23/06/2024
NEWS STORY
With the days of 'Bore-celona' (hopefully) a distant memory, the media, especially broadcasters, is ramping up the hyperbole... then again, how else to keep existing fans glued to their seats 24 weekends a year while enticing newcomers to shell out for the ever increasing subscriptions.
While it has been an entertaining weekend thus far, with the top teams and drivers separated by thousandths of a second in almost every session, did we really hear right yesterday when we were helpfully advised that this year's is the best, closest, most exciting racing ever?
Wasn't it just two weeks ago, when George Russell and Max Verstappen posted exactly the same time in qualifying, that fans were told of the time that three drivers once posted exactly the same time in qualifying for the season finale? Indeed, didn't the subsequent race see the title decided in the most dramatic, controversial circumstances in living memory... Adelaide 1994 and Abu Dhabi 2021 aside?
No doubt the F1 broadcasters' colleagues working in football are telling viewers that the current England side is the best ever...
All that aside, today does have all the ingredients for a classic - though the Weather Gods are unlikely to play a part.
Already under intense pressure, Max Verstappen and Red Bull have a serious fight on their hands, as convergence and the budget cap finally begin to pay off... just in time for the next rules overhaul.
Norris' qualifying lap was mega, absolutely superb, and must have come as a shock to the Dutchman. That said, the RB20 still appears to have the best race pace.
However, despite Toto Wolff's negativity, the Mercedes pair are up there also, with the Ferrari duo in hot pursuit.
Adding to the spice is the chasing pack, led by a seemingly resurgent Alpine, Piastri, Perez, Alonso, Bottas and Hulkenberg.
As is so often the case however, the race cannot be won on the first lap, however it can be lost.
Too many times over the years we have seen drivers allow themselves to be overcome by over enthusiasm, and with so much at stake today, it would be all too easy to forget the lessons of the past.
Other than getting around the first complex of corners without any problems, the other major factors today will be strategy and tyre deg, while the wind has also caused a few problems over the last couple of days.
Temperatures for qualifying were around ten degrees down on FP2, and while this drop did not have any significant effect over a flying lap, it could be an important factor today.
According to Pirelli the medium and soft dry compounds offer the best performance. On paper, the quickest strategy involves the use of two sets of soft and one of medium. A one-stop strategy can be ruled out because it's too slow, but the idea of a four stint, three-stop race is not so far-fetched, being only a handful of seconds slower than a two-stop.
How the drivers manage tyre performance over each stint will also be very important, something which the teams worked on very carefully in the final free practice session.
Other than the Norris/Verstappen battle, and without wishing to be seen as the lunatics and conspiracy theorists that Toto Wolff referred to, the battle between the Mercedes pair should be good also, with Russell making no secret of his anger at his teammate's "prepping" antics yesterday.
Then we have the Ferraris literally head-to-head, not to mention the Alpine pair, who start alongside one another thanks to Perez' grid penalty.
As a reminder, the Mexican was handed a 3-place drop for driving his car in an unsafe condition in Canada, while Logan Sargeant has also been given a 3-place penalty for impeding Lance Stroll. Also, having taken on a new Energy Store and Control Electronics, in excess of the permitted number, Alex Albon will start from the pitlane.
The pitlane opens and Hulkenberg leads the way, followed by Verstappen, Perez, Magnussen and Zhou.
Air temperature is 24 degrees C, while the track temperature is 41 degrees, similar to Friday afternoon. It is bright and sunny, as Hamilton is advised that the "wind has picked up" and is "the strongest of the weekend".
Given a list of things to check, Leclerc asks if it is "urgent", he is told that it is.
Among the last to take their places on the grid are Perez, Sainz and the Mercedes pair.
Though the Dutch Grand Prix is a week away, the Orange Army has a very visible presence here today, thousands of them dancing away in anticipation of Verstappen doing the business.
Smooth Operator plays over the PA, a possible omen?
As the national anthem plays, Race Control claims that there is a 20% chance of rain. So, those Weather Gods could play a part... bring it on!
Asked if he believe a podium is possible, Sainz replies: "It's the main target, a good fight with the Mercs, we think Lando and Max are a step ahead."
"It's hotter and it's windier, and this race will all be about the left-hand side tyres," says Christian Horner, "whoever does the best job protecting it will win it.
"On Friday the cars all looked very, very close so anything could happen today."
All are starting on softs bar Albon who is on mediums. Norris, Leclerc, Sainz, Alonso, Bottas, Hulkenberg, Stroll, Zhou, Magnussen, Tsunoda, Ricciardo and Sargeant all on fresh rubber.
They head off on the formation lap, all getting away cleanly.
The track temp is up to 42 degrees.
The grid forms.
They're away! Norris appears to get the better start, nudging ahead of Verstappen. As they close on the opening corner, the McLaren driver moves to his right forcing the Red Bull towards the grass.
Behind, Russell moves to his left to cover Leclerc, while Sainz is alongside Hamilton.
As they go into Turn 1, Verstappen is on the inside and Russell on the outside, caught in the middle Norris hesitates.
The Mercedes driver takes the lead, ahead of Verstappen and Norris, who is now under pressure from Hamilton. Further back, Alonso runs wide.
"I got pushed off on to the grass," complains Verstappen.
At the end of Lap 1, it's: Russell, Verstappen, Norris, Hamilton, Leclerc, Sainz, Gasly, Piastri, Ocon and Hulkenberg. Like Russell, Hulkenberg has made up three places, while that off cost Alonso two.
"Might be our best opportunity now max. Think wisely." The Dutchman responds and nails the Mercedes into Turn 1courtesy of DRS and the sheer speed of the RB20. In no time at all he has a 1s lead.
Verstappen and Norris have been noted for forcing another driver off track.
"Ah, he closed on me, Carlos," moans Leclerc.
"He touched me. We collided, he pushed me off," says Sainz. "He touched my rear-right, so I was clearly ahead."
"These guys are pushing very hard," says Russell. "I need to cool the tyres."
After 6 laps, Verstappen leads Russell by 1.4s with Norris 0.87s behind, 0.95s ahead of Hamilton.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Barcelona here.
As Bottas passes Alonso for 13th, one wonders if the Aston Martin has damage as a result of that off, which appeared to be have been caused by a nudge from behind.
Asked to confirm "pushing level", Russell sighs: "More than the others!"
As Piastri closes on Gasly, Zhou pits. Perez still running in eleventh, the position in which he started.
"I can't get close," moans the Mexican as he trails Hulkenberg, while Norris complains of "too much dirty air".
Magnussen pits at the end of Lap 10, as Zhou passes the struggling Tsunoda.
Bottas pits next time around, the Finn rejoining in 17th on another set of softs.
Hulkenberg has been noted for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, while his teammate has been noted for a false start. The German subsequently pits.
"I had a bit of a moment in Turn 7," admits Verstappen, despite which he enjoys a 3.2s lead.
Ocon and Perez both pit at the end of Lap 13, rejoining in 14th (Ocon) and 15th.
"We're considering box to overtake," Norris is told. "Yeh, let's do something," he replies.
Gasly pits at the end of Lap 14, however it's a problematic stop and he rejoins in 13th.
Magnussen gets a 5s penalty for a false start.
"Box, box," Russell is told, as Mercedes reacts to the McLaren radio call. Sainz also pits as Norris says out. Russell, who has a slow stop, and Sainz head down the pitlane side-by-side, rejoining in 8th (Russell) and ninth.
Hamilton pits at the end of Lap 16, as does Ricciardo. The Briton rejoins in ninth.
"We could cover Russell this lap, what do you think," Norris is asked. "No, I think we stick with Max," he replies.
Verstappen duly stops, at the end of Lap 17, rejoining in 4th, as Norris, Leclerc and Piastri stay out.
As Stroll pits, Hamilton is all over Sainz as they battle for sixth.
Into Turn 1 at the start of Lap 19, Hamilton makes a move on the inside, they tough lightly but the Briton is through.
"He touched me, ran me off," says Sainz. "Check the on-board, he needs to give the place back."
Alonso pits at the end of Lap 19, the Spaniard rejoining in 16th.
After 20 laps, Norris leads Leclerc and Piastri, all three yet to stop. At which point the Australian pits, rejoining in tenth.
"The situation is we've lost position to Max, Russell, Hamilton and Sainz," Norris is told, "but we're picking up a good tyre delta.
At the end of Lap 23, Norris pits. He rejoins in sixth, on mediums, 2.8s down on Sainz. Leclerc leads Verstappen by 3.6s but has yet to stop.
At the end of Lap 24, the Monegasque pits, rejoining in 7th, 1.9s down on Gasly.
"I don't understand why there is a rule book," responds Sainz when told that there will be no investigation of the Hamilton incident.
Lap 25 sees a new fastest lap from Norris as he closes on Sainz.
At the other end of the field, Albon passes his teammate for 19th on what is a miserable weekend for Williams. Just ahead are the struggling RBs.
"Why are we on Plan A," moans Leclerc as Norris sweeps past Sainz.
After 27 laps, Verstappen leads Russell by 6.6s, with Hamilton 1.55s behind, 1s ahead of Norris.
Piastri passes Perez for ninth.
As Bottas makes his second stop of the afternoon, Tsunoda is told: "We know it is difficult, just do your best."
"Tyre are inconsistent," complains Verstappen as Piastri passes Ocon for 8th.
Under pressure from Norris, Verstappen is told that he has twice had his times deleted for exceeding track limits. "Say what!" he responds.
The McLaren driver sweeps past the seven-time champ as they head into Turn 1 at the start of Lap 32. Next up is Russell, who is 1.1s ahead.
Perez makes his second stop of the afternoon.
"There must be damage because there is no ******* grip at all," moans Ocon, "understeer here, oversteer there..."
On Lap 35, Norris goes around the outside of Russell in Turn 3 to take second, however the Mercedes retakes the place in Turn 4, only for Norris to snatch it right back in Turn 6.
All of which has allowed Hamilton to close in on his teammate.
Russell pits at the end of Lap 36, as does Sainz. They rejoin in 7th (Russell on hards) and 8th, Sainz who is also on the white-banded rubber.
Out front, Verstappen maintains a 7.9 lead over Norris.
Ocon and Stroll pit at the end of Lap 37.
As Gasly and Hulkenberg makes their second stops of the day, Russell posts a new fastest lap (18.367) as he seeks to close the 4.9s gap to Piastri.
"Forecast to be close between you and Lewis at the end," Russell is advised as Gasly sweeps by Zhou to claim tenth.
As Zhou makes his second stop, and Russell complains that his (hard) tyres do not feel good, Norris closes to within 5.5s of Verstappen.
Ricciardo pits at the end of Lap 43, as does Hamilton. The Briton rejoins in 7th, on softs, 1.7s behind Sainz.
A lap later Verstappen pits, as does Albon. The Dutchman fits a brand new set of softs and rejoins in third, 7.8s down on Piastri.
"Verstappen has pitted, this is our chance now," Norris is told. The Briton responds with an 18.754 as he builds a 17.3s lead over the world champion.
"If we want to cover Hamilton we have to do it soon," Norris is told as the Mercedes driver nails Sainz in Turn 1 for 6th.
"I'm unsure," says Norris, "it all depends on whether we're here to finish first or third."
Piastri pits at the end of Lap 46, rejoining in 8th. Next time around his teammate stops, heading back out on fresh mediums in second, somehow holding off a charging Russell.
Leclerc pits at the end of Lap 47, rejoining in 6th.
Lap 49 sees a new fastest lap from Norris (17.377).
After 50 laps (of 66), it's: Verstappen, Norris (+ 6.9s), Russell (+ 3s), Hamilton (+ 1s), Sainz (+ 4.4s), Leclerc (+ 5.2s), Piastri (+ 12.5s), Gasly (+ 7.7s), Ocon (+ 10.1s) and Perez (+ 0.6s). Russell, Sainz Gasly and Ocon on hards, the rest on softs.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Barcelona here.
Lap 51 sees another fastest lap from Norris (17.115), as Hamilton nails Russell heading into Turn 1 to claim third.
"We need to push to the end now Max, Lando is not tyre saving."
"Strat 10," Verstappen is told. "Two or ten, I don't understand," he replied. "one-zero, one zero," he is patiently advised.
Leclerc passes his Ferrari teammate for 5th, the upgrade package clearly not paying off this weekend.
Tsunoda gets a 5s penalty for speeding in the pitlane.
"If you can we need to try and pick up the pace," Leclerc is told as he remains 5.5s down on Russell.
On Lap 58, Verstappen laps local hero Alonso, clearly not the race the Spaniard was hoping for.
A mistake as he battles Tsunoda for 18th sees Albon head off into the gravel in Turn 1.
"What the hell was that," asks Albon, insisting that his off was down to the car.
Ricciardo passes Bottas for 15th.
As the laps count down, the hyperbole continues, the commentators are imagining every scenario possible in order to create some excitement... they've even started anticipating the action to hopefully come in Austria and Britain.
Verstappen takes the flag, 2.2s ahead of Norris, who heads Hamilton by 15.5s. Russell is fourth, ahead of Leclerc, Sainz, Piastri, Perez, Gasly and Ocon.
Hulkenberg is eleventh, ahead of Alonso, Zhou, Stroll, Ricciardo, Bottas, Magnussen, Albon, Tsunoda and Sargeant.
"We deserved more," sighs Norris, who puts it all down to his poor start.
"It's been a good day, a good weekend," smiles Hamilton as the post-race interviews get underway, "so a big thank you to the team, the strategy and pit stops were on point.
"Like Lando I had a really bad start so lost ground to the Ferraris. I don't know if we could have held onto the guys ahead, but we wouldn't have been as far behind.
"It was never an option to run the hard tyre for me today."
"Not could have won, should have done," says Norris. "I got a bad start.
"The car was incredible today, for sure we were the quickest.
"Lots of positives, one negative but that ruined everything," he adds. "Big thanks to the team as the car was amazing.
"I need to look back and the start, I don't know what I did wrong. Fair play to Red Bull and Max, but a shame we lost it at the same time, very frustrating.
"Austria and Silverstone are two of my favourite tracks, I just need to tidy up a few bits."
"What made the race was the beginning," admits Verstappen, "taking the lead on Lap 2 and eking out the gap a little bit.
"As Lando and McLaren were very, very fast today, we drove an aggressive strategy, but it played out at the end," he adds.
In all honesty, it was like one of those plays or movies that promised so much but ultimately didn't deliver. It had its moments, but much of it was down to anticipation in terms of tyre wear and strategy.
Another factor is the almost bullet-proof reliability of these cars, especially the Red Bull, McLaren and Mercedes.
Norris' disappointment is understandable, and a clear indication of the fact that the Briton and his team now believes it can, and indeed should, be able to beat Red Bull.
A great result for Hamilton, while Ferrari will surely be disappointed, especially when you consider how excited the Italian team was about its upgrade package.
Both Alpines are in the points, though it really is scraps from the table for the French team, and while Perez continues to disappoint Aston Martin needs to do some long, hard thinking.
Now we head to Verstappen's home ground, which, like Barcelona, suits the Dutchman and his package, but after that it's off to Norris' stomping ground.
Hopefully some interesting times ahead.