The curious case of Pierre Gasly

When the F1 world thinks about drivers with uncertain futures, Pierre Gasly is a name that doesn’t necessarily come immediately off the tongue. However, he is on that list, which is frankly mad based on his performances over the past few years.

Despite being a race winner, team leader and fan favourite, news in recent days suggests that Pierre’s position at AlphaTauri could be under question.

Sergio Perez’s contract extension with Red Bull was announced last week following the Mexican clumsily mentioning the deal on the live feed following his excellent win in Monaco. The correct decision for Red Bull’s senior team, as proven by Perez’s performance on that wet day.

“So what next for the Frenchman?”

This news effectively closes the door to another promotion to Red Bull for Gasly. So what next for the Frenchman?

In reality, the status quo works for Pierre and for AlphaTauri. Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda are a great pairing of youth, speed and the ability to improve quickly. That is precisely what Red Bull’s junior team need in their drivers. It is also clear that Pierre is the team leader, happy and comfortable.

There aren’t any Red Bull drivers that obviously need promoting from the feeder series. Yet, Pierre’s position cannot last forever in what is a junior team. They say that once you are comfortable within your role, you should move on to something more challenging to develop further. So one way or another, it would be beneficial for the growth of Pierre Gasly to move on.

“Pierre was not just uncomfortable - he was out of his depth”

The issue is that when he last moved on, he was in a tricky car next to one of the quickest on the grid in Max Verstappen. Pierre was not just uncomfortable - he was out of his depth. And you can’t help but feel that a part of him may fear leaving his family in Florenza.

Where should Gasly go?

I wrote an article on Daniel Ricciardo’s future in F1, and McLaren will be critical in the driver market. If they ditch Daniel, all dominos will begin to fall. Zak Brown may have an interest in IndyCar drivers. However, the reality is that Pierre is a known quantity and rated well in the F1 paddock. So he will surely be on the shortlist.

Pierre would be an excellent signing for McLaren. He may be as quick as Lando Norris, but enough to ensure that both cars are up there and keep Woking’s leading man honest. It’s the same reason Gasly would be a suitable Mercedes recruit if Hamilton was to make a shock retirement (as much as this would disappoint Nick De Vries).

Crucially, something that counts against Pierre is that Red Bull’s top team seems to have a problem even considering Gasly returning to the team. It appears as though Pierre was more distracted by bad results and found it difficult to move on compared to Sergio Perez.

“other teams will have underlying concerns of history repeating”

While it is true that Pierre was parachuted into a demanding scenario at a young age, other teams will have underlying concerns of history repeating when considering his services.

While most people watching F1 would assume that Gasly will safely have a long successful F1 career, there is a fear that he will be left behind by his peers and replaced by someone new.

Pierre Gasly’s next career move will define his F1 legacy.

Pants and Jewellery - a symbol of the F1-FIA split? (2 of 2)

The first part of this article was about F1's success in America. So it feels silly that one of the weekend's biggest stories was a four-time champion wearing boxers over his race suit and F1's biggest name wearing three watches to a press conference.

Since F1's governing body, the FIA, had a bit of a whoopsy at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year, it has changed two of the key people in the organisation - the president and the race director.

The presidential change was planned, swapping a retiring Jean Todt for a Motorsport UK backed Mohammed Ben Sulayem (MBS). The race director was less planned, swapping the controversial Michael Masi for Niels Wittich and Eduardo Freitas, the two of whom will alternate each weekend.

“The Abu Dhabi controversy is critical here”

The Abu Dhabi controversy is critical here because the F1 world, in the majority, felt that the FIA had stood by their decision to not follow its own rules and procedures.

Back in Miami, we heard that the FIA had begun enforcing the rule that disallows the wearing of jewellery or non-fireproof underwear while driving the car.

On the pants front, enforcing the rules had ruffled some feathers with key drivers, including Sebastian Vettel. We saw him ironically wearing boxers on top of his overalls at the start of Friday practice in Miami. I've just watched him holding his own on BBC's Question Time - what a difference a week makes.

“He has been given a two-race grace period for that”

The jewellery battle seems to be a bit trickier. Pierre Gasly wears a religious pendant during races, Kevin Magnessun wears his wedding ring, and Lewis Hamilton wears earrings and has a piercing in his nose. While Hamilton took out his earrings, the nose piercing remained. It seems that he needs a minor surgery to get that removed. So he has been given a two-race grace period for that.

The question is, will he book the op?

Going by the way Hamilton arrived at the drivers press conference, you wouldn't be surprised if, come Monaco, we are talking piercings again.

The seven-time world champion arrived, donning three watches, seven neckless and eight rings. You would be right if you thought Lewis was trying to make a point.

“You might argue that it seemed negotiable when F1 remained in Saudi Arabia”

It seems odd for the FIA to annoy the two most decorated drivers on the grid for a little thing like this. Yes, safety is non-negotiable. But you might argue that it seemed negotiable when F1 remained in Saudi Arabia following nearby missile strikes.

The offers from Hamilton and Magnessun to sign waivers to cover the FIA have been rejected too. So it's not for legal reasons that the FIA has this stance.

President MBS is said to be pushing hard for the ruling to be applied, with his reasoning being that those at the top should set a good example. F1 is the biggest motorsport in the world. However, other categories allow jewellery to be worn, and some of Lewis Hamilton's most iconic images have been seen him emerge from the car wearing his nose piercing.

Is it, as Sebastian Vettel suggested, personal on Lewis Hamilton? Maybe. Perhaps that explains why Lewis is so annoyed by this situation. From the exterior seems an unusual area of the sport about which to have an argument.

I prefer to assume the best in people. This means that the FIA must now be applying every rule without question so that they don't have another Abu Dhabi 2021. While F1 could have suffered heavily from the conclusion to last season, the FIA was the organisation that received most of the backlash - and it didn't help itself by being slow to respond.

“There is growing discontent and a disconnect between F1 and the FIA”

This brings me to the crux of the issue. There is growing discontent and a disconnect between F1 and the FIA.

In recent weeks, the FIA has asked F1 for a more significant sum of money to deliver more sprint race weekends in the seasons to come. Reports suggest that this didn't go down well at all. Especially as F1 provides the FIA with approximately half of its income already.

This dispute over money and sprint races seem to have spilt out into pants and piercings, creating a pattern of F1 being celebrated as a global success. At the same time, the FIA receives continued lousy press.

The issue is that they need one another. The FIA needs F1 financially and for relevance, while F1 needs referees to run the sport.

Let's not forget, as silly as it sounds, the FIA have the power to stop Lewis Hamilton from racing in Monaco if he is still wearing a piercing. That would hurt F1 as well as Hamilton and Mercedes.

The alternative to the FIA? There isn't, really. The good news is that we are not going to see a breakaway series because teams would be mad to leave F1 just as it's becoming profitable. In fact, heavyweights Andretti Racing are looking to join the party, so the dynamic may yet swing a different direction.

Watch this space, and leave the space below to let me know what you think.

Our F1 season predictions were probably wrong - and that’s tremendous

Last week, we did a podcast episode on AJontheLine, predicting the upcoming F1 season. And while it was enjoyable, with some exciting and amusing thoughts, I suspect that our predictions will be whole-heartedly wrong. But that’s tremendous.

While one may look at this poor foresight as a lack of knowledge or understanding, I look at it differently. It means that we are heading towards a fascinating season of Formula 1.

I put Red Bull as the fourth fastest car, but that looks wrong as they seem favourites now. Similarly, I put Alpine last, and they seem quick as I write during the first practice session of the season. 

I could see Charles Leclerc as one of the biggest favourites for the championship in that lightning-fast Ferrari, but how can I count out his teammate Carlos Sainz? He beat Leclerc last year and held his own against Max Verstappen back in their Toro Rosso days. The fastest Ferrari driver battle will be a spicy and tightly-contested spectacle - and it could decide the champion.

Mercedes look like they are genuinely struggling with ‘porpoising’ (listen to this podcast for more on that) but have a fast car if they can sort that out. Will they come back later in the season? Will their drivers, Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, the legend and the apprentice, remain harmonious? They surely need to initially as they get their car back to the front.

McLaren is so hard to call as well. Surely Lando Norris can find his first victory and Daniel Ricciardo his form. However, those brake issues were less than ideal last week. Either way, it is so good to see the team in a good, stable place with plenty of sponsors.

Then there is the ‘midfield’, the most confusing of the lot. Any remaining team could be the best of the rest or better on any given weekend. Will Haas, having dropped their Russian money for an old friend, be the biggest surprise? Will Fernando Alonso get the championship battle he returned to F1 for? Will Alpha Tauri shock the world and be better than the midfield? Pierre Gasly was fastest in the first session of the year, and young Yuki Tsunoda looks ready to balance his unfiltered brilliance with maturity.

There are so many questions, and those above are just the tip of the iceberg. This is a new F1 season feeling, but this time it is all-new. The shakeup in the regulations means that we can’t call anything. And that’s more than okay. Sit back, enjoy this season and join us on AJontheLine for all of the biggest talking points.

He's back! - How somebody posting a photo from the Grand Canyon nearly broke the internet

If you hadn't heard, the Abu Dhabi Grand at the end of last year's enthralling F1 season was a little bit controversial. Lewis Hamilton was dominant. However, Max Verstappen stole the race and the championship on the final lap thanks to some weird decisions from race control. 

Whatever your opinion - check Twitter, there are many - Lewis Hamilton was left heartbroken and "disillusioned". He had lost the championship that would elevate him to undisputed 'greatest of all time' status through no fault of his own. The other elephant in the room was that the FIA needed to ensure that never such a thing would happen again. 

Hamilton's team, Mercedes, protested the race result - a protest rejected by the FIA. Mercedes then appealed this before retracting the appeal, given that it knew the FIA would be the ones "marking its own homework," and there isn't much satisfaction in winning a championship in court. Mercedes did say, though, that the FIA needed to make changes.

The intriguing thing throughout all of this was the complete silence from Lewis Hamilton. He only spoke briefly after the race to congratulate Verstappen. He appeared in public twice to be knighted and celebrate Mercedes' team championship win. 

Silence is powerful.

The muteness accompanied by rumours of retirement has been the biggest talking point in the F1 community since then. The driver, who is arguably bigger than F1, may have been pushed away by the sport that he loves and to which he has given everything. 

But then, on Saturday evening, up pops Lewis on Instagram and Twitter, posting a photo of him turning and smiling at the camera in a desert. The caption: "I've been gone. Now I'm back!".

To say that this post caused a stir would be an understatement. It was the trending topic on Twitter, it made a Sky News bulletin, and t received more interaction than Max Verstappen's world championship celebration post. Yes, it's all a bit silly. But what does this all mean?

On the surface, it appears that Lewis Hamilton is not retiring, which is great news for Formula One, British sport and the world in general. You want the best in the world doing what they are the best at - otherwise, it feels a little bit like a waste.

Below the surface will be more intriguing. Lewis was said to have needed some assurances from the FIA before committing to another season in F1. So what deal has been agreed? 

Firstly, changes would need to be made in the FIA, as we have already said - this is a world-class sport and cannot be run by primarily ammeters. Many people call for Michael Masi, the race director, to be sacked, but I don't think that is helpful. As obtuse as he was immediately after the race in Abu Dhabi, he was put under extreme pressure and needs more support. 

Secondly, I suspect Lewis, like many, would have been calling for the laws of racing to be made clear and consistent. Last season, Max was over the limit and unpunished on multiple occasions. For drivers' safety and the fans' understanding, this needs to be addressed, and Lewis has the bargaining power to have that impact. 

Finally, he may have used his bargaining power to promote the long term goals of Lewis in the sport. F1 is elitist. Despite the 'we race as one' messages, it needs to do more for sustainability and be more accessible for competitors of all backgrounds. I wonder whether Lewis has encouraged a more effective strategy in this direction. 

Let me be clear. Lewis' silence was not simply a calculated move to change the sport. He was hurt, so taking time away from the public eye will have been extremely healthy and necessary after that draining season. The way that Lewis conducts himself and speaks this season will be fascinating. And his pursuit of title number 8, which he understandably feels should be his, will be enthralling to watch.

I am buzzing for F1 2022, and I hope you are too. Join us on AJontheLine for every twist and turn.

Britain’s love affair with losers has helped Lewis’ UK popularity - but at what cost?

Last week, from the train to the pub to the water cooler (if they are even safe nowadays), the world was talking about Formula One. As somebody who had watched, talked about and introduced people to F1 since I was seven, the lead up to the weekend was many emotions. Mostly pride. 

Sadly, F1 has a habit of shooting itself in the foot. Last weekend, it chose a rocket launcher, forgetting meritocracy in pursuit of drama and creating controversy in the final laps of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - listen to more on that here. 

As the world watched on, the victim of Sunday's cock up was Sir Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion led 57 and a half of the 58 laps of the final race in which he needed to win to become champion. In the penultimate lap, decision-making by the Race Director (referee) gave Max Verstappen the advantage that he needed to overtake Hamilton and snatch the championship. Did Max deserve the championship? Yes. Should Lewis have been the champion? Unquestionably.

This week, F1 has been on the news and trending on social media, with a public outcry for an apparent injustice within the meritocratic realm of sport. From Piers Morgan to Samual L Jackson, the world was upset on Hamilton's behalf. The 'next goal wins' analogy has been thrown around and is a great way to describe what people who love F1 as much as I still don't understand. 

“What people love even more is seeing a champion fall, which is what happened on Sunday.”

People love a young champion who defies odds to represent their people on the world stage. Lewis Hamilton has been that and more for the past 15 years. What people love even more is seeing a champion fall, which is what happened on Sunday.

This wasn't a fall from grace or a question of being outclassed by a young buck. Lewis Hamilton has what it took to take on Max Verstappen in what is widely agreed to have been a minimally inferior car. Moreover, a broken Hamilton congratulated the Verstappen camp, losing with the dignity many would have not blamed him for putting to one side. Lewis' sportsmanship in the face of adversity was almost as awe-inspiring as the audacity required by the Race Director to break his own rules. 

“However, that pessimism might well have been the reason that the British public has never really taken to arguably their greatest sporting champion.” 

One of the first blog posts I wrote talked about how Britain's negativity niggled with its success in a sporting arena. By no means did the UK's pessimistic mentality impact the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. However, that pessimism might well have been the reason that the British public has never really taken to arguably their greatest sporting champion. 

Something changed on Sunday. The outcry in this country for the injustice (yes, I know there are more significant problems in the world) was massive. On top of this, you never heard anyone criticising Hamilton - something that has become the norm. But how could you? The guy has done everything, from driving to sportsmanship, perfectly. For once, there wasn't really a way that the media could spin it in a way that would make Lewis look bad. Like the England team in the Euros this summer, he had looked destined to win until it fell apart cruelly in the closing minutes. 

“But what impact has this daylight robbery had on the British superstar, who we forget is still a human?”

While he lost the championship, Lewis Hamilton seems to have finally won some British hearts. But what impact has this daylight robbery had on the British superstar, who we forget is still a human?

Lewis hasn't been on social media all week, he chose not to go to the FIA prize-giving gala and, other than the interview that he did immediately after the race before going to the podium, he has not done any interviews. He returned to his team's headquarters to celebrate Mercedes' team championship victory on Friday. Oh, and he got knighted at Windsor Castle on Wednesday. So it's been quite a week. 

He has no obligation to talk about the pain he may feel as he processes last weekend in his own time. However, it means that we can only glean information about his state of mind from what those close to him have said. His boss, Toto Wolff, is an excellent example of this. And probably the only one too. 

In a media session following Mercedes' decision not to take the Sunday's events to court, Wolff explained that neither he nor Lewis would ever get over the pain and stress. While this may sound dramatic from the outside, it makes you think. Imagine you have dedicated your life to something. You have plenty of other things that you could be pursuing. Still, your passion for that something is so great that you reach the verge of becoming the undisputed greatest. At that moment, the world watches on, and through no fault of your own, somebody changes the rules to let someone else beat you. 

“Changes are required in F1 if it wants to keep Lewis Hamilton and the spotlight that he brings.”

I fear that F1's biggest asset and ambassador is disillusioned. You wouldn't blame Lewis for walking away. However, you wouldn't blame him for living up to the 'bad loser' image that so many Britons seem to have of him when he lost on Sunday. Changes are required in F1 if it wants to keep Lewis Hamilton and the spotlight that he brings.

2022…

So long as he is mentally healthy and enjoying himself, I hope, and I believe that Lewis Hamilton will return next year. Worryingly for his competition, he is going to be stronger too. As we saw in Brazil this year, when his back is against the wall, that is when he shines the brightest. You then have to factor in Max Verstappen, who will be his biggest challenge next season, now armed with the experience of fighting for a championship. Let's not forget that significant changes are coming in terms of the cars, hopefully bringing them closer. With such changes, you can't rule Ferrari or McLaren out. All four drivers for those teams are top operators, but, for me, Charles Leclerc is the real deal.  

So while the final chapter of 2021 may be filled with controversy, do not despair with Formula One. If we had stopped watching football after Maradona's 'hand of God' intervened, we would have missed magical moments that include Lionel Messi. Like life, sport is unfair, injustice and can stab you in the back no matter how much love you show it. But with troughs come incredible peaks - I am grateful not to have missed Hungary, USA and Brazil, this year.

I can't guarantee another winner takes all decider, like this season. However, all being well, we will see the best driver on the planet fighting it out - this time, with more than two going for the championship. You wouldn't want to miss that. 

2021 has been a season for the ages, and I already can't wait for 2022. See you then.

Listen to the AJontheLine F1 2021 Season Review - out soon.

Turkish GP Race Report: World Porridge Day

On World Porridge Day, it was only fitting that Valtteri Bottas took a commanding victory in a cold and slippery Turkish Grand Prix. After all, porridge and coffee are what he puts his pace down to. 

These were conditions made for a man from Finland, who brushed off pressure from the wet weather specialist who is Max Verstappen. He wasn’t, however, the fastest in qualifying. Lewis Hamilton would have been on pole position were it not for the decision to change a part of his engine to alleviate any reliability concerns. But that didn’t matter. Valtteri wasn’t on pole for the same reason in Italy, so it was his time to shine. And he did just that.

The top three of Bottas, Verstappen and Leclerc stayed in formation for most of the race, with each driver comfortable enough to hold off the next. The exciting part of the race was going on behind them in the form of Lewis Hamilton and below them in the form of the wet track. 

Starting 11th after his groin penalty, Hamilton slowly but surely slices through the field, remaining conservative to not have a crash while Verstappen, his main rival for the championship, was ahead. Hamilton’s Mercedes was the fastest on the track, but he couldn’t make use of it for two reasons. He lost time looking for a way past slower cars such as Tsunoda and, consequently, eroded his tyres at a much higher rate than those at the front. 

A pivotal moment came when Hamilton caught Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, Sergio Perez. The Mexican driver gave it his all to keep Hamilton behind and succeeded with some incredible defensive driving. This was hard and fair racing, right on the edge, reminiscent of Hamilton’s battle with Jenson Button in 2010 and the highlight of the race. It was critical for the championship too because it gave Bottas and Verstappen the chance to pit for fresh tyres ahead and secure second position. 

Soon after, Perez pitted, freeing Hamilton into fourth position. Of the leaders, it was just Hamilton and Leclerc not to have stopped for new tyres. It looked as if they could hold on, as though Leclerc could win and Hamilton could take fourth. But as the laps went on, the tyre life dropped off, allowing Bottas to retake the lead and causing Leclerc to abort the mission for fresher tyres. 

Mercedes, at this point, had already called Hamilton into the pit lane to avoid a similar story. However, the Brit had disregarded the call, believing that staying out would be the bolder but ultimately better decision to take third. Conservatism, however, prevailed, and eventually, Hamilton listened to Mercedes’ call to bring him in. This lost Hamilton places to Perez and Leclerc and a release of frustration over the radio by Hamilton. He would finish fifth, losing 8 points to Verstappen and falling 6 points behind in the championship - sub-optimal but better than a DNF due to an engine failure.

Happier were Ferrari and, in particular, Carlos Sainz. They outscored and outperformed their title rivals McLaren, despite the Spaniard of Sainz starting the race from the back with an engine penalty of his own. The fight for third in the Constructors Championship will be close, and McLaren will be nervous. 

Weekend Awards

Biggest Winner - Valtteri Bottas

Biggest Loser - Pierre Gasly

Moment of the Weekend - Hamilton vs PereZ

Honourable Mention - Ferrari
AJontheLine Line of the Week - I TOLD YOU (Lewis Hamilton)

The Turkish Grand Prix was no thriller, despite the rain. However, it was a tense and critical twist in the title fight, with many talking points. For analysis and an explanation on my choices for these awards, listen to our latest AJontheLine podcast, which will be out in the coming days.

3 Things to look out for as the 2021 F1 season resumes

F1 in 2021 has been scintillating so far. This year is one for the ages, with past legends returning to glory, new stars rising, and one of the fiercest battles for the championship ever. And we are only half of the way through. Here are the three things that you need to watch out for, from the end of the summer break in Belgium to the curtain falling with a chequered flag in Abu Dhabi. 

The Driver Market

‘Silly Season’ has begun - it’s time for those without contracts to sort out what they are doing next year. In this game of musical chairs, the music tends to stop once the most competitive seat is taken. Toto Wolff, therefore, has control of the pause button - when he decides between Valtteri Bottas and George Russell, the puzzle will fall into place. Who will he pick? Most think Russell and I tend to agree. 

If that’s the case, Bottas will be in high demand. There only seems to be spaces at Williams and Alfa Romeo, two of the least competitive teams this year. Will the Finn take a risk on the regulation changes next year, shaking up the grid, or will he call it a day in F1 and go rallying? Perhaps the answer to that question will impact the future of another Finn, Kimi Raikkonen. Or perhaps not. I sense that this, sadly, will be his last season in F1. New talent will join F1 next year, and there is plenty to choose from. I can see Nick De Vries going to Williams and Callum Ilott joining Alfa Romeo if there is room at an inn. 

When will Toto make the call? Will he leave it late to avoid a demotivated Bottas, or will he announce it early to give his driver time to find a new employer? I suspect Russell’s contract has been signed already, but it won’t be announced until Bottas’ future is sorted.

The Ferrari Resurgence

From what I hear, Ferrari has an engine upgrade on the way, just in time for Belgium and, crucially for them, Italy. The Prancing Horse’s engine being pegged back was why Ferrari lost so much ground to their rivals in 2020, so any improvements for Ferrari may allow them to catch McLarens and even the Mercedes and Red Bulls. 

Ferrari has shown decent pace in the first half of the season, but a tendency to go through their tyres too quickly has held them back. Despite these issues, Ferrari could have won in Monaco and Silverstone. F1 needs Ferrari at the sharp end of the grid. If the Scuderia can get their act together, they could add an Italian ingredient to the already exquisite concoction in the battle for Grand Prix victories.

The Title Battle

The bout between the legend of Lewis Hamilton and the pretender that is Max Verstappen has been compelling throughout the season so far, and it doesn't look set to end. We should expect more fireworks between the two drivers and controversy between the two teams. I have already predicted that there will be a coming together at the next race in Spa - you can read or hear more of that in the Hungarian GP report and podcast. 

The drivers' championship is on a knife-edge, making it very difficult to call. If I had to choose one, Hamilton just pips Verstappen - he's rich in championship battle experience, meaning that he will play a better percentage game in however many races remain. You've also got to factor in the looming engine penalties that Red Bull and Verstappen seem destined for. That being said, Mercedes could hit similar trouble as the season goes on. I wonder, too, whether a resurgent Ferrari will take points off the rivals, making the supporting cast just as essential to the conclusion as the protagonists.

Whoever comes out on top in this battle of the ages will deserve the title. We have the pleasure of watching how it unfolds, so enjoy it and come back for more news and views from the other analysts and me as Hamilton vs Verstappen resumes.

Hungarian GP Report: Sacre Bleu!

The Hungarian Grand Prix was being hyped up after the title-defining British Grand Prix, and I was concerned that it wouldn't live up to it. However, like a chocolate brownie, the battle of Budapest is impossible to overrate and delivered again. With a first time winner, crazy weather, a comeback drive, battles between the best and underdogs succeeding, this race had it all. 

Lewis Hamilton started from pole position after a scintillating lap in qualifying, giving him his 101st pole position. Behind Hamilton was his teammate Bottas, and then the two Red Bull's, who were seeking revenge after last time out. Drama on the horizon? Surely.

How do you complicate a Grand Prix? A downpour of rain just before the start of the race, of course. That's precisely what happened. Tension built, and when the lights went out, there was minimal grip. It was anybody's race.

Hamilton got away well but, his rear gunner certainly didn't. Verstappen, Norris and Perez all muscled their way through, but in a bid to make up the places, Bottas braked later than those ahead. Unfortunately, it was ambition ahead of the physics of friction. The Fin sailed into the back of Norris, leading to several drivers either being knocked out of the race or heavily damaged. Crucially for the championship, Verstappen was one of those who took on significant damage. 

Bottas was out.

Perez was out.

Norris was out.

And so too was the red flag.

As the drivers emerged from the pit lane, they were still on wet weather tyres, but the track had dried much quicker than anyone had predicted. Who was going to take the risk to pit for dry tyres and lose track position? As it turned out, everyone. Everyone except for the race leader Lewis Hamilton. Incredibly, Hamilton was the only one to line up on the grid. He had to race around the track and then pit on his own while everyone else, all on the right tyres, went past him. After avoiding all of the drama at the start, Hamilton was last.

So who led now? George Russell - I'm not joking, but only for a few corners before he was told to let these that he'd overtaken in the pit lane past. Somehow, Estaban Ocon was leading from Vettel, with Williams' Latifi in third. The championship protagonists of Hamilton and Verstappen were out of the points. 

If Lewis Hamilton was going to win his 100th Grand Prix, he would need to pull out one of his best ever performances. After making his way past the Alfa Romeos and Mick Schumacher, he pitted to undercut Verstappen and, crucially, Daniel Ricciardo with a brilliant move around the outside of the Aussie driver at turn 1. This allowed him to push into the clean air and get up to fifth position, but he was stuck behind the one-stopping Carlos Sainz on fresher tyres.

Ahead, Alonso led while Ocon and Vettel pitted. Given the searing pace of his out lap, Vettel should have taken the lead. However, his slow pit stop was enough to allow Ocon to remain ahead - just. 

Hamilton's tyre charge had allowed him to close in on Fernando Alonso for the battle that we all wanted to see for fourth position. Oh, and it did not let us down. The ten lap battle was pure, clean and hard racing. That was what it looked like to see the two most outstanding of their respective generations battling it out. Alonso may have just turned 40, but he still has it. He also won the race for Estaban Ocon. Alonso's defence meant that Hamilton only had three laps to catch and pass the two leaders by the time the Brit got through Alonso and Carlos Sainz for third. While he was only two seconds off the lead, it was enough. 

Estaban Ocon also spent 70 laps in the race lead with Sebastian Vettel, a four-time champion, pressuring him. Ocon is the guy that beat Verstappen in Formula 3. He's the guy who got dropped from F1 for a year. The Frenchman comes from humble beginnings, and now he is a Grand Prix winner for a French team in Alpine. To say he deserved that win is an understatement. 

More than half on the grid are now race winners in F1. I think that speaks of the incredible era of Grand Prix racing that we live in. 

Following the race, heart-breaking news arrived in the form of a Seb Vettel disqualification - his car didn't have enough fuel remaining in the car for a sample. Unfortunately, that's a slam dunk. Vettel was a champion on and off the track. Along with Hamilton, he fought against the proposed law that threatens the LGBTQ+ community in Hungary. Love is love. And we love Seb.

Further back, Verstappen managed to rescue two points for ninth position - incredible given that he was driving with so much damage. To the delight of many, the Williams pair of Latifi and Russell managed to bag a remarkable ten points to get them above Haas and Alfa Romeo in the championship. Finally, Russell has scored some points for Williams. His tears following the race showed what that meant to him. 

Biggest Winner: Lewis Hamilton

Going into Silverstone with a 33-point deficit to Verstappen and then coming out of Hungary, two races later, with an eight-point advantage, has to be a win for Hamilton. 

Lewis was lucky that Max got caught up in the pandemonium that was turn one. Still, he made that luck by qualifying on pole and was unfortunate to lose so many positions with the fast-drying track at the restart. Either way, it was a storming drive back to what is now second. He drove his heart out and will deserve a break in the championship lead.

Biggest Loser: Valtteri Bottas

Bottas had a tremendous weekend until he threw out the anchors too late at turn one. But the mistake could be integral for his future.

A stellar driver from Russell will be vital in helping his cause for the Mercedes seat next season. Especially when he is compared to Bottas, who was playing a game of ‘bowling’ at turn one, to quote Charles Leclerc. Ouch.

Moment of the Weekend: Lewis Hamilton vs Fernando Alonso 

It was the battle that got me into Formula One - King Lewis vs Rey Fernando. It was tense, it was exciting and vital for the race winner. Neither would give in, and it looked like a stalemate until Alonso made a slight mistake at turn one. You can’t give Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso an opportunity like that. Alonso is in the top four drivers on the grid for me.

Honourable Mention: Estaban Ocon 

He won! Arguably, Estaban should be the biggest winner, and I imagine Jimmy or Joe will rightly argue so. I didn’t choose him because I wanted to look at the big picture. Nevertheless, to hold off Sebastian Vettel for almost the whole race is remarkable. Ocon is underrated, and now he has led more laps than all but Hamilton and Verstappen this year. Let us also not forget that Ocon out-qualified Alonso, despite qualifying just 17th two races ago - what a turnaround that is. 

AJontheLine Line of the Week: 

Daniel Ricciardo: F***

David Croft (Commentator): Sorry for Daniel’s language.

Nico Rosberg: No, but it was the right word.

 Martin Brundle is a world-class commentator, and I always miss his voice when he isn’t there - I know I’m not the only one. However, it was less difficult this weekend when his replacement was the one and only, straight-talking Nico Rosberg. He offered brilliant insight all weekend, and on Saturday, his inner racing driver came out, and it was very amusing.

Well, there is your chocolate brownie of a Grand Prix - probably the best race of the season. Our hunger for F1 will ramp up now with a four-week summer break until Belgium. At least silly season will keep us occupied. Will Lewis Hamilton’s new teammate be announced? I’ll let you know.

Listen to the Hungarian GP Review Podcast on AJontheLine, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

British GP Report 2021: “It takes two to tango”

The British Grand Prix is always a momentous occasion, with its classic track boasting some of the world's fastest and most challenging corners flowing through the sea of emotion that is one of the most passionate crowds in sport. I'm bias - I know. This year, the weekend had it all: a trial format that worked well, moments of brilliance from all of the home drivers and an era-defining race that had us on the edge of our seats (and often off them) from lights to flag. 

Friday saw the teams go straight from a late practice one into an evening qualifying. This was a fantastic way to get people excited on a Friday and allow people to get home from work to watch. The event didn't disappoint. We had George Russell being cheered around the lap to qualify a remarkable 8th position and Lewis Hamilton shocking Red Bull by snatching pole position with a remarkable lap. The energy was already high, and that's what we all love to see.

Saturday was the day of the 17-lap sprint qualifying race, which would decide the starting order for Sunday's Grand Prix. The championship leader, Max Verstappen, managed to beat Lewis Hamilton off the line to take the lead and eventual win. But the star of Saturday was Fernando Alonso, who managed to climb from 11th to 5th position in the first lap. While he did drop places to the two McLaren drivers, that lap showed that he's still got it, and  7th was a great starting position for Sunday's Grand Prix.

Speaking of Sunday, explosive would probably be the best word. 

When the lights went out, the battle between the seasoned champion Hamilton and young star Verstappen was awesome. You felt like there was something in the air. Dicing and banging wheels, the crowd were roaring as the two went head to head. As they headed towards the high-speed Copse corner, Hamilton dummied left and pulled alongside Verstappen on the right. Verstappen squeezed Hamilton against the wall, nobody yielded, Verstappen turned in, and the result was inevitable. The cars collided. Verstappen flew into the tyre barrier, and Hamilton continued, albeit in second position as the incident allowed Charles Leclerc to seize the lead. 

Who was to blame? I believe that it was a racing incident. If nobody goes for a gap in a race, then no overtakes will happen. Neither driver pulled out. Therefore, they were both responsible. Max's crash was a big enough penalty, and so Hamilton received a ten-second penalty. Listen to more on that on the podcast.

Out came a red flag and a race restart beckoned. 

Charles Leclerc is arguably as good a driver as Max Verstappen. He showed it on Sunday in his less competitive Ferrari, controlling the race brilliantly, leading for fifty laps. 

Meanwhile, Hamilton dropped back to fourth position but had been pumping in scintillating laps to catch the Monegasque. The champion overtook Norris at Copse, was waved by Bottas. He threw it down the inside of Leclerc on the penultimate lap, snatching the lap to a roar on home soil. 

It was one of the drives of the season from Leclerc and heart-breaking for him not to have won for an Italian team in England - a rare occurrence.

Bottas followed Hamilton and Leclerc home for the podium, with the McLarens of Norris and Ricciardo scoring a solid fourth and fifth. Sadly Russell dropped back out of the points, but some great drives by Alonso, Tssanoda and Stroll also saw them in the points. 

Is the British Grand Prix the best race in the world? It's hard to argue otherwise.

Biggest Winner: The F1 title fight

While Lewis Hamilton is an obvious contender for this award, winning at his home track for the eighth time and catching Verstappen in the championship a significant amount, he is still behind. I believe that this race and that incident are crucial in bringing the two drivers closer together on points, heating the ferocious rivalry between them. Max is uncompromising, and Lewis will be smart but not bullied.

Biggest Loser: Christian Horner

I would say that those who racially abused Lewis Hamilton during and following the Grand Prix are the biggest losers, but that would be going easy on their vile behaviour. They can sod off, and social media companies must do better.

Christian Horner was the biggest loser this weekend. His emotional reaction to the crash showed the signs of a team that had just lost 25 points in their lead, had their car written off and driver involved in a 51 G accident. It was scary, and the most important thing is that Max is okay. Nevertheless, Red Bull’s defence of Max’s part in the crash became an attack on Lewis Hamilton’s sportsmanship or right to celebrate winning his home Grand Prix. Naturally, they were upset, but those people that know Formula One know that Lewis Hamilton has won in a fair way for almost 15 years. Unfortunately,  the word that Horner continued to use, ‘desperate’, was what he appeared on Sunday. As for his argument that you can’t overtake at Copse, Lewis Hamilton took the race lead at the same corner. The difference was that Charles Leclerc gave racing room to avoid an incident.

Moment of the Weekend: George Russell’s Friday night flyer

There were many stand out montes, and the incident between the two main championship protagonists was perhaps the moment of the year.  

A special moment was watching George Russell driving a lap in Q3 on his own around Silverstone being cheered the whole way around the lap. What was more was that he qualified in eighth - staggering given that he is in the ninth fastest car. The guy is undoubtedly a future world champion. Even I am beginning to think that his move to Mercedes will need to be this year, even if it will give Mercedes a big headache in the next couple of years.

Honourable Mention: Charles Leclerc

Charles has been on it all weekend, qualifying in P4 and finishing the sprint race in the same position. He took the opportunist move into the lead when the gap arrived following Hamilton and Verstappen’s clash, Allowing him to start from pole after the red flag. While many might have thought Hamilton would dash past, Leclerc held the lead and created a comfortable gap. He led 50 out of 52 laps and showed his composure and racecraft to be up there with the best. Is Charles better than Max? Not yet, but I believe he can be and will be when Ferrari create a proper challenger.

AJontheLine Line of the Week: “I won’t be bullied”

I loved Toto Wolf’s request to Michael Masi that the F1 race director checked his emails as Mercedes had sent him something of interest. But the line of the week has to be from Lewis Hamilton, who said that he wouldn’t let Max bully him. Lewis winning this battle against Max, who tends to get his way due to his aggressive reputation, is what caused such anger at Red Bull. Still, it could change the way that Max sees racing with Lewis. F1 is a fascinating mental game, and I love it.

So, next up, Budapest. I believe that Red Bull and Ferrari will be better suited to the track than Mercedes but is Lewis in Max’s head? Follow the action in 2 weeks to find out.

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.

Spanish GP Race Report: In the Zone

Last week, Max Verstappen sauntered into the distance, coaxing his Red Bull’s tyres home. In contrast, Mercedes melted, having an appalling weekend by their standards with second and third position. 

As we came to a Barcelona circuit boasting a track temperature that neared 50 degrees Celsius, you’d have imagined Mercedes to go through their tyres like Scooby-Doo would his snacks. Alas no. Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton proved, once again, proved their worth, finding a solution for their problems to come back and dominate just one week later. Typical for the six-time world champions, nevertheless, mightily impressive.

“On Sunday, Hamilton was ‘in the zone’ to the extent that he didn’t realise he’d finished the race.”

We are in an era of Formula One in which Lewis Hamilton sets the bar for the others to try and jump. Every so often, they will overcome the challenge that he sets, but invariably, Hamilton will demonstrate what the sport is all about, seeking perfection and yielding excellence. He is like Usain Bolt, Floyd Mayweather or Michael Jordan - a target is forever on his back, the chasing pack grow tired of trailing behind, but you’ve got to appreciate it while they are there.

On Sunday, Hamilton was ‘in the zone’ to the extent that he didn’t realise he’d finished the race. Such a metronomic performance saw him lap all of the field but the two drivers that joined him on the podium. Max Verstappen took second place twenty-four seconds after Lewis took the flag. The second Mercedes car, piloted by Bottas came home in third position, with the consolation of the fastest lap. Being short of the fastest lap and a tardy four-second pit stop were the only blots on one of Lewis Hamilton’s best drives. 

Tyre selection and management separated Hamilton from his rivals. It seems inconceivable, but Lewis managed to check out at the front, driving faster, using less fuel and looking after his tyres. When asked how he does it, he wasn’t forthcoming. I don’t blame him. You would too if you had discovered that secret. 

Each weekend Lewis seems to set a new record - this time, he secured the most podiums in F1 history. As much as we get used to him taking the flag, I can’t be the only one who still struggles to handle the split second as he tosses the trophy in the air. It’s a good job that he has better coordination than me.

“(Max) isn’t the type to waste time with an RSVP.”

Last week, Max Verstappen proved why he is comparable to Hamilton, Schumacher and Senna, outperforming his car to take the win as he did. The Spanish Grand Prix supported the argument that he is a more significant threat to Hamilton’s title hopes than Bottas. Were it not for an engine failure in race one, Max would be just a handful of points behind Hamilton. Extraordinary.

Verstappen showed that he is thinking of the bigger picture over the radio. Calling for his team to forget about Hamilton and focus on their own race, it was clear that he had given up on catching Hamilton on that day in history, but still wanted to beat the other Mercedes. As a consistent figure on the podium, he could well be a championship threat. Were Hamilton to run into trouble, or worse, Coronavirus, Max would be back in the hunt and isn’t the type to waste time with an RSVP. The Dutchman will be pleased with second and will continue to push as hard as ever, despite his machinery being below par. 

In comparison, Valtteri Bottas seemed broken. A poor start forced him to fight back to third position. It could have been worse, but he admits that he sees the title chances slipping as Hamilton gathers momentum. If Bottas had been seven hundredths faster in qualifying, he might have started on pole. However, his reactive approach to strategy in comparison to his teammate might have once again seen Lewis beat him anyway. Bottas, once again, will enjoy the fortnight break between races. He refers to it as a reset. Let’s hope so for his sake.

“If you sit around dithering, as Ferrari did, results to be proud of are not going fly in your direction.”

I am pleased to report that the driver of the day was a Ferrari driver. Remarkably, it wasn’t Charles Leclerc. It was Sebastian Vettel. In previous seasons, P7 would have been underwhelming. This season though - P7 warrents almost a celebration. If there were any celebrations, Ferrari have no right to attend the party. Teams pay strategists handsomely to run the numbers, determining the optimum approach for the driver. Weirdly, Ferrari don’t appear to opt for a strategy, and if they do, they don’t tell the driver. The result - the drivers are left in the dark, hoping that they have second-guessed the team correctly. Somehow, Vettel managed his strategy, telling his engineers what calculations they needed to do, before bringing his car home. He is paid well, but for driving the car. Seb hasn’t always helped himself recently, but he showed why he is still one of the best out there on Sunday.

Ferrari don’t have a good car. That is clear. During the race, one driver broke down and then, having got the engine going again, drove back to the pits with no fastened seatbelt. Meanwhile, the other driver, who has already been lied to and asked to leave, drove around trying to work out what exactly they wanted him to do. If you sit around dithering, as Ferrari did, results to be proud of are not going fly in your direction. Communication is critical in any sport, not least, Formula One. Lackadaisical is the word that comes to mind.

“If this move does ever happen, remind me that I called it first.”

In recent weeks, I have reluctantly failed to mention Pierre Gasly. He has quietly been doing the business and deserves a mention. The Alpha Tauri driver, who got dumped by Red Bull in the middle of last season, has re-found his form, and it is fantastic to see. He has been qualifying and racing well throughout this year, with some great laps and stunning overtakes. In Spain, he managed to out-qualify both Ferraris and finish in ninth place. The Frenchman confirms that he is in Formula One on merit, and that perhaps Red Bull wasn’t the best team environment for him. I wonder whether one day, he will leave the Red Bull family to race for a team like Renault. If this move does ever happen, remind me that I called it first.

Another diver who deserves a shout out is Carlos Sainz Junior. Sixth place at his home Grand Prix will make him smile. Especially given that his very quick teammate, Lando Norris, finished tenth. Carlos has had a difficult start to the season, not getting the rub of the green. I expect him to continue with these sorts of finishes - he is world champion potential and one of only two teammates that have challenged Max Verstappen. Hopefully, Ferrari will treat him better than the man he is replacing.

All in all, Spain didn’t set the world on fire - it rarely does. Nonetheless, it provided us with plenty to consider as we head to one of F1’s greatest circuits, Spa-Francorchamps. See you there.