I know FP1 is over but this thread will cover everything.
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I know FP1 is over but this thread will cover everything.
FP2 is also over
It's weird having race weekends again. But I'm glad we have something to watch and I hope things keep switching up to keep us on our toes!
Smokin' lap by the boss!
Nope, Norris qualified P6 and will start P9.
I think people have been too excited about some drivers' performances this quali, such as Hamilton, Sainz and Ocon. Yes, it's obviously true that Hamilton pulled a very good lap, but I don't think the large difference to second place is because the lap is "stuff of the greats", but rather, because Verstappen and Bottas dropped the ball. Bottas in particular qualifying behind a McLaren is embarrassing, although I don't know if he was hindered by yellow flags.
On top of that, it's very noteworthy that P5 (Ocon) to P9 (Ricciardo) were separated by less than three tenths of a second. Sainz was the only midfield driver to get ahead of the rest of the group and it was "only" by .25 seconds, which is significant, but not massive on a wet track.
I think even with verstappen not making the mistake, it looked like Hamilton would have beat him by about half a second. Remember he was still up by .587 through the first 2 sectors and only got quicker by the end. I believe Verstappen had a yellow middle sector too on that last attempt. But yeah, the 1.2s is a bit of flattery. Bottas on the other hand had nothing at the end. lol. The race is a different beast though. so who knows what will happen. If you told me at 2pm last sunday that a ferrari would be on the podium, I would have been skeptical. ;)
Yeah, but not dropping the ball when others do is part of it, no? When you set a time that causes others to skate off the track when trying to match or beat it, in the very same conditions (not getting a lucky time in when the track dries for a bit, for example), is what has established certain drivers as true rainmeisters over the years. Senna certainly had that odd talent. Schumacher had it too. And as demonstrated time and time again, so does Lewis.
I enjoyed the heck out of that qualy. I'm glad that they were able to get it in and I'm glad that the rain mixed things up a good bit. Congrats to the other talents who put in some great laps in treacherous conditions too.