07/10/2007
NEWS STORY
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Conditions are worse, far worse, than anyone, even the most respected expert could have predicted. As some try to find shelter it seems as though there is no escape, and the damage done is immeasurable. Havoc has been wreaked and a trail of destruction is all that remains. Hopefully, things will calm down in time, but for the moment all we can do is stand back and watch in frustration and hope that the damage isn't permanent.
No, we're not talking about the anticipated arrival of typhoon Krosa, which appears to have by-passed the Shanghai Circuit, but the continuing deterioration in the 'relationship' between Fernando Alonso and McLaren.
With less than an hour before the penultimate race of the 2007 season gets underway, while there have been a few (heavy) rain showers, there has been nothing like the conditions witnessed in Japan last week, and certainly nothing resembling typhoon conditions.
That said, many of the teams are predicting rain during the course of the race, though (naturally) they do not know when it will fall or the level of intensity.
It appears that most of the teams have erred in favour of a dry set-up, however, one cannot help but feel that BMW, in particular, has gone the other way.
Against all the odds, Lewis Hamilton will start from pole position today. We say again all odd, because as well as not having looked particularly comfortable during the three practice sessions, Lewis didn't appear to have anything like the pace of Kimi Raikkonen, who dominated all three sessions. However, when he needed it most, Lewis pulled a rabbit from his Bridgestone cap and placed his McLaren on pole.
As ever, there is the all important question of strategy, both tyres and fuel loads, but let's not forget about the weather… with thirty minutes to go before the start, a sudden flash rain shower hits the track, conditions are changing, just like that!
The drivers come out for their warm-up laps, many of the drivers opting for Intermediates. Hamilton describes conditions as being "more slippery than last week".
With ten minutes to go, While Tanja Bauer (Premiere TV) interviews Ron Dennis, ITV's Martin Brundle gets the "not tonight son, come back next week when you're sober" much to his obvious frustration. Maybe the 'taste police' are taking him and the rest of his broadcasting team into custody for the (sickening) tribute to Hamilton from members of the English rugby team.
With five minutes before the field heads off on the parade lap, the air temperature is 30 degrees C, while the track temperature is 32 degrees. It is not raining now, but we are expecting intermittent showers, some of them possibly very heavy, throughout the afternoon. Indeed, David Coulthard is informed by his crew that the first shower will begin at around the same time as the race gets underway.
As the cars head off on the parade lap, all the leaders on Intermediates, they throw up plenty of spray. However, as they lap the circuit it is clear that some parts are fairly dry. That said, in the grandstands the fans are putting up their umbrellas, it's raining again.
They get away cleanly, and while Alonso tries to get around the outside of Massa, the Brazilian is having none of it. They appear to clash, as the battle continues. Further back Ralf Schumacher spins, dropping him to last.
At the end of the first lap it's; Hamilton, Raikkonen, Massa, Alonso, Coulthard, Heidfeld, Liuzzi, Webber, Kubica and Kovalainen. Further back Barrichello and Davidson tangle, but both are able to continue. Vettel, who was demoted five grid places, has made them up already, great stuff from the young German.
The field is nicely spread out, with nobody doing anything silly. Conditions are far from ideal, and there is still a long, long way to go.
By the end of lap 3, Hamilton enjoys a 2s lead over Raikkonen, while Alonso is all over Massa. Webber is hassling Liuzzi, who made short work of Heidfeld, while Vettel is up Kovalainen's exhaust pipes. Other interesting dog-fights feature Trulli and Button, and Wurz and Rosberg.
Kubica passes Webber, who has dropped back, possibly having made an (unseen) mistake. Consequently, the BMWs are running seventh and eighth. Elsewhere, Sutil has made the first pit stop of the race.
Vettel passes Kovalainen to take tenth, as Hamilton extends his lead to 4.6s. The Englishman, who is lapping well over a second quicker than everyone else, bar Raikkonen, posts a new fastest lap (1:45.686). It's a superb pace, blindingly quick compared to his rivals, but no doubt he's running a lot less fuel.
Kovalainen, who is passed by Trulli, complains of chronic understeer. He has dropped back to twelfth.
Behind the 'big four', Coulthard holds fourth, 4.7s clear of Liuzzi, who is followed by Heidfeld, Kubica, Webber and Vettel. As the track is drying, and drivers search for 'wet patches', Webber is told that there is more rain heading his way (3 minutes) and to look after his tyres.
At the end of lap 11, Davidson, who has slipped back to twentieth, is the third driver to pit. Meanwhile, Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (45.545). Elsewhere, Schumacher passes Wurz, both of whom look to be out of F1 next season, with the Austrian unofficially announcing his decision to retire as an F1 races, and the German yet to find a berth.
A technical failure of some kind brings Davidson's race to an end, the Englishman pulling off track.
The only real battle, after 14 laps, is that for twelfth, with Button, Rosberg and Schumacher liner up behind Kovalainen. Rosberg passes Button as Wurz closes in to join in the fun.
At the end of lap 15, Hamilton pits, rejoining the race in fourth, ahead of Coulthard. Though he took on fuel, he retained the same set of tyres. Meanwhile, the new race leader, Kimi Raikkonen, posts a new fastest lap (45.036).
At the end of lap 17, Massa pits, which beggars the question, 'how much longer will Raikkonen continue?' Like Hamilton, Massa keeps his 'boots' on.
Next time around it is Alonso who pits, as Raikkonen posts another fastest lap (43.853). Elsewhere, Sutil spins off but is able to continue.
Raikkonen pits at the end of lap 19, rejoining in second behind Hamilton. Coulthard and Liuzzi also pitted, which promotes the BMWs, Webber and Vettel.
The gap between Hamilton and Raikkonen is now down to 4s, the Finn having halved the McLaren driver's advantage during the pit stops.
Schumacher is all over Rosberg, who is busy hassling Liuzzi, the three drivers are separated by just 1.1s.
A new fastest lap from Hamilton (43.131), as he extends his lead to 5.3s. However, all eyes are on the Liuzzi/Rosberg/Schumacher battle. Oh dear, having got past Rosberg, Schumacher come a cropper while trying to pass Liuzzi around the outside at Turn 6, they touch and the Toyota spins off.
At the end of lap 23 Webber pits, as does Wurz. As he exits the pits he is caught up in the ferocious battle between Kovalainen, Button and Fisichella. The Australian opts to let the trio - all three of whom have to stop - go by, and continue their battle.
As Schumacher pits, Alex Wurz posts a new fastest lap (42.154). This indicates that the Austrian has switched to dry tyres. Elsewhere, Trulli, Rosberg, Kubica, Fisichella and Barrichello all pit, many of the following Wurz' example and switching to dry tyres.
Alonso tries to go around the outside of Massa, but having failed to make, goes through on the inside at the next corner. However, the Brazilian is the first of the leaders to stop for dry tyres. Vettel and Coulthard also stop.
Raikkonen has closed to within 3.1s of Hamilton, at which point it starts to rain again. Aptly demonstrated by Schumacher who promptly spins off. Elsewhere, Sutil crashes out.
Raikkonen makes a move on the race leader, attempting go around the outside, but the McLaren driver is having none of it. Elsewhere, Webber pits for Intermediates.
Hamilton and Raikkonen continue to scrap, as Alonso falls 17.5s behind, ahead of Heidfeld, Liuzzi and Kubica.
Finally, Raikkonen is through, and there is nothing that Hamilton can do about it. Elsewhere, Heidfeld pits.
The Renaults go either side of a startled Rosberg, who spins of, probably in shock, as does Kovalainen.
Hamilton is hurting, he's passed by Trulli, who unlaps himself. Meanwhile, Alonso is lapping over 3s a lap quicker and closing in at a rate of knots.
Alonso's right-rear appears to be delaminating, he's all over the place.
Finally, McLaren brings Hamilton in, but it's a disaster. Entering the pitlane the Englishman loses it, he's buried in the gravel, it's all over, it has to be.
Despite every effort, including (illegal) assistance from the marshals, Hamilton finally climbs from the car. The question is, why didn't his team call him in earlier.
Next time around, Raikkonen and Alonso both pit. The race is on, as is the World Championship.
Kubica posts a new fastest lap, but this is immediately beaten by Button (40.271).
Phew! OK, after 32 laps, Robert Kubica leads Raikkonen by 3s, with Alonso a further 11.3s behind with Massa climbing all over him.
Disaster for Kubica, who pulls off track with a technical problem. A crying shame for the young Pole.
Consequently, Raikkonen leads Alonso, Massa, Vettel, Button, Liuzzi, Wurz, Fisichella, Heidfeld and Coulthard.
Button and Vettel having a great scrap, the Englishman finally getting the better of the young German. Meanwhile, Wurz, under pressure from Fisichella, is all over Liuzzi.
Some bloody brilliant scraps in the midfield today.
With the gap down to 9.3s, Alonso sets a new fastest lap, but this is almost instantly beaten by Button, who crosses the line at 39.055. Meanwhile, Wurz pits.
As Alonso closes to within 8.3, Raikkonen goes wide. Fisichella goes quickest (38.900) as teammate Kovalainen goes wide.
The Ferrari mechanics are in the pitlane as Massa goes extra wide in his efforts to pass Yamamoto.
Sensing victory, and therefore the title, could still be within his grasp, Alonso closes to within 7.9s of Raikkonen, lapping 0.7s a lap quicker than the Finn. However, Massa is just 5s behind. Liuzzi is still under pressure from Heidfeld, while Webber is all over Coulthard.
At the end of lap 42, Button, currently running fourth, makes his final stop.
On lap 43, Raikkonen stamps his authority on the race by posting a new fastest lap, crossing the line at 38.880, and extending his lead to 8.5s.
After 44 laps, it's: Raikkonen, Alonso, Massa, Vettel, Fisichella, Button, Liuzzi, Heidfeld, Coulthard and Webber. That said, Vettel and Fisichella almost certainly still have to stop.
In the McLaren garage, Hamilton shakes hands with all his mechanics, as Norbert Haug puts a consoling arm around the English youngster. Thing is, whose decision was it to stay out on that set of tyres, especially when it was so obvious to the rest of us what was happening.
Fisichella pits at the end of lap 46, which promoters Coulthard into a points scoring position. Meanwhile, Vettel is giving it his all.
Epic battle between Liuzzi and Heidfeld for sixth, and Coulthard, Webber and Kovalainen for eighth. Great stuff!.
Kovalainen passes Webber to take ninth and set about DC. Meanwhile, Raikkonen now leads by 9.6s.
Surely with 7 laps remaining, Vettel won't have to stop again, that would be heartbreaking at this stage of the race.
As if to say, "take that!", Raikkonen posts a new fastest lap (38.315), with just 5 laps remaining. Next time around, the Ferrari driver goes even quicker, crossing the line at 38.285, however, this is beaten by Massa (37.989).
With two laps remaining, as Kovalainen closes in on Coulthard, Massa posts another fastest lap (37.895). Vettel is told to "save fuel", as he has a 19.1s lead over Button.
As Raikkonen begins his final lap, giving Ferrari what will be its 200th F1 victory, Massa sets another fastest lap (37.454).
Victory for the Finn then, with Fernando Alonso 9.8s. Third place goes to Massa, ahead of Vettel, Button, Liuzzi, Heidfeld, Coulthard, Kovalainen and Webber.
Despite a fine performance from Kimi, the story on everyone's lips following today's race will be the failure of McLaren to call in Lewis Hamilton earlier. Though the rookie appeared calm when interviewed following his retirement, he is aware, like the rest of us, that the title, which could have been won here today, may now be lost.
That the title fight now goes down to the wire in Brazil is good news for all of us, and in particular Bernie Ecclestone, who is guaranteed maximum over the next two weeks.
Some superb performance today, and some really great scraps, and the top eight all deserve driver of the day status.
However, after all that he has endured in the last week, we admit to absolute bias when we nominate that other rookie as our 'man of the weekend', Sebastian Vettel. An absolutely superb performance, and one worthy of another German racing driver, and we don't mean the guy leaving Toyota.
A few years back, John Watson, following an equally incident filled race, suggested that water sprinklers beside the track should be mandatory, in order to spice things up. Based on today's evidence, and that of last week, we agree with him.
The next two weeks will seem like a lifetime, bring on Brazil!
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