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2018 Season: A-Z Highlights - Part 3 (M-R)

2018 Season: A-Z Highlights - Part 3 (M-R)

03-11-2018 08:10
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Bobby Vincent

Join us for part three of our unforgettable moments from this season's Formula One calendar! Have we missed anything? Let us know in the comments section!

Part 1

Part 2

M - Mercedes Dominance

Let's be fair here, Ferrari have had the dominant car for most of the season. The Ferrari power unit has been slightly quicker than the Mercedes one on the straight! However, this may have been the strongest Mercedes performance to date of this turbo hybrid era. Lewis Hamilton made it back-to-back world titles last time out in Mexico and the Silver Arrows are very close to adding to their Constructors' Championships.

N - Norris' McLaren Dream comes true

McLaren junior driver Lando Norris could not have asked for a better 2018. Third in the F2 Drivers' Standings, a few opportunities in the MCL33 (in practices etc.) - impressive form that was awarded with a call-up for the young Brit for the 2019 season. McLaren decided to let Stoffel Vandoorne go (who is now switching to Formula E) and bring Norris in - with the 18-year-old partnering Carlos Sainz in a brand-new McLaren line-up for 2019.

O - Ocon left without a 2019 seat?

Force India driver Esteban Ocon looks set to miss out on a place in the F1 paddock next season - with Lance Stroll almost certainly set to replace the French driver at the side. This is despite having an impressive season; scoring 49 points for Force India. Back-to-back sixth place finishes in Italy and Belgium added to another P6 result in Austria earlier in the season. The 22-year-old will surely have another crack at his F1 career, right?

P - Perez Podium in Baku

An unbelieveable drive from Sergio Perez in Azerbaijan earned Force India their only podium of the season. P3 behind Kimi Raikkonen and race winner, Lewis Hamilton, was perhaps the highlight in a fantastic season (on the track) for the team. In Baku, Perez started five places below his result in P8 - before a sensational drive earned the Mexican driver an eighth podium finish of his career - his fifth for Force India.

Q - Qualifying disaster for Seb and Ferrari

Sebastian Vettel had to start the Japanese Grand Prix way down in eighth on the grid following a nightmare in qualifying. In Q3, Ferrari were caught out by the changing conditions in Japan as the rain fell, making criticial strategy errors in the process; with Vettel running wide on dry tyres on his sole flying lap. It's mistakes like this from Ferrari that may have cost Seb more of a shot at the title.

R - Ricciardo's Monaco Delight

Daniel Ricciardo drove a near-perfect race in Monaco, to win perhaps the most difficult F1 race on the calendar. Ricciardo dominated the whole weekend and led from pole but after his only pit stop in Monte Carlo; the Aussie suffered a power loss at one-third distance. 50 laps to go, and an excellent drive from the Red Bull man - and he managed to hold off Vettel and Hamilton - who completed the podium.