08/10/2023
NEWS STORY
With the 2023 title(s) finally decided - was there ever any real doubt? - we can now concentrate on the more mundane matter such as who will finish runner up to Max Verstappen and indeed runner-up in the constructors' battle.
Sergio Perez's cause isn't helped by the fact that he will start from the pitlane today after Red Bull rebuilt his car following yesterday's crash, the Mexican, to all intents and purposes, being availed of a third car together with new engine.
The big question over today's race is tyres, or rather tyre safety, following yesterday morning's warnings from the FIA.
The FIA has stipulated that no set can do more than 18 laps, though with in and out laps taken into account this becomes 20 laps.
The FIA will keep in contact with the teams throughout the race advising them of the life left in their tyres, however based on the almost lackadaisical approach to the way track limits has been dealt with over the course of the weekend this doesn't fill one with confidence.
Despite wrapping up the title yesterday, don't expect Max to take his feet off the gas and give his rivals a shot, indeed expect the Dutchman to be remorseless in his domination.
McLaren is clearly on the rise, and really does appear to have one of the strongest driver line-ups, and while Lando might be overdoing it in the self-criticism department - which is never a good look - Oscar is quietly getting on with it.
After his recent disaster in Japan, Sergio's hopes of making amends today have been dealt a cruel blow, but what better way to please the Doctor (Marko) than storming through the field to claim a podium.
While Mercedes looked strong yesterday, Ferrari has struggled with the wind, and that is likely to be a problem again today, a situation not helped by Sainz starting from 12th on the grid.
Indeed with so many variables it is almost impossible to make predictions other than the fact that the stewards are likely to be burning the midnight oil later.
In addition to the wind we have track limits and of course the tyres, and while the FIA claims it is not officially mandating three pit stops that is likely to be the scenario.
Of course, all of this is mighty embarrassing for the FIA and one wonders if certain parties will make use of it in the ongoing Andretti saga.
Hopefully things have changed since 2005, when, just hours before the race we enquired of a very senior FIA official what was happening. "F****ed if I know," came the reply.
One driver who really needs a good result is Stroll who, other than a string of poor performances, needs to make amends for Friday's strop.
In terms of strategies, Pirelli admits that it is not worth speculating. However, on yesterday's evidence, the medium is best suited for a long stint. The soft provided extra performance at the start and at the three restarts, but over the course of the Sprint it suffered from graining and heavy thermal degradation. In fact, on a track which was particularly slippery because of the sand blown across it by the wind, this was a predictable phenomenon.
An hour before the start there appears to be drama at Ferrari where, following a fuel systems issue, it is confirmed that Sainz will not be starting the race.
The pitlane opens and the drivers begin to head out.
Air temperature is 32 degrees C, while the track temperature is 38 degrees.
In terms of tyres, all are starting on mediums bar Hamilton, Bottas, Lawson and Magnussen who are on softs. Hamilton, Tsunoda, Albon, Sargeant, Lawson, Magnussen, Zhou and Perez are all on fresh rubber.
They head off on the formation lap. All get away cleanly.
"I'm a sitting duck to all these guys," says Hamilton.
The grid forms.
They're away!
Verstappen gets away well, as do the Mercedes pair, Russell moving to his left in order to push his teammate out. Into Turn 1, Verstappen has the inside line and Hamilton the outside, with Russell caught in the middle. However, the Silver Arrows clash and as Hamilton heads off backwards into the run-off, Russell spins around and off the track.
Hamilton is out having lost his right-rear wheel, while Russell rejoins the race in last position.
"Come on, what the hell," shouts Russell. "Two races in a row!"
"I got taken out by my own teammate," says Hamilton.
"He came from nowhere," says Russell. "I couldn't do anything."
As the Safety Car is deployed, Verstappen leads Piastri, Alonso, Leclerc, Ocon, Norris, Gasly, Tsunoda, Bottas and Hulkenberg. Russell pits for fresh tyres and a new front wing.
Replay shows Hamilton appearing not to give Russell enough room, while Alonso missed out on inheriting second after losing time behind the spinning Russell, thus allowing Piastri to take full advantage.
As well as the Mercedes clash, Hulkenberg is under investigation for an incorrect starting location.
At the end of Lap 4, still under the Safety Car, Bottas, Magnussen, Stroll and Lawson all pit.
Though he isn't at the track, Toto Wolff comes on the radio to tell Russell - now 14th - to focus.
The Safety Car is withdrawn at the end of Lap 5, Piastri appears to be caught napping.
Further back, Russell is battling Perez and they run wide on the run to Turn 1.
The Williams pair are tenth and eleventh.
As Hulkenberg and Tsunoda battle for 8th, Verstappen enjoys a 1.119s lead as he posts a new fastest lap (30.273).
Hulkenberg is given a 10s time penalty for starting in an incorrect position - that of Sainz.
Russell passes Perez for 13th.
Ocon, Gasly and Zhou have times deleted for track limits.
Alonso runs wide and loses a second, thereby falling into the clutches of Leclerc while giving Piastri some welcome breathing space.
Albon is all over Tsunoda as they battle for 9th.
Russell passes Zhou for 12th.
Alonso says he went off due to the wind, dismissing the suggestion that there is an issue with his car.
While Russell is up to tenth, Perez is still struggling to make a move on Zhou.
Bottas and Lawson both have times deleted.
"Front left is going," reports Sargeant as Ocon pits at the end of Lap 10. He rejoins in 17th on mediums as Russel has his time deleted.
Alonso and Gasly pit at the end of Lap 11, rejoining in 15th (Alonso) and 17th, both on mediums.
Lawson gets a black and white flag after just 12 laps.
Piastri and Leclerc react to Alonso's stop, both rejoining ahead of the Spaniard in 13th and 14th.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Lusail here.
Alonso makes short work of Leclerc but Piastri is out of reach.
Norris pits at the end of Lap 13, as do Hulkenberg and Sargeant. Norris rejoins in 13th, as Hulkenberg serves his penalty and rejoins in last (18th).
Now second, Russell posts a new fastest lap (28.742), before pitting at the end of Lap 14. He rejoins in 15th.
Verstappen posts a new fastest lap (28.712) as he enjoys a 22s lead over Albon who heads Perez and Zhou, all of whom have yet to stop.
Alonso passes Magnussen for 8th as Piastri posts a new fastest lap (28.677).
Verstappen pits at the end of Lap 17, as Piastri passes Stroll for 6th. The world champion rejoins 1.259s down on Albon.
Piastri passes Bottas for fourth as Norris closes on Leclerc.
Perez pits at the end of Lap 17 also, rejoining in 16th.
As Albon pits, Stroll is told to yield to his Aston Martin teammate who is on a different strategy. Zhou also pits.
Norris passes Leclerc to claim 6th.
With everyone having stopped at least once, after 20 laps it's: Verstappen, Piastri, Alonso, Bottas, Stroll, Norris, Leclerc, Ocon, Gasly and Russell.
In his pursuit of Gasly, Russell runs wide - with a little help from the Frenchman - as the pair battle for 9th.
Bottas makes his second stop at the end of Lap 21, as do Stroll, Magnussen and Lawson. The Finn rejoins in 15th.
"I'm slower than I was before," claims Albon as Norris posts a new fastest lap (27.741).
Tsunoda pits at the end of Lap 22.
Albon gets a black and white flag for track limits.
As Russell closes on Ocon, Zhou is all over Sargeant.
In 9th, Perez posts a new fastest lap (27.687) in his pursuit of Gasly.
"Anything we can do at the pit stop," asks Alonso as Piastri makes his second stop of the afternoon.
As the Australian rejoins in 7th, Leclerc and Ocon also stop.
"The seat is burning mate...," says Alonso, "water or something?"
The Spaniard subsequently pits, as do Gasly and Sargeant, as Russell posts a new fastest lap (27.114). Alonso rejoins in 8th.
Perez is given a 5s penalty for track limits.
Norris pits at the end of Lap 27, as his teammate and Albon have a great scrap for 4th. However, the Williams is no match for the McLaren and the cards soon fall in the Australian's favour.
"We're looking at a possible P4 here," Russell is told, "but watch out for those track limits." The Mercedes driver is currently second.
On fresh mediums, Piastri goes quickest (27.044).
22s ahead of Russell, Verstappen is asked for a "managed increase in pace".
Leclerc passes Stroll for 11th and though the Canadian attempts to fight back he cannot match the Ferrari.
Perez pits at the end of Lap 31 and serves his penalty. As Albon pits also, Perez rejoins in 12th, just ahead of the Thai driver.
Tsunoda takes advantage of Albon's 'cold' tyres, and nails the Williams driver.
Russell pits at the end of Lap 32, the Briton rejoining in 6th, just ahead of Leclerc.
Alonso goes off, bringing out the yellows and loses a number of positions.
"Box, box!" Verstappen is told.
Replay shows Alonso got a snap in Turn 2. He rejoins in 7th, right in front of Leclerc, which is not going to please the stewards. Indeed, the incident has been noted.
Verstappen pits at the end of Lap 34. He rejoins (on hards) still leading, 8s ahead of Piastri.
"You've had a great day, but let's call it a day," Sargeant is told, however the American wants to continue. According to team boss, James Vowles the youngster is "feeling unwell".
Zhou pits at the end of Lap 35.
Gasly is hunting down Stroll as they battle for 9th.
Perez is under investigation for further track limits violations. The Mexican gets another 5s penalty. "This is hurting our race," he is told.
Bottas makes his third stop at the end of Lap 39, as do Stroll, Magnussen, Lawson and Hulkenberg.
Stroll gets the black and white as Verstappen posts a new fastest lap (25.693).
"I don't feel well, man," says Sargeant, who subsequently runs wide before slowing down and heading back to the pits.
Verstappen is lapping the backmarkers.
"You are driving very well, good laps," Leclerc is told. He is currently fifth, 7.98s down on Russell.
Stroll gets a 5s penalty for track limits.
Piastri makes his third stop at the end of Lap 43 as Gasly gets a 5s time penalty. Piastri rejoins in 4th.
Leclerc, Ocon and Perez also stop, the Monegasque rejoining in 7th.
Lap 44 sees a new fastest lap from Verstappen (25.475).
Norris pits from second at the end of Lap 44, as do Alonso and Gasly.
Norris rejoins 1.8s down on his teammate in fourth.
As he struggles to get out of his car, Sargeant is clearly in a sorry state.
Not as sorry as Perez though, the Mexican having been lapped by his teammate.
"We're going to hold position, bring it home," Norris is told. "Why do you want to do that," he asks. "We see that, we know that, but it doesn't matter," he is told. "We're worried about Russell." The Briton is currently 1.7s down on his teammate.
Norris responds with a new fastest lap (24.842), however Piastri goes quickest in S1 of the next lap.
Albon gets a 5s time penalty.
After 49 laps (of 57) Zhou is running an amazing 6th, with his Alfa Romeo teammate in ninth.
Onboard shows Russell struggling to get some cool air into his helmet. The Briton subsequently pits. He rejoins in 4th on used softs, 16s down on Norris.
Verstappen pits at the end of Lap 51, the world champion rejoining still leading 6.2s clear of Piastri.
Gasly is hard on the heels of Stroll and passes the Aston Martin but goes off track, thereby gaining an advantage, in the process.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Lusail here.
Zhou pits at the end of Lap 52. He rejoins in 12th.
Stroll, Perez and Gasly all battling for 9th.
Russell is actually losing ground to Norris, or have the McLaren pair simply upped their pace as they battle for second.
Stroll is given a 5s penalty for track limits.
Gasly passes Perez for 10th but once again appears to go off track in the process.
The final result - once the stewards have done their work - is going to look a little different to the provisional version.
Verstappen begins the final lap, as Norris closes to within 1.008s of his McLaren teammate. Russell is a further 27s behind.
Gasly gets yet another penalty.
The world champion claims his 14th win of the season, ahead of Piastri, Norris, Russell, Leclerc, Alonso, Ocon, Bottas, Perez and Zhou.
Stroll is eleventh, ahead of Gasly, Magnussen, Albon, Tsunoda, Hulkenberg and Lawson.
Let's settle for "interesting", shall we. Despite the kerfuffle over the tyres all it did was effectively put everyone on similar strategies, while the track limits once again made a mess of things.
That said, while the likes of Perez, Stroll and Gasly racked up the penalties others appeared to manage perfectly.
The first lap clash, while adding to the drama at Mercedes, robbed us of the prospect of Hamilton and Russell being well and truly in the mix, although at least it allowed the likes of Alfa Romeo to make hay.
Another strong result for McLaren where Piastri is clearly getting his feet under the table, and while this is set to prove a thorn in the side of Norris it should provide some great entertainment for us.
"Good start, good pace throughout the whole thing," says Norris. "I'm happy, stressful, hot, sweaty, a little bit tired. Also a 1.8s pit stop by the boys!
"One of the hardest races I've done in a way, but it was a fun challenge," he adds.
"Really impressive pace, definitely the hardest race I've ever had in my life," admits Piastri. "With the three stops, it was basically flat out, so it was 57 qualifying laps.
"It was intense!"
"What made the race was my first stint," adds Verstappen, "after that I could manage my pace.
"We'll enjoy a little bit, but there's still a few races to go that I want to win."
A dominating performance from the world champion, but then again, would we expect anything less?
Check out our Sunday gallery from Lusail here.