Hamilton Takes Abu Dhabi Grand Prix After Red Bull Team Falters

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

 

The penultimate round of the 2011 Formula 1 season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was staged Sunday by a qualifying that saw Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel pull some magic to take pole away from the fast in practice McLarens. Capturing a 14th pole in the single season (equaling the 1992 mark set by Nigel Mansell driving the radically-advanced Williams-Honda), Vettel was on course to equal another benchmark of 13 wins in a season if he could take victory at Yas Marina and the next round at Interlagos in Brazil. The first two Abu Dhabi Grand Prix events has been a playground for Sebastian Vettel as he took victory in both races. With many factors in favour of Vettel's victory for 2011 at Yas Marina ahead of the grand prix, auto racing rarely cooperates with history.

 

Winning 11 races during the 2011 season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix would not be another top podium run for Sebastian Vettel. On the start of the race, a right-rear tire puncture with Vettel's Red Bull-Renault dramatically affected the proclaimed 2011 Formula 1 champion. Spinning in the second corner of the first lap, Sebastian Vettel limped his car to pit road where it was officially retired. A monumental event within the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel's early exit from the race marked a rare moment in modern Formula 1. Not only was this Vettel's first race of 2011 where he failed to score a point but the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was the first time since the 2010 Korean Grand Prix that the two-time driver's champion's Red Bull-Renault did not finish. 

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

With Sebastian Vettel removed from the event, the second-place starting McLaren-Mercedes car of Lewis Hamilton inherited the race lead. While Hamilton's McLaren soared to the front, teammate Jenson Button immediately fell victim to a challenging Ferrari piloted by Fernando Alonso. Alonso took second place on the race track ahead of the first lap completion. Button fought an issue with his KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) hindering the Englishman's performance through the remaining 54 laps of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Behind Button through the event, the remaining Red Bull-Renault wheeled by Mark Webber campaigned the team colours in 4th place. Resorting to a three-stop strategy, Webber held off running the medium compound Pirelli tires until the last laps of the race. Running third at the time, Webber's lap 54 pit stop dropped the Red Bull Racing car out of the podium position. This grand prix was the first Formula 1 race of the season to be lacking representation by the Red Bull Racing team.

With exception of a few laps during pit stops, Lewis Hamilton flew around the 5.554-kilometer Yas Marina Circuit to a comfortable 8.4-second victory over Fernando Alonso. Leaving the Ferrari driver Alonso lonely on the podium, Jenson Button soldiered to a third place finish. As Mark Webber crossed the line for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 4th, the Red Bull Racing car was followed by the Ferrari of Felipe Massa along with the two Mercedes GP vehicles seeing Nico Rosberg ahead of Michael Schumacher.

An honourable mention in the finishing results of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix goes to the Williams F1 machines of Rubens Barrichello and Pastor Maldonado. Starting on the 12th and final row of the race due to an oil leak on Barrichello's car and a grid penalty on Maldonado's vehicle, both drivers made massive improvements to just miss the points-paying top-10. Brazilian Rubens Barrichello surged 11 positions to 12th while Pastor Maldonado climbed 9 spots to 14th in the final running order.

Capping the 2011 edition of Formula 1, the Brazilian Grand Prix is set for November 27th.

  

2011 Formula 1
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Race Results

1. 3 Lewis Hamilton McLaren
2. 5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
3. 4 Jenson Button McLaren
4. 2 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing
5. 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari
6. 8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
7. 7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
8. 14 Adrian Sutil Force India
9. 13 15 Paul di Resta Force India
10. 16 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber
11. 17 Sergio Perez Sauber
12. 11 Rubens Barrichello Williams F1
13. 10 Vitaly Petrov Lotus Renault GP
14. 12 Pastor Maldonado Williams F1
15. 19 Jaime Alguersuari Scuderia Toro Rosso
16. 9 Bruno Senna Lotus Renault GP
17. 21 Heikki Kovalainen Team Lotus
18. 20 Jarno Trulli Team Lotus
19. 24 Timo Glock Marussia Virgin Racing
20. 23 Vitantonio Liuzzi HRT F1
21. 22 Daniel Ricciardo HRT F1
22. 18 Sebastien Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso
23. 25 Jérôme D’Ambrosio Marussia Virgin Racing
24. 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing

 

Volare! Vettel Takes Italian GP Pole

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

The 13th race on the 2011 Formula 1 tour, the Italian Grand Prix on the historically fast Monza circuit. Racing on the 3.6 mile (5.793 kilometer), 11-turn road course, the long straights provide one of the best opportunities for the V-8 Formula 1 race engines to sing at high RPMs. Driving race cars wearing low-downforce packages, the 26 Formula 1 drivers and teams ready for Saturday's qualifying for what will be a 53-lap main event Sunday.

Following the times produced in the previous 3 practice sessions at Monza, it was assumed the battle for top spot in Sunday's Italian Grand Prix would be between the Mercedes-Benz engines powering the McLarens and the force of Red Bull Racing featuring Renault power. Indeed, it was a tight battle between the McLaren F1 drivers of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button as well as Red Bull-Renault of the red hot Sebastian Vettel. Into the final round of qualifying, the McLaren-Mercedes cars launched to an early top time with Hamilton mustering the best effort with a 1 minute, 22.725 second lap. However, the undefeated force of Red Bull Racing in 2011 Formula 1 qualifying emerged with Sebastian Vettel in the late stage of the session. Crossing the line with a 1 minute, 22.275 second best lap, Vettel will start from pole position for the 10th time this season.

The Monza race track has served as a significant staging place for the career of Sebastian Vettel. In 2008, racing as a lesser known driver for the Scuderia Toro Rosso team, the German driver Vettel delivered a major upset becoming the youngest driver to win a Formula 1 race. Since that very first win, the talented driver was upgraded to the Red Bull Racing team where he is currently making history by winning 16 additional grand prix races since 2009.

Presented as the most regular rival to Red Bull Racing this season so far, McLaren-Mercedes once again starts close to that front with Hamilton starting alongside Vettel on the front row of the Italian Grand Prix. Jenson Button is place in the 3rd grid position with Fernando Alonso's Ferrari slotted in 4th. The second Red Bull-Renault car piloted by Sebastian Vettel will start 5th beside Felipe Massa's Ferrari. On the 4th row for the Italian Grand Prix, Lotus Renault GP's Vitaly Petrov collected his best qualifying result since the Spanish Grand Prix.

Qualifying 8th, Schmacher has recently begun showing he is still the same driver who won 7 World Championships. In the last grand prix event in Belgium, the senior driver in the Mercedes GP team stormed from a 24th place start to cross the line 5th on race day. Michael Schumacher's teammate Nico Rosberg will start the Italian Grand Prix one position behind in 9th place ahead of Lotus Renault GP driver Bruno Senna.

Holding the 62nd Italian Grand Prix on the Formula 1 schedule, the Monza road course will get underway at 2 PM local time (8 AM Eastern time). Weather forecast for Sunday predicts the race will be an affair taking place under a very hot day.

2011 Formula 1

Italian Grand Prix

Starting Grid

1. 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing
2. 3 Lewis Hamilton McLaren
3. 4 Jenson Button McLaren
4. 5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
5. 2 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing
6. 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari
7. 10 Vitaly Petrov Lotus Renault GP
8. 7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
9. 8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
10. 9 Bruno Senna Lotus Renault GP
11. 15 Paul di Resta Force India
12. 14 Adrian Sutil Force India
13. 11 Rubens Barrichello Williams F1
14. 12 Pastor Maldonado Williams F1
15. 17 Sergio Perez Sauber
16. 18 Sebastien Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso
17. 16 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber
18. 19 Jaime Alguersuari Scuderia Toro Rosso
19. 20 Jarno Trulli Team Lotus
20. 21 Heikki Kovalainen Team Lotus
21. 24 Timo Glock Marussia Virgin Racing
22. 25 Jérôme D’Ambrosio Marussia Virgin Racing
23. 22 Daniel Ricciardo HRT F1
24. 23 Vitantonio Liuzzi HRT F1

Canada Welcomes the 2011 Formula 1 Tour

Photo Credit: Lorenzo Bellanca/LAT Photographic

As a Canadian motorsport journalist, forgive me for giving an extra loud cheer as the 2011 Formula 1 season makes its stop at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. For the most part a staple on the world grand prix tour from 1978 to 2011, the race had only been absent from the Formula 1 racing schedule twice in 1987 and 2009 due to sponsorship issues.

For 2011, the Canadian Grand Prix plays host to a 24-car Formula 1 contingent led by a dominant Sebastian Vettel. Winning five of six races, the defending Formula 1 World Champion Vettel has spent a great deal of 2011 at the front of the field for Red Bull Racing. 

Though the chances that Sebastian Vettel could continue his tear on the 2011 Formula 1 racing schedule with lasting strength in Montreal, the race has been an unpredictable affair in the past. Based on 2010, the Canadian Grand Prix could the dent in the Red Bull Racing armour teams such as McLaren and Ferrari are intent to exploit. The only driver other than Vettel to win a grand prix in 2011, Lewis Hamilton has 2 wins on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve circuit including the future world champion's first Formula 1 victory in 2007.

For Ferrari, the Italian team literally owned the race through Michael Schumacher's Formula 1 reign in the early 2000s. Schmacher and Ferrari won the Canadian Grand Prix 6 times together. Ferrari as a team has won 10 times total since the race was held at the track on the island off the coast of Montreal. The first driver to win on the circuit for Ferrari was Canadian and the current track namesake the late Gillles Villeneuve. In 2011, Ferrari is paired with 2006 Canadian Grand Prix winner Fernando Alonso.

The best time for Formula 1 racing fans in North America to enjoy the live spectacle of the globe's most premier form of open wheel racing, many drivers and teams also share excitement in the Canadian Grand Prix weekend. Williams F1's Rubens Barrichello shared prior to heading to Montreal that "Canada is always a very special event. The atmosphere is so relaxed and the racing is fantastic.". Barrichello continued to express interest in one of two exciting segments that delight the fans as much as the drivers. "The hairpin is probably one of the most exciting parts of the track as the fans that base themselves there are great." Barrichello said. Rookie teammate Pastor Maldonado is visiting the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for the first time as a Formula 1 competitor but has fond memories of a 1998 visit in go karting.

Photo Credit: Glenn Dunbar/LAT Photographic

Team Lotus driver Heikki Kovalainen himself calls the Formula 1 visit “Canada is one of the highlights of the whole season.." Impressed by the race track, Kovalainen is well acquainted with the spirit and following of the series in the French-Canadian province. "It’s obviously not the same intensity as Monaco when you’re away from the track, but the whole city buzzes when we’re in town and they get behind the whole event right across the city so there’s an amazing atmosphere wherever you go. The crowd are also very knowledgeable and you can see what it means to them when the race takes place in their back yard as it’s packed from Thursday right through to Sunday." Team Lotus' Heikki Kovalainen complimented. Kovalainen's Team Lotus team is looking forward to the Canadian Grand Prix as presenting an opening which the sophomore team can claim their first manufacturer points.

A challenging 4.361 kilometer (2.71 mile) temporary street course that burdens tires and brakes, the Formula 1 drivers will find little relief after competing in the tough Monoco Grand Prix. New Formula 1 tire supplier Pirelli is likely to become a major focal point during hte weekend. Throughout the 2011 season, Pirelli's first year adapting to the grand prix schedule has left teams making more guesses at the start of the race weekend. Friday and Saturday practices will be most important in understanding best set-up the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix.

With two practice session on Friday, teams will be zeroing in on finding speed for Saturday's qualifying as well as the race on Sunday afternoon.  

Vettel Holds Off Alonso, Button to Win in Monaco

Photo Credit: Charles Coates/ LAT Photographic

 

An enduring engagement on the Formula 1 schedule since 1955, the Monaco Grand Prix is considered by many as the most elite race of the season. Situated around the unapologetically pompous and rich surroundings of a European principality, the race projects an image Formula 1 of greatness the open wheel motorsport series aspires to embody. For 2011, the race welcomes the series being largely dominated by one ruler; Sebastian Vettel. Riding his noble Red Bull-Renault onto the streets of Monte Carlo, winner of four of the past five grand prix events enjoyed continuing success for the Monaco Grand Prix. Qualifying, Vettel received the some mixed luck as a result of a late session crash of Sergio Perez. Though Perez was unable to start the race Sunday, the crash ended the final qualifying session preventing other drivers from mounting a challenge to Sebastian Vettel's time.

With Vettel's Red Bull-Renault starting on the pole beside McLaren F1's Jenson Button, the Monaco Grand Prix started predictably to the chorus of the 2011 Formula 1 season. Sebastian Vettel held the lead through the early stages of the event. However, while the reigning driver champion for Red Bull Racing led the field around the 3.340 kilometer (2.075 mile), this race was never a run away for Vettel. Through pit stop exchanges, Jenson Button led with his McLaren-Mercedes. Having won 15 times on the streets of Monte Carlo, the McLaren team passed the 10,000 laps led milestone in Formula 1 through Button's efforts.

Deeper in the field, Button's McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton reported to be nudged by Schumacher on the start of the grand prix. Limited to some rear wing damage, Hamilton's car would be a moving epicenter for dramatic in the Monaco Grand Prix. 

As McLaren seeks to reclaim some success in Monaco, the second-most winning team on the famous street course was also mounting hoping to mount a 2011 comeback. Qualifying 4th and 6th the Ferrari team cars were led in their pursuit of their first 2011 victory by Fernando Alonso. Alonso competed against Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button for the top race positions throughout the Monaco Grand Prix. However, the second Ferrari driven by Felipe Massa would not be joining his teammate Alonso at the front. In the case of Massa, the Brazilian's race ended after the 32nd lap when he lost control in the traitorous tunnel section of the Monte Carlo circuit.

Leaving the 2011 Monaco Grand Prix with the most disappointing team performance was the Mercedes GP organization. Despite presence in the top-7 in qualifying, both Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg struggled. Missing race pace due to a premature wearing of the rear Pirelli tires, Mercedes GP engineers were caught off-guard by the extent to which performance dropped-off. Using a three-stop plan, Nico Rosberg finished the race 11th, two laps down to the leader. More veteran teammate Schumacher was unable to complete the 78-lap distance of the Monaco Grand Prix. Attributed to an air box failure, Schumacher's Mercedes GP retired almost at the same time of Massa.
 

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

At the front of the field, Sebastian Vettel held the lead but Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button have closed a several second lead into the latter stage of the event. Staging what could be a fantastic three-way fight for the Monaco Grand Prix, the hopes were dashed when a series of events occured. Halting the event, a crash resulting when the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton and the STR-Ferrari of Jaime Alguersauri collided on lap 67. As Alguersauri headed wide into the wall, the Lotus Renault of Vitaly Petrov was collected in the meylay. Following the crash, Petrov required some extension care from the track clean-up crew and medical officials which put the field under a red flag. With a concern for a possible concussion and broken leg, the Russian driver Vitaly Petrov was later examined at Princess Grace Hospital with no indication of serious injury.  

Once the race was restarted, the Williams-Cosworth of Pastor Maldonado ran a very strong sixth place until a lap 73 move by 2008 F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton robbed the 26 year-old Venezuelan of a good finish. Maldonado offered his impression of the how a good race turned badly saying "My pace was strong but after the re-start Hamilton tried a very ambitious manoeuvre at the first corner and that was the end of my race. I’m really disappointed not to come away with any points today." Following the two incidents during the Monaco Grand Prix, Hamilton was penalized 20 seconds by the Formula 1 stewards in post-race but retained a 6th place finish.

 

 

Photo Credit: Glenn Dunbar/ LAT Photographic

Though the final red flag bunched up the remaining race contenders, the restarts did not help the Ferrari or the McLaren-Mercedes race cars. Alonso admitted through that the late race stoppage prevented the Ferrari from launching a final surge against Sebastian Vettel. Crossing the line for his 5th win of the 2011 Formula 1 season, Vettel and Red Bull Racing was victorious over second place Alonso. In third place came Jenson Button who was only 2.3 seconds behind the winning car of Vettel. Mark Webber pulled a last lap pass on the Sauber-Ferrari of Kamui Kobayashi for fourth place. As for Kobayashi, the Japanese driver was the lone Sauber in the field after Sergio Perez's car was withdrawn. Perhaps the entire team was competing with some added focus following the Perez crash, hard driving by Kobayashi and strategy of the Sauber team vaulted the car from 12th at the start to 5th in the final running order. On Sunday, the team updated Perez's medical condition by announcing the driver suffered a concussion and a bruised thigh. Whether the Sauber will be fit to run the next Formula 1 round in Canada will depend on further examinations Monday.

As mentioned, the next round for the Formula 1 World Championship is the Candian Grand Prix in Montreal.
 
 
Formula 1
2011 Monaco Grand Prix
Starting Grid

 

Pos # | Car #  | Driver  | Team

1. 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing
2. 5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
3. 4 Jenson Button McLaren
4. 2 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing
5. 16 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber
6. 3 Lewis Hamilton McLaren
7. 14 Adrian Sutil Force India
8. 9 Nick Heidfeld Lotus Renault GP
9. 11 Rubens Barrichello Williams F1
10. 18 Sebastien Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso
11. 8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
12. 13. 15 Paul di Resta Force India
13. 20 Jarno Trulli Team Lotus
14. 21 Heikki Kovalainen Team Lotus
15. 25 Jérôme D’Ambrosio Marussia Virgin Racing
16. 23 Vitantonio Liuzzi HRT F1
17. 22 Narain Karthikeyan HRT F1
18. 8. 12 Pastor Maldonado Williams F1
19. 10 Vitaly Petrov Lotus Renault GP
20. 19 Jaime Alguersuari Scuderia Toro Rosso
21. 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari
22. 7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
23. 24 Timo Glock Marussia Virgin Racing

 

2011 Formula 1 Driver Lineup

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

2011 Formula 1 Lineup (Teams ordered by position in 2010 constructor points)


Red Bull Racing

1 Sebastian Vettel
2 Mark Webber


McLaren F1

3 Lewis Hamilton
4 Jenson Button


Scuderia Ferrari

5 Fernando Alonso
6 Felipe Massa


Mercedes GP

7 Michael Schumacher
8 Nico Rosberg


Lotus-Renault GP

9 Nick Heidfeld
10 Vitaly Petrov


AT and T/Williams F1

11 Rubens Barrichello
12 Pastor Maldonado


Force India

14 Adrian Sutil
15 Paul di Resta


Sauber

16 Kamui Kobayashi
17 Sergio Pérez


Scuderia Toro Rosso

18 Sebastien Buemi
19 Jaime Alguersuari


Team Lotus

20 Jarno Trulli
21 Heikki Kovalainen


HRT
22 Narain Karthikeyan
23 Vitantonio Liuzzi


Marussia Virgin Racing

24 Timo Glock
25 Jérôme D’Ambrosio

Proton/Lotus Announces 2011 Formula 1 Partnership with Renault F1

Photo Credit: Renault F1

In just one year back in Formula 1 resulting in the Lotus Racing team's 2010 on-track campaign without scoring points as a new outfit, it could be said that Lotus has at least mastered the art of gaining publicity. Having officially announced in the last weeks of the 2010 Formula 1 season their agreement to replace Cosworth engines with Renault power for 2011, paddock buzz surrounded the possibly that the Lotus Racing and Group Lotus' parent company Malaysia's Proton Group was considering a venture with another Formula 1 team for the next season. These rumours have turned to reality December 8th as Group Lotus and Genii Capital publicized their new partnership called Lotus Renault GP.

With Genii Capital existing as a stakeholder within the current Renault F1 effort, Group Lotus is certified as a holding equity share in the new Lotus Renault GP team. Unveiling the 2011 team's new livery, a black and gold car accented with touches of red bares a close resemblance to the John Players Special paint scheme used during the original Team Lotus' last great heyday. Unlike the Lotus Racing team where Proton has merely provided licensing of the British auto company's name, the car company has a ownership stake with Lotus Racing GP for the 2011 Formula 1 season guaranteed to feature Robert Kubica as the #1 driver. Russia's Vitaly Petrov has a 50/50 chance with returning to the ride for 2011. 
Questions exist where how the new agreement will affect the current Lotus Racing (or Team Lotus). Using the famous British sports car builder's name under license, Lotus Racing has presently stayed largely mum on the formulation of the Lotus Renault GP team. However, on Lotus Racing's team principal Tony Fernandes twitter page one message posted following the Wednesday announcement read "Dany bahr has done us a favour. Never felt better about our future and Team Lotus. Looks like the trying to hijak our black and gold idea.". It should be noted that the past few months have consisted of rumours that Proton Group and the Lotus Racing team have not been on the greatest of terms. 
While it seems that there will be a Team Lotus and a Lotus Renault GP team competing on the 2011 Formula 1 grand prix circuit, the biggest question being immediately presented is what will be the team livery of the 2010 Lotus Racing team. Having planned to change to the black and gold racing colours, the Lotus Renault GP team has apparently taken possession of the paint scheme. Whether the Team Lotus organization will stick with green and yellow or which to another team colour is unsure.