Screw it, I'm doing this now!
Qualifying: 2nd.
I was very pleased with this one! Had time for another lap but I fell off exiting the first Lesmo, was about 0.2s up through sector 1. A case of what could have been.
Sprint: 2nd.
I slightly screwed that one up... Got a great initial launch, managed to edge ahead of David and lead into turn one. Tried to hold him off but the MDF package with DRS enabled was extremely strong. Eventually I tried a bit too hard into della Roggia and locked the rear axle. Frantically recovered into fourth and set my sights on catching Nicolas.
After Martin dropped a wheel in the gravel it allowed us both by, with David running away it turned into a three-way duel for second. I got close several times but quickly discovered my car was not handling the turbulent air very well. I made a similar error to Martin at the same area of the circuit which allowed him past. It didn't take too long for Martin to slip by Nicolas, and shortly after he then went wide through the Lesmos allowing me to take third.
Managed to stay close to Martin and was surprised to see David in a barrier at turn one. This was now for the victory! I did my best to keep up but Martin had just enough to keep me at bay. Close!
Feature: 2nd.
Started fifteenth, very quickly got shuffled to last. Decided to be super conservative and boy did it pay off. I ended lap one in ninth place after plenty of people lost their bottle or got bottled. The LDF package allowed me to slice my way through the field effectively. Got up to third and readied my attack on Sami and April, only for them to both make mistakes and clear the path for me. How nice of them!
Started gapping April, to a point. I was pleasantly surprised to see the gap stabilize for several laps. I was extremely lucky after I dropped a wheel on the grass in the Parabolica, managed to Tokyo Drift myself into a lateral impact and avoid any damage. Looking back at it, it cost me about six seconds. (Somebody got lucky...
)
This little off also allowed April back past. Knowing she was running the LDF package as well meant I had a reduced advantage on the straights. I got really close several times but eventually stuck one up the inside into della Roggia and retook the lead. A short yet sweet tussle.
Pitted at the end of lap 17, rejoined just ahead of April who pitted before me. No undercut for you! Realized that those ahead of me were going to the end which meant I'd really need to push if I wanted to even get a podium...
...and push I absolutely did. I reeled in the no-stoppers and took their positions without second thought! Once I'd gotten back into second the gap to Artyom was about thirteen seconds. By the end of the race it was just over a second. I can honestly say I gave it my absolute all. I probably lost weight from all the perspiration. In hindsight that little excursion at Parabolica probably cost me a victory, but hey-ho that's racing! He drove exceptionally well on those tyres to maintain a strong enough pace and his victory is well deserved!
I'm used to finishing third all the time, finishing second all the time is a nice change...
See you all at Singapore.
(Oh god why pls no)