RBR, most of al DannyRic, looked ominous fast, single lap and race pace, Max 3 tenths of pace. Lewis well behind, Bottas/Kimi no were. Sebastian messed up (see above) his fastest lap on US, guess work but around Max/Lewis single lap pace.
Best of the rest Hulk?, maybe Fernando, was close as always.
FP3
Bit messy session for RBR, Max gearbox weird stuff and DannyRic trying to hard (tecpro barrier in his Q sim test), so others look closer. Vettel 2nd best, Mercedes no were until one super lap by Lewis.
McLaren/Hulk best of the rest and pretty close to the top teams, lets see if tonight (colder track) things still look the same, but right now it looks like a battle between RBR/Vettel and maybe maybe Lewis for pole.
Vettel hitting wall and braking in pits
Ericson with 1st red flag
Bit messy session for RBR, Max gearbox weird stuff and DannyRic trying to hard (tecpro barrier in his Q sim test), so others look closer. Vettel 2nd best, Mercedes no were until one super lap by Lewis.
McLaren/Hulk best of the rest and pretty close to the top teams, lets see if tonight (colder track) things still look the same, but right now it looks like a battle between RBR/Vettel and maybe maybe Lewis for pole.
Vettel hitting wall and braking in pits
Ericson with 1st red flag
By Spengo Go To PostTrack is getting fast as fuck now. The Red Bulls did a fast time then.Think few people in the Ferrari/ForceIn garage were worried for just a second (3/4 tenths faster than Magnus)
By markao Go To PostThink few people in the Ferrari/ForceIn garage were worried for just a second (3/4 tenths faster than Magnus)Ferrari giving their fans 2016esque performance today
Quality Q3 by Sebastian, nice to see Max already shaking his head when something goes wrong (last lap), still P2 for two weeks in a row and P3 for Daniel.
Kimi maximising Mercedes damage and if Sebastian get his pole in two a win (like the last few years in Singapore), it could be mega for the championship
Vettel bit lucky to get away with that hit, but his first lap was good enough already
pole lap with wall hit:
And Sebastian having fun, new RBR sidepot bargeboard
pole lap with wall hit:
And Sebastian having fun, new RBR sidepot bargeboard
By Spengo Go To PostRaikkonens fault for sure. Nothing Vettel or Verstappen could do.Vettel does not understand Kimi makes good start, tries to squeeze Max and Kimi has no were to go...for me Vettel error
My guess is that Vettel did not know Kimi was alongside Max, went into Max line thinking he would pull closer to the wall.
What the hell Renault? Threw that one away.
Mercedes just turn on Hamilton's oil burn mode to cover off any challenge.
Mercedes just turn on Hamilton's oil burn mode to cover off any challenge.
I feel like Renault don't want to give Hulk a podium. Hoping he overtakes Bottas.
By markao Go To PostVettel does not understand Kimi makes good start, tries to squeeze Max and Kimi has no were to go…for me Vettel errorWatched everything again and I agree. Vettel was cutting across the track from the second he got off the line.
By Spengo Go To PostI feel like Renault don't want to give Hulk a podium. Hoping he overtakes Bottas.curse continues ;)
start 3 cams synced
Hamilton's stint on inters was very impressive. He was consistently faster than everyone despite being on used inters.
Dan is the luckiest guy this year, right place at the right time, almost everytime. Alonso, Verstappen, absolutely nothing goes their way.
Dan is the luckiest guy this year, right place at the right time, almost everytime. Alonso, Verstappen, absolutely nothing goes their way.
Mega weekend for Lewis, thanks for a big part to Vettel. Never knew how the race would have unfolded, still think Lewis would have been a front of Sebastian in these conditions, but thanks to Ferrari action in the 1st corner, all was taken care of.
DannyRic another good result, don't think it was his best race (pace lacking) and Max year continues (as is Fernando's), they cannot buy any luck.
Toro Rosso smartest stop/tire strategy paid out for Carlos and poor Hulk another one that deserves more this year :(
DannyRic another good result, don't think it was his best race (pace lacking) and Max year continues (as is Fernando's), they cannot buy any luck.
Toro Rosso smartest stop/tire strategy paid out for Carlos and poor Hulk another one that deserves more this year :(
By Spengo Go To PostDon't forget Palmer first points :pOne men's ..... is one others ....
But fair enough he had enough DNF's this season that weren't his fault
https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/gasly-poised-racing-debut-kyvat-957782/
Ripvyat
The Singapore crash was the last drip that made the bucket flood over.
Ripvyat
The Singapore crash was the last drip that made the bucket flood over.
By Spengo Go To Posthttps://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/gasly-poised-racing-debut-kyvat-957782/He was on borrowed time (is that the right English expression?) for a while, just waiting for RBR to trust another driver enough to take over.
Ripvyat
The Singapore crash was the last drip that made the bucket flood over.
Wouldn't call him a shit driver, jut one of those cases were someone gets promoted to a level to quickly (GP3 in to F1, than Vettel leaving) and he couldn't handle the pressure that comes with it. Than Max came a long and it was clear that his step back to Toro Rosso meant he was done, just took a while for Helmut to think Gasly was good enough.
F1 is brutal like this at the end of the day, you need to be the best or better... In defence of RB look at all the drivers who they have given a seat. Even placing them at other teams like Ricciardo at HRT.
Kvyat just need a good vacation (climb a mountain for example) And a fresh start with a new team. There are not that many options though. I can see him in a team like Williams or Haas.
Kvyat just need a good vacation (climb a mountain for example) And a fresh start with a new team. There are not that many options though. I can see him in a team like Williams or Haas.
Next race weekend and we are in Kuala Lumpur for the 2017 F1 Petronas Malaysia GP.
Last time we will visit this track, as Malaysian government stops their subsidy. Was the 1st of the (new) Tilke tracks and always recognisable with its main Grandstand with long straights on both sides. Had some great races over the years and to me a shame this track goes off the F1 calendar.
Round 15 in Vettel vs Hamilton and both drivers will not have great memories from last season. Lewis his "ohh noo" when his new engine went and his championship went up in smoke. And Sebastian, what's new, pulling something silly at the race start and crashing in to Nico.
Monsoon season so rain always in the air and I do hope we will see some wet track on Sunday. Doubt Ferrari agrees as Lewis is a monster in the wet and they do need to gain some ground after last weeks disaster. Heat will help them, but would call this track lay-out pretty even balanced to both teams. (in dry)
As mentioned and for those that missed the news, next two races it is Pierre Gasly in the Toro Rosso instead of Kvyatt. With Sainz to Renault next year, it is a good time for him and the team to get some practice runs done for next season.
Was expecting an announcement regarding Fernando at McLaren for next season, but talks last week have not resulted in anything yet. Surprised as I do not really see another option and with Honda gone, so not sure what's the hold-up.
And I do hope the kid gets some clean running this weekend (S&F flag), maybe some rain to add to the fun for him. So far he could not buy any luck and I do believe his improved pace this year, he could use another podium finish........... just stay far away from the boys in red ;)
And with racing in this part of the world, it's DVR time, doubt I will miss anything significant anyway.