MorrisF1

To paraphrase Sir Edric , the race was a feast for the eyes and a famine for the purse. Ericsson started from the pit lane, but Alonso and Hamilton elected to start from the back of the grid, on medium tyres. Verstappen was on the supersoft (as were those behind Ricciardo, even in the top 10, contrary to my belief), but Ricciardo, Rosberg and the Ferraris started on the soft. Vettel got a good start and Ricciardo a poor one (Rosberg cruising off the line and easily retaining the lead). The German turned in, cutting across his team mate, who had nowhere to go because Verstappen was tight on the inside, forcing a Raikkonen-Verstappen collision. This effectively ended the hopes of all three men as far as the podium went. Hulkenberg, meanwhile, had had a super start and was running either just ahead or just behind Ricciardo (they were 2 nd and 3 rd here, though I can’t recall the order). Wehrlein, sadly, rammed into Button’s rear, which was painful for both chaps and meant

Qualifying was quite interesting. The grid is intriguingly poised. Incidentally, Gutierrez got a 5 place grid penalty for impeding Wehrlein in practice (the Mexican’s also been criticised for being slow to move for blue flags in previous races). In Q1 a few predictable things, and one surprise, occurred. Hamilton trundled around on a set of supersoft tyres, coming last but curing them (so they’ll last long if he bolts them on during the race). Both Saubers failed to escape. Alonso went out for a run, after a delay, and his car managed about a third of a lap before it decided not to bother working anymore. The surprise? Wehrlein was impressively fast, getting a comfortably quick enough time for Q2 (and looking possible for Q3). His new team mate, Ocon, was half a second down the road. As well as Ocon, the Saubers, Hamilton and Alonso, Kvyat failed to reach the next phase of qualifying. Sadly, Wehrlein didn’t progress much further. His initial Q2 run was aborted due to a whee

There’s been much chatter over the four week break of who might go where, but little in the way of hard facts. Whilst Button remains likely to lose his McLaren seat to promising youngster Stoffel Vandoorne, most of the rumour mill has focused on Williams, where neither Massa nor Bottas are 100% safe (though the Brazilian is likeliest to go). Renault’s also still likely to drop Palmer, and Magnussen may not remain either. Rio Haryanto, who was more impressive than many thought he would be, has been financially embarrassed from his Manor seat and gives way to the bank manager-pleasing Esteban Ocon. To be fair, Ocon’s tipped as a pretty racy fellow, but it is lack of funding that’s seen Haryanto go into the background. That said, Haryanto is, I think, the team’s third driver, an indication they rate his abilities, if not his finances. Speaking of ludicrous numbers, grid penalties abound like fairy dust in pixieland. Hamilton has a 55 place grid penalty (the sharp-eyed will have