UK: pre-qualifying 2019
A new Silverstone deal
has been struck, ensuring that the race should continue until at
least 2024.
Would’ve gotten tasty
odds on Gasly topping first practice. The Frenchman was half a second
up on Bottas and eight-tenths ahead of Verstappen. Hamilton, Leclerc
and Vettel were each separated by a tenth, with Hulkenberg half a
second further back and a little way ahead of team mate Ricciardo.
Albon and Sainz followed close behind.
Second practice had a
more predictable fastest chap, with Bottas half a tenth up on
Hamilton. Leclerc was two-tenths off the ultimate pace, and a couple
of tenths ahead of Vettel. Gasly followed close behind, with Norris a
tiny margin ahead of Verstappen. Sainz, Albon, and Perez were
separated by fifteen-thousandths (with Kvyat, following, a further
six-thousandths back).
Although third practice
had some rain it dried off and slicked were back on by the end.
Leclerc was fastest, less than three-hundredths ahead of Vettel and
not even half a tenth ahead of Hamilton. Gasly was a couple of tenths
further back but still three-tenths ahead of Verstappen (a peculiar
pattern. Has the Frenchman rediscovered some form? I remain
unconvinced). Bottas was next, but I can’t believe there’s really
half a second between him and Hamilton. Norris was best of the rest,
a few tenths ahead of the tight intra-team battle of Hulkenberg and
Ricciardo, with Albon just a hundredth further back.
Incidentally, there’s
a new surface on the track and it’s not clear what impact that will
have on the race. We shall see.
Pre-third practice I
was considering backing Bottas for fastest qualifier at 3.75. The top
three are separated by less than a tenth, so picking a winner would
be quite tricky. But the odds might be incorrect.
I’m somewhat tempted
to back Bottas for qualifying at 6 (Betfair) and set up a hedge at 3,
or to back him for fastest qualifier and race victory at 13
(Ladbrokes), as his odds will plummet to something like 2.5 if he
actually does end up first on the grid. I’ve looked but the half
second gap appears to be him either being slow or just cocking up a
lap. Tricky.
Worth remembering that
this year Ferrari have taken a third of poles, with Mercedes having
two-thirds. Leclerc is available for fastest qualifier at 5.5 on
Betfair, and for fastest qualifier/race winner at 12 on Ladbrokes.
I’ve decided to split
one stake (so it counts as one tip) between those two Leclerc bets
(set up a hedge at 2.5 and with boost the Ladrokes bet is 13). Let’s
hope the winner is he, Leclerc!
Qualifying and the
race, uniquely this year, are free to air in the UK, on Channel 4.
Let’s hope there’s a vast yawning chasm in viewing figures
compared to the pay TV audiences throughout the season, and this
helps persuade F1 that pay walls are not their friend.
As has become usual,
the pre-race tosh will be up tomorrow morning.
Morris Dancer
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