Chinese GP 2019 - Live Reactions - 1000th Race

It’s the 1000th Formula 1 race this weekend….and China has the privilege of hosting it. So without further ado, let’s get into it shall we?

Qualifying

First and foremost, TED IS BACK!! WOOP WOOP! Pretty boring qualifying session until the last 30s of track action. Very tight between the top cars. Bottas is on pole with Hamilton just failing to pip him (only .007s between them).

Pre-Race

I’m up early and watching Martin’s Grid Walk. He has the young Esteban Ocon as his shadow today.

Formation Lap

Ooph! Spin by Verstappen. I wonder if he’s aggressive this morning after yesterday? Oh! Another spin – this time from Kubica in the Williams.

Race Coverage

Lap 1 – It’s lights out and away they go!! (Love you Crofty!) HAmilton nails the start! Leclerc challenges Vettel but not managed to pass. SO far a very clean start of the race. FFS! I type that and Kvyat hits Norris. Oh noooooo he hits both McLaren’s! VSC deployed.

Argh pitstop chaos for the McLaren’s! Can’t get Sainz’ nose off meaning our Lando has to queue.

Lap 4 – I beg your pardon…. I was wrong and Leclerc DID pass Vettel. Woop woop! Very close between the two Ferraris. You need to get your foot down Charles!

Lap 6 – we had such high hopes for the Williams’ ad McLArens but both teams are at the bottom of the pack. So sad to see these iconic teams down there. DRIVE THROUGH PENALTY FOR KVYAT…. good but as the husband sys, won’t help the McLaren’s though will it.

Lap 7 – Crofty and Brundle are wondering if Ferrari will pull team orders. They reckon that Vettel has a better car than Leclerc at this stage of the race. THIS STAGE GUYS! Leave the kid alone! If Vettel is quicker then he can pull another Multi 21 stunt can’t he!

Lap 8 – Vettel has his DRS enabled and he can’t pass Leclerc. So forgive me Crofty & Brundle, Vettel isn’t in the quicker car is he?

Lap 10 – OK I’ll defer to Crofty & Brundle’s expertise… Leclerc has now let Vettel through. Definitely team orders being played here. Balls!

Lap 13 – Leclerc is fuming on team radio and although we don’t hear what’s being said, apparently he’s saying his race is being compromised by being behind Vettel.

Lap 14 – Leclerc is gaining on Vettel again but not enough to overtake. Must be so frustrating for him!

Lap 15 – Leclerc on team radio again saying that he’s losing a lot of time behind Vettel. His race engineer tells him that the team are discussing it. As Crofty and Brundle say, it’s difficult to switch them again as they have Verstappen on their tail.

Lap 17 – DNF for Hulkenberg. Shame.

Lap 19 – Vettel pits.

Lap 20 – ooo Verstappen almost had Vettel there!

Lap 21 – Ferrari pretty much confirms they’re going with a different strategy with Leclerc.

Lap 22 – Very quick pitstop for Bottas – 2.3s – well done Mercedes!

Lap 23 – Hamilton pits as does Leclerc. What? Why? BAttle in the midfield between Gasly and Raikkonnen.

Lap 29 – Raikkonen passes Grosjean. Grosjean tries to re-pass but one thing that has to be said about Raikkonnen is that he’s good at defending.

In all honesty, this isn’t a terribly exciting race. So much so that my husband has fallen asleep. So let me go through some thoughts:

Kubica is currently running plumb last in the Williams. What do we reckon? Should he never come back into F1 or is it the fact he’s in a crappy Williams? (Sorry Williams…. your car is pants!)
Why did Ricciardio leave Red Bull? I miss seeing the Honey Badger !

Lap 31 – Ferrari on Leclerc’s radio saying they’re thinking of plan B. Yeah well had you not pulled team orders you wouldn’t have f-d up his race would you? DAMN YOU TEAM ORDERS!

Mercedes pits both cars perfectly.

Lap 35/36 – Verstappen and Vettel pit again – kicking off the second round of pitstop. Ugh not looking good for Leclerc.

Lap 41 – My tweet pretty much sums it up

Can someone have a bit of a spin or something!!! WE NEED A SC TO MIX THINGS UP! #ChineseGP

— Rebecca (@becsterdotcom) April 14, 2019

Lap 42 – Vettel is very close to Leclerc. Oh Ferrari I hate you so much for team orders! “Fernando is faster than you!”

[I’m still here…..Last 10 laps have passed with nothing to report. Such.A.Boring.Race!]

Lap 51 – Leclerc has confirmed on team radio that he has problems with the gears. Explains why he’s not really gaining on anyone then.

With 4 laps to go….. this race can’t end quick enough.

Lap 53 – Lando retires. Typical.

Lap 55 – Albon and Grosjean having a nice little battle for 10th place. Red Bull pit Gasly for new soft tyres…. surely that’s only to get the fastest lap point?

Lap 56 – Gasly snatches away the fastest lap from Vettel. At least that’s something I guess.