Verstappen wins 'drama-filled' Spanish Grand Prix

22/05/2022
NEWS STORY

Hard to believe we know, but the last time the late Mike Lawrence wrote about Turk Thrust and FOSU, the Formula One Script Unit, was back in September 2011.

In a feature entitled, A Journey to Oblivion, Mike and Turk discussed how the entertainment factor of F1 TV broadcasting might be improved.

While Mike is forever in our thoughts, over the last eighteen months or so it has been hard not to think of Turk also.

So many times over last season and again this year, we have pondered 'What would Turk have done', indeed there have been times we were sure we were witnessing his handiwork - never more so, of course than at Abu Dhabi.

Last night, as we read the post qualifying press releases, Turk and FOSU came into our minds once again, and while some of you may think we are nuts for saying what we are about to say, we're going to go ahead and say it anyway.

Bearing in mind the ongoing frenzy surrounding the sport, mainly courtesy of the hype surrounding such things as Drive to Survive, if Abu Dhabi was 'peak box office', how would one go about topping it?

Well, and here we go full Turk, with many still feeling that Lewis was robbed last season, how about a scenario where a year later the Briton stages the mother of all come backs to win a historic eighth title.

First we build the drama by giving the seven-time champ an impossibly difficult car and a bright young teammate. Then we focus on the battle between two drivers who constitute the future of the sport, Messrs Charles and Max.

As the title fight swings pendulum-like between the pair, ramping up the drama with the occasional DNF, Lewis and his team become more and more disheartened.

To add to the Briton's misery we dig out an old rule about jewellery - aware that Lewis is the grid's blingmeister - so much so that even those who previously couldn't stand the Stevenage Rocket suddenly find themselves rooting for him, if only out of sympathy.

Then, back in Spain, where pre-season testing first revealed the gargantuan issue facing Lewis and his team, the season begins to turn around and throughout the summer we witness the three-pointed star begin its fightback.

As well as dealing with Max and Charles, Lewis has the added pressure of an eager young teammate, but he soaks it up and on the streets of Abu Dhabi, where one year earlier he had been so cruelly robbed, he stages a come-back of which Rocky Balboa would be proud.

With that in mind, today's race is likely to be about the heat and tyres, with Pirelli's Mario Isola admitting that this is "likely to be the most challenging race of the year for tyres so far".

From the outset, Leclerc has admitted fears over race pace and tyre deg, whilst Verstappen's DRS issue in Q3 is a reminder that the RB18 is far from bullet-proof.

While attention will focus on Charles and Max, it is going to be interesting to see how the Mercedes pair fare now that the German team appears to have a handle on its porpoising issue, though Russell admits the phenomenon remains a problem in certain corners.

Though, as ever, there will be a mad scramble on that long, long, long run to the first corner, with as many as three stops predicted the start may not be as important as usual, certainly compared to next weekend's venue.

That said, any silliness at Turn 1, or the complex that follows, would see a driver's race over before it has begun, so 'softly, softly, catchee monkey' might be the best option. On the other hand, should the likes of Sainz, Perez or one of the Mercedes enjoy a particularly good get away, it could allow said driver to back up the field in support of his teammate.

Having received his fourth power unit of the season - just six races in - Alonso will start from the back of the grid, though this doesn't rule out a strong performance from the Spanish veteran in his home race.

Other than the battle out front, the midfield is where the real action is likely to be this afternoon, with a number of drivers of position, Norris out of sorts, Alpine out of patience and Aston Martin out of original ideas... allegedly!

Over the years, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has had a reputation for producing 'boreathons', a situation not helped when it was the home of all pre-season testing, but something tells us that today is going to be different, and that the guys on the pit-wall, garages and back in the factories are going to be playing a significant role in the difficult conditions.

The fastest way to approach the race is a two-stopper, and even a three-stopper isn't out of the question. But which two-stopper will be quickest? The most versatile option to start the race on is the medium in order to ensure a reasonably long first stint, but what happens after then largely depends on the tyres that each driver has left from their allocation.

The soft has a notable speed advantage over the medium, albeit with a shorter life, and that could make it appealing for those with good race pace. The hard tyre could play a part too, although it's more than a second per lap slower than the medium.

Theoretically, the fastest way to approach the race is medium-medium-soft. The second-fastest way is medium-soft-soft, and then there are some three-stop strategies that could work out well too. Medium-hard-soft, using all three compounds, is an interesting option, but it's faster on paper to avoid the hard.

However, there isn't a particularly high safety car probability, however with even warmer temperatures than qualifying expected this might push the teams towards the harder compounds, given the levels of degradation seen so far in free practice.

An hour before the start there is frantic activity in the Red Bull garage where mechanics are working on Verstappen's rear wing as a result of his DRS issue in Q3. Not the most reassuring start to the day for the world champion.

The pitlane opens and the drivers begin to head out. With 40 minutes until the start, the air temperature is 36 degrees C, while the track temperature is 48 degrees. It is also quite windy.

Last to leave the pits is Verstappen, the Dutchman heading out just seconds before the pitlane closes.

Once on the grid, mechanics continue to fiddle with the rear wing on the world champion's car.

Ahead of the start, Perez, a Mexican who should be used to such temperatures, has water poured over his head in a bid to cool him.

Air temperature is now 36 degrees C and the track temperature 49 degrees. Race control helpfully advises that there is 0% chance of rain.

"Can you nod to me if you hear a random voice that you don't recognise," Norris is told. What are they expecting him to hear, "the cab's on its way!"

All are starting on softs bar Hamilton who is on new mediums. Leclerc is on new softs as are Norris, Ocon and a number of others.

They head off on the formation lap, Perez, in particular very slow to get away, thereby holding up the rest of the field.

The grid forms.

They're away. Great starts from Leclerc and Verstappen, while Perez is also quick out of the blocks. However, as Leclerc moves over to cover Verstappen's ambitions, Perez is bogged down by Sainz and Russell as Hamilton draws alongside also.

Into Turn 1, Leclerc leads Verstappen, While Perez is on the inside of Russell and Sainz with Hamilton, Magnussen and Bottas behind.

The right-rear on Russell's car tags the left-front of Perez, causing the Mexican to lose a little pace. Hamilton has the edge over Sainz in Turn 3 but the Ferrari gets ahead on the run to Turn 4. Magnussen attempts to go around the outside of the Mercedes, but they touch, sending the Haas off into the gravel and leaving Hamilton with damage to the front of his car.

"F***, I've been hit," says Hamilton. "Lewis just rammed be, what was he doing," asks Magnussen.

At the end of Lap 1, it's: Leclerc, Verstappen, Russell, Perez, Sainz, Schumacher, Bottas, Ricciardo, Ocon and Norris. Alonso is up to 15th.

Check out our Sunday gallery from Barcelona, here.

Hamilton pits for a new front wing whilst Magnussen also pits having rejoined the track.

Now on softs, Hamilton is 38s behind 18th placed Latifi, with Magnussen a further 19s behind.

As Bottas passes Schumacher for 6th, the stewards decide that no further investigation of the Hamilton/Magnussen incident is necessary.

"I would save this engine if I was you guys," suggests Hamilton, who is told that 8th is still possible.


Next to pass Schumacher is Ocon, as Leclerc enjoys a 1.4s lead over Verstappen, while Russell has fallen 4s behind the Dutchman.

Further back, Vettel and Alonso are battling hard for 13th.

The crowd roars as Alonso passes Vettel at the end of the main straight, however, moments later the crowd groans as Sainz makes an unforced error and goes off at Turn 4. He subsequently calls on his team to check his tyres after dropping down the field to eleventh.

Perez is all over Russell, who is now 5s down on Verstappen.

Verstappen is off and in the gravel at Turn 4, again it's an unforced error - could it be the tyres?

As he rejoins the track he is passed by Russell and Perez.

"I don't understand how I lost it," admits the Mexican. According to his team there's a "large gust" of cross wind into Turn 4, which appears to be the problem.

Norris passes his McLaren teammate for 8th, subsequently taking another position from Schumacher.

At the end of Lap 10, Sainz, Alonso, Gasly and Zhou all pit, all switching to mediums.

As the Bulls climb all over Russell's rear, Leclerc enjoys a 9.8s comfort cushion.

Next time around Tsunoda pit as do Ricciardo and Albon.

"Why am I getting cooling warning," asks Russell. "They're real," he is warned.

"Max, DRS flap did not open last lap," Verstappen, who has now passed his teammate, is warned.

Norris and Schumacher pit at the end of Lap 12, as does Latifi.

Russell pits at the end of Lap 13, as do Verstappen and Ocon. The Mercedes driver rejoins in 4th, ahead of Verstappen and Vettel.

Sainz cruises past Norris for ninth, while Ricciardo is on "Plan C".

Bottas pits from third at the end of Lap 14, rejoining in fifth. Stroll also stops.

After 15 laps, Leclerc leads Perez, both of whom have yet to stop. The only other driver still to pit is sixth-placed Vettel.

"DRS did not..." Verstappen is about to be told, when the Dutchman shouts: "F*** the DRS!"

At the start of Lap 17, Verstappen does finally have DRS, but is unable to make a move on Russell stick.

Meanwhile, Leclerc is 16.7s up the road.

Perez finally pits at the end of Lap 17, the Mexican rejoining in fourth, 7.9s down on his teammate.

"We can't even make the DRS work, this is f****** unbelievable," says Verstappen following a very hairy moment in Turn 8.

"Blimey," replies Russell when told that Perez is on a one-stopper.

On the main straight, Schumacher passes Ricciardo for 12th.

"Look out for Russell because he's moving in the braking zone," Verstappen is - somewhat ironically - advised.

"This level of management is awesome, keep going," Magnussen is told.

"Box, box," Leclerc is told on Lap 22. He duly obliges, rejoining the race still leading by 5.7s.

"Try pressing the DRS after your kerbing," Verstappen is told.

Vettel pits, meaning that everyone has now stopped.

"As Verstappen is told to press the DRS button just once," we can all relate to the Dutchman's frustration.

Hamilton makes his second stop at the end of Lap 22. He rejoins in 19th, just 3s ahead of Magnussen.

Finally, at the start of Lap 24, Verstappen passes Russell into Turn 1. However, the Mercedes driver is having none of it and promptly retakes the position, for corner after corner they fight, the pair side-by-side until the Dutchman eventually runs out of track and has to back off.

Brilliant stuff!

All of which has allowed Perez to close in. "Get me Max out of the way so I overtake quickly," urges a somewhat optimistic Mexican. "I have very fresh tyres," he adds.

After 26 laps, it's: Leclerc, Russell, Verstappen, Perez, Bottas, Sainz, Ocon, Norris, Tsunoda and Alonso.

"No, no, no," cries Leclerc, "what happened, I lost power." He slows and subsequently pits. His race is over.

So now, the Russell/Verstappen battle is for the lead.

Verstappen pits at the end of Lap 28, as the stewards investigate an incident involving Gasly and Stroll.

Verstappen rejoins in fourth, on softs, 21s down on the race leader as Leclerc hugs his mechanics.

Lap 28 sees a new fastest lap (26.990)... from Hamilton.

Gasly pits at the end of Lap 29, rejoining in 14th, as Zhou also stops, albeit to drive straight into his garage. That's two Ferrari retirements.

At the start of Lap 31, Perez passes Russell into Turn 1, however, unlike his illustrious teammate, he leaves the Mercedes driver no opportunity to retake the place.

Verstappen nails Bottas at Turn 12 in a bold move around the outside to take third.

Sainz pits at the end of Lap 31, as does countryman Alonso.

Gasly is handed a 5s time penalty for causing a collision with Stroll, as teammate Tsunoda makes his second stop.

Norris pits at the end of Lap 33, the Briton rejoining in 9th having lost time with a sticky right-rear.

Next time around Bottas pits from third, the Finn rejoining in 5th on mediums.

Verstappen is told that he'll be with Russell within a couple of lap, the Dutchman currently lapping 2s a lap quicker.

Ocon pits at the end of Lap 35.

As Verstappen closes on Russell, the Briton dives into the pits. On fresh mediums the Mercedes driver rejoins in third, 21s down on Verstappen who is 5s down on his Red Bull teammate.

Check out our Sunday gallery from Barcelona, here.

Next time around, contrary to what was though, Perez pits, thereby handing the lead to his teammate. Rejoining in 2nd on fresh mediums, he is 3.7s ahead of Russell.

Ferrari confirms that Leclerc's retirement was "engine related".

After 39 laps, with most of the field having made 2 stops, it's: Verstappen, Perez, Russell, Bottas, Sainz, Hamilton, Ocon, Norris, Vettel and Alonso.

Russell reports a "bit of a vibration" from his rear brakes.

Albon is shown the black and white flag for exceeding track limits.

Vettel makes his second stop at the end of lap 43, the German rejoining in 14th on mediums.

Verstappen makes his third, and hopefully final, stop at the end of lap 44, rejoining in second on fresh mediums, 5.8s down on his teammate.

Adding insult to injury, Hamilton is also shown the black and white flag.

"Am I going to the end," asks Norris. "We're going to try," he is told.

Lap 45 sees Sainz make his third stop of the afternoon, the Spaniard rejoining in 7th on softs. He subsequently passes Ocon for sixth.

As he closes to within 2.1s of his teammate, Verstappen posts a new fastest lap (25.456).

Gasly and Stroll both pit at the end of lap 47.

"You're on a different strategy to Max," Perez is told, "if he's quicker let him through." "That's very unfair," he replies, "but OK."

Meanwhile, Hamilton makes his third stop of the afternoon. Rejoining in seventh on softs. Ricciardo also pits.

"Thank you mate," says Verstappen, as Perez moves aside at the start of lap 50.

"I don't know anything more than what happened basically," says Leclerc. "I had no indications before and then it just broke, I lost the power completely.

"It's a shame," he admits. "In those moments I believe that there's nothing else I can do but look at the positives and there are plenty this weekend."

Hamilton passes Ocon for sixth, posting a new fastest lap in the proves (25.106).

At the end of Lap 51, Russell makes his third stop of the afternoon, rejoining in fourth, 5.7s down on Bottas. Norris and Latifi also stop.

Another fastest lap for Hamilton (24.253) as he eyes the 7s gap to Sainz.

Russell makes short work of Bottas, the Finn on 18-lap old mediums.

Ocon and Tsunoda both pit at the end of lap 53, as does Perez. Now on softs, with the Mexican go for fastest lap?

Alonso makes his third stop at the end of lap 54, rejoining in 10th.

With Sainz 3.2s up the road, Hamilton could also be targeting Bottas who is another 1.6s ahead.

Lap 55 sees a new fastest lap from Perez (24.108).

Tsunoda sweeps by Schumacher on the main straight to drop the German out of the last of the points scoring positions.

As Sainz closes in on Perez, Hamilton is just 0.7s behind.

Into Turn 1, at the start of Lap 58, Sainz goes around the outside of Bottas in Turn 1, while Hamilton passes the Finn around the outside of Turn 3.

On mediums, compared to his rivals on softs, Bottas is not impressed with his team's strategy. "This two-stop was a mistake," he says.

Sainz is struggling on his tyres, and inevitably Hamilton nails him as they head into Turn 1 at the start of Lap 61.

So, the man who wanted to retire after a couple of lap - to save the engine - is running in fourth.

There's opportunities with Vettel and Schumacher, thirteenth-placed Ricciardo is assured.

"I'm just bringing it home," says the race leader.

Querying whether should pit and go for the extra point, Bottas is told that it would be "very tight with Ocon".

Latifi passes Magnussen for 16th, the Canadian, for once, finishing ahead of his Williams teammate.

"As much lift and coast as possible, if we have to give up the place we have to" Hamilton is told, it's a DNF risk." Russell is given exactly the same cooling warning.

Sensing the problem, Sainz passes Hamilton on the main straight at the start of Lap 65. The crowd roars its approval.

Meanwhile, Verstappen begins the final lap.

"We're going to have to drop to 50% throttle," Hamilton is told, "it's critical." "Oh, come on, man," he replies.

Verstappen takes the flag. Perez is second, ahead of Russell, Sainz, Hamilton, Bottas, Ocon, Norris, Alonso and Tsunoda.

Vettel is eleventh, ahead of Ricciardo, Gasly, Schumacher, Stroll, Latifi, Magnussen and Albon.

"I'm happy for the team, but we need to speak later," says Perez.

Now, this is where we have to be careful with our wording, for if we use words like "dramatic" we'll be given emails lectures about paint drying and the "good old days".

However, when we use 'drama' we mean it in the theatrical sense, the TV entertainment sense in which we began this report.

Think about it, there was the drama of Verstappen's DRS saga, Leclerc's sudden retirement whilst enjoying a Sunday afternoon cruise. The drama of that first lap clash involving Lewis and Kevin, and the seven-time champion's subsequent claim that it would be best to "save the engine", only for him to go on and finish fifth following late passes on Bottas and Sainz only to be told he had a critical issue which forced him to give back the place to the Spaniard.

So, no, it was not dramatic in the Villeneuve/Arnoux Dijon 1979 sense, but it was dramatic in the TV production sense.

Furthermore, in many ways today's 'drama' merely reinforces the possibility of the sort of plot twist we referred to at the beginning of the report.

Clearly, the Ferrari is not bullet-proof, not is the Red Bull, and now Mercedes really does appear to be a force to be reckoned with.

Throw in 'giant killer' Bottas in the Alfa Romeo, come back King Alonso and Norris fighting off the lurgy and this really is the stuff of soap operas.

Turk will be impressed.

Check out our Sunday gallery from Barcelona, here.

Article from Pitpass (http://www.pitpass.com):

Published: 22/05/2022
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