Its all about this man!!!

Awesome race, and not just due to the unpredictability and the Hulk podium. We got some great battles, some great overtakes and two simultaneous fights for position right to the flag. And of course pitwall drama aplenty as people gambled or tried to read the crossover. There was so much happening everywhere all the time I'd need multiple pages to cover everything and my posts are too rambly as it is anyway.

Aston killed me with their handling of Alonso's race while at the same time doing absolutely everything perfectly for Stroll. The old man still has it though, him sliding around on the medium gamble and countersteering snaps every single corner was some insane car control that was absolutely thrilling - but nerve wracking - to watch. And after all that they still finish 7 and 9. Stroll is actually not bad in the wet but man was he slow when it dried up at the end.

Gasly also needs to be mentioned, he put on another clinic in the wet as he has done before on several occasions. Amazing defensive driving (against Hamilton, Verstappen and Russel no less!) and some great overtakes too. Him getting past Stroll on the last lap was so well deserved, especially after fighting that dog of an Alpine all weekend.

[EDIT]: Williams finally having a race without mechanical failures was a relief I somehow forgot about while first writing this post. Particularly for Albon who can finally leave three consecutive DNFs behind with an excellent last stint and a great last lap overtake on Fernando to get some good points again at last.

And of course, the Sauber redemption tour continues. That team is going to be scary in a couple of years. Audi doesn't fuck around in motorsports and the operational pieces are falling into place. Good calls again, good pitstops and they're again showing their upgrades working well. So happy for Hulk, he drove a faultless race and finally getting that podium is such a feelgood story. And doing it while starting from the back in a wet race? Stuff of legends.

So that's now 8 points between Piastri and Norris. Bring it on!

Proof that the measures of a great race isn't the on track action.

But the story that was told along the way.

I sense yet another "Cut out your bullshit, Max" rule change brewing. He's clearly been fishing fos these safety car penalties when he isn't controlling the restart lately, yet when he does lead the pack, he's immediately on the radio morning if P2 so much as pulls alongside his rear axle. He's going to keep on storming past people on safety car restarts right up until he causes a massive crash, then play the victim. It's getting beyond tiresome.

On the other hand, I'm not sure what Yuki was meant to do to avoid that crash. He was at the apex and already on the curb on the inside when someone tried to cut across him.

Really terrible stewarding, all around.

Regardless of whether Piastrie's penalty was deserved, the decision on the winner was made by the stewards. Again.

That made the race meaningless. Except for the British, of course.