Max Verstappen has been on a roll, patiently producing brilliant races at the beginning of the season whilst running mostly all alone behind the Mercs and Ferraris, but now the Red Bull car is improved, he is able to show his great form at the front of the grid. He's the leading points scorer of the last four races, and he finally secured his maiden pole position.
Lewis Hamilton was looking to bounce back after a poor weekend in Germany, but qualifying wasn't quite his usual excellence. Instead it was Bottas who would lead the Mercedes charge and watching the side-by-side qualifying video, there was nothing to choose between Bottas and Verstappen.
But Lewis looked hungry for a good result, relishing a crack at racing Verstappen in even equipment for the race win. Whilst Bottas should have been in the fight, under pressure from talks of his future being rampant, he choked. What had been a brilliant weekend so far was all thrown away in the first few corners when he locked up into turn 1 and again in turn 2. Hamilton made amazing bold moves around the outside of turn 2 and made it stick, clipping Bottas' front wing in turn 3. That almost shocked Valterri off the track enabling Leclerc to blast by and slightly unkindly swiped more of his front wing off.
Mercedes and Hamilton were the quicker package and they had options on strategy, dummying their first pit stop as Verstappen ran out of tyres, trying to get the Red Bulls to pit early and struggle at the end of their second stint. They kept Lewis out for longer, making sure he had the extra tyre life to make a move at the end of the race. Lewis made one attempt on lap 39 at overtaking and even chanced going around the outside of turn 4, but the move was never really on and he ran wide and waited to try again. The two were going great guns, and soon they were so far ahead, Hamilton had a chance of a free pitstop. A bold move saw Hamilton stop for a second time, having to gain some 21 seconds back and overtake Verstappen before the end of the race, shades of the 1998 race when Schumacher took a three stop strategy to get past both McLarens on a two stop. Hamilton had his work cut out as Verstappen pushed to maintain his advantage. But Verstappens tyres started to run out and Hamilton put in excellent fast laps with no mistakes. By the time Hamilton reached Max, Max was a sitting duck, but Lewis put in a brave move around the outside, both rivals showing respect and giving each other space.
This is the F1 we want to see, titans fighting at the front of the race, pushing flat out, making use of different strategies, playing to the different strengths of their cars. I remember back in Japan 2000 when Hakkinen and Schumacher were leagues ahead of the rest battling for the championship. This was just for the race win, but this was our first taste at these two going wheel to wheel and we can't wait for more, and you can tell both drivers want it too.
The Ferrari's finished so far behind by over a minute to Lewis, both cars pushing on a track that doesn't suit them. Leclerc might have qualified ahead, but he went off again in Q1, damaging the rear of his car. Almost in a mirror of the front battle in the race, Vettel was the one who had a later pitstop and waited as Charles ran out of tyres and the Vettel made his move. Leclerc is faster in qualifying just now, but he seems to be struggling with tyre wear more than Seb, whilst the German seems to be recovering his form.
Another fabulous battle was Kvyat's overtake on team-mate Albon, a fight that went from turn 1 to turn 4, which covers the whole first sector and a bit. This is the kind of wheel-to-wheel action we want in F1, respectful agression, leaving just enough room, no clumsy touching, just hard racing into each turn, duking it out corner after corner. Sadly it didn't ultimately mean anything for the Russian, as Albon had the better strategy, re-overtaking Kvyat and also barging his way past Perez on his way to 10th place.
Conversely, Magnussen in particular was struggling in the Haas. He raced Norris hard but fairly for position, but was powerless to stop the Brit from getting through. But it was his stern defence against Ricciardo that raised eyebrows, and earned him a warning. Not really a deterrent, but his block into turn 1, after Ricciardo had made his intentions clear was way too late in my opinion, and that unpredictable swerving and not leaving a cars width is dangerous. He also slammed the door in the final corner, earning Ricciardo's wrath as they drove side by side on the cool down lap into turn 1.
In the midfield, Kimi had another solid race well into the points, but it was Sainz who is the form driver at the moment, with another excellent drive to fifth. Norris was unlucky to drop some places through a pitstop mishap (which were prevalent during this race), but ultimately Sainz would have finished ahead anyway. McLaren probably deserve to be nearer the front, but after the last few years, they are doing an excellent job cementing their fourth place.
McLaren's highs are adding to Renault's woes. Ricciardo had to start last, whilst the team he left started on pole. Hulkenberg had a public moan saying the team have not moved forward at all from this point last year, in fact they've gone backwards when they should be pushing to close the gap to the top three teams.
At the back, Russell was so close to getting into Q2. In truth it was a bit skewed as Ricciardo and Perez ruined each others laps, but Russell just clicked with the car this weekend when Kubica really didn't. He outraced Stroll and Giovinazzi and is showing signs of his quality, as well as the progress Williams are finally starting to make. Check out Russell's first lap on this onboard highlights:
