After a race off for my new column, I thought I better catch up and try and dissect all the action that happened at Interlagos. Let’s get to it.
A good race, but not amazing
I think people need to take a step back and think about the race in full, not just the opening and closing few laps. Yes, those parts were incredible, don’t get me wrong, but outside of that what else did we have?
Some interesting strategy was playing out between Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari sure, but anything else? In this era of Formula One where it’s all about the show rather than the strategy (hence these 2021 rule changes), it’s slightly misleading to call this race a classic and compare it to Germany earlier this year.
Even the official Formula One highlights package acknowledges this, basically showing nothing as happening between laps 22 and 55 before then skipping to lap 60. A couple of days of reflection I feel will have this shown through a little clearer.
That podium
We officially have the youngest ever podium in the history of Formula One with an average age of 23 years, eight months and 23 days. The previous youngest podium? Italy in 2008, when Sebastian Vettel famously won for Toro Rosso ahead of Heikki Kovalainen for McLaren and Robert Kubica for BMW with a combined age of 23 years, 11 months and 16 days. Incredible.
You also have to look back 2072 days since McLaren last graced a podium, which came in 2014 at the Australian Grand Prix. Back on that day at Albert Park, that race also was the last time two drivers scored their debut podiums at the same, with Daniel Ricciardo and Kevin Magnussen gracing the podium for the very first time.
Of course, Ricciardo sadly had his podium promptly taken away from him, which means the last time two drivers officially scored their debut podiums was the 1994 German Grand Prix when Olivier Panis and Eric Bernard finished second and third, respectively, for Ligier.
Stewards fail Sainz
Why on earth could the stewards not have made a decision that allowed Carlos Sainz to rightfully take his place on the podium quicker than they did? All the evidence was clearly in front of them and Lewis Hamilton admitted he was at fault and even didn’t bother going to the stewards to give evidence as he knew he was to blame.
Remember Mexico 2016? That was decided pretty quickly to demote Max Verstappen from the podium, so why not now? It’s a shame for Carlos not to get that true atmosphere up on the podium after waiting for so long. Sure he got his own little ceremony afterwards but it’s not the same. Hopefully, for Carlos, his second podium won’t have to have such a long wait.
The three-way battle that could’ve been
We’ve had three different teams win races this year with five different drivers taking those victories. On paper that sounds like an exciting season. But 2019 won’t really be remembered for that. Remember the opening eight races? I’m yawning right now thinking of them and it’s a shame. Imagine if we were heading into Abu Dhabi with three teams in with a shot at winning both championships?
That last happened in 2010 and we all remember how epic that season was. Hopefully, 2020 can deliver some more consistent results for our big three teams to allow the battle to last a bit longer than it has over the last five years. Bugger 2021. I’m impatient. I want it to happen now!
Stroll watch
Given I didn’t do an article for the Mexican Grand Prix, I feel as though both Lance Stroll fans out there have been let down by lack of coverage for our main Canadian man. Mexico wasn’t exactly a race to sing home about for little Lancey and, sadly, neither was Brazil.
There was another poor qualifying performance (come on Lance, get it together my man!) before things actually looked promising with a great start and some good early battles.
However, it wasn’t to be, with a suspension issue putting end to his race on lap 65. I’ll just also ignore the fact that this happened on the same lap as both Ferraris went out and was caused by that crash, because, you know, I’m already sad enough that three of my four guys (Dan made up for it at least) all were out on one lap.
Stroll said after the race that they were in a good position for points had that not happened. And given his teammate Sergio Perez once again capitalised on that, it has to be said he probably was right. Let’s bring home the bacon in Abu Dhabi Mr Stroll! Give me something to smile about to close out 2019!
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
You know one thing that I completely forgot to add and I was planning on it was the finish of the two Alfa cars. 4th and 5th. Incredible. Sure some results went their way but I mean it did for Gasly and Sainz as well. Think back two seasons ago to imagine we would see those two cars in those positions. Great performance by both drivers!
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
Yeah can't imagine blogging about parts of it were that exciting. You do a great job with it though!
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
I hold Palmer's opinion as highly as I do the F1 career of Yuji Ide
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
1. The Brazilian GP was probably the third best grand prix of the season after Germany and Austria. I think those of us who watched both Germany and Brazil live know that Germany was better in terms of having action all the way through the race. I did enjoy the strategy coming into play in the middle of the race though but I am a strategy nerd therefore I am biased in that sense! 2. That podium was one of the greatest examples of serendipity that Formula 1 has ever seen. Some great driving from both Gasly and especially Sainz but also the serendipity of being in the right place at the right time. As I said in the headline of my article, it was an unexpected podium for an unexpectedly crazy race. 3. The stewards should have been quicker in deciding the outcome of the Hamilton-Sainz incident - they're currently walking the tightrope between quick decisions and accurate decisions (accuracy can sometimes come at the expense of speed so they do have to be careful). 4. People have spoken to me in the past fortnight since Hamilton was officially crowned world champion and I told them that he's unofficially been champion since June. (My birthday is June 18th - if I know who the world champion is by then, then something has really gone wrong!) Hopefully, Ferrari get their act together so we at least have a two-way battle with Red Bull thrown in the mix occasionally - I think it might be a bit too much to ask for Red Bull to be a contender for the world championship in 2020. 5. Mate, condolences for Stroll's poor results over the past few races - he's been a bit unlucky. I say this in the nicest possible way but don't hold your hopes up for Abu Dhabi - Stroll's qualifying performances are dreadful and I predict a top-ten shootout between Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren and Renault in Abu Dhabi. And don't forget the Yas Marina Circuit has not been designed for overtaking at all. Meanwhile, I will continue to gloat about Max Verstappen...
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
G'day Ben, thanks again for another solid Talking Points. Indeed the middle portion of the race was watching everyone in a holding pattern again and you could easily just skip that part. When I was blogging it, there was a part of me hoping for some kind of variable to be thrown into the mix, just to get the leaders out of just biding their time before the next pit-stop. Would have been great for the Hamilton decision to have been processed before the podium ceremony. So pleased for McLaren and Sainz to have scored the result that they did, because it does cap off what a sensational year of recovery it has been for that team.
Simoc
Guest
If Albon was called Nico Rosberg and the WC was on the line Hamilton would have defended his move to the hilt and more than likely got away with it. Albon left the gap for Hamilton to dive into which was an error on his part. I bet he won't do it again. The same incident happened in the S5000 race at the Bend on the weekend. Sainz wasn't fussed. He wants to get podiums based on pace, not penalties to those in front. Interestingly British F1 writer (and former driver) Palmer reckoned Ricciardos incident was a racing accident with no blame but Ricciardo said he drove into the side of Magnussen and earnt the penalty. All the Pommie writers blamed Vettel for the Ferraris collision but the stewards said both drivers to blame. Rosberg described the incident as Leclerc less to blame. As soon as one driver gets slightly ahead they turn in to squeeze out the other driver. It was happy hunting for the midfield cars to score good points in Brazil and that will likely be the highlight GP race of the season for Red Bull, McLaren, Torro Rosso and the exSauber teams.