The 2018 Austrian Grand Prix is in the books and what at first appeared as though was going to be an easy 1-2 win for Mercedes [as they dominated qualifying and sat on the first row] instead turned into what is referred to nowadays as a “shitshow” with both Mercedes being eliminated on Lap 14 [pole-sitter Valtteri Bottas] and Lap 64 [Lewis Hamilton] due to mechanical issues.
The twin Mercedes departures left the race to the Ferraris and Red Bulls and that is exactly who filled up the podium as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen managed not to crash again for the third race in a row and won over the 2-3 finish behind him of the Ferraris of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel. ASN awards the points according to the finish but with a shout-out to the Haas team, which pulled in fourth and fifth – we would have given them a point but they were not on the lead lap. Also, ASN acknowledges poor Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull, who had his car quit on him on his birthday, not a nice gift. Hamilton maintains a slim, one-point advantage over Vettel for the category lead.
The Pastor Maldonado Driving School Award goes to the only crash incident of the day – to McLaren’s Stoffel Vandoorne – who damaged his front wing in a minor tussle on the opening lap, which immediately found him being lapped within the first five laps of the race. Verstappen still holds a commanding lead in the category.
The Kimi Raikkonen “Leave Me Alone! I Know What I’m Doing!” Award was a battle between McLaren’s pouty Fernando Alonso and the pouty Hamilton when he is not winning. ASN awards this week’s point to Hamilton for his quickness to the quitting mindset – “I’m not going to be able to pass these guys.” – when he began to develop tire issues. With the point, Hamilton re-takes the lead from Alonso in the category.
The Bernie Ecclestone Doofus Moment Award was a no-brainer – going to the Mercedes pit of Hamilton after they decided not to pit Hamilton after Bottas’ departure brought out the safety car and all the leaders pitted, putting him in fourth place when he did eventually pit. Hamilton and McLaren continue to share the category lead.
2018 Formula One Driver Standings – after Austrian Grand Prix
1] Lewis Hamilton – 13 points
2] Sebastian Vettel – 12
3] Max Verstappen – seven
4] Kimi Raikkonen/Daniel Ricciardo – six
6] Valtteri Bottas/Sergio Perez – three
8] Pierre Gasly/Nico Hulkenberg – two
2018 Pastor Maldonado Driving School Award – after Austrian Grand Prix
1] Verstappen – 4-1/3 points
2] Grosjean – two
3] Sergey Sirotkin/Stoffel Vandoorne – one
5] Red Bull/Ricciardo – 1/3
2018 Kimi Raikkonen “Leave Me Alone! I Know What I’m Doing!” Award – after Austrian Grand Prix
1] Hamilton – three points
2] Fernando Alonso – 2.5
3] Verstappen – 1.5
4] Bottas/Vettel – one
2018 Bernie Ecclestone Doofus Moment Award – after Austrian Grand Prix
1] Hamilton/McLaren – 1.5 points
3] Canadian Grand Prix officials/Ferrari pit [Raikkonen]/Mercedes pit [Hamilton]/Monaco Grand Prix officials/Verstappen – one
8] Azerbaijan Grand Prix officials/Spanish Grand Prix officials – .5 point