Webber Grabs Brazilian GP Finale as Vettel Stumbles

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

Started on March 27th in Australia, the 2011 Formula 1 season's 19-race schedule comes to an end as the 24-car grid assembled to run the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos circuit. With the drivers title and manufacturer title locked up races earlier, the last grand prix event of the season served an importance as a single race to reinforce or to demonstrate where they place against firm Formula 1 competition. The Red Bull Racing team and the recently crowned two-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel had spent an entire proving themselves as a near unbeatable benchmark for the premier open wheel series. In Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying, Vettel and his recognized #1 Red Bull-Renault took pole ahead of teammate Mark Webber.
Though forecast strongly insisted that rain would become a factor for the Brazilian Grand Prix race, all 71 laps proceeded on a dry 4.309-kilometer race track. Taking some complexity out of this event as drivers ready to start running at Interlagos, the all-too-common occurrence of Sebastian Vettel's record 15th pole of the 2011 Formula 1 season resulted in the German driver's Red Bull-Renault losing the field on the start.
Behind Vettel early was teammate Mark Webber and the McLaren-Mercedes runners. The main adversary for Red Bull Racing this season, neither McLaren race car of Lewis Hamilton or Jenson Button could keep up to the blue and yellow race machines for this Brazilian Grand Prix. In typical fashion, the Ferrari team cars of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa ran close to the McLaren-Mercedes. Providing some front-running action at Interlagos, Alonso was able to pass then-fourth place Jenson Button for position on the 11th lap of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Appearing as if it could be another textbook event for the Red Bull-Renault of Sebastian Vettel, the late-race mechanical gremlin came back to bite the lead car. Experiencing shifting problems, the Renault engine could be put in a dangerous position of granading. Leading, Sebastian Vettel and the Red Bull Racing team decided to reduce short-shift his way through the rest of the event reducing his race pace. As Vettel fought the battle against a gearbox issue, his Australian teammate Mark Webber rose to the occasion for Red Bull Racing. Similar to the dominating style of the 2011 Formula 1 champion, Webber stormed like lightning around the Interlagos circuit setting one fastest lap after another. Finally on lap 13, the #2 Red Bull-Renault powered by his team car enjoying a rare feat in what had been a 2011 season spent in Vettel's shadow. Mark Webber's mission for returning to the championship-contending performance level of 2010 was clearly on display for the Brazilian crowd.

Gearbox problems were a plaque that captured more than Vettel. Indiscriminately, transmission issues slowed one McLaren F1 driver and a pilot from Lotus Renault GP. Middle way through the Brazilian Grand Prix, winner of the previous Formula 1 race at Abu Dhabi Lewis Hamilton suffered a race-ending mechanical failure in the transmission. Despite the total of three gearbox problems in the event, only Lewis Hamilton's McLaren-Mercedes would fail in finishing the Brazilian Grand Prix. The Lotus Renault GP, it was the hometown runner Bruno Senna who was reportedly dealing with minor gearbox hiccups.

While Senna finished the grand prix with the wounded Lotus Renault GP race car, the Brazilian driver's day would be impacted early when he tangled with Mercedes GP driver Michael Schumacher. In defense of 9th position, Bruno Senna made contact with Schumacher's resulting in the Mercedes GP car getting a punctured Pirelli tire. Senna received a drive-through penalty by Formula 1 race stewards for the move. Both Bruno Senna and Michael Schumacher continued the event but would not challenge for points in this final race of 2011. As their teammates collected non-point outings, the Mercedes GP and Lotus Renault GP team vehicles would leave with top-10 results. Nico Rosberg brought his Mercedes GP car home 7th while Vitaly Petrov climbed from 15th to 10th helping Lotus Renault GP secure 5th in the manufacturer points over Force India.

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

Force India team in this final 2011 grand prix in Brazil, the team left accomplishing a feat identical to the major Red Bull Racing and Ferrari teams. Resulting in both team cars collecting points at the end of 71 laps, Adrian Sutil led the Force India squad in 6th place while Paul di Resta followed in a respectable 8th position. Kamui Kobayashi brought the Sauber team 2 final series points with a 9th place result aiding the team's effort to maintain 7th place in the Formula 1 constructor standings for 2011.

Untouched, Mark Webber sailed to the 2011 Brazilian Grand Prix win resulting in the Australian's first and only victory for the Formula 1 season. Webber preserves an honour of winning a grand prix in three consecutive Formula 1 race seasons after what was 7 years of perseverance with teams like Minardi, Jaguar and Williams F1. The Brazilian Grand Prix also becomes a significant milestone for Mark Webber as the first locale the Red Bull Racing driver scored multiple wins on the circuit (Webber won the 2009 race at Brazil).

Showing his championship-caliber determination, Sebastian Vettel brought his Red Bull-Renault across the line 16.9 seconds behind teammate Mark Webber. After relinquishing the lead, Vettel's event dealing with the gearbox issue resulted in a brief overshooting of a corner but was otherwise a successful drive keeping the McLaren-Mercedes of Jenson Button almost 11 seconds behind.

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

Winning their 12th of 19 Formula 1 races in 2011, Red Bull Racing ties McLaren in 1984 and the 1996 Williams F1 team for victories in a single season. Despite some dents in the team's armour at mid-season, Red Bull Racing maintains itself as the consistent team to beat heading into 2012.

As cars crossed the start/finish line for the 2011 Brazilian Grand Prix, the possible completion of Brazilian driver Rubens Barrichello racing career is one of the news items dominating speculation for 2012. Finishing his home grand prix in 14th place for Williams F1, the vacated ride (that will be propelled by Renault power next season) is one of many questions that will dominate the next few months ahead of the March 2012's Australian Grand Prix.

Until that day, Red Bull Racing and Sebastian Vettel, in particularly, drink the champagne of 2011 victories again the strongest force in Formula 1. 

2011 Formula 1
Brazilian Grand Prix
Race Results

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

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

 

Vettel Sails Through Yas Marina for Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Pole

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

Despite the McLaren-Mercedes cars Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button dominating of all three practice sessions, the Red Bull Racing front man Sebastian Vettel came to form in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix qualifying.

Preserving his Red Bull-Renault through the Q1 and Q2 time trial sessions, Vettel was no higher than third place. Lewis Hamilton led the Formula 1 contenders in the first two qualifying rounds becoming the first driver to break past the 1 minute, 40 second barrier in Q1. Similar to his successful pole run for the Japanese Grand Prix, Vettel apparently allowed the McLaren team to get comfortable with the lead before launching a grid-topping run in the Q3 session. Lapping the 5.554-kilometer Yas Marina Circuit in 1 minute, 38.481 seconds, Sebastian Vettel was roughly 14/100th of a second ahead of Hamilton's McLaren-Mercedes. In post-race, Vettel commented on his qualifying performance saying “I’m pretty pleased. Yesterday I wasn’t very happy with my own performance and with the car and I didn’t feel that comfortable. Today was much better straightaway when we went out this afternoon, but this evening when the sun went down, I had a much better feeling and the car was more together."

With Hamilton placed in second place starting alongside Vettel on the 2011 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix front row, Jenson Button was 0.009 seconds slower than his teammate to claim the inside of the second row beside Mark Webber. The third row for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is commanded by the Ferrari team led by Fernando Alonso who held more than 4/10ths of a second over Felipe Massa. Continuing a team domination of grid rows, the Mercedes GP team cars will launch from the fourth row while Force India Formula 1 machines are positioned in the fifth.

While the five teams made up the top-10 starting positions of Sunday's race on the Yas Marina Circuit, other teams deeper in the field fought hard with little to show for qualifying work. The Williams Formula 1 team had a heartbreaking, dismal time trial period for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. After having engine problems relating in the first Friday practice session, Rubens Barrichello was unable to plug in a timed lap due to an oil leak from his car. Barrichello will start 23rd but has actually gained a grid position on teammate Pastor Maldonado. While Maldonado made his way to 16th in the qualifying session, the Williams driver was penalized by the Formula 1 stewards for exceeding the season limit of 8 engines. With his 9th Cosworth powerplant, Pastor Maldonado will start last for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Running at 5pm local time at the Yas Marina Circuit, the 2011 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and second to last event on this season's Formula 1 tour will start at 8am Eastern time.



2011 Formula 1
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Starting Grid

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

McLaren Tops Friday Practice for Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

With 17 rounds completed for the 2011 Formula 1 circuit, the World Drivers title and constructor championship is sealed. The dominance of Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing insured an early celebration that changes the focus through the final races of the grand prix season. The third annual Abu Dhabi Grand Prix sees this year's 24-car Formula 1 circus assembling to turn the Yas Marina Circuit into a pivotal motorsport battleground with just two races remaining in the 2011 season. Entering Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Vettel has the distinction as the only driver who has won the relatively new race on the Formula 1 circuit. Sebastian Vettel won the 2009 and 2010 events on the Yas Marina Circuit.

2011 Formula 1 driver champion Vettel is seeking a third-straight race victory after clinching the driver's title at the Japanese Grand Prix. Attempting to secure a 12th win in 2011, Vettel has the ability to tie racing hero and current Mercedes GP driver Michael Schumacher's Formula 1 record for victories in one season. Sebastian Vettel needs to win both grand prixs closing out the Formula 1 schedule.

Though German driver Vettel locked up the 2011 World Driver's Championship, a fierce contest remains between Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber for the runner-up position in the driver's standings. Separated by just 19-points, all three Formula 1 stars will be looking for maximum points at the Abu Dhabi and Brazilian Grand Prix rounds. Besides the story lines for the top drivers and teams Red Bull Racing, McLaren-Mercedes and Ferrari, every contender in the matured 2011 Formula 1 season's field will want to put on a points-paying show closing out the season in hopes for 2012.

A modern 5.554-kilometer, 21-turn race track, the Yas Marina Circuit holding Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix hosted two Formula 1 prep sessions Friday for teams and drivers. Under a baking sun, Formula 1 cars lapped the track as air temperatures soared into the upper 20 degree Celsius range. In Practice one, McLaren-Mercedes driver Jenson Button nailed a 1 minute, 20.263 second lap time to top the session. The Red Bull-Renault of Mark Webber was runner-up in track session while Lewis Hamilton's McLaren clocked just under 2/100ths of a second slower. Sebastian Vettel and the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso rounded out the top-five ranking in the first track session.

Overall, the time differential among the 23 Formula 1 cars taking time in the initial session at Yas Marina Circuit was 8.288 seconds with Canadian Robert Wickens at the bottom of the time chart. Honoured with being the third driver for Marussia Virgin Racing, the 2011 Formula Renault 3.5 champion recorded 23 laps behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car.

Williams F1 driver Rubens Barrichello did not register a lap in the first practice having been sidelined through the session by an issue triggering of the automatic kill switch in the Cosworth engine. Barrichello and the #11 Williams-Cosworth would return for the second practice Friday topping teammate Pastor Maldonado's fast lap.

While the first practice session for the 2011 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix indicated the world audience could be looking forward to another McLaren/Red Bull Racing rivalry throughout the weekend, some misfortune for the Red Bull Racing team gave the McLaren-Mercedes bunch some begging rights heading into Saturday. In the second afternoon practice, it was Lewis Hamilton who led over Button recording a 1 minute, 39.586 second time. The McLaren cars were followed on the time track sheet by the Ferrari teammates Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa who posted near identical top times less than 4/10th of a second slower than Hamilton.

In the two Friday practices, it was Mark Webber outrunning his two-time World Championship teammate Vettel, In the first warm-up session on the Yas Marina circuit, Webber was the second-fastest Formula 1 car overall behind Jenson Button by a 0.126 seconds gap. In 4th, Sebastian Vettel was almost half a second slower than the top time of the opening practice. Admitting a rare mistake in the second practice session, Vettel lost control in the Yas Marina Circuit's turn 1 confessing he was too far on the track's curb. The second Friday practice saw the Red Bull Racing cars collecting 5th and 6th on the final time results.

Mercedes GP Michael Schumacher was 7th quickest in the afternoon distantly ahead of teammate Nico Rosberg 20th of the 24th Formula 1 drivers. Rosberg did complete an afternoon practice high 41 laps behind his race car as Mercedes GP is confident they have acquired some valuable race data for Sunday. Using Mercedes race engines, the Force India cars of Adrian Sutil and Paul di Resta were ahead of the Ferrari-powered Sauber vehicles.

There will be first final practice session for the Formula 1 cars at Yas Marina Circuit on Saturday ahead of qualifying for the 2011 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix taking place at 5pm local time.

Sebastian Vettel Scores First Ever Grand Prix of India Pole Position

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

 

Bringing the festival of Formula 1 to one of the most populous regions in the world, the Buddh International Circuit located in New Delhi hosts the ever Indian Grand Prix. A newly-completed entertainment complex, the 16-turn, 5.137-kilometer track tests the 2011 Formula 1 drivers and teams with several, sweeping high-speed turns and high ambient temperatures for late October.

 

A first ever visit to the circuit, many drivers got advance interaction with the Indian Grand Prix circuit by computer simulation programs including Team Lotus. Team Lotus driver Heikki Kovalainen commented prior to visiting the circuit, "There’s the obvious overtaking zone at the end of the long straight and then a few pretty standard medium speed corners but I think the main challenge for us is going to be finding a balance that suits the demands of T10 to T13, which is quick, and the hairpins at T3, T4 and T16. We won’t know anything about tyre degradation until we get out there, but whatever happens it’s going to be hot, probably a bit mad, but seriously good. I can’t wait!”

 

 

Photo Credit: Charles Coates/LAT Photographic

 

Allocated an extra set of tires for Friday practice, the real-life adaptation to the Buddh International Circuit resulted with the Red Bull Racing and McLaren F1 team leading the way. Among the hot and haze of the New Delhi climate, qualifying for the Grand Prix of India started with minimum air temperatures in the high 20 degree Celsius range.

 

Defeated in the Korean Grand Prix race weekend's pole qualifying session by year-long nemesis McLaren F1, Red Bull Racing is eager to restart their streak of pole which ended at 16 races. Immediately, acclaimed 2011 Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel took top position of the time sheets in qualifying. Lapping the race track in a 2nd fastest time of 1 minute, 26.218 seconds in the initial Q1 session, Vettel's Red Bull-Renault barely held off the charge of the McLaren-Mercedes of Jenson Button. For Button, the 2nd place in the session result required a last-second run from near elimination inside the first qualifying group.

 

The surprise in early Indian Grand Prix qualifying came with the Lotus Renault GP car of Vitaly Petrov vaulting to the 1st place spot in Q1 using fresh, softer Pirelli tires. While Petrov impressed with fastest in Q1, the second year driver for Lotus Renault GP would miss a top-10 placement in Q2 to Jaime Alguersuari's Toro Rosso-Ferrari. Due to a Friday practice infraction, Vitaly Petrov will be dropped an addition five-grid spots to 16th place.

 

Out of the HRT Formula 1 organization for much of the season following the European Grand Prix, Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan was suited up for the first Indian Grand Prix. An instant hit with his home country, Karthikeyan actions during qualifying neither impressed Michael Schumacher, Mercedes GP or Formula 1 race stewards. As Schumacher was making a flying lap late in the Q1 session, the HRT-Cosworth of Karthikeyan was deemed to have disrupted the qualifying run. The Indian driver will be demoted to the second-last starter for the Grand Prix of India as a penalty. 

 

Becoming the only driver to score a time under the 85-second barrier in Q2, Sebastian Vettel picked up nearly half a second on his Q3 fastest lap to command pole at 1 minute, 24.178 seconds. While the McLaren-Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton qualified second fastest following the Q3 session, the British driver will be starting in 5th position for Sunday's event. Hamilton received a three-grid position penalty by the race stewards after they deemed the McLaren F1 driver failed to slow for double-yellow flag. Thereby, the Red Bull-Renault of Mark Webber will be elevated to a front row starting position alongside teammate Vettel.

 

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and McLaren driver Jenson Button will start on the second row for Sunday's first Indian Grand Prix. In the race's third row, the penalized Lewis Hamilton starts alongside Felipe Massa's Ferrari which suffered major front suspension damage after hitting a corner curb. Nico Rosberg's Mercedes GP leads off the fourth row with Adrian Sutil and the Force India team giving their home country fans a reason to cheer.

 

Starting at 5 am Eastern time, the first Indian Grand Prix event is set to start under a hot sun.

 

 

2011 Formula 1
Indian Grand Prix
Buddh International Circuit
Starting Line-up

  

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

 

 

 

Vettel Blitzes Hamilton to Win Korean Grand Prix

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

 

After a wet and wild debut in Korea, the Formula 1 cars returns to the track for the fourth-to-last event in the 2011 schedule. Just completed in time last season, the Korean International Circuit narrow setup leaves little margin for driving error during an event highlighted by a race collision between Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg in 2010. A matured race track, the Korean Grand Prix assembles to run the 5.615 kilometer course learning only wet weather racing setups. While sunny skies were predicted prior to the event, the 2011 edition of the Korean Grand Prix would instantly reminds drivers and teams of the 2010 race as light raindrops sprinkled the track vicinity. Though a concern for Formula 1 teams all starting on dry weather slick tires, never would the precipitations extend beyond sprinkles.

 

In qualifying, the Red Bull Racing team met the wrath of McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton at the Korean International Circuit. Finally breaking Red Bull Racing's season's sweep of the pole position, Hamilton is well within the tight second place battle in the world championship points. Hoping to use the Korean Grand Prix as a chance to move closer to teammate Jenson Button currently in possession of the runner-up position in the Formula 1 driver points, the start of the race saw Hamilton taking a small advantage over Sebastian Vettel into the first corner. Immediately however, the Red Bull-Renault of Vettel stalked the McLaren-Mercedes and would take the lead over the completion of lap one. Drawing out a 1-second gap away from Lewis Hamilton, Vettel was able to resist a challenge from the Mercedes-engined race car with the assistance of the drag reduction system on the rear wing.

 

Deeper in the field at lap 14, there is a heated fight between the Mercedes GP car of Nico Rosberg and the McLaren-Mercedes of Jenson Button. On pit stops, the Mercedes GP launched Rosberg out ahead of Button's car but lost the position on the pit road exit into turn 1. Later in the lap, Rosberg determinedly reclaimed the place in the Formula 1 running order by passing Button's McLaren-Mercedes. Triumphant briefly, once the DRS system was enabled for Jenson Button on lap 16, Rosberg would fall prey to the McLaren driver into turn three. While looking like Nico Rosberg was in position for a good result after an unfortunate end in the 2010 Korean Grand Prix, his Mercedes GP car wandered home to 8th place. Indications suggested that Nico Rosberg was saving the fuel required for post-race testing late costing himself and the team several spots.

 

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

 

While one Mercedes GP car needed to conserve fuel to the end of the 2011 Korean Grand Prix, the team's second car driven by Michael Schumacher incurred a more dramatic end in the race. On lap 17, Schumacher was impacted into the third corner by the Lotus Renault GP car of Vitaly Petrov. Resulting when Petrov was drag racing Ferrari's Fernando Alonso down the long straightaway, the pair's attempt to outbrake each other into the corner resulted in a fast closing rate on the Mercedes GP. With Vitaly Petrov focused on the battle with Alonso, he slammed into the rear corner of Michael Schumacher causing a crash requiring a safety car on track. Both Schumacher and Petrov were out of the event while Fernando Alonso narrowly avoid damage.

 

Once the safety car period concluded on lap 20, Sebastian Vettel quickly rebuilt has race lead. By lap 44, the Red Bull-Renault held an 11-second on-track advantage on Lewis Hamilton. A tight 2nd through 4th place fight near the end of the Korean Grand Prix, the McLaren-Mercedes of second place Hamilton and fourth place Jenson Button had the other Red Bull Racing vehicle driven by Mark Webber sandwiched for position. Late in the race, the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso attempted to set a challenge against the rather stagnant 2nd to 4th place position battle. Alonso spent a great deal of time behind his teammate's Ferrari of Felipe Massa. Unable to pass Massa but being held up on the Korean International Circuit, Alonso was pitted and able to claim a spot ahead and quickly surged, making up ground on track. Closing to within 1.8 seconds of Jenson Button on the 49th lap, Fernando Alonso appeared to have enough speed to enter the 1-second DRS interval. While prospects of Alonso fighting for a podium position was real within final 5 laps, his Ferrari was unable to retrieve the competitors for any improvements on a 5th place spot.

 

Crossing the start/finish line over 55 laps, Sebastian Vettel took his 10th Formula 1 series victory for 2011. With Vettel's teammate Mark Webber taking the third and final podium position, Red Bull Racing were able to celebrate the lucrative manufacturers championship for the 2011 season over McLaren. Lewis Hamilton for McLaren joined the Red Bull Racing drivers on the podium in 2nd place.

 

With a Formula 1 championship recently clinched, Sebastian Vettel's tear on the 2011 grand prix could be magnified by the fact he now try even harder to add to his season's win total. Having now won 10 races with 3 races remaining, Vettel is mathematically capable of tying Michael Schumacher as the most winningest driver in a Formula 1 season.

 

 

2011 Formula 1
Korean Grand Prix
Race Results

 

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

Vettel's Sweet Path to 2011 Formula 1 Championship

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

Dominating the 2011 Formula 1 world championship scene, Germany's Sebastian Vettel bested the finest drivers in the world overall for this season. The Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka was the location where the talented Red Bull Racing superstar scored a convincing second-straight Formula 1 racing crown after 15 of the series 19-race 2011 tour. "I never imagined I would win one Championship and so to win this second one is amazing. I have a lot of good memories from Formula One, from watching it when I was young, to now and I feel fortunate and blessed to experience today." Said the new 2011 Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel celebrating his triumphs with the whole Red Bull Racing team.

Since his debut at the 2007 United States Grand Prix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the beginning to what is guaranteed to be a long motorsport legend story was established. When BMW-Sauber regular driver Robert Kubica was injured after a Canadian Grand Prix crash, the race turned to a then little-known 19-year old German Formula Renault 3.5 driver to substitute. Sebastian Vettel was the young talent who qualified 7th and finished 8th gaining a single championship point his first grand prix start. Breaking a record in the first grand prix he raced, Vettel became the youngest Formula 1 pilot to score a Formula 1 point. Like the saying goes, "a star was born".

An eager, young driver having given the Formula 1 season a sample of his potential, Sebastian Vettel joined the Scuderia Toro Rosso team at the end of 2007. During a first full season in Formula 1 for a race team regarded mainly as a grand prix field filler, Vettel and the his Ferrari-powered Toro Rosso scored points in 9 of the 18 races on the 2008 schedule. Among the biggest point scoring races for Sebastian Vettel was the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. A wet race weekend with rain pelting the Italian circuit, Vettel sailed to pole and then to his first Formula 1 victory. The Toro Rosso team owner Dietrich Mateschitz decided the German was ready for a seat in Red Bull Racing (a team Mateschitz also owns).

Making himself at home with the Red Bull Racing team, Vettel took his second career victory from pole at the Chinese Grand Prix. As of the 2011 Japanese Grand Prix, the German has claimed wins from 14 times from pole position. By the end of 2009 season, the Red Bull-Renaults driven by Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber have begun to assert itself as a meaningful Formula 1 tour de force. In 2010, while much of the Formula 1 season favoured the team's more experienced driver Mark Webber, Vettel launched a late year push involving 3 poles and victories in the final 4 grand prix races. In what was the one of the tightest Formula 1 championship fights, Vettel prevailed by 4 points over Fernando Alonso.

Returning as the reigning Formula 1 World Champion, Sebastian Vettel arrived like a steamroller to the competition. Winning 5 of the first 6 grand prix events, Vettel and the his #1 Red Bull-Renault claimed 143 of the series 150 available championship points in 2011. Even as technical rules are brought into the series pointed at slowing the torrent run of the Red Bull-Renault, Vettel kept has momentum storming to a potential to clinch his second straight Formula 1 championship during the 6th to last race. Winning that race (the Grand Prix of Singapore), Vettel fell just one point short of taking the 2011 World Driver's Championship.

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

Needing only to finish 10th or better to clinch the 2011 Formula 1 championship, Sebastian Vettel stormed to pole position through an unusual qualifying session at Suzuka. Attempting to strike for a 10th win for 2011, Vettel settled for a podium after being outrun by Jenson Button's McLaren and the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso. The 3rd place finish granted the Red Bull Racing driver his second driver's title in only his 4th full season in Formula 1. Vettel remained strong enough to secure podium runs in all but 1 of the grand prix races after Japan. In a rarely seen feat, Sebastian Vettel went on to finish no worse than 4th place in the 2011 Formula 1 season's first 15 races.

"The first title will always be something special, always deep in your memory. This year has been a completely different year, whereas last year we allowed a lot of mistakes to happen, this year, even if sometimes let’s say the boat started shaking a bit, we kept it on course, we didn't allow those mistakes to really affect us." said the newly-crowned two-time champion Sebastian Vettel through a post race press conference in Japan.

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

When asked about overtaking 7-time Formula 1 World Champion and fellow German Michael Schumacher, Vettel demonstrates a remarkable amount of poise and maturity as a 24-year old driver. "I think speaking of Michael, you always need to back off a little bit because it is something very, very special, what he has achieved. So it’s hard to aim for that, but really I think the secret this year for me has been to go step by step, and that’s what we have to focus on in the future as well." said Vettel.

With 4 races remaining, Sebastian Vettel is still within reach of tying another milestone. If the German wins all of the final races in his Red Bull-Renault will collect 13 grand prixSchumacher's 2004 record. Vettel is currently tied for 3rd with his total 9 victories.

A certified Formula 1 superstar, Sebastian Vettel's passion erupted on Sunday declaring his feelings after the Japanese Grand Prix was, "I think that’s what life is about!".

Button Wins Thrilling Japanese GP; Vettel Claims 2011 F1 Championship

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

 

 

The Grand Prix of Japan at Sukuza has often been a nexus point for the Formula 1 Drivers Championship thanks to its late season date. Thrilling with the famous deciding fight in the Prost/Senna battles of 1989 and 1990, the 2011 Formula 1 season's top driver Sebastian Vettel intends to celebrate clinching his second championship simply by scoring 1 point more than Jenson Button.

 

Starting Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix, the reigning champion displayed he had no plans of playing it safe. In a last second qualifying run, Sebastian Vettel ripped off a flying fastest lap to claim pole position. Accustomed to the pace he has maintained all season in the Red Bull-Renault, Sebastian Vettel launched aggressively as the lights went out to start the Japanese Grand Prix. Racing against the front row-starting McLaren-Mercedes, Vettel feverishly held off the Jenson Button almost directing the second-place vehicle onto the grass. Button, requiring to slow down into turn 1, would also lose a position to teammate Lewis Hamilton as he exited turn 1 in 3rd place. Vettel earned some criticism from the McLaren team but was quickly defused as the race progressed.

 

With a race going textbook for Sebastian Vettel and the Red Bull-Renault, the fight 2nd to 4th place would see Jenson Button reclaim his original spot from Lewis Hamilton on lap 8just before the 2008 World Champion pitted. Hamilton stopped his McLaren-Mercedes to the attention of crew early due to a recorded tire puncture. As the McLaren pit crew came to the aid of Hamilton, the race mechanics would be elevated to heroic. Pitting on lap 21, Jenson Button came to the attention of his crew members who performed a lightning fast pit stop compared to Vettel's Red Bull Racing mechanics. Gaining sizable track position, Button came out of the pits in front of the previously-pitted car of Sebastian Vettel. Exiting in 4th place overall at the lap 22 point in the Japanese Grand Prix, Jenson Button progressed to the lead.

 

With a safety car period slowing the Grand Prix of Japan as a result of debris (namely the carbon fiber pieces landing on track after Mark Webber's Red Bull-Renault made contact with the Mercedes GP car's Michael Schumacher in the 130R area of the Suzuka track. Off the restart, Jenson Button continued to pull away from Sebastian Vettel while the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso managed to fish around the Red Bull for an ultimate second place finish.

 

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

 

 

Jenson Button would hold on to win the 2011 Japanese Grand Prix for what was an big victory for the McLaren. Button had just signed a contract renewal with the McLaren Formula 1 team for several more season. The country of Japan has also been desribed as special to Jenson Button by post race comments. "It’s such an emotional victory for me: there’s so much history at this circuit, and the crowd here has been amazing, this is second only to a home victory for me." said Button. The British driver is personally connected to the country highlighted by a special race helmet he has worn at Monaco and again at this Japanese Grand Prix. That Jenson Button helmet will be auctioned off in the near future in support of the country of Japan currently rebuilding from the natural disaster earlier this year.

 

Michael Schumacher finished 6th in the Japanese Grand Prix but enjoyed one of the more momentous runs at Sukuza. In the latter 1/3 distance in the event, Schumacher's Mercedes GP MGP W02 race car led before a necessary pit stop. “I’m very happy with what we achieved in Suzuka today as we maximised our potential of the car, and managed to put in a good race." said 7-time Formula 1 champion Schumacher. While Michael Schumacher's teammate Nico Rosberg did not enjoy a front-running sprint in the grand prix, the young German did accomplish a hard-fought feat. Unable to log a lap in qualifying Saturday at Suzuka, Rosberg's Mercedes GP car was only granted a rear field starting spot after Formula 1 stewards permitted the team to run the Japanese Grand Prix. By lap 25, Nico Rosberg and his crew worked the car up to 13th place. At the end, a 10th place position and a single Formula 1 series point was earned by Rosberg.

 

After the race though, the man of the hour was the acclaimed 2011 Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel. Needing only a single point, Vettel displayed the same grand prix win-contending performance powerthe Red Bull-Renault driver plans in completing this near dream season. Finishing 3rd and on podium, Vettel was ecstatic about his 2nd straight championship by charging towards his Red Bull Racing crew members in celebration. Vettel clinches the Formula 1 championship with 4 races remaining in the 2011 season. Sebastian Vettel joins active drivers Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher as multiple time champions in Formula 1. 

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

Continuing with the late year Asian tour for the Formula 1 series, teams prepare for the Korean Grand Prix schedule in one week's time (October 16th).

 

2011 Formula 1

Japanese Grand Prix

Suzuka Circuit

Race Results

 

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

Vettel Makes Successful Last Minute Charge for Japanese GP Pole

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

After a season long dominance in grand prix qualifying, it appeared poised that the Red Bull-Renault could be defeated for the first time during the 2011 Formula 1 campaign. In a first set of runs for the 2011 Japanese Grand Prix, the McLaren-Mercedes cars of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button had gained the provisional front row. Ahead of both Red Bull Racing cars of Mark Webber and 2011 Formula 1 championship contender Sebastian Vettel, the McLaren team was determined to present something other than Red Bull Racing colours on a Formula 1 pole position. Not since Williams took pole at the Brazilian Grand Prix has another Formula 1 team car claimed top spot in qualifying.

 

Unwilling to surrender, Red Bull Racing would not allow the McLaren Formula 1 team to gain this pole without a fight. With only seconds left in the Q3 session, Sebastian Vettel crossed the start/finish line securing one final lap in the final 10-minute session. In a show of last minute brilliance, the Red Bull-Renault was guided around the 18 turns of the 5.807 kilometer Suzuka track to a superior final run. Crossing the finish line with a 1 minute, 30.466 second lap time, Sebastian Vettel took pole for the third straight time at the Japanese Grand Prix.

 

Making a final effort, Jenson Button displayed near equal grace as Vettel in the very late stage of Japanese Grand Prix's Q3 session. Driving his McLaren-Mercedes, Button missed the pole position by an alarmingly tight 0.009 seconds. The McLaren team shows up at Suzuka with a rear wing specially designed for the Japan circuit and appears to be on an even playing field with the Red Bull Racing organization.

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

Not withstanding the intensity of the final qualifying runs of Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button, action on the Suzuka track was actually quite humdrum during the day. Through Friday practice, Formula 1 teams have become increasingly concerned about tire wear of the Pirelli racing slicks on the Japanese track surface. Only six of the ten eligible drivers and cars in the final Q3 session actually recorded runs. Several teams chose to preserve their fresh, allotted tires rather than improve position in qualifying.

 

Starting 7th for tommorow's Japanese Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher was the leader of the four-car pack recording no times with a final qualifying run. However, in the case of Schumacher and the Mercedes GP team, the fact a run was not registered in qualifying was blamed on poor planning for the time to release themselves on track. Exiting the track behind Vettel, Button and Webber, Michael Schumacher would not cross the start/finish line before the 10-minute session clock clicked down to zero. A sluffu for one Mercedes GP car, the second car piloted by Nico Rosberg did not even participate in the Japanese Grand Prix qualifying session to due a hydraulic issue with his car.

 

For this race weekend in Japan, the Suzuka is likely to play host to another championship in a long-running heritage for the circuit. Entering into the Japanese Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel needs only to gain a single point in the Formula 1 standings to lock up the 2011 Drivers Championship. The second straight Formula 1 championship title for the young German driver will also be secured if closest points rival Jenson Button does not win the Japanese Grand Prix event.

 

Running during what is expected to be a wonderful sunny day, the 2011 Japanese Grand Prix will start at 3PM in Japan (translating to 2AM Eastern time.

 

 

2011 Formula 1
Japanese Grand Prix
Suzuka
Qualifying Results

 

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

 

 

 

Vettel's One Point Short of 2011 F1 Crown with Singapore GP Win

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti USA

Hosting the only night race on the 2011 Formula 1 grand prix schedule, the premier motor racing league of the world landed in Singapore for the most unique spectacle of the season. Part of an amazing 10-day festival held in the Marina Bay region of the Asian country, 61 laps on the 3.148-mile for the 24 Formula 1 cars is the showcase jewel.

 

Entering the Singapore Grand Prix, World Drivers Championship points leader Sebastian Vettel found himself in an envious position. Building such a monstrous points gap on the changing second place driver throughout the 2011 season, Vettel had a mathematical chance of clinching his second-straight Formula 1 championship with six races remaining. Taking pole in F1 qualifying for the event, Sebastian Vettel was going to make every effort to make the 2011 trophy his by the end of the Singapore night race.

 

On the start of the Singapore Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel shot to an immediate lead aided by a poor start by fellow Red Bull Racing and front row starter Mark Webber awful launch from the grid. The McLaren-Mercedes car of Jenson Button and Ferrari piloted by Fernando Alonso snaked around Webber before the first corner. While Vettel left competitors behind in both the Singapore Grand Prix and the points standing, a fierce fight for second-place in the 2011 Formula 1 standings. Led by Alonso, 4 drivers were separated by 14 points entering the event. With positions in the event becoming very valuable as the season is entered into its final six races, the fight is less for chasing Sebastian Vettel as it is to prevail for the runner-up spot in driver points.

 

For one contender of the second-place in Formula driver points, Lewis Hamilton's start to the Singapore Grand Prix was a situation the British McLaren wheelman was lucky to escape. Losing 4 positions at the start of the grand prix, Hamilton needed to make an unscheduled pit stop after damaging his front wing when he nudged the Ferrari of Felipe Massa on lap 12. A subsequent visit to the pit road was required by Lewis Hamilton in order to serve a penalty assessed by the Formula 1 stewards. Running as far back as 19th place, Hamilton spent the rest of the 2011 Singapore Grand Prix making a mad dash back to the front. Lewis Hamilton would crack into 5th place in the final race results to redeem this reputation on the track at Singapore.

 

A rather twisty street course, the combination of fast speeds and the 61 laps of competition tested the Formula 1 drivers. For the seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, his race ended through an act of miscalculation. On lap 28, the Mercedes GP driver was setting up a pass on the Sauber-Ferrari of Sergio Perez only to collide with the Mexican. Catching the rear of the Sauber car, Schumacher's Mercedes GP car was launched partially airborne before crashing into a turn 8 wall. The German Formula 1 world champion was unhurt from the race climbing out of his wrecked race car while a safety car took control of the race. In a post race debrief, Michael Schumacher commented, "What happened was what I would call a misunderstanding between Sergio Perez and myself. He was about to go inside and lifted, and I was not expecting him to do that so early, and therefore hit him."

 

In the case of Mark Webber, the Red Bull Racing pilot rose to the occasion alongside Hamilton in claiming a competitive edge. Charting a course back into a potential podium after the safety car period ended, Webber used this Renault power to sail past Fernando Alonso's Ferrari for third place.

 

 

 

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

 

While so many Formula 1 drivers struggled to gain something through the Singapore Grand Prix, the race fell to the Red Bull-Renault driver Sebastian Vettel who held on to his pole position advantage to take the race victory. His 9th victory of the 2011 season, Vettel finished 1.7 seconds ahead of Jenson Button's McLaren-Mercedes. Mark Webber took the final podium spot for the 2011 Singapore Grand Prix returning to form after a retirement in the previous Italian Grand Prix.

 

Collecting maximum points with his Singapore win, Sebastian Vettel found himself just short of solidifying his 2011 Formula 1 drivers title. Holding 309 points total and a 124-point lead over second place Jenson Button after Singapore, Vettel needs only a single point in one of the final five grand prix races to clinch the driver's world championship.

 

Formula 1 engines run for the next time on October 9th for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.

 

 

2011 Formula 1 Season
Singapore Grand Prix
Race Results

 

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

 

 

Italian Grand Prix Results with Fast Vettel Victory

Photo Credit: Andrew Ferraro/LAT Photographic

 

Consisting of long stretches of Italian countryside and some heavy braking turns, the Formula 1 cars' annual arrival at the 5.793-kilometer (3.6-mile) Autodromo Nazionale Monza sees reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel back to winning form are a convincing victory at the Belgium Grand Prix. Set for 53 laps around the storied Monza circuit, the Italian Grand Prix's race grid presented the Red Bull-Renault of Vettel in the preferential pole position. On virtue of a qualifying best time just under half a second faster than the closest competition, German Red Bull Racing driver was initially placed for what could be a second Monza victory following his first Formula 1 win in 2008 with Toro Rosso. Catching many Formula 1 observers by surprise that day three years ago, Vettel is now favourite to win the Italian Grand Prix in 2011.

 

As the lights went out allowing the 24-car field to thrill the Italian crowd with the world's top open wheel racers, drama built up immediately as leaders lurches forward from their start. By the first turn of the 2011 Italian Grand Prix, it was not Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull-Renault leading the Formula 1 drivers. Sailing from the start, Fernando Alonso combined the application of his KERS system and daring move on the inside of Vettel down the front stretch into the first turn (Monza's Variante del Rettifilo turn) to position his Ferrari in the lead. Naturally, the sight of the Ferrari Formula 1 car leading the infant 2011 grand prix immediately attracted a thunderous roar from the Italian fans.

 

As Alonso secured the lead into the first corner, havoc occurred seconds after several leaders weaved out of Variante del Rettifilo. Buried in the back of the Italian Grand Prix starting grid, HRT driver Vitantonio Liuzzi pushed hard to pass as many vehicles as possible before the first corner. Working through a three-wide scenario, Liuzzi's car was lured onto the Monza circuit's grass. With near zero traction as the Pirelli racing slicks skated over the grass surface, the HRT-Cosworth cut through part of the first turn crashing into the Lotus Renault car of Vitaly Petrov. Mercedes GP driver Nico Rosberg was also collected in the accident with race-ending damage to his racing machine. Other drivers receiving minor damage in the melee were saved from losing valuable track position with Formula 1 calling out the safety car before the 2011 Italian Grand Prix was barely 1 lap old.

 

While Ferrari's Fernando Alonso ignited the Italian spectators with his lap 1 heroics, the celebration of the famous red car at the front would not last. As the safety car returned to pit lane, Sebastian Vettel was engaged in full attack mode on the Alonso's Ferrari. Aggressively searching for an opening to reclaim the race's lead, Vettel found a line through the Curva Grande portion of the Monza track dramatically kicking up some dirt as he drifted his Red Bull-Renault to make contact with the race surface's edge.

 

As Vettel slowly built up a much needed lead, his Red Bull Racing teammate Mark Webber would experience an early retirement from the Italian Grand Prix in 2011. Colliding with Ferrari's Felipe Massa on the restart of racing, Webber lost the front wing of his race car. In an attempt to soldier back to the pits, Webber lost control of his Red Bull-Renault just first corner prior to reaching pit road. Costly for the Formula 1 World Driver's Championship points, Webber retired for the first time this season from a grand prix.

 

Behind Vettel, 2nd through 5th in the Italian Grand Prix became an exciting battle of past world champions jockeying for position. Seven-time Formula 1 driver's champion Michael Schumacher held fiercely onto a third place spot the German driving master acquired on the initial start of the grand prix piloting the Mercedes GP. Holding tightly onto the final podium spot, Schumacher's Mercedes factory car would be challenged individually by the McLaren team drivers powered by customer Mercedes-Benz engines. As Jenson Button became the first McLaren pilot to pass Schumacher, the Mercedes GP driver initially blocked the Brit and would receive a friendly warning from team principal Ross Brawn. Lewis Hamilton would get around Michael Schumacher on the 27th lap. Despite falling prey to the McLaren-Mercedes cars, Schumacher maintained a solid effort by bringing the Mercedes GP car 5th across the line at the end of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

 

As the race progressed, maintaining pace with Sebastian Vettel was the best any driver could achieve during this 2011 Italian Grand Prix. Despite passing Alonso on lap 36, Jenson Button did not have the momentum to catch the flying Red Bull-Renault. Crossing the line with a 9.5 second lead, Vettel brought Red Bull Racing to their first victory on the Monza track. In post race, Sebastian Vettel recalled, “It was an emotional win today. This circuit means such a lot to me and is very special. I had my first win here, so when I crossed the line I remembered every single bit of it. The podium is absolutely unbelievable here; when you stand up there you feel blessed, as it doesn’t happen to many people." The win becomes the German's 18th in Formula 1 and pushes him to an astonishing 112-point advantage in the 2011 championship.

 

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

 

 

 

As JensonMcLaren, Fernando Alonso's Ferrari was 7.4 seconds behind taking the final podium position for the race team's home event. Both Button and Alonso lost ground to Vettel but gained much needed points on Mark Webber. Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa rounded out the top-6 of the 2011 Italian Grand Prix. Deeper through the race results, the top-10 of the race featured Scuderia Toro Rosso cars of Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi grabbing point-paying finishes. Force India's Paul di Resta finished 8th in the Italian Grand Prix while Lotus Renault GP's Bruno Senna scores 9th place for his first career Formula 1 points.

 

Formula 1 cars and drivers return to action September 25th for the Singapore Grand Prix.

 

 

2011 Formula 1
Italian Grand Prix
Race Results

 

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

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

Seeing Red Bull at Spa: Vettel Tops in Qualifying

Photo Credit: Lorenzo Bellanca/LAT Photographic

 

Dealing with wet as well as drier weather conditions, this Formula 1 race weekend at the Spa-Francorchamps race track has pressured drivers and teams to be quite adaptive. Rain as well as water-covered track surfaces assured two practice sessions Friday where Pirelli slick and rain tires received considerable usage. Qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, the changing competition structure due to weather played a role in the three timed sessions.  

 

Qualifying started with competitors logging laps on wet weather Pirelli tires as earlier rain dampened the Spa-Francorchamps race course. Early into the Q1, a more dramatic moment during Belgian Grand Prix qualifying was a mechanical problem that transpired on the Mercedes GP car of Michael Schumacher. Being on the top of the practice sheet following the first track session Friday, Schumacher encountered a loss of a rear wheel and tire assembly. The Mercedes GP race machine spun through turn 7 and 8. Such a sudden spin out, Schumacher initially suspected he simply lost control of the race car. Finding some wit in reaction to the lost wheel, Michael Schumacher commented, “Well, obviously I would have wished for a different end to today’s qualifying, but it is difficult to drive on three wheels - even if I should have the experience to do so in Spa." While Michael Schumacher was unable to log a qualifying time, Formula 1 stewards granted the 7-time World Champion and his Mercedes GP car the right to race Sunday.

 

Once the wide Q1 qualifying grouping ended, the Mercedes-powered McLaren of Jenson Button and the Mark Webber's Red Bull-Renault car were the top of the time chart. Clocking a time of 2 minutes, 1.813 seconds around the 7.004-kilometer Spa-Francorchamps circuit in the #4 McLaren, Button led the remaining 17 Formula 1 race cars into the Q2 session.

 

Traditionally faster than the first time trial session, the Q2 qualifying grouping was actually a fraction slower. A drying race track nullified performance improvements made by Formula 1 teams. Almost a 1 slower than Jenson Button's Q1 time, Fernando Alonso led after the second Formula 1 time trial session in his Ferrari. The biggest performance fall-off occurred with the McLaren-Mercedes of Jenson Button. Button was the fastest driver in Q1 but was relegated to a 13th place starting spot for the Belgian Grand Prix.

 

As the Spa-Francorchamps course dried, the 10 remaining vehicles running Q3 session began to undertake a potentially risky move to place slick Pirelli tires on their race machines. With the Belgium race track developing a dry groove, the choice to tread on the Spa-Francorchamps circuit demonstrated an immediate pay-off. Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton wore the Pirelli optional slick compound in a final time trial attack. While competing in the dodgy course conditions, the final 10 cars performed laps that were around 15 seconds faster on slick tires as they fought for top positions for the Belgian Grand Prix.

 

Taking pole for the Sunday's event, Sebastian Vettel emerged from relative silence throughout the race weekend. Vettel achieved a 1 minute, 48.298 second lap time in his Red Bull-Renault preserving the team's undefeated streak in qualifying so far in 2011. McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton took 2nd place despite an on-track qualifying incident with the Williams F1 car of Pastor Maldonado. As Hamilton's McLaren team members quickly fixed the front wing damage, Maldonado will be assessed a five-grid position penalty dropping the Williams F1 driver to 21st place. Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber captured the 3rd place starting spot for the Belgian Grand Prix race ahead of Ferrari's Felipe Massa.

 

A few surprises in the top-10 includes the Scuderia Toro Rosso team car of Jaime Alguersuari planted in a stunning 6th place. Powered by Ferrari powerplants, Alguesuari is joined close to the front by Sauber's Sergio Perez in 9th position also propelled by the same Italian engine supplier. Also prominently fixed in the 2011 Belgian Grand Prix is the Lotus Renault GP cars. The first competitive run in the team's race car, Bruno Senna will start 7th in his first Formula 1 event since 2010. The second Lotus Renault GP driver Vitaly Petrov will start 10th.

 

The Belgian Grand Prix is 12th round of the 2011 Formula 1 season set to start at 2 PM local time (8 AM Eastern time). Weather forecasts call for a very cool 44-lap event which could also present the after effects of a rain shower.

 

 

2011 Formula 1
Belgian Grand Prix
Spa-Francorchamps
Starting Grid

 

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