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

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.

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!".

Revitalized Vettel Takes Hungarian Grand Prix Pole

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti USA

After dominating the early part of the 2011 Formula 1 season, Sebastian Vettel had been going through what can constitute as a slump. At the past grand prix at German's Nurburgring circuit, Vettel started 4th place in the #1 Red Bull-Renault for what was his worst grid position for the 2011 season. Maintaining Red Bull Racing's undefeated streak in qualifying for the British and German Grand Prix was Vettel's teammate Mark Webber. As Sebastian Vettel leaves his home grand prix in Germany with a less than spectacular result, the reigning world champion in the Formula 1 series could have a new sense of purpose entering Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

An intense battle during Saturday qualifying saw drivers of Red Bull Racing, McLaren F1 and Scuderia Ferrari clamouring for the pole on the tight 4.381 kilometer Hungaroring track. After the Q2 session in Formula 1 qualifying for Sunday's race, the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso posted a 1 minute, 20.262 second time around the track to lead at this point in time trials. Immediately ahead of Jenson Button and Mark Webber, Alonso held the benchmark into Q3 which was quickly eclipsed.

Setting a time more than half a second faster than his Q2 session best around the Hungaroring, the McLaren-Mercedes of Jenson Button was 3rd fastest. In the second row, Button starts alongside the 4th place Felipe Massa's Ferrari and a grid row ahead of Massa's teammate Alonso. Showing strength of McLaren, Lewis Hamilton rose from 7th fastest in Q2 to 2nd quickest in the final Q3 qualifying. Hamilton's 1 minute, 19.978 second time was more than 1.2 seconds better than the previous session.

Starting from pole for the 2011 Hungarian Grand Prix is the Red Bull-Renault piloted by Sebastian Vettel. Setting top time in qualifying with a 1 minute, 19.815 second lap, Vettel like Hamilton made up considerable ground from Q2 to gain a front row spot for Sunday's grand prix. The Hungarian Grand Prix pole position for the German driver marks the 8th time in 2011 Vettel starts out front of a Formula 1 race. In the 7 previous outings where the #1 Red Bull-Renault started on the pole, Sebastian Vettel went on to win the grand prix 5 times.

2011 Formula 1

Hungarian Grand Prix

Hungaroring

Starting Line-up

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

  

Canada Welcomes the 2011 Formula 1 Tour

Photo Credit: Lorenzo Bellanca/LAT Photographic

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

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

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

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

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

Photo Credit: Glenn Dunbar/LAT Photographic

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

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

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

2011 Formula 1 Driver Lineup

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

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


Red Bull Racing

1 Sebastian Vettel
2 Mark Webber


McLaren F1

3 Lewis Hamilton
4 Jenson Button


Scuderia Ferrari

5 Fernando Alonso
6 Felipe Massa


Mercedes GP

7 Michael Schumacher
8 Nico Rosberg


Lotus-Renault GP

9 Nick Heidfeld
10 Vitaly Petrov


AT and T/Williams F1

11 Rubens Barrichello
12 Pastor Maldonado


Force India

14 Adrian Sutil
15 Paul di Resta


Sauber

16 Kamui Kobayashi
17 Sergio Pérez


Scuderia Toro Rosso

18 Sebastien Buemi
19 Jaime Alguersuari


Team Lotus

20 Jarno Trulli
21 Heikki Kovalainen


HRT
22 Narain Karthikeyan
23 Vitantonio Liuzzi


Marussia Virgin Racing

24 Timo Glock
25 Jérôme D’Ambrosio

Two Lotus Teams will Officially Start 2011 Formula 1 Season

Two years ago, the return of the Lotus name to Formula 1 brought joy to many historically-minded Formula 1 fans. Enduring a tough 2010 season as a brand new team running spec engine and transmission rules, the Lotus Racing team began to restructure their 2011 season for much more success with Renault powerplants and gearboxes supplied by the new, reigning Formula 1 constructor champion Red Bull Racing. Under the helm of team principal Tony Fernandes and chief technical director Mike Gascoyne, the Formula 1 team also negotiated to gain a honour of renaming their organization 'Team Lotus' heading into 2011. Showing optimism, a surprising move changed the tone of Team Lotus, potentially threatening their existence in the upcoming Formula 1 season.

Group Lotus (the company under the Malaysian parent Proton Group which the Fernandes/Gascoyne Formula 1 team was licensing the rights to use the Lotus name in grand prix) began to express a lack of support for the team currently wearing their brand name. In a swift move, Group Lotus bought into the Renault F1 team declaring the resulting Lotus Renault GP the sports car company's official grand prix organization. Since that time, everything from naming to paint schemes is tainted with controversy. Much of this Group Lotus versus Team Lotus is now the focus of a UK courtroom.  

With a court ruling made Monday, the organization of Tony Fernandes and Mike Gascoyne will be allowed to start the Formula 1 season as Team Lotus. Group Lotus had attempted to block the former Lotus Racing from using their brand's name starting the 2011 grand prix tour. This ruling formally confirms that two Formula 1 team will share the Lotus name and it will likely remain that way for the full season. Expressing a sense of victory, Team Lotus statement issued late Monday. "Team Lotus is delighted that we were successful at the Summary Judgment Application hearing today and that the Judge threw out Group Lotus' application even before hearing the arguments of the barristers on either side."

Winning this off-track battle on the application, Team Lotus still has an all-out trial where Group Lotus will challenge their former licensing partnership. Scheduled to start on March 21st, Group Lotus attorneys will attempt to completely dissolve the rights of Team Lotus to use their brand name. However, the initial decision means that Group Lotus has little ability to prevent Team Lotus' 2011 Formula 1 campaign. Last year, Peter Sauber's grand prix team was an example of what will possibly play out for Team Lotus. Because team owner Sauber (who had repurchased control of his team and barely had a resources ready for the season) was required to run as BMW Sauber even through BMW had completed divested itself from the operation in 2010. This makes any moves to bar Team Lotus by Group Lotus appear impossible through the 2011 Formula 1 season. It's also possible that Formula 1 might intervene against removing Team Lotus this upcoming season since it will remove two cars from the starting grid.

Proton/Lotus Announces 2011 Formula 1 Partnership with Renault F1

Photo Credit: Renault F1

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

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

Hulkenberg's Hulking F1 Upset: Williams Driver on Brazil GP Pole

Photo Credit: Glenn Dunbar/ LAT Photographic

The second to last grand prix remaining for the 2010 Formula 1 season, 24 drivers along with teams realize these final races of the year as the final opportunity to score power and glory. Some drivers like Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton the Formula 1 world driver's championship is at stake making every on-track session precious time.

As predicted, rain swept over the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in time for Formula 1 qualifying Saturday. However, a break in the wet weather presented itself during the timed session allowing for tire strategy to figure handsomely into the team's planning for Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying. Fernando Alonso led Q1 with 1 minute, 1.987 seconds while Mark Webber's Red Bull-Renault would top Q2 with 1 minute, 18.516 seconds.

As weather improved into the Q3 session, the option of running the Brazilian circuit on slick tires was actually a viable option. When drivers were chanced on the dry weather tire, lap times plummeted to nearly 4 seconds under the Q2 fastest times. With times under the 1 minute, 16 second range coming from Lewis Hamilton's McLaren-Mercedes, Fernando Alonso's Ferrari as well as the Red Bull-Renault pairing of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, a 2010 Formula 1 rookie beat all of them to start the Brazilian Grand Prix in the top spot.


Piloting his Williams-Cosworth, Nico Hulkenberg rose from 9th place in Q2 to ripple a shockwave through the Formula 1 paddock with his first career pole at a 1 minute, 14.470 second lap time winning the spot by nearly a second over second place Sebastian Vettel. Hulkenberg and the Williams F1 team top qualifying effort marks the first time since the French Grand Prix in 1999 that a Formula 1 pole sitter drives with Cosworth power.  It is also worth remembering that the Brazilian Grand Prix was the site of Cosworth's last glorious victory. In the 2003 race, Jordan F1 team's Giancarlo Fisichetta drove a Ford-badged Cosworth to what was than a remarkable top podium spot.
 
Having owned the top of the speed charts on Friday, the Red Bull Racing pairing settled behind the Williams-Cosworth with Vettel taking 2nd and Mark Webber placing 3rd fastest. The Red Bull-Renaults were separated by little more than 1/10th of a second. One of the first drivers to brave the Brazilian track with slick tires, Lewis Hamilton slotted his McLaren-Mercedes into 4th place ahead of title leader Alonso's Ferrari.
 
Set for Sunday at 11 P.M. Eastern time, we'll see whether the 2009 GP2 champion Hulkenberg will hold off the currently more elite Formula 1 outlets through the Brazilian Grand Prix.
 
 
2010 Formula 1
Brazilian Grand Prix
Qualifying Results

Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth
Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
Fernando Alonso Ferrari
Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth
Robert Kubica Renault F1
Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
Felipe Massa Ferrari
Vitaly Petrov Renault F1
Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
Kamui Kobayashi BMW Sauber-Ferrari
Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari
Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari
Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber-Ferrari
Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes
Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes
Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth
Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth
Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth
Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth
Christian Klien HRT-Cosworth
Bruno Senna HRT-Cosworth

Through Rain, Wrecks and Darkness, Alonso Wins Korean GP

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

An inaugural event on the 2010 Formula 1 racing schedule, cars and drivers took to the grid of the Korean Grand Prix amidst a wet track where they are still unschooled on during race conditions. Thanks to wet weather Bridgestones, the Korean Grand Prix readied as a race that almost didn't happen for the 2010 Formula 1 circuit. At the time of the Singapore Grand Prix of late September, buzz surrounded the fact that some of the Korean International Circuit facilities were not ready. Receiving FIA approval on October 11th, (just 11 day before the Formula 1 teams would show up for the grand prix weekend) the Korean Grand Prix was finally set to welcome the country's first F1 event.

Three races remaining for the 2010 Formula 1 season, a 31-point separation exists within the World Driver's Championship places 5 drivers in mathematical striking distance of the standing's lead. At the front after 14 grand prix races, Mark Webber has endured the season so far along with pre-season favouritism of teammate Sebastian Vettel by the Red Bull Racing squad and media. With driver Mark Webber leading the 2010 Driver's points and the Red Bull Racing team leading the manufacturer's points championship, the Red Bull-Renaults fly into South Korea revitalized with a textbook-perfect 1-2 finish at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Rain fell on the 3.49 mile, 18-turn Korean International Circuit, the 24-car Formula 1 grid led by fastest in qualifying Sebastian Vettel waited on the grid 10 minutes before the safety car showed the field around the race track. A track where grip was already at a complaint of drivers, the decision was made by the FIA to not risk a standing, full-speed start. Led around under a safety car period for the first 3 laps, drivers immediately noticed the race track had no usable grip. Even with full wet weather racing tires, running the circuit was difficult deeper in the field. First-year Formula 1 pilot for HRT Bruno Senna less of grip caused him to pit worried something was wrong with his tires. A red flag was thrown as track conditions were too unsettled. Retaking their grid positions, all 24 cars and drivers were attended to by crew members.  

After more than 40 minutes of silence, Formula 1 engines once again came alive in Yeongam as the weather settled enough to rerun the Korean Grand Prix. Working lap 4, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG safety car resumed to lead Formula 1 drivers to the eventual green flag start on the 18th lap. With the Red Bull-Renaults out front, Sebastian Vettel leads teammate Mark Webber as Alonso's Ferrari stalked the duo. By the end of the first green flag lap, Nico Rosberg driving the Mercedes GP race car had set-up the McLaren-Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton taking 4th place on in the running order.

Though the circuit proved race-worthy with standing water and vehicle 'rooster tails' reduced, the slippery track would immediately claim a serious victim which will undoubtedly cause a shockwave through the 2010 World Driver's Championship. One lap following the green flag falling, the Red Bull-Renault of Webber spun when returning to the car's throttle in turn 13 slamming into an inside concrete barrier. Sustaining race-ending damage, Webber's car shot back onto the track ended up in the path of Mercedes GP's Nico Rosberg. The Red Bull-Renault sliding, it clips the Mercedes GP car ending the race for Rosberg in the next turn. Rosberg and Webber left their cars unhurt but the latter driver was left dejected for his 2nd DNF of the season.

The long Red Bull Racing car, Vettel held a gap over now second-place Fernando Alonso. Deeper in the grid, the established rain master of Formula 1 Michael Schumacher battled his way into 5th place by lap 27 passing McLaren's Jenson Button for the position. On the same lap, the race of the Lucas di Grassi ended with his car back into a wall. No safety car was needed.

As the track continued to show a dry line in some parts, cars began to elect intermediate Bridgestone rubber even though some corners were still tricky. As cars like Jenson Button began to pit around lap 28, a third safety car period created when the Toro Rosso-Ferrari of Sebestian Buemi and Timo Glock's Virgin-Cosworth collided in turn 3 offered a chance for the leaders to take new tires. After pitting, Sebastian Vettel's car would regain the lead but Alonso lost 2nd to Lewis Hamilton by virtue of a slow pit stop by the Ferrari team.





Photo Credit: Lorenzo Bellanca/LAT Photographic

 Though Hamilton gained a position through the pit stop, the McLaren driver would lose the position on the restart shooting wide within a corner. Hamilton's teammate Jenson Button experienced a difficult outing buried in 15th place on lap 37. As only one Red Bull-Renault remained circulating, McLaren's chance to capitalize on manufacturer's points was lost.

As running vehicles elect for intermediate tires, the South Korean circuit continues to demonstrate low grip track as Button and Sutil were among those venturing off track briefly but returned to the grand prix action. On lap 41 through turn 18, the Renault of Vitaly Petrov was another unfortunate victim of the wet surface paying a race-ending price. Petrov's out of control car veered into the run-off area colliding hard into the softer barrier. Climbing out of his Renault, the Russian Petrov had overcame a grid place penalty to run 11th place at the point of the crash.

Already becoming an astonishing race, lap 46 saw the entire complexion of the race changed as the leader suffered a surprise fault. Into turn 1, Vettel's car began to slow as the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso crept up and promptly passed the Red Bull Racing vehicle for the lead. Giving up the 1st place position, the Renault engine immediately explodes on Sebastian Vettel. A crushed German driver emerges from his once-strong Red Bull machine losing 4th victory of 2010 as well as a potential World Driver's points lead out of the Korean Grand Prix.

Diving all troubles, Fernando Alonso led the final 9 laps to win the inaugural Korean Grand Prix as darkness of setting daylight consumed the race track at the end. Taking the race winning trophy on top of a well-lit podium, the Spaniard now leads the championship points by 11 points ahead of Red Bull's Mark Webber.

Alonso's Ferrari finished well ahead of Lewis Hamilton's McLaren-Mercedes who, himself, was under pressure from the second Ferrari of Felipe Massa but managed to fend off Scuderia Ferrari's 1-2 finish. Lewis Hamilton's second place allowed him to claim 3rd place under Vettel in the Formula 1 Driver's points.

Beyond the podium, several drivers enjoyed wonderful runs having endured a wild grand prix. Emerging with a 5 position improvement, Michael Schumacher provided the run of his season with Mercedes GP finishing just outside of the podium positions in 4th. Behind Renault's Robert Kubica, Vitantonio Liuzzi hard-charged up 11 positions from the start to survive the Korean Grand Prix with a 6th place spot for Force India.


2010 Formula 1
Korean Grand Prix
Race Results

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

Alonso Splashes to Signapore GP Pole

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

Last racing at the high-speed, scenic course of Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, the 2010 Formula 1 cars challenge this week is a 3.148 mile street course in Signapore's Marina Bay. The only night race on the Formula 1 circuit, the Singapore Grand Prix adds the additional spectacle of artificial lighting shining down on the high-speed race machines.

Though an entirely different track from the historic Monza circuit, the results out of qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix saw Fernando Alonso and the Ferrari team repeating their pole-sitting efforts. Also unlike the Italian Gran Prix weekend, the wet track at Marina Bay led to longer than usual laps as teams were forced to rain setups. Posting fastest time in the Q1 session, Alonso's main opponent through the Saturday night time trial session came from Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel. Vettel took the Q2 fast time transitioning into the final session where the Ferrari posted a lap time at 1 minute, 45.390 seconds beating out Vettel's Red Bull-Renault by less than 7/100th of a second. The 2008 winner of the Singapore Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso would have his victory overshadowed by the conduct of his then-team Renault F1 which eventually led to the team's Team Principal being suspended.

In 3rd and 4th, the McLaren-Mercedes cars continue to show presentable into the late stages of the 2010 season as the team remains in tight constructor championship battle with Red Bull Racing separated by only 3 points entering Singapore. Defending Signapore Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton found an edge on the defending Formula 1 champion teammate Jenson Button. The second Red Bull-Renault driven by current F1 driver points leader Mark Webber placed 5th in qualifying promising a heated battle for Singapore Grand Prix points.

While success found one of the Ferraris in Formula 1 at Singapore, Felipe Massa suffered a gearbox failure immediately after taking to track for an initial timed run in the first qualifying session. Unable to post a time, Massa finds himself directly opposite of his teammate Alonso on the Formula 1 grid.

Starting Sunday at 8 P.M. in Singapore, the race time in the North American eastern time zone will be at 8 A.M. Sunday morning.

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

2010 Formula 1
Singapore Grand Prix
Qualifying Results

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

Mercedes Power Strong on Day 1 of Prep for Chinese Grand Prix

Home to the third Asian continent round of four initial races on the Formula 1 tour, the open wheel racing machines set course for the 5.451 kilometer (3.387 mile) Shanghai International Circuit in the People's Republic of China for the 6th running of the Chinese Grand Prix. Active winners of the grand prix includes Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Rubens Barrichello, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel from last season. What makes this noteworthy is that, in 6 previous runnings of the Chinese Grand Prix, there has yet to be a repeat winning driver on the track.

Further adding to the unpredictability of the apparent variables in this grand prix is a chaotic start to the 2010 Formula 1 season overall. Three drivers competing in three different cars hold victories in the first three rounds of the Formula 1 series this season. This feat was last accomplished by the Formula 1 tour in 1990. While front-runners Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull Racing have all recorded their first wins of 2010, the streak different driver/team victories could be extended if Mercedes GP or Renault would find the top of the podium in China.

In first day preparations for the Chinese Grand Prix, teams powered by Mercedes-Benz engines continue to show a consistent presence at the top of the Formula 1 time sheet. The top 4 times in both Chinese Grand Prix practices were captured by Mercedes-Benz powerplants of McLaren-Mercedes and the fully factory-backed Mercedes GP team. Overall, the second of two practice sessions proved fastest on day 1 with 2008 race winner Lewis Hamilton posted the fastest mark of 1 minute, 35.217 seconds for McLaren. Mercedes GP's Nico Rosberg posted the second fast on the day. Teammates for the top-2 runners in practice Jenson Button and Michael Schumacher were nearby on quick times.

Filed behind the Mercedes-Benz powered vehicles, the Red Bull Racing cars placed 5th and 6th fastest times with Sebastian Vettel leading Mark Webber. Red Bull Racing's satellite team Scuderia Toro Rosso, received a tremendous amount of attention for the wrong reasons. In first round of practice, a frightening scene transpired on the car of Sebastien Buemi entering into turn 14. As Buemi braked into th corner, the front suspension system of his Toro Rosso seemingly exploded sheering the front front wheels off the vehicle. Sebastien Buemi slid into the run-off zone but not made mild contact with a retaining barrier. Buemi was unhurt and no other drivers or spectators were directly threatened by parts flying from the Toro Rosso. Upon examining the vehicle, the Toro Rosso race team linked the suspension failure to a new-for-China design change to the front suspension upright. After the accident, the Formula 1 team reverted back to the design used the previous suspension uprights.

Foreshadowing the Chinese Grand Prix, a considerable focus in China is off-track as the aftermath of a devastating earthquake. Occurring in the western part of the country, 1,144 people are reported to have perished since the Wednesday earthquake shook the ground.

Vettel and Red Bull Triumph in Malaysian Grand Prix

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

Entering into the 3rd round of the 2010 Formula 1 schedule, the Red Bull Racing team has been snake-bitten by misfortunes. Plaguing Sebastian Vettel in the worst way, the German succumbed to mechanical problems on his Red Bull-Renault leading both the Bahrain Grand Prix and the Australian Grand Prix. As a preseason championship favourite in the 2010 Formula 1 drivers standings, the stumbling start resulting in the forfeiture of two potential victories leaves Vettel chasing the Ferrari duo of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa sitting in an early lead for the points championship. Red Bull Racing as a whole needed the Malaysian Grand Prix to turn around the team's overall poor showing last week in Australia.

With qualifying proceeding the way of Red Bull Racing for the third time in the three races, Mark Webber was able to show the team's colours in the pole beating Mercedes GP's Nico Rosberg and teammate Sebastian Vettel for the position. Due to rain through qualifying, the time trial positions saw some surprises throughout the 2010 Malaysian Grand Prix starting grid as McLaren and Ferraris were to start deep in the field.

As the field of 24 cars took their grid positions, the start lights expired to initiate the 56 lap contest on the Sepang circuit. With Formula 1 cars rushing up to speed, the Williams-Cosworth of Rubens Barrichello suffered a stall in his 7th place grid position requiring some evasive actions from cars starting back in the pack. Barrichello was eventually restarted and would finish 1 lap behind in 12th.

With action in the back of the grid, the start saw Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel launch like a lion through the frontstretch tailing his teammate Mark Webber. In a critical race-making move, Vettel was able to outpower Webber into turn 1 to take the lead. The Red Bull Racing Formula 1 cars would be a common sight in the top-2 spots in the race's running order.

While rain was in the forecast, not a single drop of water fell on the Sepang track through the event leaving some longing for the same suspense of the race in Australian disappointed in that regard. However, the Malaysian Grand Prix did provide some exciting dry weather action. As promised, the Ferrari and the McLaren cars quickly gained positions. Providing the best show moving through the field was McLaren's Lewis Hamilton. Snaking by four cars before entering into the first corner, Hamilton continued to rage war on drivers including Renault's Vitaly Petrov. The bout between Hamilton and Petrov was the highlight of the early race action as positions swapped several times amongst the two runners.



Photo Credit: Steven Tee/LAT Photographic

Showing bulletproof reliability through the first two races, the Ferrari team suffered their first mechanical problem of 2010 on the F2010 car of Fernando Alonso. Dealing with a gear selection issue most of the event, Alonso was fighting a temperamental problem through corning. With 2 laps to go, Alonso's Ferrari was attempting to pass one of the McLaren-Mercedes cars when the shifting problem finally amounted to the first retirement of a Ferrari F2010 this season.

Running like clockwork, the Red Bull Racing team celebrated their first 1-2 finish since the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix which concluded the last Formula 1 season. Sebastian Vettel led teammate Mark Webber across the start-finish line to secure has first 2010 Formula 1 victory.

Showing considerable pace with the Mercedes GP team, Nico Rosberg was the best of the rest compared to the strength of the Red Bull Racing team at Malaysia. Finishing 3rd, Rosberg became the first driver since the 1955 Italian Grand Prix to ride a Mercedes engine/chassis to a podium in Formula 1.

Rounding out the top-5 of the 2010 Malaysian Grand Prix is a Renault and a Force India formula 1 car. Robert Kubica's 4th place run comes after a podium finish last race while Adrian Sutil was able to back up his qualifying effort after 56 laps with 5th.

In the final two top-10 spots, drivers Jaime Alguersuari in the STR-Ferrari and Nico Hulkenberg with a Williams-Cosworth gained their first career Formula 1 points. Finishing outside of the points, the best of the new for 2010 teams at Malaysia was the HRT-Cosworths driven by Karun Chandrok and Bruno Senna. They pair finished 15th and 16th on the event still running at the end.

Despite the rough outing for Alonso and a 7th place for Ferrari's Felipe Massa, they continue to hold the top spots in the 2010 Formula 1 points after 3 races. However, thanks to the victory in Malaysia, Vettel is tied with Alonso for second place in the standings heading into the next grand prix round in China.


Malaysian Grand Prix
Formula 1
Race Results

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

Webber Swims to Malaysian Grand Prix Pole

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

Touching down on the Asian continent after an eventful Australian Grand Prix, the 2010 Formula 1 tour prepares for their 3rd race of the season, the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Coming off victory in Australia with his McLaren-Mercedes, Jenson Button returns to the 3.444 mile Sepang track as the defending race winner from 2009. 2010 competition ofr the Malaysian race is expected to be tough as the driver of the ultra-fast Red Bull Racing cars and the consistent Ferrari F2010s have shown early season strength.

As Formula 1 competitors and cars braced for Saturday qualifying, memories of the 2009 Malaysia race were probably flowing through many minds. Last season, the downpour followed by a mid-race thunderstorm permanently halted the Malaysian Grand Prix after running 33 of the 56 lap distance. In the final moments of the 3rd qualifying segment, rain became so intense that FIA race stewards threw a red flag.

With qualifying run, the Red Bull-Renault of Mark Webber set the fastest time by a considerable 1.3 second margin. Timing his run perfectly in before the heavy rain hit, Webber was able to blitz around the Sepang track 1 minute 49.327 seconds on intermediate Bridgestone race tires. Mark Webber takes the pole for Malaysian Grand Prix the weekend after getting reprimanded by the FIA for rough driving in the latter stages of the Australian Grand Prix. Webber bested the Mercedes GP driver Nico Rosberg who joins the Red Bull-Renault on the front row.

The second Red Bull Racing driver Sebastian Vettel starts right behind Mark Webber in 3rd place on the grid. Overall for 2010, Red Bull Racing has shown incredible pace but has encountered incidents through the first two grand prix events both mechanical and contact related.

In an outstanding fourth place, Adrian Sutil placed the Force India-Mercedes in the best grid position since his second place qualifying effort in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza last season. Not typically a front-running team, Force India has made massive strides to becoming a full-fledged Formula 1 constructor. Sutil's teammate Vitantonio Liuzzi also performed admirably in Malaysian Grand Prix qualifying placed 10th on the day.

Joining the front of the grid, Williams F1 also had an overall stellar performance. Setting 5th and 7th fastest times, Williams' rookie driver Nico Hulkenberg outrun his more experienced teammate Rubens Barrichello. Barrichello, holding the most starts of an active Formula 1 driver, was not the only seasoned veteran bested by his younger teammate. In the Mercedes GP team, Nico Rosberg 2nd place start tops Michael Schumacher who mustered an 8th place time.

While Lewis Hamilton through the first two Malaysian Grand Prix practices on Friday, Hamilton and the McLaren team had trouble finding pace amongst a wetter Saturday time trial. Having the worst qualifying luck of the McLaren F1 team was Australian Grand Prix winner Jenson Button. Benefiting from a daring wet weather strategy last week at Albert Park, the intensifying precipitation around Sepang elected not to cooperate with the reigning Formula 1 Driver Champion. Failing to find traction on Bridgestone intermediate tires, Button slid his McLaren-Mercedes off the circuit in the 1st round of the knock-out qualifying. Resting in the sand trap, Jenson Button was unable to improve on his 17th place time even though he was eligible for the second round qualifying. McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton remained on track (particularly after McLaren opted Hamilton onto full rain tires) but finished slower in 20th.

If the struggle of the McLaren team wasn't surprising enough, the legendary Ferrari Formula 1 team was also bitten by speed issues on Saturday. Sandwiching Lewis Hamilton's McLaren, Fernando Alonso placed 19th while Bahrain Grand Prix winner Felipe Massa seeded in 21th. In fact, both of the Lotus-Cosworth cars outran the vast resources of the Italian auto racing powerhouse.

Weather conditions are expected to be wet for the 2010 running of the Malaysian Grand Prix set to start 4 p.m. Sunday Malaysia time or 4 a.m. Eastern time. With quality driver and teams at the back of the field, the start of this grand prix is certainly going to be worth watching.


2010 Formula 1
Malaysian Grand Prix
Starting Grid

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

Formula 1: Hamilton, McLaren Leads Day 1 Practice for Australia Grand Prix

Photo Credit: Andrew Ferraro/ LAT Photographic

Following 2010 season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, Formula 1 teams were able to assess where there competitive program stood against the best efforts of their rivals. A quick glance at the podium following the race in Bahrain, fans of the glimmering red Scuderia Ferraris were able to cheer loudly as the team's F2010 car went to a 1-2 finish. Beyond the success of Ferarri, a certified turf war between major two Mercedes-Benz powered teams of Mercedes GP and McLaren, a Red Bull Racing mechanical struggle that proved costly for the than F1 superstar Sebastian Vettel as well as a survival of the fittest between the three new Formula 1 teams became the dominant memories of the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix.

For the second race of the 2010 Formula 1 season, the world open-wheel series team sets foot in the land down under for the Australian Grand Prix. Racing within the stunning Albert Park circuit, the 12 teams of making up the 2010 Formula 1 grid realize that this Melbourne track is also a punishing test for their new racing equipment.

In Day 1, two practice sessions took place around Australian midday. Following a ho-hum debut with his Renault F1 team in Bahrain, Robert Kubica and his formula 1 car flew to the fastest time in the initial tune-up for the 2010 Australian Grand Prix. Setting a time of 1 minute, 26.927 seconds, Kubica outran the factory Mercedes GP team's Nico Rosberg by two-tenths of a second. The McLaren Mercedes team driver Jenson Button placed third in front of the Ferrari of Felipe Massa and Sebastian Vettel piloting his Red Bull-Renault.


Photo Credit: Mercedes GP


Through the first practice, the BMW Sauber team gained exposure in a less than desirable way as the car driven by Kamui Kobayashi would bring out two red flag periods. Colliding with a track marker cone, the BMW Sauber-Ferrari's impact with the plastic marker caused the front wing assembly to break off. Sent back onto the Albert Park track for lapping, Kobayashi would learn that the front wing repair was not lasting. The aerodynamic front piece came away from the Sauber drawing the practice session's second red flag. While the first practice for Kobayashi in the Sauber was less than fruitful, the second day 1 session saw an improvement to 13th fastest.

As the second session of qualifying commenced, a light rain dampened the Melbourne race circuit. However, with the precipitation registering mostly as sprinkles, most teams continued lapping on the track on dry weather slick tires. With the track still intact for dry weather runs, the cooler temperatures of the second session also aided teams in improving their speeds over the first practice. The second practice was so fast that 9 drivers bested Robert Kubica's time in the morning.

Leading Formula 1 drivers after the second practice would be the McLaren Mercedes group led by 2008 World Champion Lewis Hamilton blistering around Albert Park in 1 minute, 25.801 seconds. Two-tenths behind Hamilton, Jenson Button put his car ahead of the second Red Bull Racing vehicle of Mark Webber. With Mark Webber making a fantastic showing in front of his homeland population, he was also positioned ahead of Michael Schumacher.

Two honable mentions from the second practice are Vitaly Petrov in 5th and Toro Rosso team driver Sebastian Buemi in 6th place.

Alonso and Ferrari Triumph in Bahrain Grand Prix

Formula 1 Class of 2010: Driver Lineup
Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

The small Persian Gulf island of Bahrain played host to the kick-off of the 2010 Formula 1 season.

Before the start of the race, the Scuderia Ferrari team swapped out the engines in the cars of Alonso and Massa due to suspicions with the powerplants. While in previous years that would have resulted in a 10-grid spot penalty, 2010 regulations now state that each driver is allotted 8 engines for the season which could be used however the teams wish. Therefore, Alonso and Massa were allowed to retain their starting positions for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

As the 24 cars assumed grid positions for the 2010 season opening race, the heat of the 30-plus degree Celsius day provided a symbolic ambience to the intensity of this first grand prix of the year. Winning the top spot on the standing start through qualifying of day 2, Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull-Renault experienced a perfect launch to the young German hot shoe. Early in the race, Ferrari teammates battled as team newcomer Fernando Alonso passed the Formula 1 team's incumbent Felipe Massa for 2nd place.

Indicative of a driver who experienced very little track time, the rookie Indian driver Kuran Chandhok suffered an early retirement with his HRT-Cosworth after a second lap crash. The second HRT-Cosworth of Chandhok's teammate Bruno Senna didn't fare much better retiring by the 17th lap. While troubles haunted the debut of the HRT Formula 1 team, Virgin GP joined their fellow new F1 entrant in early retirement hindered by mechanical issues. Virgin GP's best result came from Timo Glock lasting only 16 laps until falling out due to a gearbox problem. What's interesting is that Glock's Virgin-Cosworth is running the spec gearbox supplied by Xtrac to Virgin GP as well as three other teams as a cost-cutting measure. The only Xtrac gearbox failure, the widespread use of this component could spark concern as the season endures.

As the pole sitter Sebastian Vettel appeared destined to claim the first race of 2010, his Red Bull Racing car began to slow unexpectedly. By lap 34, Vettel's race-leading car fell into the grasp of Ferrari's dynamic duo Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa. Both red Ferrari F10s passed the Red Bull Racing car by the end of lap 35. While thought to be a broken exhaust, the slowdown of Vettel's Red Bull Racing-Renault was attributed to a spark plug. When everything was said and done for the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix, the power loss on Vettel's Red Bull would cost the German driver a podium finish.

Without any interruptions through the final 15 laps of the Bahrain Grand Prix, Alonso pulled out a 16 second lead on his teammate Massa to win his first Formula 1 race since the controversial 2008 Singapore Grand Prix with Renault. In the 3rd and final podium spot, the McLaren-Mercedes team 2008 driver champion Lewis Hamilton came across the line 23 seconds behind the lead Ferrari. Admitting to a lack of speed, the McLaren F1 team has gained begging rights placing one of their cars over the Mercedes GP factory team in this first race.

As for the factory-backed Mercedes GP, the all-German driver lineup flew their team and country colours admirably in this first outing. Nico Rosberg finished 5th narrowly missing the opportunity of gaining one more spot from the wounded Red Bull-Renault of Vettel. In his much-anticipated return to formula 1, the 41-year old Michael Schumacher rejoined competitive ranks in 6th place behind his younger German countrymate.

Thanks partially by the new points system which was designed to improve competition among the mid to rear-running teams, Force India and the Williams F1 team enjoyed scoring their first points for the season. Vitantonio Luizzi Force India-Mercedes finished 9th while Rubens Barrichello grabbed the final point available crossing the line in 10th place.

Lower in the grid, the Lotus Racing team made performance honourable to the history of the predecessor team founded by legendary car owner Colin Chapman. Underpowered and underexperienced compared to the existing teams, their best efforts are clearly far from performance of Ferrari. However, with the Bahrain Grand Prix being their first maiden, Lotus Racing drivers Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli made sure that the Formula 1 fans knew the team competed. Three laps down in 15th position, Kovalainen achieved the Lotus Racing's goal by finishing the first event. Trulli was almost able to bring the second Lotus T-127 race car but suffered last lap hydraulic problems.

Formula 1: 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix
Race Results

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