Pit Chat: Go home Formula 1, you’re drunk

Editor

Our heads still hurt trying to pick apart everything from the Azerbaijan Grand Prix but, as headaches go, this is one we will gladly have every race weekend.

Where to start?!

Under pressure

Jolyon Palmer was the victim of more bad luck as he continues his increasingly desperate search for much-needed points. A fuel leak ruled him out of qualifying and a race retirement on lap 7 followed. But, he still didn’t do himself any favours.

Take this petulant interview for example…

And if that wasn’t bad enough, there was this rather embarrassing moment…

Then Turn 8 in FP2 happened…

SOS

But at least Palmer has the full support and sympathy from his team-mate Nico Hulkenberg…

“Not necessarily what works for me will work for him,” said Hulkenberg, when asked by Sky Sports if he can do anything to help (silly question).

“I think as a driver you have to find and develop your own way and get yourself in happy place with the car, so there is not much I can do.”

In other words: Sink or swim, buddy.

What’s all the fuss about?

Given how the race unfolded, it can be easy to forget that FP2 was also very eventful as drivers struggled with the concept that Turn 8 was actually a turn and not a straight down to a separate track.

As car after car ran off, we can’t help but wonder what all the fuss was about down there…

Ah, that explains it!

Pretty in pink

Formula 1 fashionista Esteban Ocon asked for opinions about his new race overalls for Baku and opinions is what he got. The replies under this tweet made for excellent viewing.

After weighing up exactly what he reminds us of, we have come to this definitive conclusion.

Tease me, tease me

Force India are having trouble seizing opportunities on the track of late, but they are certainly on the ball off it…

Alonso section

Whilst on the subject of Alonso, he was involved so much over the weekend that we have been left with no option to give him his very own section in this Pit Chat.

First came the usual retirement (but thankfully just in practice this time). Wonder how much Alonso wanted the car to keep rolling all the way into the Caspian Sea?

A tangle with Ricciardo in qualifying then brought this wonderful comment…

Alonso: “Our speed is that slow that they think we are on a slow lap but no this is our speed, we are starting a timed lap so they get surprised a bit.”

And even before he managed to collect both his and McLaren-Honda’s first points of the season, we reckon he knows who he is going to be racing for next season. He was far too happy all weekend long.

Eric Boullier: “Most painful weekend I’ve ever had.”

Fernando Alonso: “It’s been quite positive for me.”

He was spotted getting into a Mercedes after all…

Picture perfect

We interrupt our regular schedule to bring you some breaking news: Kevin Magnussen does not like oysters.

Tried oysters for the first time yesterday. Not my cup of tea ???

A post shared by Kevin Magnussen (@kevinmagnussen) on

Thank God there were no more photos released after this point. It looks like it’s going to get a little bit messy.

Eat your words

What will also be proving difficult to swallow are the following words from Dutch TV Ziggo Sport. At one point in FP2, Lance Stroll was running as high as P4…

“Take a picture, pin it on the wall above your bed. That won’t happen often.”

After Sunday, it is probably time to start redecorating the house with Stroll ‘shoey’ wallpaper. The second image in particular will look great as a feature wall.

Wheel of misfortune

We always look forward to Kimi Raikkonen’s contribution, but him screaming for a steering wheel was not the highlight we were expecting this weekend.

 

Seeing red

Ok, we can’t hold off any longer. Let’s get on to that Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel moment, although you have to keep reminding Vettel which one…

In case you forget again, Seb, it’s this one…

The FIA also made us laugh with their official verdict on the incident.

‘Potentially dangerous’. And we suppose the sky is potentially blue.

Oh, Johnny

Vettel’s interview wasn’t the only uncomfortable one. Step forward Johnny Herbert…

Oh, Ted

And step forward Ted Kravitz, who stirred the pot a little too much this weekend. Here’s Toto Wolff’s reply when Ted tried to chip away at Hamilton’s headrest issue.

Wolff: “I’m not going to blame anybody and I’m not going to let you start to blame anybody… you already have a tendency in your question which I am not accepting.”

Shut. Down.

Last word

You could waste an entire day trying to describe the Azerbaijan Grand Prix; turns out Daniel Ricciardo can capture it pretty well.

Roll on Austria.