammate for 10th.
Sainz passes Perez for 15th, the Mexican having made a poor start.
At the start of lap 3, Verstappen, who posted a new fastest lap (26.181), is all over Russell, while Gasly is harrying Ricciardo.
At the start of lap 5, Verstappen nails Russell as they head into the first chicane, while Sainz is up to 12th and Perez 14th. Hamilton is 18th.
"Stay with Sainz, follow Sainz," Perez is told.
In fourth, Ricciardo heads a DRS train of 10 cars.
In rapid succession Sainz passes both Aston Martins, while Perez passes Ocon for 13th.
After 6 laps, Verstappen is 2.1s down on Leclerc, while Russell has fallen 1s behind the world champion.
"Fronts are washing out quite a lot," warns Russell.
Lap 7 sees a new fastest lap from Verstappen (25.297), as Perez pits. The Mexican heads out in last position on hards, but there is smoke coming from his front-right.
"There's something strange on the right disk," he reports.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Monza here.
Having passed Zhou and de Vries, Sainz is up to 8th. Next up is countryman Alonso.
Unseen, Hamilton has passed Latifi and Magnussen for 15th.
The crowd roars as Sainz passes Alonso for seventh.
"If Verstappen goes to Plan B, we go to Plan C," Leclerc is told.
That's another one down as Sainz passes Norris with relative ease.
"I'm losing power," reports Vettel as smoke billows from the rear of his car.
He subsequently parks by the side of the track just after the second Lesmo.
As Sainz passes Gasly for fifth, the VSC is deployed.
"What do you think about boxing for Plan A," Leclerc is asked. "It will be tight," he replies, but duly pits.
He rejoins in third, just ahead of Ricciardo, on mediums, the only driver to take advantage of the VSC which is almost immediately withdrawn.
Sainz passes Ricciardo for fourth, as Verstappen is advised that Leclerc faces a very long stint on his mediums.
Gasly makes a move on Ricciardo at the first chicane but overshoots it. He passes the McLaren but is told to give the position back.
So, after 14 laps, Verstappen leads Russell by 5.5s with Leclerc a further 11.7s behind.
Leclerc posts a new fastest lap (25.257).
Hamilton is currently 13th, and stuck in that DRS train which Ricciardo is still heading.
Latifi pits at the end of lap 15, while Leclerc is told not to "short shift". The Monegasque isn't happy. "Make sure the engine is right," he says.
Magnussen is given a 5s time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
Hamilton passes Stroll for 11th.
Norris picks off Alonso for 7th.
Gasly pits at the end of lap 18, as do Zhou and Stroll.
De Vries is shown the black and white flag for exceeding track limits.
Ricciardo and de Vries pit at the end of lap 19, as do Ocon and Tsunoda.
Ricciardo rejoins in 12th, ahead of Gasly, de Vries, Zhou and Ocon.
Hamilton passes Schumacher for 7th.
Sainz calling on his team to pit him, the Spaniard concerned that his stint is being extended too long.
Perez passes Bottas for ninth, to the delight of the Mexican's father.
"We have a problem with the deployment," warns Alonso, "is everything normal?"
Russell pits at the end of lap 23, the Briton rejoining in fourth on hards.
As Perez passes Schumacher for 8th, Hamilton aborts a move on Alonso.
Magnussen pits at the end of lap 24, rejoining in 19th.
Verstappen pits next time around, handing the lead back to Leclerc. The crowd roars.
Verstappen rejoins in second, 9.9s down on the race leader. Sainz is 7.8s behind.
Hamilton nails Alonso for 6th on the pit straight at the start of lap 27.
Verstappen posts a new fastest lap (25.012) as he closes to within 8.7s of the leader.
At the end of lap 30, Sainz pits. Switching to softs he rejoins in 8th, 2s down on Perez.
Alonso pits at the end of lap31, however it appears to be 'game over' for the Spaniard as his team reports an issue.
Sainz is all over the back of Perez, as the Spaniard takes full advantage of his softs.
Leclerc pits at the end of lap 33, the Monegasque, like his teammate, switching to fresh softs. As he rejoins in second, 19s down on the leader, Hamilton also pits, as does Schumacher.
On fresh softs, Hamilton passes Zhou for eleventh.
Norris pits at the end of lap 35, it's a slow stop which sees him rejoin in 6th, just behind his McLaren teammate. As he enjoys a brief skirmish with Gasly, he is passed by Hamilton and then the Frenchman, dropping him to ninth.
Lap 37 sees a new fastest lap from Leclerc (24.510), but he remains 19s down on his title rival.
Unseen, courtesy of those fresh softs, Norris has passed Gasly and Ricciardo for 7th.
Another fastest lap from Leclerc (24.336) but still the gap is 19.1s.
As he lines up Gasly ahead, de Vries has his mirrors full of Zhou.
In third, Russell is 8s behind Leclerc, with Sainz 15s further back.
"A busy couple of laps there, but really nice work," Hamilton is told.
"Cool the brakes, cool the brakes," Stroll is told, "we're going to retire the car."
A great move sees Schumacher pass Latifi for 14th. The Canadian fights back and retakes the position only for the Haas driver to take it right back again.
With 10 laps remaining, as Latifi is passed by Bottas, Leclerc remains 17.7s down on Verstappen.
Perez pits at the end of lap 43, rejoining in 7th, behind Hamilton and Norris, on fresh softs.
De Vries is under intense pressure from Zhou, the Williams driver really punishing his mediums.
"No comms please, I'm busy," urges Norris, who is under increasing pressure from Perez.
Having dropped Zhou, de Vries is closing on Gasly.
Oh dear, Ricciardo has parked up just before the second Lesmo. "Engine," he sighs.
In the pitlane, the Ferrari crew gathers, and as Perez posts a new fastest lap 24.030, Russell pits as does Sainz. As the safety car is deployed, Magnussen also stops.
"Can we make a free stop?" asks Verstappen. "Yes," comes the reply. He pits, as does Norris.
Next time around Leclerc pits, as do Tsunoda and Latifi.
The marshals are having great difficulty removing Ricciardo's McLaren and it looks as though the race might finish behind the safety car.
Verstappen is appraised of the tyre situation. He is on fresh softs, Leclerc and Russell on scrubbed softs and Sainz on fresh softs.
Stuck in gear, the marshals have given up any pretence of moving it.
As the safety car waits on Verstappen to fall in line, having initially picked up Russell, the Briton is on the other side of the side of the circuit with the majority of the field. Once again, F1 shoots itself in the foot.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Monza here.
"It's not looking like this will restart at the moment," Verstappen is told.
"Come on," urge a number of drivers as the crowd voices its frustration.
At the start of lap 53, the last lap, race control announces that the safety car will be withdrawn at the end of the lap.
Motorbike legend Giacomo Agostini waves the chequered flag on one of the most disappointing finishes since... well, Abu Dhabi.
As the field crosses the line the crowd continues to voice its anger and frustration.
"Wow, wow, thank you very much," says de Vries when told that he's finished P9. "This is incredible, points on debut. Thank you.
"Great job," he is told by team boss Jost Capito. "My shoulders, my shoulders are dead, dead," replies the youngster.
Verstappen wins, ahead of Leclerc, Russell, Sainz, Hamilton, Perez, Norris, Gasly, de Vries and Zhou.
Ocon is eleventh, ahead of Schumacher, Bottas, Tsunoda, Latifi and Magnussen.
"It doesn't matter if we are fast or slow, we keep getting these podiums," says Russell. "We had to do something different to Charles and Max, but they were just too quick for us today."
"The end was frustrating," adds Leclerc, "unfortunately we were second but overall I gave it my all.
"I wish I could have won in front of the amazing Tifosi today. I'm not extremely happy with the race because we finished P2. It just wasn't enough."
"We had a great race," grins Verstappen, "we were quickest on every compound.
"Overall, we had a really good day. It was enjoyable to drive today even though it was hot out there. Finally, get to go on a great podium like this."
Tomorrow FIA president, Mohammed ben Sulayem is due to host an F1 Summit with race officials and team bosses, and one would hope that this weekend's debacle will be up for discussion, be it the engine penalties or that damp squib of an ending.
Fans booing at the end of a race is not a good look for the sport, and though this will be quietly edited out from the highlights and the sanitised version that appears on Netflix , the damage has been done.
We are told that F1 is a multi-billion dollar sport, it must therefore start work on finding solution to issues such as this.
Yes, there are rules, there is procedure, but in the sport's new era when we are constantly told that F1 is about entertainment... well, those last few laps behind the Safety Car were not entertaining, not for anyone.