23/08/2009
NEWS STORY
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There is no other way to describe the maiden Grand Prix on the Valencia Street Circuit than as a yawn-fest, and it is to be sincerely hoped that today's race is not a repeat.
In full PR mode most of the driver welcome this new addition to the calendar and claim that it is a great track, maybe it is, however, for most of us it is a typical US-style street track devoid of character and spectacle.
In this morning's GP2 race the Safety Car made no less than three appearances. However, it is not entirely clear whether this was down to the general lack of grip or the over enthusiasm of the drivers, perhaps a mixture of both. That said, is track is unusually dusty, which could cause problems during the early stages of the Grand Prix, especially as there are some very determined drivers out there.
Then again, taking another look at the grid and the fuel loads, one cannot help but think that Bert Maylander will be called in to action this afternoon, having Nakajima and Trulli that far back is surely an accident waiting to happen.
To paraphrase the legendary Jimmy Greaves, it's been a funny old weekend, and, at the risk of repeating ourselves, each session has appeared to pose more questions than it has answered.
That said, a couple of things seem clear. Firstly, McLaren has made a significant step forward, demonstrating that the Hungary win was no 'flash in the pan'. Furthermore, while other teams are now focussing on 2010, having given up on this season, the Woking outfit is still developing the MP4-24 at the sort of pace witnessed last season when it was battling for both titles. The British team's determination to turn its season around is truly breathtaking.
Impressive also is the apparent return to form of Brawn, which to all intents and purposes appeared to be slipping backwards at an alarming rate. Whether the team has made some genuine improvements or the conditions here merely suit the BGP 001 package remain to be seen. But for the first time in several races the Brackley team appears capable of fighting for the win and holding off the threat from Red Bull.
Despite Sebastian Vettel's fine fourth place in qualifying, the Milton Keynes outfit is clearly struggling here, and in many ways this afternoon will be about damage limitation, especially in light of Brawn's resurgence. More worrying however, is Vettel's engine failure in free practice yesterday, for it isn't long before the German will need to exceed his allocation and thereby suffer the grid penalty that goes with it. The German has already got through six of his allotted units and, like teammate Mark Webber, it is something that will be playing on his mind.
With Ferrari effectively limited to one car, no disrespect to Luca Badoer, Kimi Raikkonen will have his hand full if he is to hold off Alonso and Rosberg this afternoon, not to mention Kubica and a couple of other drivers eagerly seeking berths for next season.
While Toyota has been disappointing here this weekend, Force India has been an absolute revelation, and we remain convinced that Adrian Sutil end up heading to Spa with a point or two to his tally.
Once again, only Ferrari and McLaren are using KERS, Hamilton and Kovalainen sure to make full of the controversial systems on their cars, while the tyre options are soft and super-soft. There has been an issue transverse graining this weekend, particularly with the super-softs, which is sure to add to the fun.
Kovalainen, starting from second, is just 2kg heavier than his teammate, while the Brawns are just about the same. Webber, starting from ninth is 10 kg heaver than his Red Bull teammate, while Rosberg is the heaviest of the Top Ten.
As the field head off on the warm up lap, the air temperature is 31 degrees and the track temperature is 47 degrees. To put it mildly, it's sweltering, in the grandstands the fans do their best, courtesy of fans, hats and parasols, to shield themselves from the intense heat.
As they head off on the warm-up lap Hamilton is on the softer option tyre, as is his teammate and Raikkonen. Vettel is on the harder (soft) tyre, as are the Brawns, Rosberg and Alonso.
They're away and all seems to be OK with no incidents, however, further back Buemi collides with Glock car and loses a front wing.
At the end of lap 1, it's Hamilton, Kovalainen, Barrichello, Raikkonen, Vettel and Rosberg. A poor start from Button who drops to eighth while Badoer moves up to seventeenth. Grosjean, Buemi and Glock all pit, the Frenchman seemingly involved in that first lap incident.
At the end of lap 2, Hamilton heads his teammate by 1.8s with Barrichello 1.5s down on Kovalainen. The Brazilian heads a train of four cars. Button is 1.5s down on Alonso and falling into the clutches of Webber.
Hamilton posts a string of fastest laps as he extends his lead to 2.1s, his Finnish teammate rides shotgun though he too has a 2s advantage over the next man (Barrichello).
Webber complains that Button cut the chicane and therefore is in front of him unfairly. The Australian believes the Englishman should be penalized. Meanwhile, over at the Oval…
Button is forced to yield the position to the Australian, immediately dropping into the clutches of Kubica. Meanwhile, teammate Barrichello has a 1.6s lead over Raikkonen.
Hamilton is lapping around 0.6s quicker than his teammate, which upholds the 'riding shotgun' theory.
After 8 laps, it's Hamilton, Kovalainen, Barrichello, Raikkonen, Vettel, Rosberg, Alonso, Webber, Button and Kubica. Badoer is still in seventeenth, 10.1s down on Alguersuari with Grosjean rapidly closing in.
"Hamilton and Kovalainen going well on the option," Button is told. "Lapping around a second quicker than Rubens." In other words, the Englishman is being told that it might be an idea to get the softer rubber on at his first stop.
More excitement for Grosjean who spins and is lucky to keep[ it out of the barriers.
Behind the Top 10, Heidfeld is running eleventh, 2.2s down on his teammate and just 1s ahead of Sutil. Fisichella is thirteenth, ahead of Nakajima, Trulli, Alguersuari and Badoer. Grosjean, Glock and Buemi make up the rest of the field.
After 12 laps, Hamilton is the only driver lapping in the 1:39s, as teammate Kovalainen drops 6.2s behind the World Champion, maintaining a 1.9s advantage over Barrichello. Alonso is increasing the pressure on Rosberg.
On lap 14, Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (39.455), signalling that he may be about to make his first stop. Elsewhere, Barrichello also breaks into the 1:39s. The Brazilian is told that he will be able to go much faster once Kovalainen pits. Well duh!
At the end of lap 16 Hamilton dives into the pits, having gone quickest in the first two sectors. 9.4s later he's heading down the pitlane on another set of super-softs. Vettel and Kubica also pit as Hamilton rejoins the race in sixth.
There are problems with the fuel rig for Vettel, necessitating the German making an extra stop.
Kovalainen pits at the end of lap 17, as do Alonso and the hapless Vettel.
In clear air, Barrichello ups his pace, as does Raikkonen, who is 4.3s behind the Brawn driver. Elsewhere, Button closes in on Webber, no doubt aware of Vettel's problem. The German is now running fifteenth, 1.9s down on Alguersuari.
Barrichello posts a new fastest lap, crossing the line at 39.427. Meanwhile, Hamilton, now fourth, is under pressure from Webber and Button.
Raikkonen and Button both pit at the end of lap 19, rejoining in eighth and eleventh respectively.
Barrichello, Rosberg and Webber all pit at the end of lap 20, the Brazilian rejoining in second behind Hamilton but, critically, ahead of the second McLaren. Heidfeld, who has yet to stop, is up to fourth, ahead of Sutil, who also has to stop.
Heidfeld, Sutil and Alguersuari all pit at the end of lap 21, leaving Fisichella, Nakajima, Trulli and Badoer as the only drivers yet to stop.
"Rear temperatures are high," Hamilton is told, his crew referring to his brakes, "recommend a small amount of lift and coast".
More engine misery for Vettel as his engine lets rip that tell-tale burst of blue-white smoke. His race is run, and with it perhaps his championship bid. Let's not forget, this was a brand new engine following his failure in free practice yesterday.
Other than Sutil, who is 0.6s down on Kubica, and Grosjean, who is 1.1s down on Badoer, the field is pretty evenly spaced at present.
At 40.46, Button is lapping slower than the eight cars ahead of him, including Fisichella, who has yet to stop.
At the end of lap 28, Badoer and Grosjean both pit, the Italian leaving his pit before the Renault but surprisingly allowing the Frenchman to pass him at the end of the pitlane. Watched by Michael Schumacher from the pit-wall, Badoer appears to cross the white line as he rejoins the track.
After 30 laps, it's: Hamilton, Barrichello, Kovalainen, Raikkonen, Rosberg, Alonso, Webber, Fisichella, Button and Nakajima. Fisichella and Nakajima - like Trulli - have still to stop. That said, the Japanese driver dives into the pitlane.
Fisichella pits at the end of lap 31, as Badoer is told that he has a drive-through penalty for crossing the white line when he rejoined the race.
"You eight laps to reduce the gap (to Barrichello) to 2s," Barrichello is told, "you're currently 4s behind". Elsewhere, Glock makes his second stop of the afternoon and Badoer serves his penalty.
Alguersuari makes his second stop at the end of lap 33, as Barrichello is lapping 0.4s a lap quicker than Hamilton, banging in a new fastest lap (39.421).
At the end of lap 34, Trulli is the last driver to make his scheduled stop, the Italian said to be leaving Toyota at the end of the season.
As Webber is told that Button has been told to overtake him, Badoer spins, the extreme demands of Grand Prix racing no doubt getting to the Italian veteran.
Another fastest lap from Barrichello (36.354) sees Barrichello close to within 3.6s of the race leader. Kovalainen is 6.9s shy of the Brawn.
At the end of lap 36, Hamilton pits but the tyres weren't ready for him they were still in their blankets. The World Champion rejoins in fifth behind Rosberg.
Raikkonen posts a new fastest lap (39.276) as Barrichello gets a gee-up, "come on Rubens!!"
As Kovalainen dives into the pits at the end of lap 38, Barrichello posts a new fastest lap, crossing the line at 39.071. In the McLaren garage, Anthony Hamilton's frustration at his son's botched pit stop is obvious.
A 38.990 sees Barrichello raise the stakes and extend his lead over Raikkonen to 11.8s. Elsewhere, disaster for Nakajima as his tyre parts company with his left-rear wheel. The Japanese driver slowly makes his way back to the pits where his crew is waiting.
At the end of lap 39, Barrichello pits, leaving the pits 6.8s later with another set of super-softs. Raikkonen and Kubica also pit, but more importantly, Barrichello is ahead of the McLarens.
To compound McLaren's problem, Raikkonen has leapfrogged Kovalainen during the second round of stops. The Ferrari driver looking good for third at this stage.
Alonso pits at the end of lap 42, as does Button. Of the current points runners, Rosberg and Webber have still to stop.
Rosberg pits at the end of lap 43, as do Webber and Heidfeld, promoting Hamilton to second, 6.2s down on race-leader Barrichello.
Buemi stops in the second sector with brake failure, and he might not be the last.
With the pit stops out of the way and 44 laps completed, it's: Barrichello, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Kovalainen, Rosberg, Alonso, Button, Kubica, Webber and Sutil.
On lap 46, 7s down on Alonso, Button posts a new fastest lap, crossing the line at 38.874. The Englishman is currently seventh but needs every point he can get his hands on.
At the end of lap 50, Barrichello leads Hamilton by 5.9s, with Raikkonen a further 8.7s down the road 5.5s clear of Kovalainen. Button remains seventh, 3.8s down on Alonso.
Barrichello is warned that Hamilton has "speeded up" and that there can be no easing up in the 6 laps that remain. That said, the back end of Hamilton's McLaren gets out of shape but the World Champion controls it beautifully.
Rosberg ups the pressure on Kovalainen, closing to within 1.6s of the fourth placed McLaren driver.
Whether it's a brake problem or something else, Button opts to ease off and settle for seventh place. The retirement of Vettel and Webber finishing outside the points eases the pressure on the championship hopeful.
Down in fourteenth, Glock has been posting various fastest sector times for some time, but to no avail, he remains 24.4s behind his teammate, who is all over the back of Fisichella. Indeed, the German posts a new fastest lap, crossing the line at 38.683.
There are no last minute dramas and Barrichello crosses the line to take an emotional win, his first since China in 2004 with Ferrari. "Absolutely fantastic," says team boss Ross Brawn, "just like the old days". The Brazilian's response is unintelligible, such is his emotion, his joy.
Lewis Hamilton takes, while Kimi Raikkonen finishes third, ahead of Kovalainen, Rosberg, Alonso, Button, Kubica, Webber and Sutil.
Nobody would even dare to deny Rubens this special moment, this return to the good times after all the frustration, even though some of it was of his own creation. Yes, McLaren screwed up Hamilton's pit stop and Vettel's engine went bang, but make no mistake Rubens was right up there yesterday and again today when it mattered. This was no fluke, this was a win from a man who still has more to give.
Lewis will rue that botched pit stop, and it is right that someone will get a right royal rollicking later this afternoon. Then again, as demonstrated with Kovalainen's fourth place, this was not to be McLaren's day. Then again, a few weeks back did anyone really expect to see the Woking cars taking pole far less lamenting the win that got away?
Another good finish - no pun intended - from Raikkonen who takes his second successive podium. The Italian team has clearly taken a step forward, it's just a pity that Felipe Massa isn't there to help them make the most of it. As for Luca Badoer, some of the criticism has been quite outrageous. The guy he didn't demand the seat, he was given it because the driver the Scuderia really wanted to replace Massa wasn't fit. Luca got the call and he did his best. He's been a loyal servant of the Maranello team and has played a key roll in its success story in recent years. Furthermore, he didn't throw his toys out of the pram when Mika Salo was called in to replace Michael Schumacher in 1999.
Another fantastic finish for Rosberg, who has scored points in the last seven racers and is fifth in the Drivers' Championship. Yes, the Williams isn't a bad car, certainly compared to last year, but the German is clearly making all the difference.
As ever, Alonso kept his head down and got on with the job, adding three more points to his tally and that of his team. Under the circumstances he couldn't have done much more.
While Barrichello moves up to second in the championship, Button can sleep a little easier tonight knowing that he hasn't lost further ground to the Red Bull duo. That said, his teammate has demonstrated that there was more on offer today and that the Englishman needs to raise his game and maybe take a few more chances. The early season comfort zone that the BGP 001 gave him has gone, it is now up to him to make the difference.
A strong performance from Kubica just when he and his team needed it most, the Pole taking his first point since Turkey and only his second points finish of the season.
Of the rest, a good showing from the Force Indias with Sutil finishing tenth and Fisichella twelfth, pound for pound a far better performance than that of Toyota.
Not the most scintillating of races, but nowhere near as boring as last year… and if nothing else, today's race does at least demonstrate that nice guys can and do win.