If the start of this weekend is any indication, Race 1 in Berlin is going to be an action-packed chaos with cooler temperatures, overcast skies, and a high probability of rain. Teams will need to be carefully evaluating race and pit boost strategy as the circumstances continue to shift after FP2 was cancelled and an altered qualifying setup was made necessary by the rain.
This race will begin with Mitch Evans, Robin Frijns, and Oliver Rowland as our pole sitters. Considering Evans‘ recent run of bad luck, Rowland could stand to gain greatly from winning today.
Chaos at the Start
Most of the grid started cleanly, with Evans remaining in the lead. But Jake Dennis was still on the grid, so a safety car and yellow flag were sent out. To serve their stop-and-go penalty, Sebastian Buemi, Felipe Drugovich, and Nick Cassidy entered the pit lane; Drugovich was being investigated for exceeding the speed limit in the pit lane (given a 5-second penalty).
Lap 3: After the SC concluded, Dennis moved into pit lane to retire the vehicle, and Frijns took the lead as we resumed our race. Despite the battle between Wehrlein, Frijns, and Rowland, Wehrlein takes P4. Porscha currently sits ahead of Wehrlein in P2 and P3 alongside Da Costa.
Strategic Maneuvers
Several drivers entered attack mode on lap 8. Rowland gained P7 from Mortara, and the incident involving Wehrlein and Bird has been noted. Wehrlein and Frijns double overtake Da Costa, taking P2 and P3. Barnard came in strong on lap 16, climbing from P11 to P9. Due to track limits, Ticktum’s 15-lap time was deleted. The person who arrives first for a pit boost is Guenther, as the incident between Rowland and Mortara is noted and under investigation.
Vandoorne, Hughes, Di Grassi, Vergne, and Sette Camara are also in for a pit boost on lap 21. The FIA has taken note of the incident between Mueller and Bird on lap 23. As Evans and Wehrlein enter for a pit boost, Rowland has so far benefited and is currently in P1. On lap 25, Rowland and Ticktum enter for their pit boosts as Beckmann leads briefly. Evans takes the lead, followed by Wehrlein in P2 and Vergne in P3 after all required pit boosts have been completed. Sette Camara’s 24-lap time was deleted due to exceeding track limits.
Turmoil on Track
Lap 29 deploys a safety car and double yellow flag! Beckmann stops on track after colliding with Sette Camara and then the wall. After the incident, Sette Camara almost collided with Buemi, who swerved to avoid the two cars. Sette Camara was given a 10-second penalty for causing a collision while Beckmann’s car was being retrieved by marshals. Lap 32 had the safety car in this lap and two DNFs. Vergne dropped down the grid from P3 into the pits to retire the car, while Rowland sat in P7 behind Da Costa. Driver Standing Leader Rowland spun in turn 6 after contact with Vandoorne as a yellow flag appeared; that’s another DNF with damage to his suspension.
Decisive Turns & Fiery Ambitions
Hughes spins after making contact but then rejoins. Bird was right behind Barnard and Mortara, who were engaged in a fierce battle. After the race was extended by two laps, Hughes and Da Costa are being investigated for causing a collision. Vandoorne and Rowland are under investigation for causing a collision, which will be decided after the race. Evans was still in the lead after four DNFs on lap 38 of 41, with Wehrlein closing in. Mortara managed to hold onto P3 for a short while before Da Costa grabbed it back. Guenther trailed behind Barnard as he advanced to P5. Wehrlein went deep on the final lap, and his opportunity to launch a last-ditch attack on Evans was ruined by that mistake.
Race to Glory
After a long run of bad luck, Evans wins in Berlin. Da Costa’s 5-second penalty for causing a collision puts Mortara in P3, while Wehrlein is in P2 with the fastest lap. A race to forget for many drivers is one to remember for drivers like Evans, Wehrlein, and Mortara. Although the race was chaotic, the weather had a surprisingly small impact. There is still more action to come tomorrow as round 14 takes place in Berlin.