![]() This race was hardly a runaway and the podium was tightly contested. Matt Weaver: It’s admittedly redundant, but how can you not select the finish to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix again? For non-F1 fans, you have to Google the Bottas versus Stroll battle for second. Stroll became the only non-Mercedes, Red Bull or Ferrari driver to stand on the podium all season, and his gritty underdog performance showcased his true potential. However, no one gave Bottas the memo, and he used his Drag Reduction System to clinch second just inches before the line, beating Stroll by just +0.105. Ricciardo’s maneuver for the win was a moment of sheer perfection, but it was the battle for second place that captured my imagination as Bottas hunted down the Williams of Lance Stroll - the Canadian delivering his best weekend of the season.īottas was closing in on Stroll at a rate of knots, but when rounding the final proper corner of the circuit, it looked as though Stroll had second place in the bag. ![]() Sam Hall: Once again, I have to praise the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Opinion: If the product is good, who cares what the F1 logo looks like?īest Finish: Regardless of the overall race, select the best finish of the year.Here’s to hoping changes come to the circuit soon because this track isn’t working for even the most die-hard of Formula 1 die-hards. This year was especially tough to watch because there wasn’t a single on-track overtake following the lap 1 crash and safety car. Matt Weaver: Again, I’m a fan of Hermann Tilke, but the Sochi Autodrom just doesn’t produce, especially with the current rules package. I feel for those who had to edit a television highlights package as there was nothing to get excited about and no tension as the field spread out and circulated in a processional manner, like slot cars on parade. After the lap 1 safety car caused by Grosjean and Palmer, not one single on-track pass was made. What a letdown that was!įernando Alonso retired on the parade lap, Romain Grosjean and Jolyon Palmer collided at turn 1 and then nothing until the flag where Bottas collected his maiden Grand Prix victory. Having then been spoiled with two absolutely incredible Grands Prix in China and Bahrain, fans were prepared for more of the same in Russia. Before the season got underway, there were concerns that overtaking may come at a premium in 2017, and after the opener in Australia - itself an underwhelming event - it became clear that there was a real problem. ![]() Sam Hall: This has got to be the Russian Grand Prix. Worst Race: Which race from 2017 was the ultimate snoozer? I’m a fan of Hermann Tilke drawn circuits and street courses in general, and the Baku City Circuit delivers. I thought the inaugural Azerbaijan Grand Prix was full of promise and was looking forward to what a second offering would produce this past June. Matt Weaver: Azerbaijan for all the reasons Sam outlined above. Lewis Hamilton took pole position as we came to expect throughout 2017, but that was the only part of the weekend to follow any of the traditional script.Įngine failures, crashes, Sebastian Vettel losing his cool and deliberately colliding with Hamilton behind the safety car, Vettel’s subsequent penalty being negated by Hamilton’s headrest coming loose meaning he too would need to pit again, Daniel Ricciardo taking advantage to top the podium after an incredible turn one lunge on a safety car restart, Valtteri Bottas’ dramatic last-gasp rush to snatch second place - I could continue. ![]() This was more than compensated for in 2017. Debuting on the calendar in 2016, the track looked like a real handful, but the race itself had failed to live up to the hype. Without further ado, here is what Formula 1 provided the racing community in 2017.īest Race: Select the best overall race of the year Check back all week as Formula 1, NASCAR and Ind圜ar all get report cards to determine the most memorable moments of the most recent season. Autoweek Racing is ringing in the New Year with a look back at the best and worst of the 2017 season.
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