17/11/2013
NEWS STORY
While the world championship was decided a few weeks back it is only fitting, this being the land of Hollywood, that there is still plenty of drama and intrigue in the air.
At Ferrari there is Fernando Alonso, the Spaniard said to be suffering "persistent headaches" ever since the off track moment in Abu Dhabi that left him needing treatment at a local hospital. Then there is the seeming break down in the relationship between Pastor Maldonado and Williams, the Venezuelan all but accusing the Grove outfit of sabotaging his car.
Will we see Alonso park up this afternoon, the pain too much to allow him to carry on - despite his superb performance in qualifying - or will we see Maldonado park up (or crash out) in Turn in a fit of pique. Time will tell.
Ignoring the 'it's just not cricket' side to the Williams sabotage saga, the fact is that with just one point to its credit, and Marussia and Caterham just behind, the British team simply cannot afford such shenanigans in terms of the Constructors' Championship, which, as we all know, decided the prize money.
Nonetheless, this sorry tail leaves a bad taste in the mouth, Frank Williams and his team deserving better than this.
We said in Abu Dhabi that we fancied Mark Webber upsetting the applecart and taking the win, sadly it was all over by the first corner. The Australian seemed destined to take pole yesterday but then Seb went and spoiled it all, maybe Aussie Grit can make up for it today.
Naturally, the Australian doesn't want charity, he wants to win one under his own steam, and what better venue. If nothing else, it would spoil his teammate's chances of setting yet another F1 record with eight straight wins, though whether that would make up for Multi 21 only Mark will know.
Fact is however, Vettel goes into this as red hot favourite, and based on the evidence thus far - even if we only look at this weekend - seemingly nothing can stop him.
Following podium finishes in three of the last four races, Romain Grosjean must fancy his chances, especially now he is effectively team leader. The Enstone outfit, would dearly love to leapfrog Ferrari for third in the standings and in the Frenchman and his new teammate, Heikki Kovalainen, it has the means to do so. What a pity that the team is in such an obvious mess away from the track.
Sauber was looking good for a strong finish here (no pun intended), and though Nico Hulkenberg looks set for a strong race, the ten-place grid penalty for impeding Maldonado has somewhat damaged teammate Esteban Gutierrez' hopes, especially with the race likely to be a one-stopper.
Lewis Hamilton did well to put his Mercedes on the third row, the Englishman, who describes his recent form as "shocking" having struggled with the car all weekend. The German outfit's hopes of a double points finish have been somewhat compromised by Nico Rosberg's poor qualifying, though ross Brawn claims that this was a better indicator of where the car is here.
Jenson Button was another driver to be hit with a grid penalty, the McLaren driver penalised three places for overtaking under a red flag in FP1, a rookie type error from a world champion. However, this now allows Sergio Perez to set out his stall, the Mexican one of several drivers yet to secure a seat for 2014.
Since the news that Kevin Magnussen will partner Button first broke, Perez' disappointment has been all too obvious. While he has made some mistakes, and appeared a mere shadow of the driver who so impressed us at Sauber, he deserves better and this may be his last chance to prove it.
The same applies to Paul di Resta, a driver who was previously linked with Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren but is now being talked of in terms of Indy Cars. Force India gave a good account of itself in Abu Dhabi, perhaps it can repeat that here today.
As we said, Alonso pulled out all the stops in qualifying for Ferrari, but the fact is that the Italian team is really struggling. Much like Rosberg's performance at Mercedes, Felipe Massa's qualifying showing demonstrates the true performance of the Maranello outfit's 2013 contender.
As for Williams, which is where we started, Valtteri Bottas appears to have new life breathed into him this weekend, let's hope it's no flash in the pan and that we get to see some of the brilliance Frank Williams has talked of.
Being almost the end of season, Daniel Ricciardo is almost in full Red Bull mode, the Australian very impressive yesterday. Sadly, teammate Jean-Eric Vergne, like Adrian Sutil at Force India, was not able to live up to expectations.
The Marussia/ Caterham battle is as fierce as ever, and while both teams are mindful of how the championship (and prize money) was decided, courtesy of Vitaly Petrov, in the season finale last year, both will know that they are only a point behind Williams and that prize pot.
The tyres available this weekend are hard and medium, while there are two DRS zones, one on the pit straight while the other, as in 2012, runs between Turns 11 and 12.
In terms of the tyres, wear and degradation should not be a considerable factor with either compound. As a result, we will probably see just one pit stop for most runners, as was the case last year.
The fastest strategy should be to start on the medium, change to the hard on lap 19 and then continue to the finish. An alternative (resulting in the same overall race time) is to start on the hard tyre, change to the medium on lap 37, and then go to the finish. Then again some drivers may try a two-stop strategy, if they feel there is enough speed in the car to make it work. In this case, the fastest strategy is to start on the medium tyre, change to the hard tyre on lap 10, and then change to the hard again on lap 33.
In many ways it's hard to believe that this is only the second race here, the locals really taking the sport to their hearts. Our American cousins have been treated woefully by the sport over the years, let's hope we give them something to smile about not only today but for years to come. Though the (current) New Jersey project appears still-born, this is a great track, a real track, Texas has done us proud.
Note too, the interest from South of the Border, the sooner we see Mexico back on the calendar, even if it does mean a bit of Tilking with the fabulous Mexico City track, the better.
An hour before the start of the race, an early worry for Vettel is that for the third successive race weekend his team has had to make a late check on his gearbox and is understood to have replaced an oil valve. All totally legal but clearly a sign that there is a concern. Then again, he won the two previous races. This, incidentally, is the unit's fifth (and final) race.
The pitlane opens and the drivers make their way to the track.
Rosberg request's decreasing front wing flap angle "down point five".
"My brake pedal's quite soft and long," moans Hamilton. "Copy that, Lewis, no more brake throttle overlap, just normal stops," is the reply.
"Cool the car, Sebastian," Rocky tells Vettel, "cool the car. No additional procedure."
"The KERS is not working, too much grippy," says Massa. "Yeah, we saw that as well," replies Rob Smedley, "we'll obviously have a look for the start once we're on the grid"
As the field prepares to head off on the parade lap, the air temperature is 29 degrees C, while the track temperature is 35 degrees. It is warmer and sunnier than at any other time over the weekend and this is sure to impact tyre performance.
As the brakes on Hamilton's car are bled on the grid, Niki Lauda is amazingly calm.
Max Chilton, who was adjudged as having impeded both Maldonado and Sutil during Q1, has to serve a drive-through during the first five laps.
As they head off on the parade lap all but Vergne are on the option rubber. Both Mercedes drivers are already querying tyre strategy.
They're away after what seems a very, very long wait. Vettel leads into the first corner as Grosjean hassles the Red Bulls all the way. A poor start from Webber, who loses out to Grosjean, and Kovalainen, but no incidents.
Game over for Sutil who has gone into the barriers at T12 immediately bringing out the Safety Car. Gutierrez pits and changes to the prime tyre.
As Sutil climbs from his wrecked car, Vettel leads Grosjean, Hamilton, Webber, Hulkenberg, Perez, Alonso, Bottas, di Resta and Ricciardo. Rosberg up to eleventh and Massa in thirteenth.
Replay shows that Sutil hit Maldonado after the German misjudged the position of the Williams driver, the two bang wheels and the Force India spins and spears towards the barriers.
The Safety Car pulls off at the end of lap 4, Vettel almost grinds to a halt as he backs up the field. Having generated enough heat into his tyres he's away, the field dutifully follows.
As Vettel heads off into the distance, Hulkenberg and Perez battle for fifth, both drivers with a point to prove.
At the end of lap 5 Chilton serves his drive-through. Gutierrez is already up to nineteenth. Button reports front wing damage but says it is "relatively minor, much less than the last race".
Perez ordered to use KERS before T11 as Webber goes quickest in S1 in his pursuit of a wobbly Hamilton.
As Gutierrez passes Bianchi for 17th, Alonso closes on the Hulkenberg/Perez battle.
"There is some vibration in the car," says Maldonado, as the cameras pick up on front wing damage to the Williams. Indeed, the black and orange flag is displayed, effectively ordering the Venezuelan to pit for repairs. He duly obeys, taking on primes and a new nose. The old nose being out of joint for much of the weekend.
After 9 laps, Vettel leads Grosjean by 3.5s with Hamilton a further 3.4s down the road. Van der Garde is also told to use DRS.
In 9th, di Resta heads a train of cars including Ricciardo, Rosberg, Kovalainen, Massa, Button and Vergne.
On lap 10, Vettel posts a new fastest lap (43.812) as Alonso has a little look up the inside of Perez in T1. Massa is informed that Alonso is gaining time on him in T4, 5 and 6 by carrying 5th gear through the corners.
All over the back of Hamilton, Webber is setting a hard pace. Told to manage his tyres, Hamilton replies: "That's what I'm doing man. Let me focus!"
Webber nails the Mercedes driver, courtesy of DRS and better tyres, into T12, seemingly Hamilton has nothing with which to resist.
Worried about degradation, Gutierrez is reminded that the cars in front are on options, so will be faster, "but you're quicker than them".
It's a great circuit, but, for the most part, this is very, very processional.
Hulkenberg is told about Hamilton's situation in terms of having to manage his tyres.
On lap 15 Vettel posts another fastest lap (43.680) as he extends his lead to 5.6s. Rosberg currently eleventh, ahead of Kovalainen, Massa and Button.
Massa is told to lift his throttle "a tiny bit" on entry to T17 "just to save the tyres", while Webber is told to mind his front brake locking.
"Good pace, Sebastian," says Rocky, "make sure you stay on top of your tyres".
"I don't have the grip, man," wails Hamilton.
Perez told that he is "in the window", at which point Kovalainen pits. The Finn rejoins, on primes, in 16th.
"Going as far as we can is more important than as fast as we can," Vettel is told. "So we're going for the distance, not the speed."
As Webber goes quickest in S2, Bottas goes quickest in S1. The Finn just 1s behind Alonso.
A great opportunist move under braking for T12 sees Rosberg take Ricciardo for 10th. Despite losing out, the Toro Rosso driver sticks with the Mercedes but is unable to reclaim the position.
Button (13th) pits at the end of lap 20, the McLaren driver rejoining in 16th behind Kovalainen. Pic also pits.
As Alonso closes on Perez, Capt. No Grip complains that he has picked up more understeer.
Massa pits at the end of lap 21, the Brazilian rejoining ahead of Button who immediately attacks. Bianchi and Van der Garde also pit.
Under intense pressure from Alonso, Perez pits, as do di Resta, Rosberg and Ricciardo. Perez rejoins in 10th behind Gutierrez. Di Resta and co rejoin behind Kovalainen, the stops working well for the Lotus driver.
Seventh placed Bottas pits at the end of lap 53, teammate Maldonado currently 17th. The Finn rejoins in 10th.
"People behind are starting to stop, so we're just waiting for a gap behind," Webber is told. The Australian responds by posting a new fastest lap (42.787).
"OK, Lewis, your pit window is open... we want to maximize this stint."
Gutierrez leaves Vergne for dead going into T12, elsewhere, Hamilton pits from fourth. He rejoins in sixth ahead of Gutierrez.
"Gutierrez and Vergne are on 23 lap old tyres, if we can get ahead of them, we can get Alonso," Perez is told. The Mexican subsequently passes the Toro Rosso.
At the end of lap 26 Alonso pits, the Spaniard rejoining in seventh just ahead of Perez but behind Gutierrez.
Next time around Vettel and Hulkenberg both pit, the world champion only just having complained that his tyres were "gone". They rejoin in third and fifth.
Webber pits at the end of lap 27, the Red Bull stationary for just 2.3s. He rejoins in third, 12.4s behind his teammate.
Gutierrez is in a fierce fight with Alonso, the Spaniard nailing the Sauber into T1, passing on the exit.
As Vettel posts a new fastest lap (42.486), Grosjean finally pits, handing the lead back to the German.
With the (first?) stops completed, after 29 laps (of 56), Vettel heads Grosjean, Webber, Hamilton, Hulkenberg, Alonso, Gutierrez, Perez, Bottas and di Resta.
Having previously asked to be left alone so he can focus, Hamilton is now calling for more feedback. "You need to give me some feedback man, my pace, tyres, temperatures!"
"OK, Checo... let's manage our pace, so we can attack at the end, the race is not over by any means." In response the youngster makes short work of fellow Mexican Gutierrez to take seventh.
Webber posts a new fastest lap (42.468) as Rosberg passes Kovalainen in T12 to take 11th. The Finn subsequently pits for a new nose, thereby dropping him to 17th.
"Sebastian... don't go off on your tyres too quickly," Vettel is told, "remember the two cars behind have gone longer than you."
With 24 laps remaining, Ross Brawn feels it unlikely that anyone will switch to a two-stop strategy.
Another bold move from Rosberg, this time on di Resta, the German nailing the Scot for tenth. "Good effort, Nico, well done," the Mercedes driver is told.
Gutierrez and Bottas running as one as they battle for 8th. The Finn uses all the track, and then some, as he finally gets past the Sauber. Superb stuff. Indeed, suoperb stuff from both drivers… very mature driving.
With Grosjean now 10.7s down on Vettel, Webber ups his pace, closing to within 2s of the Lotus. Hamilton is now 10.9s down the road and under pressure from Hulkenberg.
Suddenly appearing to lose a second a lap, Webber is told to "watch your front brake locking".
Gutierrez pits at the end of lap 36, the Mexican having completed 35 laps on that set of primes.
From out of nowhere, Webber produces a 41.683 to go quickest. Perez is told: "Last lap, you lost three and a half tenths to Alonso".
"Push now," Massa is told. "I need you to push now up to Ricciardo to get on the back of him." The Brazilian subsequently pits, his second stop of the race. He rejoins in 16th.
As Alonso ups his pace, seeking to close the 2.6s gap to Hulkenberg, and then Hamilton, Vettel posts a new fastest lap (41.102).
Di Resta and Ricciardo get up close and personal as they fight for 10th.
Vettel is told to watch his tyres, reminded how quickly they went off last time. Wise words from Rocky.
Down in 16th, Massa is told: "OK, now you're going to have to be qualifying... going to have to be qualifying, see what you can do."
Who's in front of Bottas?" asks Rosberg. ""Perez in front of Bottas, but 16 seconds," is the response.
'Man on a mission' Alonso is all over Hulkenberg as Ricciardo finally nails di Resta for 10th.
Alonso passes Hulkenberg in T1, the youngster unable to do anything about the two-time champs determined move.
"These tyres are not bullet proof," Vettel is told. "I am aware," says the German.
Di Resta now under pressure from Button, the Englishman sensing a pint or two in the offing.
As Massa passes Maldonado with surprising ease, Webber posts a new fastest lap (40.710) as he closes in on Grosjean.
Webber takes a look at Grosjean going into T12 but pulls back however, the Australian is clearly sizing the Lotus up. 15.5s behind, Hamilton is under pressure from Alonso and Hulkenberg.
Pic is under investigation for ignoring blue flags and holding up Hamilton. Indeed, the Frenchman gets a drive-through.
After 50 laps, Vettel leads Grosjean by 7.8s with Webber a further 0.8s behind. Hamilton is fourth, 15.1s down on the second Red Bull, and 2.6s ahead of Alonso. Hulkenberg is sixth ahead of Perez, Bottas, Rosberg and Ricciardo.
Di Resta pits, thereby promoting Button into eleventh, just outside the points. The Scot rejoins in 16th, a pretty awful race for Force India.
Rosberg is informed he's nine-tenths a lap faster than Bottas ahead.
Pic serves his drive-through at the end of lap 51.
We think using all the KERS, turn 11, even if you're on DRS, keep using the KERS," Webber is told. Grosjean responds by posting a new fastest lap (40.445).
"If that's not going to work try using all your KERS on the last corner," Webber is told. However, the Australian subsequently gets all out of shape in T1 and loses almost half-a-second to the Lotus.
"Trouble with the rears mate," says Webber, "I've used a lot of tyre." Meanwhile, as Vettel is told "the only one who can beat you today is yourself, mate, so be careful," the German responds with a new fastest lap (39.856).
Button finally nails Ricciardo to take tenth, while Hulkenberg nails Alonso into T1 for fifth only to lose the position again just yards later as the wily old fox responds.
Vettel takes the flag and thereby makes F1 history, scoring eight consecutive wins.
Grosjean holds on to second, ahead of Webber, with Hamilton fourth, ahead of Alonso, Hulkenberg, Perez, Bottas, Rosberg and Button.
Ricciardo is eleventh, ahead of Vergne, Massa, Gutierrez, Kovalainen, di Resta, Maldonado, Bianchi, Van der Garde, Pic and Chilton, Adrian Sutil being the only retirement.
A late incident involving Gutierrez and Vergne sees the Mexican spin off, the stewards subsequently announcing that they are looking into it.
Congratulated by the team, Vettel is quite emotional. Fantastic Seb, record breaking," says Christian Horner. "I'm speechless," replies Vettel, "speechless. We have to remember these days, we have to remember these days as there is no guarantee they will last forever. Enjoy them as long as they last, I love you guys, we have an incredible team spirit, incredible, I'm so proud of you, I love you."
And we love you too Seb.
Another lights to flag victory for 'the man', with stand-out drives throughout the field, not least Valtteri Bottas who has quadrupled his team's point in one go. Kudos also to Grosjean, Alonso, Hulkenberg, Perez, Rosberg and Button.
That said, much of today was very processional with continued frustration, not only for us, the fans, but the drivers also, at the need to "save the tyres".
Check out our Sunday gallery, here.