This could be interesting tonight.
Qualifying last night was full on, after the final practice session was shortened due to heavy rain a few hours before qualifying.
On a track which didn't want to really dry out, all drivers used intermediate tyres for the first qualy, on a patchy wet track. Dan Ric eliminated but Norris only just made it so the McClarens were struggling.
Second qualy, top 15, only a couple of drivers tried slicks, but the track wasn't quite ready yet.
Then 10 minutes later, top 10, they nearly all were on slicks, so it was really marginal. The "fastest old guy" or is he the "oldest fast guy", Alonso threw in a couple of blinders to the top of the tree, but in the end it was LeClerc, Perez, Hamilton, Sainz in the top grid spots. Alonso 5th, Norris 6th. Where's Max? - 8th place after a dramatic final lap, which probably would have been pole, but called in to pit at the last second, he was really pissed off, but he was apparently nearly out of fuel, and team chose to not do the extra slowdown lap and risk no fuel for scrutineering, which would have put them back of field.
Other interesting point that Russell didn't make it out of Q2.
I was surprised there were no safety cars or red flags on the patchy wet track, although quite a few lockups into escape roads causing temporary yellow flags but all cleared quickly, no one hit a wall, amazing.
With Singapore overtaking being difficult, Max's progress should be interesting tonight, as should the whole race, with a bit of luck.
Qualifying last night was full on, after the final practice session was shortened due to heavy rain a few hours before qualifying.
On a track which didn't want to really dry out, all drivers used intermediate tyres for the first qualy, on a patchy wet track. Dan Ric eliminated but Norris only just made it so the McClarens were struggling.
Second qualy, top 15, only a couple of drivers tried slicks, but the track wasn't quite ready yet.
Then 10 minutes later, top 10, they nearly all were on slicks, so it was really marginal. The "fastest old guy" or is he the "oldest fast guy", Alonso threw in a couple of blinders to the top of the tree, but in the end it was LeClerc, Perez, Hamilton, Sainz in the top grid spots. Alonso 5th, Norris 6th. Where's Max? - 8th place after a dramatic final lap, which probably would have been pole, but called in to pit at the last second, he was really pissed off, but he was apparently nearly out of fuel, and team chose to not do the extra slowdown lap and risk no fuel for scrutineering, which would have put them back of field.
Other interesting point that Russell didn't make it out of Q2.
I was surprised there were no safety cars or red flags on the patchy wet track, although quite a few lockups into escape roads causing temporary yellow flags but all cleared quickly, no one hit a wall, amazing.
With Singapore overtaking being difficult, Max's progress should be interesting tonight, as should the whole race, with a bit of luck.
