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Brazil: pre-race 2024

I didn’t watch the sprint race but did catch up via the YouTube channel F1 Gamer, which has a nice neutral approach plus live driver tracker. If I can’t (or don’t want to) catch a session live this is how I usually follow along. The sprint was interesting, with Hamilton falling back and Perez progressing through the field (including getting reacquainted with his new best friend Lawson). Based on the performance, I expect Verstappen and Piastri to be fastest in the race (perhaps not in that order), then Norris, followed by Leclerc with Sainz last of the top five. On pace, the McLarens and Verstappen are a clear margin ahead of Ferrari, who are clearly faster than Mercedes. Also worth noting both Aston Martins finished behind both Saubers. Norris was gifted the win by Piastri swapping over, with Verstappen passing Leclerc for 3rd and 4th. Sainz was next, then Russell and Gasly (these later two separated by big gaps). Perez was only half a second behind Gasly come the end and snaffled th
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Brazil: pre-qualifying 2024

Bit annoyed with myself for not backing Piastri to win the race each way ahead of time, but this has become a minor habit of late. Was 9, now down to 6.5, which is likely too short (given we don't know how the grid will be). Magnussen is unwell and replaced once more by Bearman. Anyway, in first and only practice Norris was quickest, almost two-tenths up on Russell. Bearman was just a hundredth further back, with Piastri and a tenth and a half down the road but five-thousandths ahead of Albon. Leclerc and Sainz followed, then came Hulkenberg, Alonso, and Gasly. In pretend qualifying for the pretend race, it was a McLaren 1-2 with Piastri three-hundredths ahead of Norris. Leclerc was two-tenths down the road, with Verstappen just half a tenth behind the Monegasque. Sainz followed closely, with Russell one place but two-tenths further back. Row four is Gasly and Lawson (Red Bull ghosts of Christmas Past and Future), with Albon and Bearman forming the fifth row. For those wondering, H
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Mexico: pre-race 2024

The first session of qualifying was one to forget for both Piastri and Perez. The Aussie locked up on a lap that would have secured him a straightforward progression. After that, he was unable to hook up a lap and went out embarrassingly early. (Last year, Norris went from 17th to 5th so we’ll see how Norris can do). Perez also failed to proceed, and is 18th, one place behind Piastri. Given where their team mates ended up, this is pretty awful. Ahead of them but also out at this stage was Colapinto, while Ocon and Zhou Guanyu were last of all. Q2 was rather more orderly, with both RBs (Tsunoda ahead by four-hundredths), both Aston Martins (Alonso ahead by a tenth) and Bottas going out. Worth noting the Japanese driver also crashed and brought out a very late red flag. And so to Q3 which looked pretty open between the Ferraris, Norris, and Verstappen, with the latter perhaps seeming to be the favourite. In the end it was the Smooth Operator who ended up with an impressive pole, Sainz le
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Mexico: pre-qualifying 2024

The tedious filling in an otherwise thrilling F1 sandwich is Mexico. First practice had Russell top, three-tenths ahead of Sainz, who was seven-tenths up on Tsunoda. Verstappen and Hulkenberg followed, then came Piastri, Ocon, Bottas, Lawson, and Perez completed the top 10. As the massive gaps at the top indicate, this is not necessarily that indicative of genuine pace. There were also plenty of third drivers standing in for others. Second practice had Sainz top, ahead of Piastri by 0.17s, who was one-thousandth up on Tsunoda. Leclerc was a hundredth further back, and six-hundredths ahead of Norris. The Briton was three-tenths quicker than Magnussen, then Hamilton, Bottas, Perez and Lawson rounded out the top 10. However, this was a tyre testing exercise for the 2025 tyres. This makes it harder than usual to try and assess pace. Verstappen had almost no running at all due to engine problems. A ray of light for McLaren and Norris? Russell also had a bad day with a crash. Between that a
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America: pre-race 2024

The bet was close, but no cigar alas, Sainz ending up third fastest in qualifying. In the sprint race, pace was slightly hard to assess as the McLarens seemed under-fuelled, improving their starts but requiring lifting and coasting during the event itself. This enabled Norris t get up to 2nd, behind Verstappen but he ended up being passed by Sainz, who had a lovely race, passing his team mate, Russell (who soon drifted back from the Ferraris) and then Norris on the final lap. The lower reaches of the points were Hamilton, Magnussen, and Hulkenberg. At this stage I was quietly hopeful of Sainz for pole. Qualifying had some twists. In the first session both Williams and both Saubers going out was not huge news, but Hamilton failing to escape was. He was 19th but will rise to 18th (assuming he does not go for a pit lane start) due to Lawson’s huge pit lane penalty. Tsunoda and Lawson (the latter lacking a real attempt) were fastest and slowest in Q2. Hulkenberg had a shocker of a second l
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America: pre-qualifying 2024

The Circuit of the Americas is a very good circuit, sadly besmirched by the money-grubbing nonsense of the sprint this year. I think I’m going to follow my 2024 habit of not bothering to watch it. While very useful for assessing pace, this information can almost always be gleaned from reports and highlights. Anyway, first practice had Sainz and Leclerc lead the way for Ferrari, followed by title rivals Verstappen and Norris. Piastri, Hamilton, and Russell came next, with Magnussen, Alonso, and Tsunoda finishing off the top 10. Sprint qualifying was quite otherwise. Verstappen got pole, followed by Russell, and Leclerc. Norris was only 4th, so if it finishes that way then this sprint bullshit may be what effectively ends Norris’ title aspirations. Sainz and Hulkenberg (!) came next, then Hamilton and Magnussen (!). Tasty for Haas. Perez was down in 11th and Piastri an abysmal 16th due to exceeding track limits. Worth noting Norris and the Ferraris were covered by four-hundredths. Sainz
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Singapore: pre-race 2024

Well, after all the suspicion Red Bull would do terribly in qualifying things did not turn out that way. Q1 had the slightly surprising departure of Ricciardo. Less surprising was Stroll failing to progress (both their team mates would reach Q3), and Gasly, Bottas, and Zhou Guanyu. Q2 had Ocon slowest of all, underlining Alpine’s return to terrible form having recovered pretty well earlier in the season. Both Williams were knocked out, Albon seven-thousandths ahead of Colapinto, and both ahead of Perez who was only 13th. Magnussen qualified 14th. While McLaren were looking good, heading into Q3 it seemed they were favourites, particularly Norris, and might face a challenge from Verstappen, Leclerc, or even Hamilton. Only Piastri and Hulkenberg managed to put in an initial run after Sainz had a very strange snap just before the start of a hot lap to hit the barriers, demolish his rear end (ahem), and bring out a brief red flag.   Almost everyone, therefore, had a single run. Norris was
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