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The 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was so immensely unique in the fact that we came out of the weekend with so many talking points. From championship rivals to intra-team rivals, the eighth round of the 2017 world championship was an edge-of-the-seat rollercoaster.
The major talking point from the race is, of course, the incident between Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton. Much has been said on the topic in the last 48 hours so I'll keep it short and not so sweet. The lead driver has control of the pace while under safety car conditions, that is for sure.
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Hamilton reduced his speed quite heavily which is a little naughty, especially coming around a bend. However, there was no malice and no intention to cause a collision so Hamilton's act was majorly overshadowed by the clear, deliberate swipe from Sebastian Vettel.
I, like many, am a keen admirer of Vettel but this rush of blood has no place on a race track. I'm not going to sit here and judge whether he should have been black flagged or not when I don't have all the stewards evidence (contradicting what I said yesterday on The Fastest Lap Podcast). I've had more time to mull it over, and who am I to say what should have been done?
Vettel will know he messed up and is probably too egoistic to admit it, which is a feature of most Formula 1 drivers. I think he'd gain some sort of respect back from many if he holds his hands up and confesses, but he doesn't have to. I'll so no more but this - the British and Italian crowds will be angry mobs this year.
Force India threw away potentially a great result. A double podium was certainly on for them, and perhaps even a race win. Esteban Ocon has been one of the stars of the season but he will have to accept blame for this one. Drivers never want to collide but it must hurt so much more when it's your teammate.
What makes the incident so much more interesting is the fact that it comes two weeks after the Canada controversy when Perez wouldn't let Ocon through to attack for the podium. The season started off healthy and strong for the Silverstone-based team, but management now needs to step in harshly and be firm.
Kevin Magnussen finally got a weekend going for him. Getting into Q2 and scoring a nice haul of points can be considered a good weekend's work. It was bittersweet at McLaren - they scored 2 points, but it was only 2 points. The struggle continues for Honda and the partnership with McLaren, but with an upgrade in Austria, it could be a defining weekend.
The relationship between Carlos Sainz and Daniil Kvyat is rapidly deteriorating, instigated by the incident in Canada over one not helping the other with slipstream in qualifying. Sainz is without a doubt looking at a move away from Toro Rosso, preferably at Red Bull.
Red Bull is keen to keep their line-up of Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen for 2018, but with Verstappen retiring from his fourth race in six, his management will be carefully studying his contract for a loophole. If given the opportunity, Mercedes or Ferrari would not hesitate to sign the young star.
Daniel Ricciardo drove a nice race, stopping early with a brake issue and getting on his way. Helped by the safety cars and red flag, Ricciardo was there when it mattered and inherited the lead on lap 34. Valtteri Bottas too had a mighty drive, coming from a lap down to the whole field, to taking P2 from Lance Stroll at the very death.
And what about Lance Stroll. The kid had the race of his life, he looked like he was back in the European Formula 3 championship that he utterly dominated. Despite his father's money buying him the best car and engineers for the F3 season, in Formula 1 there is no place to hide behind wealth.
Stroll produced when it mattered, when the eyes of the world were bearing down on him, he kept cool and stayed out of the walls. Visibly shaking on the podium, it's safe to say that Azerbaijan is a weekend that the young Canadian will never forget.
Indeed, it was a weekend that perhaps none of us will forget. One of the greatest races of this decade in my mind. It was a treat for our eyes, nerves, and our passion.
Fergal Walsh
Azerbaijan Grand Prix
I. Hadjar
A. Antonelli
C. Leclerc
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