MorrisF1

That really didn’t go to script. Just four retirements meant a short odds bet (which I’m generally reluctant to make) didn’t come off, and both Ferraris finished. However, if one bet of three comes in, you want it to be the longest and Perez for a podium at 6 was just that. Some fortune involved, but if luck plays a role I shan’t complain if it’s good. Off the line it was pretty boring, with minor contact near the back, Hamilton dropping one spot and Perez rising to 5 th . Surprisingly, there was no serious contact. Rosberg rode off into the sunset, enjoying the most trouble-free of strolls to victory. Ricciardo began to inexorably slide down the order as his Red Bull was simply murdered on the straights. This wasn’t helped by him two-stopping, ending, like his team mate, on the medium tyre (not sure anybody else bothered with that). Hamilton charged through the field, dispatching other cars with ease on the monstrous straight. He reported a vibration problem but

Well, qualifying was rather interesting. My prediction of Hamilton being dominant was utterly wrong, but then, betting’s always easier when you know the result. In Q1 the Renaults were dire, coming last, with Ericsson directly ahead of them. Next was Button, disappointingly (he may have had traffic issues but the McLaren still isn’t great). The two Manors, in a relatively good position, were ahead, with Haryanto just beating his much-fancied team mate Wehrlein. In Q2 we lost both Haas (Grosjean 11 th , Gutierrrez 15 th ). Nasr was slowest in this session, with Spaniards Sainz and Alonso 13 th and 14 th respectively. Hulkenberg should’ve qualified easily, but was only 12 th . His fast lap was screwed up when he made a mistake, and I believe his second run was compromised by yellow flags. There were minor handbags over the radio with his team. A shame, as Force India is very tasty on this track. Q3 was rather intriguing. Hamilton was out ahead of Rosberg and both initia

Our first race at Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. It looks like a tedious street circuit, with one surprisingly fast bit and a collection of right angle corners for maximum boredom. But is it dangerous? Mood music suggests it might be a race of red flags and safety cars. In P1 Hamilton led his team mate by four-tenths, with Bottas a couple of tenths back, followed by Alonso. Vettel, Button and Perez were next, with Massa, Sainz and Hulkenberg rounding out the top 10. P2 had Hamilton seven-tenths up on Rosberg, with Perez and Bottas behind. Hulkenberg, Sainz, Verstappen, Vettel, Button and Ricciardo complete the top 10 lineup. At the moment, Ferrari and Red Bull look lacklustre, Perez and Bottas look pretty comfortable. Could be good for McLaren as well. In final practice a drain cover came loose and damaged Bottas’ Williams. Bit worrying. Ferrari also had reliability issues, notably KERS in P2 and loss of power for Raikkonen in P3. Perez crashed into the wall in f

Got to say I found the race slightly underwhelming from both a betting and watching perspective. Raikkonen finished so the weekend was red, alas. Before the start, Sainz got a five place grid penalty for a gearbox change necessitated by the crash he had in qualifying. Off the line, Hamilton was sluggish and Vettel had rocket boosters. The German was into the lead almost immediately and Rosberg was alongside Hamilton. However, Rosberg made a mistake and got pushed to the grass which saw him drop to about 10 th . Vettel and Hamilton scampered off, and Verstappen had passed Ricciardo. Rosberg languished in the midfield. Surprisingly, Vettel was able to pull a gap and escape the DRS zone. He and Hamilton were some way ahead of the chasing pack, and Rosberg was making heavy weather of getting back to the sharp end. The Virtual Safety Car was deployed due to Button’s car pulling over (his engine was on fire). Ferrari took the opportunity to pit Vettel and put on su

Rosberg got very close to poll, but you don’t win bets by nearly being right. On the plus side, the each way element came off so there was neither a loss nor a gain. In the first part of qualifying, Magnussen was unable to put in a time due to crashing. Both Saubers and both Manors also failed to escape (Wehrlein top of that quartet in 18 th ) and Palmer, the other Renault driver, also did not progress. It was pretty competitive at the sharp end of Q2. Button locked a brake which may have cost him progression, but his team mate did get through. Likewise, Perez did not advance, Hulkenberg did. Both Toro Rossos and both Haas cars [which have been odd this year, starting spectacularly and then falling off a cliff] exited at this stage. In Q3 there were only two chaps competing for pole. Hamilton got it by less than a tenth over his team mate. Obviously disappointing the full bet didn’t come off, but the each way aspect meant it was neutral (for the record, that counts as a

The first of a back-to-back pair of races (Azerbaijan is next weekend), we’re in Canada this time. I like Canada’s circuit a lot, although it’s always worth checking the weather forecast. In the first practice session, Hamilton was three tenths up on Rosberg, with Vettel and Verstappen following. Raikkonen and Bottas were next, with Hulkenberg, Sainz, Perez and Alonso rounding out the top 10. In the second practice session, Hamilton was two-tenths up on Vettel, with Rosberg three-tenths further down the road. Verstappen, Ricciardo and Bottas followed, with Button, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg and Sainz next up. A red flag caused by a large Magnussen crash meant there was no real qualifying simulation in the third practice session, although it did seem fairly close at the sharp end. Because of that, Vettel was fastest, two-tenths up on Verstappen. Rosberg and Raikkonen were next (on almost identical times), followed by Hamilton and Ricciardo. Sainz, Alonso, Perez and Massa