30/10/2022
NEWS STORY
As we head into what should be a thrilling Mexico City Grand Prix, sadly, it is events that have little or nothing to do with the actual racing that are dominating the headlines.
According to the usual suspects, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton are involved in an online spat after comments the Spaniard made were taken completely out of context in the name of clickbait by the usual suspects and then seized upon by those keyboard warriors Liberty Media likes to refer to a "fans".
Meanwhile, it is claimed that Max Verstappen and Red Bull are boycotting Sky Sports following comments made after the United States Grand Prix, when Ted Kravitz said Hamilton was "robbed" of the 2021 title.
Whilst relishing the fact that this might mean less chats with Christian Horner, while ignoring the Kravitz row - which, again, has led to the inevitable meltdown on social media - at Pitpass we appear to have been boycotted by Red Bull for some months.
Following the summer break when racing resumed, we informed Red Bull that we were no longer receiving their press releases. This was initially put down to a technical issue, but since then we have sent numerous - OK, four - emails to Red Bull, including a particularly nice one after last week's race, that they haven't had the courtesy to reply to.
Therefore if you wonder why we no longer include the post-session quotes from Max, Sergio and Christian, now you know. We can't think of anything that we've done to offend them, and in all honesty, if that's their attitude, **** 'em!
Finally, in its quest to fill the coffers, Liberty Media, courtesy of its F1 Experiences has been giving access to the paddock to all and sundry... at a price.
You may have noticed that this year there have been increasingly more faces in the paddock than usual. Previously, it appeared to be mostly gurning Brits on a jolly paid for by the company, but now it's just about everyone, including children.
What used to be the holy of holies, the ultimate dream for most fans, is now open house, providing you have the mullah, and in the last few races you will have noticed that it's been getting ridiculous.
Things appear to have come to a head this weekend with drivers being jostled - and in Pierre Gasly's case having his man-bag opened - as 'fans' demand autographs and selfies as if this is their right.
Understandably, while the drivers want to please the fans, they stress that they have an important job to do, a job that demands total focus, which isn't possible when there are fans wandering into your garage.
Fact is, this is the F1 Liberty has created, and there's every likelihood it will get worse.
On to the serious stuff and there is every prospect of today's race being a thriller - didn't we say that earlier - even though Ferrari, in particular - appear to be struggling.
For the first time this year, Mercedes is heading into a race feeling that it can win, though Max has to be favourite.
Much will depend on that long, long run to the first corner, the longest run from pole to the first braking zone of the season, almost 10 seconds of the 811-metre straight taken at full throttle.
For the last four races here the pole-man has failed to covert his advantage to a victory, a run that Verstappen will be keen to end today.
On that long run to Turn 1 he is joined by the Mercedes pair, Sergio Perez, the Ferraris and Valtteri Bottas, and that little scrap alone could be well worth the price of admission.
"Starting second and third can be advantageous," said Toto Wolff yesterday, "and I hope we can stick our nose, or both noses, into Turn 1 and then disappear into the distance."
And right behind them we have the McLarens and Alpines who continues their fierce battle for fourth, ahead of a Noah's Ark style grid made up of the AlphaTauris, Haas', Aston Martins and Williams.
However, other than these various battles, as Lando Norris pointed out yesterday, Mexico is usually a race of attrition, and we expect today to be no different.
The nature of the high altitude track is particularly demanding of the engine and brakes, as several drivers have found to their cost, while grip is also proving to be a major issue.
The 71-lap race could be a two-stopper or a one-stopper, depending on degradation rates, which can vary from team to team and driver to driver - as well as being influenced by the weather.
A two-stopper is fastest on paper: starting on the soft before two stints on the medium. This strategy is only possible for the ten drivers who have two sets of mediums still available in their allocation. Soft-medium-soft is an alternative two-stopper.
A medium-hard one-stopper is close to that in terms of overall time while the alternative medium to soft one-stopper is definitely slower.
Just over an hour ahead of the race, Perez walks into the stadium section to a huge roar from his adoring countrymen. There has been talk of the team 'gifting' the win to him today, but that would be totally wrong and the last thing the Mexican would want. Sadly, even if he wins the race on merit, the thought that it was 'gifted' will remain.
The pitlane opens and the drivers begin to head out.
Magnussen, who has already been demoted five-places after taking on a new ICE, appears to have a "gearbox issue".
Grip is already a problem, as Alonso is seen drifting.
Air temperature is 24 degrees C, while the track temperature is 46 degrees. It is cloudy, with a 40% chance of rain.
Due to "PU temperatures", Ricciardo is told to abort his practice start.
As the children sing the national anthem, there appears to be an issue with the right-rear on Magnussen's car. The wheel is off as it was fouling the brake drum.
All are on mediums, bar Verstappen, Perez, Sainz, Leclerc, Tsunoda, Schumacher, Vettel and Latifi, who are on softs.
Verstappen is on used softs, while Russell and Hamilton are on new mediums. Perez and Sainz are on used sifts, while Bottas is on new mediums and Leclerc on used softs.
They head off on the formation lap, all getting away.
The grid forms.
They're away! Verstappen gets a brilliant start, while Hamilton is soon alongside Russell. Both Mercedes tuck in behind the Red Bull, while Perez pulls out and looks to pass.
Into Turn 1, Verstappen leads, with Russell behind and Hamilton and Perez side-by-side. Hamilton has the inside, but at Turn 2 it is the Mexican who has the inside.
Under pressure from the two behind, Russell clips the kerb on the inside of Turn 2, as Hamilton slips by. Russell runs wide and on the run to Turn 4 Perez inevitably gwets ahead.
Behind, the Ferraris are battling side-by-side, as Alonso waits on the slightest mistake.
Throughout the field there is the usual argy-bargy but nothing of consequence.
At the end of Lap 1, it's: Verstappen, Hamilton, Perez, Russell, Sainz, Leclerc, Alonso, Bottas, Ocon and Norris.
After 4 laps Verstappen's lead has settled at 1.5s, while Bottas is all over Alonso. The Finn heads a DRS train of three cars, while teammate Zhou heads another of five.
Lap 5 sees Hamilton post a new fastest lap (23.063).
On lap 7, Ricciardo makes a move on Zhou but the Alfa driver is having none of it. Vettel keeps a watching eye.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Mexico City here.
The Australian, king of the late brakers, finally nails Zhou on lap 9 to claim 12th. Next up is Tsunoda.
While the leading three - Verstappen, Hamilton and Perez - are covered by 2.1s, the Ferrari pair are around a further 7s behind, and not really making an impression on (fourth-placed) Russell.
"I'm sliding everywhere, man," complains Stroll, "I've got no ******* grip!"
Leclerc is the first driver to has a lap time deleted, the Monegasque exceeding the limits at Turn 2.
Gasly and Stroll wide at Turn 4 as they battle for 15th, the Frenchman rejoins ahead of the Aston Martin and will have to hand back the position. "Gasly forced me wide," declares Stroll.
"Just need to break this tow, Max, doing a great job," Verstappen is told.
As Albon closes on Stroll, the earlier (Gasly) incident is under investigation.
"You've got to tell me what to do," screams a struggling Stroll. The Canadian is told that everyone is hurting.
Lap 15 sees Verstappen post a new fastest lap (22.971), suggesting a pit stop is on the cards.
"I'm struggling a lot with the bouncing," says the Dutchman, "it's difficult to ride the kerbs."
Gasly is given a 5s time penalty for forcing Stroll off the track.
Stroll pits at the end of lap 17, rejoining in last (20th) position.
Sainz, the leading Ferrari, is now 10s down on Russell, the Ferraris clearly hurting, losing a second a lap to the leaders.
"Clear loss of pace from Verstappen," Russell is told, "it won't be long before they stop."
"Tyres start to struggle now in slow speed," says Verstappen, who maintains a 2.1s gap to Hamilton.
"Left-front does not want to turn," warns the Dutchman.
However, it is Perez who pits at the end of lap 23. Following a 5s stop, after an issue with the left-rear, he rejoins in 6th, 5.518s down on Leclerc. Latifi also pits.
"My tyres are OK, mate," advises Hamilton.
"My left-front is dead, guys," says Verstappen as Perez goes quickest in S1.
Verstappen pits at the end of lap 25, the world champion rejoins in third, ahead of Sainz and 14s down on Russell.
Perez is just 0.6s down on a struggling Leclerc as he posts a new fastest lap (21.995).
Perez sweeps by the Ferrari on the run to Turn 1, and the crowd roars its approval.
"The shifts are **** again," warns Verstappen.
"Still having cuts in my engine," reports Hamilton.
Leclerc pits at the end of lap 28, rejoining in 12th behind Ricciardo, Perez closes to within 0.5s of Sainz.
Hamilton pits at the end of lap 29, as does Sainz. Hamilton rejoins in third on hards, and Sainz 9th on mediums.
"Tyres are good, we can extend," says Russell who leads the race from Verstappen, who is 11.1s behind.
Lap 30 sees another fastest lap from Perez (21.775).
Hmm... "Let's put softs at the end," says Russell, which means extending this stint for some time.
Norris pits at the end of lap 31, the McLaren driver rejoining in 15th on hards.
Alonso enquires about the hards as he maintains 5th place.
Perez is closing in on third-placed Hamilton.
Ocon pits at the end of lap 33, rejoining in 13th.
At half-time, it's: Verstappen, Hamilton (+ 7.3s), Perez (+ 1.4s), Russell (+ 7.2s), Alonso (+ 14.5s), Bottas (+ 2.8s), Sainz (+ 2.1s), Leclerc (+ 3.9s), Ricciardo (+ 8.8s) and Zhou (+ 5.6s). Alonso, Bottas, Ricciardo and Zhou, however, have yet to stop.
"Vettel (currently 11th) is still out on softs," Ricciardo is told. "So we are considering Plan C." The Australian agrees.
"This tyre is not as good as the medium," says Hamilton. The team agrees.
Ocon passes future teammate Gasly for 12th.
"I can see him," says Perez of Hamilton who is just 1.2s ahead.
Vettel and Albon both pit at the end of lap 39, as does Magnussen.
A lap later it is Bottas that heads into the pitlane, the Finn rejoining in 10th on new hards.
Sainz passes Alonso to take 6th as the Spaniard subsequently pits. The two-time world champion rejoins in 8th on hards. Gasly also pits, as does Stroll.
Ocon passes Bottas but the Finn fights back for several corners, the pair almost coming to grief until the Frenchman is able to pull away.
Both Mercedes drivers are complaining about their tyres, both having opted for the hards.
Ricciardo (7th) and Zhou (8th) are the only drivers still to stop.
Russell complains that he's "sliding around a lot". Though 7s adrift of Perez, he is 24s clear of fifth-placed Sainz.
Ricciardo pits at the end of lap 45, rejoining in 13th, as Bottas mounts a fresh attack on Ocon.
Zhou pits at the end of lap 46, rejoining in 16th he is the last driver to make a scheduled stop.
As Verstappen enjoys a 9.9s lead over Hamilton, Perez is just 1.6s behind the Briton.
"Still having drop outs in power," warns Hamilton.
"George, it is a bit like Miami, they will come in eventually," Russell is told, the Briton advised that Perez will need to do 20 more laps than he (Russell) managed on the mediums.
Advised that his teammate is closing in, Norris is told: "If you have anything, now is the time to use it." Ricciardo is currently battling Tsunoda. They touch in Turn 4, the Japanese driver's right-rear riding over the McLaren's front-left.
The AlphaTauri heads back to the pits, where a new front wing is fitted. No, other than the fact that they can't remove the wing, there appears to be an issue with the suspension. He's out.
"What the **** was he doing," asks Tsunoda.
After telling his team that he's on the wrong tyre, Hamilton is told: "No Lewis, we think we're on the right tyre. We're going to get to the end, no sweat."
Gasly, Vettel and Zhou battling for 13th, as Ricciardo is handed a 10s penalty for "causing a collision".
Though Verstappen maintains an 11s lead over Hamilton, the gap the Briton enjoys over Perez remains static at around 1.5s.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Mexico City here.
Having lapped much of the field, next up for Verstappen is Leclerc, though, to save his blushes, the Ferrari driver is quite a bit ahead.
Despite that 10s penalty, Ricciardo - on softs remember - is flying, and closing in on (8th placed) Ocon.
While Gasly has disappeared up the road, Vettel and Zhou continues their scrap for 14th.
"I'm still not happy with this tyre," says Russell (again).
"That medium looks quick," mate, they're going to go to the end," says Hamilton.
Making short work of Alonso, Ricciardo sets about Ocon.
"Unbelievable, mate. What a season, what a season," moans Alonso, as Ricciardo finally nails Ocon for 7th.
"It may come to us," Hamilton is told. He asks the gap to Verstappen, when told that it is 13s there is silence.
On lap 64, Alonso appears to slow, while the TV cameras reveal some concerned faces on the Alpine pit-wall.
"Engine, engine," says Alonso as he pulls off track at Turn 4 on lap 65.
The VSC is deployed.
Out of his car, Alonso is cheered by the crowd. The Spaniard, who was clearly very angry as he climbed from the Alpine, acknowledges the crowd.
The VSC is withdrawn.
"Stay out, stay out," Russell, who fears he has a puncture, is firmly told as he asked to pit. Insisting his tyres are "gone", he is told that (Perez') "tyres are more gone than yours".
On lap 68 (of 71) Verstappen leads Hamilton by 14s, with Perez 4.3s behind. Russell is 5s down on the Mexican.
In 8th, Ocon is the meat in a McLaren sandwich. However, Ricciardo has that penalty. That said, he is 10.7s ahead of Ocon, so he should hold on to 7th.
Russell pits, the Mercedes driver once again going for the fastest lap.
Verstappen takes the flag, 15s clear of Hamilton. Perez is third, ahead of Russell, Sainz, Leclerc, Ricciardo, Ocon, Norris and Bottas.
As expected, Russell claims fastest lap with a 20.153.
Gasly is eleventh, ahead of Albon, Zhou, Vettel, Stroll, Schumacher, Magnussen and Latifi.
"In hindsight, maybe not the right tyre choice," admits Toto Wolff, "but we keep pushing."
"I gave my best today at the start, I really pushed hard," says Perez, as he acknowledges the crowd. "Unfortunately we had a bad stop to prevent us undercutting Lewis.
"Then, behind him, it was difficult to follow, so I had to stay in third.
"Still, it's a good podium and in front of this crowd... I really wanted more today but third is still good."
"First this has been an amazing crowd, I have so much love for Mexico and the people here," adds Hamilton. "I was so close in that first stint, but the Red Bulls were too quick today and maybe they had the better strategy. I'm not sure (the hard) was the right tyre in the end."
"An incredible result," grins Verstappen, "the pace of the car was very nice. We had to look after our tyres!"
We'd hoped for thrilling, but what we got was processional, and even by the end of the first lap it was clear that the much talked about six-way battle was a dream.
Like Toto said, Mercedes went the wrong way on tyres, but then again, on their current form nothing appears capable of stopping the Red Bull/Verstappen steamroller... which is exactly what we were saying about Mercedes and Hamilton a couple of season ago.
Now, if only Red Bulls comms team could perform as well.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Mexico City here.