02/09/2012
NEWS STORY
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We said ahead of yesterday's qualifying session that it was too close to call, and the same pretty much goes for today's race.
With Captain No Grip lamenting all the usual problems, who would have thought that Jenson would put together a string of perfect laps, thereby taking pole - his first for McLaren - and silencing the idiots who only twenty-four hours earlier were bemoaning the fact that he wouldn't yet agree to play support to his teammate's title challenge.
Then there were the performances of Kamui Kobayashi, Pastor Maldonado and Sergio Perez.
OK, the Venezuelan was subsequently penalised for hindering Hulkenberg in Q1 but it was a pretty impressive performance nonetheless.
As much as Kamui, Pastor and Sergio delighted, Kimi Raikkonen disappointed, as did Romain Grosjean and Lewis Hamilton, while for Alonso it was business as usual. In Mark Webber's case, the Australian was hampered by the penalty meted out following his gearbox change.
It is unlikely that the weather will play a major role today, Friday's washout having given way to sunshine. However, this is Spa, in the heart of the Ardennes, and as we know from experience things can change here very quickly.
Also, let's not forget that despite the safety crusade of recent years, Spa remains a circuit one must treat with total respect. Anyone who watched yesterday's GP2 race will be fully aware just how unforgiving this track can be.
Unlike most of the circuits on the contemporary calendar, overtaking is not only possible at Spa, the circuit encourages it. While the DRS zone on the run up to Les Combes will see plenty of action there are also many other points on this wonderful track where drivers can mix it.
One of these is La Source, however, over the years the hairpin has been the scene of some major incidents. While we all remember the carnage of 1998, think back just twelve months to the first lap moment that saw Bruno Senna wipe out all the good work he'd done the previous day.
Of course, one cannot mention Spa without thinking of Michael Schumacher who today contests his three-hundredth Grand Prix, only the second driver to reach the milestone figure. It was at Spa that the seven-time champion made his F1 debut, way back in 1991, taking his maiden win at the same circuit one year later. While it is unlikely that we will see a podium from him today it would be good to see him in the points.
Usually, when starting from the front, and no doubt fired up by those 'support your teammate' calls, Button is strong and we expect that to be the case today. While the Saubers should be good, especially if tyre wear is a problem in the closing stages, one cannot help but feel that the biggest threat will comes from Raikkonen and Alonso.
On the other hand, let's just get through La Source first time around, with Maldonado and Grosjean in the mix anything can, and probably will, happen.
This is the time of year when attention traditionally wanders to the silly season, thoughts of who goes where next year. At present a number of drivers are key to what could be an impressive game of 'musical chairs', and while some say that Felipe Massa is the key, let's not forget that Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Paul di Resta have yet to agree deals for 2013.
The midfield battle should also be good here, Sauber has the edge over Force India, with Williams there or thereabouts. Both Toro Rosso drivers are under pressure, while Petrov could do with a good outing for Caterham.
Marussia has made a clear improvement here but is not likely to be worrying Caterham, far less Toro Rosso and the rest, for some time. HRT, and in particular, Narain Karthikeyan, should simply sit bank and enjoy the scenery… and the endless blue flags.
A number of drivers want to win today, a couple need to, however, the fact is that the championship cannot be won here. Consequently expect Alonso to do enough to add another heap of points to his tally, while Webber, Vettel and Hamilton desperately need to stay in touch with the Spaniard.
Forty minutes before the start there was panic in the Mercedes garage where the mechanics changed the KERS battery pack on Schumacher's car.
Tyre options are hard (prime) and medium (option), with Pirelli predicting lots of different strategies and two, possibly three, stops.
Schumacher gets to the grid in time, after a quick check of the rear of his Mercedes the German gives the thumbs-up.
As the field prepares to head off on the parade lap, the air temperature is 20 degrees C while the track temperature is 34 degrees. Warmer than yesterday and almost tropical compared to Friday. This, of course, is going to mean teams having to rethink some of their strategies.
They head off on the parade lap, Hulkenberg and Rosberg on the hard rubber while the rest opt for medium. Most are on used rubber. All get away.
On the grid smoke pours from Kobayashi's brakes, the Japanese clearly having worked them very, very hard on the parade lap.
They're away, and Maldonado makes a brilliant start, however, there's chaos at La Source, as expected. It's all over for Hamilton, Grosjean, Perez and Alonso. While Hamilton and Grosjean are soon out of their cars it is a minute or two before Alonso is helped from his Ferrari.
The Safety Car is deployed as Button leads Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, di Resta, Schumacher, Ricciardo, Vergne, Webber, Senna and Kovalainen.
At the end of the first lap, de la Rosa and Kobayashi pit.
Replay shows that the cause of the accident was Grosjean and Hamilton tangling, while Kobayashi's poor start didn't help. Alonso was an innocent victim as was Perez. Maldonado appeared to jump the start but this wasn't the cause of the incident.
It was a very nasty crash, Alonso taking a heavy impact, while Grosjean and Hamilton take to the air. The Spaniard can consider himself very lucky to have escaped injury today.
As the field continues behind the Safety Car, Hamilton and the rest walk forlornly back to their garages.
All of which means that once the race resumes we can expect Raikkonen to be giving Button one hell of a fight. Schumacher's up there - and Rosberg is thirteenth - but the Mercedes look all at sea here. The revised field will also favour Force India.
The Safety Car pulls off at the end of lap 4, and this time there is no silliness, all away cleanly. Up the hill to Les Combes Vettel challenges Massa but Kovalainen's slower Caterham up ahead means the German cannot make it stick. Elsewhere, Maldonado stops at the top of the hill his car missing its front wing.
After 5 laps, Button leads Hulkenberg by 2.8s the German having made a great move on Raikkonen who is now third. Schumacher is fourth having used his DRS, which is now enabled, to pass di Resta. Ricciardo is sixth, ahead of Vergne, Senna, Webber and Massa.
Vettel is all over Massa, the German nailing the Ferrari into the chicane. Elsewhere, Kobayashi makes his second stop of the day, the Sauber still hurting from the incident at the start.
Both Red Bulls are now hounding Senna, Webber going quickest in S1. Raikkonen maintains a 1.1s gap to Hulkenberg, while Ricciardo is right on di Resta's tail.
Stuck in traffic, Vettel calls on his team to come up with a decent strategy. The German, a man on a mission, subsequently nails his teammate at the chicane. Elsewhere, Button is told that he's half-a-second a lap quicker than his rivals.
Di Resta now heads a queue of six cars, Ricciardo, Vergne, Senna, Vettel, Webber and Massa. At the end of lap 10, the Scot makes a surprisingly early pit stop switching to the harder rubber.
Classic Schumacher at Les Combes as the seven-time champ muscles his way past Raikkonen. No prisoners being taken here today.
At the end of lap 11, Raikkonen and Webber both pit as Alonso is spotted walking in the paddock, the Spaniard having been given the all-clear from the Medical Centre.
Now in tenth following his pit stop, Raikkonen is told that he needs to push. He responds by going quickest in S2.
Next time around Ricciardo and Massa both pit, as does Petrov. Button now leads Hulkenberg by 7.7s, the German just 2s clear of Schumacher.
A typically audacious move from Vettel who passes Senna at the chicane. Meanwhile Hulkenberg pits, the German rejoining behind Raikkonen who is right on the tail of Rosberg. If the Mercedes driver can hold off the Finn it will assist Schumacher who is now running second.
As Kovalainen sand Karthikeyan pit, Vettel nails Vergne on the run up the hill. Moments later Raikkonen passes Rosberg at the same spot.
As Vergne pits at the end of lap 15, Webber posts a new fastest lap (55.797).
Replay shows Kovalainen clouting Karthikeyan during their pit stops. Hulkenberg tries a move on Rosberg at the chicane but fails. Shortly after however the Force India driver finally finds a way past.
As Senna pits from sixth, Ricciardo and Webber both past a struggling Rosberg. The Red Bull driver subsequently passes the Toro Rosso. Kovalainen is under investigation for the pit incident.
After 17 laps it's: Button, Schumacher, Vettel, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Webber, Ricciardo, Rosberg, Massa and di Resta. The first three and Rosberg have yet to stop.
Schumacher is currently lapping at 57.6, while Button is 56.8 and Vettel 56.2.
As Massa passes the hapless Rosberg, di Resta also lines up the Mercedes driver.
Unreal! Vettel makes a typically brave move on Schumacher but the Mercedes driver is having none of it. He locks up, slams the door but then dives into the pits. Switching to the harder rubber he rejoins in ninth. However, will the steward approve?
Next time around it is Button who pits, the McLaren driver rejoining still in the lead. Webber posts a new fastest lap (55.666) as Rosberg pits. Di Resta, Vergne and Senna in the mother of all battles for ninth.
Vettel pits at the end of lap 21, teammate Webber posting another fastest lap (55.480). The German rejoins in sixth just ahead of Ricciardo.
With the first round of stops out of the way, Button leads Raikkonen by 7.6s with Hulkenberg a further 4.2s down the road. Webber is fourth ahead of Massa, Vettel, Ricciardo, Schumacher, Vergne and di Resta. However, the different tyre strategies, most notably Button, Vettel and Schumacher, will play out later in the race.
"We've looked at the tyres and Plan A is looking good," Button is told. Elsewhere, there is minor contact as di Resta passes Senna at the chicane.
As the stewards announce that they are to investigate the Vettel/Schumacher incident, the Red Bull driver makes another bullish move on Massa at the same spot.
Vettel posts a new fastest lap (54.357) on lap 24 as Kobayashi makes his third stop of the afternoon. The Japanese was running thirteenth, the right side of his car bearing the signs of the first lap clash. Glock, currently fifteenth, pits.
As Button enjoys a 10.8s lead over Raikkonen and Vettel holds station behind Webber, Schumacher closes to within 2.6s of his former (Ferrari) teammate Massa.
Hulkenberg, Webber and Massa all pit at the end of lap 27, rejoining in fifth, sixth and tenth. Raikkonen, Ricciardo, de la Rosa and Kovalainen all pit next time around.
Replay shows what might have been an unsafe release for Webber during his stop, the Australian almost picking up Massa.
On fresh rubber Raikkonen goes quickest in S2 while Webber goes quickest overall, the Red Bull driver crossing the line at 54.220. The stewards announce that they are to investigate the Red Bull driver's pit stop.
After 30 laps, Button leads Vettel, Schumacher, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Webber, Massa - who posts a new fastest lap (53.464) - Senna, Rosberg and Ricciardo.
Even with DRS Raikkonen is unable to take Schumacher however, the Finn makes no such mistakes at the chicane later in the lap. On old rubber the seven-time champ has nothing to fight back with. That said, Schumacher re-takes the position at Les Combes courtesy of his DRS and KERS package. Elsewhere, Karthikeyan's race is over, the HRT heading off into the gravel and coming to rest against the barriers.
A queue builds behind Schumacher; Raikkonen, Hulkenberg and Webber all eager to pass the Mercedes.
De la Rosa cannot get out of the way quick enough as Schumacher and friends close in at the chicane. Raikkonen subsequently passes Schumacher on the run to Les Combes while Webber makes a great challenge on Hulkenberg at Rivage but fails to make it stick.
In clear air, Raikkonen goes quickest in S2, while Hulkenberg passes Schumacher coming out of La Source. However, the Mercedes retakes the position at Les Combes.
After 35 laps, it's: Button, Vettel, Raikkonen, Schumacher, Hulkenberg, Webber, Massa, Senna, Rosberg and Vergne.
With obvious traction problems coming out of La Source Schumacher is told that the team is switching him to Plan B. Moments later he pits rejoining in seventh. Elsewhere his teammate is unable to keep the Toro Rosso duo at bay, though he tries his very best. In one fell swoop he drops from ninth to eleventh. He subsequently pits.
Out front, after 37 laps, Button leads Vettel by 14.3s with Raikkonen a similar distance behind. Schumacher is seventh, 12.2s behind Webber who is all over Massa. The Brazilian really needs a strong result here.
Down in fifteenth Glock is enjoying a great scrap with his Marussia teammate.
Vergne makes short work of a struggling Senna while Ricciardo also lines up the Williams driver with di Resta in hot pursuit.
In the Toro Rosso garage there's a round of applause as Ricciardo passes Senna, the Brazilian subsequently pitting.
Lapping around a second a slower than his rivals it is understood that Schumacher has lost sixth gear. Meanwhile, teammate Rosberg posts a new fastest lap (53.073).
A big spin for Kovalainen, the Caterham driver, currently running last and under investigation for an alleged unsafe release, appearing to have no grip.
With Hulkenberg 3.1s behind, Raikkonen is told that he needs to up his pace. "Well give me power," is the Finn's angry response, "give me power!"
Button begins his final lap 14.5s clear of Vettel, both of whom will be happy with today's result, and the failure of Alonso to further extend his lead. Senna posts a new fastest lap (52.822), but its little consolation for Williams.
As John Button drapes himself in a Union Flag, having previously admitted that he wanted a "boring race" with his son leading from start to finish, Jenson crosses the line to take his first win since Melbourne.
"Amazing, amazing... we didn't see single car," he admits.
Vettel finishes second, ahead of Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Massa, Webber, Schumacher, Vergne, Ricciardo and di Resta.
Rosberg is eleventh, ahead of Senna, Kobayashi, Petrov, Glock, Pic, Kovalainen and de la Rosa.
While there are a number of investigations going on behind the scenes, today's result is in no doubt, a win for Jenson Button that puts the popular Englishman back in the title fight - along with second placed Vettel - while that first lap accident has pretty much turned the title battle on its head.
Not only a brilliant performance from Jenson, but great drives also from Vettel, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Massa and the Toro Rosso boys.
All this… and Monza in just a weeks time… what more could one ask for.
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