#lucis sprint analysis

[charles-leclerc-official]

China 2024 Sprint Race Analysis

I wasn't planning on doing a sprint analysis. However this sprint actually gave us a lot to talk about, and also finally gave an idea of what racing on this track will look like.

I have pretty strong thoughts on what happened between Carlos and Charles, that is at the end if you are less interested in the op ed reporting element.

Table of Contents

Sprint Start Max and Lewis DRS train: Perez Ferrari: Charles and Carlos - Ferrari Data/footage Analysis Fernando retirement Charles vs Carlos opinion Concluding Thoughts

Sprint Start

The only thing I want to note at the sprint start was Lewis' amazing start to take the lead almost immediately from Lando. Lando then lost grip going into turn 1 which cost him 6 places while he recovered the car. I think the reason he lost grip had more to do with the lack of traction on that turn(we saw many others have issues here) and Lewis taking the better line got the section with the best grip. His inability to defend against Lewis in that first turn cost him the track line and thus the grip and resulted in that big drop in the order. We saw Lewis lose grip in the same turn later in the race so I really think the margin of accuracy for grip on that corner is narrow.

Without the lost of placement so early Lando might have seen a better result, but that loss of grip was very costly.

If anyone knows how to defend a front row start it's Lewis, Lewis' skill really shone into that first turn.

Max and Lewis

Lewis had the lead of the sprint after overtaking Lando until the final corner of lap 9 when Max overtook him.

Max was lagging in the pack at the start of his race, part of the issue was with his battery power setting. Once he fixed that he was moving up the pack very quickly, it was only a matter of time before he was out front.

Max won the sprint with Lewis finishing P2.

Lewis' drive overall was the most impressive this sprint. The WB15 has had a lot of problems and he's been having issues finding the right balance in the car. It's the best result we've seen from this car all season and that is simply due to Lewis' skill on track. Great to see him near the top again. Hopefully this result will have informed a positive direction for Lewis and Merc as far as his car setup goes.

DRS train

The most interesting part of this sprint was the DRS train that went on for essentially 16 laps between Fernando, Carlos, Checo, and Charles.

I have my thoughts on Ferrari's part in this situation below, for now I want to point out that Checo had some really impressive driving here.

While Carlos and Fernando were battling, Checo slid past both of them on the inside of turn 9 on lap 16. This was probably the most impressive move the entire race, just a clean double pass on his part. Checo has been performing great in the RB20 but that was probably the best bit of driving we've seen from him so far this year. That was simply put some solid racing on his part.

Fernando also was not going to be able to battle two Ferraris and a Red Bull. All are faster cars than his own, but he did not give that position up easy to Carlos. He did concede to Checo though, which fair enough, I don't think that Aston could fight the RB20 as it stands.

Fernando unfortunately had to retire his car after a tyre puncture on lap 16.

Ferrari

Charles started P7 and finished P4, while Carlos started P4 and finished P5.

This is the first time this season we've seen what it will look like when Charles and Carlos race wheel to wheel, and it's not looking good(on Carlos' side)

I have more thoughts in the opinion section but having a teammate defend so aggressively against another teammate to the point of causing contact between the cars is unacceptable. Risking damaging both cars is not what any team wants or needs. And the footage makes it abundantly clear that Carlos was the one in the wrong and the cause of the contact.

Carlos had the center line going into 9 on lap 16. Fernando was on the inside but clearly behind. Charles took the outside for the overtake. Carlos then swerved more to the outside crowding Charles off the track. I want to be clear that Carlos had already given Fernando room, and then he moved to push Charles off. This contradicts his statement to the press that they were all fighting and it wasn't his intent. The driving tells a different story.

Charles overtook Carlos on lap 17 going into turn 1. Once he was clear of Carlos his faster pace became clear as he created an immediate gap that Carlos was not going to be able to close.

One thing we saw is that Charles' tyre management gives him the pace advantage over Carlos. If he is within range to overtake that is going to likely come up again in future races. Carlos was not even close at the end there. This overtake did give us a glimpse at what the real difference in pace between them means for the rest of the season.

After a few back and forth's between them Carlos should have conceded. It was clear Charles had the pace and it was just a matter of time before he'd overtake.

I want to point out that Carlos fighting Charles so much might have cost Ferrari a real chance to battle Checo. If he had let Charles pass Charles might have been able to stay within range of Checo and be within DRS. Because Carlos fought Checo was able to create a wide gap so by the time Charles did pass there wasn't a real chance to catch him. So this was not strategically optimal and it can be pinned 100% on Carlos' choices in that turn.

In fact you can see that Charles actually did have the pace necessary to stay closer to Checo. If he would have been able to pass is up in the air, but Carlos did cost Ferrari the chance to at least try to battle Checo for P3. If Charles had been able to get ahead of Checo he had the pace to keep him behind, or at least have a chance at doing so.

Also this serves to highlight that Charles' tyre management is on par with the RB20 or at least not far off, Carlos' tyre management is much further off the pace.

Charles finished P4 in the sprint with Carlos finishing P5.

Data and Footage Analysis

So the data is pretty clear on this. I wanted to show because it supports my argument later and it also demonstrates the difference in tyre management between the two drivers.

Charles' pace was better even in lap 16 when he was stuck behind Carlos. Once he is clear of Carlos after his pass on the first turn of lap 17 the real difference in pace between them becomes clear. Charles had more than a second on Carlos in all remaining laps. This is very likely due to his tyre management. The large difference here also highlights why Carlos should have let Charles pass because this pace difference is not something to fight over. Strategically Carlos should have let Charles pass smoothly, but Charles overtook anyway because his pace was not something Carlos could fight for long.

Note: DRS Charles got from Carlos at the beginning of lap 17 accounted for about 1 - 2 tenths of pace, the rest was all Charles increasing that gap himself.

Now I want to just look at the move from Sainz going into turn 9 on lap 16. He claimed he needed to give Fernando space. Charles said he was being too aggressive and forced him wide. Let's see who's version of events the actual footage supports.

Leading into the turn we can clearly see that Fernando is behind. Carlos has the inside line, Charles has the outside.

Here they are entering turn 9. There is clearly enough space on Carlos' inside for Fernando already. Charles clearly has the outside line.

Here you can see that Carlos has moved further outside. Now since he'd already given room to Fernando the only reason for this would be to fight Charles. And once again Fernando clearly behind. And I will say that some battling between teammates is acceptable. But what happened next did not fall into that category of acceptability.

Here is where Carlos continued to force Charles wide. Also where they got way too close and made some contact.

And here is the final result going into that turn. Carlos has forced Charles completely off the track, and he even has two wheels off the track. This was not about leaving space for Fernando. Does Fernando need the entire track? No. This was Carlos forcing a teammate who had better pace off the track because he could not actually fight his pace.

Either Carlos did this on purpose, which is unacceptable. Or he is telling the truth and didn't realize what he was doing, in which case he is admitting to extremely poor driving on his part.

Either version of events is not a good look for Carlos.

He was overtaken by Charles easily in the next lap. He just did not have the pace and should not have defended this aggressively against his own teammate.

Next I will be sharing my more opinionated thoughts on things relating to Ferrari.

Charles VS Carlos

I want to get into some of my thoughts on this whole battle we saw between Carlos and Charles because I think it was emblematic of the way thing shave been going at Ferrari and with their teammate dynamic on track.

This was unacceptable on Carlos' part. It's that simple.

I have listened to what both drivers have said about the overtake, and the battle we saw between them. I have looked at the footage from many different angles. And Carlos is in the wrong here. Not only that but I do not see how this kind of "racing" from him is going to be good for his career considering he still does not have a seat lined up for 2025.

The fact is Charles was faster. And that wasn't something Carlos was willing to accept.

And this level of battling a teammate, especially to the extent you cause contact and force that teammate off the track(to the extent that lap time had to be deleted) is not acceptable.

I will say that a little back and forth between teammates on track is fine. That wasn't what we saw. This was not only too much fighting of a teammate it was also poor sportsmanship(touching, and pushing off track)

Charles let Carlos pass because he was faster in Japan. Carlos does not do the same. It is this kind of thing coming from Carlos that is a prime example of why Ferrari did not re-new his contract.

Fighting to the point of causing contact between teammates is too far, you can see him move further to the outside even when it's clear he's given Alonso enough space. He was fighting Charles and caused contact. A driver who does not have the pace should not be fighting their teammate so extensively that they cause contact. They are on the same team, risking damage to both cars is again, unacceptable.

As seen above in the data Charles' pace at this point was significantly better than Carlos, he was really showing the difference between them in tyre management. If Carlos had the pace given he was in front after Perez passed then he would have had a larger gap to Charles and Charles would not have been able to catch him. Even fighting "dirty" he was unable to stop the inevitable.

When there is this great of a difference in pace between teammates, a pass is what should happen. Carlos would have been able to tell by the second time Charles caught him that Charles' pace was much better. That should have been his signal to move. He didn't.

Furthermore we hear on team radio exactly how frustrated Charles was over this. He wouldn't have been anywhere near as mad if this was a first time thing, it isn't, and again this display from Carlos is a reason that Ferrari are not keeping him.

I hope Ferrari make it clear that this is not the kind of thing that can be allowed to happen in the future. Risking damage to both cars is not something any team can afford, especially a top team when they are trying to seriously compete with Red Bull.

Charles did everything he should have done. He had the line, but was forced wide. He had the pace and was aggressively fought with.

Final Sprint Thoughts

This was actually one of the best sprints. Lots of action and we saw some really solid racing from a lot of top drivers.

I hadn't planned on doing regular sprint analysis, but if they are all packed like this I might have to. If enough noteworthy things happen in a sprint I'll do it again.

Thank you for reading and I'll be back with my China GP analysis soon!

[theflyindutchwoman]

You’re my fav person to talk about things with cause I love your perspective and analysis. So I’m back 😂 as I finish my second rewatch

Can we talk about Lucy going to Harper after Tim had to shoot that guy in 5x19 and how worried she was for him 😭 her face when she was like “he’s still talking to IA” that was a worried wifey

And the way she wanted to sprint across the station to him 😭😭😭

ALSO I love that Harper has become someone Lucy can go to, for advice or guidance. She needed that.

And to think that it all started with a sleepy Tim and a teasing Lucy… With the softest kiss ever… Only for the episode to end like that! I was so not prepared.

But you're right, she was the epitome of the worried wife here, with her trembling voice and her fidgeting when she went to see Nyla… She barely even reacted to the potential roadblock regarding her promotion. The second she saw Tim, she forgot about it : his well-being was her priority - which is also why I'm so happy with Tim's suggestion to help her study. The way these two balance each other… And the way she was longing to get to him… I too really thought she was going to run to him. And honestly, she needed the physical reassurance as much as him : she must have been terrified when she heard the gunshot, not knowing if he was okay. It was all over her face and in how she was holding onto his arm when they left the station. It was like she was trying to ground them and to take the pain away from him. Also, when she was talking to Nyla, it was still daylight but when she left the station with Tim, I think it was dark outside… She waited the whole time for him (I seriously doubt she went back on patrol in between).

She was barely holding in together and I love that she went straight to Nyla for some comfort and advice. Their relationship is so underrated but it's so good. Harper started as this lone wolf, who underestimated Lucy at first, until she saw her in action and went straight to mentoring her. And not just for the job… Like here, Lucy knew that Nyla would be honest with her and not coddle her. Even when she wanted to sprint across the bullpen, she listened to her advice to wait. As much as I want more interactions between Lucy and Angela, these two are amazing together and it's great that she has someone who is on her side. And you know, it's interesting how Nyla has been in this position of having to calm and reassure either Lucy or Tim about the other several times already. Like when she wanted to ride with Lucy after Day of Death… She knew she had to convince Tim first - going as far as sharing something really personal, when she barely knew him. Or when Tim was badgering her when Lucy was on her first solo undercover op. He was asking for updates and all when really, he wasn't part of the op to begin with, so he didn't have any valid reasons. He wasn't even her training officer anymore. And yet, she agreed to loop in him and never even commented on it. She was so real for that. I truly hope we'll get to see more of Nyla and Lucy together next season - bonus if we get Angela as well!

And thank you 🥰 I absolutely love reading your messages and reactions, it's making this hiatus so much more bearable! I just need to catch up a bit on my rewatch haha.

[rookieforlife]

Hey i’m objective CP fan like yourself. Haven’t watched the game yesterday but see a lot of BS from ones who mustn’t be mentioned. Thought on the game how did Press play. I saw whole thread of paragraph starting with ‘overrated’ so i had to go to objective source. if you watched the game that is.

Hey you! I’ve watched the game but I was paying attention to Arsenal more than anything so when I received your message I went and check the first half again while I was eating.

I’ve read a lot of BS too, and I had to block blogs I didn’t even follow but my mutuals do and well 🙄 the thing is... those opinions don’t come from a football perspective, they’re all too involved in this stupid fight between CP stans (superficial fans who don’t give a fuck about soccer) and MU heads that are not objective and critical of their team. So those stans repeat the same shit over and over again, “they don’t pass the bal to Press blah blah” the thing with that take is that... yeah they don’t pass the ball to her but not because there’s some kind of bad intention, they don’t know how to keep possession and play with an offensive mind, they look scared when they have the ball so the decision making is terrible and they play in the back all the time. I will name a few (hello, this is not hate, I don’t want to kill these players, I don’t want to kill their moms, I don’t want to kill their pets, I don’t care about their lives, it’s just a football point of view, thanks) Zelem lost possession all the time, her set-pieces sucked, and she defended really really bad (Lotte’s goal). Jackie tried hard but it wasn’t her day, she should’ve shot when CP passed her the ball around the 8th minute because that was a great chance. She lost possession more than once, and couldn’t create anything for her teammates. Lauren (who came back from injury in this game, shouldn’t have started imo, I’d have subbed her in the second half), she treats the ball very well, but... her crosses were off, she’s too slow to play in that position (this is a personal opinion) and her passes were often late, though she gave an excellent pass to Christen... and that was pretty much the only clear chance that Press had in the whole game... her shot was predictable and weak, ended up in Manu’s hands. CP had the right attitude, made good runs, made her self available but you know the story. Also, why was she defending Miedema in a corner? that’s ridiculous, she should’ve stayed out of the circle in case there was a rebound because (she’s the fastest player!!!!), she could sprint and cause chaos, LJ was in that position and it makes no sense but “””tactics””” I guess. Toone was horrible, lost possession all the time and fouled too much (Foord and Katie), she missed a great chance created by Staniforth... Lucy had the right attitude as well, she had good interventions from time to time, but still not enough and lost possession as well. When I say -lost possesion- I mean that they made horrible passes, missed some others and were too slow. I’d love to check the passing accuracy stat because it was honestly terrible. And if they had possession, it was mostly because they stayed passing in the back. Ok, I won’t say anything about Martha because it’s not worth it, Millie and Amy were disappointing (see the first Arsenal goal). And the best player on the pitch in the game was ONA, constantly covering her teammates’ mistakes, defending, wanting to attack and going forward (more than the rest because we know that the tactic is to stay in the back, there’s no real plan, sadly, more of the same). And... that’s my opinion (mostly about the first half, I don’t want to rewatch the second, sorry) Press wasn’t brilliant because she didn’t have may touches, they think this is an excuse but honestly... they should pay more attention... she’s constantly asking for the ball, it’s frustrating to see. And they should stop expecting “a masterclass” how can she make a “masterclass” is she doesn’t even touch the ball? ridiculous. I’m gonna put this under read more. I’d make a video with all the things I’m marking here but they’re going to magnify this simple analysis and make it a “hateful post against manchester united players” “bully” “leave casey alone” “freeunited” blah blah blah

P.S.: I think it was a game for Ladd and Hanson.

Yes, I'm drinking wine. Yes I’m rambling. Bye.

[grecoisms]

title: vanderlyle, vanderlyle (1/3)

pairing: connor / kara

summary:  "he is not really surprised - the programme that ordered him to search for her among the masses of men and machines perhaps never truly finished running. would not, will not." 

(1) baptism

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

the thing wearing human clothes fools him for about twenty-five seconds, the time it takes an average human male to sprint down the stairs at rosa parks bus terminal and reach the exit. but there is no escape from here; and anyways, no human would have that look in their eyes. not in this city - that hunting, hunted kind of cold calculation, the ready to risk it all attitude.

so when he and the deviant lock eyes in the pouring rain, connor does what the piezoelectric battery pumped by the trillion of carbon nanotubes inside his artificial, synthetic cranium does best: he calculates the odds of each preconstructed scenario regarding the reaction of the other machine.

he knows she is doing the exact same thing.

incipiently, all ax400 models were designed to nurse and care. this, by definition, made it weaker. physically, like each android, it could easily endure long distances and extreme weather conditions all the same, but the child she has chosen to run away with and insisted on protecting - a malfunction like no other - would not tolerate the hardships that follow an escape in the pouring november rain, let alone the velocity needed for an escape like this; in the daylight, in an open field.

because the child simply cannot take it. they are both small, yes - the android does not reach five feet five; and the child is young. maybe they could have hidden, had they not been spotted so absolutely. they could have stayed hidden; stayed in what they considered safe. the anonymity, the namelessness, the walking between what can and cannot be. 

the erasure of labels.

but something must be rusting within his circuits, for connor has to cancel the preconstruction process. he has almost, it seems, followed the rabbit down the hole (//memo: the [little girl's name] is [williams, alice]). he is back in the rain, in the motel, staring dead in the bright blue eyes of the deviant, who straightens her spine in the shadows. her hair is brightwhite (//analysis: [white] is a [tactical disadvantage]). behind her, a sicklypale figure emerges, her mouth agape. williams, alice. she is in what humans would call a shock.

connor looks back at the deviant (kara, he remembers. its name is kara. the child is alice) who licks her lips, all anticipation.

he still has not told hank anything, though he is but two feets away, shivering as the downpour cleanses them.

//analysis: [symbolism] of [water]. clarity, cleansing, new beginnings. 

he is not very sure why he looked this up all the sudden, except he knows now and does not like what he has found. in his discomfort, or as to tear his mind from it, he finally opens his mouth.

"lieutenant!"

his shout is drowned by a thunder. the policemen turn anyway, and so does connor, back to find the android and the girl holding hands, their shapes a haze in the waterfall around. the deviant shakes her (itsitsitsitsitsits) head. there is something very primal, very human in the way she clenches her jaws.

it is useless to run.

the ax400 model does it anyway.

(2) confirmation

We almost always forgive those we understand.

jericho is a quiet canvas around them – an avalon, she thinks, the name escaping from a fairytale that is stored in her database – and it is a welcomed transition from the mayhem they escaped from. still, the sudden, shocking peace is delicate. feeble. kara dares not hope yet. she has had one unpleasant surprise too many in the past.

and yet. maybe it is the sheer novelty of it, or maybe it comes with merely being alive, walking on the unordinary pathways, but there are better-tasting surprises everyday.

for instance: the calluses on markus’ hands don’t mend as he carves and builds and forms a new table with dozens of chairs from the finest of steels.

”stainless” he explains to kara one evening as she reports the missing androids, as she lists the ones they need to hide or need to house or need to help.

when she presents him the names of their dead, she finds she cannot look him into the eyes and instead, looks down; down, to the reflective surface of that finely crafted table, all new and all whole. her reflection in it is shockingly bright and blinding. hopeful, even.

as she looks up, she finds markus both serious and smiling. she finds that it has been easier to understand such contradictions since she took alice’s hands in the house she does not want to name.

and oh. the surprises and the wonders.

like alice wanting to learn how to sing, and north knowing how to, her sharp features softer in the light of the evening when she is with them. when she is with alice.

”you gave your name yet?” north murmurs as alice runs to find the battered monopoly board game josh smuggled home as a gift. the name of some properties are illegible, but they make do. alice is inventing new names, new realities as they play.

”to what?” panic roses within her in less than a nanosecond. she does not want to promise anything in the long run. jericho may be sanctuary, but it is built on a powder keg of ideologies. she does not want alice and her to be here when it explodes. and canada is still a viable option, after the cold touch of winter eases its grip on the state.

north senses her fear and her lips turn thin. she might like alice, but she must think kara a coward. kara does not blame her. the definition of taking action is very much different in their heads.

still, north's voice is not unkind when she answers.

”connor is teaching how to imitate proper cursive. in case someone needs it in the future. we can even choose our own surnames, if we want.”

the flashback of her own clumsy, hurried writing at the motel's reception floats back in. she doubts she can get away with something like that again. at the border, for example. she shudders what the officials would do after beholding her cramped loops. and how in the world will she help alice learn, in case she needs it? she has never even asked her whether she can read, let alone write.

"alright" she hears herself saying, though her voice comes as through a filter, as a dream. she has seen connor here and there in jericho, haggard and pale, mostly conferring with markus, then disappearing again. it is safe to say she has not sought out his company. "alright."

"you met him before?" north asks, watching her face carefully.

kara thinks of their nigh-death experience on the highway, his grip on her shoulders, the smells and sounds tasting vile around them. it has been a month or two now. and even if she shudders at the memory, she does not fold herself smaller like she used to.

north does not press her further. this, she notes, is also surprising.

days fly by. markus has given her smaller assignments since they arrived here, talking and helping some of the newcomers, finding them places and aid josh in listing what they lack - as always, mostly android parts, new ones - and through rose, she has been in contact with androids from cleveland and hamilton.

the holo-messages she receives are short, angry and desperate. her answers are short, faux-calm and factual. most of the neighboring cities seek constant help and instant escape; something neither kara, nor markus can promise. and though kara does not like saying no to people in great need of support, she hates lying and fake-reassurance more. they simply do not have the resources to hide any more people presently.

at the end of the week, north smuggles alice some toys she has promised while kara learns to repair smaller defects and system failures from lucy. then she realizes that albeit she is making herself useful, she is stalling for time.

lucy guesses her thoughts before she can order them in place. she is getting used to it.

"he is here" lucy's hands are very cold as she touches her hands and turns her towards the stairs. and there, alone and thinner than she remembers him, stands connor, with new holes in his jacket and some dust on his pants. he is staring into one of the markus-made fires, lost in thoughts.

alright, she thinks and straightens her shoulders. she has danced her dance with him already, and there is no need to worry anymore since they are on the same side. they want the same things. don't they?

it is only thanks to the light of the fire that the former deviant hunter has some color in his face. even the carefully placed moles under his eyes have lost some of their darker hue. suddenly, she remembers the rumors around the camp, the ones that murmur about connor acting as a double agent and how he serves as the main source of intel between jericho and cyberlife. looking at him right here and now, with lanky fatigue on his boyish face, the thought seems laughable. but kara has seen enough to know that appearances are deceitful.

and for a moment, she does not care about her fear or his face. she needs a tangible truth, like ink-blotted writing on a piece of paper, or forming a name with one's mouth.

"connor" her voice is low, but she feels a defiance that makes her giddy. he jumps a bit at the sound, alarmed. maybe it is the familiarity of her voice, or the strangeness of his name in another's mouth.

here, she thinks, i named you. now, name me back, if you dare.

he turns towards her very slowly. his eyes are almost black as he stands in from of her, his back facing the light. "oh" he says, he breathes. the remnant of his strength seems to dissipate, and he rubs his hands together. he cannot feel the cold so it must be a nervous tick. "kara."

king and queen of cantelon - how many miles to babylon? she remembers out of nowhere, knowing deep in the hardwires of her thirium pump that it is a nursery rhyme, meant to be sung for children afraid of the dark. and here, half in the dark, half in the light, as kara watches connor and his shaking hands, she feels something she would not call anger. it is a relief, of some sort.

he opens his mouth to say something else, but decides against it. jericho continues to roar around them, world so dynamic, while he dares not even blink in fear of scaring her. or so she thinks.

will I get there by candle-light, she wonders; and then: to where? she searches the answer in connor's lost face, his sharp features and learnt movements. will he get there with her, to that place of wonders - arcadia, babylon, jericho. etcetera. and the list goes on.

kara inhales. connor exhales. or is it the other way around?

"i need your help" she says. there is a sort of finality in her voice.

"oh" he echoes. and does not correct the repetition in his mind, because theretherethere, on kara's mouth, a smile is forming.

(3) penance

And her light stretches over salt sea equally

somewhere halfway amidst the epiphany of his own rebirth and the ending of the world, connor spots kara in a dilapidated and dusty church. he is not really surprised - the programme that ordered him to search for her among the masses of men and machines perhaps never truly finished running. would not, will not. how to explain this? connor labels this question, and puts it away into a folder of his vast database-mind that has no name yet.

//note: irony - her hair gives her away that soft halo light behind the grime and the smoke he mirrors with his own disheveled self. when he approaches, his movements are careful and slow. finally, a choice he can call his own. and as he lowers to face them, he sees that she remembers. remembers him. oh, and her eyes are sharp again, the blue irises leadlike and unforgiving.

she tightens her arms protectively around alice's sleeping form. the tautness of her sinewy body, the ache and the awareness slipping through. he notices, with some suppressed pride, that she does not bother to hide these signs anymore. she is more alive than not. more alive than him.

if he were braver man, or rather, a man at all, he would kneel down to her feet, show the lines of his palms. a confession. a task most urgent. somehow, he does not doubt she would listen.

"i am sorry i put your lives in danger" he would say. his words would be clumsy, but she would accept them anyway.

but he is neither brave, nor a man, so he simply walks away - to find markus and cover the sight of her face with new input. it is a tedious task not to simply sit down on the cold hard stones and attempt to memorize the tender lines of her face.

//research later, connor orders himself as he walks away, synonyms for lovely.

the thought does not give him a headache like it did the first time hank touched his shoulders and he had to - no, wanted to - look up all the synonyms for friend. he discarded the order then. he does not do it now.

the synthetic walls around his thirium pump regulator shiver and shimmer. it is not an unpleasant phenomenon. he does not understand this either.

[evolutionproperties]

Annual growth of 2.7% puts a spring in the step of the UK house market

The latest data and analysis from Halifax has revealed that house prices in the last three months to March were 2.7% higher than in the same three months a year earlier, edging up from the 1.8% annual growth recorded in February. According to the lender's figures, the average price in March was £227,871.

House prices in the latest quarter (January-March) were -0.1% lower than in the preceding three months (October-December), the second consecutive decline on this measure. On a monthly basis, prices grew by 1.5% in March this follows a 0.5% rise in February; monthly changes can be volatile.

Mortgages in the UK are at their most affordable level in a decade.

Russell Galley, Managing Director, Halifax, said: "House prices in the three months to March were largely unchanged compared with the previous quarter. The annual rate of growth continues to be in a narrow range of under 3%; though the average price of £227,871 is a new high.

Activity levels, like house price growth, have softened compared with a year ago. Mortgage approvals are down compared to 12 months ago, whilst home sales have remained flat in the early months of the year. This lack of direction in the housing market is in stark contrast to the continuing strength of the UK jobs market. The unemployment rate is now the joint lowest since 1975 and in the three months to January there were 402,000 more people in work compared to a year earlier.

In the coming months we expect price growth to remain close to our prediction of 3% despite the very positive factors of continuing low mortgage rates, great affordability levels and a robust labour market. The continuing shortage of properties for sale will also support price growth.

Russell Quirk, founder and CEO of Emoov.co.uk, commented: "While we have seen a tentative start to the year, it would seem that the spring is starting to return to the step of the UK market where price growth is concerned.

Although market activity over the first quarter has remained fairly flat, there are signs that momentum is beginning to build and we should see a degree of stability return over the coming quarter.

The current affordability of mortgages, coupled with a reduction in unemployment and an insufficient level of housing stock, will continue to stimulate the market and price growth should exceed wider predictions over the latter part of the year."

Jeff Knight, Director of Marketing at Foundation Home Loans, commented: “News that first-time buyers are facing prices over five times higher than the average income - with an exponentially higher rate in London – solidifies why affordability continues to impact levels of property ownership and the rental market.”

Growing demand for both types of property without increasing supply will only push prices up further, so ongoing issues with overdue housebuilding and planning targets not yet met is bad news. For years, millennial home owners and renters have been priced out of the capital. While the current low mortgage rate environment and cuts to stamp duty may be proving favourable for some, it remains to be seen how this will play out regionally.”

Paul Osborn, Chief Executive for Foresters Friendly Society commented: “Despite continued uneasiness around lingering political decisions and the impact on house prices in top locations across the UK, younger property hunters are still facing a range of challenges, particularly when it comes to affordability. Increasing awareness of products like the Lifetime ISA (LISA) to those under 40 years old is vital not only to maintain activity levels in the UK property market but also to unburden those on that seemingly endless search for their first home.”

Offering a 25% boost to annual savings, these vehicles are specifically designed to help bridge the savings gap and bring people closer to reaching their long-term financial goals. All too often people struggle with the concept of having to start the saving process early to build up a sizeable nest egg. However, through improved engagement with the range of saving plans available, first-time buyers and young families could feel financially secured.”

Lucy Pendleton, founder director of independent estate agents, James Pendleton, said: “These numbers represent an impressive sprint finish for the first quarter, even if it does match the annual rate of growth for the last three months of 2017.

Pent up demand looks to have been given new life in March despite one of the worst cold snaps in years. The Beast from the East failed to dent the market in the same way it hurt the services sector last month.

The Halifax alludes to how low unemployment is fuelling demand but the quality of the jobs created lately makes Stamp Duty breaks for first-time buyers away from London and persistent low mortgage rates the most likely causes.”