Formula One ( F1 )

Mazepin out due to positive covid test, and no eligable replacement available.

No replacement allowed after the end of free practice. No driver can race who hasn't driven in at one FP session.

What time does the race start?

In 44 minutes
https://f1calendar.com/

13.00

Surprised Hulkenberg didn't sneak into an FP session this season just in case!

Did Hamilton jump the start?!

Mercedes have shot themselves in the foot by not giving that back immediately IMO. Fingers crossed no interventions but I can see a 5 sec penalty coming.

Edit: No investigation. Definitely feels like the stewards are trying to not get involved.

Think Max just messed it up.

Big call, no investigation. Play on.

Yeah, just seen the onboard from 44 and it was fine.

Verstappen just dive bombed him - again. Hamilton had no option but to leave the track and had every right to maintain the lead in my opinion.

On this race pace with Hamilton on Mediums and Verstappen on Softs it's odds-on for a Hamilton win, surely?

Is the reason for lack of penalty because verstappen left no room despite being pretty much side by side at apex?

On the one hand, in terms of what I want to see in racing, it's not what I want to see.

In terms of F1 consistency, I'm surprised as pushing people off track has historically been fine as long as "you have the corner", and in my opinion Max absolutely did at that point, dive bomb or not, he made the corner fine.

Fingers crossed this isn't the defining moment in the race!

Sky Sports commentary on C4 today? Ted “my name’s not actually Ted Kravitz” Kravitz. Don’t know if I can handle this. Tempted to bin this off and watch the highlights later.

The saving grace for me in this is that I doubt this stewards decision will have an actual impact on the result.

Why is the sponsorship on the Ferrari rear wing partially blacked out?

Impressive from Perez there, gotta give him that.

Edit: didn't mean to reply there. Re Ferrari sponsor, is it the usual Marlboro / Mission Winnow black stripes? They're also sponsored by Shell I believe which might not be cool in a Petro-State?

Damn amazing work there, and I thought Ocon's job in Qatar was something epic.

Perez showing you can race fair and hard. Max should maybe give that a watch, post race.

Only thing I can think of that might spice things up at this point is a safety car with Verstappen getting a free pitstop.

Is plan b for Perez slow down and then try hold him up again while Hamilton tries to lap him?

Nope, won't be allowed. Think they've got 3 flags/lights to give the place back. Don't think Perez will do something dirty like that.

Looks like Kimi got to end his final race in the way he would want, early.

Aye, but less likely here given massive run-off areas

True, though there are some prime areas for safety-car inducing incidents, the off-camber corners over the hotel in particular.

To be honest, I'm kind of ready for a dull race. While I'd love for Verstappen to take the title this year, I'd hate to have to listen to endless shit-flinging over the winter if this race was in anyway a contentious result.

Jeez, took Bottas long enough.