13/05/2012
NEWS STORY
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Whatever happens today, the fact is that the race has been tainted by the stewards ruling that has pushed Lewis Hamilton from pole position to the very back of the grid.
Whatever way one looks at it, whether it was deliberate or an innocent mistake, whether Lewis was complicit or a victim, damage has been done.
By the looks of it he was almost certainly going to be on pole anyway, witness not only the fact that he has already claimed pole twice this season, but the (tyre) tactics of his rivals, Vettel, for instance, opting not to post a time in order to save tyres.
Even so, does Lewis deserve to be pushed to the very back of the grid as opposed to tenth, thereby suggesting that he was guilty. And if he was, then why not exclusion from the race.
A couple of hours after today's race ends, one of the most important days in English football gets underway, as teams battle for the Premiership, a place in the European Champions League and against relegation. If, post match, fans were to be dished out any of the nonsense that regularly gets served to their F1 counterparts there would be trouble, questions would be asked in the House, it would dominate the headlines for days, there could even be trouble on the streets.
It is time that F1 get its house in order, come up with as fixed set of rules and punishments and be seen to be running the sport fairly, transparently and for the good of the fans as opposed to those with a vested interest, large institutions that care only about profit.
All that aside, and ignoring the fact that Barcelona often produces snore-fests, this has the ability to be real classic today. In addition to thicker cloud, and even the threat of rain, a mixed up grid - with Hamilton at the back, Button eleventh, Webber twelfth and Massa seventeenth - should guarantee some fun right at the very start.
Then, as ever, there is the question of tyres, with two drivers in the leading ten - Vettel and Schumacher - opting not to run in order to save tyres, whilst others further down the grid point to their spare sets barely unable to hide their grins.
Even before Hamilton's demotion yesterday we described qualifying as a lottery, and that will surely be the case. However, returning to football, is that really what we want? Surely, while we all like a fairytale ending now and then, should success be about the best, the most consistent, rather than luck, changing circumstances.
While we do not expect to see Pastor Maldonado win today, we do expect a good handful of points, the likable Venezuelan finally proving himself this year, pay driver or not.
Alonso too should be able to grab a fistful of points especially with the partisan crowd behind him, however, the real threat must be Perez and the Lotus duo.
On its limited budget, certainly compared to the big guns, one can only wonder how Lotus is able to do what it has been doing this season, then again, what of its Swiss rival? While McLaren, Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes huff and puff, these two relative minnows have got on with the job quietly, relatively cheaply and with dignity. Other than the Chelsea connection we could forgive them anything.
Force India is looking good again this weekend as Toro Rosso continues to disappoint, interestingly, both drivers in both teams very evenly matched.
Despite the PR work Caterham doesn't appear to be making progress and even Kovalainen appears to be hurting just a little these days. While Marussia is slowly catching up, HRT really does appear to be all at sea. Though Karthikeyan was given clearance to race today, having failed to make the 107 Q1 cut, one wonders whether the stewards have done him a favour.
While much is made of pole position, it is never really that important here due to the fact that there is such a long run to the first corner. However, this year's lottery in terms of tyres, means that the race will most likely be won at the last corner - the 2012-spec tyres appearing to be a case of 'last man standing'.
Most teams are thought to be looking at three stops today, but then again, with temperatures lower today than at any other stage during the weekend, and even less wind, all that could go out of the window. The gap between the two compounds - hard and soft - is around 0.8s.
The pitlane opens and the first cars start making their way to the grid. Ferrari reports that there is rain 45km (27 miles) away but is not thought to be heading this way, certainly not in time for the first half of the race. Definitely a lot less sunny and warm than Friday and Saturday.
As the field prepares to head off on the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 22 degrees C, while the track temperature is 34 degrees.
As they head off everyone appears to be on the softer rubber. Maldonado leads the field away for the first time ever.
They're away, Maldonado moves across on Alonso but into Turn 1 the Ferrari has the advantage. Great starts from the Lotus while Perez goes off track with a puncture. Rosberg has also made a great start.
At the end of lap 1, it's Alonso, Maldonado, Raikkonen, Rosberg, Grosjean, Schumacher, Vettel, Button, Kobayashi and Vergne. Hamilton up to twentieth while Webber is down to twelfth. Perez pits. Replay shows Webber making contact with di Resta and Pic having a mighty big moment of his own creation.
After two laps, Alonso leads by 0.9s as Maldonado posts fastest lap (30.597), Hamilton is up to eighteenth and challenging Senna.
After 3 laps the field settles down into a typical Barcelona procession, we await the first round of stops. At the back of the field Perez, on the harder tyre, is as almost 2s a lap quicker than anyone else.
As Hamilton closes in on Kovalainen, Massa, under attack from Webber, shadows tenth-placed Vergne. Schumacher and Vettel are all over Grosjean.
Asked about his tyres, Alonso says his left front and rear are beginning to degrade - that's after just 6 laps.
Webber is the first driver to make a scheduled pit stop, the Australian pitting at the end of lap 6. Having passes Kovalainen, Hamilton is now closing on fifteenth placed Ricciardo.
Vettel pits at the end of lap 7, the German rejoining in eighteenth just ahead of Glock. Teammate Webber is twenty-second. In eighth place, Kobayashi goes quickest in S1, the Sauber driver subsequently pitting for a set of hards. He rejoins ahead of Webber.
As he closes in on Hulkenberg, there's a big lock-up for Hamilton. Nonetheless, the McLaren driver soon passes the Force India.
Rosberg and Button both pit at the end of lap 9, as does di Resta. The German rejoins in thirteenth the Englishman sixteenth and the Scot twentieth.
Alonso pits next time around, as do Grosjean, Schumacher, Vergne, Massa, Hulkenberg and Petrov. However, while most switch to hards, Grosjean and Schumacher remain on softs.
Maldonado and Raikkonen both pit at the end of lap 11, as does Ricciardo. Raikkonen sticks with the soft tyre while the Williams switches to hards.
Grosjean makes a move on Senna but the two touch, a piece of carbonfibre flies into the air… but from whose car?
"We are currently P4," Hamilton is told, we might be able to find an alternative strategy here.
Schumacher heads off into the gravel, the German clearly having had an altercation with someone. Replay shows that it was Senna, the Mercedes running into the back of the Brazilian having appeared to misjudge the distance to the corner. The Williams can continue but for the German the race is over.
After 13 laps, Alonso leads Maldonado by 3.1s with Raikkonen a further 4.1s down the road. Hamilton is fourth, 7.9s behind, but at the end of the next lap he pits. Again there is a problem, the McLaren driver appearing to run over a wheel gun - the car jumps into the air then stop losing valuable seconds. He rejoins in fourteenth. Elsewhere, Senna has returned to the pits to retire.
Grosjean makes short work of Rosberg to take fourth as Hamilton is concerned that he ran over a crew member's foot. Moments later, di Resta sweeps past Webber. Indeed, a flurry of cars pass the hapless Australian who clearly has a problem.
In the Red Bull pit a new front wing is readied - however, it looks a bit more serious than that. He pits, the RBR8 appearing to have no front grip.
Alonso leads Maldonado, Raikkonen, Grosjean, Rosberg, Vettel, Button, Kobayashi, di Resta and Vergne. Perez, now in eighteenth, makes his second stop of the day.
As a queue including Vettel, Button and Kobayashi forms behind Rosberg, the McLaren driver is told that his team is switching to "Plan B". Hulkenberg pits as Maldonado closes to within 1.7s of the race leader.
As Hamilton closes in on eleventh placed Massa, Maldonado loses time behind Karthikeyan. The Indian having previously held up Alonso.
On fresh rubber, eighteenth-placed Perez posts a new fastest lap (28.605).
As Rosberg makes his second stop - at the end of lap 22 - the stewards announce that they are investigating Vettel and Massa for an incident under the yellow flag. The Schumacher/Senna clash is also to be investigated.
Di Resta pits at the end of lap 23, as does Vergne, while Hamilton attempts go around the outside of Massa in Turn 1. Brave stuff but it doesn't come off… not this time.
Rosberg is told that this is his longest sting and he must therefore care for his tyres. He is also warned that he will come under attack.
Maldonado pits at the end of lap 24, the Williams driver sticking with hards. Elsewhere, Alonso loses time behind Pic's Marussia. Maldonado goes quickest in S2, the Venezuelan and his team showing some real class. Elsewhere, a massive lock-up for Button who is subsequently told to pit. He duly obeys, rejoining in tenth.
At the end of lap 26 Alonso pits, the Ferrari rejoining behind Maldonado who has just posted the fastest lap of the race. However, it is Raikkonen who leads. Grosjean and Kobayashi also pitted.
A furious battle between Vergne and di Resta sees the Frenchman run wide. Elsewhere, Raikkonen and Vettel both pit, the Finn takes on the hard tyre while the German remains on the harder rubber.
Massa and Hamilton continue to battle, as Vettel is handed a drive-through for failing to slow for a yellow flag. The same penalty is meted out to Massa, thereby giving Hamilton some much needed relief. Ironically, the yellow flag was for the Senna/Schumacher clash.
Massa immediately heads to the pits, as Hamilton sets off after Grosjean who is 5.5s up the road. Out front, Maldonado leads Alonso by 6.8s.
Button attempts to go around the outside of Rosberg in Turn 1, but like his teammate he fails.
After 30 laps, it's: Maldonado, Alonso, Raikkonen, Grosjean, Hamilton, Vettel, Rosberg, Button, Kobayashi and Hulkenberg. That said, Vettel subsequently serves his drive-through.
Rosberg, Button and Kobayashi are covered by just 1.8s, as Maldonado asks about his tyres. At this stage the Williams driver appears to have everything under control.
It was bound to end in tears… Kobayashi's frustration gets the better of him, he makes a move on Button and they touch. Thankfully, there is no damage, other than the McLaren losing seventh to the Sauber. The incident gives Rosberg a much appreciated breather.
"Tyres are going off badly now," says Hamilton who has only stopped once at this stage.
Webber is all over tenth-placed Hulkenberg as Kobayashi closes in on Rosberg.
At the end of lap 35, Hamilton finally pits, everything going smoothly. The Englishman, now on a new set of hards, rejoins in fourteenth just behind di Resta.
As sensational as the performance from Maldonado and Williams is, the Lotus duo are a little disappointing, running third and fourth they show no sign of closing the gap to Alonso who is 14s up the road.
Behind the leading four, Rosberg currently holds fifth, ahead of Kobayashi, Button, Vettel, Hulkenberg and Webber. That said, making full use of his DRS, Vettel nails Button to take seventh.
Perez makes his third stop of the day - his second scheduled stop. Moments later Button also pits, the McLaren driver switching to the harder tyre.
In just a couple of corners, Hamilton, albeit on fresher rubber, nails both Toro Rossos to take eleventh. Elsewhere, Perez has stopped on track with what appears to be a loose wheel. Hulkenberg and Ricciardo both pit.
Guess what? Hamilton is now locked in battle with Massa who is in turn battling di Resta. However, with yellow flags being waved on wonders whether the Englishman might fall foul of the stewards again.
As Maldonado pits, Hamilton sweeps past Massa in Turn 1. Webber, Rosberg and Vergne also pit. It's a dreadful stop for Williams, a problem with the left-rear costing Maldonado a couple of precious seconds. He rejoins in third, over 16s down on race-leader Alonso.
Next time around, at the end of lap 41, Kobayashi pits. A lap later it is Vettel who stops, as does di Resta. The German takes on hard tyres and a new nose.
Alonso makes what should be his final stop at the end of lap 44 - with 22 laps remaining. He rejoins in third, as Vettel is told that he too must make his tyres last until the end. As we said earlier, 'last man standing'.
Though some still have to stop again, it's: Raikkonen, Maldonado, Alonso, Grosjean, Rosberg, Kobayashi, Hamilton, Button, Massa and Vettel. In twelfth place, Webber posts a new fastest lap (27.857).
Aware of Alonso's pace and reputation, Maldonado closes in on Raikkonen who still has to stop. Into Turn 1 at the start of lap 47, and with Alonso just 1.3s behind, Maldonado passes Raikkonen to re-take the lead. The Spaniard, now the fastest man on track, closes in on the Finn remorselessly. Making just a little use of his DRS the two-time world champion flies past the Lotus.
"We need to buck up the pace," Maldonado is told, "We need to be good to your tyres and keep them (Alonso) behind".
At the end of lap 48, Raikkonen makes his final stop, the Finn rejoining in fourth.
Raikkonen is told that Maldonado and Alonso both need to pit again, but it's unclear if this is an old message or a motivational message for the Iceman.
Alonso is all over Maldonado as they close in on (fifteenth placed) Massa who is about to be lapped. Elsewhere, Raikkonen, now 21.5s behind, posts a new fastest lap (26.938).
At the end of lap 51, it is Grosjean's turn to pit. The Frenchman rejoining still in fourth.
"In Turns 3, 10 and 11 we need to save tyre energy," Maldonado is told. Moments later the Williams driver - and Alonso - sweep past Massa.
Rosberg remains fifth, ahead of Kobayashi, Hamilton, Button, Vettel, Hulkenberg, Webber, Ricciardo, Vergne, di Resta, Massa, Kovalainen, Petrov, Glock and de la Rosa.
Now on fresh rubber, Grosjean goes quickest, the Lotus driver crossing the line at 26.250.
Raikkonen is 16.1 behind Alonso, however, if the leading duo do need to stop again or even if their tyres fall-off completely, he'll be right there.
The pressure on Maldonado is immense, Alonso almost playing with him. "You can press the overtake," Alonso is told, "keep it on until I tell you."
"Pace is looking very good," Raikkonen is told, "you are catching the leaders, you may catch them before the end of the race." Elsewhere, Vettel passes Button to take eighth, while Kobayashi is pressurising Rosberg again.
On lap 59, Maldonado appears to fight back, opening up the gap to 1.4s - or is it that Alonso's tyres are hurting.
As he closes in on Rosberg, Kobayashi gives the German's left-rear a little tap as if to say "I'm here!" A few moments later, the Mercedes driver leave the door ajar, the Japanese doesn't wait for an invitation.
"Cars ahead of us are coming to us, look after your tyres" Hamilton is told, just as Vettel lines up the McLaren driver in his sights. Out front, Maldonado is now 2s clear of Alonso.
"Keep looking after the rear tyres," Maldonado is told, his lead now up to 2.3s. Raikkonen is now 7.8s down on the Spaniard.
Fantastic move by Vettel on Hamilton into Turn 1, the German immediately setting off after his countryman Rosberg 3.8s up the road.
With 2 laps remaining Alonso's rear tyres appear to be shot. With a 2.4s gap to Maldonado, the Spaniard's real concern right now is Raikkonen who is 4.4s behind and over 2s a lap quicker.
Vettel leaves Rosberg for dead to take sixth however Kobayashi, 6s up the road, appears a bridge too far.
As Maldonado begins his final lap, Raikkonen is 2.3s behind Alonso. In fourth, Grosjean goes quickest in S1, the Frenchman 11s behind his teammate.
The Venezuelan takes the flag, following an absolutely stupendous performance. "A very good drive," he is told over the radio.
Whilst Raikkonen is unable to do anything about Alonso, Hamilton fights Rosberg all the way to the line for seventh, but the German hangs on by the skin of his teeth.
In the Williams garage, a clearly emotional Frank Williams, is congratulated by his wife, Damon Hill's wife, his daughter and Tot Wolff. It's a popular win for the British team.
Maldonado wins, ahead of Alonso, Raikkonen, Grosjean, Kobayashi, Vettel, Rosberg, Hamilton, Button and Hulkenberg.
Webber is eleventh, ahead of Vergne, Ricciardo, di Resta, Massa, Kovalainen, Petrov, Glock and de la Rosa.
Five winners from five races, though, as Chris Freer pointed out in his prediction article, if we include the last races of 2011 it's seven from seven. Great stuff.
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