Magnussen rated this as the best race of his career. I tend to agree. He didn't put a foot wrong the entire race and his team made an inspired (if "brave" as Günther Steiner put it in a post-race interview) call to switch to slicks before the start.
I'm a bit suprised that Racing Point hasn't managed to capitalise more on their obvious speed so far. Is the pressure getting to Perez in terms of the very real prospect that he might lose his seat to Vettel next year as RP rebrands to Aston Martin? If anything, it's clear to me that the design department at RP is currently vastly outperforming the trackside racing operation. We'll see how this develops.
Lewis Hamiltion (and indeed the entire Mercedes Benz team) appear to be doing an absolutely awesome job. Hats off to them I say. Red Bull and Honda (excepting the mechanics)? Not so much. McLaren and Red Bull are continuing their fight on level terms and I think I quite fancy McLaren's chances next year with the Merc PU sat in the back and a pair of quick hands at the wheels. Ferrari? They're not where we expect them to be (or maybe they're just returning to their natural, self-imploding, backstabbing level of business as usual? I don't know)
Aramco featuring so heavily as the title sponsor must be because it is Saudi Arabia's state-sponsored oil company and that they're desperate to somehow stay relevant in a world that's rapidly moving to EVs and sustainable energy sources. Remember the recent period where the oil prices dropped so much that Saudi Arabia was in real danger of running out of money? I bet they do too and hence they're going to face some very difficult years this decade as they try to reinvent themselves and move into the 21st century brave new world where their product is no longer as much in demand as it used to be.
I'm a bit suprised that Racing Point hasn't managed to capitalise more on their obvious speed so far. Is the pressure getting to Perez in terms of the very real prospect that he might lose his seat to Vettel next year as RP rebrands to Aston Martin? If anything, it's clear to me that the design department at RP is currently vastly outperforming the trackside racing operation. We'll see how this develops.
Lewis Hamiltion (and indeed the entire Mercedes Benz team) appear to be doing an absolutely awesome job. Hats off to them I say. Red Bull and Honda (excepting the mechanics)? Not so much. McLaren and Red Bull are continuing their fight on level terms and I think I quite fancy McLaren's chances next year with the Merc PU sat in the back and a pair of quick hands at the wheels. Ferrari? They're not where we expect them to be (or maybe they're just returning to their natural, self-imploding, backstabbing level of business as usual? I don't know)
Aramco featuring so heavily as the title sponsor must be because it is Saudi Arabia's state-sponsored oil company and that they're desperate to somehow stay relevant in a world that's rapidly moving to EVs and sustainable energy sources. Remember the recent period where the oil prices dropped so much that Saudi Arabia was in real danger of running out of money? I bet they do too and hence they're going to face some very difficult years this decade as they try to reinvent themselves and move into the 21st century brave new world where their product is no longer as much in demand as it used to be.