Vettel Takes Pole for European GP

2012 Formula 1
European Grand Prix
Qualifying Results

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

Red Bull's Vettel Rallies to Canadian GP Pole

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

An eagerly awaited motorsport event for Canada as well as for the North American continent, the Formula 1 tour visit to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has held one of the series’ most physically-demanding races. A combination 14 technical turns and some high-speed stretches, the 4.361-kilometer (2.71-mile) holding the Canadian Grand Prix is also a torture test on the Formula 1 race cars.

The seventh race weekend for the top open wheel racing series in the world, Day two’s biggest spectacle was qualifying for Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix. Though the McLaren-Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton was showing the most impressive pace in Friday practice, the third and final practice on Saturday saw the top lap time coming from the Red Bull-Renault of Sebastian Vettel.

In the afternoon time trial session, the two-time Formula 1 world driving champion was on top form throughout Circuit Gilles Villeneuve qualifying. In Q3, Vettel and his 1-minute, 13.784-second lap time won pole. After qualifying, the German driver Sebastian Vettel declared, “We were clear about the car today and able to improve step by step in qualifying. I’m very happy with the result and the laps at the end of qualifying, as we were able to improve each time. It puts us in a great place, but nevertheless tomorrow is more important.” With Vettel starting 1^st on the grid and teammate Mark Webber positioned 4^th at the start of the 2012 Canadian Grand Prix, the Red Bull Racing organization is still chasing their first victory at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Little more than 3/10^th of a second slower than Vettel, Friday’s fastest Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton placed his McLaren-Mercedes ahead of the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber. In 5^th place, Nico Rosberg’s Mercedes GP car starts 4 spots up from his teammate Michael Schumacher amounting to a 4/10ths of a second gap. Felipe Massa starts 6^th in the second Ferrari with Romain Grosjean lining up in the 7^th place grid position on the Canadian Grand Prix starting group.

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

Other than the hot-lapping, there was only one incident on-track that added suspense to the Saturday afternoon at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. As Pastor Maldonado attempted to better his 17^th place spot in the last moments of the Q2 session, he left control of his Williams-Renault through turn 14. Spinning, Maldonado avoided serious damage to his race car.

All 24 cars competing at the 2012 Canadian Grand Prix qualified for Sunday’s 70-lap race within the 107 percent rule. The main event is scheduled for 2pm on Sunday.


2012 Formula 1
Canadian Grand Prix
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Qualifying Results

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

Canadian GP Undaunted by Off Track Mayhem on Day 1

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

Entering the 7th race weekend for the 2012 Formula 1 schedule, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec is an all-new continent where the unpredictable season will delight North American fans of the prestigious open wheel racing series. The 2012 Canadian Grand Prix plays host to a 24-car race tour who just completed a grueling Monaco Grand Prix two weeks ago, the race course on the artificial island of Île Notre-Dame will be another workout for the drivers and race cars.

Faring the best in both Friday practice sessions for Day 1 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the McLaren-Mercedes in the hands of Lewis Hamilton was lightning fast. Securing the top time of the day with a 1-minute, 15.259-second lap around the 4.361-kilometer (2.709-mile) track, the race car of Hamilton outpaced the Ferrari and Red Bull Racing team on the first day in Canada. The location of the racing superstar's first Formula 1 victory, the Canadian Grand Prix also played host to Lewis Hamilton winning the 2010 event at the track. McLaren teammate Jenson Button is the reigning Canadian Grand Prix champion heading into Sunday. Button had more trouble finding speed on the track on Friday 10th fastest in the first practice and 9th in the second. The McLaren team as a whole has been a winner on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve 8 times.

In the first practice, the Red Bull-Renault of Sebastian Vettel was second-quickest more than a tenth of a second behind Lewis Hamilton's pace of the session. Red Bull Racing has yet to win the Canadian Grand Prix entering the 2012 event.

Photo credit: Nissan/Infiniti

Attempting to counter the speed of the McLaren-Mercedes, the Ferrari squad showed-up big time in the second practice session. Led by Fernando Alonso, the Spaniard's best time was almost half of one-tenth of a second slower than Hamilton. Also formidable in session two on Friday was Felipe Massa who was 0.153 seconds off of the the fastest effort in afternoon practice. The 30th year since the loss of Canadian Formula 1 driver Gilles Villeneuve, a Ferrari victory at the Canadian Grand Prix would be honourable to the Ferrari pilot of the past.

Also showing speed during the Friday practice sessions is the Force India-Mercedes cars of Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg who were firmly in the top-10 fastest after by the end of the day. The Sauber-Ferrari of Kamui Kobayashi was also strong posting a 6th quickest time during practice two. The Top-10 of day one also had the Mercedes GP cars of Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher searching for speed for a second win in 2012.

Two accidents on the tough Circuit Gilles Villeneuve occurred on Friday with one in each practice session. In practice one, the Caterham-Renault of Heikki Kovalainen 50 minutes into the session with an incident in turn 9. Bruno Senna crashed his Williams-Renault into the final corner of the track in the vicinity known as the 'wall of champions' during the later afternoon practice. The Senna crash required a 14-minute red flag to clean up the racetrack.

The two friday practice sessions were conducted under typical June temperatures in Montreal. Weather favoured the first day as rain only proceeded to fall near the end of the second practice. Unfortunately for many Canadian race fans and the welcomed motorsport guests from other countries, the 2012 Grand Prix of Canada is being disturbed by the actions of activists relating to a provincial unrest relating to tuition fees. A major event for drawing tourists to Montreal, the fear of the escalating protests within the province of Quebec had forced race organizers to cancel a free off-track event. On Thursday, protesters were nonetheless able to find locations to use their actions to disrupt other smaller events occurring in the city of Montreal. Increased security and contingency plans have been set in place through the Formula 1 race weekend intent on maintaining a near routine grand prix if any actions are in place to counter hostile threats against the event. Earlier this year, the Bahrain Grand Prix was also met with large protests outside of the race track. A much different situation where violence and death amounted from peaceful demonstrations against the Bahrain government, the controversial race returned in 2012 and ran without incident within the Formula 1 competition circuit.

After a late morning practice, Saturday qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix is set for 1pm Eastern time.

Pirelli's Miles and Meals Serves Up Formula 1 Inspired Food Art

Photo Credit: Pirelli & C. S.p.A

When it comes to Formula 1, the notion of ingenuity is not lost in the sport. The 1960s through to the 1990s were eras where some of the most drastic advancements revolutionized the sport. From rear-mounted engines, aerodynamic aids, turbochargers, right up to computer-controlled suspension, the progress either became a benchmark or such a threat it was banned from the Formula 1. The search for the extra amount of track performance now transpires on a more sudtle scale as the decades of innovation has pressed the motorsport sanctioning body to develop strict regulations. Defining human creativity, Formula 1 has merged with culinary arts highlighted inside of a unique, upcoming book from Pirelli.

Inside of a limited edition book called Miles and Meals – handcrafted by Pirelli”, Pirelli's hospitality motorhome that attends Formula 1 races and test sessions has realized the spectacle of the premier open wheel racing in the form of food. Organized under the guidance of hospitality manager Cristian Staurenghi and crafted with the culinary masterpieces of head chef Fabrizio Tanfani, the "Miles and Meals – handcrafted by Pirelli” book will detail recipes of fine food delight. Tire company Pirelli likens the recipe book to their core business in formulating tire rubber compounds.

Photo Credit: Pirelli & C. S.p.A

Perhaps the most drawing component to this cookbook is the photographs depicting food assembled in the images of Formula 1. Cars, racetrack and racing symbols such as the podium have been sculpted through recipes. Sea salt becomes a sand trap and basil leaf becoming a green light are some examples for how ingredients double in providing taste as well as artistry to dishes. For what could be the most eye-catching, an octopus takes the role of a mechanic in one recipe.

At Monaco, Formula 1 drivers Jenson Button and Romain Grosjean were guest celebrity chefs at the Pirelli motorhome to celebrate the pending launch of the "Miles and Meals – handcrafted by Pirelli”. The recipes from this food compilation will be made available on the www.pirelli.com website in the near future.

Included below are some of the culinary creations found with the "Miles and Meals – handcrafted by Pirelli” recipe book.

Photo Credit: Pirelli & C. S.p.A

Photo Credit: Pirelli & C. S.p.A

Photo Credit: Pirelli & C. S.p.A

Photo Credit: Pirelli & C. S.p.A

Spanish Surprise: Maldonado and Williams Conquer Catalunya

Photo Credit: Andrew Ferraro/LAT Photographic

The Spanish Grand Prix was the first race on the European continent for what was been an unpredictable 2012 Formula 1 season. In four races opening the tour, four different drivers with four different teams owned a victory. Entering competition at the 4.655-kilometer Circuit de Catalunya, there stood a very good chance that the 2012 season could see a fifth unique driver/car combination racing the event. Since 2006, there is no driver with more than a single Spanish Grand Prix win. Secondly, the qualifying exclusion of the time posted by Lewis Hamilton's McLaren-Mercedes, the young Venezuelan driver Pastor Maldonado was promoted to pole in his Williams-Renault race car.

Contrary to weather forecasts yesterday calling for rain, the Spanish Grand Prix transpired under dry conditions. Starting alongside the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso, the sophomore Formula 1 driver Pastor Maldonado front row start went according to the best case scenario. In the second row, the Lotus Racing F1 cars swapped positions as the experienced pilot Kimi Raikkonen flew past teammate Romain Grosjean in a tight battle through the first corner.

Dropped to the back of the racing grid because the inability for McLaren to provide a fuel sample after qualifying Saturday from an empty fuel tank, the Spanish Grand Prix's would-be polesitter Lewis Hamilton had to make up considerable ground through the 66-lap event. In the first lap, the McLaren-Mercedes of Hamilton had climbed to 19th place. Passing car-after-car through the course of the grand prix, Hamilton would take the 8th spot in the final results besting McLaren teammate Jenson Button.

Photo Credit: Andrew Ferraro/LAT Photographic

In the 12th lap, a battle between Michael Schumacher and Bruno Senna would result the DNF for both drivers. Through the Circuit de Cataunya's DRS zone through the frontstretch, Schumacher's Mercedes GP car rammed the back of Senna's Williams-Renault. After the German driver's retirement, Schumacher responded to the incident saying, "It is not easy to see from the TV replays but what happened from my viewpoint was that he went to the right to defend the inside line, and then suddenly, shortly before the braking point, went to the left. When you are so tight together in the braking zone, you have no other choice than to try to react and avoid hitting but it was too late." Formula 1 stewards taking a look at collision concluded that the Mercedes GP car was at fault and will be assessing a five-grid position penalty to Michael Schumacher for the next race in Monaco. "It has been a disappointing weekend for me on the whole. It was difficult to overtake at the beginning of the race and then Schumacher got a big DRS boost coming down the straight and went into the back of me." said Senna who would sit out of a race where his Williams F1 teammate was taking advantage of a career-making moment.

Throughout the Spanish Grand Prix, Pastor Maldonado drove a near flawless event. Early on, the Williams-Renault fended off the two-time Spaniard Alonso who one was racing with spirit of a home crowd behind him. Though Maldonado would not run away from the determined Ferrari, the combined efforts of the 18 car driver and the Williams F1 Team pit crew held Fernando Alonso and the rest of the Formula 1 competitors at bay. At the checkered flag, it is Pastor Maldonado who brought his Williams-Renault to a fantastic victory.

The first Formula 1 victory for the 27-year old Maldonado, the Williams F1 Team pilot becomes Venezuela's first grand prix winner. It’s an unbelievable feeling winning my first race. The car felt really consistent, was fantastic to drive and our pace was strong throughout. Alonso was chasing me hard but we looked after our tyres well and I managed to open the gap towards the end." said Pastor Maldonado becoming the second first-time grand prix victor in addition to Nico Rosberg this season.

For the Williams team, the win in Spain ends a dry spout resulting after the 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix where Juan Pablo Montoya wheeled a BMW-powered machine across the line first. As team owner Frank Williams reestablished their relationship with Renault in this season, the grand prix win in Spain also becomes the first time the constructor and engine combination went to victory since Jacques Villeneuve's Luxembourg Grand Prix win in 1997. While the streak continues into the 2012 Formula 1 season for different drivers and construction prevailing in grand prix races, Renault ties Mercedes-Benz with two wins as an powerplant provider so far this season. 

Photo Credit: Charles Coates/LAT Photographic

In second, Fernando Alonso scored some valuable runner-up points that allows him to tie Sebastian Vettel at the top of the driver's championship leaderboard after five races. Vettel brought his Red Bull-Renault across the line 6th after starting 7th in the Spanish Grand Prix event.

Leaving the Bahrain Grand Prix with a double-podium finish, Lotus F1 Racing followed up the effort at the Circuit de Catalunya. Chasing Fernando Alonso closely in the closing laps, Kimi Kaikkonen settled into third place. Romain Grosjean steered his Lotus-Renault machine around the course for a fourth place spot at the end of 66 laps. Behind the Lotus F1 Racing pair was the Sauber-Ferrari of Kamui Kobayashi rounding out the top-5 for the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix.

Following the race, celebration in the Williams F1 Team was marred by a fire. Within the garage stall where Bruno Senna's race car sat, a sizable fire believed to be started around the fuel area resulted in several crew members from the Williams as well as the neighbouring Caterham garage to be put in harm's way. While the flames were bought under control quickly, numerous team personnel from both teams required medical care. Details on injuries and the cause of the fire is still sketchy. More details should come out on the incident when an investigation will be concluded.

The May 27th Monaco Grand Prix will be the next race on the 2012 Formula 1 schedule.


2012 Formula 1
Spanish Grand Prix
Race Results

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

Maldonado to Start on Spanish GP Pole After Hamilton's Exclusion

Photo Credit: Sauber Motorsport AG

Taking three weeks off, the Formula 1 tour steps onto European soil for the first time in 2012. The 4.655-kilometer Circuit de Catalunya hosts the 5th race of the season after what has been a seemingly wacky start of the Formula 1 championship. In four grand prixs kicking off the 2012 Formula 1 schedule, the sport has four drivers with four different car constructors holding victories. Entering the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, the circuit has produced six different winners since 2006 without one driver repeating within that time. 


At the end of the Q3 session, Lewis Hamilton stood at the top of the Spanish Grand Prix grid posting the a blazingly fast time of 1 minute, 21.707 seconds. Nearly half a second faster than the second fastest Williams-Renault wheeled by Pastor Maldonado, Hamilton was prepared to take what was initially thought to be the McLaren-Mercedes driver's third pole position of 2012. However, due to Lewis Hamilton's race car running out of fuel on the Circuit de Catalunya, Formula 1 stewards penalized the pole-winning McLaren-Mercedes for both being unable to bring the car back to the pits and for not providing a fuel sample. Excluding Lewis Hamilton's qualifying times, the McLaren car will be starting at the back of the grid due to the fuel miscalculation. The Spanish Grand Prix makes the second time Hamilton has been demoted from his starting position after a 2012 qualifying session. With Hamilton starting in the back of the grid, the McLaren F1 team effort in qualifying is topped by an 11th fastest time of Jenson Button (However, he'll start 10th with his teammate's grid penalty).


With every qualified Formula 1 competitor gaining one position after the McLaren-Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton displacement from a pole start, Pastor Maldonado inherits the top spot to start Sunday's event. Set to be the Venezuelan's first time leading a Formula 1 field to the starting lights, the Williams F1 driver Maldonado has demonstrated growing optimism in the his sophomore season in the major open wheel racing series. "The car is very consistent and its race pace is good so I am really looking forward to the race tomorrow. There has been a really positive atmosphere in the team all season and this is a great result for them and Venezuela." said Pastor Maldonado. With Williams and Renault officially reunited this season after 11 seasons separated, Maldonado's presence at the front of the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix is the first time a Williams-Renault since Jacques Villeneuve's Jerez pole in 1997 that the engine and constructor will start first for a Formula 1 race.


Within two-hundredths of a second of Maldonado's Williams-Renault, Malaysian Grand Prix winner Fernando Alonso will be starting on the front row with this Ferrari. In front of his home country, this is Alonso's highest grid position in 2012. The second Ferrari driven by Felipe Massa will start the Spanish Grand Prix in 16th spot after being the slowest in the Q2 time trial session.


Still charged with positiveness from there breakout performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix, the Lotus F1 Racing pair of cars were among the top-5 fastest cars on the Circuit de Catalunya. The Lotus-Renault race cars will be promoted to full command of the second row of the grid for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix. In Q3, Romain Grosjean edged-out teammate and former Formula 1 champion Kimi Raikkonen by a small five-hundredths of a second gap.

Lorenzo Bellanca/LAT Photographic

Starting fifth, the Sauber-Ferrari driven by Malaysian Grand Prix runner-up Sergio Perez dealt with a fast race car. "I want to do a perfect race and get the maximum possible points, or even come home with a nice surprise.” said Perez. Sauber F1 teammate Kamui Kobayashi encountered woes in after the Q2 session of qualifying when his C31 chassis reported a hydraulic problem. Kobayashi will start 8th in the Spanish Grand Prix.


For sixth through eighth place on the starting grid, the Mercedes GP cars have sandwiched the Red Bull-Renault of Sebastian Vettel. Nico Rosberg outpaces his 7-time Formula 1 world champion teammate Michael Schumacher.


Set for 2 pm local time under what is predicted to be wet, rainy conditions, the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix will take place at 8 am in the Eastern time zone.



2012 Formula 1
Spanish Grand Prix
Starting Line-up

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

The #23 HRT-Cosworth of Narain Karthikeyan missed the 107 percent time in qualifying but has been allowed to start the Spanish Grand Prix.

Vettel Holds Off Raikkonen for 2012 Bahrain GP Win

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

While the Bahrain Grand Prix, the fourth race on the Formula 1 series tour in 2012, took place under a warm, sunny day, the mood around the event's weekend was anything but picture perfect overall.

Due to ongoing political tensions in Bahrain, the Formula 1 race on the 5.412-kilometer was centered in a volatile circumstance that caused many to decade before, during and after the event whether holding the 2012 grand prix race was in everyone's best interests. Ultimately, drivers and team cars took the grid Sunday for the 57-lap Bahrain Grand Prix committed to run the 4th race of the year as planned.

Taking an important pole Saturday, defending Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel was set to start the Bahrain Grand Prix at the front for the first time in 2012. From his standing start, Vettel launched his Red Bull-Renault to a quick advantage over Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren-Mercedes.

Photo Credit: Sauber Motorsport AG

While Sebastian Vettel and his Red Bull Racing car leapt to the lead of the Bahrain Grand Prix early, teammate Mark Webber incurred a less than impressive start losing ground. Webber would recover to an admirable fourth place finish and faired better than the 6^th starting Scuderia Toro Rosso of Daniel Ricciardo. Receiving damage to his STR-Ferrari while fighting in traffic, Ricciardo pitted on lap 7 for tires and a new front nose assembly. Daniel Ricciardo crossed the line 16^th after what could have been a promising points-scoring day at Bahrain.

Only four drivers would retire from the 57-lap Bahrain Grand Prix dominated by the two Williams-Renault cars. The first Williams race car, Pastor Maldonado, completed 25 laps after suffering a tire puncture after spinning in turn 1. The #19 car of Bruno Senna pushed deeper into the Bahrain Grand Prix despite what was described as a major vibration. Retiring 3 laps short of the race’s full distance, Senna and the Williams F1 Team chose to safety park the vehicle when handling problems became too severe.

With one Renault-engined team leading the event, another group running the French-badged power plants emerged in impressive form. The Lotus F1 Racing team had a landmark race on the Bahrain International Circuit as car pilots 2007 Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean surged into the top-5 after gaining from mid-front qualifying positions. In the second-half of the Bahrain Grand Prix, the Lotus-Renault of Kaikkonen was stalking Vettel’s Red Bull race car. The third Formula 1 season since the Lotus name returned to active competition, the race team is hunting to put the British marque into victory lane for the first time since the US Grand Prix in Detroit in 1987.

The final pit stops of the race sealed a victory for the Red Bull Racing driver Sebastian Vettel. At lap 39 of the Bahrain Grand Prix, Vettel and second-place Raikkonen made final pit stops. While Vettel receives much of the credit for grand prix victories, this race saw the Red Bull Racing pit crew emerge as the key to the German’s success at Bahrain. Belting on the Pirelli slick tires at a lightning-fast pace, Vettel sailed out of the pit lane with a lead of more than 2 seconds over the Lotus-Renault of Raikkonen. The interval was maintained by Sebastian Vettel through the last stint of the event for the Bahrain Grand Prix victory.

Photo Credit: Glenn Dunbar/LAT Photographic

Winning the Bahrain Grand Prix by 3.3 seconds over Raikkonen's Lotus-Renault, Vettel and Red Bull Racing stood at the top of the podium for the first time in 2012. A starkly different than last season where Sebastian Vettel won three of the first four events, the reigning champion driver and team is now the four different Formula 1 combination to win during the 2012 season. It was 2003 when the last time four separate drivers began the Formula 1 with victories. Along with Vettel being the fourth Formula 1 driver to win in four races, Red Bull Racing is also the fourth different vehicle make prevailing this season. The last time four grand prix teams won in the first four-race span of the Formula 1 season occurred in 1983 when Brabham, McLaren, Renault and Ferrari teamed up for that rare honour.

“It was an incredible race, extremely tough. A good start was crucial and I was able to pull away from the pack, which was a big advantage as we always had to go on scrubbed tires due to the fact we had used almost all of them in qualifying yesterday." said Vettel. Sebastian Vettel recognized the intense fight from the Lotus F1 Racing cars on the Bahrain International Circuit but realized at the end of the race "... everything seemed to work well today; strategy was good and I can only say a big thank you to the whole team and the guys in the garage.”

"I’m slightly disappointed we didn’t take the win because we had the pace." said Lotus F1 Racing's Kimi Raikkonen who finished a team-best runner-up position. Raikkonen adding "I only had one chance to overtake Sebastian (Vettel) and unfortunately I chose the wrong side to try and get past. If I hadn’t made a small mistake at the start and allowed Felipe (Massa) to get through then maybe it would have been a different story, as we spent quite a lot of time fighting with him." Raikkonen’s teammate Romain Grosjean was also able to speak highly of a career effort with Lotus F1 Racing saying, "We’ve known all season how quick the car can be, but with such a tight field any small mistakes can make a huge difference. Today I think we got everything right, and we’ve finally been able to prove how competitive we are."

Outside of the podium-scoring position, Mark Webber made the Bahrain Grand Prix a major triumph for Renault engines covering the top-four spots at the end of the 57-lap event. Nico Rosberg driving for Mercedes GP was declared the top non-Renault powered vehicle in 5^th place.

Winning the first race of the series in dominate fashion, the McLaren F1 racing team has found it difficult to match their opening event success. With Hamilton starting 2^nd and Jenson Button positioned in 4^th at the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix, the McLaren-Mercedes vehicles would progress through the 57-lap event with increasing frustration. Foiled during the last stint of the Bahrain Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton suffered a lackluster pit stop that allowed the 2008 Formula 1 World Champion to finish no better than 8^th. For Button, he settled with a 18^th place result after a late race tire puncture.

Thanks in part to a two-pit stop strategy by Force India, Paul Di Resta scored an impressive 6^th place finish enduring 24 laps on his final set of medium compound Pirelli tires. Though finishing in the lower part of the top-10, both Ferrari race cars left the Bahrain Grand Prix sporting point-scoring efforts. Malaysian Grand Prix winner Fernando Alonso crossed the start/finish line of the Bahrain International Circuit 7^th while teammate Felipe Massa finished 9^th. Massa’s first points of 2012, the much-needed effort for the Brazilian driver could be effort to spare his seat in the Scuderia Ferrari race car for at least the remainder of this Formula 1 season. Michael Schumacher was the last driver locking up points in the final results of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
The Formula 1 teams get three weeks off ahead of their first European continent event. The 2012 Spanish Grand Prix is the next race on the Formula 1 circuit set for May 13th.



2012 Formula 1
Grand Prix of Bahrain
Race Results

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

Monsoon Conditions in Malaysia Sees Alonso Splash to F1 Victory

Photo Credit: Sauber Motorsport AG

 

Under the fanfare of an all-new Formula 1 season for 2012, the Australian Grand Prix was 58 laps on a perfectly dry race track. The McLaren Formula 1 team secured the first pole with Lewis Hamilton driving and winning with Jenson Button's entry for the new year event. Heading into the second grand prix of the 2012 season, the question for whether what was seen as at Albert Park would be the sign of things to come through this year's Formula 1 tour.

 

In qualifying for the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton continued the rocket start for the McLaren team taking pole. With his fellow teammate Jenson Button placing the McLaren-Mercedes beside him on the front row, Hamilton appeared ripe for picking a 2012 victory in the early season. What would throw the McLaren chances of an easy drive in the 56-lap event at Sepang International Circuit was a wet track. Starting the Malaysian Grand Prix, the starting field lined up predominately on intermediate Pirelli tires (only exception was the HRT F1 cars that elected for full wet weather rubber from the start). Complicating the decision for teams was the nearly dry sections of the Malaysian race track lead into heavily drenched areas of the circuit.

 

 

Photo Credit: Charles Coates/LAT Photographic

 

 

With the McLaren-Mercedes cars of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button at the front, the 2012 Grand Prix of Malaysia went green. Despite aggressive jockeying for position at the start of the Malaysian Grand Prix, all Formula 1 cars travelled safely through the Sepang International Circuit's turn one unscathed. There was a major incident on the lap 1 of he Malaysian Grand Prix when the third place-starting Mercedes GP car of Micheal Schumacher was punted into a spin after contact with the Lotus-Renault of Romain Grosjean. Schumacher recovered quickly from the impact spinning his Mercedes F1 W03 back into the race just a few positions down. As for Grosjean, the French driver would retire his Lotus-Renault race car on the third lap of the grand prix concluding what is two early exits in his first races of 2012.

 

Instead of competing each other on track, race drivers and teams found themselves battling the elements of increasing rainfall. Several cars on the initial laps of the Malaysian Grand Prix were hydroplaning off the race track including the Red Bull-Renault of Sebastian Vettel. As many drivers reported that areas of the race track have turned into a lake, Formula 1 dispatched the Mercedes SLS AMG safety car and would red flag the event on lap 8 when the rain showers intensified. After more than a 50-minute delay where Formula 1 race cars waited on the Sepang International Circuit's grid, the Malaysian Grand Prix restarted under yellow. After a few laps behind the safety car, the competitors were once again set off under green.

 

Through a complex pattern of pit stops and tire strategy, Malaysia's 2012 Formula 1 event saw many surprise contenders emerge as front-runners. Opting to full wet Pirelli tires on the first lap of the Malaysian Grand Prix, the Sauber team pitted their Mexican driver Sergio Perez for what turn off to be a well-timed technical move for position. Able to take advantage of the wet weather tires on the Sepang International Circuit almost the entire full were running on intermediates, Perez gained a lot of track position that put the Sauber team car close to the lead pack. Up to third place before the red flag, the Sauber-Ferrari of Perez would lead lap 14. The 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix would be a career race Sergio Perez and the Sauber F1 team.

 

Photo Credit: Sauber Motorsport AG

 

While the Malaysian Grand Prix appeared to be a prime location for the McLaren F1 team to celebrate a second 2012 win, the complications of the wet race track and some serious mistakes proved costly for the British squad. Jenson Button collided with a HRT-Cosworth on track on lap 15. Requiring two additional pit stops more than the leader, Button's McLaren was relegated out of the top-10 points paying position for the Malaysian event. While the second McLaren of Lewis Hamilton endured to finish on the podium of the Malaysian Grand Prix, a chance at a win was discarded by a slightly later pit stop at the initial term of the Formula 1 race.

 

For what has been uncharacteristic struggle for the Red Bull Racing team so far in 2012, the Malaysian Grand Prix is continuing to show Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber off their stride that carried through the past two seasons. Incurring the deepest difficulty in the event was the Red Bull Racing team's reigning champion Sebastian Vettel. Losing radio communications early in the grand prix, Vettel was running as high as 4th in Malaysia until an incident with the slower HRT-Cosworth of Narain Karthikeyan. Lap 46 contact between the HRT car and the #1 Red Bull-Renault resulted in damage for which Sebastian Vettel was forced out of the points. Electing to continue on even with damage to his RB9 race car, Vettel finished deep in 11th place (the German driver's worst completed ace since the 2010 Belgium Grand Prix). Thanks to the late race usage of slick tires, Mark Webber emerged from the Malaysian Grand Prix with a better team outcome bringing his Red Bull-Renault came across the line in 4th place.

 

During the final stage of the Malaysian Grand Prix, it was the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso skating in the lead. With major concerns about the 2012 Ferrari race car following the Australian Formula 1 round, the rain falling through the race in Malaysia gave the two-time Formula 1 World Champion Alonso a fighting chance for victory. Sergio Perez with a Sauber powered by a Ferrari engine mounted a firm charge on Fernando Alonso's factory car. While Perez was able to catch Alonso, a mistake by the sophomore Sauber pilot resulted in overrunning a corner cutting a late battle among the Ferrari engines. "On the final stint, when I was on the hard tyre compound, my tyres had degraded quite a lot. It wasn’t easy and I went wide and touched a curb. I actually was lucky not to go off." said Alonso in post-race commenting on what would amount to a second-place finish.

 

Crossing the line with a 2.2-second advantage on Sergio Perez, Fernando Alonso captured his 28th grand prix victory at Malaysia. While the pace of the latest Ferrari race car in dry weather will still be a question through 2012, the win at the Malaysian Grand Prix gave the Ferrari F2012 race car at least one victory this season thanks to the masterful Alonso drive.

 

While Sergio Perez celebrates his first Formula 1 podium, the Mexican driver could not think he let a victory slip away. “It is a great day for me. The team did a very good job and I feel very happy for them. It is a really nice feeling to have been on the podium here, but I think victory was also within reach." Joining the podium celebration was Lewis Hamilton who captured his second 3rd place result in 2012.

 

With Mark Webber placing 4th, 5th place was claimed by the surviving Lotus-Renault of Kimi Raikkonen. In the first two races returning to Formula 1, Raikkonen has acquired points in both grand prix events for 2012. Bruno Senna, Paul di Resta, Jean-Eric Vergne, Nico Hulkenburg and Michael Schumacher rounded off the top-10 for the Malaysian Grand Prix 

After two-straight weeks of Formula 1 racing, the race teams and drivers of the world's top open wheel series will next run the Grand Prix of China on April 15th. 

 

2012 Formula 1
Malaysian Grand Prix
Race Results

1. 5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
2. 15 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari
3. 4 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
4. 2 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
5. 9 Kami Raikkonen Lotus-Renault
6. 19 Bruno Senna Williams-Renault
7. 11 Paul di Resta Force India
8. 17 Jean-Eric Vergne Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari
9. 12 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes
10. 7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
11. 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
12. 16 Daniel Ricciardo Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari
13. 8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
14. 3 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
15. 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari
16. 21 Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault
17. 24 Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth
18. 20 Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault
19. 18 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault
20. 25 Charlie Pic Marussia-Cosworth
21. 22 Pedro de la Rosa HRT F1
22. 23 Narain Karthikeyan HRT F1
23. 14 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari
24. 10 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault

 

Button Pushed to Win at Australian GP; 2012 F1 Season Opener

Photo Credit: Sauber F1

After just under four months of inaction on the grand prix circuit, Formula 1 teams were far from stagnant through the off-season. Creating brand new cars conforming to 2012 rules, several teams arrived for the first Formula 1 race of the season with a stepped or "duck bill" nose racing machine in Australia. Having worked on the winning formula for succeeding in Formula 1, the 2012 Australian Grand Prix on the Albert Park 5.303-kilometer track would hold the initial showcase for whether the winter labouring of engineers and car builders would deliver on promises.

Known as a fast circuit consisting of heavy-braking corners, Albert Park has been hosting the only race on the only FIA-sanctioned Formula 1 race on the Australian continent since 1985. On 13 occasions, the year's winner of the Australian Grand Prix was declared the Formula 1 World Drivers Champion at the end of the season. Jenson Button in 2009 and Sebastian Vettel in 2011 are recent victors in Australia to claim the series' top honour.

One of the few teams not accepting the popular stepped nose design, McLaren-Mercedes cars posted team speed in qualifying for the 2012 Grand Prix of Australia. Lewis Hamilton bested teammate Jenson Button for the pole position as the 22-car grid for the Australian Grand Prix assembled Sunday. When the overhead starting lights cycled and eventually darkened, the 2012 Formula 1 season was inaugurated with the V-8 powered open wheel race cars buzzing into turn 1. Immediately, the McLaren MP4-27 Formula 1 cars battled with Button triumphing in beating Hamilton for lead in the Australian Grand Prix.

As the McLaren-Mercedes vehicles storm forward with their top starting spots, third place race qualifier Romain Grosjean mistimed the Australian Grand Prix's start in his Lotus-Renault. Competing just one lap in the race, Grosjean's Lotus-Renault car suffered race-ending wheel/tire damage with contact between Pastor Maldonado's Williams F1 car. While Romain Grosjean saw his promising grand prix end with a 20th place finish, Maldonado continued to circulate around the Albert Park circuit and eventually became a big story as the 2012 Australian Grand Prix endured.

Similar to Grosjean's fortunes, the highly-decorated veteran Michael Schumacher was also confronted with an early exit from th 2012 grand prix in Australia. Having started in 4th place, Schumacher and the Mercedes GP team saw a chance of a good race turn bad. On lap 11, Michael Schumacher shot off track while in third position on the race track. Slowing on track, Schumacher lost pace and promptly retired just two laps later. Mercedes GP team pride surrounded the remaining race car of Nico Rosberg who held onto a top-5 position through much of the event. Unfortunately, a tire puncture through the latter stage of the Australian Grand Prix robbed Rosberg of a points-scoring day with a 12th place finish.

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

While the first qualifying session of 2012 resulted in a twisted ordeal for major Formula 1 race teams such as Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Ferrari were buried deeper than the grid than accustomed to after 2011. Starting on the third row of the Australian Grand Prix, the Red Bull-Renaults of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber both improved on their grid positions over the course of the 58-lap race. In the case of the reigning Formula 1 world champion Vettel, his #1 Red Bull Racing car climbed from 6th to 2nd place after leap-frogging the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton through the course of the Australian event. Mark Webber had Chased down Hamilton's McLaren-Mercedes in the final laps of the Australian Grand Prix but was under to formulate a pass for the final podium finish.

The two-car team of Ferrari did not enjoy the same improvements that allowed the Red Bull Racing squad to show a promising event in Australia but still came away with some progress. Struggling with handling of the new 2012 team car, drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa were initially able to better than their dismal qualifying efforts. While Alonso surged to within the Formula 1 points, Massa's race ended late following a lap 47 collision with Williams-Renault of Bruno Senna that damaged the suspension on the Brazilian driver's Ferrari.

Photo Credit: Infiniti/Red Bull

Slowing the Australian Grand Prix, the Caterham-Renault driven by Vitaly Petrov broke down on the frontstretch on lap 36. As the Mercedes-Benz SLS safety car was deployed, race leader's Jenson Button's lead was erased. However, Button provided an anti-climatic note to any drumming from challengers as the McLaren-Mercedes keep a steady gap on Sebastian Vettel when the race resumed on lap 42.

Leading final 16 laps of the Australian Grand Prix, Jenson Button and the McLaren F1 team won the first event of the 2012 Formula 1 tour. The British driver's third victory at the Albert Park race circuit's grand prix, Button started his Formula 1 career in the Australian competition with Williams in 2000.

Finishing 2.1 seconds behind Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel revealed that he is eyeing a third straight Formula 1 series title by splitting the McLaren-Mercedes cars. Lewis Hamilton, Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso picked up top-five finishes in the debut race for the 2012 Formula 1 season.

Pastor Maldonado had a chance of a top-5 finish at the Australian Grand Prix. Thrilling spectators in the late laps of the Australian Grand Prix as he drove the sole-remaining Williams-Renault vehicle well inside the points, Maldonado's race performance came undone 2 laps to go when his Pirelli slick tires clipped the Albert Park grass. Shooting the Williams hard into a retaining wall, Pastor Maldonado left the car unhurt but listed as a did not finish in the grand prix.

As Maldonado fell out of the points late, the latter half of the top-10 in the Australian Grand Prix featured a mix of fresh driving talent and experienced Formula 1 drivers. In 7th place by improving 10 spots through the Australian race, 2007 Formula 1 champion Kimi Raikkonen returned to the open wheel series with Lotus-Renault. Splitting Raikkonen, the Ferrari-powered Saubers finished strong with Kamui Kobayashi in 6th and Sergio Perez winding up 8th. In 9th place, Daniel Ricciardo brought the Scuderia Toro Rosso car across the start-finish line in his first race for the team. Also Ricciardo`s first Formula 1 points, the feat came at his home grand prix. Paul di Resta claimed the 10th and final points-paying position for Force India.   
With the first race completed in the 2012 Formula 1 season, teams and fans will only have to wait one week for the next grand prix in Malaysia.

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