Azerbaijan Grand Prix Review: The Geniuses Among Us
The Azerbijan Grand Prix is a great way to wash down to blah of Monaco, long high speed straights mixed with tight low speed corners and warm Caspian Sea weather puts the drivers and cars to the ultimate test. You can guarantee the unexpected will happen. So which teams where able to avoided the unexpected, and which pool participants took advantage of the unexpected and showed their true genius? Well lets just say one team on track had there paddock cleaned up and ready to ship to Montreal before the chequered flag dropped (Surprisingly it wasn’t Haas), and two pool participants had smiles the size of the main straight in Baku.
To no ones surprise Leclerc took pole on another tight and technical street track. I say to no one ones surprise because over half of pool participants picked Leclerc this weekend. These poor folks hoping Ferrari had ran out of ways to lose Grand Prix's. As usual Leclerc was followed by two Red Bulls and his teammate. Although somewhat surprising it wasn't Mad Max right behind him, it was last years winner Sergio Perez. Now way way way……..way off the pace were the two Mercedes and two surprisingly racey Alpha Tauri's. On track, just like in our pool, there are clear contenders and clear pretenders. I'm sure we all know where we stand in these categories, for sure Mercedes does.
Off the start it was Perez who would gain the lead. Picked 12 time this week I dare say a few people had a 2021 Toto Wolff style smirk on their faces. Now the experienced pool participants will know that the Baku circuit is guaranteed to have at least two yellow flags and the first one is where the race and the dram truly began. The sight of the unmistakable red Ferrari parked motionless on the track brought at least 6 of our competitors a sinking feeling. Much like how 2022 Toto Wolff feels, or probably how the bottom part of our pool feels whenever they have to watch a Grand Prix 😰. Now, Ferrari did appear to nail the strategy this time, diving into the pits and making a well timed stop under the yellow flag. One car may have been out, but by lap 19 Leclerc was back in the lead. Now whether its just fate, poor hiring practices or just penance for the dominant Schumacher years, Ferrari found a way to Ferrari again. A puff of smoke billowed out of Leclerc's engine, and it wasn’t because he was picking a new Pope, no it was an engine failure that brought an end to the race for the star driver. A double DNF (Did Not Finish) for the prancing horses was a huge blow to their title fight. Last year champion Meg was feeling the sting hard as well, she used her 8th Leclerc pick of the season on a DNF. The rest of the race saw Mad Max and Checo Perez take a Sunday drive home for a 1-2 finish. Christain Horner is starting to taste that constructors championship he craves so much.
Now the mid pack did see some excitement as well. Lewis Hamilton was voted driver of the day after he made some brilliant over takes and fought his way to a 4th place finish. McLaren had driver drama as both drivers aired frustration over team orders, Lando made sure to fill up Riccardo's mirror as they crossed the finish line. Matty G has been trying to do that with Jafyshe recently, although Matty G cant seem to get quite close enough to put a scare into the veteran pool participant. Gasley showed pace after a few sub par races finishing 5th while his teammate Tsunda was having a superb driver before needing some duck tape repairs. Vettel showed he still has some fight left in him with a 6th place finish and had the highlight of the day. After missing his breaking point on an overtake attempt, he quickly spun his car around and returned to the track losing only 3 seconds. Yes it was an exciting Grand Prix that gave us plenty to talk about. So lets review how our pool standings fair now.
Well Jimbo continues to prove his prowess as he was one of the two secret genuis I mentioned above and took home top weekend honors and staying #1 in the standings. He and ITZ Formula 1 were the only two participants too not pick a Ferrari this weekend. Yes you read that right. Ferrari should probably hire one of these geniuses before their season is truly over. ITZ F1 would have taken home top weekend honors if it wasn’t for Tsunoda needing the tape job, but he did jump from 13th to 12th, and I hear he has his eyes set on 11th, so look out Cargo V. Room, you better up your game. Louanne was the only other competitor to move up the standings this weekend, although this was more because of Robs poor performance than her own. Traditionally Fast Cars Dive Bars is the Williams poor performer of the weekend, but this weekend it was Rob who felt like a battered Lewis Hamilton. He picked up only 21 points to take the prestigious Williams award and tumble down the table. Fyshing, Leah, Meg and Mahkatz are all still in the fight but did lose valuable ground to Jimbo, while S.M.A still leads the mid pack, but with just a narrow 7 point lead over Marstar.
There is no time for rest as we are now off to Canada and the historic city of Montreal in just a couple days. For the first time in 3 years we return to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. A favorite stop for many of the drivers. So get into those debrief meetings quickly and be ready with your picks before qualifying on Saturday.
