14/03/2010
NEWS STORY
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We make no apology for the fact that a line we are about to use in relation to today's race is a line we've used many times before and will surely be using ahead of every single race this season… "it's all about thee tyres".
Today, at least, we very much doubt that we will have to worry about the weather. True, some sand could be blown on to the track but we are hardly likely to see rain and even less likely to see intermittent rain that turns so many races into lotteries.
As ever there is the risk of a first corner incident, more so this year considering the number of new teams and drivers, not forgetting the outright exuberance of the serious contenders at the front finally let off the leash again after five months.
However, in light of the new rules relating to tyres and fuel stops it is those four round rubber things which will heavily influence the result of today's race and no doubt the eighteen that follow.
While Sebastian Vettel put in a superb performance yesterday, knowing he had but one lap in which to do it, one has to wonder if he might have sacrificed a win in his attempt to grab the glory of pole position. Indeed, one has to wonder if Massa, Alonso, Hamilton and Co did likewise.
Of the leading ten drivers on the grid, only one, Adrian Sutil, posted his time on the harder (medium) prime option, the tyre for durability as opposed to outright pace. Having pulled out all the stops in order to make it to Q3, the decision to post his qualifying lap on mediums - knowing that he never had a realistic chance of pole - was canny, to say the least.
Outside the top ten, where drivers can choose what compound they start the race on, it is likely that most will start on the harder compound - though they may opt to gamble.
In the opening stages of today's race the leader could theoretically pull away from the pack at two seconds a lap, however, in time there will be a price to pay, and it is this gamble that will decide the race and ultimately the championship. Winning pole is one thing, winning the race - where the points are - quite another.
Schumacher and Barrichello, those wily old veterans, were both racing last time pit stops were only for tyres, and consequently know all about tyre management. And with the Brazilian starting from eleventh on the grid keep an eye on the Williams.
Despite all that, we fully expect Vettel, Massa, Alonso et al to be up there or thereabouts late this afternoon, while Button's silky smooth driving style should prove valuable.
Furthermore, despite the doom and gloom from the British media regarding Michael Schumacher - one wonders how it would have coped without the German's return, forced to pick sides in the Hamilton/Button battle - you don't win seven titles and finish runner-up several more times without learning almost every trick in the book, and then some.
Other than the battle up front, and what a battle that promises to be, not just today but for the remainder of the season, keep an eye on the battles in Divisions 2 and 3.
In Division 2, Williams is up against Renault, Sauber, Force India and Toro Rosso, while Division 3 sees Virgin tangling with Lotus and Hispania, who deserve great credit for actually getting here after their problems over the winter.
We caught a classic movie on Sky a couple of days ago, All About Eve, the story of a young wannabee (Anne Baxter) who manoeuvres her way into the life of a famous actress (Davis) in an effort to take her friends, her lover and her career. Ahead of one classic confrontation, Davis utters the immortal line: "Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night". You get the message.
A couple of hours before the start, Ferrari revealed that it has changed the engines in both its cars, purely as a precautionary measure, and without penalty.
With twenty minutes to go, there is controversy - come on, it wouldn't be F1 be without controversy, would it?
A number of drivers are missing from the grid and are threatening a boycott following a decision by Bernie Ecclestone not to issue grid passes for their physios. As one watches 'comedy political impressionist' Rory Bremner talking to Emerson Fittipaldi - who clearly doesn't have a clue who the man is - one has to conclude that they may have a point.
As the twenty-four drivers prepare to head off on the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 35 degrees C and the track temperature is 39 degrees.
Both Hispania cars are starting from the pits, probably the safest option for all concerned.
They head off on the warm-up lap, everyone getting away cleanly. Many of the drivers at the bottom end of the grid on the harder (prime) tyre. It's anticipated that the option tyre will be good for around 15 laps.
As they line up on the grid, Webber overshoots his grid slot.
They're away and while the leaders get through the first corner without problem, there's cloud of smoke from Webber's car, but it's nothing serious just some excess oil. However, the cloud of thick smoke causes problems for those running behind, especially the two Force Indias which touch, causing Sutil to lose a load of places.
At the end of lap 1, Vettel leads Alonso, Massa, Rosberg, Hamilton, Schumacher, Webber, Button, Liuzzi and Barrichello. Vettel already leads by a full second.
Knowing the tyre gamble, Vettel is pushing like a demon, he and Alonso 0.2s quicker than their rivals. Elsewhere, Chandhok pulls off to the side of the track his race over. Vettel is lapping over 8s quicker than Trulli.
Hulkenberg gets all out of shape and shoots over the kerb almost collecting another driver. Moments later di Grassi pulls off onto the run-off where Hulkenberg had his moment. The German subsequently pits and changes to the prime tyre.
After 4 laps it's: Vettel leading Alonso by 2.3s with Massa third, ahead of Rosberg, Hamilton, Schumacher, Webber and Button. Liuzzi is up to ninth while Sutil has dropped to eighteenth.
With the leading four each separated by around 2s, Hamilton is all over Rosberg while Webber has his mirrors full of Webber.
After 7 laps, Vettel still leads Alonso with the gap now running at 2.8s. Massa is 2.1s behind his teammate with Rosberg now dropping 4.5s behind the Brazilian and into the clutches of Hamilton.
Barrichello continues in tenth, ahead of Petrov, Kobayashi, de la Rosa, Alguersuari, Buemi, Kubica, Sutil and Kovalainen.
On lap 10, Massa goes quickest in the first sector going on to post a new fastest lap (2:02.494) as he closes to within 1.9s of his teammate.
Both Mercedes are clearly struggling, both Rosberg and Schumacher manage to keep Hamilton and Webber (respectively) at bay. Elsewhere, Kobayashi leads a train of four cars including his teammate and Kubica.
On lap 11, Vettel posts a new fastest lap (2:02.318) as he extends his lead over Alonso to 3.5s. Massa has slipped back to 2s down on the Spaniard but 8.8s clear of Rosberg. Liuzzi, in ninth, the leading car on prime tyres, is lapping over 2s off Vettel's pace.
Senna pits at the end of lap 12, the Brazilian running twenty-second of twenty-two. Kubica also pits, rejoining in sixteenth just ahead of a great tussle between Glock and Kovalainen.
Petrov and Alguersuari both pit at the end of lap 13, as Hulkenberg passes Trulli. It's a bad stop for Petrov, the team appearing to have problems fitting his right-rear. Indeed, they appear to be checking the suspension on his right-front wheel.
As Vettel extends his lead to 5.4s, Kubica goes quickest in the first sector and Alguersuari quickest in the second.
Kubica posts a new fastest lap, the Pole crossing the line at 2:01.397. Elsewhere, teammate Petrov climbs out of his car.
At the end of lap 15, Hamilton and Schumacher both pit, rejoining in ninth and tenth. Sutil also pits, his race having fallen apart at the first corner.
Alonso pits at the end of lap 16 as do Rosberg, Webber and Button. Hamilton rejoins in front of Rosberg who has Schumacher right behind.
At the end of lap 17, the race leader finally pits, as does second placed Massa. The German rejoins still leading, ahead of Alonso, Massa, Liuzzi, Barrichello and Hamilton, who posts a new fastest lap (2:00.447). Behind Hamilton, it's Rosberg, Schumacher, Button and Webber.
Hamilton makes short work of Barrichello, the Brazilian yet to stop. Elsewhere, Massa goes quickest in the first sector.
It's all over for Senna whose engine gives up the ghost in a great cloud of blue smoke.
After 18 laps, it's: Vettel leading Alonso by 3.5s with Massa a further 2.4s behind. Liuzzi (still to stop) is fourth, 2.2s ahead of Hamilton who has a 3.9s advantage over Rosberg.
Barrichello pits at the end of lap 19, leaving Liuzzi, Buemi, Trulli and Kovalainen as the only drivers still to stop.
Liuzzi pits at the end of lap 20, the Italian switching to the option tyres which will have to last him for the remainder of the race, almost 30 laps.
Both Lotii still running, the only new team that can make this boast.
Although he's sure to struggle with those option tyres in the closing laps, Liuzzi is still running an impressive ninth, ahead of Buemi, Barrichello, de la Rosa, Kubica, Alguersuari, Sutil, Hulkenberg, Kovalainen and Trulli.
Having spent the first phase behind Schumacher, Webber now finds himself frustrated behind Button, who is 4.3s down on the seven-time champion. Worryingly, both McLarens are throwing out loads of brake dust.
Buemi and Kubica having a great scrap for eleventh, the Pole rueing that incident at the first corner, as does fifteenth placed Sutil. Elsewhere, Trulli pits as does Buemi.
At the end of lap 25, Hulkenberg makes his second stop of the afternoon as Schumacher closes to within 2.6s of his Mercedes teammate. Alguersuari makes his second stop of the afternoon.
Hamilton posts a personal best (2:00.194) as he closes to within 11.9s of Massa, Rosberg is now 10s down on the 2008 champ and falling into the clutches of Schumacher.
The time of the leading group are now beginning to fluctuate, sometimes by as much as 0.5s. However, after a relatively poor lap, Vettel comes back with a personal best.
As de la Rosa makes his second stop of the afternoon, Alguersuari posts the fastest lap of the race, the first driver to go under two minutes (1:59.964). However, moments later, Alonso hits back in his pursuit of Vettel with a 59.583. That's around a second quicker than the race leader. This race is far from over.
Alonso closes to within 1.1s of Vettel, the Spaniard pulling to one side of the track in order to avoid the turbulence of the Red Bull-Renault. The two Ferraris are lapping with six-thousandths of one another. Elsewhere, Kovalainen is the last driver to pit.
After 32 laps, it's: Vettel, Alonso, Massa, Hamilton, Rosberg, Schumacher, Button, Webber, Liuzzi and Barrichello. Alonso had a poor lap, losing a second to the leader.
"We need to do it, we need to do it now" Massa is urged, the Brazilian now 1.6s behind his Spanish teammate.
"I have a loss of power," Vettel tells his crew moments after his car clearly slowed on the pit straight. Both Ferraris close in on the Red Bull.
Alonso makes his move on the back straight with Massa passing the German going into Turn 1 just moments later. Though he clearly has a problem, the Red Bull driver shows no sign of retiring.
Now leading and in clear air, Alonso goes quickest in the second sector, going on to post a new fastest lap (59.477).
After 35 laps, Hamilton is 4.5s down on Vettel as Schumacher posts a personal best in his pursuit of his teammate. Button remain seventh, 1.6s down on the Mercedes and 1.3s clear of Webber. Liuzzi ninth and Barrichello tenth.
Another fastest lap (58.879) from Alonso as Vettel asks his crew if there is anything they can do to help. "Negative," is the firm and depressing response, "it's a failed exhaust". Gamely, the German continues to lap knowing that at season end every point could prove valuable.
Hamilton passes Vettel on the pit straight on lap 38, the German unable to do anything about it. Out front, Alonso leads by 5.7s. Button has closed to within 1s of Schumacher.
Behind the points scorers, it's: Kubica, Sutil, Alguersuari, Buemi, Hulkenberg, Trulli and Kovalainen. Alonso and Massa are the only drivers lapping under two-minutes, Vettel around 3s off their pace.
On lap 40, Hamilton complains of vibration at the front of his car, the team assures him that they'll "look into it". He's only 5.2s ahead of Vettel who still has 12s over Rosberg.
In his pursuit of Schumacher in the battle for sixth, Button locks up causing Webber to run wide. The three are covered by just 1.8s.
As Rosberg closes to within 8.8s of Vettel, Hamilton goes quickest in then first sector, that vibration clearly not as big an issue as he suspected.
Alguersuari enjoying a great scrap with his Toro Rosso teammate, the two separated by just 0.4s.
With 6 laps remaining, Rosberg is 4.8s behind Vettel, catching the hapless German by 2s a lap. Schumacher is another 4.1s down the road.
From out of nowhere, Webber goes quickest in the first sector, though he is now 3.1s down on Button.
Rob Smedley peers over the pit-wall, clearly checking something on Massa's car. The Brazilian immediately goes quickest in the first sector.
On lap 46, Alonso posts a new fastest lap, the race leader crossing the line at 58.287. With a lead of 11.4s the Spaniard is clearly out to prove a point.
Trulli clearly has an issue in last place, the Lotus driver posting a 1:14. Meanwhile, Rosberg closes to within 1.3s of Vettel.
The yellow flags are waved as Buemi stops in sector two, the Swiss driver's race at an end.
As Alonso begins his final lap he leads by 14.3s, while Rosberg remains 1.3s behind Vettel, actually losing ground to the ailing Red Bull.
Fernando Alonso takes the chequered flag and in doing so follows in the wake of Fangio, Mansell and Raikkonen in winning on his debut for Ferrari. While the Spaniard clearly benefited from Sebastian Vettel's bad luck, there is no doubt that he was still in the hunt and would no doubt have worried the German in the final stages of the race, exhaust problem or no exhaust problem.
Felipe Massa makes it a 1-2 for the Maranello outfit, but for many of us we are simply to delighted to see the Brazilian not only back in action following his horrific Hungaroring accident but clearly as good as he ever was.
Lewis Hamilton will be delighted not only to have scored a podium result - albeit at Vettel's expense - but to win the opening round in his in-house fight for dominance at Woking.
Bitter luck for Vettel who appeared to have the race under his control even if we didn't get to see the tyre drama unfold as we'd expected. Whereas some would have given up, the German continued and manfully bagged a clutch of points that might well prove decisive later in the year.
No doubt Rosberg and Schumacher both did their best, however, the Mercedes clearly isn't up there with the Ferrari, Red Bulls and McLaren just yet, though knowing Ross Brawn and his team the Silver Arrows will be improved by the time we get to Melbourne. Whether Rosberg could - or should - have nailed Vettel we don't know, but full credit to 'old man' Schumacher for re-opening his points account.
Button will no doubt feel frustrated, especially in light of his dream start to the 2009 season, however, over the course of the season we feel his smooth style will benefit him.
Like several others, Webber's race was compromised at the first corner, after which he found himself stuck behind Schumacher and then Button. Providing Red Bull can sort out its reliability issues (again) the Australian can be up there giving his teammate a hard time.
Full credit to Tonio Liuzzi for getting Force India's season off to the perfect start, while teammate Adrian Sutil will have every right to feel aggrieved. Had it not been for that first corner, the Silverstone team might have bagged ninth and tenth.
Finally, well done to another wily old fox, Rubens Barrichello who opened his team's account on a day his teammate proved more than a little disappointing.
Sadly, it was not the epic we had hoped for - how many times have we written that line before? - but there is clearly some promise, for other than the intriguing battle between the leading four teams there is the added bonus of in-house struggle for supremacy.
It was a baptism of fire for the new teams and those that have risen from the ashes of those that walked away, and while Lotus at least got both cars to the flag, Sauber demonstrated that it is best not to believe everything you see in testing.
For now however, even if you're not a fan of either, savour the fact that two proven winners are back on top, and relish the fact that the opposition has every intention of spoiling the party.