Grand Prix Rejects

Nominations are open!

1) Sergio Perez: Outstanding defensive work in a slower car against Hamilton; a well-deserved podium.

2) Valterri Bottas: Takes the victory in the type of weather conditions he's often struggled in. No mistakes, just a consistently quick drive.

For some extra nominations:

Charles Leclerc - An outstanding drive, arguably had the podium in the bag until his team pit him.

Esteban Ocon - A no-stopper. You love to see it

Sergio Perez: another podium at a wet Turkish GP.

Valtteri Bottas: flawless drive, Verstappen never came even close to him.

Carlos Sainz: kept me awake for the first race half

1. Valtteri Bottas. A year ago he frankly embarrassed himself around here. To come back 11 months later and pump in this sort of performance in very similar weather conditions deserves some applause.

2. Estefan Ocon. Scored a point on tyres balder than Kurt Angle's head.

1. Bottas. Yes, he's in a Mercedes, but what a way to silence the doubters after last year and Hungary. Too bad he has to deal with the clownshow in Hinwil next year.
2. Carlos Sainz for salvaging 8th from starting 20th.

Honourable mentions go to Checo (I had to dock a few marks for squeezing Gasly into Alonso at T1) and the Alfas for beating a guy who...*checks notes*...was a race winner just under a month ago.

(1) Bottas - so this is what happens when you are not the number 2 driver. Excellent work

(2) 20 cars finished! In a wet race when we are towards the end of life of many engines there were no race-ending collisions nor any mechanical failures - remarkable.

Also, the number of overtakes when there was no DRS...

Esteban Ocon for finishing without a pit stop. Honorable mention to Leclerc for a very good performance, I didn't expect him to have such good pace compared to Bottas and Verstappen – he even looked like a potential winner for a quick moment.

Bottaz for obvious reasons.

Red Bull for having a livery vaguely reminiscent of a SUUUPPPPAAAAA AGGGGUUUUURRRRRIIIIIII.

I'll go for Sainz and Bottas

Ocon for scoring a point with a no-stopper. Seriously, that was pretty incredible.

The Ferraris. The car worked really well this weekend and both drivers got some good airtime out of it. (Points docked for Sainz's terrible pit stop).

I'll say driving standards all round. Minus the first lap and that chop by Mazepin and it was almost entirely clean. Good job all round from everyone.

1- Bottas- Yes the Merc was by far the best car on the track this weekend. But I cannot begrudge him this win considering how badly the team has treated him in the previous two races. Kept Max quiet all day and did a clean pass on a failing Charles Le Clerc (which Bottas hasn't done so well with in recent years) 11 months after THAT weekend at Turkey Bootas redeemed himself.

2- Sainz- From 20th to 8th and did his work on the track with some great overtakes. Very good job. Been impressive all season and making the most of that Ferrari seat.

The top team’s number 2 drivers: I’m giving both Perez and Bottas a joint mention here. They’ve both taken a fair share of stick this season but Turkey was a day they stood up to be counted.

Perez gave Hamilton a taste of his own medicine both in terms of hard driving combat and also seeing the number 2 Red Bull cause Hamilton a headache when too often it’s the number 2 Merc doing it to Max. With better luck and judgement he’d have had 3 podiums in a row so hopefully he’ll keep this going.

And as for Bottas well this is a fantastic redemption story. After the worst race of his career 12 months ago he turns out one of his best in not too dissimilar conditions. Verstappen had no answer for him and his move on Leclerc was very assertive. He displayed everything I’ve criticised him for not showing in the past so hats off to him.

Carlos Sainz: On this evidence I can’t wait to see what he can do with this engine without a grid penalty

Esteban Ocon: Is that the first time someone has ever no stopped in a Grand Prix? Fair play for getting a point from that

Tell me you saw a rainy Istanbul and expected Bottas to put in an untroubled win.
The second nomination will be Sainz for all the overtakes he made. They were so easy they weren't too exciting to watch, but that only bolsters the point....

1. Sainz - Great start and clawed his way back up the field.

2. Bottas - Dominant

Sainz for that race from last

Ocon for being Mika Salo

Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:
Esteban Ocon: Is that the first time someone has ever no stopped in a Grand Prix? Fair play for getting a point from that

Last time it happened was the 1997 Monaco GP, when Mika Salo scored Tyrrell's last ever points. (If you discount races like this year's Belgian GP.)

The 1961 Dutch GP is also interesting. It is the only GP with no recorded pits stops whatsoever. It is also the first GP where every driver finished the race.

Deffo the leading teams' 2nd drivers - both played very important roles.

1. Carlos Sainz - if it wasn't for that lousy pitstop he would have been right on Hamilton's tail at the end?

1. Bottas - not known as a great wet-weather driver but he won. Great especially considering he hasn't been anywhere near earlier in the season
2. Ocon - no-stopper deserves a mention here.

dr-baker wrote:Last time it happened was the 1997 Monaco GP, when Mika Salo scored Tyrrell's last ever points. (If you discount races like this year's Belgian GP.)

The 1961 Dutch GP is also interesting. It is the only GP with no recorded pits stops whatsoever. It is also the first GP where every driver finished the race.

Ted Kravitz tried to claim it was Panis at Monaco in 96 but I knew that was wrong. Annoyingly, I just couldn't remember that Salo was the last one.

1. Esteban Ocon - Getting a point in a no-stop strategy for the first time since Mika Salo 1997.

2. Valtteri Bottas - His best drive for Mercedes, period. Wish he performed like that all year long.

Shout-out to Carlos Sainz for another Jenson Buttn-style drive in JB's conditions and to the great drive by Sergio Pérez and Charles Leclerc as well.

Find out who splashed their way to IIDOTR around Istanbul Park right here tonight!