One week at one track doesn't tell us much of anything for an entire season.
Ferrari have been in the mix in quali and on race day, and that's more than we could say about them for large portions of the last few seasons. Everyone is chasing ultra fine margins and infinitesimal gains but Ferrari seem to have recovered from their abysmal tire wear issues and the self destructing power units pretty admirably, and now people are going to nitpick them for not being world champions over night.
Some people (media especially) just don't appreciate how close the competition is right now.
I think Charles was/is expecting the team to tell the outgoing driver to cool off and let him be the clear #1 for the rest of this season. Carlos just isn't going to do that.
He plays the team game when it suits him but he and his family are well versed in the politics of motorsport. Carlos knows surrendering to Charles at this point serves no purpose.
More spicy overtakes are coming, from both drivers.
We're watching Lando and George finally getting a taste of fighting at the front and learning how to race one another in machinery that's more evenly matched. I'm loving it.
I haven't watched the post race interviews yet but my guess would be Lando will regret giving too much focus to Max at the start and positioning himself poorly to defend from anyone else. A lesson learned for next weekend.
Merc seems to have genuinely taken a step in either understanding or developing their car finally. Right now they are still a step behind McLaren but I suspect that will ebb and flow depending on the tracks and conditions.
Lando was calm and collected on team radio all race, and showed the progress the team has made when he confidently chose to chase Max instead of looking behind. The car, team, and driver are harmonizing and it's wonderful to watch.
Ferrari, of course, refuses to get out of their own way. The inter team battles should be fun to watch for the rest of the season.
Oh, and Alpine got camera time that wasn't just the cars banging together! Bravo!
https://sh.itjust.works/post/21540624