I'm trying to figure out the strategies here, did Ferrari take it easy to preserve the tyres, and why did Merc use the ultra's in Q1 when they had no need to.
It's going to be tight for pole, but Ferrari will have the race. I also think Bottas will finish ahead of Hamilton.
I presume they don't see the ultras as a race tyre, so aren't bothered about using them up. Did they take a greater allocation of ultras compared to Ferrari, so have them to spare? I can't find that helpful graphic with all the drivers choices.
That was a really weird ending. They were all three tenths up and then failed to improve significantly. Was there a change in conditions or did all 4 drivers bottle it?
Kimi definitely messed up the last corner, I think Bottas had to back out to avoid running wide too. Hamilton looked to be way off the pace before the line. 2-2 in qualifying at Mercedes.
Even Vettel was two and a half tenths up on Kimi's first lap after sector two and then only gained half a tenth at the line. They all struggled with the last few corners.
I knew it would be close and I think the Mercedes had the pace for pole, I just didn't expect both their drivers to make mistakes.
I think this is a big race for Bottas. Regardless of Hamilton's quali runs, Bottas had the measure of him. If he can back that up with good race pace, the spectre of team orders should fade. If he's holding up Hamilton again then I think things are going to be looking increasingly difficult for him.
tbh I think that Hamilton, for all his undoubted skill, just isn't quite as consistent as some of the others through a whole season, if anyone has got under his skin it'll be Vettel and the obvious race pace of the WDC-centric Ferrari, rather than Bottas
I think I shall mention Massa, his temporary retirement seems to have revitalised him, Stroll is getting a hammering. I guess the question is, could Alonso get the Williams on the podium
Really hard to tell with Massa, Bottas was comfortably better than him last season. Has he improved, or is Stroll just that much worse? If it's the latter, there might be up to half a second in that Williams that the drivers just aren't getting out of it.