MorrisF1

In the sprint there was a decent amount of on-track action, including between the McLarens and Verstappen at the sharp end. In qualifying, things were very close, as one would expect on such a short lap. Q1 saw both Williams and Saubers depart, which is not too much of a shock. Stroll also exited, underlining the loss of relative pace Aston Martin has suffered, the counterpoint to the improvements others (notably Alpine) have achieved since the season’s start. In Q2, this was emphasised by Alonso being slowest. Also out were both RBs, Gasly, and Magnussen (the latter two both had team mates who made Q3). While margins were close, this was very much behind Verstappen, who, after recent close shaves, was looking ominously dominant again. And so it proved, with a whopping four-tenths margin for pole over Norris, who pipped Russell, who has looked to have the whip hand over Hamilton all weekend long. Russell is joined on row two by Sainz. Row three is Hamilton and Leclerc, who might’ve go...

The sprint race format is still a pain in the arse and I typically can’t watch it (a slight shame as the pace indication is useful for the race proper), so I’m just going by race reports and/or highlights. In the only practice session during a sprint nonsense weekend we had Verstappen top, over a quarter of a second ahead of Piastri. Relatively large gaps (around a tenth) separated him from Leclerc, and then Sainz, Hamilton, Ocon, Stroll, (closely followed by Russell), with Tsunoda and Alonso completing the top 10.   Come sprint qualifying, Verstappen was a tenth ahead of Norris, with Piastri and Russell forming the second row. Sainz and Hamilton followed on row three, with row four consisting of Perez and Ocon. Gasly and Leclerc qualified on the fifth row.   In the stupid money-grubbing pretend race, Verstappen beat Piastri for the win, with the Aussie managing to pass his team mate, pushing Norris down into 3 rd . Russell passed Sainz but Hamilton was unable to do so, meani...

Going into qualifying is seemed as if seven drivers from four teams were in with a shot of pole. In the event, it was a familiar pair at the front. Q3 began with the departure of both Williams and RB/VCARB/STUPIDNAME, as well as Magnussen. No real shocks, although Albon in 19 th  is lower than usual for him. Q2 was also not too surprising, except that both Saubers made it this far before being eliminated (12 th  for Bottas is not bad at all). Both Aston Martins also went out here, as did Hulkenberg. And so to Q1. In qualifying it was looking once again like a Verstappen pole. The Mercedes’ promise from practice had faded and Ferrari looked a little off the pace. And then Verstappen put in a lap that placed him a few tenths ahead of the field. But, late on, Norris drove an excellent qualifying lap to finish a couple of hundredths faster than the Dutchman to claim pole. The pair form up the front row, three-tenths ahead of Hamilton and Russell on row two.   For those paying...

  First practice was rather tasty, with Norris just two-hundredths ahead of Verstappen. Sainz and Russell were three-tenths further back, followed by Perez, Piastri, Hamilton, Ocon, Alonso and Albon. Note that Bearman was in FP1, in the Haas. He was 19 th , two-tenths off Magnussen. Leclerc was 11 th , 1.2s off the ultimate pace and not content with the Ferrari. Second practice was closer still, with Hamilton quickest yet Sainz and Norris very close behind. Gasly, bizarrely, was 4 th , and within two-tenths of Hamilton. Verstappen, Leclerc, and Piastri followed, with Russell, Ocon, and Bottas rounding out the top 10.   Tried to bet on Hamilton for qualifying, each way, at 11 but Ladbrokes wouldn’t let me sign in, which is a bit irksome. Anyway, if he gets pole I shall be annoyed.   Morris Dancer