24/06/2012
NEWS STORY
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On paper, having won the last two races here and secured pole by 0.324, Sebastian Vettel appears to have this one in the bag.
That's on paper. On 2012 rubber however, well, that's another matter entirely.
While the German must be red hot favourite, the unpredictability of the current season, largely the result of Pirelli's rubber, means that anyone of a number of drivers could be standing atop the podium later this afternoon, one of the existing seven 2012 winners or an eighth, thereby extending this record breaking run.
Despite concerns over the McLaren, Lewis Hamilton did well to take second, indeed, he was looking good for pole until Vettel produced his stunner. But then Maldonado is looking good, and who would bet against either of the Lotus drivers, especially Grosjean?
Yesterday's and this morning's GP2 races were evidence, as if it were needed, that this circuit, like Monaco, has to be treated with total respect. Safety Car driver Bernd Maylander probably completed more miles than some drivers, such were the number of red-flag producing incidents. That said, this morning's was a particularly good race.
Consequently, while it is going to be worth watching Sebastian, Lewis, Pastor and all at the front on the opening lap, keep an eye on Alonso, Schumacher and Massa in the midfield and Webber back in nineteenth. Everything suggests we are going to have fun and games today, after all, look at the number of lock-ups and offs in the practice sessions right through to qualifying.
For the first time this year Force India got both of its cars into Q3 and, based on its success in Monaco, must be looking to grab some serious points today.
It is believed that most drivers will be on a two stop strategy today, however, as usual, some will probably make more and others less. One team you can always rely on to take a risk is Sauber, and surely Kamui Kobayashi is due a result today.
The look on Luca di Montezemolo's face said it all yesterday, and while his cars start from eleventh and thirteenth, as the Ferrari President pointed out the field has been incredibly close all weekend. That said, there is a difference between posting similar lap times during sessions and overtaking during a race. No doubt the Scuderia will be happy to limit the damage here.
Michael Schumacher has already admitted that his poor Q3 time was down to him, the German saying he was "too conservative". With teammate Nico Rosberg once again looking good for some decent points today, the seven-time champ must make every effort to secure a result, providing his cars allows him to do so.
Another driver currently being overshadowed by his teammate is Jenson Button. Having set the pace in FP3 far more was expected of him in qualifying however, it just didn't happen much to his obvious frustration. Whereas it was Lewis that suffered last year, this year it is Jenson who is hurting, and it shows not just in his results but in his words and on his face.
A major incident at the start could well see Heikki Kovalainen convert his sixteenth spot on the grid into the team's first ever points finish. Then again, he will be under intense pressure from the Toro Rossos, not to mention Mark Webber who got up close and personal with the Finn here a couple of years back.
Laid low by the tummy bug that kept him out of qualifying, Timo Glock will not race today, leaving Charles Pic as Marussia's sole representative.
The pitlane opens and one by one the twenty-three drivers contesting today's race make their way to the grid. The air temperature is already 27 degrees C and the track temperature 43 degrees. They reckon it could nudge 50 degrees during the race.
All ten at the front of the grid will start on the softs, and it is likely that those behind will follow suit. Speaking ahead of the race Pat Fry admits that the heat will be an issue today while a smiling Ross Brawn says it will be a race of opportunity, courtesy of the heat and the possibility of safety car interventions.
As they head off on the warm-up lap - no pun intended, the air temp is down to 26 degrees while the track is up to 44 degrees. Schumacher is on primes (medium), as are Perez, Vergne and Webber.
Di Resta is advised of his rivals' tyre options, warned that Perez is "likely to do his usual".
In the garages, faces are etched with anticipation as the grid forms.
They're away, and though a number of drivers get very, very close to rivals there are no incident. All get through the first sequence of corners cleanly. That said, Schumacher loses positions, as does Rosberg. Great starts from Grosjean, Raikkonen, both Ferraris… and, of course, Vettel.
At the end of lap 1, it's Vettel, Hamilton, Grosjean, Kobayashi, Maldonado, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Alonso, di Resta and Massa. Rosberg down in eleventh, Schumacher twelfth and Webber up to seventeenth.
Raikkonen and Maldonado in the mother of all battles for fifth, the Venezuelan firmly shutting the door on the Iceman.
At the end of lap 2, Vettel leads by 4s, yes four seconds. Grosjean, making us of DRS, is all over Hamilton but is unable to pass. Rosberg is advised that tyre temperatures are (already) reaching the critical point.
As Alonso climbs all over Hulkenberg, not literally, Vettel extends his lead to 5.3s, the German is flying, again, not literally.
Replay shows Schumacher getting crowded out by Massa at the start before getting a bash from another rival.
A massive lock-up for Kobayashi as he attempts to keep up with Grosjean but hold off Maldonado and Raikkonen.
Hamilton is told that he's doing a great job, his team clearly referring to his attempt to keep Grosjean at bay rather than his pursuit of Vettel.
Vettel posts 45.4 compared to Hamilton's 46.18, the German looking likely to be on a two-stopper, at least. Rosberg still down in eleventh, as Massa is all over di Resta for ninth.
Button, of whom we've heard little, is up to twelfth having passed Schumacher.
Di Resta is told that he is doing a good job in terms of tyre and brake temperature. Elsewhere, if Perez is on a one-stop strategy his inability to get past Senna is not helping him. Indeed, the Mexican is under pressure from Ricciardo who has Webber around a second behind. Further back, Karthikeyan and Pic clash.
Di Resta heads Alonso by 0.8s whilst a similar gap separates Hulkenberg and Massa.
After 9 laps, Vettel enjoys a 10.1s lead, whilst Hamilton is under extreme pressure from Grosjean. The Frenchman goes around the outside of Hamilton in Turn 12, a fantastic move which will surely have even impressed the McLaren driver. Brilliant stuff.
At the end of lap 10, Button and Perez both pit, the Englishman taking on primes while the Mexican switches to softs.
Next time around Massa pits from P10, the Ferrari driver switching to primes and emerging in eighteenth, ahead of Button and Perez.
Raikkonen attempts to make a move similar to his teammate's on Maldonado, but the Williams driver has no intention of yielding. Elsewhere, in a bold, brave move Alonso finally passes Hulkenberg. "OK, now we push as hard as we can," the Spaniard is told.
As Perez posts a new fastest lap (44.630), Raikkonen sweeps past Maldonado, the Finn determined that nothing is going to stop him. Some brave driving today and thankfully no silliness.
At the end of lap 13, Hamilton and Petrov both pit, the Englishman rejoining in twelfth still on softs.
Raikkonen, Kobayashi, Maldonado, Hulkenberg and Ricciardo all pit at the end of lap 14, leaving Vettel leading Grosjean by 14.4s. Alonso is third ahead of di Resta, Rosberg, Schumacher, Senna and Hamilton. The eighth placed Englishman is the only one of the leaders to have stopped.
Alonso pits at the end of lap 15 as Hamilton passes Senna for seventh. Alonso rejoins in ninth just ahead of Raikkonen. Great pit work by Ferrari.
Vettel pits at the end of lap 16, as does Grosjean. The German rejoins still leading while his French rival emerges in fourth, behind di Resta and Rosberg who have yet to stop. Both Vettel and Grosjean have remained on softs.
Webber, up to eighth but yet to stop, is under pressure from Alonso who is under attack from Raikkonen. The Australian, aware he is out of position, yields to the Spaniard. Senna isn't quite as obliging, the Williams driver giving the Ferrari driver a real hard time before giving way.
Out front Vettel posts a new fastest lap (44.555) as he extends his lead over Grosjean to 17.5s.
Alonso finally passes Schumacher who has a train of battling drivers behind him. At one stage the cars are three abreast as they battle for positions. Schumacher, Senna, Webber, Raikkonen, Kobayashi, Maldonado, Mass, Hulkenberg, Button and Perez covered by just a couple of seconds.
Schumacher and Webber both pit, elsewhere Senna and Kobayashi clash, the Williams spinning 180. Both cars are clearly damaged but continue, both drivers heading back to the pits. Replay suggests that Senna didn't see Kobayashi behind him.
Senna pits shortly after Kobayashi, his right-rear tyre badly damaged. He also needs a new nose.
Out front, Vettel leads Grosjean by 19.9s with Hamilton a further 4s behind. Di Resta, who has still to stop, is 5.3s down the road in fourth under pressure from Alonso. Raikkonen remains fifth, ahead of Maldonado, Massa, Hulkenberg and Button.
Raikkonen picks off di Resta whose tyres are clearly shot, Maldonado and Massa now lining up the hapless Scot. No sooner have the stewards announced that they are to investigate the Senna/Kobayashi incident than they hand the Brazilian a drive-through.
Di Resta pits at the end of lap 23, the Force India driver switching to the mediums as he rejoins ahead of Webber. Massa is told to look after his rears.
As Senna serves his penalty, thereby dropping him to last, Ricciardo and Perez battle for tenth, neither giving any quarter. Grosjean posts a new fastest lap (44.451).
Button makes his second stop at the end of lap 26, rejoining in thirteenth, meanwhile di Resta is advised that he appears to be the only driver on a one-stop strategy… not that it looks likely to pay off at this stage.
Kovalainen limps back to the pits, as does Vergne, the two having collided on the 'straight' leading to Turn 12, both incur punctures. The Frenchman is almost sure to get a penalty.
The safety car is deployed as the debris is cleared from the track, Grosjean, Alonso, Raikkonen, Hamilton and Maldonado all pit. The late call catches out Lotus while Hamilton suffers another botched stop as there are problems with his front-left.
Next time around, at the end of lap 29, Vettel, Petrov, di la Rosa and Pic pit.
Advised that he's P6, Hamilton is told that he does not want to be stopping again. With another 27 laps to go that's a big call.
Behind the safety car, it's: Vettel, Grosjean, Alonso, Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Hamilton, Rosberg, Schumacher, Webber and Maldonado. Hulkenberg is eleventh, ahead of di Resta, Kobayashi, Massa, Button, Perez, Petrov, de la Rosa, Pic, Kovalainen, Senna and Karthikeyan. Vergne, who is to be investigated by the stewards after the race, is the only retirement.
Ricciardo, Rosberg, Schumacher, Webber and di Resta have all stopped just once. However, Ricciardo has only used the option tyres so he must stop again.
All this has worked out nicely for Grosjean, in particular, as Vettel's 20s lead has now been negated in one fell swoop.
The safety car pull off towards the end of lap 33 and the pack makes its move. Somehow, in the first sequence of corners, Alonso get by Grosjean, despite the Lotus driver's best efforts. On old tyres, Ricciardo is struggling and gets in the way of the quicker cars.
Massa and Kobayashi touch while Vettel, having locked-up, grinds to a halt his race over. To the crowd's delight Alonso leads. Elsewhere, teammate Massa pits as does Kobayashi. It's a total cock-up for Ferrari who put options on one side of the car and primes on the other.
It's chaos out there, there are marshals on the track moving Vettel's car and yellows being waved but still cars are racing and overtaking. Raikkonen passes Ricciardo but could end up being penalised.
Alonso, Grosjean, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Schumacher, Webber, Maldonado, Hulkenberg and di Resta. This is crazy!
Elsewhere, replay shows Vettel walking away from his car clearly angry, as the stewards announce that they are investigating the Massa/Kobayashi incident.
Schumacher, sensing some serious pints here, passes Ricciardo. Meanwhile, Raikkonen is under investigation for overtaking under yellow.
Webber is forced wide by Maldonado as the Williams driver bullies his way past. Di Resta also slips past the hapless Red Bull driver. Vettel arrives back in the pitlane.
Out front, Alonso post a new fastest lap but is unable to shake off Grosjean who is just 0.7s behind. Elsewhere, Webber pits and takes on another set of softs.
Despite the fact that he is likely to get a drive-through, Raikkonen continues to harry Hamilton. That said, it is revealed that it is Hamilton who is under investigation for passing under yellows.
Karthikeyan is handed a drive-through for speeding in the pitlane.
On the Red Bull pratt perch, Vettel gets a hug from Christian Horner. Back on track, Webber, on fresh rubber, goes quickest (42.717).
Another twist in this dramatic race, Grosjean grinds to a halt, his frustration is obvious. His team reveals that he suffered a fuel pressure problem following an alternator failure.
Consequently, Alonso leads Hamilton with Raikkonen third, ahead of Maldonado, Hulkenberg and di Resta. Schumacher pits and rejoins in eleventh as Perez passes Button to take seventh. Back on track, Schumacher is immediately under pressure from Webber.
"Great job, we can do this," Hamilton is told, the McLaren driver now 3.5s down on Alonso and under pressure from Raikkonen.
Interestingly, Petrov is currently tenth. Will Caterham score their first points here? Although the Russian has Schumacher breathing down his neck, the German's mirrors are full of Webber.
Raikkonen is advised that Alonso's tyres are sure to go off by the end of the race. However, he needs to get past Hamilton… which is no small job.
No sooner has Schumacher passed Petrov than Webber sweeps by the green and yellow car.
Ferrari tweets that "tyre degradation is the crucial factor now". They then talk to the race leader in Italian.
Rosberg makes his second stop of the day at the end of lap 46, the German taking on options and rejoining in thirteenth.
Kobayashi is handed a five-place grid penalty for Silverstone following his clash with Massa. Elsewhere, Petrov loses his front wing in a clash with Ricciardo which also sees the Toro Rosso incur damage.
Hamilton will suffer no further action following his naughtiness under the yellows, leaving the McLaren driver free to battle for second.
As Schumacher and Webber close on Button, the stewards announce they are investigating the Petrov/Ricciardo incident.
Schumacher and Webber pass Button with ease, the two veteran setting off after Perez who is 6.6s up the road.
With six laps remaining, it's: Alonso, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Maldonado, Hulkenberg, di Resta, Perez, Schumacher, Webber and Button. Rosberg, 15.2s down on Button, posts a new fastest lap (47.614).
3.6s down on Alonso, Hamilton is advised that he is 0.6s quicker than the race leader.
Alonso gets another message in Italian as the stewards declare the Petrov/Ricciardo clash to be a "racing incident".
Perez' tyres have clearly reached their sell-by date, Schumacher and Webber sweep past. They now set off after di Resta who has a 3s lead.
Massa appears to have a problem, the sixteenth placed Brazilian is passed by Petrov.
Schumacher passes di Resta as does Webber, can they possibly steal fifth from Hulkenberg? Now 4.4s down on Button, Rosberg posts a 42.163.
Tyre degradation is indeed the key as Raikkonen closes right up on Hamilton, the Englishman clearly struggling. The Finn bides his time and a few corners later he's through. Moments later, Hamilton is locked in a titanic battle with Maldonado, somehow the Englishman keeps the Venezuelan at bay.
Under DRS Maldonado makes another attack, they are side by side, the clash, Hamilton is into the barriers while Maldonado loses his wing.
As Alonso begins the final lap Schumacher closes on Maldonado, passing the Williams driver to take third, his first podium since his return to F1. The yellows are waved as Hamilton's car is cleared and that means Webber has to hold station.
Alonso takes the flag and a popular victory, at least as far as the partisan crowd is concerned, with Raikkonen taking second ahead of Schumacher, Webber, Hulkenberg, Rosberg, di Resta, Button, Perez and Maldonado.
Senna finishes eleventh, ahead of Ricciardo, Petrov, Kovalainen, Pic, Massa, de la Rosa and Karthikeyan.
As Alonso stops to be handed a Spanish flag, the stewards announce that they are to investigate the Maldonado/Hamilton incident. Let's not forget, these two have history.
Whether it's a fuel problem or national pride, Alonso stops out on track, gets out of his car and plays up to his adoring fans.
It's a lacklustre featureless track but there is no doubt that today Valencia has served up a real thriller, a race that had just about everything.
While we didn't get that eighth different winner, we did get a race that had us on the edge4 of our seats until the very last corner, not to mention the return of a certain seven-time champion.
Whatever the stewards decision, there are sure to be post mortems going late into the night, most notably at Red Bull, McLaren and Williams, while a number of other teams (Force India?) must surely question their strategy.
A real classic, that is sure to be watched over and over again. However, let's hope that our over zealous authorities don't take any action against Alonso for his totally reasonable celebrations. It's refreshing to see these gladiators express their true emotions.
Fantastic stuff.
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