07/11/2010
NEWS STORY
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Ahead of today's race, the talks isn't so much about the weather or even Nico Hulkenberg's astounding effort in qualifying. Instead, what everyone is talking about is the armed attack on Jenson Button last night and a subsequent similar attack on members of the Sauber team.
Would it be politically incorrect to suggest that this is why Formula One will never return to Aintree in Liverpool?
Over the years a number of teams have fallen foul of the local bandits however, one would hope that last night's incidents will result in better policing rather than Interlagos being dropped from the calendar in favour of the newer, safer, more sterile locations that Bernie appears to prefer.
Looking ahead to today, it would be totally wrong not to take the opportunity to heap further praise on 'The Hulk's' superb effort yesterday. To take pole from the likes of Vettel, Webber and Hamilton, and by over a second, is quite an achievement.
One would hope that his effort might go some way to the Grove outfit retaining the youngster for a second season indeed, one would hope that Sir Frank will retain his current line-up. Rubens Barrichello has proved that he is still more than capable of mixing it with the best of them, and, more importantly, bringing his car home in the points, while Nico has finally shown the spirit we'd previously witnessed in Formula BMW, the F3 Euroseries, GP" and, of course, that epic season in A1 GP.
Anyway, talking of banditry, it will be interesting to see if Vettel, Webber or Hamilton can steal a win today or whether Alonso's engine - and those of the Red Bull drivers - are bullet proof.
No disrespect intended, but Hulkenberg is unlikely to play a huge part in today's race - not unless the occasion gets the better of him and he should be involved in some first corner shenanigans. Hero to zero in a few hundred metres… it would be the first time.
With a dry race expected, and Alonso starting from fifth, the Red Bulls will have the advantage though Vettel starts from the dirty side. Hamilton will give his best, as ever, but his grid position is more about the weather conditions yesterday, allied with the Englishman's 'never-say-die approach, rather than a step forward by his team.
With an 11 point advantage, Alonso doesn't need to win today - a lesson Webber should have learned in Korea. That said, he might want to wrap it up in order that he can actually relax a little in Abu Dhabi next week.
While both Williams drivers should add handsomely to their team's tally, so to should Kubica and maybe even Petrov, providing the Russian can keep out of trouble. Then again, and talking of trouble, it should be fun to watch Kobayashi, Button and Rosberg battling in the early stages of the race.
The title can be decided today but we very much doubt it. Indeed, in the wake of yesterday's extraordinary session, we have this gut feeling that Interlagos has a few more surprises in store.
Half an hour before the start, Bob Constanduros texts: "Very sunny, track temperature 47, ambient 24 and 595 (sic) humidity. Quite a high track temperature that... everyone on softs except Petrov who has a choice unlike the others…" Bob's, of course, is referring to the fact that the Russian posted his best Q3 time on intermediates and can therefore choose what tyre he will start on medium (prime) or super-soft (option).
As the drivers prepare to head off on the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 24 degrees C while the track temperature is 51 degrees. Unlike yesterday it is gloriously sunny.
The field heads off, all except Hispania's Christian Klien that is, the Austrian starting from the pitlane following some last minute electrical problems. Hulkenberg slows and is passed by the Red Bulls before picking up speed again and re-taking his place at the front of the pack.
They're away… Despite his best efforts Hulkenberg is unable to hold off Vettel who leads into the first corner. Webber dummies Hulkenberg into Turn 4 to make it a Red Bull 1-2. A dreadful start for Petrov who runs wide in the Senna-S and loses a heap of positions.
On the pit straight at the end of lap one, Alonso passes Hamilton however, the Englishman takes the position back through the first corner complex. Into Turn 4 however, the McLaren driver runs wide and Alonso is through.
After two laps it's Vettel, Webber, Hulkenberg, Alonso, Hamilton, Kubica, Barrichello, Massa, Button and Schumacher. That said, Schumacher passes Button in the Senna-S to take ninth.
Alonso is all over Hulkenberg but the German is driving a mature race. Out front Vettel leads Webber by 2.2s. Hulkenberg is 2.8s down on the Australian and holding up a frustrated Alonso.
Alonso makes another charge on the pit straight but Hulkenberg defends magnificently allowing Hamilton to close in.
On the main straight Alonso doesn't appear to have the legs of the Williams as more and more drivers join the queue behind the Spaniard. Vettel lapping in the 1:16.8s while Hulkenberg is doings 1:18.4s.
On lap 7, Alonso finally gets past the German on the run to Turn 6. At the end of the lap Hamilton makes his move but Hulkenberg stands firm. "It was beautiful, beautiful," Alonso is told, "now we use our pace".
In clear air Alonso is now just 0.6s off Vettel's pace, the German now 8.8s up the road. "I have no grip," Hamilton complains.
At this point the F1 Application on our iPhone advises that the race is now over and we can download it. WTF?
Hamilton appears to have Hulkenberg beat at the end of lap 10 but the German somehow manages to hold on. "You've got to do everything you can," the 2008 champ is told.
At the end of lap 11 Button is the first driver to pit. Back on track, Webber posts a new fastest lap (1:16.799).
Alonso - lapping around 0.3s off Vettel's pace - is now 10s down on the German. As Hamilton makes another attempt to pass the Williams, Massa pits.
Back on track, Massa is soon passed by Button who is told that his decision to pit strategy is going to be copied by his rivals and that he needs to make the most of it.
At the end of lap 13 Barrichello pits, the Brazilian suffering a problem with his right-rear during the stop. Moments later Massa pits again the Brazilian pointing to his right front.
At the end of lap 14, Hulkenberg, Kubica and Heidfeld all pit while Hamilton makes a late decision not to. Hulkenberg rejoins in fourteenth behind Button.
After 15 laps, Vettel leads by 2.4s with Webber 11s clear of Alonso. Hamilton still complaining about a lack of grip, the Englishman now 2.6s ahead of Schumacher.
Button passes Petrov to take tenth, the Russian being the last of the leading pack of ten cars which has yet to pit. Despite his problems, Hamilton is posting personal bests - as is Alonso - but now 24.9s down on the leader.
Buemi, currently eighth, pits on lap 18, his teammate having stopped several laps earlier.
Next time around it is Petrov who stops, as Massa posts a new fastest lap (16.704).
At the end of lap 20 Hamilton dives into the pits as does Schumacher. 21.555s later he's back on track in sixth, just ahead of his teammate. Trulli also pits.
Asked if his tyres are OK, Vettel replies, "fantastic, just the front left going but they are good for more laps".
Hamilton goes quickest in S2, the Englishman now 4.4s down on Kobayashi who has yet to stop. The McLaren driver subsequently crosses the line at 16.658 to post a new fastest lap. Elsewhere, Sutil and Schumacher enjoying a great scrap for eighth.
Another fastest lap for Hamilton (16.274) on lap 24 as he closes in on Kobayashi. Alonso dies into the pits, rejoining 20.993s later still in third place
Next time around it is Vettel who stops, handing the lead to his teammate. 21.471s later he rejoins the track in second as Hamilton makes a late, late, late move on Kobayashi into Turn 1 to take fifth.
Webber pits at the end of lap 25, rejoining in second 20.735s later. Rosberg also pits though he almost loses control of his car as he leaves the pitlane.
So, after 26 laps, Vettel leads Webber by 2.7s with Alonso a further 10.7s down the road. Indeed, the German posts a new fastest lap (15.969).
Hamilton is fourth, ahead of Kobayashi, Button, Rosberg, Sutil, Schumacher, Hulkenberg, Kubica and Heidfeld. Though Kobayashi and Sutil have yet to stop.
As Button harries Kobayashi, Vettel posts a new fastest lap (15.797), the German still maintaining a 2.8s lead over his Red Bull teammate.
Alonso asks his team about the pace of the Red Bulls, "they're out of reach," he is told, "we can't touch them".
Interestingly, after 30 laps - not quite half distance - there have been no retirements. That said, Klien, who appeared to have thrown the towel in earlier, is now 5 laps down on the leader and 3 laps down on twenty-third placed di Grassi.
Webber responds with a new fastest lap (15.647) as he closes to within 2.5s of his teammate. Alonso now 15.7s down on Vettel but - championship-wise - in a better position.
The curse of Interlagos strikes again for Rubens Barrichello, the Brazilian suffering a front-left puncture after a clash with Alguersuari. Meanwhile, Sutil and Schumacher are still playing cat and mouse.
Barrichello pits and rejoins in eighteenth as Kubica closes in on his teammate who looks likely to lose tenth place.
Sutil, who, like Kobayashi, has yet to stop, heads a train of five cars with Schumacher right at the front.
"Is my F-duct working," asks Hamilton. "It's working fine," he is told, "you were fastest in the last sector".
Lap 37 sees another fastest lap for Webber (15.431) as the Australian continues to keep his teammate honest.
Webber loses a second, much to his obvious frustration, behind Senna. Elsewhere, Rosberg finally nails Kobayashi to take sixth.
"Your fronts are getting hot," Webber is told, the Australian advised to adjust his front wing accordingly. Alonso remains 14.2s behind but 10.8s ahead of Hamilton. Button looking good in fifth, albeit 9.8s down on his McLaren teammate.
As they work their way through the (not inconsiderable) traffic, Vettel and Webber lose ground to Alonso. Elsewhere, di Grassi appears to be the first retirement of the day.
"Before you is a bunch of eight cars all fighting for position," Vettel is told. "The first car is Massa, so be careful," comes the follow up.
While Vettel makes short work of Massa, and then Buemi, Webber seems to make a meal of it… or maybe he's just being extra careful. A tense time for the Red Bull drivers and the boys on the pit-wall.
At the end of lap 49, Kobayashi finally pits, however, he rejoins behind the traffic jam from hell which demotes the Sauber driver to fifteenth. Meanwhile, di Grassi is back on track, albeit eight laps down on the leader.
Liuzzi crashes heavily in Turn 2 after running wide, thereby bringing out the Safety Car and turning the race completely on its head. Sutil, Heidfeld, Petrov, Barrichello, Klien and Massa immediately pit. Hamilton also stops, as does Rosberg.
Therefore after 20 laps, and behind the Safety Car, it's: Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Hamilton, Button, Schumacher, Rosberg, Hulkenberg, Kubica and Alguersuari, Buemi, Kobayashi, Sutil, Heidfeld, Massa, Petrov, Barrichello, Kovalainen, Trulli, Glock, Senna and Liuzzi. That said, Button pits for a set of option tyres. Vettel is warned that he losing temperature in his front tyres.
Having had a problem during his previous stop, Rosberg pits again a couple of laps later, switching from prime to options this time.
At the end of lap 55, the Safety Car pulls off. Hamilton and Button remain fourth and fifth position wise even though they are at the back of the field. Very confusing for the fans and even for the drivers.
At the re-start Vettel gets away cleanly, immediately posting a new fastest lap (14.901), the German clearly a man on a mission.
Alguersuari - tenth on the charts but ahead of Alonso on the road - gives his countryman a very hard time. However, the Ferrari driver eventually forces his way past the Toro Rosso.
Another fastest lap for Vettel (14.503) as Button tucks in behind Hamilton as he works his way through the field. The race leader is now 3.6s clear of his teammate.
Massa is clouted by Alguersuari as he passes the Spaniard in Turn 4. Meanwhile, another fastest lap for Vettel (14.396) who now has a 4.4s cushion.
Some absolutely frantic fighting in the midfield, it's more like a GP2 race.
On lap 62, Webber responds with a 14.306 only for Alonso to post 14.229. Elsewhere, Sutil makes a bold move around the outside of Buemi to take twelfth.
Heidfeld, currently fourteenth, gets a drive-through for ignoring a blue flag.
On lap 64, Hamilton, still fourth and 1.6s clear of his teammate, posts a new fastest lap (14.082). Massa appears to be everywhere, wherever there's a battle the Brazilian appears to be in the thick of it.
Another fastest lap for Hamilton (13.956) as Alonso closes to within 3.3s of Webber. Heidfeld serves his penalty.
With 4 laps remaining, providing there are no major shocks, Red Bull will have won the Constructors' Championship. The team that started life at Stewart - with Barrichello in the cockpit - then became Jaguar, has done a magnificent job in the last couple of seasons.
"You can push if you need to," Webber is told. More about fuel use as opposed to being let off the reigns to take the fight to Vettel. Elsewhere, Massa clashes with Petrov, talk about armoured vehicle.
Vettel takes the flag, and thereby tasking the title fight all the way to Abu Dhabi next week. Webber, who crosses the line 4.243s later ensures that the Austrian outfit does indeed take the constructors' title.
Fernando Alonso finishes third, maintaining an 8 point lead going into the final round.
Lewis Hamilton finishes fourth which, although it keeps him in the championship fight, means we would need the mother of all upsets if he was to take a second title.
Behind, Vettel, Webber, Alonso and Hamilton, Button finished fifth, ahead of Rosberg, Schumacher, Hulkenberg, Kubica and Kobayashi.
So Bernie gets his wish, and the title fight goes all the way down to the wire. However, one cannot help but feel that it remains in Alonso's favour and leaves Red Bull with a few sleepless nights over the next week.
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