Tuscan GP Race Report: Welcome to the old school.

This weekend saw the first, and probably the only, Tuscan Grand Prix. Last week's shenanigans in Monza was a difficult act to follow. However, the Mugello circuit produced yet another thrilling race, keeping us either on the edge of our seats or pacing the room. 

“Unfortunately, though, Ferrari’s Saturday night celebration ceremony in the centre of Florence was more impressive than their race performance, and season as a whole.“

The official race name was 'Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio della Toscana Ferrari 1000 2020'. This name highlights what the Grand Prix should have been all about - Ferrari and their thousandth Grand Prix. Unfortunately, though, Ferrari’s Saturday night celebration ceremony in the centre of Florence was more impressive than their race performance, and season as a whole. 

In fairness, Charles Leclerc carried out a brilliant job to qualify fifth on the grid, ten places ahead of his teammate. He was aided by the spinning Esteban Ocon ruining others' laps in the final round. However, he had still done well to get through to Q3. Come race day, Charles would start well, getting up to third, before dropping like a stone to finish eighth place. This wasn't a bad position for a Ferrari, but not exactly what the team wanted for their big day.

“Sergio is an intelligent and fast racer - any team, or indeed series, would be lucky to have him.”

Leclerc’s teammate, Sebastian Vettel, would finish in tenth position. Despite this lowly finish, you sense he will still leave Mugello in relatively good spirits. On Thursday, he announced his move to what will become Aston Martin for next season. Signing Vettel shows a strong statement of intent from Racing Point. As one of the most successful champions of all time, Seb knows how to win, and will have an invaluable insight to bring to the Silverstone based team.

With Vettel arriving, somebody had to make way. Sergio Perez was unceremoniously dumped. According to the Mexican, he knew that he would be most likely to leave if Vettel did arrive at the team. Having signed a three-year contract extension, Perez said that he was being told positive things and that he looked likely to stay. What he wasn't being told was that Vettel was in the process of ironing out personal terms with the team that Perez had kept alive just years earlier. It is a sad way for him to depart, but unfortunately, that is the cut-throat way of F1.

So where can Sergio go? There was talk of him going to Red Bull to replace Alex Albon. However, I don't think that would happen, especially following a solid race from Albon. The best option that I can see is replacing Romain Grosjean at Haas. In reality, Perez wants to stay in F1. Yet, if there is nowhere that will challenge him or give him pleasure, he will likely look elsewhere for challenges. I see him trying IndyCar or Formula E out. Sergio is an intelligent and fast racer - any team, or indeed series, would be lucky to have him. 

“The challenge was also mental, with gravel lining the edge of the track, punishing any lapse in concentration the old-fashioned way.”

As far as racing circuits go, Mugello is mega. Other than a kilometre long pit straight, the track is a ribbon of corners that come at you thick and fast. The turns were all high speed with camber, making it a pleasure to watch and a rollercoaster on which the drivers could enjoy and be challenged. The forces on the drivers and heat made it a physical challenge. The challenge was also mental, with gravel lining the edge of the track, punishing any lapse in concentration the old-fashioned way. 

For the first time in his career, Valtteri Bottas was fastest in all three practice sessions. He looked as though he was putting Lewis Hamilton under pressure. However, Lewis put in the work to pull ahead of Bottas just when it mattered, clinching pole once again by the smallest of margins. With the long pit straight though, Hamilton wasn't home and dry by any stretch of the imagination. A slipstream into the first corner could see any of his rivals getting past into turn 1.

When the lights went out, Valtteri Bottas didn't even need the slipstream. Hamilton had a poor start, with Max Verstappen also looking interested in taking Lewis' position. If it weren't for an engine issue, the Dutchman would have been through along with Charles Leclerc, who was following him closely. Instead, Hamilton was lucky to hold second position as Max dropped back into the frantic pack. Max's slow car was a factor in a first-lap collision, involving a handful of cars. That left Verstappen and, last week's hero, Pierre Gasly, stuck in the punishing gravel trap. 

“It was a silly accident, caused by drivers wanting to gain an advantage but not paying full attention.”

Naturally, the safety car was deployed while the retired cars were cleared out of the race. When this period was over, Bottas became in control of the pace of the following cars up until they reached the start/finish line on the pit straight. Due to the power of the slipstream, Bottas waited until the last moment to accelerate to racing speed, to avoid being overtaken - something that he is obliged to do. However, further back, chaos ensued as drivers sped up before braking and realising that the race wasn't underway. It was a silly accident, caused by drivers wanting to gain an advantage but not paying full attention. Nevertheless, the important thing is that everyone involved was okay. It also meant that there were four cars written off on the main straight, so for the second time in two weeks, the race was red-flagged.

Following the break, Hamilton had a chance to beat Bottas from the standing start, and he took it. With a sweep around the outside of the Fin at the first corner, the lead was his. Behind the Mercedes duo, Stroll made it look difficult to overtake the slow Leclerc, but eventually managed it, taking third position. 

In this stage of the race, Hamilton had a firm grip on proceedings. He managed his lead to a frustrated Valtteri Bottas, who admitted on the radio that he needed a safety car if he was going to win this race. A couple of laps later, Bottas got even better than what he had wished for - a red flag. Remarkable. The second break in the race came as a result of a rear tyre failure for Lance Stroll as he went through the high-speed and excellently-named Arrabbiata corner. Up to third came Daniel Ricciardo, who had driven well to get up into the podium positions. Now he needed to complete the job.

“Interestingly, Alex thanked Red Bull for sticking with him on the radio after the race. That goes to show the pressures of driving for Red Bull.”

Once Stroll's car had been clumsily cleared away, it was time to get going, once more. This was Bottas' chance to steal the victory from under the nose of his teammate and championship rival, Hamilton. Finally, luck had gone his way. All he needed to do, was repeat what Hamilton had done to him earlier in the race. Alas, Bottas failed to beat Hamilton into turn one. In fact, he was beaten by Daniel Ricciardo, who had a better getaway out of the box. Meanwhile, Alex Albon made up for a poor start, sticking it out around the outside of Sergio Perez for fourth. 

As much as it would have been great to see Danny Ric take his first podium for Renault, he didn't have the equipment for a top-three finish. The Renault just wasn't as good a car as the Mercedes and Red Bull. After being passed by Bottas and Albon, Ricciardo would take P4, another pleasing result for the Aussie who rarely fails to impress.

So behind Hamilton and Bottas came a Red Bull. But this time it was Alex Albon, who took his first F1 podium and Red Bull's first podium without Max Verstappen since Daniel Ricciardo. Alex seems to have the backing of the Red Bull hierarchy anyway, but this result will help cement his position at the team for the future. It was a long time coming, but I am sure it'll be the first of many for the London-born Thai. Interestingly, Alex thanked Red Bull for sticking with him on the radio after the race. That goes to show the pressures of driving for Red Bull.

So that brings the triple header of classic racing circuits to a close, while Spa and Monza are legendary and incredible tracks, Mugello rolled back the years with a race of attrition that challenged the drivers in more ways than one. Hamilton took a while to emerge from his car. When he finally did, his exhausted nature demonstrated that he had earned his victory. Exactly what we want to see. 

With this his ninetieth win, Lewis Hamilton finds himself one win away from the mighty Michael Schumacher tally. He is marching towards the high watermarks, reaching levels that many thought would never be matched, never mind beaten. In two weeks, Lewis could be calling home from Russia with a record equalled. Tune in then, if you like watching history unfold.

Belgian GP Race Report: Spa day for some, choppy waters for others.

When you are playing the word association game, 'Spa-Francorchamps 'is usually followed by 'speed' or 'classic' or 'balls (big)'. While the latter did feature, this week's Belgian Grand Prix was neither fast nor a classic. Given that this was a Formula One race, that's a bit of an issue. Despite the teams opting to coax their tyres home, to avoid a second pit stop, there were some great drives, overtakes and talking points. Here they are.

“Even Lewis' mistakes are playing into his hands.”

We shall begin with the bit with which we are getting well-practised. Lewis Hamilton took another victory. Not exactly a shock, nevertheless, well-deserved. 

In qualifying, Hamilton out-qualified Valtteri Bottas, his teammate, by half a second - a slap in the face in racing terms. Hamilton even surprised himself as he continually found time that others couldn't. The world champion seemed to make the difference throughout the weekend in the technical and twisty second sector. Bottas would qualify second, just a hundredth ahead of the ever-impressive Max Verstappen. In fourth was Daniel Ricciardo, who had the fastest first sector and a massive smile beneath his mask. 

In Belgium, starting from the front doesn't always translate to success. The long straights, at the beginning of the lap, that leads to the chicane of Les Combes provide a brilliant opportunity to grab a slipstream by driving behind the car ahead. Last year, for example, we had four cars side by side at the end of the Kemmel Straight, as the difference in drag brought others into play. With a front four of two Mercedes, a feisty Dutchman and a box-office Aussie, the race start was one to watch. 

When it came down to it, Hamilton made a mistake and got on the power too early exiting the first corner. This gave him a snap of oversteer that he lost a fraction of time correcting. As a result, Bottas got a much better exit. Heading up Eau Rouge, the drivers go in single file before fighting it out on the Kemmel Straight. Bottas caught Hamilton just as they were entering Eau Rouge, meaning that he needed to lift off the throttle momentarily, losing him momentum. Consequently, Hamilton scampered down the straight unthreatened, allowing him to check out and not look back. Even Lewis' mistakes are playing into his hands. 

Meanwhile, Ricciardo and Verstappen had a squabble over third as they made their way through the opening lap. Ricciardo licked the stamp and sent it down the inside of Les Combes. Verstappen would still hold on around the outside to the podium position in which he would eventually finish. 

From there, Hamilton and Mercedes controlled the race, keeping the gap just so. In the post-race press conference, Hamilton once again expressed his disappointment at having won unchallenged. He wants people to bring the fight to him, but with the current regulations, Mercedes are the team to beat, and they seem unbeatable. That is not their fault. However, it is a shame that Hamilton doesn't have more battles with Verstappen, Alonso, Vettel or anyone else that may be considered at his level. In short, he has Bottas in his back pocket. Mercedes are comfortable with that. Why would they not be, they got a 1-2 finish? Hopefully, the regulation changes in the coming years, designed to close up the field, will do what they say on the tin.

“Belgium was an excellent result for the team and encouraging for Alonso to see as he prepares to jump into Ricciardo's vacated seat next season.”

Behind the top three to whom we have become accustomed, Renault bagged plenty of points, putting a rather disappointing weekend in Spain behind them. As mentioned, Ricciardo did a super job in qualifying to get onto the second row. His teammate, Esteban Ocon, started behind him, in sixth. Following a tidy race, Renault came fourth and fifth. Arguably, it was close between Renault and Red Bull for the second quickest car this weekend. Renault were low on downforce, allowing their slippery car to fly along the long straights that Spa has to offer. With the fastest lap on the last lap, Riccardo needed just one more tour to catch and trouble Verstappen. Renault clearly take care of their tyres, keeping life in them until the very end. Belgium was an excellent result for the team and encouraging for Alonso to see as he prepares to jump into Ricciardo's vacated seat next season.

“The message read 'prove them wrong'. This weekend, he continued his run of doing just that.”

There was a trio of drivers who got the fastest three laps and were the contenders for the driver of the day. One of them won the race, one of them got the fastest lap, and Pierre Gasly was voted driver of the day. 

Last year, the Frenchman lost his best friend, Anthoine Hubert, in a Formula 2 accident at the Belgian Grand Prix weekend. That week, Pierre had been swapped back to the Red Bull junior team, Toro Rosso, following a string of tough races. A couple of weeks ago, he returned to his home in France to find that he has been burgled. The last year has challenged us all, not least, Pierre Gasly. 

Allegedly, one of the first people to send Pierre a message after being dropped by Red Bull was from Hubert. The message read 'prove them wrong'. This weekend, he continued his run of doing just that. Starting, twelfth, Gasly was disappointed with qualifying. A blistering start would see Gasly rise through the field with some fine overtaking - most notably overtaking Sergio Perez around the outside on the entry to Eau Rouge, the very place his friend had died a year ago. I did say that there were some ballsy moments. 

An ill-timed safety car would see Gasly's strategy compromised, leading to him dropping to the bottom of the field. Further fine overtaking would see the Frenchman shoot back up the standings to take eighth position - not a bad effort given the circumstances. Without the safety car, I feel he could have finished in the top six at the rate that he was going. Either way, it was an impressive drive, and I stand by my prediction that he will head to Renault in the coming years.

“In hindsight, they couldn’t even win a championship with an illegal engine, which says a lot.”

While others enjoyed their Spa day, Ferrari find themselves in choppy waters. We shouldn't be surprised about Ferrari's result of P13 and P14 given their pace (or lack of it) this year. However, it is worse than we realised. Whatever they had been doing with their engine that they shouldn't have must have taken place for a while, because the step back in performance seems to be years rather than a year. The Ferrari drivers nearly came together, which would have been the final nail in the coffin. Instead, Kimi Räikkönen, in an Alfa Romeo - a Ferrari engine customer - beat both Ferraris. This result indicates that it is more than the engine that is contributing to Ferrari's woes. Something is simply not working at Ferrari. In hindsight, they couldn’t even win a championship with an illegal engine, which says a lot.

The following two races take place in Italy, the second of which is Ferrari's 1000th race. Ferrari will be glad that there are no fans - there might otherwise have been a revolt. 

If Bottas wants to win a world championship, he needs to start making Lewis uncomfortable, and quickly. The chances of that happening decrease by the race. What is more likely, and my prediction for Italy, is that Renault score their first podium since returning to the sport in 2016. As I said in last weeks article, Ricciardo on a podium is almost as good as Ricciardo on the track. Failing that, Ocon will spray champagne in Formula One for the first time. 

Tune in next week to find out. 

Formula E: What can it teach Formula One?

Formula One is the pinnacle of single-seater motorsport. With close to half a billion global viewers, F1 is not just a success - it is one of the biggest sports in the world. 

As F1 celebrates 70 years, it deserves the pat it gives itself on the back. But it doesn't mean that the FIA and Formula One are relaxing - they want to make the sport even more engaging. And so they should. One of my goals is to make Formula One a more engaging sport. When I look around at my circle of friends, I know that none of them are interested in the sport. Sure, they may pay attention if there is a good overtake or a big crash, but that's about it. 

In recent years, more of my generation have taken to Formula One, encouraged by the Netflix series, 'Drive To Survive'. It is a great show, showing behind the scenes of the Formula One world, which had often seemed distant and mysterious. This documentary has caught the attention of a new audience by reminding the onlooking world that there are humans underneath the helmet. That human touch is something that can take a sport a long way. 

There is still room for improvement. 

“Formula One needs to ask itself a question. Is this a sport that has the fastest cars, or is it a sport that is more focused on entertainment?”

As mentioned, Formula One is a place for the best of the best. However, it turns out that the very best of the best are much quicker than the rest of the field. Mercedes have dominated, winning all of the championships on offer since 2014 - even through different technical regulations. For Mercedes, it has been brilliant. Business is certainly booming as a result of the excellent publicity that you get for making reliable, high-performance hybrid engines. In contrast, for those trying to sell the sport, Mercedes' dominance has become a bit of a pain. Particularly so, now that there isn't the intra-team battle of the Silver Arrows that there once was.

Such hegemony has led to the FIA implementing rules in an attempt to bunch the field together, making racing more exciting. Of course, this is something that the majority wants to see. I include myself in this majority. However, I can't help but feel that the latest idea - to stop teams using different modes of engines from the Belgian Grand Prix - feels like the wrong direction. 

Sure, it may close the gap between the Mercedes and the chasing pack slightly in qualifying because they can't increase the performance of their engine. But in decreasing the teams' ability to maximise the performance and reliability of their power units, Formula One needs to ask itself a question. Is this a sport that has the fastest cars, or is it a sport that is more focused on entertainment?

For me, Formula One needs to be special. It needs to be hard to overtake. That way, the likes of Daniel Ricciardo, who make it look easy, get the plaudits that they deserve. There need to be a benchmark for the chasing pack to try and beat. That way, when Max Verstappen beats Lewis Hamilton, we can applaud it, knowing that Max has done a fantastic job. These features are just part of the storyline. You can add to it, but changing the main story would feel fake. 

As I write, I plan to watch the Indy 500 this evening. This is a race in which many overtakes happen. This plentiful action will be incredibly welcome in America because there is action throughout. Hence, when an inevitable ad-break rocks up, fans can return to the action, knowing that they haven't missed much. 

High scores and plenty of action is present in other large American sports. An NBA or NFL match that ends in a 2-2 draw would be penned a 'bore-fest'. In comparison, a '2-2' football match in another part of the world might be described at a 'four-goal thriller'. Why? Firstly, there is a lot of money to be made in American sports. Secondly, it is because the sporting culture in Europe is to focus on a competition for the whole match, waiting for maybe one or two moments that make you cheer or cry. Formula One comes from European roots and as a result, is consumed similarly.

Consequently, the FIA and Liberty Media have arrived at a crossroads as to determining the DNA of F1. For the FIA, Formula One is their showcase event, so they can't have other categories going faster. Equally, they want Formula One to be sustainable and will ultimately need to yield to those in charge. For Liberty Media, F1 needs to get bums on seats, particularly those viewing from home. Therefore, it will naturally become more important to entertain than to go fast. How far F1 goes in this direction, only time will tell. 

“In Formula E, fans - particularly the younger generation - are simply part of the sport, so their involvement is imperative.”

In contrast, Formula E is far from the crossroads at which Formula One finds itself. The all-electric racing series completed its seventh season this month. When you look at the sport's growth over the years, it can be characterised as a resounding success. 

Formula E knows who they are and what they want to be. As a result, they continue to move forward. Costs are minimised by teams using sharing an identical chassis. Manufacturers maintain the incentive to compete with mechanical differences being legal for motors, gearboxes and suspension. Some of the world's biggest brands, including BMW, Mercedes and Jaguar, have got involved. Participation of such names indicates the sport's sustainability in more ways than one. 

In addition to this, the racing is excellent. With plenty of overtaking, despite taking place on street circuits, those watching have plenty to cheer about during the 45-minute races. The format of qualifying being on the same day as race day and rewarding points for pole position keeps the crowd in attendance happy, with a full day out planned. The impetus to push harder in qualifying for drivers also leads to more considerable excitement and more emphasis on the fastest driver over one lap as well as the full race distance. 

Two other significant parts of Formula E, adding to strategy, increasing overtaking and encouraging engagement, are 'Attack Mode' and 'Fan Boost'. 

All of the drivers can use Attack Mode by driving through sensors, off the racing line. This gives the driver an additional 35 kWh of power for a limited amount of time. As a result, different drivers will be faster at differing moments of the race. Going off of the racing line will initially slow drivers down, so using Attack Mode is to be done at their own risk.

Fan Boost gives those drivers most mentioned on social media the chance to gain more power. This feature gets the most out of drivers as they interact with fans at and away from the circuit. Advantage those drivers who are the fan favourite.

In Formula One, Fan Boost would likely be seen as a gimmick, taking away from the sport. Whereas, in Formula E, fans - particularly the younger generation - are simply part of the sport, so their involvement is imperative. With this in mind, Formula E has a clear product of which they can grow and sell to more cities around the world. 

“F1 without innovation would be a sad place.”

So what can Formula One learn from Formula E?

First of all, they shouldn't and won't copy Formula E in full. 

One Chassis Fits All:

Formula One's new rules in 2022 will increase the number of standardised parts. However, there will still be, and I believe there will always be, room left for innovation. F1 without innovation would be a sad place. Some of the greatest minds in this world have the opportunity to make cars faster each day. If they cannot do that in F1, they will find something else that does stimulate them. Having the same chassis decreases costs - an effect of the 2022 regulations. However, going too far the other way would be a negative thing for the sport.

“Qualifying is already an exciting affair, adding a greater reward for driving even faster, I think, would add to the championship.”

Points for Pole:

I like the idea of handing three points to the pole-sitter. Formula One drivers need to be fast over one lap as well as two hours, so rewarding out-and-out pace would make sense. Qualifying is already an exciting affair, adding a greater reward for driving even faster, I think, would add to the championship. I suppose the only thing stopping this from happening would be a championship being won on a Saturday rather than a Sunday. In that instance, Sunday's event may be compromised. With that being said, it may work the other way around and open up the championship for Sunday. So putting this idea in place would be a question of risk and reward for those in charge.

“I know that I have argued against reverse grids in the past, and I stand by it. Nevertheless, I do agree that adding something new to the weekend would be an asset to F1.”

Shorter weekends?:

As an F1 nerd, I digest as much content over the four days of a Formula One weekend as possible. I enjoy it, and I know I am not the only one. However, the question, 'do the clever engineers need all of this time to work out the best strategy?' is valid.

Formula E decreases the size of the weekend to a single Saturday, withholding certain information, regarding the likes of Attack Mode, until shortly before the race. I am not saying that the Formula One should have a one day weekend, like Formula E. But maybe F1 does have too many practice sessions. If some of that time was used for a sprint race in which a minimal amount of points are handed out, it might give Formula One a new dimension. I know that I have argued against reverse grids in the past, and I stand by it. Nevertheless, I do agree that adding something new to the weekend would be an asset to F1. 

Ultimately, for F1 to make money, it needs to sell as many seats as possible. So decreasing the number of racing days might be difficult. The idea of Friday morning practice being strictly reserved for test drivers would be appealing as it gives the next generation more experience. The problem then would be that those paying to come to the track wouldn't see as much of the official F1 driver, who they turned up to watch.

There is talk of a two-day weekend in San Marino, later this year, so I would imagine what happens there may or may not galvanise a change in the weekend format.

“Can you imagine the excitement as Lewis Hamilton jumps into Valtteri Bottas' seat to make up for a mistake at the first corner?”

A REAL team championship:

How is this for an idea of weekend format? In Formula E's first-generation cars, part of the excitement was watching the drivers jump between the cars mid-race due to the battery only managing half distance. What if there was a Saturday morning race in which teams had to swap drivers halfway through the race? Can you imagine the excitement as Lewis Hamilton jumps into Valtteri Bottas' seat to make up for a mistake at the first corner? Thrilling. 

For sure, you'd have to figure out the practicality of changing seats. But having a short race like this would be a great way to see who is adaptable and would see teammates' relationships strengthen or weaken as time goes on. I would envisage the points for this race going only towards the Constructors Championship. This system would encourage teams to pick the best two drivers out there, rather than a number one and number two driver.

I really do want this to happen now.

“Let's not forget the importance of human engagement in sport.”

Podiums:

Formula One podiums are fantastic. Monza, Mexico and any podium with Daniel Ricciardo on it come to mind. Nonetheless, have you seen a Formula E podium? Because races are all in cities, there are no permanent podiums on which to hand out the trophies and spray the champagne. Instead of making a podium, up high, above the fans, why not have a podium on stage surrounded by fans? Formula E does this, and to see the drivers celebrating with the fans is something that epitomises Formula E's strongest feature. Fan engagement.

We've seen the incredible scenes as Lewis Hamilton crowd-surfs at Silverstone and even Monza. Crowd-surfing just got easier if the fans are right in front of you on the podium. I can imagine the drivers having a lot of fun with that. So maybe bring some podiums into the fan zone or onto the track. F1 would have to play it track-by-track, but I think it would be great to see some fans doing 'shoeys' - post-Coronavirus that is. 

Let's not forget the importance of human engagement in sport. The Netflix documentary and Formula E have proven this. A podium is a perfect place for the fans and drivers to interact - therefore, getting it right is critical.

Inevitably, there will be winners and losers and moaners and cheerers as the result of any change. Formula E will reach a similar crossroads in the future - all sports do. How Formula One navigates the next few years will determine its future characteristics. I believe that the technical and financial changes for 2022 are a good step for making sustainable and closer competition. But, why not look to Formula E's ability to engage and try it on for size in Formula One?

As a cutting edge sport, F1 needs to embrace change to become even better. Formula E is proving a match for the ‘best of the best’ - if F1 don’t move forward Formula E will move past, sure of itself as an exciting and  viable product for the future. 

70th Aniversary GP Race Report

Formula One celebrated its 70th birthday this year with another race at Silverstone, Formula One's birthplace. Over the years, we have met incredible characters, united by their love of speed, cars and winning. The first Grand Prix was won by Giuseppe Farina, in his mighty Alfa Romeo, and he would go on to win the Championship. The latest victory, seventy years on, was taken by a driver many feel will go on to define his generation. 

“While Mercedes sweated, Red Bull's Max Verstappen resembled the contents of a box of Magnums”

The opening rounds of the season have seen only one team standing on top, and many to predict that this would be the way all season. Mercedes have been, and continue to be, supreme. However, this is sport - everything can happen, and it usually does.

Last week, we looked ahead to the softer compounds of tyres and high temperatures coming this weekend, predicting the unpredictable. Tyres are undoubtedly essential - they are the only components of the car that should be in contact with the track. Consequently, you can have the best engine and chassis in the world, but if you can't control your tyres, achieving success is an uphill struggle. 

This lesson is one that many, including Mercedes, have learned the hard way over the years. In the past, the champions have struggled at certain circuits to generate enough heat in the tyres, leaving performance off the table. This weekend's weirdly warm weather in the UK meant that the problem had turned on its head - the high temperatures melted away the rear tyre of the Mercedes.

While Mercedes sweated, Red Bull's Max Verstappen resembled the contents of a box of Magnums - he even had the mental capacity to remind his engineer to drink. The Dutchman beat Lewis Hamilton by eleven seconds in a Red Bull that was plainly faster on this day in history. The fact that he managed to do so while cracking jokes on the radio shows the performance that he has left in him. At only 22 years of ages, he has at least one and a half decades left in this sport. Hamilton is beating records currently yet you wouldn't put it past Verstappen to match or outdo the Briton as his career goes on. Max Verstappen's stock continues to rise. 

“Last week, he asked for other teams to challenge him, and this week, he got what he asked for.”

Also rising was Max's position in the Championship. With Valtteri slumping from pole position to third across the finish line, Verstappen gained ten points on the Fin, overtaking him to take second place in the standings. Hamilton still has a thirty-point advantage, but this time, it is over Verstappen, who despite winning this Grand Prix, doesn't have the machinery to take Lewis on throughout the year. It is unsurprising that despite his team's woes, Lewis Hamilton was in a chipper mood following the race. He genuinely seemed satisfied with his hard-fought second-place finish. Last week, he asked for other teams to challenge him, and this week, he got what he asked for. Hamilton is certainly the king, but, without doubt, Max is the challenger. 

While we cannot see behind the face masks, there are no prizes for guessing whether Valtteri Bottas had a smile or a frown. Like his teammate, he struggled with the tyres. As the leading Mercedes, he looked to keep tabs with Max Verstappen and pitted earlier while Lewis Hamilton stayed out. Meanwhile, Hamilton stayed out and came into the pit lane to change his tyres later on. This alternative approach gave Hamilton the softer tyres and fresher rubber to chase and overtake his teammate. 

It seems that when the Mercedes drivers opt for different strategies, Lewis will often find a way to come out on top. Valtteri knows this and, despite signing a contract extension thanks to his calm, diplomatic nature, the Fin was quick to criticise his team's strategic decision-making. Quite frankly, Valtteri cannot afford these sorts of races if he wants to beat Lewis to the title. You will rarely start a Grand Prix ahead of Hamilton - he will rue the unconverted pole position which he earned by just six hundredths of a second. 

“…the divorce with their once-loved German man is already proving messy.”

It is interesting how a team's reaction to their results demonstrate the competitiveness of their car. A bad day for Mercedes sees them take the bottom two steps on the podium. For Ferrari though, fourth place feels like a win. Once again, Charles Leclerc maximised the potential of his relatively tardy red car. It is a similar story to last week for the Italian team's new golden boy. They do say that class is permanent, and Charles has bags of it.

The same people suggest that form is temporary. Sebastian Vettel will hope that such people are correct. The German had another dismal weekend. Qualifying twelfth, despite being almost half a second off his teammate, he told his team that he got the best out of the car. His race began with a spin on his own - ultimately finishing it prematurely. Vettel would then go on to publicly criticise Ferrari for their odd decision to pit him early. A second race ending with silence on the radio from Seb says a lot. 

Do I think that Ferrari are making it hard for him? I do. The Scuderia unceremoniously dumped Vettel, and have an environment on the line between high pressure and toxic. The intra-team politics are taking their toll on Sebastian’s confidence more than anything. Ferrari have moved on to their new man, Charles, and the divorce with their once-loved German man is already proving messy. You have to wonder whether they will last the season together. Sad, but unfortunately for Seb, that's Ferrari.

“For me, it seems as though Racing Point have been intelligent, maximising their competitiveness within the rules.”

The seat that many feel Sebastian is fleeing to was a lot more comfortable for the super sub, Nico Hulkenberg. Remarkably, Nico managed to out-qualify his Racing Point teammate to start from third place, just behind the two Mercedes. This performance showcases the German's brilliant ability behind the wheel - despite being new to the car and relatively unfit - putting him in the shop window for any suitors that can employ him. Lance Stroll won't have felt particularly good about Hulkenberg's success. The Canadian only started sixth. 

Saturday highlighted the lack of rationale in selecting Stroll and Vettel as Racing Point's drivers for next season. They are both excellent drivers, but I wouldn't pick them above Sergio Perez or Hulkenberg. Then again, I am not Lawrence Stroll, so we shall have to wait a little longer to learn in which drivers he will put his faith.

As a team, Racing Point made the headlines off the track as well as on it. They have been accused of cheating by using Mercedes' brake ducts from last season - something that is newly disallowed this season. Racing Point are confident that they have done no wrong. They have admitted that much of their car design is based on last year's Championship-winning Mercedes, and they have bought parts, where legal, from Mercedes. Despite this, Racing Point have been docked 15 points and fined by the FIA, who suggested that Racing Point were open, however, breached a technical regulation. 

Naturally, Racing Point appealed this ruling. They were joined in doing so by half of the teams, though not in support. The competitors feel that if Racing Point have an illegal component on their car, they should not be racing with it. For me, it seems as though Racing Point have been intelligent, maximising their competitiveness within the rules. Meanwhile, their competition feel hurt that they have spent plenty of money to create their own designs, all to be undercut by Racing Point copying last year's championship-winners. 

Arguably Racing Point have gone against the spirit of the sport, but if they are allowed to copy as they have, I am sure that the other teams will follow suit. This is a debate that will continue into the coming months. When the decision does come, it will be critical for Formula One because it defines how teams will go racing in the future.

Back on the track, I think we should have another great race on. I have been to Barcelona in the autumn, and wearing a hoodie would have made you look mad. I can only imagine that Barcelona in August will be another level of heat. If the past fortnight in Silverstone has been anything to go by, hot races are as variable as rainy ones. Next week Formula One heads to the Circuit de Catalunya for a midsummer's duel. I wouldn't miss it if I were you.

Styrian GP Race Report: The Perfect Storm

Round 2 of the bizarre but brilliant 2020 Formula One season took place at the first and probably the only, Styrian Grand Prix. We had a second helping of action from the Red Bull Ring, in Austria, and it didn’t disappoint. 

“ If his rivals want to beat him, they need to outdo Lewis off the track, not just on it.” 

Any fears that consecutive races at the same circuit would feel like a ‘copy and paste’ could promptly be put to bed. Torrential rain on Saturday created the perfect storm for the best drivers in the world to perform. Despite treacherous conditions, only one of the 20 runners hit the barriers. This goes to show the remarkable ability of these drivers to maintain speed and command as their cars attempt to swap ends on what feels like ice. Pure class. Pure instincts.

Historically, those drivers who could best master wet conditions have tended to be among the greats. Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher were ‘rain-masters’ of their era. The current generation’s cream of the crop raised again on Saturday. Lewis Hamilton took his Mercedes to a place where few, if any, have or ever will go. Hamilton was a staggering 1.2 seconds faster than second-placed Max Verstappen. For reference, the difference between second and tenth was also 1.2 seconds. League of his own? Undeniably. 

The Formula One world looked on in awe as the six-time champion ruled over his rivals in a display akin only to his lap in Singapore 2018 and Senna’s Monaco pole in 1988. Watching Lewis’ onboard footage is a pleasure at the best of times but if you want to treat yourself, go and watch that lap. You won’t regret it.

Following a sublime pole position, Hamilton would control proceedings from lights to flag. He increased his pace when he needed to, but ultimately it was a victory taken at a canter. Such measured performance is something that we have become accustomed to, with his 85th career win taking him within 6 of the all-time record. Given the scruffy nature of last weekend, yesterday’s victory was one of the more important ones. While others went walking in the mountains or home, Lewis went back to the track to continue the search for speed with his engineers. If his rivals want to beat him, they need to outdo Lewis off the track, not just on it. 

“Valtteri seems in the best mental and physical form of his Mercedes career, which will breed confidence. Hopefully, he will use that to take it to Hamilton.”

Yes, Lewis took top honours this weekend but his teammate, Valtteri Bottas still leads the championship after two races. I think Valtteri will be happy with that. However, he should be wary of letting Lewis Hamilton get any momentum. That is dangerous. The Fin has proven on multiple occasions that he can win a Grand Prix, he now needs to do just that regularly if he wants to be champion. Valtteri seems in the best mental and physical form of his Mercedes career, which will breed confidence. Hopefully, he will use that to take it to Hamilton.

It does seem as though a Mercedes shoot out for the title is on the cards. Nevertheless, such a statement can only be taken from testing and two races at the same track. Next week in Budapest, the lower speed layout may find other suitors in the form of Red Bull. Therefore, it would be foolish to write off the rest of the pack based on two thoroughly impressive weekends from Mercedes.

“We will have to wait for the verdict from the FIA, though, I’d rather no action was taken because the current midfield battle is fantastic to behold.”

Another individual who has impressed, taking the hearts of the fans and third in the championship, is Lando ‘last lap’ Norris. After such challenging years, it is a pleasure to see McLaren at the sharp end of the field once again. Carlos Sainz showed his class, taking third in qualifying but sadly faded in the race due to a slow pit stop dropping him into a traffic jam. Lando, meanwhile, had got a silly penalty in practice for not slowing down sufficiently under yellow flag conditions. This meant he started further down the order. Not that that stopped him. Due to a good strategy and a compliant teammate letting him through, Lando’s superior tyres ushered in a late charge which saw him pass three cars in the remaining two laps (another onboard that I recommend). As I mentioned last week, getting the team on side is vital for the coming years, and he is doing just that. 

On the penultimate corner of Lando’s late surge, he passed Sergio Perez, who’s front wing had seen better days. I was disappointed for Sergio. He’d done so well to drive from seventeenth on the grid to fifth. He had then lunged down the inside of Alex Albon, hitting him at what is now the Thai’s least favourite corner. They touched, breaking Perez’s wing and allowing Albon to demonstrate the car control he’d learned from his similar experience with Hamilton during the previous race. A tad clumsy from the Mexican, nonetheless, an excellent recovery drive.

Sixth and seventh position wasn’t bad for Perez’s Racing Point, who have the third quickest car but started way down the order after a poor qualifying. Renault protested the legality of the Racing Point that looks incredibly similar to last year’s Mercedes. It would appear Racing Point have been cheeky in copying the design of such a dominant car, however, in working closely with the FIA they have ensured that what they have done is within the rules. On the flip side, you can understand why Renault, who have ultimately spent more money for a slower package, aren’t best pleased with the situation. We will have to wait for the verdict from the FIA, though, I’d rather no action was taken because the current midfield battle is fantastic to behold.

“Leclerc dived into an ever-closing wedge and took his teammate, himself and his pride out of the race.”

Following the race, Ferrari cancelled their team press conference, which says a lot about their weekend really. Good news came in the form of an upgrade coming a week earlier than planned. The question is, did they improve the performance? The answer - nobody knows. A shaky qualifying saw Leclerc drop out in Q2 and Vettel in 10th. The Scuderia’s drivers tardy getaway saws them fighting one another, deep within the pack. Leclerc dived into an ever-closing wedge and took his teammate, himself and his pride out of the race.

Charles took responsibility for the mistake and apologised publicly to the team. It is a good job for Leclerc that he is on a five year deal with the Italian team. Otherwise, his place in the team might have been scrutinised in greater detail. With that being said, Leclerc is still only 22 years of age and proved last year that he does and will learn from these tough moments. That ability to learn is what makes him world champion material - something Ferrari recognise. 

Even so, I wouldn’t be surprised if fingers are beginning to get pointy behind the scenes in Maranello. Ferrari need to be competing at the front of Formula One. It’s weird having a race without a red car. I feel sorry for Seb Vettel, who is trying to enjoy his last races for Ferrari and demonstrate his ability to onlookers with a spare seat. He might be relieved to be leaving an imploding Ferrari. That also raises the concerns that Carlos Sainz’s camp may have in joining next year. Hopefully, the Hungaroring circuit will help the Italian outfit get back on track.

All in all, Styria produced another fine race for us. I can’t help but smile, knowing that there is a third race coming in just a few days. And that seems to be the format of F1 2020 - thick, fast and thrilling. 

Austrian GP Race Report: The Scene is Set

The wait is over. After seven months of waiting and wondering, Formula One is back. And, my goodness, it was worth the wait.

“There is no place for racism, and the drivers’ stance will hopefully ensure that there is more than racing being discussed by the world watching on. “

Whatever Formula One might mean to you, for all of those involved, this weekend was a proud moment. While others have been irresponsible, F1 showed international sports exactly how to put on a show in the very different world that we now live. 

The demonstration by the drivers against racism was a powerful moment. There is no place for racism, and the drivers’ stance will hopefully ensure that there is more than racing being discussed by the world watching on. 

North of 4,000 Coronavirus tests were taken on an essential-only paddock. Every test came back negative. After being tested, those present remained in ‘bubbles’ throughout the weekend, always wearing masks and social distancing where possible. The result - we’ve got some racing to enjoy.

And so we did. Was racing really that different? From the comfort of my living room, it was like a reunion with an old friend - plenty of stories to tell, one or two peripheral changes but still the same person that we like to hang out with at the weekend. This is why Formula One is so successful, its adaptability, resulting from the talented individuals involved, makes any wave rideable.

“How refreshing it was to see six teams with the chance of a podium.”

One of the prevailing descriptions of Formula One this weekend was ‘competitive’. In Qualifying, the two Mercedes drivers were separated by just 0.022 seconds, with Valtteri Bottas just snatching the pole position. The tight and exciting times continued further back with drivers between 3rd and 10th only being separated by half a second. 

High competition means even higher stakes. Any mistakes or deficiencies in machinery and you were in trouble as Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari found. He and his teammate lined up eleventh and seventh respectively - a fall from grace following their tremendous pace last year. Many feel that the decline is engine-related. A fair assessment, given that they haven’t started on the front of the grid since a technical directive, aimed at their power unit, came into force towards the end of last season. Power is an issue, but the overall package makes the car a challenge to drive. Following a disappointing race, Sebastian stated his surprise that he didn’t spin more than the one time that he did. That rather clumsy pirouette will have been particularly painful after his teammate, Charles Leclerc, showed his future-champion quality, wrestling his car home for second place. They say they have an update coming in Budapest - they better hope it’s a good one.

Luckily for the show, while Ferrari have stumbled others have got into their stride. Qualifying was close, and so was the race. How refreshing it was to see six teams with the chance of a podium. Racing Point’s 2019 Mercedes lookalike has provoked some moans from competitors but sit pretty with excellent pace. McLaren and Renault have both also made huge gains, with the Woking-based teams getting in among the Mercedes and Red Bulls in the starting order. Another good news story is seeing George Russell’s Williams starting higher than his standard P19. If a team need any points this season, it is Williams. Especially with the financial challenges that they face.

Unfortunately, points weren’t served for Williams as Russell joined eight other drivers on the sidelines with a DNF. Austria’s track sniffs out and punishes any signs of brittleness. Even the winning Mercedes team were relieved that their cars made it through the season’s first test. One of the teams to discover the tendency of the Red Bull Ring to bite was, rather embarrassingly, Red Bull. Max Verstappen bowed out early while the car of his teammate, Albon, left it late to give up the ghost. 

Before his late retirement, Alex Albon looked good for a podium at the very least. However, in overtaking Lewis Hamilton, on his fresh tyres, around the outside, the two came together. The result - Albon was relegated to the back of the pack and Hamilton was handed a five-second penalty which would ultimately drop him down to fourth position. For me, it was a racing incident, that clearly neither driver wanted. However, like many, I am someone that has never raced a Formula One car. Hence, I look to those that are experienced, to understand who is at fault in moments like these. It was generally acknowledged that Lewis could not have done much to avoid the collision. He was being passed on a downhill corner, using worn, harder tyres - a recipe for understeer as exhibited on Sunday. However, the pundits also pointed out that while the penalty is harsh, it is fair because of the result that it had on Alex’s position.

“Politics is never a million miles away from a Formula One circuit, and it is usually on the other side of the fence, in the paddock.”

In hindsight, the race was a continuation of this weekend’s battle between Mercedes and Red Bull on and off the track. Politics is never a million miles away from a Formula One circuit, and it is usually on the other side of the fence, in the paddock. And so it proved on return. Red Bull went to the stewards regarding Mercedes on multiple occasions during the weekend. The outcomes of all of these moments all result in positives.

The final decision, to hand Hamilton the penalty, allowed us to celebrate the maiden podium of Lando Norris. What a remarkable man Lando is becoming. He and McLaren have worked so hard and deserve these good moments - they will look forward to trying to do the same next weekend to maintain second position in the constructor’s championship. With an outgoing Carlos Sainz and an incoming Daniel Ricciardo, Lando needs to make McLaren his own before the experienced and talented Danny Ric turns up. If this weekend is anything to go by, Daniel will be happier to arrive than Carlos will be to leave. It’s only one race though so watch this space.

“I spoke about waves. To ride one, first, you need to catch one. That is precisely what Valtteri Bottas achieved while his championship rivals struggled.”

Earlier, I spoke about waves. To ride one, first, you need to catch one. That is precisely what Valtteri Bottas achieved while his championship rivals struggled. In a shortened season, performing consistently well in races will be crucial. The Fin started how he did last year. Remaining calm to hold off his seemingly omnipotent teammate, Bottas took a fine victory in an action-packed race. The perfect start, but now he needs to maintain this wave’s momentum. I see 2020 as the year that Bottas can challenge Lewis Hamilton for the crown. Valtteri is in a positive place and looks fully focused. Let us not forget the might of Red Bull, who will want to return with a vengeance at the same time and place. 

If forecasts are to be believed, you’d be a fool to miss the first rain-affected race of the season in a matter of days. The scene is set - F1 2020 looks will be high in pressure, not to mention lofty in drama.

My intention is that these race reports should not normally be this lengthy, however, as we waited more than half a year for one, I thought I’d treat you.