30/05/2010
NEWS STORY
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In a late night e-mail exchange, a respected McLaren insider revealed two things; firstly that Blue Velvet is one of his favourite films - to this day he is still known to 'sing' In Dreams when there's a Karaoke evening - and secondly that he feels confident his team may win today.
Ok, so he was a little inebriated, and it was approaching 1 am local time, but, ignoring the fact that Blue Velvet is a great film, all the more so courtesy of the chilling performance given by the late Dennis Hopper as Frank Booth, there is the very real prospect of McLaren pulling off a surprise victory today.
Red Bull went into the weekend as favourites, indeed, they've taken pole position, however, there have been reliability issues throughout the weekend, not least a rollbar failure for Sebastian Vettel on his final flying lap in Q3 yesterday.
While the Red Bulls are the class of the field, reliability continues to be a major concern, and the McLarens have shown remarkable pace here, witness the fact that Hamilton and Button qualified third and fourth, all four covered by 0.486.
Therefore, maybe, just maybe, today's race won't be the Red Bull steamroller we were expecting.
Other than Red Bull and McLaren, it looks as though the scrap for the remaining points will, once again, be between the Mercedes, who appear more competitive here, Felipe Massa and Robert Kubica.
While Mercedes has made progress, there are worried faces just along the pitlane where Ferrari's 800th Formula One World Championship Grand Prix is shaping up to be one of those events the team will want to forget about as soon as possible. More worrying however, is the fact that the Maranello outfit appears to be sliding backwards, a situation not helped by the fact that Fernando Alonso continues to make needless mistakes that simply make things harder for he and his team.
Both Renaults are in top ten qualifying positions, however, once again it appears that Kubica bears the real responsibility for his team's fortunes. That said, Petrov has looked good here all weekend, he likes the track and has raced here a couple of times in GP2.
While Kamui Kobayashi did well to qualify in the top ten, the Japanese driver and his team will be happy merely to finish today's race, such is the Swiss outfit's appalling reliability. Consequently, keep an eye on Sutil giving another sterling performance in the Force India and also Sebastien Buemi in the Toro Rosso.
Williams continues to disappoint while Lotus continues to establish itself as the best of the newbies. As for Hispania and Virgin, both teams clearly have their problems, a situation not helped by the restrictions on testing. However, the one good thing about Virgin's struggle is that at least we're not subjected to the awful grinning Richard Branson every fortnight.
With the swathes of empty grandstands there are fears for this event's future, even though Bernie Ecclestone claims that it is safe. Ironically this is one of the few tracks that Hermann Tilke can be proud of.
That said, having seen the empty seats in Monaco and Barcelona - and not everything can be put down to the recession or the ash cloud - F1 needs to up its game if it is to give the World Cup a run for its money over the coming weeks.
Being that the track is only used one weekend a year, it has been dusty throughout the weekend, with all the F1 boys going off track at some point or another. Today's GP2 and GP3 events both had more than there fair share of incidents and therefore we can probably expect a few incident this afternoon, not least at the Interlagos style Turn 1. And then there's Turn 8, the corner(s) that sorts the men from the boys.
Another factor worth bearing in mind is that this race is run anti-clockwise, which presents a whole new series of problems for the drivers and it was noticeable yesterday that a number of them were experiencing problems even on short runs. Therefore it should be interesting to see how they bear up over the course of a race.
As the field heads off on the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 28 degrees C, while the track temperature is 48 degrees. It is bright and beautiful with not a hope of rain should the race need spicing up in the closing stages.
Tyre options this weekend are hard (prime) and soft (option). Istanbul Park is notoriously hard on tyres and therefore certain drivers (Jenson Button anyone?) might be at an advantage in the latter stages of the race.
It was decided late last night to change the engine in Lucas di Grassi's Virgin, however, an oil leak, discovered just minutes before the Brazilian was due to take his place on the grid, means that he will need to start from the pitlane. That's assuming the team is able to fix the problem in time.
The field heads off on the warm-up lap, everyone getting away cleanly.
They're away, and while Vettel holds of Hamilton, the Englishman gets past a couple of corners later, Schumacher also gets past Button. The 2009 champs tries to fight back, the McLaren's F-duct eventually giving him the edge and allowing the McLaren driver to pass the Mercedes at Turn 12. Elsewhere, Hulkenberg pits after an incident involving Buemi who also pits.
At the end of lap 1, it's: Webber, Hamilton, Vettel, Button, Schumacher, Rosberg, Kubica, Massa, Petrov and Kobayashi. Alonso still in twelfth while di Grassi did make the start, albeit from the pitlane.
At the end of lap 2, Hamilton is just 0.7s behind Webber, with Schumacher losing ground to Button, the German leading a train of eight cars.
Hamilton continues to climb all over Webber, the Englishman posting a new fastest lap (33.411).
On lap 4, it is Vettel who posts a new fastest lap (33.280) as he attempt to keep in touch with Webber and Hamilton. Alonso is still twelfth, 0.6s down on Kobayashi. As Hulkenberg works his way back up through the field one has to wonder why Alonso can't nail the Sauber.
On lap 6 it is Webber who goes quickest (32.905), as Barrichello claims that the rear wing on Liuzzi's car is loose. Schumacher, now 6.4s down on Button, still leads a train of seven cars.
Hamilton continues to shadow Webber but is unable to get close enough to get a tow.
Of the newbies, Trulli is seventeenth, already 12.5s down on Barrichello, the last of the League 2 runners.
At the end of lap 10, as Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (32.422), Kobayashi and Barrichello both pit. This promotes Alonso to eleventh, however, next time around the Spaniard pits, surprisingly early.
As Hamilton makes a move on Webber, which fails, Button posts a new fastest lap (32.224). Petrov, Sutil and de la Rosa all pit.
At the start of lap 14, Hamilton makes another move going into Turn 1, as Kubica, Massa and Liuzzi all pit. The McLaren has the speed, he simply cannot get close enough to make a move that sticks.
At the end of lap 14 Vettel pits, as do Schumacher and Alguersuari. The McLaren mechanics are in the pitlane but neither driver stops.
At the end of lap 15, both Webber and Hamilton pit, rejoining in second and fourth after there is a problem releasing the McLaren driver. Button leads but he has still to stop.
"I'm starting to lose rear grip," says Button, who is told that he is pitting at the end of the lap. Sure enough, at the end of lap 17 the world champion dives into the pits, rejoining in fourth behind his teammate. However, with 40 laps remaining it's a Red Bull 1-2.
"We can still do this," Andy Latham tells Hamilton, "if we're careful with our tyres".
Hamilton makes a moves on Vettel, gets alongside the German but then runs wide at Turn 12.
With the majority of the pit stops out of the way, certainly in terms of the leaders, it's; Webber, Vettel, Hamilton, Button, Schumacher, Rosberg, Kubica, Massa, Petrov and Alonso.
As Vettel and Hamilton battle for second, Webber posts a new fastest lap (31.449). Next time around, Hamilton responds with a 31.347.
At which point, believe it or not, there is talk of rain, as the camera cuts away to show a very large cloud on the weather radar. Well, who woulda thunk it?
The difference between the Red Bulls, McLarens and the rest is clear for all to see, Schumacher now 18.5s down on (fourth placed) Button. The top four covered by just 2.5s.
"Rain expected in 8 minutes", advises Race Control.
On lap 23, Webber posts another fastest lap, the Australian crossing the line at 31.335 as he extends his lead to 0.9s.
"A short shower expected in 15 minutes," Button is told, "this could be our opportunity".
As Webber posts another fastest lap (31.148), Button up his pace, going quickest off all in the first sector. Schumacher is told that when it comes the rain will be nothing more than a light shower but that it may require a switch to intermediates.
A new fastest lap (31.083), this time from Vettel who remains 0.9s down on his teammate but only 0.6s ahead of Hamilton. Schumacher has a 2.8s advantage over his Mercedes teammate.
Alonso, lapping in the 32.5s, is told that Rosberg (sixth) is struggling with his tyres. Webber posts a new fastest lap but it is almost instantly beaten by his teammate (30.824).
Senna makes short work of di Grassi as the two scrap for twenty-second. No retirements thus far.
After a poor lap, Button hits back with a 30.469 on lap 31. He is now 1.8s down on his teammate who is just 0.5s down on Vettel.
As we wonder what happened to the rain, we are now told that it will arrive in 8 minutes and will probably last for 20.
As it becomes visibly darker, Button posts another fastest lap (30.345), as he extends his lead over Schumacher to 30.7s. Ross Brawn has a heap of work to do.
On lap 35, Trulli has the dubious honour of being the first retirement of the afternoon. The Italian pulling off track at Turn 9. Elsewhere, the mechanics are working on Kovalainen's car in the Lotus garage.
Vettel posts a 30.190 as he closes in on his teammate, as Hamilton falls 0.7s behind. Elsewhere, Hulkenberg makes his scheduled pit stop.
Calamity, on lap 40 on the approach to Turn 12 Vettel gets alongside Webber, who for a moment or two appears to slow, however, the two touch and suddenly its all over for the German while the Australian is able to continue.
Even the replay doesn't make it any easier to understand, while Vettel appears to move across into his teammate one has to wonder whether there was a failure.
While Hamilton and Button are now heading for a McLaren 1-2, Webber has now slipped to 5.5s behind the second McLaren. Button immediately ups the ante with a 29.895 as Webber pits for a new nose and fresh rubber.
The Australian rejoins still in third, just 7.4s ahead of Schumacher's Mercedes. Could the German be set for his first podium of the season?
"We need you to save fuel," Hamilton is told, "both cars are the same".
The calamity continues to shadow Vettel in the pitlane. Unwilling to talk to journalists, there is a remonstration between one journo and a member of the Red Bull crew.
Although 30.8s down on Button, Webber is back on the pace lapping around 0.4s faster than Schumacher.
After 46 laps, it's: Hamilton, Button, Webber, Schumacher, Rosberg, Kubica, Massa, Petrov, Alonso and Kobayashi. A stupendous performance from the Japanese driver and his team.
Sensing a podium, Schumacher has upped his pace, and so has his Mercedes teammate. "Watch the kerbs if it's wet," the seven-time champion is told.
There's a scrum in the paddock as hordes of journos surround Vettel. However, back on track Button makes a move on Hamilton which is a carbon copy of Vettel's move on Webber, but without the crash. Hamilton fights back and reclaims the lead at the end of the main straight, though the two clearly touch, albeit lightly. Brilliant stuff.
With the wind taken out of his sails, Button drops to 1.6s behind Hamilton, while Schumacher closes to within 7s of Webber. Who wouldn't want to be at the Red Bull or McLaren debriefs tonight.
Fastest man on track is Alguersuari, who has made his second stop of the afternoon.
Button is told to conserve fuel and watch his tyres, especially through the dreaded Turn 8.
Alonso makes a move on Petrov but is unable to make it stick. Thus far the Russian is having a good race. Elsewhere, Webber goes quickest in the first sector and again in the second. The Australian crosses the line at 29.211, a new fastest lap.
Alonso finally get past Petrov, but full respect to the Renault driver who still looks good for eighth place. Replay shows the two did actually touch, neither being the sort of driver to take prisoners. Indeed, the Russian slows, having clearly incurred some damage.
Webber posts another fastest lap as he extends his lead over Schumacher to 8.3s.
Buemi passes Kobayashi to un-lap himself, however, while the Japanese driver focuses on the Swiss driver ahead his Sauber teammate closes in from behind. As if that wasn't enough, the Spaniard has Hulkenberg all over him.
Vettel proves the sceptics wrong, walking over to the Red Bull pit-wall to shake hands with Horner, Newey and the gang.
As Hamilton begins his final lap, Button is 3.3s down the road, while Webber looks a dead cert for third. Petrov is partly compensated for his efforts by posting the fastest lap.
Hamilton takes the flag ahead of teammate Button to make it a 1-2 for McLaren, their first win at this circuit. Webber duly claims third, ahead of Schumacher, Rosberg, Kubica, Massa, Alonso, Sutil and Kobayashi.
de la Rosa finishes eleventh, ahead of Alguersuari, Liuzzi, Barrichello, Petrov, Buemi, Hulkenberg, Glock and di Grassi.
A great result for Lewis and McLaren, however, he and his team know that had it not been for that incident involving the Red Bull duo this would no doubt have been another 1-2 for the Austrian outfit.
While the 2008 champ was able to mix it with Webber in the opening stages of the race, it was a botched pit stop that saw him relegated to third. McLaren must not only continue closing the gap to Red Bull, they must eliminate the human errors. As for the 'moment' which almost saw the Woking cars replicate the incident that turned the race for Red Bull, isn't this what its all about, racing. A great performance from the British team and a great result.
It's entirely understandable that Webber looked thoroughly p****ed off on the podium, after all, this race was in the bag. The debrief will be fun, while message boards and fora will be buzzing as everyone and his dog points the finger of blame. Speaking of the incident, Vettel refused to apportion blame, however, his grin said it all, he's seen a chance, gone for it and failed. He's a racer, he went for it and screwed up, sh** happens.
While Mercedes finished fourth and fifth, the gap to the McLaren and Red Bulls says it all, Ross Brawn and his team have a lot of work to do. As for the drivers, once again Schumacher showed a glimpse of the genius we remember, making a great move on Button at the start. Once again, the old fox finishes ahead of his teammate Rosberg, who continues to give the impression that something is wrong behind the scenes.
An anonymous race for Robert Kubica and Felipe Massa, both of them doing pretty much all they could under the circumstances while Fernando Alonso was at least able to salvage something from what has largely been a disappointing weekend for the Italian team.
Another couple of points for Sutil and force India, while Sauber must be over the moon not only with Kamui Kobayashi's point but the fact that both cars made it to the flag, indeed both cars were almost in the points.
All in all it was one hell of a lot better than we expected, and surely all arund the world there were groans and cheers as first the Red Bulls clashed and then the McLaren appeared to follow suit.
While the event continues to fail to pull in the punters, the Istanbul Park Circuit once again demonstrates that it deserves to be on the calendar, let's hope Bernie Ecclestone can do a deal.
As we look ahead to another great F1 circuit, Montreal, in two weeks time, tonight, round about the midnight hour, listen hard, you just might hear a member of the McLaren team singing…. "In dreams… I walk with you".