Inside Line F1 Podcast - Hamilton Finally Picks A Penalty For Driving Slowly

Lewis Hamilton has used 'driving slow' as a tactic in the past. Yes, it was at the 2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he won the race, but lost the Drivers' Championship to Nico Rosberg. However, at the epic 2017 Bahrain Grand Prix, Hamilton was penalised for driving slow ahead of Daniel Ricciardo. The karma of the Motorsport world coming to bite Hamilton back?

Mercedes were outclassed by Ferrari in every department, tyre strategy being the most evident one. In fact, Mercedes had lost out to Red Bull Racing too. The reigning World Champion need to sharpen themselves to fight external competition after years of intra-team battles. As for Ferrari, someone needs to remind them that they've a second car too!

After the first three races, it is appearing that positions 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 10th are already blocked for a few drivers. This means there's fewer positions to fight for in the top 10. But for McLaren-Honda, after being bored of DNFs, they decided to lodge a DNS!

Finally, we welcome Turkey and their Turn 8 back to Formula 1, let's hope they get onto the calendar soon enough. We would also like to welcome back Jenson Button for his one-off appearance for McLaren at the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix. He's either bold or dumb to race in Monaco without any testing whatsoever. And of course, our best wishes and prayers to Billy Monger and his family. Tune in!

(Season 2017, Episode 15)

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Buddh Preview: F1 looking for the perfect Indian recipe

It seems to be an annual event these days that F1 pitches up at a new venue. But 2011's debut venue carries more weight than most. This is because F1 is holding a race in India for the first time ever.

This of course represents a massive opportunity for F1. To use terms that the sport's power brokers understand, India is a highly populous potential 'market', a point that's given particular centrality by India's status as a coming force in the world economy.

However, F1's record in establishing new events in its recent eastwards expansion is, well, patchy. Of course, the round at Singapore, and at Japan before it, have been clear successes. But we've seen in the likes of Malaysia, Turkey and China that local interest in these 'new' countries can be hard to sustain or even to establish in the first place. Even Korea a fortnight ago, in but its second race, showed some signs of faltering.

The Buddh International Circuit layout
Credit: Ra-smit / CC

Still, today's practice session seemed a good start for the Indian Grand Prix. The Buddh International Circuit has received a universal thumbs up. The layout is typical Herman Tilke, one part long straights book-ended by sharp but wide corners, which should promote plenty of overtaking, the other half distinguished by sequences of rapid curves, one reminiscent of turn 8 at Turkey. The average speed is pretty quick by modern F1 standards and there is a refreshing abundance of elevation change as well. Some are calling it Tilke's best effort at a racing circuit so far.

The one bum note is that, as James Allen has pointed out, there's almost nothing in the circuit that is distinctively Indian, disappointingly. Watching practice today you could have been watching an F1 practice session in any country. Bit of a missed opportunity there.

Turkish GP Report: Vettel imperious as always

Ignoring the final laps of the Chinese Grand Prix three weeks ago, the whole F1 season could be summarised as Sebastian Vettel being imperious at the front, while a lot went on behind him. This also sums up today's Turkish Grand Prix.

It was another diverting race with a lot of dicing, that never gave the viewer a moment's peace, but while all this action was going on Seb remained in command in first place. While a couple of opponents were able to keep him honest Seb never seriously looked in danger of relinquishing his lead and the win. He's got that Ascari/Clark/Senna-esque ability to dominate a race from the front down to a nicety.

It's now three wins and a second place from four races this year for Seb, giving him 93 points from a possible 100. While we're still in early days, but it's hard to see what can stop him doubling up on his world championships come the season's end.

Not even Webber, also in Red Bull wheels, could seriously challenge team mate Vettel today. Though he managed to stay within a handful of seconds of him the feeling persisted that Seb had plenty in hand.

Istanbul Qually: Seb makes it four out of four

Sebastian Vettel claimed pole position for tomorrow's Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul Park. If that sounds rather familiar, that's because it is: it's Seb's fourth pole from four races so far this year, the first time that's been done since 1999 (when Mika Hakkinen did it).

It was comfortable stuff for Seb, as it has been in every qually session this year virtually. Indeed, Seb was content that the time set from his first run in final qually would be sufficient for pole, sitting out while most of those behind him scrapped for the lower places. It was visual testimony to his dominance.

For the first time this year Seb is joined on the front row by team mate Mark Webber, though the Australian will be less content with the four tenths of a second gap between him and the similarly equipped pole man. Both Red Bull pilots saved a set of soft tyres by only running once in the final session, so while the oppostion usually get a bit closer to the Bulls come race day, this factor will make it more difficult for the Bulls to be touched tomorrow.

Istanbul Preview: Seb still on top as Merc make a step

The Turkish Grand Prix in Istanbul is the first race of F1's European season (despite the track actually being on the Asian side of the Bosporus), a race meeting usually associated with a variety of new technical pieces on cars up and down the grid. In other words, it is usually here that we find out where everyone really is at.

And in spite of these developments in the past three weeks, in which the teams' staff no doubt resembled characters in those manic, speeded up comedy films of the 1920s, it appears that Sebastian Vettel and his Red Bull remain the package to beat. Even after sitting out most of Friday, with a smash in the rain in first practice, forcing him to sit out the second, dry, session, he calmly re-asserted himself in the order of things by claiming top spot in practice this morning. Indicative of a team and driver absolutely at the top of their game.

Pole is probably Seb's for the taking, in part because Red Bulls have more of a DRS advantage than the cars around them such as the McLaren (which can be used liberally in qualifying and practice). Things nevertheless should be closer come race day, and Mercedes appear to have confirmed their progress seen in China. Schumi and Rosberg ended up second and third this morning, and look like they're somewhere near McLaren's level at least. There are also big bumps in the braking zone at Turn 12, which the Mercs are riding much more comfortably than the long-time stiff McLarens. Also, Seb's Red Bull had its nth case of KERS trouble his morning as well, they don't look any closer to having it running reliably, which may make them easy meat on the straights tomorrow, if anyone can get close to them.