Webber Wins Tight Monaco GP

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

The streets of Monte Carlo is the most exotic Formula 1 racing locale in existence. The 2.075-mile street course is one of the slowest but most mentally testing circuits for Formula 1's drivers as they race within the wealthier sects of European culture.

With 5 different winners in the opening 5 races for the Formula 1 tour, the 2012 Monaco Grand Prix's unpredictable nature for competitors has historically resulted in some bizarre outcomes to the prestigious event. Even before this 6th race of the year started, the plot of the Monaco Grand Prix was one of intrigue. Saturday qualifying session's fastest car of Michael Schumacher was required to serve five-grid position penalty resulting from an incident at the Spanish Grand Prix. As the race's pole-sitting Mercedes GP racing machine was demoted to a 6th place start, Mark Webber was able to take the top position on the 24-car starting order.

When the green lights turned off to start the 78-lap Monaco Grand Prix, Webber's Red Bull-Renault got the necessary launch to hold off his fellow front row starter Nico Rosberg's Mercedes GP car. As two of the leaders got away safely into the first corner on the tight street course, the 4th and 6th place races cars in the Monaco Grand Prix would be involved in one of the race's early skirmishes. An altercation between Michael Schumacher and the Lotus-Renault of Romain Grosjean resulted in the Frenchman coming on the losing end of contact. Grosjean would fall out of the event without completing a single lap. In a separate incident on the start, the past grand prix winner Pastor Maldonado was also taken out of the Monaco race early with damage to his Williams-Renault.
 
The Monaco Grand Prix was an event that just took a turn for the worse for the 7-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher since winning pole in qualifying. The initial grid position penalty served at the start of the grand prix cost Schumacher the top position at the start with his Mercedes GP and a fuel pressure problem last in the event cost the German a solid race on a circuit he holds 5 previous victories. Parking his Mercedes GP car after 63 laps, Michael Schumacher has failed to finish 4 of the first 6 races in the 2012 Formula 1 season.

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

Rain was in the forecast through the afternoon event at Monaco. As race cars circulated around the Circuit de Monaco, the anticipation for showers steered the pit stop strategy which most teams planned only a single tire change. Most of the leaders pitted between lap 27 and lap 30 of the Monaco Grand Prix but Sebastian Vettel experimented with a different plan during the race. Compelled to be in position to take advantage of potential incoming rain showers, Vettel stayed out on track as him and his Red Bull Racing team gambled that rain could fall and they can pit for a set of wet weather tires. The strategy was abandoned on lap 46 when Sebastian Vettel pitted.  

With 10 laps to go, some light precipitation fell on the streets causing at least one car (the Toro Rosso-Ferrari of Jean-Eric Vergne) to pit for intermediate tires. The rain in the late stage of the Formula 1 event would not be effort to significantly phase drivers in the final laps and Vergne's intermediate tires was unable to capitalize.

The top-6 cars were only within 6.1 seconds of each other as Mark Webber took the checkered flag of the 2012 Monaco Grand Prix. Only 0.6 of a second ahead of the Mercedes GP team's Nico Rosberg, Mark Webber records his first win since the Brazilian Grand Prix Formula 1 finale last season.

While Webber is the 6th winner of 6 grand prix races in 2012, an equally impressive streak came to end at the Circuit de Monaco. The 2012 Monaco Grand Prix ends the 5-race run of different teams winning Formula 1 rounds as the Red Bull-Renault becomes the first car to hold repeat victories in the series. The win for Red Bull Racing extends their continuous streak of victories on the streets of Monaco to three. Mark Webber won the 2010 race while Sebastian Vettel took last year's event with his Red Bull-Renault. Intending to take advantage of the weather, Vettel settled with a 4th place result at the end of the 2012 Monaco Grand Prix.

Photo Credit: Eric Vargiolu/DPPI

The final spot on the Monaco Grand Prix podium went to the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso will started 5th in the event. Alonso's embattled teammate Felipe Massa had a very respectable outing at Monaco collecting a 6th place finish for a double point day for Ferrari. It was also a double manufacturer's points day for the Force India squad as Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta secured spots inside the top-10. Lewis Hamilton captured 5th in the event for what was a disappointing event for his McLaren-Mercedes team.

Noteworthy, Sergio Perez was allowed by the formula 1 racing stewards to race the Monaco Grand Prix after a serious crash in qualifying that derailed the Sauber F1 team from entering a lap time. Starting from 23rd spot, Perez improved to 11th place, just missing a points-paying position. Bruno Senna (who's Williams-Renault in Spain was in the midst of a garage fire) took home the final point in the Monaco Grand Prix.

Formula 1 teams next race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for the Canadian Grand Prix.



2012 Formula 1
Monaco Grand Prix
Race Results

1	2 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
2	8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
3	5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
4	1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
5	4 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
6	6 Felipe Massa Ferrari
7	11 Paul di Resta Force India
8	12 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes
9	9 Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault
10	19 Bruno Senna Williams-Renault
11	15 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari
12	17 Jean-Eric Vergne Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari
13	20 Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault
14	24 Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth
15	23 Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth
16	3 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
17	16 Daniel Ricciardo Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari
18	25 Charlie Pic Marussia-Cosworth
19	7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
20	21 Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault
21	14 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari
22	22 Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth
23	18 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault
24	10 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault

Webber Betters Vettel for Spanish GP Pole

Photo Credit: Nissan North America

For 2011, qualifying in the Formula 1 series had been dominated by the talents of the the reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel. Vettel's Red Bull-Renault race car has been effective in resisting the best efforts of McLaren-Mercedes and even team rival Mark Webber through the first 4 races of the season. Landing in Spanish capital city of Barcelona to compete at the 4.655 kilometer (2.892 mile) Catalunya circuit, the fifth qualifying session of the season's tour presented a new opportunity to unseat the German Red Bull Racing driver; a chance one driver used to his advantage.

Snapping Sebastian Vettel's undefeated record in 2011 Formula 1 qualifying, Red Bull Racing teammate Mark Webber emerged from Q3 as the pole sitter for the Spanish Grand Prix. Recording a top qualifying time of 1 minute, 20.981 seconds Webber is devoted to matching the pace of Vettel. Despite a sluggish start to the 2011 Formula 1 campaign, Mark Webber has recorded to podium finishes to the previous two events. “It was a good session. It was clear going into qualifying that we might have had a bit of a margin and would be battling for pole between ourselves today." Webber said realizing the ability that two Red Bull-Renault race cars should be able to compete for grand prix wins just like last season.

Defeated but not disappointed, German Sebastian Vettel put his 2/10th of a second slower.  "I made it on the primes. In Q2 I felt much happier on the soft compound tyres, but unfortunately in the last qualifying I lost a little bit too much and I wasn’t entirely happy with my lap." Vettel said. With lingering beliefs of an inner-team feud, Sebastian Vettel appears to accept his teammate as a worthy challenger. "Mark did a good lap and a better job today. Let’s see tomorrow, it’s a long race and we saved a set of tyres."

In row two, Lewis Hamilton is continuing to show Formula 1 crowds the McLaren F1 team is prepared to lead a fight to Red Bull Racing's grand prix mastery. In 4th place on the Spanish Grand Prix starting grid is Ferrari's Fernando Alonso. Experiencing a slow start to the 2011 season, Ferrari and Alonso have turned their luck around with a podium in the Turkish Grand Prix early this month.

With Mark Webber's pole being big news, one story in the back of the Formula 1 grid for this Grand Prix of Spain is from Lotus/Renault GP. While Vitaly Petrov performed well enough for a 6th place start in qualifying, the other team car driven by Nick Heidfeld was affected by a fire in the paddock area during the race weekend. While no one was reported hurt, the fire did burn the rear portion of the R31 race car. As the suspected cause of the fire is thought to be an exhaust failure, the Lotus Renault GP team needed the whole qualifying session to replace the race car. Despite being unable to log a time, Formula 1 officials basically overlooked the recently-reinstated 107% rule in qualifying permitting the second Lotus/Renault GP car to start the 2011 Spanish Grand Prix. Heidfeld will be starting in the back with a newly-rebuilt race car.

Photo Credit: Andrew Ferraro/ LAT Photographic

The Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix is slated to roll off at 8 am Eastern time.



2011 Spanish Grand Prix
Starting Grid

Pos # | Car # | Driver |  Team


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

Hungarian Grand Prix Pole Scored by Red Bull's Vettel

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP



Racing on a track highly dependent on vehicle downforce, the 4.381 kilometer Hungaroring hosts the latest round of the 2010 Formula 1 tour, the Hungarian Grand Prix.

For the 11th time in 12 races, a Red Bull Racing is top seated after Formula 1 time trials. Taking the pole for the 4th straight event on the F1 calendar, Sebastian Vettel outpowered his teammate Mark Webber in the Q3 session of qualifying by 4/10ths of a second. On the Red Bull Racing team's website, Vettel complimented the entire race team saying “Mark and I were pushing hard to finish first and second, but this is your moment, enjoy it – you built this wonderful car”.

With Red Bull-Renaults taking the front row, the second row on the Hungarian Grand Prix grid as also an all-team sweep. In 3rd, Fernando Alonso took position over Felipe Massa. One year ago, this grand prix was the site of Massa's frightening accident set off when the Ferrari driver was struck in the helmet by a suspension component turned projectile. With Massa missing the remainder of 2009 season with head and neck injuries, the Brazilian driver returned this season and made the opportunity to personally thank the Budapest hospital. On the Ferrari website, Felipe Massa broadcasted praise to those who looked after him in the once life-threatening situation. " I wish to take this opportunity to once again thank everyone for what they did for me one year ago; they are really extraordinary people.”

Following the controversial German Grand Prix, the Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 was left the team $100,000 U.S. lighter after a blatent case of team orders saw Fernando Alonso pass teammate Felipe Massa without contention. The team is still under investigation for the incident with possible remification for Formula 1 driver's and manufacturer's points.

Mercedes-Benz powered race cars complete the third row but are the products of different organizations. Placing the McLaren-Mercedes up ahead of a Mercedes GP car of Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton settled into 5th. Hamilton will work to defend his 2009 victory on the Hungaroring.

Earning admiration of Formula 1 observers for readying a team after losing major funding, the BMW Sauber group has charged into a solid mid-field runner. Lately, this has included contending for a top-10 point paying position at the finish of grand prixs. Continuing a to place their Ferrari-engined vehicles competitively, Pedro de la Rosa brought the BMW-Sauber into 9th place. Despite delivering some excellent Formula 1 which included a 6th place at Silverstone 2 races prior finishes, the second BMW Sauber driver Kamui Kobayashi experienced a less than glorious qualifying. Winding up 18th in the time sheet, Kobayashi's car will receive a 5-grid spot penalty for the team not submitting to post-qualifying inspection.

The Hungarian Grand Prix is set for 8 A.M. Eastern Time (2 P.M. local time) on TSN in Canada or Speed for American viewers. set to compete in warm conditions, it is also likely that the grand prix could be run on a wet race track as rain and even thunderstorms are forecasted.


2010 Formula 1
Hungarian Grand Prix
Starting Grid

1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
2. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
3. Fernando Alonso Ferrari
4. Felipe Massa Ferrari
5. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
6. Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
7. Vitaly Petrov Renault F1
8. Robert Kubica Renault F1
9. Pedro de la Rosa BMW Sauber-Ferrari
10. Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth
11. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
12. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth
13. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes
14. Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
15. Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari
16. Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes
17. Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari
18. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth
19. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth
20. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth
21. Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth
22. Bruno Senna HRT-Cosworth
23. Kamui Kobayashi BMW Sauber-Ferrari
24. Sakon Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth

Lewis Hamilton Captures Turkish Grand Prix After Red Bull Blunder

Andrew Ferraro/LAT Photographic


Into the 7th Formula 1 race of 2010, this year for the world tour of open wheel racing doesn't even appear to be the same grand prix season which started in Bahrain. With Ferrari ruling the today after Red Bull Racing struggled, the Austrian-based Red Bull Racing team ignited at the Malaysian Grand Prix as Sebastian Vettel won. Two races later, Mark Webber in the second Red Bull-Renault won at Spain and Monaco. Meanwhile, Ferrari has been enduring a difficult stretch since their Bahrain win.

As the Turkish Grand Prix set off, Mark Webber made the most of his 3rd straight pole position running to an early lead into the first corner. Front-row starter Lewis Hamilton's reaction time on the start in Istanbul Park was not so strong for the McLaren-Mercedes car. Sebastian Vettel's 3rd place starting Red Bull-Renault found the edge on Hamilton through off the starting grid. With Red Bull Racing cars first and second, the 2010 Turkish Grand Prix was going according to the ideal plan for the blue cars.



Photo Credit: Mercedes GP


A tame race in the early stages with only the Lotus-Cosworth pair listed as out of the race for hydraulic problems, the complexion of the Turkish Grand Prix would change on lap 41 when Vettel saw an opportunity to show up his inner-team rival Mark Webber. Always a dicey situation, the Red Bull Racing squad at the Formula 1 Turkish Grand Prix in 2010 showcased the worst fears of a team owner. With the Red Bull-Renaults close together through the race, Vettel sized up his teammate Webber seeing a weakness into turn 11. Vettel placed his car on the left side planning a late braking move edging along Mark Webber's car. Depending on what driver is asked, Webber either moved over on Vettel or Vettel turned right on Webber to breed a collision between the two cars. With Vettel out of the race and Webber forced to pit road to have his front wing replaced, this Red Bull Racing ordeal saw the recent fortune of the team change. While assessed as a racing incident, it doesn't seem out of the question that Sebastian Vettel might be getting sick of playing second fiddle to Webber through 2010. Vettel, the young German, was expected to be a tour-de-force with Red Bull Racing for 2010 following some brilliant race wins through the second half of last season.

Minus the Red Bull-Renaults at the front, the McLaren F1 team took affirmative control of the grand prix. Revisiting the in-team battle of Red Bull Racing, the McLaren-Mercedes British drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button fought briefly amongst themselves for the 2010 Turkish Grand Prix lead. While the McLaren teammates behaved overall, there was a moment where Button made a hard run against Hamilton. However, as the two McLaren-Mercedes were warned by team engineers to save fuel, the front settled into a 1-2 finish for the second time in 2010 for the team (First came when Button won in China with Hamilton as the runner-up).

With his two race winning streak in Formula 1 broken, Mark Webber was able to rejoin the field for a podium finish in the Turkish Grand Prix. Powered by a Renault engine, Webber's Red Bull Racing car finished within a Mercedes sandwich as the McLaren F1 team finished in front and the Mercedes GP cars followed. Michael Schumacher led Nico Rosberg with the team with Robert Kubica bringing the factory Renault F1 organization a 6th place finish.

Another hard Formula 1 race for Ferrari in 2010, Felipe Massa finished 7th while Fernando Alonso gained a position off Renault F1's Vitaly Petrov when their side-by-side battle through the late laps. When the Ferrari and Renault made contact on lap 54, Petrov ended up on the losing end of hte battle as the Russian's race car suffered a flat tire. Costing him not only an 8th place finish, Vataly Petrov missed a sure-chance to gain driver's championship points.


Photo Credit: Lotus Racing

In the final points-paying spot, the Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi put the BMW Sauber-Ferrari in place to score an important first point for his Formula 1 career.

In Formula 1 drivers points, Mark Webber took sole possession of the top spot in the standings but stands only 5 points ahead of a resurgent Jenson Button. Within 10 points of Button of 2nd place in points, McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel are involved in making the first year with the new points system interesting after 7 races.

In two weeks, the Formula 1 teams will compete on the North American continent for their only time in 2010 as Circuit Gilles Villeneuve welcomes the Canadian Grand Prix.


2010 Turkish Grand Prix
Formula 1
Race Results

1. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
2. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
3. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
4. Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
5. Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
6. Robert Kubica Renault F1
7. Felipe Massa Ferrari
8. Fernando Alonso Ferrari
9. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes
10. Kamui Kobayashi BMW Sauber-Ferrari
11. Pedro de la Rosa BMW Sauber-Ferrari
12. Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari
13. Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes
14. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth
15. Vitaly Petrov Renault
16. Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari
17. Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth
18. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth
19. Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth
20. Karun Chandhok HRT-Cosworth
21. Bruno Senna HRT-Cosworth
22. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
23. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth
24. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth

Jenson Button Wins Suspenseful Australian Grand Prix

Photo Credit: Lotus Racing

Late last year, the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park was in danger of being lost on the Formula 1 schedule. Thanks to a commitment from the Victorian government of Australia and the title sponsorship of Qantas Airways, the Australian Grand Prix was saved. Providing a early season challenge against new race equipment and Formula 1 drivers, the Australian Grand Prix enters 2010 as the first sight of colour to a gray start. Many critical reviews of the season opening 2010 Formula 1 race, Bahrain Grand Prix, judged the event as snooze-worthy.

On Sunday, the Melbourne area endured a rain shower that drenched the 3.295 mile Albert Park complex. Though the rain stopped by the time the 2010 Australian Grand Prix started, potential was already mounting for a much more eventful race than the season opener. With the field starting on intermediate thread Bridgestone tires, the start was guaranteed to challenge the 24 Formula 1 drivers struggling for grip on cooler tires. Right off the starting line, the Lotus-Cosworth of Jarno Trulli became the first retirement when his car suffered hydraulic problems. This is the second time this season that Trulli would fall out to this issue.

Intent on improving on the lost opportunity at Bahrain, German driver Sebastian Vettel rolled to pole position over his Red Bull Racing teammate Mark Webber in Saturday qualifying. As the lights went off to start the Australian Grand Prix, Vettel shot to a slight lead. With pretty of wheel-banging and contact right off the start as the Red Bull-Renault took off, the initial lap will end under with a safety car leading the all cars. A multi-car wreck between Sebastien Buemi, Nico Hulkenberg and Kamui Kobayashi into turn 6 rendered all three of these racers out of competition.

When the safety car returned to pit road, the Albert Park track had dried substantially but the track was still too slippery for most teams to elect a change to slick tires. With many drivers experiencing brief off-track excursions, the only driver who suffered a permanent effect was Renault rookie Vitaly Petrov who slid into the sand trap on lap 9 ending his race. In spite of questionable traction, the drying track tempted the McLaren F1 team to bring Jenson Button to pit lane as the first taker for stick tires. A gamble, Button was running 2nd at this point in the event for McLaren. While Button fought unsuccessfully to completely keep the Mercedes-powered McLaren on the circuit, he would continue to set faster times on the dry weather rubber.

Starting with a 1-2 start for Red Bull Racing, Australian Mark Webber lost touch with his teammate Sebastian Vettel early. Webber fell further back as a late call going to slick tires cost him time running on the slower intermediate Bridgestones. With Vettel still leading the hopes for Red Bull Racing, lap 20 would end the day for the German racing superstar. Described as a wheel issue, Vettel's car spun out the track into the turn 13 sand trap. "...I had huge vibrations building up and as soon as I touched the brakes, I had some sort of failure going in to Turn 13 and ended up in the gravel." Vettel commented on the Red Bull Racing website.

With Sebastian Vettel out of commission, the McLaren-Mercedes of Jenson Button was able to maintain a comfortable grasp on the lead as he went on to win the 2010 Australian Grand Prix. Finishing 12 seconds behind Button was the factory Renault of Robert Kubica. Running without major incident, Kubica's podium for Renault F1 is the first for the team since the 2009 Singapore Grand Prix.

In 3rd position, Felipe Massa brought the Ferrari F2010 home to his Italian race team's first Australian podium since Kimi Raikkonen's win in 2007. Following up the effort of Massa, fellow Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso arrived across the finish line fourth. Alonso position at the finish resulted are a hardest fought 3-way battle through the closing laps. Driving his McLaren-Mercedes Lewis Hamilton, attempting to recover lost ground after a pit road penalty, was slip-streaming (referred in the United States as drafting) Alonso's Ferrari with the resurgent Red Bull Renault of Mark Webber also hot pursuit for both cars. With 2 laps to go, Hamilton timed a move into a braking section on the outside of Alonso. Countering the McLaren, Alonso was successful in holding off the charge by braking only at the last minute. Disturbing Hamilton's momentum, the McLaren slowed to make the corner. However, Mark Webber did not react in time to avoid running into the back of Hamilton causing both of their cars to spin out. Losing touch with Fernando Alonso. Lewis Hamilton would finish 6th while Mark Webber would salvage a 9th place result after being his Red Bull-Renault for a front wing replacement.

After two races, the Formula 1 driver's championship points sees Fernando Alonso holding a 4 point lead over his teammate Felipe Massa. With a total of three podium finishes in the first two races of the 2010 season and their drivers first and second early in the F1 driver's championship, the Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 team is off to their best start in years.

The Formula 1 cars heads directly to Malaysia for a April 4th running of their county's Grand Prix. In the Malaysia Grand Prix last season, a heavy monsoon downpour led the FIA officials to end the race at 31 laps. Driving for Brawn GP in 2009, Jenson Button triumphed.


2010 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix Race Results

1. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
2. Robert Kubica Renault F1
3. Felipe Massa Ferrari
4. Fernando Alonso Ferrari
5. Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
6. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
7. Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes
8. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth
9. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
10. Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
11. Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari
12. Pedro de la Rosa BMW Sauber-Ferrari
13. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth
14. Karun Chandhok HRT-Cosworth
15. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth
16. Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth
17. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
18. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes
19. Vitaly Petrov Renault
20. Bruno Senna HRT-Cosworth
21. Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari
22. Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth
23. Kamui Kobayashi BMW Sauber-Ferrari
24. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth