15/04/2012
NEWS STORY
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While, contrary to Georgie Thompson's belief, that it was the best qualifying lap ever, Nico Rosberg's pole-winner yesterday was pretty special, not least the confidence he had in it, climbing out of his car with several minutes of the session still remaining. While we're on the subject of qualifying though, his dad's legendary lap at the old Silverstone (1985?) has to be up there with the best.
Whether, Nico can convert his superb effort into a win - like his pole, his first from 111 Grands Prix - remains to be seen, however, there remains a massive question mark over the WO3 and how it uses/abuses its tyres. Indeed, no disrespect to the youngster, if Mercedes has not yet resolved the issue, his teammate might be the better bet today, being that little bit less aggressive - and who thought we'd ever be saying that of Schumi.
Whilst nobody would want to deny Rosberg his maiden victory today or even Schumacher his 92nd, it is unlikely to happen. Mercedes has made progress - helped in part by that controversial rear wing and DRS system - but, in our humble opinion, not that much progress, not yet.
Indeed, again in our humble opinion, today will probably belong to one of the 'old guard', by which we mean Hamilton, Button or Webber.
With the weather conditions ideal, Alonso cannot rely on the weather gods for assistance, the Spaniard and his teammate knowing that today will be about damage limitation and taking away as many points as possible.
Had Hamilton not picked up the five-place grid penalty for his gearbox change we might have opined that today's race is a forgone conclusion, however, starting from seventh makes things that little bit more difficult. Nonetheless, the Englishman, and his teammate, will be worth watching, though Lewis appears far more settled in his car this weekend than Jenson.
Another fantastic performance from Sauber, surely everybody's second favourite team. While sentimentalists would dearly love to see Nico or Michael claim victory today, nobody would deny the Swiss team its first win in its own right. Furthermore, Kobayashi and Perez have already proven they are real racers, both with their own distinct style, both, on their day, highly entertaining. All that aside however, we still believe today belongs to the old guard.
While Lotus has been sending out all manner of different signals this weekend, the fact is that Raikkonen, like Alonso, is able to get just that little bit more from his car, though, in the Finn's case it's because he drives through problems. While we do not expect the Iceman to cause any major upsets today we do expect to see him in the mix and possibly in with a podium finish.
With Vettel having failed to make it to Q3, and looking totally down in the dumps, Red Bull's best chance is with Webber, the Australian wisely opting for his team's new exhaust layout. Having finished fourth in both the opening races, we don't think Mark is going to win today - our money has to be on Hamilton or Button - but he has to be good for a podium. On the other hand, we're talking about a wise head on old shoulders, and if there are fun and games at the start, 'Aussie Grit' could benefit.
While not wishing to appear to have fallen into the trap of broadcasters, who insist that every race (match and game) is going to be fantastic, possibly the best ever, we do have to admit that the prospect ahead of us is exciting. Schumacher starting from the front row, a clearly rejuvenated Mercedes, Hamilton frustrated and starting from seventh, Raikkonen less frustrated and starting from fourth, Kobayashi, Perez, Webber, Button, Vettel, Alonso and Webber. The opening few moments of the race have to be worth the price of admission alone.
And then, behind them, we have the battle for supremacy of the midfield, with Williams looking to take up where it left off in Malaysia and Force India and Toro Rosso determined to stop them.
That said, Vergne will start today's race from the pitlane after his team made a raft of changes to his car overnight. Following a disappointing qualifying session which saw the Frenchman eliminated in Q1, the Italian outfit opted to change the floor, bargeboard, floor to rear wing spacer, nose barge board, side pod wing, T-tray, side pod inlet and car ballast on his STR7.
Tyre choices today are medium (prime) and soft (option), Pirelli claiming there to be around 0.7s between them. All top ten runners will be on the softs, though Grosjean didn't post a time, while eleventh placed Vettel is free to choose.
As in Australia and Malaysia, thanks to Bernie and his desire to please European TV audiences, today's race starts later than any of the previous sessions, therefore temperatures will be a factor, especially in the latter stages of the race.
With Bahrain, and all that it means, dominating the sport in recent weeks, and claiming most of the mainstream F1 headlines today, we need something to give the sport a positive image and its fans a boost, today's grid, and all that is offers, has the prospect to do just that. On the other hand, isn't today the anniversary of the sinking of a ship thought to be unsinkable?
As in 2011, the DRS activation zone is on the long straight leading to Turn 14 - one of the trickiest corners here. Last year was something of an overtaking-fest, so with so few changes to the track, or indeed the rules, we can hopefully expect more of the same.
The pitlane opens and the first cars make their way to the grid. It is now a lot more overcast but few are predicting any major changes weather-wise.
With the pitlane about to shut, Rosberg is in earnest conversation with a member of his team, he looks very serious. Jean Todt makes his first appearance of the season, though discussion with the FIA President is limited to who will win and the magnificent pit straight grandstand.
As we wait for the field to head off on the parade lap, the air temperature is 22 degrees C, while the track temperature is 24 degrees. Humidity is 51 percent. It remains overcast.
As the field heads off, Ferrari tweets that it has a couple of spare noses ready… just in case. All get away cleanly. Vettel is on options, Massa, Senna, Ricciardo and Vergne the only drivers on primes.
They're away, a great start from Rosberg, Button also, Hamilton up to fifth. Alonso passes Webber going into Turn 8, while Perez has passed his Sauber teammate. No significant incidents, other than Senna clouting the back of Massa, though the track surface is quite slippery, especially in S3.
At the end of lap one it's: Rosberg, Schumacher, Button, Raikkonen, Hamilton, Perez, Kobayashi, Alonso, Webber and Massa.
After two laps, Rosberg, who posts a new fastest lap, leads by 1.1s. DRS is now enabled.
Another fastest lap for Rosberg on lap 3 (43.610), as Schumacher heads Button by 1.6s, the Englishman under pressure from Raikkonen and Hamilton.
"Great start," Button is told, "now keep it up and keep clear of the DRS of the Lotus (Raikkonen) behind."
Behind tenth placed Massa, it's Grosjean, Senna, di Resta, Vettel, Maldonado, Kovalainen and Hulkenberg. Another great performance from Kovalainen.
Stuck behind Senna and di Resta, Vettel complains that he has no pace on the straights. Teammate Webber is similarly affected, indeed, at the end of lap 6, the Australian pits switching to the harder option. He rejoins in twentieth.
Grosjean is all over Massa, as Schumacher drops to 3.5s behind the race leader and into the clutches of Button. Interestingly, we're not seeing the sort of overtaking that we witnessed last year.
Webber goes quickest in S1, the Red Bull driver clearly happy with his new tyres. Meanwhile, there's a train forming behind Schumacher, Button, Raikkonen, Hamilton and Perez all running line astern of the seven-time champ.
Massa is told that his lap times are similar to Alonso. The Brazilian is on primes while the Spaniard is on options which are "going away".
Webber posts a new fastest lap (43.010), as he closes on Petrov.
At the end of lap 9, Kobayashi and Vettel both pit, Hulkenberg also. Kobayashi rejoins in seventeenth and Vettel twentieth.
Button loses ground to Schumacher, the Englishman now fully occupied by Raikkonen.
At the end of lap 10, Raikkonen and Hamilton pit, they head back down the pitlane side-by-side but Hamilton has the advantage. They rejoin the track and are immediately joined in battle with Webber. There's a fierce battle but the Iceman loses out, Hamilton holds on to twelfth, ahead of Webber and Raikkonen.
At the end of lap 11, Button, Grosjean, di Resta and Maldonado all pit. Next time around Schumacher, Alonso, Senna and Kovalainen all stop.
Rosberg, who hasn't stopped, runs wide in Turn 6, as Schumacher pulls off to the side of the track his race over. He says something about "rear" and "since the start of the race" but it's inaudible.
Rosberg pits at the end of lap 13, rejoining in third, behind Perez and Massa. Button posts a new fastest lap (42.677).
So, big breath, after 14 laps, it's: Perez, Massa, Rosberg, Button, Hamilton, Webber, Raikkonen, Alonso, Kobayashi and Grosjean. Vettel is eleventh.
Replay of Schumacher's pit stop suggests there was a problem with the fitting of the right-front, the nut not properly fitted before the German pulled away.
Race leader Perez locks-up big time as he heads into Turn 14 on lap 16, the Mexican subsequently diving straight into the pits. Massa leads.
Rosberg sails pass Massa on the back straight to take the lead of the race, the German enjoying a 4s gap to Button. Alonso is hard on the heels of sixth placed Raikkonen. Perez and Grosjean having a great scrap with Grosjean for ninth.
At the end of lap 18, Massa finally pits, sticking with the harder rubber, rejoining in fourteenth behind Maldonado.
A mistake by Perez sees Vettel sweep by, the Mexican now under pressure from Senna. The move sees the world champion move up into the points.
After 19 laps, Rosberg leads Button by 4.7s with Hamilton a further 1.7s down the road.
Among the scraps, Webber is fighting off Raikkonen and Alonso, Kobayashi and Grosjean fighting for seventh and Maldonado battling with di Resta for twelfth.
At the end of lap 21, Webber makes his second stop, the Red Bull driver taking on a second set of primes. This suggests the Australian is looking at a four-stopper. Then again, looking at the amount of marbles on the track, that's not too much of a surprise.
Next time around Hamilton stops, the McLaren driver switching to primes. Webber rejoined in fourteenth, while the Englishman undercuts and rejoins ahead of him.
Ricciardo appears to catch Kovalainen sleeping, passing the Caterham to take seventeenth.
On lap 23, Webber posts a new fastest lap (41.466), as Rosberg maintains a 4.3s lead.
Button pits at the end of lap 24, the Englishman - now on primes - rejoining in tenth behind Maldonado. He makes a move on the Williams driver who isn't having any of it. However, on the back straight the Englishman uses his DRS to sweep past the Venezuelan. Elsewhere, Massa is battling Hamilton for twelfth.
Kobayashi pits at the end of lap 25, as Hamilton get by Massa, both drivers no doubt happy for a clean pass after the shenanigans of last year.
As Webber closes in on Massa, Button, Perez and Kobayashi trade fastest sector times. The Englishman goes quickest, crossing the line 41.391. Webber passes Massa for twelfth while Button makes short work of Senna to take seventh.
Alonso pits at the end of lap 27, as Rosberg enjoys an 11.4s lead over Raikkonen. Grosjean is third, ahead of Vettel and Perez.
Raikkonen makes his second stop at the end of lap 28, the Finn rejoining in thirteenth behind Alonso. As Vergne and Kovalainen also pit, Schumacher remains the only retirement.
"Brilliant job on the Sauber," Button is told, "the cars ahead are all on older rubber, they're there for the taking." The McLaren driver, currently fourth, is 18.8s down on race leader Rosberg.
Massa is told that Alonso is on a different strategy and should allow him to pass… no mention of "he is quicker than you". The Brazilian dutifully moves over. Elsewhere, Button makes good use of his DRS to pass Vettel for third.
Vergne, on the options, and currently seventeenth, posts a new fastest lap (41.205).
Vettel pits at the end of lap 31 as di Resta is told that he is still in the race and to keep pushing. The Scot is currently tenth.
Replay shows Kovalainen having the pit stop from hell, as Rosberg leads Grosjean, who dives into the pits, thereby promoting Button to second. The McLaren driver, clearly fired up, posts a 40.908 as he cuts Rosberg's lead to 14.5s.
"We are going to win this," Button is told. Elsewhere, Hamilton is all over Perez as they battle for third. Webber is right behind the McLaren keeping a watching eye.
As Maldonado, Ricciardo and Karthikeyan, Webber makes a move on Hamilton but fails to make it stick. Meanwhile, Button takes another 2s out of Rosberg's lead.
Rosberg pits at the end of lap 34, followed by Webber, who makes his third stop of the afternoon. Elsewhere, Perez, who repeatedly locks-up, is told to try and get two or three more laps out of his tyres. Easier said than done.
Perez locks up yet again, Allowing Hamilton and Alonso to close right in, the Englishman at one stage getting alongside the Sauber.
At the end of lap 35, Perez finally pits as Maldonado goes quickest (40.563). Perez rejoins in thirteenth.
Phew, Button leads Rosberg, Hamilton, Alonso, Massa, Raikkonen, Kobayashi, Vettel, Grosjean and Senna. Webber is eleventh, ahead of Maldonado, Perez, di Resta and Vergne. Replay shows Webber running very wide, taking a nasty knock over the kerbs forcing his car into the air.
"What times is Rosberg doing," asks Button, the McLaren driver now 7.4s clear of the Mercedes. Moments later, Hamilton, Alonso and Kobayashi all pit. They rejoin in tenth (Hamilton) and eleventh (Alonso) behind Maldonado.
At the end of lap 39, race leader Button pits, switching to the primes. However, there's a problem with the left-rear which sticks. He rejoins in seventh behind Grosjean who is behind Massa, Raikkonen and Vettel - a disaster for the Englishman.
Consequently, with 15 laps remaining, Rosberg leads Massa by 19.1s with Raikkonen a further 0.5s down the road with Vettel, Button and Grosjean up close and personal. Webber is eighth and Hamilton tenth.
"Most important thing is you look after the tyres," Rosberg is told, "look after the tyres, look after the tyres." Got that Nico, look after the tyres.
21.4s behind Rosberg, Raikkonen heads a train of nine cars, covered by 2.4s. That train consists of Vettel, Button Grosjean, Webber, Senna, Hamilton, Maldonado, Alonso and Perez.
In his eagerness, Alonso runs wide as he tries to pass Maldonado, he takes to the grass, thereby allowing Perez to slip through to take tenth.
Webber gets by Grosjean for fifth but the Frenchman fights back only to run wide and lose out to Maldonado, Perez closing in also, however, in the confusion Alonso passes the Mexican unawares.
It's all about tyre management from here on in, Rosberg told that although he can afford to lose ground he must take it easy on his tyres particularly his front-right. The German leads Raikkonen by 24.7s.
Great performance from Vettel also who, against all odds, is running third, fending off Button et al. Indeed, the German has a look at Raikkonen, keen to take as much from this as he can. Great scrap also between Webber and Hamilton.
Vettel nails Raikkonen who runs on to the marbles and loses out to Button, Webber also gets into difficulty. The Iceman loses his cool as Hamilton, Webber, Senna and Grosjean close in.
It all falls apart for Raikkonen, as Hamilton and then Webber sweep by, followed by Grosjean. Maldonado and Alonso close in on the Finn like vultures.
After 48 laps, Rosberg leads Vettel by 25.6s, with Button just 0.6s behind the world champion.
The two Saubers almost collide as they use the full width of the track to pass poor old Kimi who is now down in twelfth.
Fourth placed Hamilton is lapping quicker than his teammate who is 2.2s ahead.
Raikkonen's tyre problems will have been watched intently by both Rosberg and Vettel. Elsewhere, another stop for Kovalainen, his fourth of the afternoon.
On lap 52, there is nothing Vettel can do when Button makes his move going into the hairpin. The McLaren sweep by. As Rosberg enjoys a 25.4s comfort zone, and with 4 laps remaining, the question is can Vettel hold off Hamilton and friends?
While Hamilton closes in on Vettel, his mirrors are filled with Webber's Red Bull. Lapping 0.5s quicker than the world champion, Hamilton's hope is to push the German into a mistake. Elsewhere, Alonso is all over Maldonado, the two having a fantastic scrap.
Hamilton finally nails Vettel in Turn 14 on lap 55 but the German tries to fight back. His tyres are shot and in reality Vettel is lucky not to lose out to his own teammate, on the pit-wall Adrian Newey looks on anxiously.
The Red Bulls are side by side, and though he tried to fight back, resistance is futile - as they say - the Australian takes fourth from his teammate.
Rosberg takes the flag, greeted by his Mercedes crew, while Michael Schumacher watches the monitor smiling. "Brilliant job Nico, well done," says Ross Brawn.
Button takes second, ahead of Hamilton, Webber, Vettel, Grosjean, Senna, Maldonado, Alonso and Kobayashi.
Perez is eleventh, ahead of di Resta, Massa, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Vergne, Ricciardo, Petrov, Glock, Pic, de la Rosa, Karthikeyan and Kovalainen. Schumacher being the only retirement.
We'll get it in now, but this has surely been a sweet and sour Chinese for Mercedes, one has to wonder what might have been but for that cock-up during Schumacher's stop.
While it is was a fantastic performance from Nico, the German wasn't the only man out there to impress today, not least Raikkonen and Vettel, and let's not forget Grosjean, Senna and Maldonado.
Truly a race to savour, how sad therefore, that in the days ahead our sport is surely going to be in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Sceptical that after Australia and Malaysia the sport could continue to deliver and intrigue, Shanghai has demonstrated that 2012 could be something special.
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