08/12/2024
NEWS STORY
Courtesy of a new energy store and a track limits violation Leclerc starts form 19th on today's grid which means that, barring a miracle, Ferrari's hopes of the constructors' title are in ruins.
Of course, even in F1, miracles do happen, however let's be honest and admit that Ferrari - not for the first time - compromised its championship hopes much, much earlier in the season, courtesy of the usual strategic mistakes and also a few by its drivers, mainly, as it happens, the Monegasque.
Consequently, the title is McLaren's to throw away and like miracles major cock ups can also happen.
So with that in mind perhaps we should sit back and enjoy what unfolds, hopeful that at least Sainz can sign off in style.
The big miracle, of course, would be for Hamilton to depart Mercedes with a final win, but surely, with the seven-time world champion starting 16th, this would even be beyond the scriptwriters at F1 HQ... though we hear that old rascal Turk Thrust has been spotted hanging around Mayfair.
Having secured his fourth title we should have been anticipating Verstappen take Red Bull to the team title once again, but thanks to the lack of assistance from his teammate third will have to do.
Despite Perez' insistence that he will be in the Red Bull next season, there is talk that the Mexican may take the opportunity today to announce his retirement, then again there is also talk of Max 'doing a Rosberg'.
The midfield has been tight all weekend and therefore this is where the real action will be, especially that fight between Alpine, Haas and RB for sixth, the American team looking particularly strong so far this weekend.
It would be good to see Magnussen and Bottas sign off with a few points, while Williams will be happy merely to see its drivers make it to the flag.
Sadly, today's race is likely to be a single stop, running the medium and then the hard, is the most likely strategy, with a pit window between laps 18 and 24.
However, those starting further back - Leclerc, Hamilton - might want to extend a first stint on the hard, pitting between laps 29 and 35.
There are however three factors that could open the door to a two-stop race: possibly greater degradation than we have seen so far, a neutralisation, or more plausible, drivers who find themselves in traffic deciding to pit early to try and exploit the clear advantage of having a new set of tyres for the first few laps after the stop. This could trigger a chain reaction, leading teams to switch to a two-stop strategy. That was the case last year, when all the teams with the exception of the Alpha Tauris had kept two sets of new hards.
The pitlane opens and the drivers begin to head out.
Before a wheel has turned in anger Magnussen has been noted for a practice start infringement. Of course, his teammate was hit with a three-place grid penalty for overtaking in the pitlane in qualifying.
As the national anthem plays the air temperature is 27 degrees C, while the track temperature is 32 degrees.
With McLaren having told its drivers that they are free to race, Ferrari will be secretly hoping it might end in tears.
All are starting on mediums bar Hamilton who is on hards. Fresh rubber for all bar Russell, Alonso and Stroll.
They head off on the formation lap.
"Thank you for this, thank you for the memories," says Colapinto.
"Thank you Sauber, thank you Ferrari. Let's do it," says Bottas.
The grid forms.
They're away! Good starts from both McLarens, while Stroll makes a lighting getaway from thirteenth.
Norris leads into Turn 1, while Verstappen is on the inside of Piastri. They touch, sending both into a spin.
Spinning 360 Verstappen is able to continue as though nothing has happened while Piastri is off track and facing the wrong way. Sainz does well to lead the pack through the melee.
Verstappen continues in 13th while the Australian is last.
"I was super unlucky," says the Dutchman. So what was Piastri one might ask.
"Move of a world champion," says the Australian.
More drama for Red Bull at Turn 6, as Perez spins after being hit by Bottas. Both are able to continue.
Leclerc is up to 12th, up 11 places, while Magnussen is up 7 and Hamilton 4. Tsunoda has dropped 6, and of course Piastri has dropped 17.
At the end of Lap 1, it's: Norris, Sainz, Gasly, Russell, Hulkenberg, Alonso, Magnussen, Leclerc, Stroll, and Lawson.
Shortly after Norris crosses the line at the end of the opening lap, the VSC is deployed as Perez stops on track.
The VSC is withdrawn and Russel is all over Gasly. He appears to get by but the Frenchman slams the door. Further back, Piastri runs into the back of Colapinto under braking.
As Colapinto slows with a left-rear puncture, Bottas has been noted for the Perez clash. The Verstappen/Piastri incident is being investigated.
Norris leads Sainz by 2.5s, as Piastri pits with a damaged front wing. However, they only change the tyres.
Verstappen is given a 10s penalty for causing a collision.
"Woo," giggles Leclerc when told that he is P8.
Bottas pits at the end of Lap 6, having been given a 10s penalty.
Piastri posts a new fastest lap (28.950) as he hunts down countryman Doohan.
"Good," says Piastri of Verstappen's penalty, however the Australian is under investigation for the Colapinto clash.
Lap 8 sees a new fastest lap from Norris (28.860) as he builds a 3s lead over Sainz who is 3.6s clear of Gasly.
Piastri is given a 10s penalty.
Leclerc closes on Alonso, the Monegasque making short work of the Spaniard.
On Lap 10 Zhou is noted for a false start.
A number of drivers are racking up the track violations, and with just 11 laps completed we could be seeing some penalties later in the race. Indeed, Leclerc is on his third strike.
Stroll pits at the end of Lap 11.
Leclerc passes Hulkenberg for fifth.
"They've got no pace," says Hamilton as he passes Lawson.
Magnussen, Zhou and Albon all pit at the end of Lap 12. It's a poor stop for the Dane who rejoins in 15th.
Check out our Sunday gallery from the Yas Marina here.
Albon is also under investigation for a false start.
Hulkenberg pits next time around as does Alonso. They rejoin in 11th (Hulkenberg) and 12th.
Russell continues to make moves on Gasly but to no avail.
Gasly pits at the end of Lap 14.
"Front tyres are getting way too hot, I can't brake," reports Verstappen who is currently fifth.
A 5-second time penalty for Zhou for that false start.
On his fresh hards Gasly is hunting down eighth-placed Tsunoda.
Stroll is shown the black and white after just 16 laps (of 58).
Following a nice, clean little scrap, Gasly passes Tsunoda for eighth.
Leclerc closes on Russell.
Leading by 4s, Norris reports that his tyres are OK.
Hulkenberg makes short work of a struggling Tsunoda to claim ninth.
Leclerc pits at the end of Lap 20, the Ferrari driver rejoining in eighth on the hards.
"Stay out," Tsunoda is told. "Why" he replies.
Meanwhile his RB teammate is under pressure from Gasly.
Tsunoda and Doohan both pit at the end of 22, as Gasly passes Lawson for sixth.
"I can maintain this pace," says Russell though he is lapping a second off the leaders' pace.
Lawson pits at the end of Lap 23.
Leclerc passes Gasly for sixth.
"The wheels aren't on mate," reports Lawson. "Mate, the car dropped," he adds as he pits.
Sainz pits at the end of Lap 25, the Spaniard rejoining in third.
Next time around the race leader stops, rejoining still leading as Russell also stops.
The stewards have noted the releasing of Lawson in an unsafe condition.
Yet to get his tyres up to their optimum Russell is passed by Gasly, as Sainz is now 1.8s down on Norris.
As Russell passes Gasly for sixth, Colapinto is told to retire his car.
"It's been a pleasure this year," James Vowles tells him as he apologies for the decision.
After 28 laps, Verstappen and Hamilton are the only drivers yet to stop.
Piastri is frustrated as he is stuck behind Alonso.
Hamilton is told there is a P3 on the table.
Lawson gets a 10s stop and go as Verstappen pits and serves his penalty. The world champion rejoins in 11th as Magnussen makes his second stop.
Verstappen is still unhappy about that penalty. "Idiots," he declares.
Bottas is limping with damage to his front wing and a puncture. Replay reveals a clash with Magnussen after the Finn locked-up.
"Isn't that just f****** great," says the Dane ass he is forced to make a third stop.
Bottas also pits but the damage to his hub appears to be terminal.
Verstappen posts a new fastest lap (28.088).
Piastri pits again, this time to serve his penalty, as does Stroll. The Australian rejoins in 15th
On fresh softs Magnussen posts a new fastest lap (27.235).
Hamilton pits at the end of Lap 34, he rejoins in seventh on mediums. He immediately comes under attack from Alonso, who is just ahead of Verstappen.
Verstappen passes Alonso on the run to Turn 6 and sets about closing the 2.4s gap to Hamilton.
Alonso makes his second stop on Lap 37, rejoining in 12th on another set of hards.
Now in seventh, Hamilton closes on Hulkenberg as Piastri passes Stroll for 14th.
"Do you think you would pass Sainz on new tyres if he stayed out," Norris is asked. "Yes," he replies.
Zhou pits at the end of Lap 39, as Hamilton passes Hulkenberg.
Doohan and Stroll are wheel-to-wheel as they battle for 13th.
Having passed Gasly, Hamilton is 14s down on his Mercedes teammate with 15 laps remaining.
"14s," queries the seven-time champ. "You can do that," urges Toto Wolff.
Verstappen passes Hulkenberg for seventh.
Doohan gets a black-and-white.
"Like this we lose the constructors' or not," asks Leclerc. "Yes," he is told as he begins to lose pace.
"Leclerc at 24 laps is struggling," Norris is advised.
Verstappen passes Gasly for sixth.
Alonso passes Tsunoda for tenth as Piastri also makes a move on the RB driver. However, in Turn 11 the McLaren has a major snap and the Australian runs wide. That was scary.
"OK, let's get back into the rhythm," Leclerc is told. "I don't know what you call the rhythm," he replies, "but this is the rhythm."
In twelfth, Piastri is told to stay calm and the P9 is still on.
Out front, his teammate leads by 6s.
A great move in Turn 9 sees Piastri claim eleventh from Tsunoda.
Hamilton is now 7.1s down on his teammate.
Zhou closes on Doohan as they battle for 14th.
"I think I have a puncture," reports Sainz.
The Ferrari crew assemble in the pitlane but it's a false alarm.
Tsunoda passes Stroll for twelfth.
Sainz remains concerned about his tyres but he is assured that all is fine.
How far is Carlos from Lando," asks Leclerc. Told the gap is 7.5 the Monegasque swears.
After 56 laps, it's: Norris, Sainz (+ 7.4s), Leclerc (+ 23.5s), Russell (+ 5.9s), Hamilton (+ 1.5s), Verstappen (+ 11.9s), Gasly (+ 17.5s), Hulkenberg (+ 3.3s), Alonso (+ 10.6s) and Piastri (+ 2.5s).
Check out our Sunday gallery from the Yas Marina here.
Russell is told to keep it "super clean with Lewis" by Toto Wolff.
Lawson has stopped bringing out the yellows. His car is pushed to safety.
Hamilton is all over Russell.
Norris takes the flag and with it the Constructors' Championship, as Hamilton passes Russell for fourth, going around the outside in Turn 10, just a couple of corners before the flag.
Magnussen posts the fastest lap (25.637) despite being last and a lap down.
Norris wins, ahead of Sainz, Leclerc, Hamilton, Russell, Verstappen, Gasly, Hulkenberg, Alonso and Piastri.
Lots of overtaking, and while there were a few moments its wasn't the most entertaining of races, mainly as much had already been decided before the lights went out.
A sad end to what might be Bottas' final outing, while it was equally frustrating for Magnussen. And then there was Perez. Seriously, if the Mexican didn't have bad luck he'd have no luck at all.
"I knew I had to be very aggressive," admits Leclerc, "I knew I had to take all the risks.
"This was achieved," he continues, "but we just started too far back.
"I think we've done the maximum, but this hurts. It was a hard hit on Friday, knowing we had the penalty.
"The first part of the year we were nowhere, the second part of the season was incredible. We ended strong, and next year hopefully we'll start as strong as we ended."
"A bittersweet feeling in the end," adds teammate Sainz. "P2 was the maximum we could do, given the pace of Lando in the McLaren.
"Congratulations to McLaren, they deserve this championship, they have been rock solid in the last two-thirds of the season.
"It's been a tough year," says the Spaniard, "but a year we can be proud of.
"It was an emotional in-lap, at the same time I'm very grateful to have been part of this amazing team for four years. I won races, pole positions, podiums. I proved to everyone, I can fight for wins in the right car."
"It feels incredible, not to myself but the whole team," says Norris. "I'm so proud of everyone. To end the season like this is perfect.
"We have to celebrate, this is an historic moment for the team. It's going to be a good night.
"It's my goal," he smiles, "we want to win the drivers' next year."
Gasly leapfrogs Hulkenberg in the driver standing, other than that no changes, though Alpine holds of the American team for sixth.
Ferrari is 14 points off McLaren's 666 while Red Bull's handful of eight points, all courtesy of Verstappen, pretty much sum up the second half of the year.
An interesting season, and while the Horner saga left a nasty taste, the rules stability meant convergence, hence no one team running away with the title.
Of course with the rules remaining pretty much the same next year we will hopefully witness even greater competition.
Next year we see Hamilton at Ferrari, while in total 25% of the grid is seeing driver changes.
See you in Melbourne in March.
Check out our Sunday gallery from the Yas Marina here.