Formula Journal

After a formation lap behind the safety car, drivers came into the pit lane to change their tyres due to the semi-wet track. It was lights out and away we go and Verstappen was ahead of Piastri at turn 1. Lap 2 we had a VSC because Ocon had bumped into Lawson. Also on his last Grand Prix for Alpine (based on his contract) Franco Colapinto retired from the race. We restarted with a yellow flag again because Bortolleto had bashed into the barriers, he managed to get away, but was told to retire the car. Another safety car was deployed as Bortoleto couldn’t drive back to the pit lane owing to the fact the damaged car was too dangerous to drive.

Lap 7 the VSC ended with Oscar gaining on Max. The following lap Oscar made his move. Those on the slicks swapped for more suitable tyres as the rain had started again. Lap 11 Lando and Max had a battle for P2, Max went wide and Lando took advantage. The McLaren’s double stacked their cars but unfortunately Oscar’s pit stop was slower than he would’ve wanted and Lando’s was slower than Max’s. Consequently Max came out back in front of Lando. The torrential rain was estimated to last for around 10mins and half of the track suited the wet tyre compounds and the other intermediates, so there was a great deal of talk about the ‘right’ tyre compound.

Lap 14 we had a safety car as the track was dangerously wet. Lap 17 we were off again, but not for long as Isaac Hadjar rammed into the back of Antonelli, his vision was impaired, as he couldn’t see through the spray of the car in front. And yes you guessed it we had another safety car. The safety car ended on lap 21 with Max spinning around and loosing 8 places! Antonelli was told to box to retire the car on lap 23. Oscar Piastri was given a 10sec penalty for a safety car infringement meaning Oscar needed to find more pace otherwise Lando could be the winner of the GP. Yuki Tsunoda was also given a 10sec penalty for causing a collision.

Lap 35 Nico Hulkenberg overtook Lance Stroll for P3! Lap 40 it still seemed too wet for slicks which was confirmed when George Russell span off, luckily for him into the run off area and he was able to rejoin the track. Similar to Lewis. We only had 7 laps left until Lando could be on the top step and Hulkenberg could be on the podium (his first ever podium). Oliver Bearman was gaining on George Russell in the hopes for a point at his first home race.

It finished with Lando winning his home race, Oscar second and Nico Hulkenberg coming home with P3!

Top 10: Norris, Piastri, Hulkenberg, Hamilton, Verstappen, Stroll, Gasly, Alonso, Albon, Russell