I agree the aero package looks messy and despite the downforce increase following closely behind another car seems to have more of an impact this year. Hope we get some closer racing
)

Nice to see a Ferrari win for a change but I find it a bit odd that Hamilton couldn't pass Verstappen.
It was almost as if he didn't want to and was saving his engine/gearbox etc?
Stroll just looked way out of his depth.

I'm afraid that if Hamilton on fresh tyres could not get past a Red Bull with aging tyres, the points might as well be awarded after Saturday afternoon

I doubt he was holding back. That did come later in the race though.

Melbourne is not typical and overtaking is especially hard there but the signs are not good for seeing lots of action.

Its on the car too....with a less subtle Alfa Romeo script.

Yes the script has been on a while but first time I've see the Cloverleaf. Must be a big push for the Giulia/Stelvio

Not strictly F1 but I'm rooting for Alonso at Indy. Seriously impressive stuff in Qualy. Anyone else see Bourdais' crash? Damn lucky with a horrible angle on the wall....

Looking forward to seeing how Alonso does. Also will be interesting to see how Button gets on at Monaco.

Button back in Monaco :-O Yay!!

Button started off slow this morning but has got within a tenth of Vandoorne in FP1. Looks like he's settled in quickly.

Did anyone else see the Formula E race at Monaco? The shortened track was frankly ridiculous. Instead of going up the hill at Sainte Devote they cut through and ran parallel behind the run from the post tunnel chicane to Tabac. There was barely enough width for one car let alone any side by side action!

Monaco is a crazy track in full lap form never mind a shortened version. I watched about 10 minutes of it before I got bored.

I fell asleep in front of the television watching FP 2 this afternoon. If I weren't going to a 625 Squadron RAF memorial service in Lincolnshire on Sunday, no doubt it would happen again during the race.

EditAnd there will be the BBMF Lancaster flying over the memorial too.

Well yes virtually zero overtaking..........I still don't think Ferrari planned that but I don't think I've ever seen anyone so p*ssed off to be on the podium at Monaco.

I was playing Golf last week right by Biggin Hill Airport. When I saw one of those Honda jets land

http://www.hondajet.com/#1

Made me wonder... If they offered one of these to Alonso... would he politely decline

Holey Moley - I liked the look of those until
I saw it had Garmin avionics. Judging by how terrible my Garmin bike computers have been (mostly launched long before they were ready) I'd be scared to set foot on that.

Unusual wing-mounted jets?!

Yeah. I wonder if they're there for noise abatement - wingover jets are quieter on the ground as the wing gets in the way of the noise. But they're not as efficient - they block the wing surface - so perhaps these pylons improve matters?

I was surprised to see a plane with so much weight above the wing and no visible dihedral; it can't be stable without continuous correction, perhaps from the electronics?

Interesting- wing seems to have a high aspect ratio looking at the shape and the winglets. Perhaps the pylon doubles as a wing fence? Bit worried about what happens if the engine fails/gets hit as its going to affect the upper wing surface?

Wing fence isn't going to make a lot of difference, there, surely? It's the tips where it'll have the most effect, where the vortices form.

Anyway to Canada and a hydraulic leak after just one timed lap for Fernando in FP1. Think we're safe to say he'll be off elsewhere asap....

What a mess of a race in Baku, I can't believe Vettel can get away with that move on Lewis!

I can understand Vettel feeling that Hamilton slowed down excessively, but to then deliberately swerve into him is a nailed on disqualification in my book. And I quite like Vettel.

I don't think Hamilton slowed - he just didn't accelerate. Vettel was completey out of order.

Great finish.

Still waiting to see any post-match interviews with the two of them. Vettel's response was right out of order, but asking 'when did I drive dangerously?' in such a tone of injured innocence when the pit told him he had to box was extracting the urine...

I don't think Hamilton did anything wrong, but from Vettel's viewpoint, I can see why he felt Hamilton had brake tested him. What followed was totally unacceptable and I'm disappointed that no further action will be taken.

BBC reports data from Hamiltons car show neither acceleration nor deacceleration. Vettel made an error and compounded it with some real road rage. He should be banned.

A one race ban would be fair given Vettels actions but not likely now even with the data from Hamiltons car clearing him. He is already at risk getting some points on his racing license!

Agreed Gents but what a terrific race - best I can remember for a few years. A Vettel fan too but he went too far today. I think he knows it now and expect some sort of penalty for Spielberg. I think he knew Lewis got the hop on him from the last restart so was determined to stay close but blew it. Brilliant to see Fernando back in the points and pleased for Mc / Sauber and nice to see Stroll do well - and I've not been a fan of his. Did anyone else initially think he slowed down too soon as if he'd got the wrong line to finish. Bottas' finishing acceleration was amazing. Baku looked nice too. Oh and fair play to Ocon as well - one for the future.

A great race packed with action! Well done to Stroll for hanging in there in 3rd.
I didn't think he would ever make a good driver but showed plenty of potential in Baku.

Vettel has disgraced himself with the wheel banging.
It looked like proper road rage and should be rewarded with a 1 race ban minimum.
There is no place for that sort of temper in a race car!