27/10/2019
NEWS STORY
Over the years The Simpsons have brought us many memorable musical numbers, and while 'See My Vest' and 'Canyonero' are among our favourites, it was the townspeople's rendition of 'Kids' that came to mind yesterday as Max Verstappen dug himself into a hole and continued digging, leaving the race stewards with little alternative but to summon him.
Effectively boasting that he hadn't slowed down for the yellows after Valtteri Bottas' crash just ahead... what was he thinking?
Of course, Verstappen's three-place grid penalty benefits another precocious youngster, Charles Leclerc who will now head an all-Ferrari front row.
All eyes will be on the youngster who will have to contend not only with Lewis Hamilton, Verstappen et al behind, but a certain Mr Vettel alongside.
While the German fluffed it in Japan, should he make a Sochi-style start we can no doubt expect the team radio to burst into life shortly after as the squabbling begins.
Vettel has looked strong all weekend, while Leclerc has made a number of mistakes. Nothing major, we admit, but one has the feeling that this track is more suited to the German than his teammate. Let's just hope that there are no pre-agreements.
Whoever gets away best will give those behind a very useful tow, and we're sure Ferrari would prefer to see one its drivers aiding the other as opposed to Hamilton or Verstappen.
Mercedes has never really felt that comfortable in Mexico, even though the history books show Hamilton as having secured two of his titles here. While everyone is banging on about the fact that the Briton needs to out-score his teammate by 14 points, the fact is the title is already decided, all that remains is confirmation of when and where it will become official.
Hamilton doesn't need any heroics today, he merely has to bring it home, and surely wrapping up the title in Austin, or better still Brazil, will appeal.
Though Bottas will want to continue where he left off in Japan, yesterday's crash took a lot out of the Finn, and we don't just mean his breath. Bottas knows that the title was never really his, he also knows he has a great seat for next season, so why try to spoil things.
That said, in its determination not to hamper the Finn with a grid penalty, or worse, a pitlane start, the team has worked hard to repair his car, and even an hour before the scheduled start the work continues.
By the way, those parts replaced or changed on Bottas' car include: LHS and RHS front suspension assembly, power steering rack, steering column, steering wheel, LHS and RHS outboard rear suspension assembly, rear heave spring unit, RARB drop links, front wing/nose assembly, nose pins, rear wing assembly, deck wing assembly, brake master cylinders and brake lines, LHS rear view mirror and canard, LHS barge board, LHS bodywork, gearbox carrier, gearbox input shaft and input shaft torque sensor, front cockpit loom, floor, plank, seat belts, ERS pump filter and parameter changes associated with accident damage repair. Other than that the car is as was.
Following his grid demotion Max will head into today's race with the red mist already established. We know from history that Turn 1 has been the scene of many first lap incidents, and throughout the weekend it has been catching drivers out, even the best of them.
We would advise Mr Verstappen that the race cannot be won on the first lap, but he probably wouldn't listen. Youngsters, eh?
Of course, having won here for the last two years, Max already had incentive to perform well, and yesterday's action by the stewards will only further fire him up.
Thus far it hasn't been the best of weekends for Alex Albon, who crashed out on the first day, thereby revealing that Red Bull is short on spares. If he is to continue impressing Messrs Horner and Marko he would be well advised to simply bring the car home safely with as many points as possible.
And now for the fun part, the midfield.
Sadly, it appears that barring a major first lap shock, we can disregard Haas, Alfa Romeo and, to an extent, Racing Point, along with Williams, each looking set to enjoy a long afternoon making up the numbers.
Local hero Sergio Perez will be fired-up, and will be looking to give the crowd something to truly roar about, but in all honesty he will be lucky to make it into the points.
Though McLaren looks set to take 'best of the rest', Toro Rosso and Renault should provide some fun and games, though the Faenza outfit looks to have the advantage this weekend.
According to Pirelli, this is one of the hardest strategies of the year to call, due to the multiplicity of tactical options as well as the particular weather conditions this weekend.
A two-stopper would appear to be the optimal approach, and as no driver has more than one set of hards available, the best way would be to start on the mediums for 20 to 23 laps, then do an identical medium stint for another 20 to 23 laps, before finishing on the hards.
The second-fastest way is another two-stopper, but this time starting on the softs for nine to 13 laps, before going onto the mediums for 22 to 26 laps and then a final hard stint to the end.
The slowest approach would be a one-stopper, but it's a big ask to run such long stints here. The best way to attempt it would be mediums for 26 to 30 laps, then hard to the ends.
None of these strategies are set in stone though, and any permutation of the above strategies is possible, using the compounds in any order. A three-stopper could also turn out to be just as quick as a two-stopper, using any of the three compounds available, although there's always the certainty of dealing with traffic.
Though, like Friday and Saturday, the circuit was hit by heavy overnight rain, there are no after effects and the sun is slowly beginning to break through.
The pitlane opens and the drivers begin heading out.
"She's alive," declares Mercedes, as Bottas fires up his W10 and heads out.
Air temperature is 21.8 degrees C, while the track temperature is 41.1 degrees.
"I had no power for a second," reports Hamilton, "is everything OK?" "Yes, everything is fine," comes the reply.
Meanwhile, Leclerc says there are no deals in place in terms of his teammate.
"I think 11th is eighth really... we always have a shot," says Otmar Szafnauer. "And you know (Perez) as well as I do, he's really good on tyres, which is what we need round here."
Leclerc, Vettel, Hamilton, Verstappen, Albon, Bottas, Perez, Hulkenberg, Raikkonen, Giovinazzi, Stroll, Magnussen, Grosjean, Russell and Kubica all start on mediums. Sainz, Norris, Kvyat and Gasly are on softs and Ricciardo the lone starter on hards.
As Leclerc leads the field away on the warm-up lap... the crowd roars.
They're away! Leclerc gets a great start, as does Hamilton who begins to draw alongside Vettel, however, as the German tucks in behind his Ferrari teammate in order to get the tow, the Briton is squeezed out.
Dropping back, Hamilton finds himself alongside Verstappen who has the line into Turn 1. In Turn 2 Hamilton has the line, they almost touch and in their efforts to avoid contact both drivers run wide and over the grass.
The rejoin behind Albon and ahead of Sainz, still side-by-side, Hamilton slightly ahead. However, Verstappen is struggling to get traction and loses places to Sainz, Norris and Bottas, with the Spaniard also managing to pass the world champion.
The Ferraris touch in T4 after Leclerc makes a mistake, while Verstappen runs wide again in Turn 5.
At the back Raikkonen is the meat in a sandwich with Russell and Magnussen being the bread.
The VSC is deployed halfway through the opening lap, in order to clear the debris from the Hamilton/Verstappen incident.
At the end of lap 1, it's: Leclerc, Vettel, Albon, Sainz, Hamilton, Norris, Bottas, Verstappen, Kvyat and Gasly.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Mexico City, here.
The VSC is withdrawn halfway through lap 2, as the stewards have noted Vettel's move on Hamilton at the start.
After 3 laps, Leclerc leads by 1.268s, a clearly frustrated Verstappen is all over Bottas having made short work of Kvyat.
Verstappen nails Bottas in the stadium, much to the delight of the crowd. However, the Finn retakes the position on the pit straight.
"I have a puncture," reports Verstappen, who has indeed shed his right-rear carcass. Replay reveals he clashed with Bottas.
Bottas, with the aid of DRS, passes Norris for 6th, as Verstappen pits.
The Dutchman rejoining in last position on hards.
As he seeks to close the 29s gap to Grosjean, Verstappen is setting a blistering pace.
Bottas is told to cool his brakes, warned that it is "critical".
The stewards confirm that no investigation is needed in terms of Vettel and Hamilton.
Taking 5s out of Grosjean's 'lead' in one lap, Verstappen posts a new fastest lap (20.601).
Perez is hard on the heels of Kvyat, while Hulkenberg is all over Gasly, who subsequently pits.
With perfect timing, Perez passes Kvyat at Turn 4. The crowd roars. The Russian subsequently pits, rejoining in 18th ahead of his Toro Rosso teammate.
Albon is doing a sterling job, the Red Bull driver just 0.858s down on Vettel, who appears to be held up by the slow pace of his Ferrari teammate.
Norris pits at the end of lap 12, the Briton heading down the pitlane and almost rejoining the track before it becomes clear that his front-left has not been fitted correctly. As he grinds to a halt his crew rush to his aid.
Norris finally rejoins the race a lap down.
Albon is the first of the big guns to pit, the Thai driver sticking with the mediums. He rejoins in 6th, just behind Sainz.
Meanwhile, it could be 'Hammer-time', as the world champion posts a string of fastest sectors.
Leclerc pits at the end of lap 15, as do Sainz and Raikkonen. The Monegasque rejoins in 4th.
"How about Plan C?" Vettel is asked. "At the moment everything is peachy," he replies.
In sixth, Perez has the two Renaults hard on his heels.
Norris is under investigation for an unsafe release.
"Important, we need to push," Leclerc is told. The youngster responds with a 20.446.
As Hulkenberg pits, McLaren apologies to Norris, telling the Briton to "give it a mega stint to prove what might have been".
Kubica is all over the back of Raikkonen, as they battle for 16th, the Pole no doubt enjoying every minute.
After 20 laps, Vettel has extended his lead over Hamilton to 2.3s. Elsewhere, Perez pits, the Mexican switching to hards and rejoining in 10th behind Kvyat.
Next time around Giovinazzi pits but like Norris it's another disaster, the Alfa driver losing a heap of time and positions as his right-rear isn't fitted properly after the car falls off its jack.
As he battles with Magnussen for 13th, the pair clash in Turn 2 and the Red Bull runs wide as the Haas gets all out of shape. "He turned in on me," complains Verstappen.
Hamilton pits at the end of lap 23, as does Russell. The world champion rejoins in 4th on hards.
Vettel is told to "box", but he doesn't. "Let him go, what do you think of letting him go," he says, referring to Hamilton, though the team doesn't agree.
In fourth, Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (19.926).
Verstappen passes Gasly for 12th.
"We need you to push as much as you can," Leclerc is told. "Tyres are bad, they are quite different to the previous ones," he responds. Hamilton is 5.9s behind... and closing.
"I don't know if the gap is enough, man if he comes out on fresh tyres," warns Hamilton, referring to Vettel. "I think we stopped way too early," he adds.
Verstappen passes Hulkenberg for 11th, as Magnussen pits.
"Mind your rear tyres at Turn 6 and Turn 12," Vettel is warned.
A lock-up for Verstappen at Turn 4 as he eventually passes Sainz for 10th, the Spaniard having rebuffed a couple of the Red Bull driver's previous attempts. Shortly after, the McLaren driver is demoted when he is passed by Hulkenberg.
"We stopped too early," says Hamilton again, "we've got a long way to go on these tyres, man."
Hamilton continues to be assured that his tyre strategy is good. As ever, the Briton has his doubts.
A great scrap between Sainz and Gasly for 12th. The Toto Rosso has the grunt but his tyres are shot.
To add to the fun, Vettel is right behind the Gasly/Sainz battle.
Woah! Losing time behind the two scrappers, Vettel is lucky not to lose his nose to Sainz as the Spaniard appears not to notice the Ferrari.
With the gap to Vettel now down to 3s, Bottas goes for the undercut, as Sainz also pits. The Finn rejoins in 5th on hards.
"Box, box, box, box and push," Vettel is told.
The German pits at the end of lap 37, rejoining in 4th behind Albon, but ahead of Bottas.
As Stroll pits - at the end of lap 38 - only Ricciardo and Grosjean haven't stopped.
At which point the Haas driver promptly pits.
After 40 laps, it's: Leclerc, Hamilton, Albon, Vettel, Bottas, Ricciardo, Perez, Verstappen, Kvyat and Hulkenberg.
On his fresh hards, Vettel posts a new fastest lap (20.537).
Verstappen closes in on Perez for a move that will not go down well with the home crowd.
Nonetheless, Verstappen passes the Mexican with ease at Turn 4, as Leclerc complains that his tyres are "dead".
Next time around, at the end of lap 43, the Monegasque pits and again there is an issue with the right-rear. He rejoins in 5th, 10s down on Bottas, 16s down on the leader (Hamilton).
Check out our Sunday gallery from Mexico City, here.
Red Bull reacts to Leclerc's stop by pitting Albon, who rejoins behind the Ferrari.
Kvyat makes his second stop of the afternoon as Hamilton is advised that Ricciardo is still finding time on his hards, which means that Mercedes is looking to not have to pit the world champion again.
After 46 laps of 71, the leaders are all on hards, but while Hamilton has done 23 laps on his and Bottas 10, Vettel has done 9, Leclerc 3 and Albon 2.
Lap 48 sees a new fastest lap from Albon, the fifth-placed Thai stopping the clock at 19.325.
On lap 50, Gasly makes his second stop, while Ricciardo makes his first, an impressive achievement. He rejoins in 8th, as Norris pits and retires. So much was expected from McLaren today, but the Woking outfit is looking likely to leave her empty-handed.
As Leclerc posts a new fastest lap (19.232), Raikkonen makes his second stop of the day. The Finn rejoining in 15th behind his Alfa teammate.
As Leclerc reels in Bottas, the Finn is upping the pressure on Vettel who is now 2.9s down on race-leader Hamilton.
"Bottas point-eight behind with DRS," Vettel is told, as the Finn is warned that his temperatures are "critical" due to running in the Ferrari's dirty air.
"Brake wear is beyond the limits," Hulkenberg is told.
As he laps Kvyat, Leclerc runs wide, losing a second in the process. Elsewhere, Ricciardo is all over Perez.
"Box this lap, box this lap, we will DNF," Raikkonen is told, as Alfa's season goes from bad to worse.
As Bottas falls back, just a little, Vettel is within 2.5s of Hamilton.
Ricciardo makes a move on Perez but overcooks it and runs wide. The crowd roars.
Yes, the crowd does a lot of roaring.
"We have max power available if you need it," Hamilton is told. Like us, Mercedes is referencing The Simpsons today... think about it.
Verstappen is up to sixth, but is 43s down on fifth-placed Albon.
On lap 64, Hamilton goes quickest in S2 on his way to posting a PB (19.528).
"Very good lap, you were faster than him," Vettel is told, but he remains 2.3s adrift of the leader. Indeed, next time around Hamilton is quicker.
Meanwhile, Ricciardo is back on Perez' gearbox. "You can cancel fuel saving to help you defend," the Mexican is told.
"My tyres are nearly done," says Verstappen. Never mind Max, just one lap to go.
Told there is one lap to go, Hamilton replies: "Leave me to it, mate."
The Briton takes the flag, which, unlike Japan, isn't waved too early, ahead of Vettel, Bottas, Leclerc, Albon, Verstappen, Perez, Ricciardo, Kvyat and Gasly.
Hulkenberg is eleventh, the German having been hit by Kvyat and force into the wall, losing his rear wing in the process.
Stroll is twelfth, ahead of Sainz, Giovinazzi, Magnussen, Russell, Grosjean and Kubica.
The stewards are to investigate the Kvyat/Hulkenberg clash.
Despite the best efforts of the broadcasters that was about as processional as it gets, for while the promise was there, the issues caused by cars following one another too closely meant it was pretty much about either holding station or hoping someone made a mistake.
Kvyat is given a 10s penalty and therefore drops to eleventh, which means that Hulkenberg gets a point for finishing tenth.
We now head to Austin for the United States Grand Prix, a circuit that encourages racing and, like Interlagos, a fitting venue for a championship decider, and with Lewis only needing 4 points more than his teammate, it would surely take the mother of all upsets to prevent this happening in seven days.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Mexico City, here.