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Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari. A combination that seems destined to last a long time. On Thursday, July 27, 2017, the German driver, on the eve of the Hungarian Grand Prix, said that there would be no problem regarding the renewal of the contract with the Maranello team. However, now, in the midst of the title fight, the focus is on the car and winning.
"I don't see why I shouldn't sign the contract renewal with Ferrari. I don't think there is a delay in the formalities; we are just working very hard on the car, so we have other things to do. In the summer, with a couple of weeks of vacation, there will be more time, but for now, we are focused on working on the car. Of course, I don't design and plan the parts, but I have to give feedback to the team, and as for signing a piece of paper, it doesn't take much time. I don't think there's any rush, and I don't think the team is in a hurry either. I've seen the contract, and I believe there's no problem".
And finally, speaking about the upcoming Grand Prix:
"Here in Hungary, I think we will have a good opportunity. Looking back, this year has been very positive for most of the season".
The renewal of Sebastian Vettel's contract with Ferrari, expiring in 2017, has become a case. If discussing it at the beginning of the season was out of place, if after Monte Carlo, when things were going great for Maranello, it might not have been appropriate to waste energy on figures and numbers, and if at Silverstone, it was possible to think of postponing a fundamental decision both strategically and psychologically, avoiding the problem now begins to be really suspicious. Teams need to plan for the future, and the choice of the lead driver is decisive, not only because the fate of the second driver depends on it but also in the design phase of the car, as each driver has their own preferences and driving style. What is happening in Ferrari? Very few details filter from Maranello. What is known is that Vettel started the season with not many expectations and with a verbal agreement with Mercedes for the next year. Then, convinced by the amazing performance of the SF70H and the renewed atmosphere in the team, he began to consider staying with the Maranello team. A similar path was taken by Ferrari: last year, some attitudes of Sebastian Vettel did not please Sergio Marchionne, but this year, faced with such a happy start to the season, he changed his mind. The team and the driver then decided, by mutual agreement, to postpone the discussion and focus only on the track. But in Monte Carlo, after the one-two, the signature seemed a matter of hours. And yet, nothing happened. Ferrari had in mind a long-term project (three years) for which it was even ready to invest a very high amount, reportedly around 40 million per year, including bonuses and prizes; Vettel preferred to keep his options open and aim for a one-year contract. The negotiation stalled, with Ferrari sticking to its positions and the German getting more nervous day by day: on one side, Mercedes, happy with Valtteri Bottas, no longer seems willing to go to great lengths to get him; on the other side, the performances of the SF70H have started to disappoint a bit. According to radio paddock in recent days, there have also been some disagreements with the management, disappointed by the somewhat grumbling attitude of the German.
"I'm not in a hurry, and from what I understand, neither is the team. We often have contacts, so I think if it were otherwise, they would have told me. There's nothing wrong. It takes a moment to sign a piece of paper".
The impression is that the two parties will sign, at least because neither has significant alternatives. Certainly, everything would be easier if Ferrari returned to its early-season form, and from this point of view, the opportunity offered by the Hungarian Grand Prix - theoretically ideal for the SF70H - is not to be missed. But what could turn out to be the most important weekend of the 2017 season begins in total uncertainty. After the first two free practice sessions, Vettel, Bottas, Räikkönen, and Hamilton find themselves squeezed within 0.2 seconds. A negligible difference that speaks volumes about the moment of maximum balance reached by Formula 1 at this stage.
This balance is increased - and this may be the real news of the day - by the exploits of the two Red Bulls. In a track where the engine doesn't make the difference, Verstappen and Ricciardo didn't have to pay the usual price for the lower efficiency of their Renault, so they remained well attached to the group. The Australian, to whom the team has allocated the major aerodynamic and chassis updates brought here, even dominated both sessions. It's too early to say how repeatable this performance is over the course of the weekend. However, it is also true that, already on the eve, precisely due to the characteristics of the track, many had predicted that the two Red Bull drivers would be among the protagonists. And these two Red Bull drivers may also become protagonists off the track. The teams are choosing drivers for the next season, and Verstappen and Ricciardo risk inflaming the market topic. Much will depend on what happens at Ferrari: at the moment, the situation is stuck in a diplomatic impasse. Ferrari has offered Vettel (whose contract expires this year) a rich contract, reportedly around 40.000.000 euros per season, but full of clauses and linked to the results achieved and, above all, lasting three years. The German initially seemed perplexed - also attracted by Mercedes - an attitude that had stalled the negotiations. Now that the Anglo-German team seems to have settled with Bottas, Vettel would gladly sign, but he would like a less demanding contract (just one year), which does not interest the Maranello team. All the protagonists, at this moment, repeat to stay calm, that there is no hurry, that there is time to decide. Which is only partially true. Because the time to complete the team, usually, is precisely this one, also considering that the car for the next season is designed taking into account the driving characteristics of the one who will have to drive it.
"Signing takes just a moment".
Vettel continues, reinforcing the impression that, in the end, even due to a lack of alternatives, the two parties will eventually come to an agreement. But in the meantime, at Ferrari, they are starting to look around.
"It's been a bit of a mixed bag".
Says Vettel, commenting on the first free practice sessions.
"It's been fluctuating. This morning didn't go well, then in the afternoon, I found rhythm. It wasn't bad, but it's difficult to interpret the session; we're all close. Tomorrow could be interesting; we need to get the car in the right window. Working on driving and tires should make us better. On vacation as leaders? We still have a race; we want to win, and if there's an opportunity, we'll try to take it".
So, Ferrari's plans are getting complicated. The initial laps tell a different story from what the leadership of the Maranello team expected after the ordeal at Silverstone. While the SF70H posted good times (Sebastian Vettel's pace with Soft tires in the afternoon was particularly convincing), Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes seems to be faster, especially considering that the Englishman's final time, just 0.3 seconds slower than Daniel Ricciardo, was set using Soft tires, which, according to Pirelli, are about a second slower than the Ultrasofts used by others. So, if the on-track values are similar to what was seen in practice, Hamilton would be first, and quite comfortably so. Two additional circumstances particularly motivate the Englishman. The first is statistical: if he starts in front of everyone on the Hungaroring circuit, Hamilton would reach 68 career poles, tying with Michael Schumacher for the all-time record after surpassing Ayrton Senna. The second circumstance is more sports-related: this circuit is among his favorites; he has won here five times in the past, a fact that has not only numerical but also psychological significance. As if the Mercedes' form weren't enough, another not-so-positive piece of news for Ferrari comes from the Hungarian circuit - the rediscovered competitiveness of Red Bull. The Anglo-Austrian team's technicians brought numerous innovations to Hungary, many of which were made available to Daniel Ricciardo alone:
"It feels like a different car".
Apparently, the new parts worked quite well, as the Australian topped both sessions. The track, full of turns and without long straights, nullifies engine differences and instead emphasizes the chassis, the real strength of the Red Bull specialists. Daniel Ricciardo explains, glancing at his shoe:
"If the situation stays like today, I think this time we have a car that can win".
So, for the men of the Maranello team, who arrived in Hungary as favorites and were not disproven by the track, since Vettel and Räikkönen recorded respectable times in the end, all that remains is to lower their heads on the car and try to set it up as best as possible to withstand the impact of a competition that was expected to be less numerous and slightly more in difficulty.
"It will be crucial to work on the balance of the car for tomorrow. We're leading the driver standings, and we intend to stay there".
Vettel fully shares this thought, even if the German appears more thoughtful:
"We need to work on the tires and the setup".
On Saturday, July 29, 2017, during the third and final free practice session, Kimi Räikkönen sets the best time, also breaking the track record. The Finn is 0.4 seconds faster than the previous limit. Sebastian Vettel follows in second place, only 0.001 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton. Valtteri Bottas is fifth, penalized by some driving errors. Problems with the power unit of Daniil Kvyat's STR are found, stopping along the Kemmel straight. Following the engine replacement, the Russian will be penalized with a 20-position grid drop. Stoffel Vandoorne also decides to abandon the upgraded power unit used in the first two sessions and return to the old version. After these changes, the Belgian driver sees his grid penalty increase to 45 places. Felipe Massa will not participate in qualifying and the race. During the third free practice session, the Brazilian once again experienced discomfort (severe dizziness, slight fever) that had led to checks at a Budapest hospital on Friday, after FP2. Paul di Resta, a British driver of Italian origin, will replace him for qualifying and the race at the Hungaroring, alongside Lance Stroll. Di Resta returns to Formula 1 after four years, last competing in the 2013 Brazilian Grand Prix, where he finished eleventh driving for Force India.
"The Williams team supports Felipe's decision, and the team will work with him to ensure a complete recovery, aiming to return to the track for the Belgian Grand Prix".
A few hours later, during Q1, Paul di Resta is the first to go out, trying to get familiar with the car. Valtteri Bottas spoils his first attempt due to an error, while Lewis Hamilton's lap time is immediately improved by the Ferrari drivers. The British driver later manages to climb to second place, behind Kimi Räikkönen, and then gets overtaken again by Sebastian Vettel. The Red Bull Racing cars alternate with the Mercedes, and the six fastest cars precede the McLarens and Renaults. Romain Grosjean moves up to twelfth place, while his teammate Kevin Magnussen climbs to thirteenth. The two are overtaken in the timing standings first by Carlos Sainz Jr. and then by Esteban Ocon. Sergio Pérez also improves and pushes Kevin Magnussen among the eliminated. Meanwhile, Paul di Resta continues to improve his times but not enough to enter Q2, just like Lance Stroll, the other Williams driver. Daniil Kvyat goes off track at turn 4, and when he re-enters, he hinders Sergio Pérez, disrupting his fast lap.
The Mexican advances to the second session, while the two Sauber drivers, Williams drivers, and Kevin Magnussen are eliminated. Following this incident, the Russian driver of Scuderia Toro Rosso is penalized with the loss of three grid positions and one point on the Super License. In the early stages of Q2, both Ferrari and Mercedes drivers take to the track. In this situation, the Maranello cars demonstrate greater competitiveness than the competition. Romain Grosjean locks up in his first fast attempt but without damaging the car. Max Verstappen sets the third-best time, and behind the six fastest cars, initially, the two Force India cars are positioned. Later, both McLaren and Renault show speed, with Nico Hülkenberg climbing to sixth place. Thanks to the last lap, Lewis Hamilton sets the track record, clocking 1’16"693. Stoffel Vandoorne and Carlos Sainz Jr. also improve, with Sainz Jr. entering the final qualifying session. Shortly after, Esteban Ocon makes a mistake and finishes eleventh. Daniil Kvyat does not improve, while Jolyon Palmer and Sergio Pérez improve but not enough to reach Q3. Completing the picture of those eliminated is Romain Grosjean. In Q3, Valtteri Bottas improves the track record, but shortly after, Sebastian Vettel sets the exceptional time of 1'16"276. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton makes a driving mistake that forces him to abandon his first attempt. Kimi Räikkönen, the other Ferrari driver, finishes second, 0.6 seconds behind Sebastian Vettel. Daniel Ricciardo is third, ahead of Nico Hülkenberg, Fernando Alonso, and Stoffel Vandoorne.
Shortly after, Max Verstappen takes third place from his teammate. In his only and final attempt, Lewis Hamilton complains about tire vibrations but sets the third-best time, positioning himself on the starting grid behind Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas. In the second attempt, Vettel and Räikkönen improve in the first sector, while Ricciardo finishes in fifth place. Towards the end of Q3, Kimi Räikkönen climbs to second place, while Sebastian Vettel confirms his pole position. Considering the objective difficulties posed by the Hungaroring circuit for anyone in the uncomfortable position of having to overtake, it can be said that the Ferrari's clear and undisputed front row in qualifying is truly significant. Much more than one might think. In the race, the Mercedes drivers, with Bottas starting ahead of Hamilton, will face a wall. A small red wall that - judging by what was seen in qualifying - will make life almost impossible for the competition. This explains Sebastian Vettel's final enthusiasm - the third pole this season, the 48th of his career. After a passionate Friday, with Mercedes seemingly having recovered a significant margin and Red Bull appearing to be back on track, the men of the Maranello team spent the night working on the setups, convinced that the expected hot weather for Saturday and Sunday (the asphalt was 20-25 °C warmer than on Friday) would be their greatest ally. And so it was. From the morning session of the third free practice, it was clear right away: the Ferrari is very strong, while the others have lost their way a bit. Especially Hamilton's Mercedes: after gaining 1.5 seconds in practice, the Englishman appealed to all his talent in qualifying. But the car did not want to cooperate with the Supersoft Pirelli tires, which will be used in the race.
"I continue to feel too many vibrations".
Hamilton complained with his engineers during qualifying, and they didn't know what to do. In the end, it was a kind of disaster: not so much for the 0.5 seconds caught by Vettel but for the 0.2 seconds taken by Bottas. A small disappointment for Red Bull: the goal was to get in the middle of the World Championship fight, but they will start fifth (Verstappen) and sixth (Ricciardo); in short, mission failed. It should be noted that Ricciardo, the one with the more updated and competitive car, had a gearbox issue in the morning. Finally, the McLaren's feat: both Alonso and Vandoorne managed to reach Q3 and will start seventh and eighth (Hülkenberg, ahead of them, was penalized). As if to say: when the engine doesn't matter, the car goes. It's not exactly a good advertisement for Honda.
"I have an incredible car at my disposal".
Sebastian Vettel is ecstatic after the qualifying session for the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver will start from pole position ahead of Kimi Räikkönen, confirming the tremendous improvement of the Maranello car.
"We have made great progress, and I really like this track. The sun was shining with a lot of people, that's the essence of racing. Going so fast was incredible. What has changed? We are working hard; the last races haven't been great for us, but now it doesn't matter. We are doing our best, and I'm happy with the level the team has reached. We have to remember where we were just twelve months ago. The main goal is tomorrow's race; we have to focus on a good start and then push hard in the race. We will have a nice injection of confidence from the fans here and in Italy".
Happy for the teammate and the placement, but disappointed for not securing the pole position, Kimi Räikkönen finished in second place.
"I lost some time in the fast lap, touched the curb, but overall, I got a good second place. I'm a bit disappointed; I could have taken the pole position. Looking at the lap times, this track suits our characteristics, although judging by yesterday's results, it wasn't easy. Today, I'm happy with how the day went; we improved the car's setup, and so far, everything has gone well. Tomorrow will be long, a good battle".
Satisfied, as expected, is also Maurizio Arrivabene, the team principal of Ferrari, interviewed by Rai after the qualifying one-two.
"I must say that it went very well after the work we did last night. The team has always been there. But now we have to complete the journey: we've done 30% of the work; tomorrow, the remaining 70% remains. We work with humility, staying grounded".
However, Lewis Hamilton's assessment is bitter; he will start from the fourth position.
"The tire vibrations were not a problem, but when you exit the pit, the tires should be perfect, as well as the balance. Every vibration drives me crazy; I have to convince the guys to find a better balance. I don't know why we weren't competitive; I don't understand if it's the Ferrari too strong or us too slow. I can't say much, but I think it will be a struggle to even get into the top three positions".
This analysis is shared by his teammate, Valtteri Bottas, who is third in the standings.
"Ferrari was fast, and we knew it would be difficult to beat them in these qualifications. At the moment, their car is better than ours; we still have a lot to work on tracks like these. We are a bit behind, and there is work to be done. I am focused on tomorrow's race; it will be very challenging".
The best summary of what happened in qualifying is in Lewis Hamilton's statement ahead of the Grand Prix:
"Let's hope Ferrari has some problems; otherwise, we'll never overtake them".
Forcing a British driver, especially with Hamilton's ego, to say such words means that the situation is really serious. And indeed, looking closely at what happened in the last forty-eight hours here in Budapest, it is just like that. The Mercedes comeback on Ferrari at Silverstone, where Hamilton practically nullified the gap from Vettel, bringing it to just one point, has made the Hungarian race the most important of the season (at least until the next one). An appointment where everyone arrived armed with their own expectations, strengths, and fears. Ferrari showed up at the Hungaroring wearing the uncomfortable role of the favorite: the circuit, with few straights and many curves, is perfect for its short and agile pace. Just like Monte Carlo (a double for the red team) and, as it will be, Singapore. And to fully respect its role, Ferrari brought an SF70H with many updates, hoping they were enough to repel the assault of a Mercedes that, after a somewhat complicated start to the season, has finally found its way.
The result was a terrible Friday, with the Mercedes frightening everyone and Ferrari somewhat intimidated by the initial impression that the famous updates weren't working. But this year, Ferrari is not a team that gets too scared. The feeling is that the World Championship can end in any way, but the boys from the Maranello team will fight until the last moment. And so they rolled up their sleeves and, confident in the work they had done in Italy, tried to make everything work. Succeeding. A key role seems to have been played, once again, by Mattia Binotto, the technical director, now more than ever the team's reference point. On Friday, he had urged everyone to remain calm:
"There have been races where we were more competitive than them at the beginning of the season, and others more recently where they were better. But I don't think you can identify a clear trend: it depends on the tracks, temperatures, many races are still missing; it's just a matter of pushing on the car's developments".
Developments that, as Binotto always explains, work better in the heat. On Saturday, with the track 20 °C warmer than the day before, it became clear how right the technical director was. At the end of qualifying, Hamilton appears almost stunned:
"We still haven't figured out if it's us who were slow or them who were fast".
Words that haven't shifted Sebastian Vettel's focus by a millimeter.
"Today was just Saturday, so you could say we did nothing more than secure a good position to start tomorrow. But I also have to admit that after Silverstone, too many things were said, and, well, giving this response on the track was nice".
From hell to paradise in twenty-four hours. The road passes through Maranello. And leading, if leading is the exact verb, are neither Sebastian Vettel nor Kimi Räikkönen. But Antonio Giovinazzi. The reasons for the surprising exploit in Budapest are many and certainly not all known. For sure, a key role was played by the third Italian driver, the promised groom of Sauber for the next season (provided Marchionne, who has always been a supporter of the young man, doesn't decide otherwise). Things went like this. The updates brought from Italy hadn't worked, and Vettel and Räikkönen had made it clear without beating around the bush, to the amazement of engineers who considered the development package designed for this race very promising. Even for Giovinazzi, Friday hadn't gone well. As agreed with the team, he was supposed to drive the Haas for the first free practice session. But after just ten laps, he crashed, it's still not clear whether it was his fault or the car's. In short, between Giovinazzi and Ferrari, it's unclear who was more nervous. But both had the merit of not giving up and continuing to carry out the day's program with the utmost professionalism. So Giovinazzi took off the Haas suit, put on the Ferrari one, and with a private plane went to Maranello. Where he locked himself in the virtual garage with a handful of red engineers.
He got on the simulator and started driving like crazy for the Hungaroring avatar, processing all the setup data that kept coming from Budapest. A grueling job that lasted most of the night until Marchionne's protégé and the engineers were convinced they had found the perfect setup to bring back to Hungary. Where Giovinazzi's plane arrived in time to allow him to explain in person to mechanics, engineers, and drivers the meaning of the numbers he had sent from Maranello overnight. When it hit the track, the SF70H was a different car. Incredible, as Sebastian Vettel shouted over the radio at the end of qualifying. On Sunday, July 30, 2017, at the start of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo pass Lewis Hamilton; shortly after, at turn 2, Verstappen locks up the tires and collides with the left side of his teammate, who is forced to retire. Due to this incident, the race director decides to deploy the Safety Car, which will return to the pits at the beginning of the sixth lap, while the Red Bull driver is given a 10-second penalty to be served during the pit stop. The race is led by the two Ferrari drivers, Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Räikkönen, who are ahead of Valtteri Bottas.
Behind Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton are Carlos Sainz Jr., Fernando Alonso, Sergio Pérez, and Stoffel Vandoorne. After the Safety Car returns to the pits, the two Ferrari drivers start setting the pace, building a lead of about 12 seconds over the pursuers. Shortly after, during the 20th lap, Romain Grosjean makes his pit stop, but a tire is not tightened properly, and he is forced to retire. Meanwhile, Sebastian Vettel begins to experience steering problems, which veer to the left. Because of this issue, Kimi Räikkönen and Valtteri Bottas start gaining ground. Between laps 13 and 30, both Ferrari and Mercedes drivers make pit stops; the standings remain unchanged, except for Verstappen, who, having not changed tires, climbs to first place, remaining there between laps 34 and 42 when he also stops at the pits for new tires. The Dutchman re-enters the track in fifth position, also due to the penalty served in the pits. The Mercedes drivers regain a lot of ground, and with a better pace on Soft tires, they come close to the two Ferrari drivers. During the 35th lap, the two Spanish drivers, Carlos Sainz Jr. and Fernando Alonso, make their pit stops, with the former maintaining the advantage. Two laps later, however, the McLaren driver manages to pass his compatriot. During the 42nd lap, Valtteri Bottas lets his teammate pass at turn 1 to allow him an attack on Kimi Räikkönen, who manages to defend himself. During the 57th lap, Max Verstappen misses the braking point but manages to keep the car within the asphalt runoff. Nothing can hinder the Ferraris anymore, with Sebastian Vettel winning the Hungarian Grand Prix and securing his fourth victory of the season. Kimi Räikkönen is second, while Lewis Hamilton, at the last corner, lets his teammate pass, as predetermined. Worth noting is Fernando Alonso's fastest lap, finishing in sixth place, and the retirements of Paul di Resta and Nico Hülkenberg, the latter involved in a battle with Kevin Magnussen in the last laps. With a splendid one-two, achieved at the end of a somewhat boring race on the track but tense from the perspective of nerves and balances between the drivers, Ferrari responds to Mercedes by sending a clear message.
"We will fight until the end".
The race did not offer many news highlights. In fact, it was settled at the start. This was perfect for the Ferrari drivers, not only technically but also strategically. Räikkönen closed the line to anyone behind who could bother Vettel, and the German gained enough margin to ensure two hours of relative tranquility up front. The rest was a procession towards the checkered flag.
"I am moved, happy. Is this the Ferrari I want? Yes".
Says Sergio Marchionne, president of Ferrari, after the one-two finish by Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen in the Hungarian Grand Prix. A joy shared by the German driver:
"I am over the moon; it was a really difficult race. Maybe it didn't seem that way, but I had a lot to do. I had something wrong; the steering pulled to the left, and I couldn't go over the curbs. Kimi defended me well, and in the end, I recovered. I hoped to have a few laps to breathe, but they never came. I am very charged".
A procession, in reality, more turbulent than one might imagine: Vettel had to drive all 70 laps avoiding the curbs due to a steering problem. Perhaps it wouldn't have ended this way if Räikkönen, much faster than him, had not defended him from the attacks first by Valtteri Bottas and then by Lewis Hamilton, whose Mercedes, in the second part of the race, was decidedly faster. Kimi Räikkönen says at the end of the race:
"I am happy for the Finnish support. I couldn't give my fans the victory, but we did it as a team. I wanted to win, but I held on even when slowed down. It's hard to overtake on this track, and if there's a teammate in front, you pay even more attention".
Ferrari's team principal, Maurizio Arrivabene, also celebrates:
"A composed joy because there are still many races to go, but this victory makes us look to the future. I am happy with the work of the guys and especially for Italy".
Then a comment on Räikkönen:
"He was fantastic. We are one team here and in Maranello; we work in symbiosis. They deserve a lot of credit too." In conclusion: "A few days off for the guys after this victory? We'll see..."
In the end, it can be said that it was the race of team orders. That of Mercedes, which forced Bottas to let Hamilton pass to allow the Englishman to try everything to at least finish second and thus limit the damage in the overall standings. And that of Ferrari, which prevented Räikkönen from overtaking Vettel. Both second drivers, it must be said, at the end of their contracts, were loyal to their duty. And both were rewarded. Bottas saw Hamilton give back the position; it happened in the last meters when the Englishman realized that there was no chance, and Räikkönen in front of him was a wall.
"In the end, it wasn't easy to swap positions again due to Verstappen's recovery. I have to thank Lewis. It's a shame to only finish third, but due to the second row at the start, we couldn't achieve a better result".
Hamilton hopes that the 'gift' to his teammate does not have a decisive impact at the end of the season:
"I'm glad to have let Valtteri pass at the end, but I hope that at the end of the World Championship, Vettel doesn't stay ahead by three points".
The British driver's decision, however, angered the Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, as shown on TV.
"We are a great team, and today we showed it. I am happy with my performance; I had a great pace, I gave it my all, but it's a shame. I concede 14 points to Sebastian, but I am happy with myself. Thanking Bottas? He finished third, and I finished fourth; I think that's thanks enough".
Wolff denies the existence of problems within the team:
"When we decided to let Hamilton pass, we told him that if he couldn't overtake the Ferraris, he had to give back the position. If he were to lose the World Championship by three points? It would be tough but important; we are the first to have done this, but we have won three championships also for this spirit".
The result does not satisfy him:
"We need to analyze the race; we have a few weeks to do it. This is a result I don't like".
Räikkönen, more reluctant than Bottas to accept the team's diktat, received personal congratulations from Sergio Marchionne, tremendous happiness, who rushed to the Hungarian paddock this morning.
In the negotiation phase for contract renewals (both expiring), such a demonstration of attachment to the company was just what was needed.
"Well, let's say that today I understood why the steering wheel is calibrated to go straight and not to one side".
Beyond the typically German humor in Sebastian Vettel's joke, there is something epic. Of course, one shouldn't exaggerate for something like this. However, it must be said that driving 50 laps with a half-broken steering wheel, the wheel leaning to the left, and a guy in a headset yelling at you not to take the curbs (meaning staying almost always in the center of the track, with serious damage to the trajectories, which in F1 is everything) cannot be the height of comfort. Especially if a few meters behind you have a teammate who helps you only because forced by a curious contractual condition, in turn chased by a guy named Lewis Hamilton, and who, if he could catch up, would have no problem slicing your rear tires with the wing. In short, a nightmare. As Vettel himself explains, all sweaty, at the end of the race:
"I immediately realized that something was wrong, already at the end of the formation lap I saw that the wheel was a bit crooked. But I didn't give it too much importance, also because the car was going great".
It was after lap 20 that the damage took on a disturbing proportion:
"Guys, for the past few minutes, to go straight, I have to turn the steering wheel quite a bit to the left... What do you think, is it serious?"
Certainly, it was. In the pit, there was quite a bit of commotion. Also, because earlier in the day, unexpectedly from Italy, Sergio Marchionne had arrived with high expectations, just to add a bit of extra pressure. After a quick consultation among them, the engineers resigned themselves: there was nothing they could do. Nothing, except calming Kimi Räikkönen’s fury over the perfect car via radio, who was impatient to overtake his teammate. And so, the crooked steering wheel remained in Sebastian's hands. One day, someone will write an essay on the loneliness of a driver steering a broken car.
"It was tough. The longer the race went on, the more the steering wheel pulled to the left. When I realized that there was no way to change this situation, I tried to adapt: I immediately noticed that the situation was not so bad with right turns. But when it was a left turn, you had to turn much more. After a few minutes, you got used to it and thought: come on, it's not that bad. But as soon as you thought that, the steering wheel moved a bit more to the left. It kept changing, so you never knew how much you had to steer... Every lap, I kept seeing how many laps were left. And there were always too many. Fortunately, the team helped me: behind, I had Kimi, and that was decisive".
With a not-so-welcome double win secured, it's time to look to the future. And the future suggests not relaxing too much. Because what has been understood after these first eleven races is that Ferrari is favored on tighter and slower circuits, while Mercedes excels on faster circuits. Unfortunately, the next two, Spa and Monza, belong to the latter category. There, they will have to fight strenuously to defend the 14-point advantage accumulated with the small Hungarian masterpiece before returning to their preferred ground on the sharp and hot circuit of Singapore.
"It's clear that each car has its characteristics, as do the drivers. But you have to be careful. Just as we put a Mercedes behind us in qualifying at Silverstone, they attacked us for a good part of the race here: in the end, it always depends on how the races go, lap after lap. The most important thing is to always be there, pushing. By doing that, I don't think there's anything to be afraid of, not even for the next two races".
An unsolicited piece of advice for Sergio Marchionne: temporize, procrastinate, postpone. After what was seen at the Hungaroring, it is evident that having drivers with expiring contracts can turn out to be the real lethal weapon against Mercedes (which has only one driver with an expiring contract) in a very balanced season finale. Because a driver who needs to renew his contract is a tamed driver, ready to obey any team order, even the most atrocious, without complaining. Just listen to Kimi Räikkönen after the race. To ensure Sebastian Vettel took the full points, the engineers had asked him to give up an easy victory (he just needed to stay out for three more laps before the pit stop to pass Vettel in the pits, without even having to overtake on the track). In other times, and under different contractual conditions, there would have been tantrums, sabotage, sulking, controversies. But with Sergio Marchionne firmly holding a symbolic pen, sitting in the pit next to Maurizio Arrivabene, there is not a whisper; not at the time of the request, nor afterward.
"We are part of the same team, and it's logical that it went this way. At the start, since Seb was ahead, I didn't push all the way, and then I protected him in a team logic".
A powerful logic, for which the old Kimi was quite content to stay behind a driver like him for 70 laps, driving the same car but with a broken steering wheel and the obligation, imposed for safety reasons, not to climb on the curbs (and therefore go slower). More or less the same attitude shown by Bottas in Mercedes. He, too, precarious, was also content to let his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, pass halfway through the race. Valtteri's sense for the team was even more evident than Räikkönen’s when he parked his Mercedes by the track for a second, just enough time to let the other one go. Then he continued. Bottas was touching when he thanked Hamilton and the team for giving back his position at the end of the race. Between giving three points to Lewis and protecting the dignity of a second driver with an expiring contract, it was not a given that this path would be chosen. Wolff was less enthusiastic, banging his fist on a chair in front of Lauda, before calming down.
“I hope not to lose the World Championship by three points... Now, Marchionne may decide to ignore the advice and renew the contracts of Vettel and Räikkönen during the summer. But first, he would do well to take a look at what happened at Red Bull, where the drivers have ironclad agreements. They had the opportunity to have a race as protagonists, but instead, Verstappen decided not to let Ricciardo overtake him, collided with him, destroying his car. Ricciardo's comment was definitive: 'Max now finds increasingly creative ways to mess things up”.
Just a few days left until the second session of testing and then F1 will go on vacation for the summer break. It's one of the crucial moments in the title race, where teams catch their breath and assess, establishing plans and projects for the future. Here, developed point by point, is what the first half of 2017 has clearly shown. Mercedes and Ferrari started this season with two very different cars. The W08 was long and powerful; the SF70H was short and agile. Nevertheless, the result is two cars with very similar lap times, often recording times that differ by a few thousandths of a second, leading to a highly competitive championship. Due to their distinctly different characteristics, the two cars adapt perfectly to different types of circuits. Generally, Ferrari performs well on street circuits, while Mercedes excels on traditional tracks. It's no coincidence that the clearest results were Ferrari's two one-two finishes in Monaco and at the Hungaroring (not a street circuit but with similar characteristics) and Mercedes' victory at Silverstone. Based on this, it's easy to predict that the end of the season will be intense. Nine Grand Prix races are left. The next two, Spa and Monza, are more or less favorable to Mercedes. Then comes Singapore, a track that suits Ferrari. Malaysia is a middle ground. Suzuka should again favor Mercedes. After that, there are the three American circuits: Austin (Mercedes/Ferrari, like Malaysia), Mexico City (Mercedes), then Interlagos (Mercedes/Ferrari) and Abu Dhabi (Ferrari). This breakdown is, of course, quite rough. There are many variables, especially considering the updates that teams plan to bring to the track. The scenario could change rapidly. One of the most susceptible elements to sudden changes is the Pirelli tires.
As seen, the races are won by those who use them best. At the beginning, Mercedes struggled, but once they figured it out, they gained many points in the standings. One of the most relevant variables - at least according to Mattia Binotto, Ferrari's technical director - seems to be the temperature of the asphalt. This could shift the balance, especially on mixed circuits like Sepang and Interlagos. Up to this point, the mechanical factors have been discussed. Then - or perhaps first - there are the human factors. In such a tight championship, where every point can make a difference, characters, personal relationships, and strategies may be as decisive as a more powerful engine. In this regard, Mercedes and Ferrari seem to have made drastically different choices. Mercedes decided to play with two leading drivers, while Ferrari opted for a much more traditional, Italian approach. What can be said, without much fear of contradiction, and indeed, supported by the numbers, is that Ferrari's choice has been rewarded in the Drivers' Championship standings, while Mercedes' choice has cost them in the Constructors' Championship. Formula 1 enthusiasts, unlike team owners (especially those carrying the names of automotive companies), have no doubt that the championship that really matters is the Drivers' Championship. However, the current situation seems more the result of the drivers' choices made by the teams at the beginning of the season rather than the effect of a clear and deliberate strategy, as perfectly illustrated by the current split within Mercedes. Just look at what happened in Hungary in the Mercedes pit when Hamilton chose to give back the position to his teammate.
Toto Wolff - who, incidentally, and without any insinuation, was also the manager of the Finnish driver in the recent past - was content, while Niki Lauda was desperate. The clash not only concerned personal interests but ended up comparing two different visions of Formula 1: one, Wolff's, more modern and inclined towards entertainment (certainly easier to accommodate from the vantage point of technical dominance like Mercedes in recent years), the other, Lauda's, more conservative and focused on the concrete result. More similar, in short, to the approach adopted by Ferrari, which, if the roles were reversed, would never have authorized Vettel to give back the position to Räikkönen, whose subsequent inevitable complaints would have been buried under press releases and statements focused on the state's interest. Understandably. A delicate role in this second part of the season could also be played by Red Bull. The Hungarian race clearly showed that, aside from the quirks of its young talent Verstappen, the Milton Keynes team has a very competitive car on circuits where the engine doesn't play a particularly significant role, and aerodynamics reigns supreme. Without the incident - let's call it that - in the first lap and therefore with Ricciardo on the track and Verstappen not penalized, the two Anglo-Austrian cars might not have been able to challenge Ferrari for victory (they started too far back), but they could certainly have finished ahead of the two Mercedes. An outcome that could have maximized Ferrari's result. Who knows if, when Lewis gave up the position and three points to his teammate, he also thought about this. Not surprisingly, the next day is one of regret. Regret and doubt.
"What if this World Championship really ends up in Ferrari's hands by 3 points?"
For the past twenty-four hours, at Mercedes, the question bounces from one desk to another. Finding increasingly perplexed faces and readiness for self-criticism. Also because looking at the calendar and retracing the development of the championship from the beginning until now, it's quite clear to everyone that, in the end, the game with Ferrari will be decided by a small number of points. How then was it possible to be so naive (the perfect expression is Toto Wolff's own) as to leave three points on the table, forcing Hamilton to give back the position to Bottas, when even the Finn didn't expect it anymore? The impression is that Mercedes paid for what can be defined as a cultural delay compared to Ferrari. F1 is changing its skin and transforming from an individual sport - as Anglo-Saxon orthodoxy has always interpreted it - to a team sport, as Ferrari has always demanded, starting with its founder, Enzo Ferrari. Following the founder's teachings, the men of the Maranello team have developed habits and automatisms that, often driving the English crazy with rage, have led to great results. From the historic and blatant position exchange between Barrichello and Schumacher, imposed by Todt in 2002 in Austria, to the more recent team orders to Massa, forced to let Alonso pass, Ferrari can boast a solid tradition in this regard. A tradition that has become a very useful heritage since 2010. And legal, given that only then did the FIA, recently chaired by Jean Todt, legalize team orders, a decisive step to trigger the last phase of the genetic mutation of the sport mentioned above. Luca Montezemolo explains:
"Since then, F1 is officially considered a hybrid sport. The individual wins, it's true, but only if the team wins with him. And vice versa. It's very much like cycling. From this point of view, Ferrari was perfect in Budapest. The support driver did his job, the team captain did his job, and the result was enormous. Mercedes, on the other hand, was confused. Leading to the paradox that the captain gave points to the support driver".