30/10/2011
NEWS STORY
Maybe it's the billion plus population, or perhaps it's the constantly growing economy, however, the more sceptical among us have to wonder at the enthusiasm with which F1 has grasped India. Drivers, team bosses, sponsors, even the media are tripping over themselves to sing the praises not only of the Buddh International Circuit but India itself… and some of us wonder exactly why.
True, the Buddh circuit is one of Hermann Tilke's better creations and continues to catch out those drivers who fail to give it due respect. However, it wasn't too long ago that we were all praising his work at Istanbul, and look what happened to that.
Based on qualifying, today's race should be another Sunday cruise for Sebastian Vettel, a situation eased by a grid which, due to various penalties, sees only a handful of drivers start from the position they actually qualified in.
One of those to lose out is Lewis Hamilton who qualified second but is demoted to fifth for his yellow flag misdemeanour on Friday, thereby promoting Mark Webber to the front row. However, the Australian's poor starts, allied to his tetchiness about his team/teammate gifting him a win appears to indicate that Sebastian won't be pushed too hard this afternoon.
So one again it is the Red Bulls and McLarens that rule, however, Ferrari has also been looking good this weekend. That said, Felipe Massa is at the epicentre of a storm of controversy as a result of the front wing he has been using for much of the weekend.
Although declared legal (twice) by the FIA, many are concerned at the way in which it wobbles and appears to scrape the ground. Alonso has been running exactly the same wing but there are no such theatrics in his case.
In the final half of FP3 and in qualifying, Massa reverted to another wing, said to be identical, but which did not wobble however, this was destroyed, along with his right-front suspension, when the Ferrari driver hit the kerbs in the final moments of Q3.
The Brazilian must therefore either use the wobbly wing or a brand new one, however, a new one would mean starting from the pitlane. Therefore, Felipe will start with the wobbler, though he says he has absolute confidence in it, insisting that although it is "aggressive" it is safe. Ferrari, meanwhile, insist that all the wings are the same and that Alonso's are also vibrating, it's just that the TV cameras aren't picking it up.
Ignoring the potential risk from the wing, Massa insists that the kerbs should be changed before next year, Bernie Ecclestone subsequently saying that this will be the case.
Despite the interest in the off track aspect of his life, Lewis Hamilton should be good to watch today - isn't he always - what with starting behind the Red Bulls, his teammate and sandwiched by the Ferraris.
While the Mercedes duo have been somewhat disappointing, keep an eye on the Toro Rosso and Force Indias as they battle for sixth in the constructors' standings, along with Sauber, and even eye the possibility of overhauling Renault. The Faenza outfit, in particular, performed brilliantly yesterday, the team subsequently celebrating as if it had won the title.
As ever, tyres are going to be a major factor here, a situation given added spice (sorry) by the fact that as part of its experimentation as it looks ahead to its second season, Pirelli has designated the hard tyre as option and the soft as prime. The difference between the two is around 2s, the softs good for a couple of hot laps. The leading seven are all starting on hards and are expected to be stopping as early as possible in order to shed them. This will play into the hands of the likes of Sutil, Buemi, Alguersuari and the rest who can start on whatever compound they please.
It is anticipated that most will make two stops while Pirelli says some might go for just one.
Also, as in Canada and Italy, the FIA has created two distinct DRS zones here, one of the main straight the other on the back straight. Natch!
Despite the hyperbole, at this early stage this appears to be quite a good track, especially in terms of its undulating nature. Some bits are as bland as we've come to expect from Tilke however, the fact that drivers, even the best of them, continue to make mistakes, means that they will be kept on their toes rather than settling into a groove.
Other than the kerbs and the bumpy runs offs on the other side of them, the other cause for concern here is the pitlane exit, which, like Korea, sees cars exiting on to the racing line for those cars entering Turn 1. There have been a number of minor incidents there thus far this weekend.
The power cuts, bats and stray dogs that caused concern on Thursday and Friday appear to be a thing of the past whilst we wait to see if the proposed demonstration by local farmers materialises. Then again, who remembers how that errant priest spiced up the British Grand Prix a few years back when he ran onto the track at Monza, then there was the former Mercedes employee at Hockenheim.
Almost all the drivers and teams are marking the deaths of Dan Wheldon and Marco Simoncelli, be it armbands, logos or messages of support. Indeed, the FIA has even instigated a one-minute silence before the race.
The pitlane opens and Ferrari are amongst the first out, all the drivers carrying out practice starts at the end of the pitlane.
Drivers, team bosses, Bernie Ecclestone and FIA president Jean Todt assemble for the minute's silence, the crowd stands in respect.
As the field heads off on the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 31 degrees C, while the track temperature is 38 degrees. Moments beforehand, team members make final adjustments to Massa's front wing - hardly like to inspire confidence. Di Resta on hards, as are Petrov and Perez.
With first lap incidents not unusual, Turn 3, the right-hand hairpin after the hill climb is the spot most likely to cause problems.
A strong start from Vettel while Alonso moves over on Button. There's contact at the back at Turn 1 and again in Turn 2. Ironically, they get through Turn 3 without any problems. Button has passed Webber, while Schumacher is up to eighth.
At the end of lap 1, it's: Vettel, Button, Webber, Alonso, Massa, Hamilton, Rosberg, Schumacher, Sutil and Senna. Perez (tyres), Glock (front wing), Barrichello (front wing) and Trulli all pit whilst Kobayashi has stopped on track. A disaster for Sauber.
Di Resta pits at the end of lap 2, the Scot eager to get rid of the hards. Vettel posts a fastest lap (33.738). Replay suggests that Alonso's hard start, and speed into Turn 1, played into Button's hands.
After 3 laps, Vettel leads by 2.7s with Button just 0.5s ahead of Webber. As Glock drives into the pits to retire, Petrov pits to change tyres.
Senna, in tenth, leads a train of three cars, Alguersuari, Buemi and Maldonado.
As Vettel extends his lead to 3.3, posting another fastest lap, Button locks up into Turn 3 allowing Webber to close in. Despite DRS the Australian is unable to nail the McLaren. This battle allows Alonso to close in and Vettel to pull away. Indeed, Massa, Hamilton and Rosberg are closing in.
"Keep pushing," Alguersuari is told as he runs in Senna's wake, "we are ruining time, you can pass him, keep pushing." Behind the Spaniard, teammate Buemi and Maldonado keep a watching eye.
On lap 7, Vettel posts another fastest lap (31.639), as Button and Webber continue their battle.
In eighteenth, di Resta leads Perez and Petrov as they close in on d'Ambrosio, the first of the drivers ahead who has yet to stop. Pirelli now says it is expecting 2 to 3 pit-stops while some could even opt for just one.
Alguersuari finally nails Senna however, the Brazilian fights back, albeit to no avail, the Renault no match for the Faenza car. Indeed, moments later, Buemi leaves the black and gold car for dead. "I have no KERS," Senna informs his team, remarkably calmly under the circumstances.
On lap 10, Button, now 1s 'clear' of Webber, posts a new fastest lap (31.275). As Maldonado closes in on Senna he is told that with KERS and DRS ha should be able to make short work of the Renault.
Perez passes di Resta on the main straight as they battle for sixteenth but runs wide in the first corner allowing the Scot back through. Another fastest lap sees Button extend the gap to Webber to 1.8, though he remains 4.2s down on Vettel. Maldonado is told to use "full KERS".
It's all over for Maldonado, the Venezuelan parking by the side of the track after developing a technical problem. With Barrichello currently twenty-first it looks like another pointless weekend for Williams.
On lap 14 Vettel hits back with a new fastest lap (30.685) as the gap to Button hovers at 4.3s. Di Resta and Perez, now running as one, pass Ricciardo. Alguersuari passes Sutil with teammate Buemi following through moments later. A great showing from Toro Rosso.
At the end of lap 15, Sutil pits, his teammate now battling Kovalainen for thirteenth with Perez and Petrov right behind.
At the end of lap 16, Webber, Alonso and Hamilton all pit, as does Alguersuari. Schumacher goes around the outside of the Ferrari as it exits the pits.
Next time around Massa pits as Schumacher continues to hold off his Ferrari teammate. The Brazilian exits the pits right behind the Schumacher/Alonso battle.
Courtesy of KERS. Alonso passes Schumacher on the back straight, elsewhere Rosberg pits.
Button and Schumacher both pit at the end of lap 18, Buemi also. Of the Top Ten, only Vettel and Senna have yet to stop.
That said, at the end of lap 19 the race leader finally stops, rejoining still in the lead. Massa posts a new fastest lap (30.243).
Therefore, after the first round of stops, it's: Vettel, Button, Webber, Alonso, Massa, Hamilton, Rosberg, Senna, Schumacher and Kovalainen. That said, Senna and Kovalainen have yet to stop, nonetheless a brilliant performance from the Finn.
As di Resta makes his second stop, Schumacher passes Senna for eighth. With Sutil in thirteenth the race appears to be falling apart for the home team.
As Vettel posts a new fastest lap (30.058), Hamilton laps Barrichello and Kovalainen pits.
Senna pits at the end of lap 22, leaving Ricciardo, Karthikeyan and d'Ambrosio as the only drivers yet to stop. That said, the Indian and Belgian immediately dive into the pitlane.
Replay shows Massa running wide in Turn 1 allowing Hamilton to close right in.
Hamilton tries to go down the inside of Massa and the Brazilian, possibly unsighted, moving across and being collected by the McLaren. The Ferrari spins while Hamilton heads back to the pits for a new nose. These two are like magnets this season.
Massa runs wide suggesting possible damage, while Buemi pulls off track with what looks like an engine problem. The Swiss thumps his steering wheel in frustration.
The stewards reveal that they are investigating the Hamilton/Massa clash. "He turned in on me," says Hamilton, "he didn't leave me any space." Elsewhere, Ricciardo pits.
All that aside, after 26 laps it's: Vettel, Button, Webber, Alonso, Massa, Rosberg, Schumacher, Alguersuari, Hamilton and Sutil.
Perez is eleventh, ahead of Petrov, Senna, Kovalainen, di Resta, Ricciardo, Barrichello, Karthikeyan, d'Ambrosio.
Leading by 3.4s, Vettel - remember him? - posts a new fastest lap (29.780) but this is almost immediately beaten by Alonso's 29.568. The Spaniard, in fourth, now has a 17.2s advantage to teammate Massa.
As Hamilton closes in on Alguersuari, Massa is handed a drive-through for "causing a collision" and Vettel posts another fastest lap (29.390).
Massa serves his penalty but rejoins in seventh the pit straight ahead of Hamilton who has passed Alguersuari. Alonso posts a new fastest lap (29.036).
A lap later, Massa makes a regular pit stop, taking on hard tyres and a new front wing. This time he rejoins in eleventh as Petrov has a very, very hairy moment after going offline. Replay shows that before his stop Massa's (old) front wing was wobbling violently as it did earlier in the weekend.
After 33 laps, it's: Vettel, Button, Webber, Alonso, Rosberg, Schumacher, Hamilton. Alguersuari, Sutil and Perez.
It's all over for Massa, the Brazilian pulling to the side of the track with broken front-left suspension after clouting a kerb, a mirror image of what happened yesterday in Q3. Elsewhere, Petrov and Ricciardo pit.
Perez pits at the end of lap 35 as Vettel posts a new fastest lap (28.998). The German now leading Button by 5.8s with Webber a further 8.8s down the road. Replay shows Perez overshot his pit causing all manner of problems for his crew.
Schumacher is told that his pace is very good, he is also told to watch the orange kerbs that put an end to Massa's race.
At the end of lap 36 Sutil pits, rejoining in tenth. Teammate di Resta is currently fourteenth. Petrov nails Kovalainen to take twelfth.
Next time around Webber pits, the Australian taking on the hard tyre. He rejoins in fourth but faces an uphill struggle if he's going to use these tyres for the remaining 23 laps.
Alonso makes his second stop at the end of lap 39, the Spaniard rejoining in third ahead of Webber. Tyre strategy really coming to the fore now. Alonso immediately comes under pressure from Webber, the Australian making good use of his warm tyres. However, the Red Bull driver is unable to press home the advantage and pretty soon Alonso is pulling away.
TV cameras pick up Massa arriving back at the pits, helmet still on his head. The guy will be raging.
On lap 42, Kovalainen, in thirteenth, makes his second stop. A superb race for the Finn and his team. Elsewhere, Schumacher, yet to make his second stop, goes quickest in S1.
Vettel maintains a 4.9s lead over Button with Alonso a whopping 36.1s further behind. Webber is fourth, 1.9s down on Alonso and 8.9s ahead of Rosberg who has Schumacher closing in.
Rosberg pits at the end of lap 45 as Perez and Petrov close in on Sutil. Hamilton also pits, rejoining in eighth, just ahead of the race leader. Moments later, Button also pits, rejoining still in second.
Vettel pits at the end of lap 47, the German almost running wide such is his enthusiasm. Alguersuari also pits. Senna gesticulates at Karthikeyan, the Indian slowing the Renault driver as he tries to hold on to ninth.
Schumacher pushing really hard, now 22.3s clear of his teammate, almost enough in hand for his final pit stop.
Button has closed to within 2.8s of Vettel as Webber runs wide in Turn 11, the Australian continuing to look as though he's struggling for grip. Yet to stop, Schumacher is told to maintain his pace.
On lap 50, Vettel posts a new fastest lap (28.029) extending his lead to 3.2s. Elsewhere, Schumacher pits. The German rejoins ahead of his teammate, locking up a little as he goes into the first corner. On cold tyres the seven time champion continues to lose ground to his young teammate who is clearly charging.
"Nico is 1.5s behind," Schumacher is told, "you are free to race but keep it clean." Elsewhere, Karthikeyan pits from sixteenth.
After 52 laps, it's: Vettel, Button, Alonso, Webber, Schumacher, Rosberg, Hamilton, Alguersuari, Senna and Sutil, Perez is eleventh, ahead of Petrov, di Resta, Kovalainen, Barrichello, Karthikeyan, d'Ambrosio, Ricciardo and Trulli.
Next time around, presumably just to remind us that he's there, Vettel posts another fastest lap 27.922.
16.1s down on sixth placed Rosberg, Hamilton goes quickest in S1, the McLaren driver 21s clear of Alguersuari.
Mike Gascoyne angry at both HRTs holding up Kovalainen, describes it as "pathetic".
A late stop sees ninth placed Senna drop to twelfth, the Brazilian finally taking on the harder tyre. D'Ambrosio also pits. Senna's stop promotes Sutil into the points.
On lap 58, form out of nowhere, Webber produces a new fastest lap (27.559), thereby denying his teammate of that particular honour, Then again, there are two laps remaining.
Indeed, next time around Vettel bangs in a 27.457, extending his lead to 7.7s. Trulli and Ricciardo both pit.
"You've got fastest lap," Vettel is told, "just bring it home, bring it home."
Bring it home he does, however, he also slaps in another fastest lap (27.249), the young German as remorseless as ever. On the pit-wall Adrian Newey appears overcome by emotion.
"Well done Sebastian," says Christian Horner, "though I wish you wouldn't do the fastest lap on the final lap though."
A clean sweep for the world champion, who takes the win, pole, fastest lap and led every lap of the race. Total dominance.
Behind Vettel, it's Button, Alonso, Webber, Schumacher, Rosberg, Hamilton, Alguersuari, Sutil and Perez.
Petrov finishes eleventh, ahead of Senna, di Resta, Kovalainen, Barrichello, d'Ambrosio, Karthikeyan, Ricciardo and Trulli.
Incredible is the epithet used by the Indian Tourist Board in its attempts to encourage the rest of the world to visit, however, the word would equally apply to Sebastian today. That said, one has to wonder how such dominance, especially in the wake of a race that can hardly be described as one of the best of the season, goes down with the locals.
In the land of Bollywood and Cricket, one has to wonder if Formula One is really going to make its mark here. The hype can only last so long.
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