FIRST LOOK: Formula 1’s 2021 car in the wind tunnel
21 August 2019 – Lawrence Barretto | formula1.com

Road & Track magazine for August 2019 is a Formula 1 issue, with articles on Lewis Hamilton, a tribute to Niki Lauda, Red Bull drama, the dynamics of driving a modern Formula 1 car and more. I haven’t read the articles yet, but it should be interesting, you know how Formula 1 stuff is, it’s always interesting.

In a very exciting finish, with 4 laps to go, Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes-AMG overtakes Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for the lead.  Hamilton benefiting from a Mercedes-AMG strategy to bring him in early and run him on the Medium Compound tires.  Verstappen was on the Hard Compound.  Hamilton started running faster laps and, eventually, as Verstappen’s tires got to the point where they were of no use.  Hamilton is known for being able to get the most out of his tires.  Mercedes-AMG’s tire compound gamble paid off big time, Lewis Hamilton wins the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix 2019, this was Hamilton’s 7th time winning the Hungarian. (Final Race Results: Hungarian Grand Prix 2019; Tire Allocations: Hungarian Grand Prix 2019)

Max Verstappen becomes the 100th different driver to start from pole position in Formula 1 history for the FORMULA 1 HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX 2019.  Max’s Red Bull teammate Pierre Gasly will start in 6th position. The other cars inside of the Red Bull sandwich in the first three rows are Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton in positions 2 and 3 for Mercedes-AMG and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and teammate Sebastian Vettel in positions 4 and 5.  The Qualifying Sessions were dry, with a 60% chance of rain forecast for the race . (Starting Grid: Hungarian Grand Prix 2019; Tire Allocations: Hungarian Grand Prix 2019)

The FORMULA 1 GERMAN GRAND PRIX 2019 had enough rain to create a new level of tires drama that we had not seen yet this season.  The race started with the Formation Lap lasting for 3 laps so that the Race Director could decide if the race should start with the normal standing start or, based on weather conditions do a Safety Car start.  The standing start, which is preferred by the drivers, saw the Red Bulls of Verstappen and Gasly, that started on Rows 1 and 2 being badly passed before turn 1.  All cars started on Full Wets.  It became obvious very early in the race that the wet conditions were going to be a major factor creating a little more drama and throughout the race there was more than enough tires drama. 

As parts of the track dried, most teams switched to Intermediates and then the tires drama escalated, as the race continued some teams gambled and switched to Softs, but quickly found out that they were a little too optimistic as cars on Softs, starting sliding all over the place, some going off the track, some maintaining control to get back on and some stopped when they hit a barrier.  The crashes that caused Yellow Flag situations, allowed those cars on Softs to quickly pit to get back on Intermediates.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the race with an amazing performance by Sebastian Vettel, who started dead last, finishing 2nd for Ferrari on his home track and Danill Kvyat put Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda on the Podium with his 3rd place finish Verstappen also earned the fastest lap point.

Start up front for the FORMULA 1 GERMAN GRAND PRIX 2019

After dominating runs by both Ferraris in the Practice sessions on Friday, both Ferraris had very disappointing Qualifying sessions.  Sebastian Vettel had a turbo issue on his first and only lap in Q1 and his teammate Charles Leclerc due to mechanical issues at the start of Q3 also retired his car and will start the race in 10th position, with Vettel starting in 20th position.

Mercedes-AMG has Lewis Hamilton on pole and Valtteri Bottas starting in 3rd position.  Max Verstappen for Red Bull will start on the first row with his teammate Pierre Gasly starting in 4th position.  To round out the first 3 rows Kimi Raikkonen for Alfa Romeo will start in 5th position and for Haas’ Romain Grosjean will start in 6th position.

With the Ferraris staring so deep in the pack it will be an interesting race to see them fight through traffic to get to the front of the pack.

Mercedes-AMG put both of their drivers on the Podium at Silverstone with Lewis Hamilton, who started in position 2, winning his 6th race at Silverstone, his home track, with teammate Valtteri Bottas, who started on pole finishing 2nd and Charles Leclerc for Ferrari finishing 3rd.

Max Verstappen wins his second Austrian Grand Prix in a row at the Red Bull Ring for the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix 2019, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc coming in second and Mercedes-AMG scores another Podium with Valterri Bottas in 3rd.  Sebadstian Vettel was in 4th, with Lewis Hamilton coming in 5th. –more–

Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen earn the top 3 starting grid positions for Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG and Red Bull respectively with Leclerc setting a new track record of 1:03.003. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel does not compete in Q3 due to an issue with an air pressure line to the engine and will start in 10th position. Leclrec will start on the Soft (red) tire compound and Hamilton will start on the Mediums (yellow).

Lewis Hamilton, started on pole, led every lap and won the FORMULA 1 FRENCH GRAND PRIX 2019 with his teammate Valtteri Bottas coming in 2nd for Mercedes-AMG.  Charles Leclerc put Ferrari on the Podium for Ferrari. Max Verstappen ran a strong race and finished 4th for Red Bull, with Sebastian Vettel for Ferrari and Carlos Sainz, Jr. for McLaren finishing 5th and 6th.