The weather was all over the place today, with Q1 starting dry. Petrov managed to spin out early on, putting his fast car at the bottom of the grid. The session was red-flagged, and by the time it restarted the rain had arrived.
Two Virgin cars spun, leaving Di Grassi facing backwards – the driver didn't get in any faster lap, so he ended up twenty-third.
Spins also for the two Saubers left them out in Q1, but Glock (Virgin) and Kovalainen (Lotus) made it through to Q2.
In the second session, things were really drying up, making the lap times much faster. Unsurprisingly, the two new team drivers were sixteenth and seventeenth, but the Lotus's time was not far off Buemi's.
The two Mercedes just failed to get into Q3, and their penalties (10 places for Schumacher, 5 for Rosberg) put them 21st and 17th respectively. Schumacher's old team mate Barrichello did make it. So there were two MacLarens, two Ferraris, two Red Bulls, two Williams, one Renault and one Force India in the form of Sutil in Q3. Last year, Force India got pole.
This wasn't the case this year. Red Bull ended up with pole position, with Hamilton in second and Kubica third. A bad session for Ferrari – and incoming rain right at the end – left Alonso in tenth. After other penalties for unscheduled changes (to come overnight, I expect), the final positions will be revealed in the morning.
28/08/2010
27/08/2010
Formula 1 Race Thirteen: Preview
Celebrations!
Red Bull's Mark Webber celebrated his 34th birthday today (Friday), which is especially exciting since he's leading the World Championship. Meanwhile, it's the 300th Grand Prix for Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, which is the most of any Formula 1 driver ever, and he's still going strong!
This race, Michael Schumacher is demoted 10 grid places after his actions in Hungary. He didn't turn up to Barrichello's 300th race celebrations yesterday evening, which was probably a good thing as it avoided questions. The most awkward questions would be about how he apologized to his ex-teammate: by text!
The most intriguing thing about this race is how close the points are between the top five drivers: Webber has 161, but fifth-placed Alonso has 141. That's a difference of only 20 points, where a victory gets you 25 points. Anything could happen. Anyone could win, and three of the five drivers - Hamilton, Button and Alonso – have won a world championship. The other two are in super-fast Red Bulls!
The weather looks to be all over the place this weekend. We've seen pouring rain and sunshine already in Friday practice. With changeable weather, things seem to be in Schumacher's favour, so he may well be able to take back his lost positions. I predict that he will finish in Q2 and end up amongst the new teams' drivers.
Chandhok was again up in the BBC commentary box for practice 1 and 2. It must be a bit disappointing not to race, although it gives Yamamoto a chance. Next week he will be in Korea in a Red Bull! Not for the race, which is in October, but in their show car around the new track. As a former Red Bull Junior Team member, he has represented them before.
The biggest event of today was the red flags in Practice 2, caused, apparently, by kids climbing a fence around the circuit. In the end, Alonso went fastest in both sessions. More to come tomorrow.
Random Interesting Point: Only two drivers have not had a single retirement this season: Alonso and Massa, two drivers in the same team. Ferrari are winning the reliability contest.
Red Bull's Mark Webber celebrated his 34th birthday today (Friday), which is especially exciting since he's leading the World Championship. Meanwhile, it's the 300th Grand Prix for Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, which is the most of any Formula 1 driver ever, and he's still going strong!
This race, Michael Schumacher is demoted 10 grid places after his actions in Hungary. He didn't turn up to Barrichello's 300th race celebrations yesterday evening, which was probably a good thing as it avoided questions. The most awkward questions would be about how he apologized to his ex-teammate: by text!
The most intriguing thing about this race is how close the points are between the top five drivers: Webber has 161, but fifth-placed Alonso has 141. That's a difference of only 20 points, where a victory gets you 25 points. Anything could happen. Anyone could win, and three of the five drivers - Hamilton, Button and Alonso – have won a world championship. The other two are in super-fast Red Bulls!
The weather looks to be all over the place this weekend. We've seen pouring rain and sunshine already in Friday practice. With changeable weather, things seem to be in Schumacher's favour, so he may well be able to take back his lost positions. I predict that he will finish in Q2 and end up amongst the new teams' drivers.
Chandhok was again up in the BBC commentary box for practice 1 and 2. It must be a bit disappointing not to race, although it gives Yamamoto a chance. Next week he will be in Korea in a Red Bull! Not for the race, which is in October, but in their show car around the new track. As a former Red Bull Junior Team member, he has represented them before.
The biggest event of today was the red flags in Practice 2, caused, apparently, by kids climbing a fence around the circuit. In the end, Alonso went fastest in both sessions. More to come tomorrow.
Random Interesting Point: Only two drivers have not had a single retirement this season: Alonso and Massa, two drivers in the same team. Ferrari are winning the reliability contest.
24/08/2010
Mark Lawrenson Predictions: Episode 2
Prediction vs Reality
Predictions here
Correct predictions are in bold.
Mark's winner prediction success rate: 4/10
Mark's score prediction success rate: 1/10
There have been four games in the Barclays Premier League so far ending in a 6-0 win: Chelsea have two, Arsenal and Newcastle have one each.
Mark Lawrenson, meanwhile, has a 40% winner prediction success rate overall, and a 10% score prediction success rate overall.
Next weekend: F1 is back with the Belgian Grand Prix from Spa! And there's another weekend of Premier League football.
Predictions here
Correct predictions are in bold.
| Home Team | Away Team | Predicted winner | Predicted score | Actual winner | Actual score |
| Arsenal | Blackpool | Arsenal | 3-0 | Arsenal | 6-0 |
| Birmingham | Blackburn | Birmingham | 2-1 | Birmingham | 2-1 |
| Everton | Wolverhampton | Everton | 2-0 | Draw | 1-1 |
| Stoke | Tottenham | Draw | 1-1 | Tottenham | 1-2 |
| West Brom | Sunderland | Draw | 1-1 | West Brom | 1-0 |
| West Ham | Bolton | West Ham | 2-0 | Bolton | 1-3 |
| Wigan | Chelsea | Chelsea | 0-2 | Chelsea | 0-6 |
| Newcastle | Aston Villa | Newcastle | 3-0 | Newcastle | 6-0 |
| Fulham | Man Utd | Man Utd | 0-2 | Draw | 2-2 |
| Man City | Liverpool | Draw | 1-1 | Man City | 3-0 |
Mark's score prediction success rate: 1/10
There have been four games in the Barclays Premier League so far ending in a 6-0 win: Chelsea have two, Arsenal and Newcastle have one each.
Mark Lawrenson, meanwhile, has a 40% winner prediction success rate overall, and a 10% score prediction success rate overall.
Next weekend: F1 is back with the Belgian Grand Prix from Spa! And there's another weekend of Premier League football.
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