02/11/2014
NEWS STORY
Even if yesterday's stunning qualifying lap doesn't prove the be the kick-starter to Nico Rosberg's championship hopes, it does, certainly in the eyes of this writer, demonstrate one thing.
Those, mainly in the British media, who consistently derided, often mockingly, Michael Schumacher's return to the sport in 2010, must surely recognise the calibre of teammate he was up against. Nico Rosberg isn't now, and wasn't then, an also ran, a pushover; merely a champion in waiting... waiting on the right car.
Much of the media already had the title sewn up, and Lewis Hamilton's dominance in the three practice sessions suggested that maybe they were right. But when it mattered, when it really mattered, Rosberg dug deep and produced that lap.
In fact, he predicted as much on Friday, insisting that he had something in reserve.
Of course, over the course of the four sessions, both drivers have experienced brake issues, reviving fears that the title could yet be determined by the German team's reliability.
Then of course, there is the possibility of Rosberg repeating his Sochi first corner faux pas... and that wide, wide T1 here is soooo inviting.
Behind the Silvers Arrows duo we have the Williams pair, both, no doubt, spurred on by the absence of team founder Sir Frank who is back in the UK undergoing hospital treatment for a pressure sore. In the midst of the financial crisis facing the sport - of which more later - let's not forget the early struggles of this team indeed, let's not forget the troubles of the last couple of seasons.
Both drivers like the COTA track however, it is Felipe Massa who really needs to stamp his authority within the team, the Brazilian on less than half the points of his young teammate.
Mathematically, Daniel Ricciardo is still in with a chance of taking the title, though it would take an upheaval of seismic proportions. Then again, those of you who remember the last few moments of Interlagos 2008 will be aware that in F1 anything can, and usually does, happen.
Keep an eye on Sebastian Vettel who is starting from the pitlane after his team changed the entire power unit on his car. Be it his unease with the 2014 regulations, the penalty of his upcoming departure for pastures new, the German hasn't seemed himself this weekend, and somehow we do not expect him to produce a miracle this afternoon.
Another driver appearing to go through the motions, albeit with more conviction, is Fernando Alonso, the Spaniard, as ever, punching well above his weight.
The McLarens clearly prefer the prime (medium) rubber and therefore it will be interesting to see the team's strategy, particularly in the case of Jenson Button. Both he and Kevin Magnussen are fearful of their F1 futures, especially with Mr Alonso hovering, and will therefore be keen to impress in these three remaining races.
That said, a five-place grid penalty for the 2009 champion doesn't help.
It's good to see Adrian Sutil starting from the first row, though he will need to make it appoints finish if he is to retain his seat, especially with the team announcing it had signed Marcus Ericsson around an hour after that excellent Q2 performance.
Of course, Sauber is one of three teams, the others being, Force India and Lotus, reportedly thinking of boycotting today's race, shades of Indianapolis 2005.
Flushed following Sutil's performance Monisha Kaltenborn dismissed the idea whilst Lotus boss Gerard Lopez has denied it from the outset. On the other hand Bob Fernley, deputy team principal at force India, insists it could yet happen.
Fact is, whilst we sympathise with some of the issues, any team that does boycott the race should be drummed out of the sport with immediate effect. America has had a bad enough deal from F1 over the years, another boycott would be rubbing the country's none in it... especially after the grovelling witnessed three weeks ago.
As for the financial problems facing the sport, well tell us about it, aren't most of us experiencing some sort of money woe at present.
Whilst we understand the plight and concerns of the small teams, the likes of Mercedes are not in F1 for altruistic reasons. On the other hand does Ferrari really warrant an appearance fee?
Many of these arguments have been going on for years, and during that time we have seen teams come and go. Personally, this writer feel the sport is in crisis but it is not just about money, it is about how it is governed and who it is governed by.
Interestingly, whilst the employees of Caterham and Marussia await news of their fate, as Bernie talks of two more teams going under and suggesting that the bigger teams will have to supply third cars, the silence from CVC is deafening.
Anyway, moving on...
There are two DRS zones this weekend. The detection point of the first is 150 metres after Turn 10, with the activation point 320m after Turn 11, while the second zone's detection point is 65m after Turn 18, with the activation point 80m after Turn 20, on the start/finish straight.
In terms of tyres, a three-stop strategy is theoretically the fastest for the 56-lap, but the potential inconvenience is traffic - so it will only work for the fastest cars, which are able to overtake cleanly.
The fastest strategy is: start on soft, change to soft on lap 12, soft again on lap 25 and then medium on lap 38. The fastest two-stop strategy is start on soft, change to medium on lap 14 and then medium again on lap 35.
For those starting outside the top 10, who have the possibility to start on the medium tyre, a strategy that is almost as quick goes: start on medium, soft on lap 22, then medium again on lap 36. A long first stint on the medium has the advantage of gaining track position as those who start on softs go into the pits, then the middle stint on the soft tyre should give a speed advantage too.
The pitlane opens and one by one the drivers make their way out, the Mercedes duo among the first out.
As in Sochi, the drivers are order to go to the front of the grid for the National Anthem. While it is right that the anthems should be respected, is it right that drivers are asked to break away from their pre-race schedule at such a vital time.
As the field prepares to head out for the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 23 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 34 degrees. It is bright and sunny, warmer than for any of the previous sessions but the Mercedes drivers, among others, report a tailwind of 15-20kph in the first sector.
All are starting on options bar Hulkenberg, Kvyat and Vettel.
As they head off on the warm-up lap it's good to see that there's a good crowd, though still lots of vacant seats in the stands away from the pit straight.
As the grid forms Vettel makes his way to the end of the pitlane.
They're away... Rosberg makes a perfect start with Hamilton falling into place behind. The Williams close on the second Mercedes, Bottas running slightly wide and thereby allowing his teammate through, Alonso almost nailing the pair of them.
Ricciardo who lost out at the start makes a bold move on Magnussen, who made a great start, as Sutil and Perez clash. Out comes the Safety Car.
Magnussen, Hulkenberg, Button, Gutierrez, Vettel and Perez all pit, the Mexican's force India having taken quite a clout from the Sauber.
Replay shows Perez appearing to go too deep into T16, hitting Raikkonen who in turn hits Sutil whilst the Mexican follows through to hit the Sauber and finish the job.
As marshals clear the debris the Stewards announce - unsurprisingly - that they are to investigate the incident after the race.
At the end of lap 4 the Safety Car pulls off.
Rosberg holds his lead but again the Williams duo almost come to grief, meanwhile as Alonso again tries to take advantage Ricciardo catches the Spaniard totally off guard.
It's Rosberg, Hamilton, Massa, Bottas, Ricciardo, Alonso, Raikkonen, Maldonado, Vergne and Grosjean.
Vettel passes Hulkenberg to take 15th, but subsequently runs wide almost allowing the Force India back through.
Out front Rosberg is setting a strong pace and has built a 1.1s lead. Massa, in third, is already 2.5s down on Hamilton. The Briton is told he is safe on fuel.
Hamilton and Rosberg trade fastest lap, the Briton posting 1:43.588.
Gutierrez, Maldonado and Button are under investigation for speeding behind the Safety Car. Clearly lessons have not been learned.
Ricciardo, now 4.4s clear of Alonso, gives a wheel by wheel description of the state of his tyres.
As the Stewards announce that Vergne is also under investigation for speeding behind the Safety Car, Vettel has slipped back to 15th.
Grosjean attempts to pass Vergne in T1 but runs slightly wide, thereby giving his countryman some breathing space.
While Button escapes a penalty, Maldonado, Vergne and Gutierrez are all handed 5-second stop-and-go penalties.
Vettel complains of "very little grip".
Alonso is told that his pace is good and that he will "do well" if he "continues like this".
"Front-left is finished," complains Rosberg on lap 12. He is currently 0.9s ahead of his teammate but lapping around 0.2s quicker.
A big lock-up for Bottas as he comes under pressure from Ricciardo.
At the end of lap 14 Massa and Ricciardo both pit, rejoining in 9th (Massa) and 10th. Meanwhile Hamilton also appears to have grip issues having fallen 2s behind his teammate.
Next time around race leader Rosberg pits, as does Bottas. Maldonado and Vergne also pit as Rosberg rejoins in 2nd and Bottas in 8th behind Ricciardo.
The Stewards are investigating "unsafe releases" for Magnussen and Gutierrez.
Bottas is all over Ricciardo but the Australian is having none of it.
Hamilton pits at the end of lap 16, as do Alonso and Grosjean, the Briton rejoining in 2nd, 2.6s down on the German.
As Raikkonen and Grosjean pit the day gets a little worse for Force India as Hulkenberg stops on track at T11.
Alonso and Vettel are fighting for 11th, as Kvyat, who remains the only driver yet to stop, is currently running seventh. Raikkonen pits.
Grosjean makes a move on Gutierrez at T12 which clearly flusters the Mexican who allows the Frenchman and Vergne through. His 2015 seat already in doubt, in one brief move Gutierrez has lost two places.
"The whole weekend we've been doing forty-fours, forty-fives... and now I'm struggling to do forty-sixes," complains Vettel. He is already 3s down on Alonso with whom he was previously fighting.
A great scrap between Button and Alonso as they pass and re-pass one another. Elsewhere Gutierrez pits.
At the end of lap 21 Kvyat finally pits, rejoining in 14th, last.
Hamilton is now back within DRS range of his teammate.
"H7 position 5," Button is told, "that's more power."
Suddenly Hamilton is all over Rosberg who appears to be struggling on this set of tyres.
Again Button and Alonso are at it, the Spaniard makes his move at T1 and somehow keeps it all together.
Meanwhile Hamilton closes in on Rosberg at T12, the pair getting up close and very personal. The Briton is through in a masterpiece of late braking, much to the crowd's delight.
"Phew!! They both emerge clean," tweets Mercedes, "strong stuff from @LewisHamilton! Your move @nico_rosberg! Lets have more of this!!"
Vettel is now under pressure from Grosjean and Vergne, the French pair running as one.
A great move sees Grosjean pass Vettel in T1, the German unable to do anything about it. As Vergne follows Grosjean through, the German is now under attack from Raikkonen and Maldonado... Maldo-bloody-nado!!!
At the end of lap 26, unsurprisingly, Vettel pits.
As he is told he will be pitting next time around, Button is under attack from Grosjean and Vergne. However, having been passed by Grosjean, Button is told to stay out, the team having opted to bring Magnussen in early instead. In his efforts to pass the McLaren, Vergne runs very, very wide.
Told he will be pitting at the end of lap 28, Button replies; "Are you sure, are you really sure?" He duly pits, rejoining in 14th.
After 28 laps, half-distance, it's: Hamilton, Rosberg, Massa, Ricciardo, Bottas, Alonso, Grosjean, Vergne, Button, Maldonado, Raikkonen, Kvyat, Magnussen, Vettel, Button and Gutierrez.
At the end of lap 29 Grosjean and Vergne both pit... you cannot separate these two guys today.
Next time around Bottas pits, rejoining in 5th on primes.
Button is told that his tyre strategy should pay off as the race develops.
Ricciardo pits at the end of lap 31, sticking with primes as he rejoins in 4th.
Massa, currently 4.9s down on Rosberg, is told to pit at the end of lap 32. He switches from options to primes rejoining behind Ricciardo, the Australian really benefitting from his pit stops today.
"Box, box, box," Hamilton is told, "we're covering the field." The German team is clearly reacting to the Williams and Ricciardo strategy. The Briton rejoins in 2nd, 17.320s down on Rosberg.
Ricciardo posts a new fastest lap (42.831) as he closes to within 7.544s of Hamilton.
Rosberg pits at the end of lap 34, rejoining 3.731s down on his Mercedes teammate. Again, much to the crowd's obvious delight.
As Maldonado pits at the end of lap 35, Button asks if he has damage to his rear. He is told that everything looks OK. Elsewhere, Vettel passes Grosjean in a move eerily similar to that which cost him his lace a few laps earlier.
Rosberg bangs in a new fastest lap (42.381) as he closes to within 2.692s of Hamilton.
After 36 laps, Kvyat and the Ferrari duo remain the only drivers yet to make a second stop.
Vergne complains there is no "carpet" (Astroturf run-off) at T10 and wonders if there might be a Safety Car.
Whilst Rosberg is concerned at his left-front, his team assure him that tyre wear is good.
Maldonado is under investigation for speeding in the pitlane.
As Rosberg goes quickest in S1, Vettel closes in on 9th placed Magnussen. The German is advised that the Dane is on the same strategy.
Maldonado is handed another 5s stop-and-go.
As Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (42.351), Ricciardo, 6.6s down on Rosberg, is told of the Mercedes tyre degradation and advised he could benefit if "things get messy".
Another fastest lap from Hamilton as Gutierrez pits.
Vettel attacks Magnussen at T12c but overcooks it and is re-passed by the McLaren driver. Just behind, Grosjean and Button in a real scrap, the Briton forcing the Lotus wide at T1 and thereby taking 10th.
Vettel finally nails Magnussen and makes it stick, the world champion now up to 8th.
At the end of lap 42, Raikkonen makes his second stop of the day. A lap later teammate Alonso pits. The Spaniard rejoins just ahead of Vettel but the German is a man on a mission and makes short work of the Ferrari. Just behind, Magnussen keeps a watching eye should it all go wrong.
A big lock-up for Alonso as he continues to harry Vettel who has made three stops and started from the pitlane. Subsequently, making full use of DRS, the Ferrari driver nails the German.
Hamilton is told to be wary of the Astroturf at T19.
After 46 laps, it's: Hamilton, Rosberg, Ricciardo, Massa, Bottas, Alonso, Vettel, Magnussen, Button, Grosjean, Vergne, Maldonado, Raikkonen, Kvyat and Gutierrez.
Button is still concerned at possible damage to the rear of his car, the McLaren driver now under pressure from Grosjean, Vergne and Maldonado.
Alonso posts a new fastest lap, the 6th placed Spaniard banging in a 41.474. Massa is also closing in on Ricciardo.
Raikkonen barges his way past Kvyat, but a couple of corners later the Russian repays the compliment, clearly no respecter of titles. Elsewhere, Vettel makes his fourth stop of the afternoon. He rejoins in 14th.
As Massa continues to close on Ricciardo, Button remains under intense pressure from Grosjean and friends.
Vergne makes a move on Grosjean as the Lotus attempts a move on Button at T1, the Frenchmen touch, as Vergne takes the position from the Lotus. Elsewhere, Kvyat and Maldonado going at it hammer and tongs (as they say).
"What was that," shouts Grosjean, clearly angry at Vergne's move.
As Kvyat runs wide, losing a position to Vettel, the German posts a new fastest lap (41.379).
Grosjean is informed that Charlie Whiting is looking at the Vergne move as Kvyat pits, the Russian appearing to have suffered damage in an earlier clash.
Vettel passes Raikkonen to take 12th as Massa continues to close on Ricciardo.
A very late move sees Vergne pass Button for 8th as Maldonado lines up the McLaren and Raikkonen pits.
Poor old Button can do nothing about it as he is passed by Maldonado and then Vettel, the German and the Briton appearing to bang wheels. Now Button probably does have damage to his rear.
As he closes on the scrappers, Hamilton is told to be very careful.
Vettel nails Vergne at T1 to take 8th, he sets off after Magnussen 1.108s up the road.
Rosberg loses time behind the Button/Grosjean scrap, as Vettel passes Magnussen.
Hamilton takes the flag and thereby extends his lead to 24 points. Rosberg takes second whilst Ricciardo holds on to third.
As if to repay Vergne for the move on his Lotus teammate, Maldonado barges his way past the Too Rosso. Vettel makes a late attack on Alonso but it is not enough.
Hamilton wins, ahead of Rosberg, Ricciardo, Massa, Bottas, Alonso, Vettel, Magnussen, Vergne and Maldonado.
Grosjean is eleventh, ahead of Button, Raikkonen, Gutierrez, and Kvyat.
Whilst Hamilton thanks all and sundry for the win, teammate Rosberg apologises.
We head to Brazil next week where Hamilton could well extend his lead... however, there is no doubt that the title will go down to the wire in Abu Dhabi, where Bernie Ecclestone's dreaded double points come into play.
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