2018 European GP : Drivers of the Day

The European Grand Prix produced a thrilling race with overtakes aplenty around the flowing Brno circuit and an incredible battle for 2nd on the final lap, but it also produced yet another masterclass from a Tornado driver, strengthening their cause for another championship, maybe both. Of the 22 drivers, who was brilliant in Brno?

5. Vaino Kimminen

Having taken the championship lead away from Alessandro Farina, Vaino Kimminen had become the chased rather than the chaser. After another decent qualifying performance in the top ten, the race was going just as well before engaging in the championship battle people were waiting for. Both Farina and Kimminen raced firmly but respectfully during the first stint with Farina winning out before crashing out on his lonesome. Kimminen then found himself in a multicar battle for 2nd and once again kept his head, benefitting from a late error from the other Gojira to finish 4th and extend his championship lead.

4. Nolan Bryant

Although not spectacular, Nolan Bryant has been a consistent number two driver to his team leader throughout 2018 with many points finishes, but no podiums to add to the one he scored at Macau last season. Despite not qualifying well, Bryant steadily worked his way up the order during the first stint and after the first round of pitstops, he was up to 7th having started 15th. He made up another position on lap 21 at the expense of Sebastian Vettel and remained in 6th place come the end of the race, strengthening Shake ‘n’ Bake’s hold on 3rd in the championship.

3. Fernando Alonso

One thing the Shake ‘n’ Bake car has been this season is reliable with only six retirements all season, and after a difficult spell from Spielberg to Spa, Fernando Alonso has rediscovered his form with a podium at Monza and another at Brno, but what looked like a simple run to 2nd became one he had to work for it towards the end of the race. From 4th on the grid, he made light work of Tomas Gonzalez off the line and overtook polesitter Kevin Magnussen into turn 5 during the first lap. He couldn’t do anything about the flying Charles Leclerc, so he worked to secure 2nd, but it came under threat in the closing stages from three drivers and the last three laps were spent staving off a feisty Catharina Caracciola.

2. Catharina Caracciola

The FJR driver has hit a purple patch of late with points in all races from Silverstone onwards including two consecutive podium finishes at the Hungaroring and her favourite circuit, Spa-Francorchamps. FJR were very fast in the practice sessions, but Caracciola opted for a heavy race set-up which meant she qualified 13th, two and a half seconds slower than polesitter Magnussen. A good start left her 11th in the opening laps and from there, she steadily progressed up the order, overtaking Lewis Hamilton for 9th on lap 3 and pressuring Daniel Ricciardo into an error on lap 5. After a relatively late first stop, she continued her progress and caught James Clark napping into turn 8 at half distance before overtaking Kimminen for 3rd on lap 31. In the final laps, she fought off Clark for 3rd and piled the pressure on Alonso, but had to settle for the final place on the podium.

1. Charles Leclerc

Much like at Silverstone, Charles Leclerc was completely peerless. He took his best career qualifying result with 3rd and immediately took the lead going into the first corner with a great start. His first stint was all about steadily building the gap over the rest of the field and looked in complete control doing so. The second and third stints were more of the same with Alonso keeping the Monegasque in relative check during the middle phase before Leclerc unleashed his true pace in the final stint and went on to win by nearly 25 seconds.