Well, we learned that once again Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) has not learned the lessons regarding the first lap – you never win the race on the first lap, you only lose the race on the first lap, which he did. Very successfully. Vettel will lose the world championship and hand the title to Hamilton (Mercedes) if he doesn’t learn the lessons soon enough.
We also learned that Herr Vettel is becoming a moaning Vettel, ready to blame everyone else, while Kimi Raikkonen just carries on to the best of his undoubted ability and does not get into the blame game. Kimi even apologized to the Tifosi for not winning. From the Ice Man that is true humility. The same could not be said for one of the others on the podium.
The wonder cloggie (Verstappen) once more showed his immaturity after being given a five second time penalty for giving Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) a helping hand into the shrubbery, resulting in a string of expletives. He followed that with the following radio messages. “Team radio to Max: You are racing Vettel and not Bottas.” Max: “I know that, but I don’t care.” So much for the “team spirit.” He is very talented, and (hopefully) will mature one day.
More and more, Grands Prix are won or lost in the stewards room. Take for example, the disqualification of Romain Grosjean at Monza. The official take of all this began with a protest by Renault about Grosjean’s car. “The stewards of the meeting have requested, that the technical delegate inspects the floor of car number 08, driver Romain Grosjean, for compliance with Article 3.7.1 d) of the 2018 Formula One Technical Regulations in relation to clarification given in TD/033-18 published on 25 July 2018.” The crime? Not having a 50 mm radius on the corners of the leading edge of the floor. Shame on Renault and shame on the stewards for accepting the protest.
Another ridiculous bunch of rules refer to the use of engines. Use more than three and you are relegated to the rear of the grid. In the halcyon days of Jim Clark the mechanics were cannibalizing cars and engines just to make the grid. It didn’t spoil the races and didn’t need Article 3.7.1 d) of the 2018 Formula One Technical Regulations. Unfortunately, Liberty Media does not understand F1 well enough and is too weak to scrap all the aero and the DRS while they are at it.
Magnussen (Haas) was still whinging after the race, claiming that Alonso was “disrespectful” to him. The other user of the “disrespectful” button is Hamilton. Magnussen, Hamilton, Vettel. What a bunch of sissies we have as drivers these days.
So to the racing and Vettel’s first lap spin. Attacked by Hamilton, Kimi showed his mettle and fought for first on the road. Close but fair.
Vettel, Hulkenberg (Renault) and Ricciardo ploughed through the field from the back, with some exciting moves; however, it was the edge of the seat suspense of would Kimi managed to hold on. He tried, but the tyres let him down.
The next GP is at Singapore September 16 in the middle of a cast of singing budgies with a race meeting thrown in as well.
Results
1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
2 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari
3 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes
4 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari
5 Max Verstappen Red Bull
6 Esteban Ocon Force India
7 Sergio Perez Force India
8 Carlos Sainz Renault
9 Lance Stroll Williams
10 Sergey Sirotkin
11 Charles Leclerc Sauber
12 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren
13 Nico Hulkenberg Renault
14 Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso
15 Marcus Ericsson Sauber
16 Kevin Magnussen Haas
DNF’s
Romain Grosjean Haas disqualified
Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull clutch
Fernando Alonso McLaren Another failure to proceed
Brendon Hartley Toro Rosso accident
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