24/10/2010
NEWS STORY
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For the second successive Grand Prix weekend the weathermen appear to have got it right.
The weathermen - are we still allowed to say that? - had been saying for days that there was a 60 percent chance of rain, and boy were they right.
The rain that had been forecast began last night and pretty much continued from then on, only stopping at 12:30 pm local time - just two and a half hours before the race is due to get underway.
All the rubber laid down over the last couple of days has now been washed away and such are the conditions that the sole support event run this morning (for Hyundais) took place almost entirely behind the Safety Car.
While the dust that plagued the drivers in the previous four sessions has been washed away - along with the rubber - the big concern now is how the oils rising from the newly laid asphalt will react with the damp track surface.
However, less than an hour before the start of the race, Bob Constanduros writes: "It's very muddy off-line, in fact it's a bit of a quagmire/quicksand off the circuit. Bernd Maylander (Safety Car driver) has already been round the track in the wet and says there is much more grip than you might think. Alex Wurz also says that there isn't so much oil in tarmac these days for road safety reasons. This tarmac is supplied by a German company, and it shouldn't be too slippery, but if people go off they're going to bring mud back onto the race track and that's going to be very messy. Therefore, it could be a bit of a procession with people not wanting to go off line."
Even if there is no more rain - and that's a mighty unlikely as we look at the skies - the drivers are already going to have their work cut out, and Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber will be delighted to have claimed the front row. All the overtaking we were promised might never happen with drivers aware that the slightest slip, the slightest off could mean disaster. All Sebastian, or Mark, have to do is be in front and stay there.
That said, there is a championship at stake, so we have to wonder - this being the last chance for the McLaren duo - will Lewis Hamilton throw caution to the wind or was this Jenson Button's cunning plan all along.
Despite the fears, the Koreans have done a wonderful job here it is hardly their fault that the weather might kill off any hope of a real 'go for it' race. After all, it was the weather that caused the delays to the construction of the circuit in the first place.
Sadly, despite the media hype, many of those in the stands look bewildered and one cannot help but feel that this could be another Turkey… if you'll pardon the pun. A great track but located in a region/country where there is no local interest in the sport. While Bernie and the various cash-laden governments might believe the Field of Dreams mantra that "if you build it they will come", F1 has proven that this is not always the case. Ironically, the South Koreans are big on Baseball.
Forty-five minutes before the start of the race it begins to spit, Mike Gascoyne tells Bob Constanduros that there will be "proper rain" in thirty minutes.
As the drivers go out for their exploratory laps before taking their place on the grid most are on intermediates. Spins for Glock and Massa are just two drivers to be caught out, while even the acknowledged 'rainmaster' Michael Schumacher slips and slides as he leaves the pitlane.
As the grid takes shape the rain increases in intensity however, there is no real standing water. Of great concern however is the fact that the pitlane - which is concrete as opposed to asphalt - is very slippery, which could mean fun and games during the stops - of which there could be a few of conditions continue to change.
On the grid, race steward, and 1980 world champion, Alan Jones, shakes hands with Webber, while McLaren and Red Bull people seem very, very confident. However, they're leaving the choice of tyres up to the drivers… there's not enough standing water for full wets but, on the other hands, is there too much for inters.
The cameras pick up on Vettel chatting with Charlie Whiting, the FIA's safety delegate and race starter who will ultimately decide whether the race gets underway behind the Safety Car.
As Race Control announces that the start has been delayed by ten minutes, the air temperature is 19 degrees C, while the track temperature is 18 degrees. Other than the rain it is also very cool nothing like the conditions we experienced on Friday and Saturday.
Race Control confirms that the race will get underway behind the Safety Car, good news for Red Bull but bad news for race fans, particularly those in the stands.
With the race beginning behind the Safety Car it means that there will be no warm-up lap, the race beginning the moment the Safety Car pulls off. Whenever that might be.
Vettel is told that though it will continue to rain it will ease off in terms of intensity. While there is little standing water on the track, there is plenty in the pitlane.
The tyre warmers are removed and everyone is on full wets - as is mandatory when the race starts behind the Safety Car.
They're away, and Maylander leads Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Hamilton, Rosberg and Massa into the first corner. The vast army of mechanics heads back to the pits where they are sure to be kept busy for the next two hours.
"It's so, so wet," Button tells his crew, "it's like a lake on the straight". Indeed, it is only now, that the cars are running, that one can appreciate how bad it is. Then again, we remember Rodriguez in the 917 at Brands Hatch!
"From what we know there will be another fifteen-twenty minutes of rain," Rob Smedley tells Massa. "You need to do everything you can to keep your tyres OK." Elsewhere, Senna pits to change his tyres complaining that there was a problem with them.
"It is the worse conditions I ever drove a car," Alonso tells his crew. At which point, after just 3 laps, the race is red flagged. Button clearly agrees with the situation; "I can't even see my tyres," he admits.
In the pitlane, the 'army' prepares to invade the track yet again, the workers descending on their charges like worker bees serving their queen. Christian Horner warns that the rain could continue for another forty minutes, which, if accurate, could mean real problems as we only have around seventy or eighty minutes before it starts getting dark.
It's reported that Hamilton wasn't too unhappy with the amount of grip, the Englishman clearly realising that if things remain as they are his title hopes are disappearing down the drain along with the rainwater.
While the mechanics work on the front end of his car, Kubica is one of several drivers who returns to his garage, the Pole clearly aware that the delay will last for some time.
Jeez, there's what appears to be a WAG in the Force India garage, she's wearing a T-Shirt with fur on the sleeves.
At 15:44, Liuzzi is advised that sunset is officially at 17:46. On the grid, Safety Car driver Bernd Maylander chats with Webber and Alonso.
At 15:55 it is announced that the 'race' will resume - behind the Safety Car - at 16:05.
If less than 75 percent of the race distance is run, half points are awarded.
"It's not really much better than last time," Rob Smedley tells Massa just two minutes before the 'race' is due to resume, "the only thing is you can see a little bit more."
Maylander leads the field away again, the rain has eased but there is still a lot of spray. "It feels a bit better than it was before," says Vettel, "but there is still a lot of water, a lot of spray."
At then end of lap 4 - the first after the re-start- di Grassi pits to change his tyres.
"It's a little bit better," says Button, echoing Vettel's opinion, "but still very, very wet." To prove the point Yamamoto runs wide.
"We're expecting light rain to continue for the next twenty minutes and that'll be it," Barrichello is advised. The Williams driver responds by posting a new fastest lap (2:39.488).
"The water on the straight is slowly decreasing," says Vettel. "It's getting better but the real problem is that the water can't go away."
Schumacher runs wide as Hamilton says that conditions are "good", "it's improving all the time," he adds. You've gotta love that attitude.
In the pitlane, Mercedes have laid what looks like rubber tracks on the concrete in the pit slot. Back on track, Schumacher appears to be testing the limits of what he can and can't do. A new fastest lap as Alguersuari posts 2:37.396.
On lap 10 it starts to rain harder, in the Ferrari garage Nicolas Todt and Luca Colajanni look frustrated. We can sympathise.
"Hamilton is keen to get going again," Webber is told, "what are your thoughts?". "I don't see any difference," the Australian responds.
"There is a forecast of five minutes more rain," Alonso is warned as the Brazilian begins his twelfth lap.
At the end of lap 13, di Grassi makes his second stop of the afternoon. Back on track, as he catches up with the pack, the Brazilian is around 9s quicker than anyone else.
"This is almost intermediates," claims Hamilton, "it's dried up so much already." The McLaren driver - and world championship hopeful - is getting more and more frustrated. And who can blame him. Elsewhere, Liuzzi runs wide.
On lap 17, Race Control announces that the Safety Car will pull off at the end of the lap. We are about to have a race… hopefully.
Vettel backs up the field, he heads through the final complex of corners and leads the field across the line. Schumacher nails Kubica going into Turn 1 as Button passes Massa as Rosberg passes Hamilton. Elsewhere, Trulli spins at Turn 1.
Vettel leads Webber by 2.2s with Alonso a further 1.1s behind. Schumacher is all over Button who is pursuing Massa.
Webber runs wide, loses control and thumps the wall bouncing back across the track to collect Rosberg. It's all over for both of them. Elsewhere, as the Safety Car is deployed, Heidfeld, Kobayashi, Buemi, Glock and Senna.
Consequently, after 19 laps, and behind the Safety Car, Vettel leads Alonso, Hamilton, Massa, Button, Schumacher, Kubica, Hulkenberg, Barrichello and Sutil. Petrov pits and swaps to intermediates.
Webber heads back to the pits on the pits as does Rosberg, the German an innocent victim of Webber's error. Kobayashi, on the inters, is struggling for grip going off at two different points on the track.
The Red Bull and Williams are lifted from the track by a recovery vehicle.
On lap 23, Race Control is informed that the Safety Car is pulling off, just as Button is informed that there will be another light shower in ten minutes.
Vettel is straight on the pace, as Massa continues to be the meat in a McLaren sandwich. Hamilton loses ground to Alonso while Button is running right behind Massa. Elsewhere, Trulli and Senna have a coming together, the Italian losing his front wing in the process.
Out front, Vettel is lapping a second quicker than anyone else as Trulli drives into his garage.
With the visibility being what it is, nobody is taking any chances - they've seen what happened to Webber - the cars are spread out pretty evenly.
The Saubers, which are running together, are struggling on their inters, and having a number of incidents. Stewards to investigate Trulli/Senna incident.
Schumacher passes Button to take fifth, the German excelling in these conditions. Elsewhere, di Grassi spins and hits the wall, his race is over.
On lap 27, Vettel posts a new fastest lap (1:54.098) as he extends his lead to 3.5s. Trulli returns to the pits, this time climbing out of his car and retiring.
As the McLaren mechanics gather in the pitlane, Hamilton goes quickest (53.914). Button pits and fits a set of inters, the first of the leaders to make the switch. He rejoins in sixteenth. Sutil also pits
As Vettel doubts the wisdom of switching to inters, Vettel is warned that more rain expected. Big spins for Sutil, Senna and Kovalainen.
Alonso posts a new fastest lap on lap 29 (53.480) as Hulkenberg - still on wets - goes quickest in the first sector on his next lap. At the end of the lap, however, he pits. Another fastest lap for Alonso (53.268) who is now 3.6s down on Vettel.
A great battle between Hulkenberg and Petrov as the German leaves the pits. Elsewhere, it's game over for Buemi who has clouted Glock at the end of the main straight.
As the Safety Car is deployed, Hamilton, Massa, Schumacher, Kubica, Barrichello, Alguersuari and Liuzzi all pit. Vettel, who doesn't stop, is a full second quicker than Alonso.
Replay shows Kubica badly released following his stop and almost clouting Sutil.
At the end of lap 32 Vettel and Alonso both pit. There's a problem for the Spaniard, a stuck wheel nut, and as a result Hamilton takes second. Race Stewards announce that there will be no further action re the Trulli/Senna incident.
Therefore, after 33 laps, behind the Safety Car, it's: Vettel, Hamilton, Alonso, Massa, Schumacher, Barrichello, Petrov, Hulkenberg, Kubica and Kobayashi. The stewards announce that they are investigating the Buemi/Glock incident.
Hamilton reveals that he may need to pit again, despite making changes he is concerned about his tyre wear. Teammate Button, who is also suffering tyre issues, is down in twelfth.
The Safety Car pulls off at the end of lap 34, Vettel giving it full-welly. Massa attacks Hamilton who has runs wide in Turn 1 and allowed Alonso through. Kovalainen, who is under investigation for speeding in the pitlane, gets a drive-through.
Sutil attacks Button, he gets past but the Englishman runs wide as he tries to fight back. A nightmare afternoon for the world champion. Replay shows Button losing pace after an incident in front of him involving Liuzzi and Kobayashi.
On lap 36, Alonso posts a new fastest lap (52.445) as he tries to close the 1.1s gap to Vettel. Barrichello closes in on fifth paced Schumacher.
On lap 37, Vettel responds with 51.909 as Sutil spins shortly after a great move on Heidfeld.
Massa is told not to be too aggressive and to protect his tyres. Sutil, whose front wing is damaged, loses positions to the two Saubers and Alguersuari. On the pit-wall, Rosberg shakes hands with the crew as he prepares to leave the circuit and Korea.
It's all over for Petrov (again) the Russian crashing heavily in the final corner. Replay shows him losing the car, possibly on the marker line, and heading into the barriers at pretty high speed. He's out of the car with only his chassis and reputation damaged. Thankfully, the Safety Car is not deployed. The Russian, clearly very, very dejected, walks back to the pits.
Vettel closes in on Yamamoto, as Alonso - currently 2.3s behind - posts another fastest lap (50.257).
Having passed the three-quarter distance mark, full points will now be awarded, much to Mark Webber's chagrin.
Vettel says he has a problem with poor visibility on various parts of the track, particularly in Turn 1. Asked how he finds the light level, Hamilton responds "it's fine".
Vettel suddenly slows as smoke pours from his engine, blowing just one corner later. The German drives a few more corners before parking, a trail of debris and oil on the track. Disaster in Korea for Red Bull.
On the pit-wall and in the garage the Red Bull crew are in shock, the counterparts at Ferrari and McLaren however, are clearly ecstatic.
Therefore, Alonso leads Hamilton, Massa, Schumacher, Barrichello, Hulkenberg, Kubica, Liuzzi, Kobayashi and Sutil. Sutil makes his umpteenth move of the afternoon on a Sauber, however, it's a gamble too far and he collides with Kobayashi, the Force India driver out on the spot with a badly damaged front suspension.
Heidfeld moves up to tenth, ahead of Alguersuari, Button, Kovalainen, Senna and Yamamoto.
Vettel is greeted by Helmut Marko back at the Red Bull garage, the German youngster looking quite philosophical about it all.
With 5 laps remaining, Alonso leads Hamilton by 2.8s with Massa a further12.6s behind. Schumacher remains fourth, 13.6s down on the second Ferrari, and 4.5s clear of Barrichello. Kubica harries Hulkenberg for sixth.
A very, late pitstop for Hulkenberg who takes on another set of inters. This promotes Alguersuari into the points while Button, who has a nasty little spin, stays twelfth.
Barrichello is passed by Liuzzi, the Brazilian suffering the same tyre wear problem that caused his teammate to make that late stop.
On the penultimate lap, Alguersuari runs wide allowing Hulkenberg to close right up. Barrichello is almost 4s slower than those around him. However, he has a 16.5s cushion to Kobayashi.
Alonso takes the flag, his fifth win of the season, and the lead in the title race. On-board shot from Hamilton's car shows just how dark it really is.
A race which two week's ago looked as though it wouldn't even happen has provided fans with plenty to talk about. Should the race have delayed as it was, was there the need for the safety car, was the circuit really ready for a Grand Prix?
And then there were the incidents, Webber's off - which probably cost Rosberg a podium - Vettel's engine and more offs and clashes than one could shake a stick at.
There is a feeling that Alonso's title bid is based on what happened in Germany and subsequently in Paris. However, while he benefited from Red Bull's calamitous day, he was there when it mattered this afternoon when others weren't.
Not that long ago, no sane man would have put money on the Spaniard in the 2010 title fight, yet, as we head to Brazil, he commands an 11 point lead. Like him or not, this is what championships are about.
A great performance from Hamilton also, the Englishman no doubt ruing that mistake after the re-start which allowed Alonso to re-take the pace he'd lost during the pit stops. His eagerness to see the race get underway - for real - is to be applauded. Teammate Button had a dreadful race in condition in which he normally excels. However, his pitstop and rejoining in the middle of the field didn't help his chances.
A well deserved podium for Massa, the Brazilian doing all that was required of him. Nonetheless, despite the 15 points, we can't help that he's lost that spark, certainly as far as the Maranello outfit is concerned.
Michael Schumacher no doubt enjoyed his afternoon, however, the limitation of the Mercedes, and perhaps the 'comfort' of 'middle age' causing the German not to do anything too rash.
A quiet afternoon for Kubica, who, while was saw virtually nothing of him, picks up another handful of points for fifth. Teammate Petrov, on the other hand, did his hopes of remaining with the French team no good. We like him, but there are just too many incidents.
A crazy day for Force India, with Sutil taking a risk too far and Liuzzi taking a convincing sixth place. Whether it is enough to keep the Italian in his seat for next season remains to be seen.
Williams deserved their double points finish, Barrichello and Hulkenberg both giving a good account of themselves. Under pressure to take Maldonado and his money, the Grove outfit has been given food for thought by its German charge this afternoon.
The Saubers looked a real handful this afternoon, really horrible. Therefore full credit to Kobayashi and Heidfeld, not only for keeping their cars on track but also surviving he endless attention of Sutil.
We said earlier that the locals in the stands look bemused, a couple of hours later, who can blame them. We're not sure what we just saw, how do you describe it, "classic", "incident filled", "exciting", "a thriller", "tense"? The fact is it had a bit of everything and, more importantly, sends us on to Brazil with the titles far from decided.
Bernie will be loving it. Just the birthday present he will have wanted.
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