01/11/2009
NEWS STORY
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While every man and his dog has been falling over themselves in their efforts to praise the Yas Marina Circuit, it will be interesting to see if the main event - the race - lives up to the hype.
Admittedly, it's a fantastic complex, but much like some of the Olympic stadiums we've seen in recent years, not to mention football stadiums, it is the event, the sport, that really matters.
Sadly, this is the future of F1, bright shiny complexes with every facility in place that one could ever need. No expense is spared as governments in the developing nations battle to out-do one another, much to the delight of Bernard Charles Ecclestone.
Quite where this leaves Silverstone remains to be seen, however, for all the superlatives heaped on this track, and the gimmickry of twilight racing - in the hearts of true racers it doesn't come close to the likes of Spa Francorchamps.
In many ways, today's race is a watershed moment for the sport, for we bid farewell to BMW, KERS and refuelling, while it is likely that a number of the drivers lining up on the grid will not be in an F1 cockpit when the 2010 season gets underway.
It's been a long haul, but here we are at season's end, with a shiny new multi-million pound facility and a new World Champion. It's end of term, a chance for everyone to let their hair down and take it easy.
That said, with only seven seats officially confirmed for 2010, now is the time for drivers to make an impression on prospective employers, now is the time for teams to make the effort to move up the order and thereby grab that extra slice of the prize fund. In much the same way that there are no longer non-championship F1 races - remember them? - F1 doesn't mess about, it doesn't have a sense of humour, same as it doesn't really have a sense of history or tradition, therefore we can expect that in the bid to win points, prizes and sponsors no quarter will be given, the holidays begin once the chequered flag falls.
The current World Champion, Lewis Hamilton, has to be favourite going into today's race. He took pole with relative ease - well, we call 0.667s relative ease - while, of the front runners, only Vettel and Webber were marginally lighter. Therefore, we expect the McLaren star to sign off 2009 with a win, serving clear notice to Button and Co of his intentions for 2010.
We might have expected a 1-2 for McLaren, especially as Heikki is one of the many drivers seeking a drive for next season, however, a gearbox failure, the subsequent grid penalty, and the Finn's failure, once again, to string it all together, means the likeable youngster has his work cut out and will be lucky to finish in the points.
Fresh from back-to-back victories in Japan and Brazil, Red Bull will be up for it, however, Lewis' superiority thus far this weekend, not to mention his KERS advantage, suggests the Stevenage Rocket has this race to lose. That said, let's hope, seeing as it is end of term, that we get to see Mark and Sebastian go head-to-head. That would be fun.
The Brawns line-up fourth and fifth - by the way, 293 entrants correctly predicted that Jenson would qualify fifth, wonder which one will win that 1:8 scale model - and once again it would be good to see the two teammates go at it hammer and tongs.
Another strong performance from Jarno Trulli, though in terms of fuel loads, of the first five rows of the grid it is Heidfeld and Rosberg who put in the best performances, though full credit to Buemi and Vettel also.
Kobayashi continues to impress, though we hope to see less weaving this weekend, while it would be good to see 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen leave Ferrari with a decent result.
In terms of tyres, the two compounds available are medium (prime) and option (soft) as used in Belgium and Italy. While there has been little difference between the two it is worth noting that Hamilton set his qualifying times on the prime. It remains to be seen how the soft will cope over any serious sort of distance, especially in light (no pun intended) of the fluctuating temperatures of a twilight race.
The race gets underway at 17:00 local time, with the sun due to set at 17:43.
As the field prepares to head off on the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 34 degrees while the track temperature is 31 degrees. Wind speed is 5 mps while the humidity is 44 percent.
In terms of the Drivers' Championship, just two points separate Vettel and Barrichello in the battle for runner-up spot, while in the Constructors' Championship Ferrari is unlikely to re-take third from McLaren and BMW will no doubt want to go out on a high. Toro Rosso, providing Buemi maintains his practice and qualifying form, could overhaul Force India.
The field heads off on the warm-up lap, Hamilton leading his 19 rivals, nobody starting from the pitlane. Everyone is on the prime other than Fisichella, who, with nothing to lose, is on the option (soft) compound.
They're away, as Hamilton gets away cleanly and Vettel moves over on his Red Bull teammate. A few puffs of smoke as drivers lock-up but they get through the first series of corners with no incidents. Kubica and Trulli battle and appear to clash. Button gets ahead of Barrichello while Kobayashi passes Raikkonen to take eleventh.
At the end of lap 1, it's: Hamilton, Vettel, Webber, Button, Barrichello and Kubica, with Button all over Webber.
On lap 2,. Hamilton post a fastest lap as he extends his lead over Vettel to 0.8s, as Kubica hounds Barrichello. Fisichella is up to sixteenth, but has Grosjean, Alonso, Alguersuari and Sutil in hot pursuit.
Replay of the start shows that Barrichello made some contact with Webber, which could account for the Brazilian's lack of pace. Indeed, a couple of bits appear to fall from the Brawn.
On lap 4, Hamilton posts another fastest lap (42.136), who now has a 1.3s advantage over Vettel. Elsewhere, Alonso passes his Renault teammate to take seventeenth.
Despite concern over Barrichello and whether he has a problem, Jock clear tells the Brazilian that he is the second quickest driver.
Raikkonen has slipped down to twelfth and into the clutches of Kovalainen and Nakajima.
On lap 7, Webber goes quickest, crossing the line at 41.025, as teammate Vettel posts 41.107.
Hamilton is told that Vettel is quicker and that the areas where the McLaren driver is losing out are three and a little in sector one.
On lap 9, Webber posts another fastest lap (40.883) as Kovalainen is told to save some fuel of he wishes to pass fellow-Finn Raikkonen. Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa watch from the pit-wall.
Hamilton hits back with a 40.679 on lap 10, however, his lead hovers around the 1.7s mark.
After 10 laps it's fairly processional with no two drivers separated by less than a second. That said, a mistake by Hamilton sees Vettel close to within 0.9s.
Hamilton isn't having it his own way, far from it, he loses another 0.1s as he continues to make minor mistakes and the Red Bull shows its better stability.
On lap 14, Webber posts another fastest lap time (40.571) as the sun sinks lower and lower along with the temperatures. The Australian remains 1.4s behind his teammate but 3.7s clear of Button.
As Barrichello closes to within 2.5s of his teammate, Jock Clear tells the Brazilian that he's doing a "great job".
Moments later, the Brazilian is first to pit, along with Kubica. Back on track, Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (40.367). Barrichello rejoins in eleventh, behind Kobayashi.
Next time around Hamilton and Button pit, on rejoining Button is immediately involved in a battle with Kobayashi who gives no quarter.
Webber pits at the end of lap 18, as do Trulli, Rosberg and Buemi.
As we await Vettel's stop, Hamilton is advised that he might have a right-rear brake problem.
Vettel and Heidfeld both pit at the end of lap 19, Alguersuari is shoed away, having stopped at the wrong garage, to make way for the Red Bull of the race leader.
Vettel rejoins still leading however, moments later Hamilton pulls into the pits telling his crew that he has a vibration problem. "Sorry Lewis," he is told, "we cannot continue, we have a failure, we cannot continue."
The 2008 champion climbs from his car clearly disappointed, Martin Whitmarsh advises him that according to the data there appeared to be a problem.
This means that Red Bull is leading and second, with Kobayashi currently third, though the Toyota driver has yet to stop. Button is fourth ahead of Barrichello, Raikkonen and Kovalainen, though both Finn also have to pit.
"It looks very slow, we need to start taking some risks," Rosberg is told. The German is currently eleventh, though he has yet to stop.
After 25 laps, Vettel leads Webber by 7.6s with Kobayashi a further 5.4s down the road. Button is fourth, 5.1s ahead of Barrichello who leads Raikkonen, Kovalainen, Heidfeld, Trulli and Kubica.
At the end of lap 28, Fisichella pits, the Italian having worked his way up to fifteenth. Next time around it is his Ferrari teammate who stop, rejoining in fifteenth. While Fisi switches from soft to medium, Kimi changes from medium to soft.
At the end of lap 30, Kobayashi finally pits, as Fisichella gets a drive-through for speeding in the pitlane. Don't laugh. Kobayashi rejoins in eleventh, behind Buemi, who, like Kovalainen and Rosberg, has yet to stop.
"You're neck and neck with Kobayashi," Button is told, "and Rubens will also be pushing you"
Kovalainen, Liuzzi and Grosjean all pit at the end of lap 31, as Fisichella serves his penalty. Next time around Nakajima pits leaving Alonso as the only driver yet to stop.
Consequently, after 33 laps, it's: Vettel, Webber, Button, Barrichello, Heidfeld, Trulli, Kubica, Rosberg, Buemi and Kobayashi.
Alonso finally pits on lap 34, the Spaniard giving it serious 'welly' on his in lap.
As we await the final round of stops, for those on a two-stop strategy, this is our only hope of seeing the race spring back to life.
Rosberg is the first of the two-stoppers to make his second stop, the German pitting at the end of lap 38. He rejoins in tenth, ahead of Kovalainen and Raikkonen.
Next time around it is Kubica who stops, the Pole rejoining in ninth.
Webber is the first of the leaders to pit, the Australian stopping at the end of lap 40. 7.6s later he's heading down the pitlane rejoining in sixth behind Trulli.
Barrichello and Heidfeld both stoop at the end of lap 41, as does Buemi. The Brazilian rejoins in fifth with the German in hot pursuit. Sutil makes his second stop.
Vettel pits at the end of lap 42 as does Button, elsewhere, Kubica spins following a clash with Buemi. The Pole loses a position to Rosberg. Vettel rejoins still leading while Button emerges in third ahead of his Brawn teammate.
With 12 laps remaining, Vettel leads Webber by 17s with Button a further 5.7s behind. Barrichello is fourth, 5.2s down on Button, but only 1.5s ahead of Heidfeld. Kobayashi is up to sixth after a magnificent drive, 6.7s ahead of Trulli who leads Buemi.
With 10 laps remaining, Button closes to within 4.1s of Webber, the Englishman taking between 0.5s and 0.7s off the Australian on every lap.
"The cars in front are fighting for position," Vettel is warned, "be careful". The message refers to Grosjean, Fisichella and Sutil who are 'battling' for sixteenth. However, the cars behind the German are fighting for position also, Webber and Button, who are now separated by 1.3s.
In the closing stage of a mediocre race, the cat and mouse pursuit as Button stalks Webber is most welcome. The new World Champion closes to within 0.7s of the Red Bull driver. However, the overwhelming failure of the Overtaking Working Group to do its job means it is unlikely that Button will ever get close enough.
A great, brave move sees Fisichella take sixteenth from Grosjean.
Webber goes quickest in the first sector on the penultimate lap, however, he is suddenly struggling for grip allowing Button to close right in. Elsewhere, Vettel posts a new fastest lap, crossing the line at 40.279.
Button is also struggling for grip, and while he fails to get a tow on the main straight they are side by side through the next complex of corners. The Englishman gives 100 percent but it's not enough.
Vettel takes the flag and Webber makes it Red Bull's fourth 1-2 of the year, the Milton Keynes outfit finishing the season just 18.5 points adrift of the new World Champions.
An excellent performance from Vettel, further proof, as if it were needed, that his first World Championship title is on its way.
Great drives also from Webber and Button, however, one has to wonder what might have been had Hamilton not suffered that (suspected) technical failure.
A workmanlike performance from Barrichello who holds on to third in the championship, while Heidfeld gives BMW 4 more points in its final outing.
Star of the race has to be Kobayashi who brings the Toyota home in sixth, ahead of his highly experienced teammate. Much has been said of the Japanese driver's failure to shine in GP2 however, maybe this says more about GP2 - in particular the allocation of engines - than it says about the driver.
The superlatives continue late into the night, however, the race didn't live up to the venue. After the first five laps it settled down into a procession with only the Webber/Button scrap bringing the race back to life in the closing stages.
However, let's not dwell on the negatives, let's celebrate a new World Champion and the fact that Ross Brawn and his team were able to rise like a phoenix from the flames of Honda. Let's also look ahead also to 2010, when, hopefully, Ferrari will be back on their game and mixing it with their old rivals, the new kids on the block - those that make it to the grid - and the 'new order'.