28/08/2011
NEWS STORY
Looking ahead to today's big race, and going just slightly off topic, one couldn't help but laugh at two classic bits of irony this weekend.
First off, as the sport celebrates the twentieth anniversary of Michael Schumacher's F1 debut - at this very circuit - the German failed to complete a single lap in qualifying, bringing back memories of his failure to complete a single race lap back in 1991. Could we possibly see a repeat today as the German battles with Ricciardo, Liuzzi, d'Ambrosio and the dreaded Pastor Maldonado in the opening moments?
Then there was Mark Webber's assurance to the media of Friday that teammate Sebastian Vettel's dominance of the 2011 championship is over. That was about twenty-four hours before said German came out of nowhere to take pole with a last gasp effort 0.432s quicker than his nearest rival, and over a second quicker than Webber.
All that aside, after yesterday's excellent qualifying session we have a nicely jumbled up grid, even if at this time it looks as though the weather gods have chosen to take the day off. It's been bright, and, more importantly, dry all morning and the forecast for this afternoon is much of the same. Though at Spa we have learned to take nothing for granted.
Though it's dry, it is unseasonably cool which means bad news for Ferrari and in particular Fernando Alonso who starts from eighth on the grid. Teammate Felipe Massa, who did well to take fourth will also be hoping for a little bit of localised global warming over the course of the next couple of hours.
While we were told that this circuit doesn't really suit the Red Bulls they have looked good all weekend, with both drivers dominating at various stages. The Austrian outfit's 100% reliability record thus far this season, combined with its obvious pace here, suggests that this afternoon the grasp on both 2011 titles will become just that little bit firmer.
Despite the best efforts of Maldonado - who really should have left that sort of crap behind in GP2 - Lewis Hamilton did magnificently to finish second on the grid. His car did suffer damage in the clash and with so little time to fully prepare it before Q3 it took a humungous effort (and confidence) to do what the Englishman did. However - and there's usually a however when McLaren is involved - the strategic cock-up which saw Jenson Button miss the cut was dumb. To put it mildly. While the 2009 champ faces a long, difficult afternoon, particularly if it remains dry, Hamilton should be able to take the fight to Red Bull… and let's not forget that much talked about rear wing of which little has been seen thus far.
While Anniversary man Schumacher is getting all the attention, Nico Rosberg dug deep to put his Mercedes fifth on the grid. The German has done a superb job this year and really isn't getting the credit he deserves. With a brace of fifths earlier in this season, one wonders whether Nico might improve on that this afternoon. On the other hand, teammate Schumacher has it all to do. On the other hand, it gives him the perfect opportunity for a bit of scrapping on a circuit which has played a major role in his story.
Of course, if Rosberg deserves a slap on the back for his achievements, what of Jaime Alguersuari and Bruno Senna, who start from sixth and seventh? The Toro Rossos have been looking a decent prospect all weekend, however, surely nobody expected the Spaniard to qualify ahead of his countryman. Whether Alguersuari can maintain position or at least remain in the points remains to be seen however, since Canada he's had a string of decent results, no doubt spurred on by Daniel Ricciardo's move to a full seat, albeit at HRT.
As for Senna, whatever else he does today, the fact is he put his Renault seventh on the good, ahead of his teammate. To date, we have never been convinced by the youngster - then again he does have a hell of as lot to live up to - today could be one of his best opportunities to prove the sceptics wrong. A points finish would certainly go some way to saying he has Heidfeld's car on merit.
With an eye on the various problems at Renault, what better opportunity for Sauber, Force India and Toro Rosso to close the gap in that all important battle for fifth place in the Constructors' Championship. After all, while it is the drivers' title that gets the attention it is the constructors' standings that decides the money.
While Sergio Perez and Kamui Kobayashi must both be considered god bets for points today, Toro Rosso is clearly in there and the Force India duo will be fired up following yesterday's frustration.
With Heikki Kovalainen getting into Q2 for the second time this season, Lotus continues to improve and the one team that should be worrying is Williams. With Rubens Barrichello said to be very unhappy at the lack of progress being made, the last thing the Grove outfit needed was Maldonado's stupidity yesterday.
At the very back of the grid - leaving Schumacher aside - HRT continues to lose ground to Virgin which, in turn, is slowly improving. That said, both teams have a long, long way to go.
Being F1 there is always going to be a bit of controversy and sure enough, less than an hour before the start of the race the sport delivers its latest instalment.
A number of teams, including Red Bull, had asked if they could change the front tyres on their cars before the start of the race. They cited blistering to the tyres which - seeing as the leading ten have to start on the tyres with which they qualified - could lead to problems at the start of the race not least the need for a very early pit stop.
There was talk of them using tyres from other sets, leaving them short for the race, and even talk of Pirelli issuing extra tyres, the Italian company going to the trouble of bringing in more tyres. However, the FIA eventually ruled that tyres can only be changed if they are damaged and this is not the case.
Other than the Red Bulls, Lewis Hamilton and Jaime Alguersuari are said to have suffered blistering. With Ferrari similarly effected, one team that could benefit is Sauber.
With so little dry running this weekend, set-up is also a problem particularly in terms of camber. The TV cameras pick up on Vettel in animated conversation - to put it mildly - with a Pirelli engineer, the German clearly very unhappy.
Bang on cue, as the pitlane opens the sun disappears behind a massive cloud. A few minutes later however, as if playing a game with us, it reappears.
As the drivers prepare to head off on the warm-up lap the air temperature is 18 degrees C, while the track temperature is 23 degrees.
Tyre options are medium (prime) and soft (option). Most are on options though Button and Schumacher are on primes.
Despite clouds of smoke billowing from his car on the grid Rosberg makes a great start, which can't be said for Webber. There's problems at La Source for Alguersuari and Glock but most of the field away cleanly.
Rosberg nails Vettel at Les Combes, the Mercedes driver taking the lead as his teammate moves up to fifteenth.
At the end of lap 1, it's: Rosberg, Vettel, Massa, Hamilton, Alonso, Buemi, Perez, Webber, Kobayashi and Petrov.
Alonso nails Hamilton into Les Combes, as Glock, Senna and Kovalainen all pit.
As Alguersuari pulls to the side of the track to retire, his front suspension broken, Alonso posts a new fastest lap (57.378). Replay shows Senna hit Alguersuari in La Source at the start, the Spaniard clouting Alonso, which in fact was the cause of the broken suspension.
At the end of lap 3, Vettel having re-passed Rosberg into Les Combes, Webber and Button both pit, the Australian for tyres and the Englishman for a new nose.
Now in clear air, Vettel sets a blistering pace (sorry) extending his lead to 2.1s. The German informs his crew that his tyres appear to have stabilised. Behind him, Rosberg is under pressure from both Ferraris with Hamilton right behind.
As the three scrap behind Rosberg, Alonso passes Massa, almost running wide, while moments later Hamilton, using his KERS, also passes the hapless Brazilian.
At the end of lap 5, Vettel pits taking on another set of softs. Meanwhile Buemi has a broken rear wing and Kobayashi a damaged front wing. Webber posts a new fastest lap (54.957).
Therefore, Rosberg now leads Alonso, Hamilton and Massa, with Kobayashi fifth ahead of Petrov and Vettel.
As the stewards announce penalties for Senna and Glock, Buemi returns to the pits for repairs to his rear wing and Hamilton complains of "dark patches" on his front tyres.
Alonso passes Rosberg to take the lead and Hamilton closes in, as does Massa. The top three covered by 3.3s.
Making full use of his DRS, Hamilton sweeps past Rosberg on the climb to Les Combes. Alonso now 2.4s up the road. Vettel posts a new fastest lap (54.733). Schumacher is up to thirteenth.
Alonso pits at the end of lap 8, the Spaniard handing the lead to Hamilton. The Ferrari driver rejoins just ahead of Webber, the two side by side as they go into Eau Rouge. The Australian refuses to lift off, nailing the Ferrari in the middle of the most notorious corner on the calendar.
As Massa pits, Sutil finds himself caught up in the Webber/Alonso battle. The German has the best seat in the house as the Spaniard nails the Red Bull on the climb to Les Combes. Elsewhere, Vettel is all over Rosberg, the German already complaining of blistering to his left front.
At the end of lap 10 Hamilton pits, handing the lead to Vettel who has dispatched Rosberg. The Englishman is advised of Vettel's blistering problem.
As Rosberg pits at the end of lap 11, Alonso posts a new fastest lap (53.747). Schumacher is involved in a titanic battle with Massa and Button for twelfth whilst closing in on Maldonado.
As Alonso continues to set a blinding pace, but 5.5s behind Vettel, Webber and Hamilton work their way past Kobayashi and Petrov respectively.
It's all over for Hamilton who goes off into the barriers as he battles Kobayashi for fourth. Hard to say who was at fault, however, as they approach Les Combes side by side, Kobayashi appears to turn into Hamilton who, in turn, appears convinced he has passed the Sauber. As the Safety Car is deployed, Sutil, Barrichello, Schumacher, Button and various other all pit. Vettel also.
After 14 laps, and with the Safety Car still on track, it's: Alonso, Webber, Vettel, Massa, Rosberg, Kobayashi, Sutil, di Resta, Perez and Petrov. Ricciardo has stopped on track.
At the end of lap 16 the Safety Car pulls off. On the short pit straight Vettel makes a move on his teammate whose tyres are that much older and have nothing to give him. On the run to Les Combes Rosberg passes Massa, the German moving up to fourth.
At the end of the lap Perez, Button and Petrov are involved in a great scrap as Vettel makes short work of Alonso on the run to - guess where? - Les Combes. The world champion re-takes the lead.
Schumacher is up to seventh, 1.4s clear of Perez who has Button, Maldonado, Barrichello, di Resta and Kobayashi in hot pursuit.
Having passed Maldonado, Barrichello takes Perez going into La Source. However, the Mexican leaves the Brazilian for dead at Les Combes. Meanwhile, Schumacher goes quickest in S1.
Now 2.7s clear of Alonso, Vettel is running a second a lap quicker. Webber is 1.4s down on the Spaniard and 1.6s clear of Rosberg who has Massa right up his exhaust. Schumacher and Button in a great scrap for seventh. DRS or not, the Englishman is unable to pass the German on the approach to Les Combes, the McLaren no match for the outright speed of the Mercedes.
Perez gets a drive through for causing a collision (with Buemi) as Button nails Schumacher at the final chicane, the McLaren driver very, very late on the brakes.
The stewards announce that no further action is to be taken regarding the Kobayashi/Hamilton clash.
Having passed Schumacher, Button is now all over Sutil. Schumacher, 0.8s down the road, keeps a watching eye on proceedings. Moments later the McLaren driver sweeps by the Force India.
As Vettel extends his lead to 4.7s, Button closes right in on fifth placed Massa.
The Englishman makes another late, late braking move into the final chicane, clearly a man on a mission. Massa tries to resist but it's in vain. Total respect to both drivers for not doing anything silly. Great racing.
In no time at all, Button is up with Rosberg, nailing the German on the approach to Les Combes and immediately setting about closing the 8s gap to Webber. The Englishman, who has already used the medium compound, proclaims he is up for the fight - just in case we didn't know it - is advised that the cars ahead are all blistering.
Rosberg under pressure from Massa, Sutil, Schumacher and Petrov. Elsewhere, Perez retires with what appears to be a front suspension problem. A race that promised so much looks likely to deliver nothing.
At the end of lap 29, Alonso makes his second stop, switching to the harder medium compound. The Ferrari driver rejoins in fourth. Next time around race leader Vettel pits, rejoining in third behind Webber and Button. Moments late, Rosberg, Massa, Petrov and di Resta all pit.
Despite being on 'cold' tyres, Rosberg makes short work of Barrichello. Elsewhere, Alonso is told that Button might go to the end of the race on his current set of (medium) tyres.
At the end of lap 31, it is Webber who pits, as do Sutil and Schumacher. Meanwhile, Vettel passes Button at Les Combes for the lead.
Next time around, as Vettel posts a new fastest lap (51.015), Button pits, fitting a new set of softs. Massa also pits, the Brazilian having suffered a puncture.
After 33 laps, it's: Vettel, Alonso, Webber, Button, Rosberg, Sutil, Schumacher, Petrov, Maldonado and di Resta.
Schumacher finally gets past Sutil, giving Mercedes 5th and 6th, not bad considering the seven-time champ started from the very back of the grid.
Webber takes almost 2s then 1.5s out of Alonso, the Australian now just 0.9s behind the Spaniard who is clearly struggling. Button is also closing in at a rate of knots.
It's almost embarrassing as Webber sweeps past Alonso on lap 37 on the approach to Les Combes. The Ferrari, courtesy of the state of his tyres, and the Red Bull's DRS, has nothing to fight back with. Ominously, Button is now 4.8s behind the Ferrari.
As Schumacher closes to within 0.7s of his teammate, Rosberg is told the pair are free to have some fun. Curiously, Alonso posts PBs in the first two sectors, nonetheless, Button takes a further second out of him.
As Schumacher closes in to within 0.5 of his teammate, Rosberg is told to save fuel. Hopefully that's not a coded message. Elsewhere, Barrichello pits for a new nose after clouting the back of Kobayashi. Button is now 0.7s down on Alonso.
On lap 42, Alonso can do absolutely nothing when Button makes his move on the run to Les Combes. Moments later, Schumacher makes a similarly successful move on his Mercedes teammate.
As Vettel begins his final lap, Alonso carries to much speed into the final chicane. The German leads his teammate by 4.2s with Button a further 4.8s down the road.
Despite the naysayers, some of whose claims in recent weeks have been quite ludicrous, Vettel takes a mighty impressive win, albeit his first since Valencia. Furthermore, he extends his championship lead to 92 points, almost four Grands Prix worth.
Webber takes a well deserved second, virtually guaranteeing Red Bull the championship, while Button takers third, ahead of Alonso, Schumacher, Rosberg, Sutil, Massa, Petrov and Maldonado.
All in all an excellent race, and for once we didn't need to rely on the weather gods.
Vettel and Red Bull have proven - as if proof were needed - that they are in no mood to surrender their crowns, while Button gave one of the best drives of his career.
Kudos also to Schumacher, who surely cannot have been expecting to finish fifth having started behind Ricciardo, while Maldonado went some way to making up for yesterday's madness.
A truly entertaining race and one which proves that we don't always have to rely on the weather.
And so from one great race track to another, Monza. Bring it on!
Check out our Belgian GP gallery, here.