Antonelli claims maiden win – Pitpass.com

Now that the powers that be have bitten the bullet – no pun intended – and cancelled the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, perhaps they can turn their attention to sorting out the rules overhaul, with particular regard to the 50/50 split between ICE and electric.

After Japan they have five weeks in which to sort things out and perhaps even hold another shakedown behind closed doors. Then again, how about a trial non-championship event for charity.

Of course, other than the fact that F1 doesn’t do altruism, it is understood that the loss of the two events could cost the sport up to $100m, so it would probably be a little over optimistic to expect it to take a further hit.

A change to the regulations would not only please the majority of the fans and drivers it would allow both F1 and the FIA the freedom to stop policing social media for negative comments, digitally altering the images being shown on our TV screens and needing to pull little tricks like cutting away from onboard shots as a driver begins harvesting and perhaps even allow us to hear a few more radio exchanges again.

Failure to make any changes will only mean more bad feeling among fans and drivers, continued fears over safety, further domination by Mercedes, more fluffed starts, followed by five or six laps of frenzied activity before it all settles down again.

For now, and most likely again at Suzuka, we have the prospect of a Russell win – having battled for a few laps with one or two of the Ferraris and Antonelli having recovered from a bad start – followed by said Ferraris and McLarens, while Red Bull attempts to hold off the Racing Bulls, Haas’ and Alpine whilst attempting to prevent Verstappen from jumping ship.

Aston Martin and Honda will continue to make excuses while Cadillac will insist that every single lap completed – even if by only one of its cars – is a monumental achievement. Audi will go about its mission with Germanic determination, while Williams will grow increasingly worried about the rumours linking Mercedes with Alpine.

David Coulthard has said that fans should get used to the new formula insisting that there has always been change in the sport. Firstly, yes, there has been change, but never to the actual ethos of F1 in terms of racing. Secondly, as a TV pundit the Scot is paid to promote the sport, while those fans complaining are the customers, and while the customer is not always right, it is wholly wrong to dismiss their views out of hand, especially, were he still racing, he would presumably absolutely loathe what is becoming of the sport, which, is exactly why Stefano Domenicali’s stance is so shocking.

The fact is, in recent years there has been much debate over whether F1 was sport or entertainment, sadly under Liberty Media the lines are no longer blurred, it is not only entertainment, it is part of a multi-media package that involves music, movies, fashion and more… it is being entirely reshaped for the new fans and the likes of Coulthard are complicit. Drive to Survive was just the start, not just in attracting the new breed of fan but in totally changing the sport’s DNA.

Back to today, a one-stop is fastest. Whether to start on mediums or softs will most likely depend on grid position or a driver’s willingness to take a more aggressive approach at the start. In both cases, the longer stint to the chequered flag will be on the hard tyres, to be fitted between laps 17 and 23, or between 15 and 21. The two options are very close in terms of overall race time.

With a two-stop strategy, the fastest combinations involve completing the final two stints on two sets of hard tyres, provided teams still have them available for the race. On paper, starting on the soft appears more effective than starting on the medium.

It’s important to note that, over the first two days of practice, no driver used the red-banded tyre for more than nine laps, except for Hadjar’s attempt in the Sprint, though his run was compromised by damage to his car. Therefore, the degradation level of the soft with a full fuel load and one third of the race still to go remains to be verified.

Most of the big guns have two new sets of hards, while McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari have one fresh set of mediums.

Albon will start from the pitlane after changes were made to the set-up of his car under parc ferme conditions.

In the McLaren garage, around 50 minutes before the start, there is much activity involving Norris’ car.

Air temperature is 16 degrees C, while the track temperature is 25 degrees. It is somewhat overcast.

The pitlane opens and Gasly heads out, followed by Sainz, Lindblad, Verstappen and Hulkenberg.

Among the last out are the Cadillacs, and while Norris is in his car there is no sign of him heading out just yet.

Indeed, the pit exit closes with Norris still sitting in his car in the garage. This will mean that the world champion, providing his car can be fixed, will join Albon in starting from the pitlane.

On the grid mechanics are working on the rear wing of Verstappen’s car, while Bortoleto has been pushed back into the pitlane.

“We had a small issue with the rear wing coming to the grid, it has been replaced now,” confirms Laurent Mekies of Verstappen.

Oh dear, just five minutes before the formation lap, there is further misery for McLaren as Piastri’s car is pushed from the grid.

All are on mediums bar Norris, Hulkenberg, Colapinto, Ocon, Lindblad, Bortoleto, Alonso, Stroll and Albon who are on hards, while the Red Bulls and Bottas are on softs. All are on fresh rubber bar the Red Bull pair.

They head off on the formation lap, all bar the McLarens, Bortoleto and Albon. Indeed, the Brazilian will not start, now will Albon.

The grid forms.

They’re away! For a change Antonelli gets away well, as do the Ferraris. Into Turn 1 Hamilton leads, while Antonelli is on the inside of Leclerc with Russell right behind. Antonelli holds the inside line through the opening complex and as they head on to the short straight after Turn 4 is ahead of the second Ferrari.

Behind Russell Hadjar is on the inside as he battles Gasly and Bearman, just behind Lawson runs wide. At Turn 3, Perez has clashed with his Cadillac teammate.

Hadjar and Bearman continue to battle but the Red Bull driver is a little too enthusiastic and spins, causing Bearman to run wide. Misery for his teammate also who has had another dreadful start and lost a heap of positions.

At the end of Lap 1, it’s: Hamilton, Antonelli, Leclerc, Russell, Gasly, Colapinto, Lawson, Lindblad, Ocon and Sainz. Alonso is up to eleventh.

Hadjar pits.

At then end of Lap 2, Antonelli passes Hamilton into Turn 14 as Piastri climbs from his car. Russell has passed Leclerc also.

Perez and Bottas have been noted for causing a collision.

As he closes on Hamilton, Russell posts a new fastest lap (38.075).

“Unfortunately we identified separate issues on both cars which prevented them from starting the Chinese GP,” confirms McLaren, “with Oscar’s being removed from the grid shortly before the formation lap. We will now work to identify each issue.”

At the end of Lap 3, Russell nails Hamilton in Turn 14 for second.

0.9s down on his teammate, Russell continues to set a furious pace as he maintains a 0.9s gap to Hamilton.

Lindblad and Verstappen are battling for ninth.