Well that was a pretty good race, lots of stuff to keep you entertained.
But really, you were watching Hamilton weren’t you. Firstly just how fast is
that Merc when it’s being driven on the ragged edge? And secondly, if you want
a driver to show you what the best car in the field can really do, you’d choose
Lewis every time.
Rosberg didn’t really have much to do, and the midfield had
its usual battle. Lewis whipped on through like a hot knife through butter. I'm
not even sure how he did it, one minute they were clearing Massa away as usual
and the next he was behind Rosberg. Brilliant stuff.
And the removal of the FRIC suspension systems didn't appear
to make much difference. After the blisteringly hot Friday and Saturdays, the
team had set the cars up for a wet race but when that didn't materialise; they
were left with over steery cars which no amount of clever suspension would sort
out.
Although the word is that Lotus was the big loser in all the
hoo harr. Not that you would have noticed, Grosjean trundled to a stop at about
half distance and Maldonardo got as high as 10th at one point. So
the loss didn’t seem to make all that much difference in the end.
Anyway the result.
1. Rosberg: You can’t really complain about Nico here, he did
what Vettel did last year. Put it on pole and cruise to the line, job done. Yet
another win and takes him further away from Lewis again. He’s going to be tough
to stop isn’t he ?
2. Bottas: Well looky here! It’s young Valtteri on the
podium again, whilst his more experienced team mate is left to catch the early
flight home. Not that Massa really had any say in his retirement yet again. But
Bottas is really turning into a proper little racer here, the last 10 laps odd
with Hamilton storming up behind him, were great to watch. He knew it was going
to come down to who had looked after his tyres the best. He could have burnt out
the grip trying to stay ahead as Lewis chased him down but he kept his head and
let the Merc driver get close. Then he
just defended his line and didn’t do anything stupid. This is pretty much the
first rule of being a good driver.
3. Hamilton: third is a real save here. He hit that wall
hard on Saturday, he knew as it locked up it was only going into the tyre wall,
he had the presence of mind take his hands off the wheel and brace for the impact.
But even so he was winded when the dust settled and looked pretty shaken. Then
the car needed a new gearbox and so he started way back in 20th
place. Getting back to the front of the race
took balls and skill. Don’t think that just because he has one of the two best
cars that he could breeze up to the podium. He had to make proper racing moves
to deliver the result, the passes on Kimi, and Alonso top draw stuff, the fight
with Danny boy and the midfield was enthralling. The fumbled move past Jenson,
well, was not so top draw. Then he had to change strategy half way through the
race from a two stopper to a four stint race after the tangle with Button increased
the tyre wear rate.
So that was a full on, committed points saving afternoons
drive. And the reason I think he’s one of the greats. The clash with Button
only underlines how good he is because he apologised to button and still banged
in the fastest laps of the race. He never gave up, but knew Bottas was going to
be a pass too far. Take as many points as you can get and don’t risk it all
passing a driver committed to getting more points than you. Bottas isn’t
fighting for a world championship, so there was no point fighting with tyres
well past their best.
4. Vettel: Hey, Vettel is still driving an F1 car, who knew
!! He didn’t whinge too much this week and showed his team mate the way home
for once. Maybe this will be the turnaround in form he’s looking for, or more
probably a blip in an unremarkable year.
5. Alonso: Still brilliant, in an underachieving outclassed
car, he’s delivering the points and keeping the name of Ferrari at the front
(ish) of the field. He’s wasting his talents in Italy, he just has to go to
another team next year.
6. Ricciardo: Got caught up in the first lap melee and had
to join Hamilton driving back through the field, which he did with almost as
much style as the Merc driver. I have to admit here that I have really changed
my opinion of the happy Ozzy driver. He really is the real deal and is not, as I
predicted, going to get fired before the end of the season. No at this rate he’s
going to the team leader pretty soon. It’s almost a shame he’s in the Redbull
actually, because he’s not going to be allowed to be the team leader is he. Old
grumpy chops is always going to get the nod round these parts. But he’s done enough to justified his elevation
to the big team.
7. Hulkenberg: Back on track with a ....... hey look, a
seventh just like I predicted last week. See I don’t just make this rubbish up
on the spear of the moment as the red wine takes me you know. No, there is some, well very little to be honest,
but some thought that goes into this. Anyway, the banning of FRIC didn’t appear
to hurt them too much, no more than anyone else it would seem.
8. Button: Week after week he gets the car to the sharp end,
than the tyres go off and he gets passed by car after car. It must be soul destroying
for the old boy.
9. Magnussen: seems to have got his shit together at last
and remembered what his actual job title is. There was some proper racing
driver stuff this weekend and he took Massa out for good measure. I'm not sure,
but I think punting Massa off a circuit around the world is some sort of ‘Racing
driver’s rites of passage thing’? Alonso’s had a pop, Hamilton spent a year
doing it, Schumacher must have knocked him off. I'm sure if I could be bothered
to go and look it up, every world champion of the last ten years must have knocked
Massa of the track at some point, and then been blamed for the accident by the Brazilian.
He’s like a magnet for good drivers to
test their metal against. Undoubtedly it was “yet another” racing incident
involving Massa and there wasn’t really any blame to be apportioned, but it’s another
achievement unlocked by Kev to add to the CV
10. Perez: yeah, yeah well done I suppose.
Ericsson is this week’s hopeless arse in last place, he
started in the pit lane for some reason or other I couldn’t be bothered to look
up and pretty much stayed there all race. He couldn’t even beat Max, how
rubbish is that. I suppose ... no actually, well done to the Caterham for getting
the cars and team there this weekend. From what I’ve read the new owners have
gone in and decimated the work force and told them to pull their socks up.
Which I think is pretty heartless, moral is going to be at rock bottom for a
team that has disappointed and failed at pretty much every turn this year. So
the simple act of turning up for a cause they must know is hopeless should, I
think, be applauded. Whilst flicking the v’s at the evil new management, give
them the money and tools to do the job, don’t just halve the work force and tell
them how shit they are.
Right Hungary next week and i might to a mid season report,
if i can find the time.
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