#comms lewis my beloved <3

[l8tof1]

[racingliners]

F1 Re-Watch 2022: Round 16 - Italy

Si ragazzi!!!!

Alas this is another “I remember almost nothing from this weekend” race for me, apart from super Nyck subbing for Albon, and Ferrari running a special livery and yellow race suits because vibes I guess???

Anyway, avanti!

To get into the spirit of things I’m having a decaf tea in my Ferrari mug, here’s hoping I don’t end up crying into it come lap 5

I once again forgot to look up the starting grid before pressing play so I may be having whiplash again folks

Wait this was the first race after the Queen died???? that’s wild

Anyway. Monza (extremely beloved).

Oh no. we’re playing engine penalty bingo. Please I’m not strong enough.

Lewis P19 :(

SEB AND LANCE P11 AND P12 LET’S GO

GOATIFI P10

McLaren second row????

Ah. Charles on pole. Well we know how this ends 😭

Charles love I think you’re great at quali but please get a better pole to win ratio for my sanity.

Livery watch: The Italy 2022 Ferrari livery is the superior livery, I truly love that they kept having Ferrari written on the rear wing this year, it looks great. (shocking that the livery designer is the Ferrari employee doing their best, but here we are)

anyway let’s go zoom zoom

[Start/Lap 1]: the roar from the crowd as Charles leads 😭

SEB INTO P10 LET’S GOOOOOOOO

[Lap 2]: Lance and Seb infighting into the first chicane BOYS BE NICE

[Lap 3]: A Ferrari leading at Monza. Feels good feels organic.

(I still have a lot of pain from the end of Seb’s Ferrari years, but Charles gets a free pass)

[Lap 4]: Verstappen v Russell. I fear violence.

[Lap 5]: nvm there was no violence because the RB18 was just so quick on the straight 

TEEEEEEEEEED 

Why can’t we get Ted in the comm box I’d much rather hear his thoughts on everything

[Lap 6]: Less racing so far and more “here’s some out of place cars moving up the field really quickly”

choo choo all aboard the Danny Ric DRS train

[Lap 7]: Lewis sighting!! up to P18 chasing Latifi.

also de Vries holding P8. Just FE Champion things.

[Lap 8]: ...why is there smoke coming out of Perez’s front right brake???

FLAMES????? ARE THEY ON FIRE?????

WHY ARE HIS BRAKES ON FIRE????

Fireman Seb WE NEED YOU

[Lap 9]: Right trying to move on. Not feeling that great knowing there’s a car on track with dodgy brakes at Monza of all places :)))))

Oh Lewis is up into P15??? NICE

[Lap 10]: “If Verstappen goes to Plan C, we want you to go to Plan B” We are at the point where Ferrari have a strategy alphabet for other teams. Shoot me it would hurt less.

Nonononononononno do not tell me Seb has an engine problem.

[Lap 12]: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

racing gods I WILL FIGHT YOU WITH MY FISTS

VSC :(

I am the depressed AM mechanics and the depressed AM mechanics are me

[Lap 13]: Everyone’s doing the VSC pitstop shuffle and I’m crying

oh just Charles pitted.

hmm.

40 laps on a set of mediums???? That’s... potentially dodgy

oh, Ferrari

[Lap 14]: ANYWAY Lewis is up into P13 🎉

[Lap 16]: The DRS train is still going, unsure if it’s gotten longer

“Do not short shift” oh god no

I am now crying into my tea

FERRARI WHY

They still owe me emotional damages from 2019 onwards it seems

[Lap 17]: ayyy Lewis into P11!!!

Norris overtook Alonso!!! some actual racing!!!

We’re nowhere near Miami levels of dull but yeah... not much going on so far

[Lap 19]: Congrats on your first track limits warning Nyck, welcome to F1

[Lap 21]: Lance battling Ocon for P16 👀

[Lap 22]: “We are thinking Plan C” :))))))))

I kid you not seeing Charles radio in screen now gives me anxiety

That was very unfortunate timing of Kelly Piquet yawning while Perez’s dad was clapping 

[Lap 23]: “Hamilton catching Fernando Alonso” oh no. Spa flashbacks.

OH NO THEY’RE NEXT TO EACH OTHER

stress

no violence please I BEG

[Lap 25]: *distressed yelling*

Lewis is still following Fernando, he’s faster, but maybe not with a big enough delta to make an easy pass, judging by the gap between them holding at around 6 tenths

(look at me trying to be all smart)

[Lap 27]: Half distance klaxon I think???

oh hang on

YEAH LEWIS INTO P6 ON THE MAIN STRAIGHT

That was actually quite minimal stress phew

[Lap 29]: Meanwhile it looks like Charles is either going to get overtaken by Verstappen or pit again :))))

Australia really does feel like a long, long, long time ago

[Lap 31]: Meanwhile the race has been so exiting Crofty and Brundle are talking about how nice the podium is, instead of literally anything else.

Monza how could you let me down like this 😔

[Lap 32]: Aaaaand Alonso mechanical DNF

[Lap 33]: HOW are Lewis and Norris still to pit yet??? 

Pitwall??? Did you forget about your drivers???

“Plan C confirmed” Stab me, just get my suffering over with.

Yup, Charles onto the two stop.

[Lap 34]: Don’t get me wrong, it has been SO NICE so see Ferrari somewhat on pace with RBR, but it’s felt very close but no cigar.

Oh thank goodness Lewis finally pits, onto the softs. He comes out P12.

[Lap 35]: 19.6 seconds between Verstappen and Charles. ughhhhhh

Lance is in 16th so I fear no AM points today 😭

[Lap 35]: Lewis watch: Into P11

[Lap 36]: Norris also finally stops, and Lewis is into P9.

[Lap 37]: LEWIS DOUBLE OVERTAKE ROUND CURVA GRANDE

yeah that was hot.

INTO P7!!!!!

And now into P6. HELL YEAH.

[Lap 38]: ahhh de Vries clinging onto P10!!!! 🤞

I legit cannot remember where he finished so I’m praying for points.

Though Zhou is gaining on him. I’ll allow a Zhoint (Zhou point) because he’s a good bean

[Lap 41]: Nooooooo Lance DNF 😭😭😭😭

pain, suffering, screaming, crying etc

[Lap 42]: Charles’ gap to Verstappen is 18 and a half secs so I’m not getting anywhere near the hopium

At least he’s on the podium :))))))

If Lewis has any mechanical problems I will legit sob, pls stop taking out my boys racing gods

Ahhh nice bit of racing with Mick and Nicky!!!

It was for 14th place but I’ll take it

[Lap 43]: RBR pit Perez, dropping him to P7

With 10 laps left I’m not sure how I feel about that potentially working

[Lap 44]: Nyck still in P10!!!!

[Lap 45]: and as they’re nothing happening on track we cut to Sylvester Stallone 

“No comms please I’m busy” Mood Lando but 

[Lap 47]: de Vries gaining on Gasly you say?? 👀

Cut to the Williams mechanics 🥺

*sigh* Dan DNF

The Monza winner curse continues

aaaand safety car. at least it’s an Aston Martin.

[Lap 48]: Pit stop shuffle 2 electric boogaloo

Although, there’s 5-6 laps left, and Dan’s car is in a funny place. idk if there will be time for a restart

“That is a sensible call from Ferrari” quick someone write that down I did not think I would hear this this year.

“There are 9 lapped cars that need to unlap themselves” :))))))))))))))))))

I’m trying really hard to not think about [REDACTED]

[Lap 49]: Ted and me share a braincell, he also doesn’t think we’ll get a restart.

[Lap 50]: Yeah we’re ending the race under the safety car lads they haven’t moved the McLaren yet

An uneventful end to a very uneventful race

[Lap 51]: ayyyy there’s the beloved Aston Martin safety car

at least there’s one AM leading a race 😭

WHY THE FUCK IS THE CRANE MOVING WHILE THE CARS ARE GOING PAST?????????

Great, now I’m pissed off.

[Lap 52]: Trying to calm down by reminding myself we have Charles in P2 and Lewis P5, this is significantly better than what I thought would happen!!!

Wait a minute.

The race ending under SC means DE VRIES POINT!!!!!

a tiny spark of joy!!!!

[Lap 53/Finish]: Oh the crowd are booing. Damn.

Charles first consecutive podiums since the start of the year??? I will take it.

*deep inhale*

NYCK DE VRIES POINT!!!! GET IT!!!!!

EDIT: My mind was seemingly so numbed by the race I didn’t notice Nyck and Zhou moving into P9 and P10, I’m assuming bc of Dan’s DNF. So Nyck POINTS and ZHOINT!!!!!

Well that was... quite meh. Barely a hint of midfield spice, the main “racing” was all the out of place cars coming back up the order. And honestly, I’m already struggling to remember what I just watched 😭

4 and a half front wings out of 10. Next race: Singapore (very, very beloved).

[jamesvowles]

hi synth my beloved… 15-20 <333

HI HONEY <333 HOW R UU ILY

15. Is there a driver that you disliked in the beginning but now like?

I disliked George bc I thought he was boring but he is my best friend now. It's because I always let the good ones go or whatever Charli XCX said in that one song. I think what changed my mind was when he apologized to Valtteri for the Imola accident and took full accountability. Also the rookie of the year skit really did numbers to me. Fact. FACT.

16. Is there a driver who you made you drastically change your opinion of him?

I think this question has an extra you or I don't know how to read but..... i do not see...... though i don't know fernando would probably be the answer here. he's drastically changed me. i see him everywhere now.

17. Is there a driver that you liked but now don't?

@pandonorran knows this well but I used to be a Lando girlie but I'm not anymore </3. I don't know what happened but I must've experienced some sort of post nut clarity or im gamerphobic :/. twitch streamer phobia is a real phenomenon.

18. Is there a driver that you hate?

i am a hater always but i usually feel more apathy for drivers than hate. i don't know sometimes me and [redacted] are fighting (one sided). maybe if he didn't complain about the wind or whatever on comms.

19. Are there drivers you don't care about or so not have an opinion on? If so, why?

i have contrarian hipster disease so sometimes i will simply not care for popular drivers because i have complexes <3. this is not the driver's fault though. i think they all have their flaws and sexiness. and i treat blorbo in laws very nicely!

20. Which are your favourite drivers?

the obvious ones like lewis, george, checo, lance, max, alex, valt, guanyu but everyone is sleeping on robert shwartzman and jehan daruvala. not me tho. im awake.

[flatspot]

right, here we go, lads. '08 season rewatch, inspired by k doing '10.

have seen none of these races since watching them live so i've got really no idea what i'm in for.

australia (this took me 13 days to start and a further 7 hours to watch)

yellow helmet my beloved i miss you

wondering why lewis's car number was 22 and then remembering mclaren got dsq from 2007 oop

these front wings are something else

i simply have no memory of force india existing back in 2008 this bodes well for the rest of the season

"massa is going to be the danger man here today" - he's p17 at the end of the first lap after dropping the car and driving into the wall so. we'll come back to this

i see the home gp curse has hit webber, we've lost 5 drivers and it's been 2 laps

complaining about not being able to follow cars..........lads i've got some bad news for you

i miss the sound of these engines. i remember no details about the races but i remember the noise and the names being shouted over the comms

me sitting here like lewis has an 8.5 second lead but i can't say anything good about it because i might jinx the result. you know. of the race that happened 13 years ago (i should have looked up the podium before i came into this but why not stress myself out over a grand prix that already happened in a year i know he won the title)

they keep saying how they're pleasantly surprised by the earth honda after what it was like at testing and i'm just like. maybe wait a few races before you say that

things i'm glad we don't have anymore: refueling pitstops

seb sounds so very german

i don't like rosberg as it is but if i have to listen to an entire season of martin pronouncing his name as nick-o i might lose it

raikkonen on old tyres vs. kovalainen on full fuel - fight

interesting, i did not know some of the teams opted out of broadcasting radio messages back then

"i expect felipe to take full responsibility for this, and if he doesn't, i'm gonna kick three colours of shit out of the little bastard" don't hold back coulthard tell us how you really feel

dskjds raikkonen just. forgetting you actually still have to brake for the corner, even when overtaking. oh and now massa's retiring for no apparent reason. what a shit show ferrari are having

we're not even halfway through this race and we're down at 12 runners. i don't even know what's happened to half of them

oh and we've just lost another one, right out of the pits

"it's certainly spectacular to watch" admittedly there has been a lot going on tonight that has been distracting me but. i'm not sure i'd describe this race quite like that

the 'onboard' graphic is better than the one they introduced in 2009. that's all i got for you atm

raikkonen goes off the road himself followed immediately by glock launching into the air and doing pirouettes down the straight???

barichello driving off with the fuel rig still attached while the pit lane is actually closed for refueling?! it's all kicking off with 13 laps to go

lewis was very lucky pitting right before this final safety car, they've really lost out with everybody bunching up before they opened the pitlane

the safety car has literally just come in and we've somehow lost another car, i genuinely cannot even tell you how

"you've got to have a substantial problem in order to retire the car, i suppose you could just stick it in the wall" this is the pinnacle of motorsports apparently

aaaand ferrari has finally lost their second car from the race with 4 laps left, can't say this hasn't been coming

dskjdfs and now barrichello is going to be disqualified you cannot make this shit up

ANOTHER CAR IS GONE WHAT ON EARTH WE ONLY HAVE THREE LAPS LEFT

after all of this, am i really going to have to watch a rosberg podium, for the love of god

"faultless" it really was from lewis, oh my GOD he's so british on the radio

6 drivers finished out of 22, that is. well it was a slow burner, but what an opening race

well my original closing statement i wrote with 15 laps to go was going to be 'only 11 drivers finished, there were 3 safety cars, and yet i could not tell you anything of significance that happened by the end of the race so. snoozefest might be unfair but certainly not a classic'

in hindsight, turn this on around lap 40, and you'll be sweet. finished with a bang.

[racingliners]

F1 Re-Watch 2013: Round 3 - China

I am FINALLY picking up my 2013 watch through again. This was always going to be a chilled out thing but just have no had the headspace lately bc of various life things constantly kicking me in the teeth 😭

Anyhow, despite still being early on in the season we’re already nearing the end of races I haven’t seen at all, but I obvs still know the main bits of what happened (Fernando winning, Seb and Lewis battling for P3). So, let’s finally jump in!

gonna say it again, the old F1 intro my beloved

also also this was the first race post Multi-21 (I did start this re-watch out of order, if you’re wondering why Malaysia is the first post in my tag) so I assume we’re going to get some spicy comms (or an attempt, since it’s Crofty and Brundle)

also also also, I legit miss Shanghai on the calendar. Maybe it’s nostalgia, but we had some really good races there, it’s a really good track.

aaaaand starting grid: Lewis on pole, Fernando in 3rd, Dan in 7th in a Toro Rosso, Jense in 8th Seb down in 9th... Jev in 15th 😭

(god it feels SO WIERD seeing Rosberg on the grid as a driver, does not compute)

lol Webber starting from the pits bc he ran out of fuel in quali.

oh, this was Lewis’ first pole for Merc 🥹🖤

[Formation Lap]: Helmet watch: I loved how Lewis’ yellow helmet with the red and green accents had a blue, green and amber multichrome visor to match. (Yes these are the important things that we discuss here at racingliners.tumblr.com)

Just F1 culture things: the mad dash of mechanics and engineers running from the grid to the garages.

“Whatever way round it was it was still a [Red Bull] 1-2 in Malaysia” oh we are getting some spicy comms after all 

Helmet watch 2: Seb’s red helmet is v pretty

[Start/Lap 1]: Lewis having a v zoomy start, we love to see it

While Raikkonen got dropped by both Ferraris

Meanwhile cars going three wide in the midfield bc insanity

oh no Force India on Force India violence at the last corner

[Lap 2]: Webber makes his first stop, inch resting

Man, the ever constant of Lewis and Fernando racing against each other

[Lap 3]: Lewis 8 tenths up on Fernando we love to see it

Livery watch: of the many iterations Team Enstone have raced under, the black and gold Lotus livery is very much one of my favourites (Pink Alpine will always be superior though)

[Lap 4]: damn Fernando really caught up with DRS

Seb finally making moves and passes Dan for 8th

[Lap 5]: ...not both Ferrari’s getting past Lewis on the main straight. what the DRS

meanwhile Seb got past Jenson, and passes Rosberg at the hairpin for 7th

[Lap 6]: and one of the Force India’s has a broken rear wing, and Mercedes just did a double stack

This race went from 0 to 100 very quickly

oh shit the Force India’s brakes are now on fire

Team Silverstone’s no good very bad Chinese GP

oh no it was Gutierrez who just ploughed into the back of him. whoops.

[Lap 7]: Alonso pits

I am barely paying attention to tyre compounds with all the demolition derby shit going on

aaaaand Lewis back to being the fastest on track. noice.

cut to Jev v Bottas for P11. ngl it’s very wild watching these races back knowing how some of these guys careers have unfolded a decade later.

(Jev’s a double FE World Champion, so fuck you Marko)

ahem back to racing

also hi Pastor Maldonado

[Lap 8]: Oh my god Hulkenberg is leading the race after all the pit stops and carnage what the fuck

but more importantly Seb P2 and Jenson P3 🥰

in reality Alonso is the net race leader bc everyone in front of him is yet to stop I’m just living in delusion

[Lap 9]: whoops some drivers allegedly used DRS in a yellow flag zone, that was silly

[Lap 10]: ngl, I really miss it when we had a legit mix of possible strategies (in this case a 2-stop vs a 3-stop). Pirelli make better tyres challenge

[Lap 11]: What is a polar bear (Di Resta) doing in Arlington, Texas?! (5th place).

Good for you though Team Silverstone I love you Team Silverstone

Livery watch: the glossy metallic blue with purple accents rbr I MISS YOU

[Lap 12]: of rip not Fernando being 1.6 seconds faster than Seb on his new tyres 😭

anyway now I’m finally paying attention, the soft and mediums were the tyre compounds for this race

[Lap 13]: Seb and Rocky team radio interactions my beloved 🥰

[Lap 14]: How the fuck is Hulkenberg still leading????

Meanwhile Alonso is just cutting through the field like butter fvhaeudhu. He’s up to 4th

[Lap 15]: lol rbr pitted Seb to get him out of Hulkenberg’s dirty air and he pits anyway

but Seb jumps him in the pits!

the devil works hard but RBR mechanics work harder

NOOOOO WEBBER CRASHED INTO JEV

back to back races of Red Bull on Red Bull violence. oof

“How does the car feel?” “Not too bad” HIS FRONT WING HAS BEEN SHREDDED

[Lap 16]: oh not Raikkonen going into the back of Perez

both incidents happened at turn 6, what was in the water in the lake in the paddock?

aaaand cut to a slow moving Webber (and a depressed looking Adrian Newey)

[Lap 17]: Oh shit there goes Webber’s right rear tyre, just... rolling across the track

[Lap 18]: Meanwhile, Jenson is in first so I think we should just stop the race and call it a day

There has been SO MUCH GOING ON

[Lap 19]: “Should they remove the car? It’s not on the racing line” My lord jesus christ IT’S ON THE TRACK CROFTY

Obviously you can’t see me as I’m typing this but I’m looking into the camera like I’m on the office

They haven’t moved the tyre either it’s just sat on the grass run off, that is NOT SAFE MY DUDES

[Lap 20]: Meanwhile Massa and Rosberg pit again

And Seb up into P5 🥰

“Button leads the race” STOP THE COUNT

“Alonso catching Button but he cannot pass him... Jenson Button doing a fine fine job” I love this song

[Lap 21]: ...nvm Fernando took the lead going into turn 1

It was wonderful while it lasted, considering the 2013 McLaren car was painfully average

Rosberg pits again???? I wondered why they cut to a bemused looking Merc pit wall

[Lap 22]: The synchronised Merc and Lotus pit stops *chef’s kiss*

Lewis comes out in 9th but considering the massive pace difference between old and new tyres he should be back on the top 5 pretty soon

[Lap 23]: oop Rosberg retires with a mechanical fault

mild shock, I just about understood when Jenson said over the radio. He didn’t sound like static for once

and Lewis overtakes Dan for 7th

[Lap 24]: Jenson pits for his first stop, and Fernando for his second

...Jenson and Grosjean under investigation for using DRS in a yellow flag zone 🤦‍♀️

Braincells boys, braincells

[Lap 25]: anyway hiiiii Bono

Just Lewis things: collecting fastest laps like pokemon

[Lap 26]: And Fernando moved into P2.

...and now he chases down Seb

man this race is just peak 2010′s F1. Fernando racing Seb and Lewis, Lewis chasing down Jenson (and Jenson’s car not being completely shit for once). Raikkonen just vibing and somehow being faster after he got a broken front wing and nosecone

also while I haven’t had my obligatory “TEEEEED” reaction, he is in the pitlane living his best life.

[Lap 29]: And Lewis passes Jenson on the main straight.

and we have passed half distance!

[Lap 30]: And Fernando takes the lead

“It’s Alonso, Hamilton and Raikkonen for the top 3″ damn Brundle’s third eye was wide open (spoiler alert, that’s our podium just with Lewis and Kimi swapped round)

[Lap 31]: that is a very tragic sight of Raikkonen passing Jenson with his very broken nosecone

[Lap 32]: Seb makes his second stop, but he still has to run the softs

and he’s already moving back up into 6th place

[Lap 33]: ...and now into P5

He is zooming 

[Lap 34]: Oh the old tyre strategy graphic!! I did not know I missed it until I saw it, it’s way easier to follow all the different strategies if they just have all the tyres drivers have ran thus far on screen 😅

[Lap 35]: Not Seb being 2 and a bit seconds faster than Jenson 😭 (a combo of 2 stop vs 3 stop, and it being the 2013 RBR vs the 2013 McLaren)

[Lap 36]: and unsurprisingly Seb passes Jenson for 3rd

The current race order being Fernando, Lewis, Seb, Jenson and Raikkonen

[Lap 38]: And Lewis makes what I think is his final stop

He comes out in 6th, behind Ricciardo

[Lap 39]: So Fernando has to stop again, but he has a decent gap over everyone else. Seb and Jenson who also have to stop again less so

“What’s the situation in the race?!” Ted is me and I am Ted. mainly because I started this after 10pm my time

Lewis once again collecting the fastest lap. Purple really is his colour.

‘Use of DRS in yellow flag zones for cars 1, 2, 7, 17, 19 and 23 will be investigated after the race’ I had to pause bc I couldn’t stop laughing.

That’s an awful lot of paperwork, the stewards are booked and busy bc Jenson and Jev were already on that list

so about a third of the grid potentially doing something very unavoidable. F1 is a Serious Sport™️

[Lap 42]: Anyway, Fernando makes his final stop, and only comes out in 2nd behind Seb.

[Lap 43]: And he once again passes Seb going into turn 1, so just second and third to sort out.

[Lap 44]: Raikkonen passes Jenson for 3rd at the last corner

[Lap 45]: ...and Lewis passes Jenson for 4th a few corners after

seeing your fave driver go from 3rd to 5th vs seeing your other favourite driver get into 4th

[Lap 46]: 10 laps to go

[Lap 47]: “No need to push” “I’m not pushing” Fastest Lap: Fernando Alonso. rguheuraghu

Fernando Alonso certified menace to society

[Lap 48]: Seb (2nd) and Jenson (5th) still haven’t stopped yet, so they’re either leaving it as late as possible, or going to try extending to a two stop. 

[Lap 49]: ah nvm Jenson’s race engineer said they were doing one more lap before stopping 😅

also YIKES the soft tyres sucked that much this race if they only want to do 7 laps on it

[Lap 50]: and Jenson finally pits for the soft tyre, he comes out in 7th place

[Lap 51]: Jenson passes Massa for 6th 

and he’s setting purple sectors 🥰

[Lap 52]: Seb makes his third stop for softs, he comes out in 4th

*5 Laps remaining klaxon*

and apparently Jenson’s tyres are already dying 😭

Pirelli you can and will meet my fists

[Lap 53]: meanwhile Lewis is close to Raikkonen, but not close enough to try a pass

[Lap 54]: ✨Seb fastest lap✨

and Di Resta pits which promotes Jenson to 5th

oh jeez the amount of marbles off the racing line, they could legit make a whole set of tyres, the track is literally black where they’ve all gathered

[Lap 55]: Seb closing in on Lewis at a huge rate of knots

last lap spice you say? 👀

[Lap 56]: the gap has gone from 5.2 seconds to 2.0 seconds in about two laps. whew.

A Lewis and Seb battle is the superior battle, you cannot change my mind

although Lewis is caught up in a train of traffic, which is allowing Seb to catch up even more.

[Finish]: Fernando wins, can we cut to Lewis and Seb please

MASSIVE LOCK UP FROM LEWIS

oh jeeeeeez it was a drag race to the line and I think Lewis got him by a front wing end plate. WHEW.

Final Top 5: Alonso, Raikkonen, Lewis, Seb, Jenson

Oh jeez that race was actually really decent! Normally I hate strategy races BUT in this case it made things genuinely interesting bc there was a good split of drivers using the 2-stop or 3-stop, and most importantly it gave us some decent battles and made the results somewhat unpredictable! And the last lap chase of Lewis v Seb was SO GOOD. It literally wasn’t over until the last lap, and it being between Lewis and Seb was just even better, and podium or not Seb had such a great comeback drive from what I think was a brake issue in quali the day before. And that’s before you get into all the stuff going on at the start... WHEW.

Easy 8 out of 10 race, next one is Bahrain!

[racingliners]

F1 Re-Watch 2022: Round 15 - the Netherlands

No I didn’t intend on watching this and Belgium so close back to back but... I just want to rip the plaster off and get it over with.

(Unrelated, this is the first of 8 races left and the Seb retirement sads are starting to come back 😭)

Anyway, I’ve never actually watched the Dutch GP yet so I’m curious to see if Zandvoort the circuit passes the vibe check or not, onwards!

iirc Verstappen wins so please let there have been some kind of good racing in the midfield and some Seb points.

I’m also starting this after 10pm so yeah lots of poor life choices made all round

but I do have chocolate

ah, opening with some windmills, just in case we had no idea where we were racing

all I’ve seen of Zandvoort is the circuit map so I am truly going into this race knowing nothing

Starting grid: Seb P19. fuck.

Lance P10 though!!

MICK P8!!!!!! LEWIS P4!!!!

Let’s not have a race and just call it a day

“Can Ferrari get it right this afternoon?” lol no. In Ferrari we do not trust.

JENSON COMMS MY SKIN IS CLEAR MY CROPS ARE NOURISHED

Sky Sports F1 at 99% is literally Ted and Jenson

right please let there be no lap 1 violence I did not enjoy Spa at all

obligatory “They’re not Max fans they’re McLaren fans” joke

[Start/Lap 1]: okay phew a mostly clean first lap thank goodness, just Lewis and Sainz getting a little too close

[Lap 2]: KEVIN NOOOOO

oh jeez he’s actually back on track damn that was so so close

Seb and Lance both up two places THAT’S MY BOYS

[Lap 3]: Kevin’s car is somehow fine despite smooching the barrier DAMN

oh damn the replay of Lewis’ start

(also OUCH that cut to Angela in the garage hurt today 😭)

[Lap 4]: *Ted klaxon*

Ted and Jenson on comms at the same race, so very blessed

[Lap 5]: “When you want a nice stress free afternoon, Fernando is not the one you want behind you” truer words have never been spoken. Assigned gremlin status by Crofty

[Lap 6]: Lewis still with the rainbow helmet we love to see it

[Lap 7]: Don’t do that, don’t give me hope that Charles can catch Verstappen

[Lap 8]: Lewis is also reallllly catching up to Sainz 👀

[Lap 10]: Alonso passes Gasly from P12

Unrelated but I cannot tell if the weird haze around the track is mist, low cloud, smoke from flares or sand dvhaeuh

[Lap 11]: Seb has somehow ended up in P20 17 secs behind Latifi, I can only assume he pitted :(

He did pit!! Cheers Ted

[Lap 12]: And Alonso passes Yuki for P11

and Seb jumped Dan at the stop 🎉

[Lap 14]: Sainz v Lewis watch: much of the same, Lewis closes with DRS on the straights but isn’t close enough for a pass yet

And Lewis up into P3 as Sainz pits

12.7 sec stop. ouch.

oh not Perez driving over an errant wheel gun, just to rub salt into the wound

[Lap 15]: Seb watch: up into P17 post-stops!!!

oh he was racing with Mick, who did a really nice pass

[Lap 18]: Charles pits. *prays*

2.5. much better.

[Lap 19]: Lewis P1. STOP THE RACE!!!!!

(I am well aware it’s bc Verstappen pitted. I still want them to stop the race)

“What happened at Carlos Sainz’s pitstop?” “A mess” avuehuhu MATTIA

when the clownery lasts for so long you eventually become self aware

I mean I’m still not on board with speaking to TPs mid race, but in this case I’ll allow it bc I cackled

Seb, Zhou, don’t do that

“Hamilton still leads Russell” oh boy that has never felt so good to hear. INJECT IT.

“He’s been passed a lot has Sebastian” the racing gods giveth and the racing gods taketh away 😭

“This is a really good situation for Mercedes” Inject it, write it into the sky, write it on post it notes and pass them out to strangers

(2015-2018 me would be disappointed in me but she fell for Ferrari v Mercedes propaganda so she doesn’t count)

Bono sighting (beloved)

[Lap 26]: lol I got way too excited and forgot my lap count soz

ANYWAY, this race isn’t terrible, not great, I’m a little warmer than whelmed

And honestly, the fact that Zandvoort is only on the calendar bc F1 want to milk Verstappen fans for cash aside, I don’t hate the circuit. There’s not that many opportunities for overtaking, but an onboard lap is nice to watch.

[Lap 28]: oop Verstappen passes Russell for P2

can we pit Lewis please I suffered through 2021 enough

[Lap 29]: Meanwhile the Ferraris are down in 4th and 6th

[Lap 30]: Phew Lewis does pit. For Hards.

[Lap 33]: Genuinely fascinated to see how the Merc 1-stop vs the RBR and Ferrari 2-stop is going to play out

[Lap 35]: Noooo slow stop for Mick 

“We don’t believe we can manage to do Plan C” another race another alphabet lesson from Ferrari 😭

Permanent agony every time I see a Ferrari team radio message tbh

[Lap 36]: as it’s late at night I had to contain my yell at Lewis trying to go round the outside of turn 1. HOLY SHIT.

[Lap 37]: AND HE TAKES P3 INTO TURN 1!!!!

Seb this was not the time to come out of the pits evgesghgh

[Lap 38]: “That was Plan OMG with Checo and Lewis” Ted I utterly adore you. 

[Lap 39]: Oh and Russell passes Perez too 👀

[Lap 41]: “No one’s talked about Ferrari” yes bc they’re not doing anything next question

and Perez pits for hards

Seb under investigation for ignoring blue flags akehgujahg

[Lap 44]: Yuki nooooooo

“Tyres not fitted” Alpha Tauri EXPLAIN YOURSELVES

...and Yuki’s moving again????

He’s going so slowly though

[Lap 46]: Anyway Charles pits, also for Hards

and again Mick vs Seb eagijaeigh

Yuki pits again 😬

“I know we’re near the North Sea but this is fishy” ajvhajevh Ted

ANYWAY cut to Lewis in P2

[Lap 47]: oh for god’s sake Yuki’s still going slow

to VSC or not VSC

yup VSC deployed

[Lap 49]: Verstappen, Lewis and George all pit under VSC

argh I’ve missed hearing Lewis be genuinely happy on team radio so much!!!!

[Lap 50]: VSC clear, let’s go zoom zoom

oh my days Lance P10!!!!!

[Lap 51]: 12 sec gap between Verstappen and Lewis. I am diving head first into the sea of delusion

another Bono sighting, thank you very much TV director. Your basket of pastries is in the post.

[Lap 53]: Death, taxes and Seb getting a 5 second penalty for something 

oh man those replays of Lando v Alonso, sick

[Lap 55]: Me, knowing full well Verstappen wins: Yeah Lewis can totally close an 11 second gap in less than 20 laps

OH JEEZ Bottas stops right at the end of the main straight

“At least the only overtaking place is gone now” eaovhaeouh Jenson the man that you are

[Lap 56] Full safety car, as it should be

mean this race has been way more eventful than I though

[Lap 57]: Merc 1-2. I have become the sea of delusion.

or we could just stop the race that would be fine too.

[Lap 58]: The way my blood pressure just spiked upon seeing George in the pits, with the Safety car coming through the pits. Lewis still leading though.

oh grief so much pit drama, unsafe release from Sainz

Anyway Lewis P1, Verstappen P2, George P3. Stress.

I know exactly who wins. And yet I still think Lewis has a chance. I am boo boo the fool.

[Lap 60]: Safety Car ending. *distressed yelling*

I hate Safety Car restarts so much

[Lap 61]: ....

well that was fun while it lasted. Please tell me Lewis at least is on the podium

[Lap 62]: Seb watch: Into P14!!! but he still has the 5 sec pen

Okay I looked up the podium to avoid disappointment and I’m quite glad I decided to do that.

[Lap 64]: Lewis, George, can we not nearly crash out please and thanks

[Lap 65]: I am distressed Angela and distressed Angela is me

[Lap 66]: ...and Charles passes Lewis for P3. ouch.

[Lap 68]: 5 laps left. Much is happening.

Lance clinging onto P10 for dear life, Perez and Sainz thinking about starting a punch up, Lewis is pissed, Seb is still following Mick.

“Lance Stroll is lapping faster than Carlos Sainz” INJECT IT!!!

You drag that tractor Lance, go on!!!!

[Lap 70]: and there’s the Perez & Sainz violence

*insults you in Spanish* *insults you back in Spanish* *pushes you off the track*

well at least Lewis’ P4 is safe, this friends is why we don’t get too high on hopium 

[Lap 72/Finish]: Verstappen wins, Russell P2, Charles P3

Lewis does indeed take P4.

LANCE P10!!!!

Seb P14 after his pen

Whew. Yeah. That was something. For some reason I fully expected the race to be dull but it actually wasn’t that bad. Yes It was a strategy race, but there was a tiny bit of racing, and both safety cars did act as a reset for the battle for the lead. And totally unrelated, but Jenson on comms was utterly superb.

7 front wings out of 10, next race: Monza!!

[racingliners]

F1 Re-Watch 2022: Round 11 - Austria

Yes I’m carrying this on even though we literally have the first race of 2023 tomorrow sadhuvh I am determined to finished this now that I’ve started (and I’m actually enjoying it despite the RBR domination and Ferrari clownery).

Anyway, I yet again remember nothing from this race other than Seb and his bee hotel, so I am once again going into a race blind so let’s just jump on in

ngl the Red Bull Ring is a very pretty track, I love me some forests

okay let’s see how painful the starting grid is

Seb P18 🥲

Lance P12 oh no team green why????

nvm MICK P9!!! and Lewis P8

ESTEBAN IN 6TH????

Oh Verstappen’s on pole. huh.

“Who is there to stop him?” “If Ferrari get their act together” lol

(wait... is this the race where Carlos’ car went on fire??? I feel like that happened)

ugh flares my beloathed. The smoke is literally blowing onto the track. no bloody thank you.

“What can Ferrari do?” Nothing Crofty this is 2022 Ferrari we’re talking about.

(Unrelated but I’ve had one 2023 programme of Alex Jacques comms and I already miss him, the things I endure for Ted crumbs)

[Start/Lap 1]: GEORGE????? That start though

OH SHIT Perez off into the gravel after making contact with George. Not that surprised bc that battle was SPICY

Seb with damage too WHYYYYYY 😭

[Lap 2]: asdfghjkl Ted confusing the red stripe on the RBR overalls for Perez’s tyres. Excellent sports journalism.

[Lap 3]: Oh boy. Mick racing Lewis. I weep.

[Lap 4]: What I like about the Red Bull Ring is that the lap is so short it keeps the field together a bit longer.

Perez v Russell replay. oof.

Braincells boys, braincells.

[Lap 5]: Mick got past Lewis 🥺

[Lap 6]: Crofty calling out Sainz’s track limit crimes on the first lap aefvuhu

[Lap 7]: Truly astounded at Haas in 6th and 7th. something something looking like rockstars

oh shit Charles is catching up to Verstappen actually??? 👀

Will the Ferrari pitwall hang onto their braincells for the whole race though?

[Lap 8]: Oh shit Charles is REALLY catching Verstappen, gap down to around half a second.

rip Perez got lapped already, another part of the track being so short

[Lap 9]: Meanwhile Russell has somehow dragged the W13 into fourth. madness.

[Lap 10]: CHARLES TRIES THE DIVEBOMB

Was unsuccessful but gold star for effort.

(5 sec pen for Russell causing violence)

[Lap 11]: oh my days an actual battle for the lead I have MISSED THIS

[Lap 12]: CHARLES

HE JUST SNUCK INTO TURN 4 AND GOT PAST HIM HELL YEAH!!!!

cut to happy Ferrari fans. an unfamiliar sight in 2022.

[Lap 13]: advuhu Charles now on two warnings for track limits, you muppet

Seb watch: He’s into P13!!!! 🥳🥳🥳

[Lap 14]: oh my days Esteban into third STOP THE COUNT

ooooh Lewis with a NICE pass on Mick round turns 5 and 6

and YOU get a warning for track limits and YOU get a warning for track limits.

[Lap 15]: and Lewis gets past Kev as well, into P4!!

I am really not used to Haas being so fast but get it lads!!!

[Lap 16]: Fernando P10, Seb P11. Insert Fernando’s quote from Abu Dhabi about how they always find a way to race each other 😭

[Lap 17]: SEB INTO THE POINTS, END THE RACE

yes I know it’s because he hasn’t stopped yet let me live in delusion

[Lap 18]: LANCE IN P5. STOP THE RACE!!!!

[Lap 20]: Seb sighting in the background of Yuki v Zhou v Fernando!!!

also yes, midfield spice!! excellent!!

[Lap 22]: “We are considering Plan E” the pain I felt hearing that. FERRARI STOP

[Lap 23]: noice pass from Esteban on Zhou!!

Midfield spice how I’ve missed you!!!

and Esteban gets past Yuki too...

...and Yuki tries to get him back.

while Zhou and Fernando scrap over P8

ACTUAL RACING!!! (beloved)

[Lap 24]: FIVE CARS INTO TURN 5 WHAT THE FUCK

AHHHHHHHHHH

LADS

I mean that was great but I WASN’T BREATHING

[Lap 25]: That wasn’t Bono on Lewis’ radio. That did not pass the vibe check.

[Lap 26]: MICK BACK INTO THE POINTSSSSSSS

oh my days Lewis P4 and Lance P5 *longest yeah boi ever*

oop Perez’s car gets retired because it’s so broken

and Charles pits. idk how I feel about Ferrari trying a one stop. I don’t trust it.

[Lap 28]: Ted manifesting a Safety Car. You don’t need to invite chaos Ted this is F1 it happens on the Ferrari pitwall every week.

[Lap 29]: oof Lewis’ slow stop means he comes out behind Esteban

It’s okay Merc mechanics we still love you.

[Lap 30]: Charles taking a second out of Verstappen’s lead. Inject it.

Lewis gets past Esteban clean as you like into turn 3.

[Lap 31]: Post-stops Seb and Lance are chilling in 14th and 15th, so long to the dizzing heights of the top ten, thanks AMR22 😭

oh this was a sprint race weekend that explains quali a little bit.

(please stop trying to make sprint races happen though, they’re not going to happen)

“You can’t get a two person tent in a 40 mile radius of Amsterdam for love nor money” Crofty 🤝 Seb: if you want to steal shit go to the Netherlands it’s empty

[Lap 33]: CHARLES RETAKES THE LEAD!!!!

that looked painfully easy

MICK INTO P6!!!

Seb and Lance being turtles aside I’m loving this race this is great!

[Lap 35]: and YOU get a penalty for track limits and YOU get a penalty for track limits

oh not Fernando wagging a finger at Yuki sdgheughuh he’s such an old man

[Lap 36]: Lewis P4, Esteban P5, Mick P6. I LOVE F1

Why are we grilling Otmar on Fernando’s strategy mid race???? I would not want to just broadcast my driver’s strategy on TV just like that.

I’d say take a shot every time someone gets done for track limits but you’d get alcohol poisoning so maybe do water instead.

(Braincells boys, braincells)

[Lap 39]: I was hoping Crofty wouldn’t mention those dark clouds bc they’re making me anxious.

Is it bad I’m still wondering how Ferrari are going to mess up the 1-2 they currently have? I’m fully expecting Verstappen to still win this.

[Lap 40]: SEB NOOOOOOOOO don’t spin into the gravel 😭

This is not the way I wanted a Seb sighting.

ughhhhhhh he was racing Gasly, Russell v Perez 2.0. RUDE PIERRE. RUDE.

Livery watch: Aston Martin still pretty though 💚

[Lap 42]: Norris v Magnussen 👀

Lewis the latest to join the track limit club.

if everyone gets a time penalty for track limits then does anyone have a penalty for track limits?

well at least Gasly got a pen for spinning out Seb

I too am Crofty being unable to keep up with how many drivers have been penalised for track limits or have a warning.

George v Lance, that was a fun three corner battle

Seriously, apart from the two bits of violence the racing has been GREAT thus far.

[Lap 46]: and as I type that Mick goes down the inside of Lance

and Lance get’s him back.

No Bono on Lewis’ team radio does not feel right at all I do not like it

[Lap 48]: Meanwhile both Haas cars get past Lance on the same straight, this race has been truly WILD so far

damn Charles really hasn’t won a race from outside pole??? that’s a wild stat.

[Lap 49]: Ferrari seemingly chuck the one stop straight in the bin. Charles pits for hards.

is this Clowneria Ferrari striking again??? I’m getting those vibes.

[Lap 51]: Lewis still in P4 we absolutely love to see it!!!

no Nicky DNF 😔

oh nvm Lewis is stopping again

OH he has a 30+ gap to Fernando we’re fine

“Incident Noted - Gasly, failing to observe penalty” OOP

[Lap 53]: Charles once again getting past Verstappen like it’s nothing.

Seb watch: he’s in plum last I hate it here 😭

[Lap 55]: I’m (sadly) still waiting to see how Ferrari mess this up. I just don’t trust them at this point.

(Though let’s be honest I haven’t really trusted Ferrari since 2019)

[Lap 57]: fdvheaihh Fernando gaining TWELVE positions during the race. El Plan intensifies.

Verstappen v Sainz you say??? 👀

OH SHIT maybe not

His car did go on fire at this race.

Ah I obviously did watch C4′s highlights of this race bc I do remember the car rolling down the hill whilst on fire. BIG YIKES. 0/10 would not recommend to a friend.

[Lap 58]: VSC for obvious reasons

Charles pits again???? 

ohhhhh it’s to cover cars behind stopping under the VSC, and to have grip at the restart. that makes sense actually.

(did Ferrari kidnap Bono??? that would explain a lot)

LEWIS IN P3!!!!!!! STOP THE COUNT!!!!!

[Lap 59]: Helmet watch: LEWIS RAINBOW HELMET KLAXON!!! 🌈

[Lap 60]: Prielli: We think everyone is going to do a one stop :) The grid: two and three stops galore because fuck you

[Lap 61]: ohhhhh no not Charles saying his throttle pedal feels off. Not double mechanical gremlins please I won’t cope.

“Everything is fine on the throttle pedal” IT BETTER BE XAVI 🔪

fuck this race really has had everything I’m knackered.

Seb still last. Stab me it would hurt less.

Lewis and George in P3 and P4, unbothered while everything implodes around them

[Lap 64]: ALBON IN THE POINTS!!! STOP THE RACE!!!

[Lap 65]: Charles throttle problems have not gone away, I swear to fucking god Ferrari STOP CLOWNING

oh boy Val and Alex fighting for P10, even more midfield spice

“So sometimes the throttle gets stuck” I’m sorry if my 17 year old deaf cat can still catch mice (true story, happened this afternoon) Ferrari should be able to build a working car. 

Bahrain 2019 flashbacks.

[Lap 67]: Verstappen closing to about 3 seconds behind. see I knew Ferrari would bin it.

(Rule 1 of F1 - Don’t trust Ferrari)

[Lap 68]: Seb joins the track limit party, fan-fucking-tastic.

nooo Alex down into P12 😔

[Lap 69]: SEB’S NOT IN PLUM LAST 🥳 I will take P16 over P17 any day

oh for fucks sake not downshift problems for Charles too.

Ferrari you owe me so much money in emotional damages, I’m not even joking.

[Lap 70]: Meanwhile MICK IN P6!!!!!!!!!!

[Lap 71/Finish]: stress stress stress stressssssssss

gap down to 2.1 seconds arghhhhhhhh

Meanwhile Fernando into P10. EL PLAN.

CHARLES WINS!!!!!!

thank fuck I can breathe. that was NOT FUN.

LEWIS P3!!!!! LET’S👏 GET👏 IT!!!

Ferrari I still want emotional damage money

“I was scared, I was really scared” ME TOO BUDDY

AND MICK FINISHES P6 FUCK YES!!!!!

nvm Seb does finish plum last he got a 5 sec penalty for track limits 😭

Oh jeez. That race was A LOT. Like, so much, possible too much but considering how many races were dull all the way through or had dull patches I will take one race of pure insanity. We had SO MUCH midfield spice, it was excellent, an ACTUAL BATTLE FOR THE LEAD!!!!! and honestly??? It was a great race from start to finish. I genuinely would watch it again.

9 front wings out of 10. Next race - France!

[racingliners]

F1 Re-Watch 2022: Round 8 - Azerbaijan

alternatively titled: F1 Liveblog - Well Done Baku edition

Very much no memories head empty on this one, truly going into it blind. oh boy.

I really hope Seb did well bc idk if I can handle watching this for 2 hours for nothing 😭

at least he looks very pretty in the intro

I was very briefly on the F1 tv comms and Ben Edwards my beloved I had no idea he worked for F1 now. 

Alas I still switched to international. For Ted crumbs ✊

SEB IN THE TOP 10

oh christ he started next to Fernando

2012 called they want their quali results back

Ah. Charles on pole. So he’s not winning then?

(I know I’ve seen this film before, and we all know the ending)

[Start/Lap 1]: Aaaaaaand Perez takes the lead at the start

all clean into turn one though??? Well done Baku

...so far all clean on the first lap??? You mean everyone had their braincells???

ayyyyyy Seb up into P8.

[Lap 2]: Perez with over a second gap already. oof.

also. a completely clean first lap. I am astounded.

oh nvm Nicky got a stop go penalty for a starting grid infringement. ouch.

[Lap 3]: ahhhh Seb’s behind Lewis

besties that race together thrive together

even though Seb’s 1.4 back bc AMR22 gonna tractor

[Lap 4]: “Red Bull is quick” yeah no shit Carlos

[Lap 6]: Charles probably has jaws music playing in his head rn. I feel it’s inevitable that Verstappen’s going to pass him.

[Lap 8]: There has been zero Ted crumbs. Was he not at Baku???

These are the things I think about bc not much has really happened.

[Lap 9]: and as I say that Sainz has stopped at the turn 4 run off

ouch mechanical failure

VSC!

[Lap 10]: Two seconds of Seb before cutting to Leclerc in the pits.

Can I at least get a Bono or Antti sighting to make up for it?

oh Seb jumped Lewis at the stop!!

The Ferrari mechanics kicking the tyre after the slow stop is a mood.

and VSC gone

[Lap 12]: Seb onboard!! chasing Ocon for P9

Lewis following behind munching on some popcorn

Seb was second fastest in the speedtrap in quali?? that’s my boy!!!

[Lap 13]: And he was in P9 for two seconds before binning it into the run off 😭

the spin he did to rejoin was sexy though

Livery watch!! Italian flag Alfa Romeo v stunning

[Lap 15]: oh. Red Bull on Red Bull violence-ish

“No fighting” 

....if I speak

[Lap 16]: ANYWAY back to Esteban v Lewis

[Lap 17]: Ouch Perez with a 5.7 stop. Just to rub salt in the wound.

[Lap 18]: ooooh nice pass from Lewis on Ocon for P9

[Lap 19]: and Leclerc into the lead. How long will this last? 😬

[Lap 20]: ayyyy Seb sighting!!

also Baku alert the McLaren’s are thinking about fighting

aaaaaand Ferrari engine go poof. Again.

Clowneria Ferrari strikes again

[Lap 21]: Dan and Pierre are fighting

Cut to Mattia looking dead inside. Sums up Ferrari’s 2022 tbh.

[Lap 22]: And Gasly passes Dan like it was nothing 😶

“The big battle now is in the midfield” The battles is almost always in the midfield that’s where is spice is in races

oof the Alpha Tauri’s are racy rn, Yuki just got past Ocon.

[Lap 23]: AND SEB BACK INTO P9 LET’S GO

Esteban v Seb v Guanyu for P8 👀

pls don’t mess it up again Seb

aw no Zhou has some kind of mechanical problem 😔

[Lap 24]: Esteban v Seb 2 electric boogaloo

Livery Watch (you know the drill): AM preeeeeeetty

[Lap 25]: AND HE GETS P8 THAT’S MY BOYYYYYYY!!!!!

that was a v pretty pass. We love to see it.

(Unrelated, I miss Ted)

[Lap 26]: And Lewis also gets past Dan like it’s nothing for P5

“We know that Alpine was slippier than an eel on steroids in the straight line” Crofty?????

I mean tbf he was overtaking a Haas

[Lap 27]: And Alonso gets past Esteban

I do not know if I can take a Seb v Fernando battle at half past 10 on a Tuesday evening

Shoutout to the midfield for once again carrying the entertainment levels of a race

[Lap 29]: Yikes, I have never heard Lewis sound in pain over radio before. The whole porpoising stuff was a mess

You can actually hear the car skidding over the sound of the engine. BIG yikes.

[Lap 32]: Pretty sure Esteban is going for Perez’s Minister of Defence title, he’s like a mobile blue and pink brick wall.

[Lap 33]: And a very slow Haas. And another Ferrari engine going poof.

Ferrari PUs clearly not Baku fans.

and another VSC

[Lap 34]: ...McLaren are going to pit Dan right? He still needs to stop

oh phew they did.

Seb up into P7 😏

Though he is once again behind Lewis.

[Lap 35]: And we’re green!

and a Seb sighting!!!

[Lap 36]: Lewis did indeed have a tyre advantage he got past Yuki like cutting through butter

15 laps left, and this race has felt both long and short at the same time.

[Lap 37]: Somewhat distressed Toto sighting

oh shit Yuki’s DRS is split down the middle, that’s not fun.

Yup, black and orange flag, that’s such rotten luck. Although I have never seen DRS break like that ever

[Lap 39]: I love it when they just slap duct tape on things. Peak motorsport.

[Lap 40]: And Seb up into P6, once again behind Lewis, they clearly had some magnetic pull going on in Baku.

[Lap 41]: And suddenly Verstappen can’t use DRS??? 

Red Bull branded teams not being besties with DRS it seems

[Lap 43]: Lewis really catching Gasly 👀

[Lap 44]: And he gets the move done into turn 4. noice.

Ouch. Cut to Ferrari starting to pack up the garage and pitwall. Cue distant Italian sobbing.

[Lap 46]: Anyway Seb’s still holding in P6!!!!! We really do love to fucking see it!!!!!

[Lap 47]: Lewis’ seat has gone cold???? W13 gonna W13 I guess.

and Lance mechanical DNF

Also trying not to think about Verstappen breaking Seb’s Red Bull podium record.

[Lap 49]: Shoutout to Gasly dragging the Alpha Tauri into P5. We love the midfield continuing to smash it.

oop the McLaren’s are thinking about fighting

[Lap 51/Finish]: Aaaand Red Bull 1-2.

Granted the Ferrari’s both DNFing helped Merc, but shoutout to George and Lewis dragging the W13 into third and fourth. I could never.

SEB IN P6 YABADABADEEEEEEE!!!!!!

Well... honestly idk how I felt about that race. Stuff happened, and there were some medium spice battles but it felt more of a race by strategy than anything else, with the mechanical failure induced VSCs. Though Seb did get his season-best result so we’ll always stan that.

6 and a half front wings out of 10.

Next Race: Canada