Connect with us

Formula 1

Belgian GP Review: Heartbreak for Russell while Hamilton triumphs

Published

9 months ago

on

Belgian GP Review: Heartbreak for Russell while Hamilton triumphs
credits-Mercedes gallery

Going into the Belgian GP, we had Mclaren or Redbull as the probable team for the win. But as unpredictable is the the 2024 season, it was a win for the Brackley outfit of Mercedes. How did the race unfold and what were the storylines to come out of Spa? All these question will be answered in the DRC’s weekend report.

Lukewarm Belgian GP for Mercedes

Belgian GP Review: Heartbreak for Russell while Hamilton triumphs
George Russell crossed the line first but was later disqualified; credits-Mercedes gallery

As the car no. 63 of George Russell crossed the finish line, the Mercedes garage was ecstatic. They had just scored a strong 1-2 with Lewis Hamilton coming in second. However some hours later, it was found out that George Russell’s car was 1.5 kg lighter than the minimum limit. Hence, he was given a ‘DSQ’ for the Belgian GP. This meant that a superb weekend for the Brackley outfit was reduced to a ‘Lukewarm’ one.

However this strategic error from Mercedes doesn’t take away the glamour of Russell’s one stop drive. He qualified P6 for the race and pitted on Lap 10 to switch to Hard tyres. This performance saw him nurse his tyres to an on-track win just half a second ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who started in P3.

Belgian GP Review: Heartbreak for Russell while Hamilton triumphs
credits-Mercedes

He went on a 2-stop race and come the end of the race, he was P2 from Russell. With Russell having to manage his tyres, Hamilton was catching him quickly. However, his efforts couldn’t fetch him a win on-track. Russell crossed the line first just 0.526 ahead.

Mclaren on the podium as Piastri scores a P2

Oscar Piastri came home in P2 , and as the better of the two Mclaren drivers. Throughout the weekend, Mclaren were looking quick as Piastri scored P2 in all the Practice sessions and Lando Norris topped FP2.

Belgian GP Review: Heartbreak for Russell while Hamilton triumphs
credits-@MclarenF1 on X

At the starting grid, Norris and Piastri lined up in P4 and P5 respectively. At the start, Norris made a mistake as he dipped a wheel in gravel at T-1 hairpin which meant he dropped to P7. From then on his race was highly compromised as he couldn’t get past Max Verstappen sitting in P5, who himself was on a comeback drive from 11th. Ultimately, Norris crossed the line in P6, which later got upgraded to P5 as Russell was penalised.

The case of Piastri was relatively more positive than Norris. He started the race behind Norris, but got the better start of the two. From then on, he continued his forward trajectory as he passed Leclerc and Perez for positions. His pace clearly shone when he found a free track and clean air ahead of him.

However, as he came for his second stop he commited a mistake as he overshot his pitbox. This meant he had a slow stop of 4.4 seconds.

Had this mishap not happened, Piastri could’ve challenged Mercedes, as exclaimed by himself and Andreas Stella.

Still Piastri was smooth with his moves as he passed Leclerc at lap 36, hence moving into P3.

However, this would be as far as he would go on track. He crossed the line in P3, 1.1 seconds off the leader. He later got upgraded to a P2.

Ferrari: Leclerc unsatisfied as Sainz’ future finally confirmed

The Belgian GP awarded Leclerc with a P3 trophy, but he was left unsatisfied. Leclerc had inherited pole position off Max Verstappen, with Dutchman having a 10-place penalty.

Belgian GP Review: Heartbreak for Russell while Hamilton triumphs
Charles Leclerc; credits-Ferrari

At the start, Charles got a pretty good start and shot into the distance. However his lead was short lived as a fast charging Lewis Hamiton passed him on the Kemmel Straight.

Leclerc was the only driver starting on the Hard tyres. He came in the pits for his first pit stop at Lap 12, a move he later said could’ve been delayed. In the later stages of the race, Piastri passed him for P3 but in the end he managed to keep Verstappen behind in P5.

In a race where Russell managed to make a one-stop strategy work, it was a case of ‘what could’ve been’ for Leclerc.

Sainz didn’t have as much of an glamorous points haul as Leclerc. After starting from P7, he even led the race at some points during the race.

Belgian GP Review: Heartbreak for Russell while Hamilton triumphs
credits-Ferrari content pool

However, following the same 2-stop strategy as others, he soon was shuffled back. From what place he was in, risking a one-stop was still possible. This thought was resonated by the Spaniard in the post-race interviews. He eventually came across the chequered flag in P6.

An off-track news that surfaced after the race weekend was the transfer of Carlos Sainz to Williams Racing for 2025 and beyond.

Williams have now managed to secure two top class drivers in the form of Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz. Whether they are able to provide them good enough cars will be the final piece of puzzle in the Williams resurgence.

A subpar Belgian GP as per Redbull standards

Right from the start of the Belgian weekend, Redbull were going to be the center of attraction. Max Verstappen was set to take a 10-place grid penalty as he had taken more engine components than allowed. Sergio Perez was another driver who was in for a tough weekend as the decision on his seat was imminent after this race.

Belgian GP Review: Heartbreak for Russell while Hamilton triumphs
credits-Redbull Racing on X

After Saturday’s Qualifying, Redbull were looking strong as both drivers gave strong performances. Max took P1 while Perez posted a time good for a P3. Verstappen penalty meant he would be starting from 11th while Checo moved up to P2.

Race

At the Start, Perez had a slower start than Hamilton and hence he conceded his position to the Briton. From then on, he was battling with Piastri for P3. After the first round of pitstops, Piastri was looking quick on the track as he passed Russell and Perez one by one. It was still not over for the mexican as Russell too overtook him for 4th place. Perez made an early second stop for Hard tyres after this.

Perez drove in P7 for majority of the race after his visit to the pits, until the last few laps, when Sainz overtook him. He eventually finished in 8th position. After starting in 2nd position, Perez would not be happy with a P8.

Belgian GP Review: Heartbreak for Russell while Hamilton triumphs
credits-Redbull Racing on X

On the other side of the garage, Max Verstappen was being looked as a potential race winner. With his antiques of winning from lowly positions on the grid, we fans were hopeful of some racing action. As the race started, Max Verstappen was already making moves. By lap 2, he was in P8, catching Norris. As confirmed by the drivers later, track position was very important in this race. Sainz sitting in 6th position was slowing down both Norris and Verstappen. The Dutchman, unable to pass, came into the pits at Lap 10. He put on hard tyres and rejoined the track in P14.

As more and more drivers pitted, the order reshuffled. Verstappen was now in P7, stuck behind Russell. Interestingly, Russell was getting DRS from Perez ahead of him.
Soon Russell passed Perez, who later pitted. Further racing action for Verstappen came in the form a fast charging Norris. However, the Mclaren driver made a mistake on the bus-stop chicane and the gap opened up.

In the final stages of the race, a fight for 4th position took place between Leclerc, Verstappen and Norris. However, this would be the order in which the trio finished. Verstappen eventually got upraded to P4.

What’s Next?

The Belgian GP was the last race before the summer break of the F1 calendar. Teams like Mercedes will be going into their vacations with a positive mindset, while teams like Redbull have some homework to do. We also expect many driver and team personnel announcements throughout the summer break. With how the season has turned on it’s head, it would be impossible to predict how the rest of 2024 unfolds.

Howsoever it changes, follow Desi Racing Co. to keep yourself up to date with Motorsport news and much more.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Formula 1

Oscar Piastri Takes Two On The Trot: Formula 1 Saudi Arabia GP

Published

4 days ago

on

April 22, 2025

By

Oscar Piastri with his winner trophy
Credits: Formula One

McLaren and Oscar Piastri managed to take their first-ever win in the streets of Jeddah after fending off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Charles Leclerc scores Ferrari’s first podium of the 2025 season. Lando Norris recovers to 4th position whilst the Mercedes pair struggle with tire wear.

McLaren: Two shots at the WDC

Oscar Piastri claimed his second consecutive Grand Prix win, backing up his dominant performance in Bahrain with a hard-fought victory in Jeddah. The Australian started from P2, just 0.010s off Max Verstappen’s pole time, but managed a lightning launch off the line.

A dramatic Turn 1 saw slight contact between Piastri and Verstappen, which left the Red Bull driver with a 5-second time penalty but still in control of the race in terms of track position. Piastri struggled to follow in dirty air, dropping back by 2–3 seconds before jumping Verstappen during the pit stop phase. Once in clean air, he managed the race flawlessly, holding a 4-second cushion to seal his second win of 2025.

Embed from Getty Images


Despite showing blistering pace in practice, Lando Norris made a costly error in Q3 that left him starting P10. Opting for an alternate strategy, Norris began the race on Hard tyres while the rest of the grid, bar a few, went with the Mediums.

The strategy paid off. A long opening stint gave him fresh Mediums in the second half, allowing him to slice through the field. He passed George Russell late in the race to secure a commendable P4 finish.

Embed from Getty Images

Red Bull: Fast But Flawed

Max Verstappen looked to have bounced back from a disappointing Bahrain with a pole position on Saturday and solid pace on Sunday. However, the Turn 1 tangle with Piastri cost him dearly, with the resulting 5-second penalty handed out during his pit stop.

Although he had the pace to stay close, Verstappen couldn’t get within DRS range of the McLaren in front and had to settle for P2.

On the other side of the garage, Yuki Tsunoda qualified a strong P9 but was involved in a Lap 1 incident with Pierre Gasly, forcing him to retire early and triggering the first Safety Car.

Verstappen comes second to Piastri in Jeddah
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – APRIL 20: Second placed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing lifts his trophy on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on April 20, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202504200325 // Usage for editorial use only //

Mercedes: Tire Woes in the Desert

Both Mercedes drivers started strong, with Russell in P3 and rookie Kimi Antonelli in P5, but tire degradation quickly became an issue.

Forced to pit earlier than ideal, both drivers faded in the second stint. Russell was overtaken by both Leclerc and Norris, while Antonelli came under late pressure from Hamilton but held on to P6. Despite the struggles, Mercedes remains second in the Constructors’ standings.

Ferrari On The Podium

Charles Leclerc finally opened Ferrari’s podium account for 2025. Starting from the second row, the Monegasque opted for an overcut strategy, running 30 laps on his opening Medium stint. With fresher tires in the second half, Leclerc was able to pass George Russell and hold off a charging Lando Norris for P3.

Teammate Lewis Hamilton had a more difficult day, finishing P7 after a quiet race, nearly 31 seconds off Leclerc.

Embed from Getty Images

Williams Bounce Back With Double Points

Williams bounced back after a tough Bahrain weekend. Carlos Sainz qualified P8 and maintained the position throughout the race.

Alex Albon, starting P11, drove a clean, smart race to finish P9. In the closing laps, rookie Isack Hadjar tried to pressure both Williams drivers, but Sainz cleverly stayed within DRS range of Albon, helping the team lock down a double points finish.


Racing Bulls Sneak Into The Points

Liam Lawson outqualified teammate Isack Hadjar for the first time this season in P12, but his race was undone by a 10-second penalty for an incident with Jack Doohan.

Hadjar, meanwhile, employed an offset strategy similar to Norris’, climbing from P14 to finish in P10 — his second points finish in as many races.

Alpine Leaves Points On The Table

Pierre Gasly looked set for another strong weekend, qualifying P9. But a Lap 1 tangle with Yuki Tsunoda ended his race early. Jack Doohan had little to celebrate too, starting P17 and finishing P18 — a tough outing for the Enstone team.

Haas Underwhelms

It was a subdued weekend for Haas. Esteban Ocon was knocked out in Q1 and finished P14, having pitted early under the Safety Car. Oliver Bearman, who debuted here last year, showed quiet improvement to take P13 — but neither driver challenged for points.

Aston’s Attempt To Extract Performance

Fernando Alonso had a low-key but clean race, climbing from P13 to finish P12. Lance Stroll, meanwhile, made headlines for the wrong reasons — his 75th Q1 exit now makes him the driver with the most Q1 eliminations in F1 history. He started and finished in P16.

Embed from Getty Images

Sauber’s Increasing Frustration

Another race, another struggle for Sauber. Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto started 18th and 20th, respectively, and finished in P15 and P17. Once again, the Swiss team left the race with zero points and growing frustration.

Driver Standings

Oscar Piastri now leads the McLaren charge, 10 points clear of Norris and 12 ahead of Verstappen. It’s tight at the top.

Constructor’s Championship

McLaren strengthened their lead at the top, now leading Mercedes by 77 points. Red Bull trails Mercedes by 21 points. Ferrari is slowly extending their gap to Williams in P5.

Next Race At Miami

With a one-week break before the paddock heads to the U.S., all eyes are on McLaren. Lando will aim to repeat his 2024 Miami heroics, while Piastri looks to build his lead. Max Verstappen, meanwhile, will be desperate to strike back at a track he usually dominates.


Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

Continue Reading

Formula 1

Jeddah’s High-Speed Challenge: Bravery, Precision, and Peril Await at the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

As the final stop of the triple-header, Formula 1 heads to Jeddah. One of the fastest and most challenging street circuits on the calendar, setting the stage for a thrilling race weekend.

Published

1 week ago

on

April 18, 2025

By

Jeddah’s High-Speed Challenge: Bravery, Precision, and Peril Await at the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

The Formula 1 circus heads to Jeddah for the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where speed and precision will be pushed to the limit. Known for its blistering pace and unforgiving layout, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit leaves no room for error. With narrow walls, high-speed corners, and minimal margins, it’s a true test of nerve. Drivers and teams will need sharp focus as the championship begins to take shape under the lights of the Arabian coast.

About The Circuit

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit, designed by Carsten Tilke, son of renowned track designer Hermann Tilke, is a challenging and fast street circuit that spans 6.1 kilometres along the Red Sea coast. It is characterized by 27 corners, most of which are high-speed and require precise car control through quick changes in direction. The circuit’s layout, with a mix of long straights and tight corners, presents 2 crucial overtaking opportunities, particularly into Turn 1 and Turn 27. The narrow nature of the track, combined with concrete walls just millimetres away, adds a high-risk element, making every mistake potentially race-ending.


While the technical sections test a car’s balance and setup, the long straights allow teams to focus on straight-line speed and braking stability. The night race, illuminated by bright floodlights, increases the sense of urgency, as visibility can be tricky around some of the track’s tighter corners, demanding even more from the drivers’ reflexes and strategic thinking.

Jeddah’s High-Speed Challenge: Bravery, Precision, and Peril Await at the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

(Credit – formula1.com)



Tires For This Weekend



For Round 5 of the season, Pirelli has opted for a softer compound range than seen in Rounds 1–4. Teams will have the C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium), and C5 (Soft) tyres available in Jeddah.

This softer allocation suggests a likely shift towards two-stop strategies for most teams, although some may attempt a one-stopper with extreme tyre management. Final strategies will become clearer after FP3, once teams have completed longer race simulation runs.

What to look out for

McLaren Duel: Teammates Turn Title Rivals

McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris currently lead the World Drivers’ Championship, separated by just three points. Piastri will be looking to build on his flawless weekend in Bahrain, where he showcased consistency and composure. The Jeddah circuit has been kind to him in the past—he won both the Sprint and Feature Race here during the 2021 F2 season.

Lando Norris will be looking to get back to form and maintain his WDC lead after his messy weekend in Bahrain.

“Jeddah is a track that I really enjoy and have good memories of from past visits. I’m determined to hit the ground running in Saudi.”, said Piastri.


Red Bull Reset: Pressure Mounts After Bahrain Blip

Red Bull endured a disappointing race in Bahrain, with Max Verstappen finishing sixth and Yuki Tsunoda claiming just two points in ninth. Tensions reportedly rose behind the scenes, as Verstappen’s camp clashed with Helmut Marko over team performance.

Despite the drama, Verstappen has a strong track record in Jeddah, having won in 2022 and 2024. He’ll be eager to return to form this weekend. Tsunoda, on the other hand, will focus on scoring solid points and strengthening his position within the team.



Mercedes Momentum: Russell Shines, Antonelli Grows

George Russell impressed once again with a P2 finish in Bahrain, holding off Norris in the final laps. With three podiums in four races, he’ll aim to extend his strong form. Rookie Kimi Antonelli also shone in qualifying, though a strategic blunder compromised his race. He’ll be hoping for a clean weekend and a shot at his first F1 points.


Ferrari’s Next Step: Hamilton Adapts, Leclerc Targets Podium

Ferrari introduced an upgrade package in Bahrain – which Lewis Hamilton praised – saying he’s beginning to better understand the car’s behaviour. He hopes to convert that knowledge into a stronger result in Jeddah. Charles Leclerc, who finished P4 the last time around, is also targeting a podium finish.



Williams Regroup: Sainz and Albon Aim to Rebound

After a frustrating weekend in Bahrain filled with penalties and missed opportunities, Williams will look to return to the points. Carlos Sainz was handed four penalty points for two incidents, while Alex Albon narrowly missed out on a top-10 finish. Both drivers are motivated to rebound and regain momentum.

Embed from Getty Images


Haas on the Rise: Ocon and Bearman Impress Again

Haas had a surprisingly strong showing in Bahrain, with Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman finishing 8th and 10th respectively to finish in the points. Another double-points finish would be a huge achievement for the American team. Bearman also made his F1 debut at this circuit last year, finishing ahead of Norris and Hamilton.

“It’s difficult to predict exactly how the VF-25 will perform in Jeddah”, said Ayao Komatsu

Embed from Getty Images


Lawson Under Pressure: Crucial Weekend Ahead

Liam Lawson has yet to score a point this season and has underperformed in all four races so far. With Red Bull’s known impatience toward underperforming drivers, Lawson will be under pressure to deliver. Teammate Isack Hadjar, on the other hand, has shown promising race pace and consistency.

Liam Lawson looks on in his cockpit during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – APRIL 17: Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls looks on in his cockpit during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on April 17, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202504171383 // Usage for editorial use only //


Aston Martin and Alpine’s Recovery

Aston Martin is still searching for form in 2025. Fernando Alonso has yet to score a point this season, while Lance Stroll has managed two points finishes out of four races. They’ll be looking to break into the top 10 in Jeddah.

Embed from Getty Images



Alpine had their best showing of the season in Bahrain, with Pierre Gasly finishing just shy of sixth place and Jack Doohan close behind. The French outfit hopes to build on that momentum this weekend.



Sauber’s Search for Stability

Sauber has had a disappointing start to the season. Nico Hülkenberg’s only points came from the chaotic Australian Grand Prix, while Gabriel Bortoleto is still searching for form after four underwhelming races.

Embed from Getty Images



Weekend Schedule




Weather Forecast

Friday: 31°C, wind speeds up to 16 km/h

Saturday: 32°C, wind speeds up to 14 km/h

Sunday: 33°C, wind speeds up to 18 km/h

The stable conditions will allow teams to collect consistent data across all sessions.

Desi Racing Co. is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

Continue Reading

Formula 1

Oscar Piastri Perfects Bahrain Masterclass as McLaren Clinches Double Podium

Drama, divebombs, strategy shake-ups, and a weekend to remember under the Sakhir lights.

Published

2 weeks ago

on

April 15, 2025

By

Oscar Piastri with his winners trophy at the podium of the Bahrain Grand Prix

Oscar Piastri executes his race to perfection, George Russell holds off Brit Lando Norris for P2, Ferrari makes offset strategy work, RedBull Pitstop Woes, Alpine Shock, Race-altering strategy calls, thrilling divebombs, we saw it ALL this weekend at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

McLaren Dominate: Piastri’s Perfection, Lando’s Recovery

Embed from Getty Images

Oscar Piastri delivered a flawless drive to take his fourth Formula 1 victory, converting pole into a controlled race win for McLaren. Despite briefly surrendering the lead during pit stop cycles, the Australian dominated the race from start to finish, showcasing calm execution and strategic awareness.

This result also marked McLaren’s 192nd win as a constructor, and with the maximum points haul, Piastri reduced his deficit to teammate Lando Norris in the Drivers’ Championship to just three points.

On the other side of the garage, Norris had a tougher start. A disappointing qualifying session saw him line up P6, and a 5-second grid penalty was handed to him after he overshot his grid box—a mistake noticed by title rival Max Verstappen.

At lights out, Lando had a blazing start, jumping all the way up to P3 on Lap 1. Lando was unable to get past George Russell for Second place before the first round of pit stops, serving his penalty in the pits, he came out behind Charles Leclerc after all the softs runners had completed their pitstops, being able to overtake Charles on New Medium Tires put him behind the Mercedes-ran George Russell once again. The chase for P2 went on till the last lap of the race, where George ultimately held on to the second spot on the podium.

Mercedes Prevail Despite Technical Issues

Both the Mercedes Drivers had a stellar Saturday, with George Russel and Kimi Antonelli Qualifying P2 and P4 respectively, but a post-qualifying penalty for the pair of them dropped them to P3 and P4.

George had a good start to the race, jumping ahead of Leclerc’s Ferrari into P2, and he stayed in P2 crossing the chequered flag after 57 laps. However, it was easier said than done for the Brit. Following a mid-race Safety Car caused by debris on the track, George Russell was faced with the challenge of taking a scrub set of softs for 20 laps to the end, whilst almost every driver around him bar the Ferraris were on Mediums.

To add to the challenge his tires presented, he had multiple issues hampering his performance.

“It felt all under control for a moment, then suddenly we had a brake-by-wire failure, so the pedal was going long, then it was going short… I didn’t know what was going on… the steering wheel wasn’t working properly,” Russell explained.

He also had a DRS issue, where it had randomly opened whilst not in any DRS zone and also whilst he wasn’t within 1 second of any car ahead of him. Whether this is going to be a recurring issue for Mercedes, or a one-off, is something that we will get to know more about in the foreseeable future.

Oscar Piastri Perfects Bahrain Masterclass as McLaren Clinches Double Podium
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli on Saturday – Wolfgang Wilhelm


Kimi Antonelli on the other hand followed his career-best Qualifying Performance in P4 on track, which converted to P5 following his one-place grid penalty. He had a mediocre race start dropping him behind Carlos Sainz in P6. He stayed there for most of the race, later trailing behind Esteban Ocon in the Haas. Ultimately, he finished in P11 after a strategic miscalculation on behalf of Mercedes.


Ferrari’s Strategy Debate

Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton started P2 and P9 respectively, both of them were notably on the Medium Compound Tires, whilst almost everyone else was on Softs. Charles Leclerc had his eyes on Polesitter Oscar Piastri but an underwhelming start dropped him down to P4 on Lap 1.

The Men in Red went long on their first stint of medium tires, resulting in them running 1-2 for lap 16-18. Before Charles’ In-lap, we were able to hear discussions about the strategy for Charles Leclerc. Leclerc wanted the Italian Outfit to consider moving to “Plan Delta” rather than the Ferrari-insisted “Plan Bravo”.

During the Safety Car Period, Both the Ferraris had to use the Hard Tires, to finish the race which was notably despised by 4-Time WDC Max Verstappen. Following a late race effort by Charles Leclerc to defend P3 from WDC Leader Lando Norris, it was a valiant effort from Leclerc but his defence could only last so many laps.

Lewis Hamilton had another day of learning, he managed to finish P5 behind his teammate, resulting in a decent point haul for Ferrari.



Pitstop Woes Haunt Red Bull

Following Verstappen’s masterclass at the Japanese Grand Prix, There were high hopes from the Red Bull Team. However, throughout the weekend, Red Bull struggled to find a good balance in the car. They had a disappointing qualifying and race overall, with Max qualifying in P7 behind his title-rival Lando Norris, and Yuki Tsunoda lining up 3 positions behind in P10.

The disappointment followed in the race, with slow pitstops for the pair of them caused by a LED malfunction of the pit box lights, holding up the drivers for 2 seconds more than it should have. Red Bull opted for the Hard tires on Verstappen’s car. Clear messages were heard on the radio about how the tires were not a good race tire, holding max up in traffic. Come the finish line, Verstappen pipped Alpine-driven by 1.3 Seconds to come home in P6, limiting the damage.

Recently promoted Yuki Tsunoda maintained his P10 position at the start, and was on a decent race until a collision with the Williams of Carlos Sainz almost hampered his performance. Luckily, Yuki was able to continue the race and secure the first points for a Red Bull Second Driver since Las Vegas 2024.



Alpine Shock The Grid

Pierre Gasly had a shock qualifying, dragging the Alpine car into Q3 and lining up on the Second Row!

Jack Doohan also had a brilliant one-lap pace in Q1, but unfortunately fell short and qualified just short of a Q3 appearance in P11.

At the race start, Pierre Gasly was jumped by Lando Norris. He was able to hold off Kimi Antonelli for a few laps before letting go of P5. Other than that, it was a clean and good race for the Frenchman and a decent points haul as well for finishing in P7. This is a good sign of progress for the French Team showing that they can be competitive come the right conditions.

Haas’ Mega Comeback To The Points

From P20 to P10, Oliver Bearman drove a sensational recovery race. His Haas teammate, Esteban Ocon, climbed from P15 to P8, making it a double-point finish for the American team—an incredible turnaround from a tough qualifying session.



Tricky Day For Williams

Albon Qualified P16, but a delayed lap time deletion of Nico Hulkenberg promoted him up to P15, unfortunately, he didn’t get a chance to participate in Q2 because of how late the lap time was deleted. In the race, he moved up 3 positions, finishing P12, being slightly shy of the points-paying positions.

Carlos Sainz excelled in qualifying and looked more comfortable in the car than his teammate for the first time this season. He qualified P8 and was looking forward to bagging home some points for his new team.

Throughout the race, he battled hard with Yuki Tsunoda and also collided with him at T2 on Lap 28, giving him considerable damage on his right side-pod, ultimately ending his race.
Some debris had come off the Williams car, bringing out a Mid-Race Safety Car on Lap 34.
The fight with Tsunoda gave Sainz 2x 10 Second Time Penalty of which 1 was left un-served. It will carry on as a grid penalty for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.



Underwhelming Race for Aston Martin and Racing Bulls

Both the Aston Martin Cars just did not have the performance in the car this weekend to bring out any points. Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso qualified P19 and P13 respectively, and crossed the finish line in P17 and P15 respectively.

For the Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar qualified in P12, shy of a Q3 appearance. Liam Lawson had a DRS issue on his final Q1 run, holding him back from improving his laptime. Hence, leaving him P17.

There was not much to note from either of the cars, other than Hadjar trying to fight for the wooden spoon of the points.

Sauber Goes Back To The Drawing Board

Both the Saubers started closer to the back of the grid with Nico Hulkenberg starting P16 and Gabriel Bortoleto starting 2 positions behind in P18. They did not make much progress throughout the race, staying in the latter positions for most of the time.

A post-race disqualification for Nico Hulkenberg for Planck-Wear just added salt to the wound for the Sauber Team.


Overall Weekend Summary

The weekend was an overtake galore along with chaos and drama, Track Limits violations were awarded a whopping 36 times throughout the race. Red Bull’s progress through the field was affected by their pitstop woes. Lando still leads the WDC by 3 points over his teammate, and McLaren leads Mercedes in the constructors by 58 points.



What to expect coming into Saudi Arabia

Come the next week, The Formula 1 Season move to the Fast-Sweeping and Dangerous Street Circuit of Jeddah, where drivers will need to be at the limit at all times if they want a chance to finish high up considering how close the grid is. The track is known for having at least 1 red flag and/or Safety Cars. The track has the Second- Fastest average speed, being 250kmph. It also features the most corners on any track with 27 corners.

Desi Racing Co is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/X, Instagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

Continue Reading

Trending