Q1 – Kubica and Kobayashi, who both had good practice sessions, the last to come out. Alonso, who with his team mate didn't come out at the end of practice 3 to set a final fast lap, was going well. Good news for Alguersuari, as he managed to outqualify Buemi – the Toro Rosso cars are the only old team without an F-duct. It's the fifth race in a row that he's done so. Also, Bruno Senna beat Christian Klien for the first time.
Q2 – Dusk fell in the desert. This is where things really get competitive. Hamilton and Massa had a bad incident that saw Hamilton take out one of the bollards and the camera on it. The incident presumably to be investigated by the stewards. Hamilton struggled to get into the top 10. Meanwhile, Petrov gets into Q3 and beats Kubica for the second time this season. Kubica is out of Q3 for the first time this season. Rosberg and Schumacher both do well.
Q3 – Petrov was the last man out, and Vettel took a while to get out too. In the end, in this critical session, Alonso got ahead of Webber. Vettel was on pole, with Hamilton second – a good place for the challenger who needs a lot of luck. Alonso third and Button fourth, with Webber fifth. This is a vital result for all the challengers. Alonso will win if it finishes like this.
We are still waiting to see what the stewards have to say about the Massa/Hamilton incident.
13/11/2010
12/11/2010
Formula 1 Race Nineteen: Preview
The first session started damp. Apart from installation laps, most drivers didn't get out until the sun had dried up the rain – yes, the rain – from earlier in the day. It looks like Abu Dhabi's four days of rain are coming on Formula One weekend, which is typical of this entire season. Almost every weekend has been affected by rain in some way.
The only excitement in the first session was the McLarens splitting Vettel and Webber, with Vettel six tenths faster than Hamilton. Right at the end, Barrichello stopped as he was heading back to the pits.
In the second session, Karun Chandhok was up in the BBC commentary box. The softer tyres were showing severe graining, and most teams were switching onto the harder tyres by the end. This should improve by race day.
Alguersuari was the first retirement of the session. He spun after contacting with the astroturf and stopped. Then it was Massa, who had fuel problems – not on low fuel, but having trouble getting it to the engine. He coasted to a stop.
Hamilton was the fastest before they changed to heavy fuel loads, then Vettel, Alonso and Webber. Kubica was fifth fastest, with Button down in eighth.
Meanwhile, there was an incident between Senna and Hamilton, as Hamilton went off the track behind the back of Senna, who had slowed down, and came back on the track perhaps not in enough control of the car, as he was very close to the side of the Hispania driver. It was right by the entrance to the pit lane, and Senna had to work hard to stay out of the McLaren's way as Hamilton decided to pit right then. The incident will be looked at after the session.
Although the 107 percent rule will not apply until next season, it is interesting to see how close the back cars - the Hispanias, naturally - come to breaching it. In session one, Christian Klien didn't make it within the time, and nor did Fauzy deputizing for Kovalainen. However, in session two all the drivers were within the required time.
The only excitement in the first session was the McLarens splitting Vettel and Webber, with Vettel six tenths faster than Hamilton. Right at the end, Barrichello stopped as he was heading back to the pits.
In the second session, Karun Chandhok was up in the BBC commentary box. The softer tyres were showing severe graining, and most teams were switching onto the harder tyres by the end. This should improve by race day.
Alguersuari was the first retirement of the session. He spun after contacting with the astroturf and stopped. Then it was Massa, who had fuel problems – not on low fuel, but having trouble getting it to the engine. He coasted to a stop.
Hamilton was the fastest before they changed to heavy fuel loads, then Vettel, Alonso and Webber. Kubica was fifth fastest, with Button down in eighth.
Meanwhile, there was an incident between Senna and Hamilton, as Hamilton went off the track behind the back of Senna, who had slowed down, and came back on the track perhaps not in enough control of the car, as he was very close to the side of the Hispania driver. It was right by the entrance to the pit lane, and Senna had to work hard to stay out of the McLaren's way as Hamilton decided to pit right then. The incident will be looked at after the session.
Although the 107 percent rule will not apply until next season, it is interesting to see how close the back cars - the Hispanias, naturally - come to breaching it. In session one, Christian Klien didn't make it within the time, and nor did Fauzy deputizing for Kovalainen. However, in session two all the drivers were within the required time.
10/11/2010
Formula 1 Championship part three
I wish more teams were like Red Bull. They could manipulate the race by swapping their drivers, if it was Vettel, Webber, Alonso, say and then swapping Webber and Vettel to get first. But neither the owner Dietrich Mateschitz nor the principal Christian Horner (who’s a Warwickshire local, like me) will employ team orders during the race. This will make for a cracking finale to the season. Of course, it puts the onus on Vettel, in this situation, to decide whether he’d rather see Red Bull win the driver’s championship with Webber, or just push himself and the car to the limits, and let Webber fight it out and risk coming second.
Vettel definitely has what it takes to win race. He’s consistently had pole positions throughout the season, and when his car hasn’t had problems – or had his teammate take him out – he’s won. But he is also young. He knows that he has seasons ahead of him to win championships. For Webber, who is older, he doesn’t have many seasons left.
Will Red Bull have such a consistent, unbeatable car in 2011? Another team – Ferrari or McLaren, most likely – could beat them then.
But the constructor’s championship has given Red Bull the confirmation that this young team has got what it takes to compete with the greats. And with solid British ingenuity from Adrian Newey and the rest of the team, I have to say that I support them. It would be amazing to see Alonso win, but having such a close final makes it all the better.
Now, who’s up for Alonso, Vettel and Webber dropping out and Hamilton winning?
Vettel definitely has what it takes to win race. He’s consistently had pole positions throughout the season, and when his car hasn’t had problems – or had his teammate take him out – he’s won. But he is also young. He knows that he has seasons ahead of him to win championships. For Webber, who is older, he doesn’t have many seasons left.
Will Red Bull have such a consistent, unbeatable car in 2011? Another team – Ferrari or McLaren, most likely – could beat them then.
But the constructor’s championship has given Red Bull the confirmation that this young team has got what it takes to compete with the greats. And with solid British ingenuity from Adrian Newey and the rest of the team, I have to say that I support them. It would be amazing to see Alonso win, but having such a close final makes it all the better.
Now, who’s up for Alonso, Vettel and Webber dropping out and Hamilton winning?
08/11/2010
Formula 1 Championship part two
Hamilton must win. Vettel must come first or second. Webber must come fifth or above. Even then, they still depend on other results:
Alonso is guaranteed the championship if he comes first or second. If he comes third or fourth, he will get the championship if Webber does not win. If he comes fifth it gets complicated. A victory for Vettel and a second for Webber here puts them on equal points. Webber will have one less win, but Alonso and Vettel will share the number of first, second and third places. Vettel, with one more fourth place, will win the championship.
However, Red Bull have been consistent in 2010. Vettel first and Webber second in qualifying is almost guaranteed. If they finish the race like this, we could see Vettel get the championship despite never having actually led it during the year. That would be a novelty!
Here, then, is Red Bull's race strategy should they be in first and second: if Alonso is third or fourth, Webber should be first; if Alonso is fifth or below, the two drivers can fight it out. Personally, though, I'd like to see Vettel in front with Alonso fifth.
So Jake Humphrey, that's your figures all done for you. It's also Christian Horner's race strategy all sorted. I'd love to see a situation where Alonso goes from fifth to fourth for whatever reason, and the Red Bulls have to switch places. They've fought all the way to the end of the season, which was great, but if they want that win they'll have to play it as a team.
Interestingly, Alonso will come second in this strategy should he finish third or fourth, or fifth with Vettel winning.
Alonso is guaranteed the championship if he comes first or second. If he comes third or fourth, he will get the championship if Webber does not win. If he comes fifth it gets complicated. A victory for Vettel and a second for Webber here puts them on equal points. Webber will have one less win, but Alonso and Vettel will share the number of first, second and third places. Vettel, with one more fourth place, will win the championship.
However, Red Bull have been consistent in 2010. Vettel first and Webber second in qualifying is almost guaranteed. If they finish the race like this, we could see Vettel get the championship despite never having actually led it during the year. That would be a novelty!
Here, then, is Red Bull's race strategy should they be in first and second: if Alonso is third or fourth, Webber should be first; if Alonso is fifth or below, the two drivers can fight it out. Personally, though, I'd like to see Vettel in front with Alonso fifth.
So Jake Humphrey, that's your figures all done for you. It's also Christian Horner's race strategy all sorted. I'd love to see a situation where Alonso goes from fifth to fourth for whatever reason, and the Red Bulls have to switch places. They've fought all the way to the end of the season, which was great, but if they want that win they'll have to play it as a team.
Interestingly, Alonso will come second in this strategy should he finish third or fourth, or fifth with Vettel winning.
07/11/2010
Formula 1 Race Eighteen: Race
It was hot and sunny in Brazil. Nico Hulkenberg's pole was hoping to set the standards for a typically crazy Interlagos race. But it wasn't to be.
The two Red Bulls quickly passed Hulkenberg, with Alonso overtaking Hamilton for fourth. Button was barely in it. On lap 7, Alonso overtook Hulkenberg. It was an early pit stop for Button on lap 12, switching to the harder tyre, and he came out behind a large pack of cars. Then Massa also pitted, coming out behind Button, and then but was forced to pit again after a mistake by the crew. In the pit stops that followed, Button made it up to fifth behind Hamilton in lap 30, as Hulkenberg fell backwards.
At first, Alonso was slower than the Red Bulls, but he got to their pace around lap 18. But he wasn't able to catch up, and there was a large gap between them. Hamilton was struggling to make his car work for him, and pitted in lap 21 with Schumacher. Meanwhile, Alonso pitted in lap 24 without losing position, and Vettel and Webber temporarily switch places. The two Red Bulls battled it out for first and second, but Webber couldn't quite reach his team mate.
On lap 51, there was the one and only retirement of the race: Liuzzi, going too wide into turn 2, hit the wall. The safety car came out, bunching up the track into three races: the leaders of Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Hamilton, Button, Rosberg and Schumacher; the people a lap behind with Hulkenberg leading them and Barrichello at the back; and the new team drivers.
After the safety car came in, the drivers struggled to overtake the back markers because they were all mixed up, but Alonso didn't lose too much on Vettel and Webber. Unfortunately, he didn't quite make it back on them, and finished third.
The best news was with Hulkenberg, who finished eighth and got four vital points for Williams to overtake Force India. Otherwise, Kobayashi and Sutil were both 'doing Kobayashis' and waiting until late in the race to pit. With Kobayashi's tyres causing him havoc, this wasn't a good thing. Interlagos was wearing on the tyres, and most drivers did multiple pit stops.
Alonso still leads the championship by 8 points on Webber, and 15 on Vettel. Red Bull, however, have the constructor's championship.
In the new teams, Christian Klien came out late and was always at least three laps behind. He didn't lose too much, and by the end of the race he was close enough to be classified. Di Grassi, however, also lost a lot of laps in the pits, and was not classified despite finishing the race.
See you in one week for Abu Dhabi, the last race of the season!
The two Red Bulls quickly passed Hulkenberg, with Alonso overtaking Hamilton for fourth. Button was barely in it. On lap 7, Alonso overtook Hulkenberg. It was an early pit stop for Button on lap 12, switching to the harder tyre, and he came out behind a large pack of cars. Then Massa also pitted, coming out behind Button, and then but was forced to pit again after a mistake by the crew. In the pit stops that followed, Button made it up to fifth behind Hamilton in lap 30, as Hulkenberg fell backwards.
At first, Alonso was slower than the Red Bulls, but he got to their pace around lap 18. But he wasn't able to catch up, and there was a large gap between them. Hamilton was struggling to make his car work for him, and pitted in lap 21 with Schumacher. Meanwhile, Alonso pitted in lap 24 without losing position, and Vettel and Webber temporarily switch places. The two Red Bulls battled it out for first and second, but Webber couldn't quite reach his team mate.
On lap 51, there was the one and only retirement of the race: Liuzzi, going too wide into turn 2, hit the wall. The safety car came out, bunching up the track into three races: the leaders of Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Hamilton, Button, Rosberg and Schumacher; the people a lap behind with Hulkenberg leading them and Barrichello at the back; and the new team drivers.
After the safety car came in, the drivers struggled to overtake the back markers because they were all mixed up, but Alonso didn't lose too much on Vettel and Webber. Unfortunately, he didn't quite make it back on them, and finished third.
The best news was with Hulkenberg, who finished eighth and got four vital points for Williams to overtake Force India. Otherwise, Kobayashi and Sutil were both 'doing Kobayashis' and waiting until late in the race to pit. With Kobayashi's tyres causing him havoc, this wasn't a good thing. Interlagos was wearing on the tyres, and most drivers did multiple pit stops.
Alonso still leads the championship by 8 points on Webber, and 15 on Vettel. Red Bull, however, have the constructor's championship.
In the new teams, Christian Klien came out late and was always at least three laps behind. He didn't lose too much, and by the end of the race he was close enough to be classified. Di Grassi, however, also lost a lot of laps in the pits, and was not classified despite finishing the race.
See you in one week for Abu Dhabi, the last race of the season!
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