Yes, Mercedes’ strangely excessive apology messages to Lewis Hamilton for their pit-stop gaffe is one of the key stories from the 2018 Austrian Grand Prix.
The 2018 Austrian Grand Prix was a classic example of a race where the racing did the talking for Formula 1. After a few not-so-interesting races in Spain, Monaco and Canada (France too, to a certain extent?) the sport needed to deliver a hit and it finally did at the Red Bull Ring.
Thanks to the missing on-track action, it was the driver silly season rumours that made headlines. Will Kimi Raikkonen join Mclaren in 2019? Would Daniel Ricciardo join him there too? Charles Leclerc to receive a double promotion in 2019? These stories are interesting, no doubt, but ever noticed how fans would care less about them if the on-track action satisfies their dose of Formula 1?
Noteworthy stories from Austria:
- Max Verstappen and Romain Grosjean both needed a strong result and they got one. Verstappen’s first win of 2018 (he’s overtaken Bottas in the Drivers’ Championship) and Grosjean’s first points for 2018. He led Haas’ highest points scoring weekend by finishing 4th, ahead of Kevin Magnussen in 5th
- Valtteri Bottas can officially inherit the ‘unluckiest’ driver on the grid tag from Fernando Alonso – just so unfortunate!
- Lewis Hamilton’s claim that the Mercedes was the quickest package in Austria was true for Saturday, but for Sunday, it seemed that the Ferrari cars could have challenged for the win had we had a normal race (without penalties!). Kimi Raikkonen had an aggressive opening lap – I can’t remember when we last saw him this aggressive. Welcome, Kimi
- Mercedes’ Achilles Heel is their strategy on tackling the Virtual Safety Car period, but I still can’t get over their multiple apology messages to Hamilton. These things happen in Motorsport. Yes, in Hamilton’s case, this is a repeat error from Mercedes
- At least one Renault, Mercedes and Honda powered car failed to finish the race. In comparison, all Ferrari powered cars finished in the points!
- Mercedes’ tyre issues were akin to the issues Ferrari faced in Spain. The warmer track temperatures on Sunday caught Mercedes out. So much so that Formula 1 drivers turned spotters during the race!
- Marcus Ericsson scored points; his second points scoring finish this season. He even overtook Charles Leclerc on track
- Fernando Alonso went from pits to the points; his battle with Leclerc was fascinating to see – aggression mixed with frustration?
- Force India scored their first double points finish of the season – also their 200th Grand Prix
- Finally, with four potential top-10 finishers retired, it was time for the minnows to take home points and they all did – both the Sauber and a Mclaren!
The sheer number of apologies from Mercedes to Lewis Hamilton is shocking! Anyone kept a count?#F1 #AustriaGP
– Kunal Shah (@kunalashah) July 1, 2018
#F1 drivers have turned spotters in the last 10 laps. Everyone reporting blisters (or not!) on their competitors’ cars! LOL! #AustriaGP
– Kunal Shah (@kunalashah) July 1, 2018
And there’s more in this week’s episode of the Firstpost Pole Position! If you missed our special episodes in the midst of Formula 1’s first-ever triple header weekend, worry not, here’s the Inside Line F1 Podcast for your listening.