F1 Features

The Spanish Grand Prix is typically surrounded by an added element of intrigue and anticipation at the start of Formula 1’s traditional European leg of the season.

The Formula 1 circus begins the European leg of the 2019 season at this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix. 

A dramatic weekend in Baku proved that Mercedes very much remains the team to beat in the 2019 Formula 1 season.

“I am so stupid. I am so stupid.” Charles Leclerc has taken this phrase as his go-to self-criticism in Formula 1, it seems.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes – 8

- If anyone had doubts over Mercedes being in another league they were ended by an easy win in Baku, and, as Lewis Hamilton remembered, after Ferrari updated their car it also proved that the team is working brilliantly.

You would have been laughed out of Mercedes’ hospitality unit if you had suggested during the first week of pre-season testing that just two months later, the team would be toasting a fourth consecutive one-two finish to mark the best start to a season in Formula 1 history.

- It was cold late in the afternoon this Saturday in Baku - so cold that the TV reporters were asking FOM’s chief press officer Luca Colajanni for heaters!

In keeping with the theme of the 2019 Formula 1 season thus far, Mercedes once again capitalised on Ferrari’s slip-up in qualifying for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Saturday to snatch away an unlikely front row lock-out.

- Claire Williams was not a happy boss after the damage caused by a drain cover cost “some hundred thousand pounds”, just as they are trying to take the pressure out of the manufacturing team.

Baku has managed to quickly establish a habit for the unexpected in its short spell on the Formula 1 calendar, with the last two races ranking among the most unpredictable in the sport’s recent history.

- The Azerbaijan GP has quickly become one of F1’s favourite races, especially after the unexpected results from the last two years that have seen six different drivers finish on the podium.

With the first set of flyaway races almost complete, Formula 1 returns to Azerbaijan this weekend for round four of the 2019 season.

After seemingly being opposed to using team orders last season, Ferrari has dramatically flipped its philosophy around which is already playing a pivotal role in its Formula 1 world title charge in 2019.

The Chinese Grand Prix somewhat failed to live up to the hype surrounding Formula 1’s milestone 1000th race, but it did serve up plenty of talking points.

So much of the post-Chinese Grand Prix focus lay on Ferrari: its use of team orders; its strategic confusion; its failure – again – to put up any kind of fight for victory.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes – 9

With a final recap from the paddock at the Shanghai International Circuit, here is Michael Lamonato's notebook.

For all of the hype surrounding Formula 1’s 1,000th world championship race, Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix turned out to be a fairly forgettable affair.

Confusion reigned supreme at the end of Chinese Grand Prix qualifying, as Formula 1 drivers diced for track position to ensure they could get in their final flying laps.

Recapping all of the news and notes following Saturday in Shanghai, here is Michael Lamonato's paddock notebook.

We may not even be three races in to the 2019 Formula 1 season, but the pendulum has already swung quite considerably between the grid’s leading teams and drivers.

Recapping all of the news and notes following Friday in Shanghai, here is Michael Lamonato's paddock notebook.

Recapping all of the news and notes following Thursday in Shanghai, here is Michael Lamonato's paddock notebook.