2023-10-28 22:27:44
01:01 am
Unexpected things often happen
This 22nd pole position for Charles Leclerc wasn’t really foreseeable, although his team boss Frederic Vasseur at Sky UK at least hinted that it was a complete surprise:
“Strangely enough, I was pretty optimistic following the third free practice session. We had to cut our laps short, but we had shown good pace up until then. We just didn’t know how we were going to get through the third sector. I was pretty optimistic, but not like that very.”
Vasseur also mentioned the main factor in how this achievement was possible:
“It’s a question of balance as to whether it’s better to push at the beginning. Overall, we obviously had the advantage of two fresh sets of tires in Q3. This meant the drivers were able to fine-tune their performance and see how they push in the first part of the lap. That was the case probably made the difference.”
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12:45 a.m
Thanks to Tsunoda
Daniel Ricciardo sensationally qualified in fourth place and, among other things, duped his competitor for the seat at Red Bull, Sergio Perez, who only finished fifth. AlphaTauri team boss Franz Tost also had the perfect team player with him in Yuki Tsunoda, as he did at Sky Germany revealed in the interview:
“The key was certainly Yuki Tsunoda’s slipstream. We discussed this beforehand and the tactic worked really well. That is, Yuki gave Daniel a slipstream in Qualifying 1 and Daniel’s first run was so good that he He didn’t have to make a second one and that was actually the goal of the whole thing. This saved him the new set of tires for qualifying 3. Then he had two new sets in qualifying 3 and that was certainly the key to success.”
Tsunoda is moving to the back of the grid due to the many changes to the engine and gearbox, but Tost clearly formulated his task for him:
“He should accelerate, overtake and drive forward. Totally simple.”
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00:40
Don’t worry regarding tomorrow?
According to Red Bull motorsport consultant Dr. Helmut Marko leaves, Max Verstappen shouldn’t have to worry too much regarding not winning the race in Mexico. In the ORF said Dr. Marko said the following following qualifying:
“Max had a small problem in turns 13 and 14 and lost regarding 1.5 tenths in both runs. Yes, but I think Ferrari is here with the engine power…they were bluffing in all the training and were now “Very strong. It’s a surprise. The other surprise is Ricciardo, very positive for us. But I still think that we will look better in the race and that Ferrai won’t be able to go at this speed.”
He then went into a little more detail regarding Red Bull’s chances of winning and drew on his experiences from the season:
“If you look at the whole season, Ferrari was in the races, except for Singapore, actually, and in Singapore they might afford to be at the front because overtaking is so difficult. But that was also a surprise. I hope we see something similar tomorrow.”
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12:30 a.m
Completely satisfied
Nico Hülkenberg has Sky Germany not unhappy regarding his 12th place:
“I’m actually happy. Things weren’t right with the car yesterday and this morning. We can’t find a good rhythm. No good grip on the rear axle. I played completely with the set-up. We constantly have the car from session to session rebuilt, into qualifying once more. It wasn’t easy to tackle the first lap with such a completely rebuilt car and actually only have two laps. So it was good, positive. And I’m satisfied.”
Are points possible at his 200th Grand Prix?
“It would be nice and of course a happy ending if it worked. But my feeling is that we need help from outside, from the circumstances, some kind of luck for that to happen. Unfortunately, I don’t think we’re strong enough on our own. “
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00:20
Ongoing investigations
So that we all have an overview, at least halfway, I tried to compile the list of examinations. But it might be that I forgot something, because it’s really a lot:
Obstructions at the pit exit: Verstappen, Alonso, Russell
Delta time not adhered to: Russell, Norris, Zhou
Overtaking under yellow: Sargeant, Hamilton
Do not brake under yellow: Sargeant, Hamilton, Tsunoda
Equipment: Williams
But we’ll certainly get official FIA documents and further information soon. The stewards and we still have enough to do this evening.
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12:10 a.m
playback time
Where did the Ferraris suddenly get their pace from? Completely insane final spurt in the first Q3 run, in which Charles Leclerc secured his 22nd pole position of his career ahead of Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen.
But the work is yet to come, as there are still some investigations that might extend the evening quite a bit. Maybe Max Verstappen, George Russel, Guanyu Zhou, Lewis Hamilton and Co. will slip further back.
You can read Christian Nimmervoll’s quality report here.
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11:45 p.m
That was close
What a close finish in Q2!
Unfortunately, Nico Hülkenberg didn’t make it, but Carlos Sainz was just able to save himself and is still there in Q3. Alexander Albon didn’t manage to stick to the track limits on his last fast lap and this was canceled for him. This helped Guanyu Zhou get into Q3, otherwise he would have been eliminated.
Along with Albon and Hülkenberg, Gasly, Alonso and Tsunoda are eliminated.
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11:24 p.m
Norris is out!
What was going on with McLaren and Lando Norris? First he misses the entire first run of the competition, then he comes out for the second run and makes a really stupid mistake on his fast lap. The result: out, but he will at least start from 18th because Tsunoda will start from the back and Logan Sargeant has done even more stupid things. Track limits, too fast under yellow and overtaking under yellow.
In addition, there will be several investigations into obstruction at the pit exit by Verstappen, Russell and Alonso (all following the session), then the stewards have examined the disregard of the specified maximum time by Russell, Norris and Zhou (all will be investigated following the session), as well as that Driving too fast under yellow by Lewis Hamilton and Logan Sargeant and overtaking under yellow by Sargeant and Tsunoda noted.
In addition to Norris, Ocon, Magnussen, Stroll and Sargeant are also eliminated.
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10:50 p.m
Hypocritical peace?
Timo Glock doesn’t trust the peace at Red Bull, as can be seen in the preliminary reporting on Mexico’s qualification Sky Germany heard:
“No, I think we’ve seen in the past that there have been one or two incidents between the two of them. Of course you show it positively to the outside world and do the events together and you have fun and laugh and act, but I would Now I doubt that the two of them will go on vacation together in the winter or go out for something to eat. So, I think one or two things have happened.”
Let’s see if the next chapter comes straight away if Perez can beat Verstappen.
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10:35 p.m
Realistic chance?
If we look at the route distribution between Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon, there is a lot to be said for a real sensation right from 11 p.m.
Maybe Albon won’t get pole position, but why not a top 4 result?
8:51 p.m
Problems specific to the route?
Toto Wolff was a guest following the third free practice session Sky Germany and marveled once more that it once once more seemed as if only one of his two drivers, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, were in tune with the car. This time Hamilton is at a disadvantage:
“I don’t know, every weekend we have a problem with one of the two. At the moment it varies from weekend to weekend. I think it’s very track-specific.”
He also made it clear what will be important in qualifying:
“I think we just have to get everything to the point because if you’re a tenth away it might mean you’re seventh or eighth or you’re first or second.”
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8:47 p.m
Re-use?
According to information from Canal+ Theo Pourchaire will have another chance at the wheel of the Alfa Romeo in the first free practice session at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Frenchman had technical bad luck yesterday and was unable to take part in training, but he will apparently get another chance to play in the season finale.
An official confirmation is still pending.
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8:41 p.m
Got away unscathed
There was a little awkward situation in turn 11 between Lance Stroll and Carlos Sainz in the third free practice session.
Sainz felt so hindered by Stroll that he spun. The stewards made a note of the scene, but there was no penalty once morest Stroll for obstruction.
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8:39 p.m
Empty tank or real competitor?
Max Verstappen was also the fastest driver in the last training session, but only 70 thousandths ahead of – be careful – Alexander Albon in the Williams!
Of course, the question now arises as to whether he was simply running on low fuel or whether the car is aerodynamically a perfect fit for Mexico and thus offers him a good starting position for qualifying from 11 p.m.
Sergio Perez came third, other surprises included Valtteri Bottas in sixth, Yuki Tsunoda in seventh and Daniel Ricciardo in ninth. Nico Hülkenberg was only 16th.
You can read everything regarding the dress rehearsal of qualifying in Christian Nimmervoll’s training report.
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#Lots #examinations #qualification
