Every session I was pointing at the timing, saying "Bottas? BOTTAS?" Boy done good. I am not a Maldonado fan
whatsoever so that made his success even sweeter
I like F1, but I can't say that I'm a fan of any particular driver. When I first started watching there were names I heard a lot, like Kimi, David, Rubens, Ralph and Michael - and all of them seemed to be very professional. As I learned more about the sport, drivers came and went. One day, I watched a rookie named Lewis find himself on a podium for the very first time. He was so surprised, modest, nearly apologetic, and so well mannered that it was difficult not to like the star struck kid. Yet the way he handled himself a year or two later when he was frustrated and nothing was going right... made me change my mind.
I did learn something though... that famous Senna quote:
By being a racing driver means you are racing with other people. And if you no longer go for a gap that exists, you're no longer a racing driver, because we are competing.
So.... I can't
blame Hamilton or Maldonado, or anyone else (new or old) for going for that gap. They are race car drivers after all, but I do still have that same perspective as a fan of the sport that I had in the beginning: I enjoy seeing driver's that know what a privilege they have been given, and continue to respect that rare opportunity. I enjoy watching drivers who have manners and represent their teams and behave professionally.
And I love seeing the underdog win, or the b-driver win, (or the bridesmaid) or a return to glory for a team that had it once.. or to see some 'new' kid surpass everyone's expectations.
Given all of my odd criteria and likes, I think it would be easy to see why Lewis, Sebastian, and Fernando can really irritate me at times. I don't wish them any harm... but I'm not buying that "I deserve" mentality one bit. Young drivers with equal skill get turned away every year - and yet I know - it would be a boring sport if every driver was an accommodating, and gracious gentleman like Rubens...
So yes... Go Valtteri!
Go Jean-Eric!
Go Daniel!
Go Adrian!
-all of whom advanced to Q3!
Bravo!
Well done.