The 15 best Grands Prix of the decade elected by Internet users (1/3)

2018 Chinese Grand Prix: 1 vote

Daniel Ricciardo never win a boring race. During his last year with Red Bull, the smileiest pilot of the decade carries out a festival of incisive attacks in Shanghai. 

Sailing in a modest fifth place, the Australian's hopes of success appear much reduced heading into the final quarter effort. It was then that the pilots Toro Rosso Pierre Gasly et Brendon Hartley cling to the pin. 

The Safety Car is dispatched to allow the area to be cleared. The neutralization comes too late for the leaders to pit and change tires. In Daniel Ricciardo's radio, the eagerness of his engineer is crucial: he takes advantage of it and turns towards his garage.

Equipped with new tires, overtaking multiplies, until the virile but correct offensive on Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes). Victory is in your pocket!

“It was cool, rejoiced the current pilot Renault. Tight but fair, and it's great fun for both the pilots and the TV. It's still more enjoyable than quietly overtaking on a straight line.… ” 

2010 Canadian Grand Prix: 1 vote

This edition does not get the recognition it deserves. It profoundly influenced the physiognomy of the F1 of the following years, and particularly the requests from the FIA ​​issued to Pirelli.

At that time, Bridgestone was the sole manufacturer of the discipline and offered two choices of tires at each round: “prime” (hard) and “option” (soft). During testing, the cool temperatures prevented the drivers from heating the tires as they saw fit. 

Additionally, the track was resurfaced after a year-long absence from the F1 calendar. These two factors plunge the teams into the unknown before the race. They do not know how the envelopes will behave and at what rate they will degrade. 

Bridgestone is also worried and plans two or even three pit stops on Sunday. The Red Bulls start with premium tires, when the Ferrari and McLaren (including the pole sitter Lewis Hamilton) are optional. Logically, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel will end up wanting cannon when their opponents will have to manage the pace.

As expected, the options deteriorate prematurely, and the ballet of pit-stops begins very early, from the 6th lap for Jenson Button (McLaren). However, the same evil affects the Red Bulls. Christian Horner's team seems distraught and decides to split the situation in two by once again putting the bonus on leader Mark Webber, and the options on Sebastian Vettel. 

Everyone is then surprised to see the average pace that the German is trailing. This one is in fact the victim of a gearbox problem. As for his Australian teammate, he regains the lead when the trio Hamilton-Alonso-Button returns to the pits a second time.

In short, it smells good for Mark Webber. However, its tires are shot because of theunexpected rise in the thermometer in Quebec ! He has to change envelopes after 50 laps, and he falls far behind the leading trio. 

It wasn't over. The “truck driver” Jenson Button, as fast as he was gentle with his tires, swooped down on the offensive Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) and caught him with a few laps to go. 

These twists and turns, mainly due to defective tires, provided a great spectacle and a high level of suspense. A few months later, the FIA ​​will advise Pirelli to develop a tire with a high level of degradation. 

Well, they pushed the envelope a little too far as Nestlé said (tires exploded at Silverstone in 2013 or at Spa in 2015), before calming things down a little. And today, we returned to a painless format of a single pit-stop.

2014 Hungarian Grand Prix: 1 vote

When we tell you that Daniel Ricciardo is always in exciting races, it's not an exaggeration. His second victory is one of the most incredible, and what's more, acquired in mixed conditions. And that generally means great times in front of your TV.

However, it was far from won. The Hungaroring has a bad reputation for being a turnstile as boring as a circle of goldfish. This was true in the 2000s, but curiously, the following decade turned this idea around. 

So back in 2014. The Mercedes are on another cloud, well only that of Nico Rosberg. Lewis Hamilton, then damn unlucky, must leave latest after his engine broke down. 

In the rain, the Englishman's impossible mission took on water from the second corner, whichhe approaches… head to tail ! During this time, the track dries out, the trajectory widens, but these are typically the trickiest conditions that pilots can encounter. 

Marcus Ericsson (Caterham), Romain Grosjean (Lotus) and Sergio Pérez (Force India) are surprised: 

A sign that the rain is leveling out the performances, the feverish Ferrari of Fernando Alonso finds itself in the lead a few miles from the end. The double world champion can win, but he feels the breath of Daniel Ricciardo on his Hans.

The latter relied on a two-stop strategy. Here again, it benefits from cooler tires than its rivals. But the laps tick by and there are only three laps left before the checkered flag drops. We must act quickly !

Daniel Ricciardo will show off his talents. He rounded the second corner from the outside and screwed Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes). Then, he attacks Fernando Alonso in an aggressive but profitable move. 

Oh, and a little controversy never hurts. At Mercedes, things are turning sour. Lewis Hamilton, coming from nowhere, firmly decided to slow down and let his best enemy Nico Rosberg pass at the end of the race, equipped with better tires. He even goes so far as to pack it down when he wants to overflow it. Atmosphere ! 

2010 South Korean Grand Prix: 2 votes 

Apocalyptic! Are we exaggerating? Not really. The first Formula 1 Grand Prix contested in South Korea ended almost at night, without lighting, in the middle of nowhere! 

But let's not go too fast. 2010 is one of the tightest years in the history of the discipline. Arriving in the Yeongam Plain, five drivers stand within just 31 points. Mark Webber has a small lead over Fernando Alonso (14 units), The Australian has never cherished the dream of being world champion so closely. 

Everything is looking good on the Red Bull side. Sebastian Vettel takes pole ahead of his championship-leading teammate. Alas, the sun gave way to torrential rain on Sunday!

Given the recent laying of the asphalt, the water is unable to drain. The aquaplaning is extreme and the FIA ​​decides to start the race under Safety-Car, then to bring out the red flag for almost an hour. 

Faces are tense. The race resumes behind the Mercedes SLS AMG for a while, before the wild animals are released. “Baby Schumi” takes off.

Behind, the drama occurs! Mark Webber, passes on the soggy astroturf, hits the outside wall, then returns in distress to the trajectory. Nico Rosberg's Mercedes was knocked out, as was the Red Bull, covered in mud. 

The Australian doesn't know it yet, but his only chance to be titled passed under his nose at that moment. 

His colleague Sebastian Vettel is rubbing his hands, finally a way of speaking because he has to tame the numerous puddles. The future four-time champion headed towards triumph until the start of the 46th round. 

The dramatic twist! There car slows down, lets Fernando Alonso's Ferrari pass him, then completely explodes its V8 engine! The plume of smoke turns into fire, and Sebastian Vettel transforms into a firefighter. 

The Red Bull disaster is total. Not only does neither of the two residents see the finish, but what's more, it's rival number 1 who wins! Between dog and wolf, Fernando Alonso raises an angry fist. 

The Asturian takes control of the general classification with 9 points ahead of Mark Webber, and 21 points ahead of the future champion… Sebastian Vettel, winner of the last two races.