Month: September 2019

2019 Russian Grand Prix

After 28 laps of racing the Ferrari of Sebastian  Vettel experienced an MGU failure and retired from the race. This caused a yellow flag condition and allowed the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton to pit and gain the undercut advantage over the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc. Vettel’s comment over the team radio was music to every F1 fan’s ears, “bring back the fucking V12’s”.

2019 Russian Grand Prix

Romain Grosjean started 8th, and Kevin Magnussen 11th.
Magnussen got a great start and gained 3 positions by turn 3. Romain Grosjean retired from the race on the first lap as Daniel Ricciardo hit Grosjean in turn 3 and sent the Haas car into the wall, and out of the race.

At the end of the lap 28 incident, the Hass of Kevin Magnussen landed in 6th position when the race resumed at lap 33. At this point of the race the entire field had pitted and would make the remaining race distance without stopping. It was a 20 lap sprint for the checkered flag. 

But it was Sebastian Vettel who was the prime mover as he jetted from third, past the number 2 car of Hamilton, into the slipstream of his teammate Charles Leclerc and into the lead by turn 3

Lap 43, Magnussen was passed by the Redbull of Alex Albon. On lap 44, Magnussen was passed by the pink Racing Point of Sergio Perez… as Magnussen droped to P8. 

Lap 47, Kevin Magnussen received a 5 second time penalty for leaving the track limits, which at the time of the penalty would have put the Haas car out of the top 10 points position. But as it turned out, KMags was able to make up enough time on track so as to only drop one position. Kevin Magnussen finished 9th, scoring 2 championship points for the Haas F1 Team.

Yea, it was a bit heart wrenching to see Grosjean out of the race on lap 1. 

Next up on October 13th is the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka International Racing Course. Suzuka is one of the great tracks on the Formula 1 circuit. Until then, Sayōnara.

2019 Singapore Grand Prix

Under the cover of darkness, and in the sweltering heat, 280,000 race fans lined the streets of Singapore to watch the 15th race of the Formula One season.

The 2019 The Haas F1 Team announced earlier in the week that they would be retaining both h Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean for the 2020 season. With that air of optimism, the two Haas cars qualified 13th and 17th respectively. 

By the end of the first lap Magnussen had gained three positions and moved up to 10th position. Romain Grosjean lost one spot and dropped to 18th place when he took the bypass in turn 1 to avoid contact with a Williams car but ended up 16 after some bumps and grinds forced Hulkenberg’s Renault and Sainz’s McLaren to pit.  One cannot help but wonder if Grosjean is curbing his competitive spirit and taking less risk during race starts. At the front of the pack was the pole sitting Ferrari of Charles Leclerc maintaining his first position, followed by the Mercedes of Hamilton, the Ferrari of Vettel, the Redbull of Max Verstappen, then the Mercedes of Valteri Bottas.

By the end of lap 2 Magnussen had moved up to 9th position. The field held their positions until lap 19 when Magnussen pitted and returned to the field in 14th position. 

For the most part the race was boring as hell. The Singapore street circuit design does not allow for passing. And most of the excitement was among the Sky TV commentators creating excitement where none existed. George Russel hit the wall in lap 35 and caused a full course caution. When the race resumed at lap 41 magnussen found himself in 8th position while Grosjean languished in 17th. 

Laps 35 through 51 were plagued with safety cars. When racing resumed, we saw Magnussen drop positions and was down to 14th position by lap 53. We will later learn that Magnussen picked up a plastic bag which was bocking his cooling and effecting his performance. And by lap 56 Magnussen had dropped to last position, 17th ahead of  Raikkonen, Perez and Russel; all retired.

Kevin Magnussen pitted on lap 58 for new tires and claimed the fastest lap. He finished the race in 17th position. But since he did not finish in the top 10, he does not receive the point for the fastest lap.

Grosjean finished in 11th position. AGAIN!!!

The Haas F1Team failed to secure points. 

Next up on the Formula 1 schedule is the Russian Grand prix in Sochi.