26/06/2011
NEWS STORY
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Based on yesterday's qualifying session the FIA's attempts to halt the Red Bull/Sebastian Vettel steamroller has fallen at the first hurdle, what with the German and his teammate locking out the front row for the third time this year.
However, there is always this afternoon, when we shall see if the inability to change engine mapping between qualifying and the race has any impact of the Austrian team (and its rivals) failing which we will have to wait until Silverstone when the full ban on off-throttle use of blown diffusers comes into effect.
Based on yesterday's evidence - and with absolutely no chance of the weather gods having any say on the outcome - Vettel looks likely to make it win number six today, though Mark Webber might have other ideas.
One person who will be desperately hoping that Charlie Whiting has worked his magic will be Lewis Hamilton who has admitted that he needs to finish today. After his recent outings, particularly in Monaco and Montreal, the McLaren driver will be under close scrutiny.
Fernando Alonso has admitted that while Ferrari is making progress it remains several months behind Red Bull, not exactly what the fans in the stands will want to hear nor the powers that be back in Maranello and Turin. Nonetheless, both the Spaniard and his teammate Felipe Massa have looked thus far this weekend and should therefore be able to add another pile of points to the pot this afternoon.
Unless he gets in a mighty start, Jenson Button looks to be in for a long afternoon, what with the Ferraris ahead of him and the Mercedes behind.
Talking of Mercedes the car is clearly improving but there's still a long way to go. On the other hand, it's good to see Michael Schumacher raise his game in the last couple of weekends while Nico Rosberg remains a joy to watch.
Nick Heidfeld has come in for a certain amount of criticism in recent week though we're not sure why. While the Renault is a good car there are times when it flatters to deceive. In the great scheme of things it is exactly where it belongs, behind the front runners and ahead of the main midfield pack, trading blows with Mercedes. Providing Heidfeld and Vitaly Petrov keep out of trouble this afternoon the status quo should be maintained.
No disrespect to Adrian Sutil but the German benefited from Paul di Resta's lack of running yesterday, out-qualifying the Scottish rookie for only the second time this year. Having failed to post a time in Q3, like Heidfeld, it will be interesting to see how Sutil uses his free choice, in terms of tyres, to his benefit.
Behind these it will be interesting to watch the Sauber/Williams battle, Kobayashi sure to have all those around him feeling extremely twitchy at the start of today's race and no doubt for the next 57 laps.
Starting seventeenth and eighteenth, Toro Rosso has every right to feel disappointed, the Faenza team needing a good result today if it is to maintain its lucrative seventh place in the Constructors' Championship.
As ever, Lotus is best of the rest, with Heikki Kovalainen continuing to outshine Jarno Trulli. Speaking yesterday, the Italian denied reports that he is looking to leave F1 at the end of the season however, one cannot help feel that he's lost his sparkle.
Having parted company with Nick Wirth, Virgin is slowly rebuilding and while the changes won't be instant we should see some progress over the summer. Surprisingly, Hispania has introduced some new parts here, however, the Spanish outfit continues to frustrate.
Despite the best efforts to promote Valencia, the circuit remains soulless and characterless, and along with Istanbul has failed to convince the fans. Little wonder then that there is talk of the race being dropped in the very near future leaving the Spaniards to focus fully on Barcelona. Then again, should DRS provide some overtaking today, on a track that only witnessed one such move in 2010, the axe may be held off for another year or two.
As in Montreal there are two DRS zones here, one beginning on the approach to Turn 11 - the only straight of substance here - and the other coming out of Turn 14 and the run to Turn 17. The DRS detection zone is on the approach to Turn 8.
Tyres on offer are medium (prime) - making their 2011 debut - and soft (option). There was just over a second between the two yesterday, down on the two seconds on Friday due to the high temperatures yesterday. Consequently, Pirelli motorsport boss Paul Hembery believes the teams will have their work cut out today deciding on their tyres strategies, the advantage that the soft has in terms of pace balanced by the extra stability and durability of the medium.
Talking of heat, as the field prepares to head off on the parade lap, the air temperature is 27 degrees while the track temperature is 47 degrees. Humidity is 64%. They head off on the parade lap, all get away cleanly.
They're away and Vettel leads the field as Webber tucks in behind and both Ferraris get away beautifully and pass Hamilton. Great start from Rosberg also, the German nailing Button and Schumacher almost following through as the Englishman run a little wide. No problems, no silliness.
At the end of lap 1, Vettel leads Webber by 1.3s with Alonso third ahead of Massa, Hamilton, Rosberg, Button, Schumacher, Sutil and Heidfeld.
At the end of lap 2, Vettel's lead is up to 1.8s, behind the leading 10 it's: di Resta, Barrichello, Kobayashi, Buemi, Petrov, Perez, Alguersuari, Glock, Kovalainen, Trulli and Maldonado.
On lap 4 Button is using his DRS as he shadows Rosberg but to little affect. Meanwhile, Alonso is fastest in the first two sectors as he pursues Webber.
On lap 6 Button makes a late and very great move into the first corner, leaving the Mercedes for dead. The McLaren driver is now sixth and 6s behind his teammate. Vettel posts a new fastest lap (1:45.033).
As Webber maintains a 2.1s gap to his teammate and 1.1s to Alonso he is told that he's doing a "good job" with his tyres.
Kobayashi having a great scrap with Barrichello, the two battling hard for twelfth, 1.5s behind di Resta.
A mistake from Webber allows Alonso to close as Massa goes quickest in S1. The Spaniard runs wide in the exit from Turn 20 giving his Australian rival some much needed breathing space.
After 8 laps the top five are covered by just 6.9s with Button a further 8.6s down the road. Having lost ground to Barrichello, Kobayashi is now under pressure from Buemi and Alguersuari.
While almost everyone is on the option tyre, Petrov, in sixteenth, is the leading driver on the prime tyre. The Russian has taken a brave gamble which could well pay off. He is currently 5.6s behind Alguersuari.
Massa locks up into Turn 17 on lap 11 but Hamilton is unable to take advantage as Heidfeld, Barrichello and Kobayashi all pit. Maldonado having pitted a lap earlier.
At the end of lap 12 Hamilton, Rosberg and Sutil all pit, the McLaren driver rejoining in seventh, Rosberg eleventh and Sutil fifteenth.
Next time around it is Webber who pits, rejoining in fifth 20.445s later. Surprisingly, neither Ferrari stops.
Hamilton - on fresh rubber - makes short work of Schumacher, as Vettel, Alonso, Button pit, joined, shortly after, by Schumacher. Di Resta and Buemi pit also.
Therefore, after 14 laps it is Massa that leads, with Vettel rejoining in second.
Schumacher's front wing is askew however, this doesn't prevent the German overtaking one of the Force Indias.
Massa pits at the end of lap 15, as Schumacher also pits for a new front wing. Back on track Vettel leads Webber, Alonso and Hamilton.
Replay shows Schumacher being hit by Petrov as he left the pits after his first pit stop, the German appearing to have crossed the white exit line and into the path of the black and gold car.
Perez and Heidfeld touch as they battle for ninth, the German bravely going around the outside of the young Mexican. Moments later, Barrichello adds insult to injury by passing the Sauber driver.
After 17 laps, it's Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Hamilton, Massa, Button, Rosberg and Alguersuari who has yet to stop. The stewards are investigating the Schumacher/Petrov clash.
The crowd applauds as Alonso posts a new fastest lap (43.803), elsewhere, Trulli makes his first stop of the day.
Alguersuari finally pits at the end of lap 19, leaving Perez (currently twelfth) as the only man yet to stop.
Alonso is all over Webber as the Australian is warned that his rear (brake) temperatures are creeping up. Trouble is, with Alonso just 0.4s behind there is little the Red Bull driver can do at this stage.
Moments later Alonso makes his move, nailing the Australian into Turn 12 - the enf of the first DRS zone - after getting a tow from the Red Bull. As the Spaniard sweeps by into second the crowd rises.
The stewards announce that the Schumacher/Petrov incident is seen as a "racing incident" and therefore no further action is needed.
On lap 23, Webber posts a new fastest lap (43.583) as he trails Alonso by 1.3s. In fourth place, 6.4s down the road.
Next time around Hamilton makes his second stop of the afternoon, the Englishman taking on another set of options. Rejoining in sixth, replay shows a slight problem as the 2008 champ attempted to leave his stand too early.
Petrov and Perez are in a great scrap for fourteenth, the Mexican clearly on a one-stop strategy. Moments after the Sauber driver is passed by the Russian, teammate Kobayashi also sweeps past. The Mexican subsequently pits.
Schumacher and Maldonado having a real ding-dong for sixteenth, the German well down the field but clearly enjoying himself.
Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (43.144) but one has to wonder if he's pushing too hard too soon. Teammate Button, on a different strategy, is 7.9s up the road, himself 8s down on Massa.
Heidfeld, di Resta and Petrov all pit at the end of lap 27 with Webber stopping a lap later. The Australian rejoins in fourth.
As Hamilton posts another fastest lap on lap 29, Sutil and Barrichello both pit, as does Maldonado.
Alonso pits at the end of lap 29, the Spaniard struggling for grip and almost losing the car as he enters the pitlane. The Ferrari rejoins Webber, a strategic masterstroke from Red Bull. Elsewhere, Hamilton is told his rear tyres are hot, "I can't go any slower" is the response.
At the end of lap 30 it is Vettel who pits, as do Button and Rosberg. The German rejoins still leading, with Massa second ahead of Webber, Alonso, Hamilton, Button, Alguersuari and Rosberg.
Next time around it is Massa who pits, the Brazilian losing time due to an errant wheel gun. Moments earlier Alonso almost came to grief as he passed Maldonado, the Spaniard making his feelings quite clear even at over 180 mph.
Schumacher makes his third stop of the day at the end of lap 32, the seven-time champ rejoining in seventeenth. Elsewhere, Button complains that his KERS is not working.
Vettel, now 1.8s clear of his teammate, posts a new fastest lap (42.491), while Alonso is a further 1.7s down the road, 12s clear of Hamilton.
On lap 35, the McLaren crew is in the pitlane wearing their KERS protection gloves. However, any though of Button stopping is dispelled when the 2009 champ posts his own best time of the race.
"Reasonable pace, we about a second faster than Hamilton," Massa is told, the Brazilian currently 9.5s adrift of the McLaren driver.
Another fastest lap from Vettel on lap 36, the German posting 42.359 as he maintains a 2.3s lead over his teammate. With Alonso 1.5s behind the top three are covered by just
3.9s.
After 37 laps, with 20 to go, it's: Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Hamilton, Massa, Button, Alguersuari, Rosberg, Sutil and Heidfeld.
Liuzzi gets in the way of both Webber and Alonso, the Hispania driver almost pushing the Ferrari into the wall.
Rosberg is all over Alguersuari, the Spaniard delivering another great performance just two weeks after his strong drive in Montreal. However, making full use of his DRS and KERS the Mercedes driver finally sweeps past going into Turn 17 of the fortieth lap.
"We need to up our pace for the next few laps," Hamilton is told, "I can't go any quicker," he replies. As the McLaren driver struggles, one wonders whether the new (for this weekend) engine map rule has hit the Woking team harder than Red Bull. Elsewhere, Button is told that he will need to stay on his current (option) tyres as long as possible.
At the end of lap 41, Heidfeld and Barrichello pit, from twelfth and thirteenth. With 15 laps remaining we have yet to see a single retirement.
Webber pits for the final time at the end of lap 42, with Hamilton stopping moments later. The Australian rejoins in third while the Englishman is sixth. Both have taken on the obligatory prime tyres. Replay shows the Red Bull driver getting well out of shape as he entered the pitlane. Sutil, Kovalainen and Glock also stop.
Petrov and Kobayashi continue to scrap for fifteenth, Sauber looking unlikely to add to its points tally today.
At the end of lap 45, Alonso and di Resta pit, the Ferrari driver rejoining in second, between Kobayashi and Petrov but crucially ahead of Webber. Rosberg, Maldonado and Liuzzi also pit.
Sutil sensibly moves out of the way as Alonso and Webber move in, elsewhere di Resta is in a three car battle with Buemi Kobayashi and Petrov for thirteenth.
At the end of lap 46 Vettel makes his final stop of the race, the German 28.4s clear of Alonso. He rejoins still leading but his lead now cut to 9.3s.
Vettel, Alonso, Webber, Massa, Button, Hamilton, Rosberg, Alguersuari, Sutil and Heidfeld, though Massa, Button and Alguersuari have yet to make a third stop. That said Massa and Button both pit at the end of lap 48, rejoining in fifth and sixth.
After 49 laps, Vettel leads Alonso by 8.7s with Webber a further 2.5s down the road. Hamilton is fourth, 29.6s down on Webber but 7.4s ahead of Massa, with Button sixth ahead of Rosberg, Alguersuari, Sutil and Heidfeld. While di Resta continues his battle with Buemi, Kobayashi and Petrov, there remain 24 runners.
Alguersuari's tyres are shot to pieces and with five laps remaining he's lapping around 4s off the pace with Sutil and Heidfeld closing in remorselessly.
Webber is notified that he has a problem and needs to short-shift. The Australian will be delighted to know that there are only four laps remaining with a 29s cushion to Hamilton who has Massa 4.5s behind.
Sutil continues to shadow Alguersuari who has somehow managed to up his pace despite the state of his tyres.
Vettel begins the final lap, 12.7s clear of Alonso who is now 11.6s ahead of Webber.
The German takes the flag, his sixth win of the season, extending his championship lead to 77 points, just over three race wins.
Fernando Alonso finishes second while Webber's third place moves the Australian into joins second in the title race with Jenson Button.
Lewis Hamilton finishes fourth, ahead of Massa, Button, Rosberg, Alguersuari, Sutil and Heidfeld.
Sergio Perez takes eleventh, ahead of Barrichello, Buemi, di Resta, Petrov, Kobayashi, Schumacher, Maldonado, Kovalainen, Trulli, Glock, d'Ambrosio, Liuzzi and Karthikeyan.
Having finished first or second in every single race so far this year, and in spite of the FIA's best efforts, who on earth would really bet against Vettel taking his second successive title.
No disrespect to Sebastian or his rivals but this was a lacklustre race, typical of this sort of circuit. Thankfully we now head to a real circuit, let's hope that Silverstone lives up to expectations.
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