There was more drama to come

The story of the F1 title race so far

March 25: Australian GP

Mercedes came into the season opener as heavy favourites despite giving little away at pre season testing, and backed that tag up in Melbourne qualifying as Lewis Hamilton blew the competition away, canada goose outlet london uk taking pole by 0.6s. A confident Hamilton even told last year’s title rival Sebastian Vettel, who qualified third behind team mate Kimi Raikkonen, that he hoped to “wipe the smile off your face” with his lap.

It was all going so well for Hamilton, who had built up a three second advantage over Raikkonen and canada goose outlet mall Vettel at the time of his Lap 19 pit stop, before a Virtual canada goose outlet montreal Safety Car was deployed thanks to Romain Grosjean’s stranded Haas.

canada goose coats A glitch in Mercedes’ computer software meant Hamilton wasn’t warned that he was vulnerable and, as he had to abide to a set time under the VSC, Vettel came in canada goose outlet authentic for what canada goose clothing uk was in effect a free stop, saving him over 10 seconds of lap time and enabling him to re emerge canada goose outlet in uk just ahead of a bewildered world champion. canada goose coats

Vettel then held the Mercedes at bay, admitting he “got a bit lucky” in a Ferrari car he was struggling to control. Red Bull, meanwhile, finished fourth and sixth but showed glimpses of their race winning potential, with Daniel Ricciardo the fastest man on canada goose outlet uk track.

Canada Goose online Drivers’ Championship standings Position Driver Team Points 1 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 25 2 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 18 3 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari canada goose outlet online store review 15 4 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 12 6 Max Verstappen Red Bull 8 8 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 4 Canada Goose online

Canada Goose sale April 8: Bahrain GP Canada Goose sale

canadian goose jacket There was nothing fortunate about this one. Not since 2004 had Ferrari started a Formula 1 season with successive victories, canada goose outlet toronto but Vettel was helping the Scuderia lay down an impressive canada goose outlet early marker. canadian goose jacket

Vettel was superb in qualifying in leading a Ferrari one two, boosted by the fact Hamilton would start eight places back thanks to a fourth quickest time and a five place grid penalty for a gearbox canada goose outlet winnipeg change. A day later Vettel held off Valtteri Bottas, canadagooseoutlete in the sister Mercedes, on ailing tyres, defending superbly in the closing laps.

Canada Goose Outlet It was a damage limitation act for Hamilton and a good one at that as he canada goose kensington parka uk finished third, recovering from an early collision with Max Verstappen, who retired from the race along with Red Bull team mate Ricciardo. Raikkonen also would not finish after dramatically colliding with a Ferrari mechanic in the pit lane. Canada Goose Outlet

canada goose coats on sale Two races in, and Vettel already held a 17 point advantage in the standings. canada goose coats on sale

Drivers’ Championship standings Position Driver Team Points 1 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 50 2 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 33 3 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 22 canada goose parka uk 5 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 15 7 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 12 10 Max Verstappen Red Bull 8

Canada Goose Jackets April 15: Chinese GP Canada Goose Jackets

Collisions, changes of the lead and incredible overtakes; the Chinese GP had it all.

canada goose There were big questions about Mercedes’ pace, or lack of, after Ferrari secured another front row lockout, but Bottas had managed to get ahead canada goose outlet uk sale of pole sitter Vettel after the first round of pit stops. Neither of the leading drivers, however, were able to pit for new tyres upon the deployment of the Safety Car giving their rivals behind them, apart from Hamilton who was left out by Mercedes, a significant advantage on fresh rubber. canada goose

canada goose deals But while canada goose outlet in canada Verstappen seemed best placed to attack at the restart, the Dutchman went off track while trying to canada goose outlet store quebec pass Hamilton before shunting into Vettel, who span and dropped back, and it was Ricciardo who made the most of Red Bull’s pace as he sensationally surged from sixth to first in the space of 10 laps. canada goose deals

Hamilton finished fourth and Vettel eighth, but F1 2018 appeared to have two new title contenders in Ricciardo and Bottas.

Drivers’ Championship standings Position Driver Team Points 1 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 54 2 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 45 3 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 40 4 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 37 5 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 30 8 Max Verstappen Red Bull 18

buy canada goose jacket April 29: Azerbaijan GP buy canada goose jacket

canada goose clearance A year on from their Baku antics of 2017, Vettel safely led Hamilton off the line but after both pitted early on for soft tyres, Bottas canada goose jacket outlet sale extended his first stint and was canada goose outlet us set to take full advantage after a Ricciardo Verstappen collision triggered a Safety Car and what was essentially a free stop for the race leader. canada goose clearance

canada goose store Upon the restart, a determined Vettel lunged into Turn One in an attempt to retake control, but locked up and lost three places in the process as Hamilton made it a Mercedes one two behind Bottas. There was more drama to come, however, as with just four laps remaining Bottas ran over debris on the start finish straight and suffered a race ending puncture. canada goose store

canada goose clearance sale Not at his best and not happy with his car, but Hamilton had inherited a canada goose outlet jackets win and was canada goose outlet factory in the lead of the championship for the first time this season. canada goose clearance sale

Drivers’ Championship standings Position Driver Team Points 1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 70 2 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 66 3 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 48 4 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 40 5 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 37 8 Max Verstappen Red Bull 18

May 13: Spanish GP

Hamilton led from the front and won, while Ferrari suffered. It was the perfect afternoon as far as four time double world champions Mercedes were concerned.

Canada Goose Parka Vettel jumped Bottas off the line and though he was never truly close to the pole sitting Hamilton, he was running second as late as lap 41 of 66. But canada goose outlet parka the German dropped to fourth when a second stop for fresh tyres behind a Virtual Safety Car backfired, with Bottas and Verstappen in the Red Bull finishing ahead of him. Canada Goose Parka

buy canada goose jacket cheap Raikkonen retired in the other Ferrari to make it their worst day of an encouraging 2018 season so far, while it was Hamilton who now held a 17 point title advantage. buy canada goose jacket cheap

canada goose black friday sale Drivers’ Championship standings Position Driver Team Points 1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 95 2 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 78 3 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 58 4 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 48 5 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 47 6 Max Verstappen Red Bull 33 canada goose black friday sale.