Vettel Blitzes Hamilton to Win Korean Grand Prix

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

2011 Formula 1
Korean Grand Prix
Race Results

 

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

Hamilton Takes Korean GP Pole; Ends Red Bull's Undefeated Streak

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

Entering qualifying for the 2011 Korean Grand Prix, the Formula 1 arrives at the fourth to last event of the season with a drivers championship already wrapped up by a superior performance by Sebastian Vettel all year. Vettel and the Red Bull-Renault have been the superior combination in the 2011 Formula 1 tour. While the Red Bull Racing team has taken pole in every event up to this weekend's Korean Grand Prix qualifying, the squad with pilots Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber were surprisingly not at the top of the time sheets during any practice session entering the time trial session at the 5.615-kilometer Korean International Circuit.

 

Enduring a slick track during two Friday practices, a third and final tune-up session on Saturday morning finally gave the Formula 1 drivers and teams a chance to lap the Korean International Circuit under dry track conditions on Pirelli tires. Ready to take the fight to Red Bull Racing, the McLaren-Mercedes cars of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button emerged as speedy on slicks Saturday morning. Also taking an large advantage in the second practice session Friday in the wet, the McLaren team appears to have found not only the ability to keep pace but to outpace the Red Bull-Renaults. Readying for qualifying, Hamilton and Button would have to break the undefeated streak of the Red Bull bunch for the top grid position for Sunday's Korean Grand Prix.

 

Lapping the track about 11 seconds quicker than in the Friday practice on the saturated surface, 23 of the 24 cars recorded times for their starting position with Daniel Ricciardo being the odd driver (driving for HRT, Ricciardo has been allowed to start the Korean Grand Prix with the Formula 1 stewards consent). Immediately in Q1, the McLaren-Mercedes cars sent a message to the entire field including Red Bull Racing that they wanted pole for this second ever grand prix held on the Korean International Circuit. Lewis Hamilton set the top time in the first qualifying session ahead of his McLaren teammate with a 1 minute, 37.525 second lap. In third place with the Russian drive Vitaly Petrov piloting his Lotus Renault GP car around the Korean track 8/10th of a second slower than Hamilton.

 

Through the early stage of qualifying, the Red Bull Racing team have indicated they have been saving their soft compound Pirelli tires in order to have spare sets available during race day. In Q1, Sebastian Vettel was 9th fastest with Mark Webber 10th quickest on track. Both drivers added some pace on the Korean International Circuit through Q2 in order to safely maintain one of ten spots for the final Q3 session.

 

Repeating his reign at the top in Q2 in Korea, Hamilton bettered his top lap time by a shade under 1 second faster than his previous best. In Q3, Lewis Hamilton delivered a best time trial lap early in the final qualifying group with a 1 minute, 36.160 second effort in the McLaren-Mercedes. With the Red Bull Racing cars bracing for a last moment attempt to steal pole in a similar fashion as the Japanese Grand Prix qualifying, the McLaren cars of Jenson Button as well as Hamilton launched a preemptive strike for fast time. While Button was able to beat Hamilton's previous best time, Hamilton lifted the benchmark with new performance of 1 minute, 35.820 seconds around the 5.615-kilometer track. While the Red Bull Racing team attempted to knock Hamilton off the pole, the team's best chance with Sebastian Vettel was roughly 18/100th of second short. Starting second Sunday, Vettel did beat Jenson Button setting the second McLaren-Mercedes in the next starting row for the grand prix.

 

Dethroning Red Bull Racing, Lewis Hamilton and McLaren ended what was a 16-race streak where the blue Formula 1 cars started on pole position by either Sebastian Vettel or Mark Webber. The last time was the 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix when Williams F1 took a surprise win in qualifying.

 

Mark Webber starts fourth in the Korean Grand Prix in the second row with Button keeping the rival teams of Red Bull Racing and McLaren in possession of the top four grid positions starting the race. In the third row, Felipe Massa gained an advantage on traditionally faster Ferrari teammate Fernando Alonso. Alonso was the winner of the wild 2010 Korean race. Nico Rosberg took 7th fastest at the end of qualifying starting alongside Lotus Renault GP's Vitaly Petrov.

 

 

With Sebastian Vettel acclaimed the 2011 Formula 1 World Champion after amassing a considerable points total with four races remaining in the season, the focus on the final races in the grand prix racing tour has changed. While Vettel's team Red Bull Racing is still fighting to lock up the lucrative constructor championship for this season, the battle in the final races of the Formula 1 season is likely to see drivers take each event more aggressively as the 24-car field takes on the Korean Grand Prix this weekend. This case is especially so for Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber who are within a 16-point separation for the second place in the 2011 drivers' standing.  

 

The Korean Grand Prix starts at 3PM local time (2AM Eastern time) under what is suppose to be a perfect sunny day.

 

2011 Formula 1
Korean Grand Prix
Korean International Circuit
Starting Line-up

 

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

Volare! Vettel Takes Italian GP Pole

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

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

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

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

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

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

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

2011 Formula 1

Italian Grand Prix

Starting Grid

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

Hamilton Slays Vettel's Perfect Formula 1 Season with China Win

Photo Credit: Glenn Dunbar/LAT Photographic

The first two races of the 2011 Formula 1 season took on a very predictable tone as 2010 World Champion driver Sebastian Vettel claiming victories in dominant fashion in the Australian and Chinese Grand Prix. Planting Red Bull Racing in an affirmative position, Vettel took his Renault powered Formula 1 car to a third consecutive pole for the Chinese Grand Prix. However, for those who have grown used to Formula 1 lacking raw, on-track competition, the 2011 Chinese Grand Prix was an event that suspended all garden variety notions of the world championship of open wheel racing.

Setting the grid for the start of the grand prix, the Red Bull-Renault of Sebastian Vettel was beside the McLaren-Mercedes of Jenson Button and ahead of Lewis Hamilton's McLaren. Favoured in his 2011 title defense drive, the Chinese Grand Prix standing start changed the complex of this season. Though Vettel launched well off the line, both McLaren Formula 1 race cars rocketed past the Red Bull-Renault into the first corner. Shuffled back to third early in the Shanghai race, Vettel entered into an unfamiliar place for this season.

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

With Jenson Button leading, the McLaren-Mercedes preceded at the front of the Chinese Grand Prix as concerns existed in durability of the Pirelli racing tires. Featuring two tread options, most drivers and teams chose the softer set of tires for racing. One notable exception early was Vettel's Red Bull Racing teammate Mark Webber who started on harder racing slicks in efforts to seek a solution in overcoming a disastrous qualifying attempt Saturday which nested an 18th place grid position. Perhaps planning to gain track position through potentially running longer on his Pirelli tires, Webber's work in advancing places on the racetrack was hindered by the slower, harder compound. Ultimately, Mark Webber would pit on the same strategy with the other front-running teams negating early race plan for more competitive, softer compound Pirelli tires.

The pit road would ultimately shake up the 2011 Chinese Grand Prix. In the case of early race leader Jenson Button, the first pit stop on lap 13 for the 2009 Formula 1 World Champion involved a most bizarre moment in the driver's career. Taxiing down pit road, Button mistakenly steered into the Red Bull Racing team pit stall. Awaiting Sebastian Vettel, the bewildered Red Bull Racing crew were eager to see the McLaren promptly leave the pit service area. Barely stopping, Jenson Button quickly noticed his error continuing on to his McLaren pit crew. Due to the graffe, Button did lose track position to Vettel placing the Red Bull-Renault one place higher in the race standings.

As front-running drivers Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel surrendered their position for pit stops, the Mercedes GP team emerged as a Chinese Grand Prix contender. In the hands of Nico Rosberg, the German driver and race organization mastered short-pitting to place themselves in the lead for 8 laps. After a tough first two races in the 2011 Formula 1 season, the showing for Mercedes GP in China reestablishes the momentum the team started their inaugural 2010 season. Nico Rosberg would remain at the front through the reminder of the grand prix but lost positions running on worn tires in the late race stages. The Mercedes GP team chanced a different pit road plan to vault the German up to 2rd place until the faster cars of McLaren and Red Bull Racing overhauled Nico Rosberg. Rosberg would just miss the podium but finish a season best 5th at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

Scuderia Ferrari also gambled on a two-pit stop race strategy for track position. The success was mixed during the 56-lap distance as Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa finished 6th as well as 7th place. The longer late stint also proved costly to the Ferrari team as they rode in higher positions just ahead of the checkered flag.

As part of the story in the closing stages of the Chinese Grand Prix focused on the slowing of some vehicles, the McLaren-Mercedes piloted by Lewis Hamilton was on a mission to the front lapping the Shanghai track. Sitting in 4th place on lap 40, Hamilton utilized his fresher tires, KERBS and adjustable rear wing system to pass Rosberg and Massa in only 4 laps setting sights on the leading Red Bull-Renault. Eating into the modest lead of just under 4 seconds, Lewis Hamilton's superior lap times put the silver McLaren right on the gearbox of Sebastian Vettel. On lap 52, Hamilton brief attempt at working over Vettel for the lead paid off in turn seven ending off a thrilling climb to the front. As Hamilton led the final 4 laps of the Chinese Grand Prix, the 2008 World Champion pulled a 5.1 second lead on the second place Sebastian Vettel.

Though disappointed by his attempt at a fifth straight Formula 1 season victory going back to last season's Brazilian Grand Prix being foil, Vettel and Red Bull Racing maintains an ongoing streak of podium finishes. Sebastian Vettel could also take relief with the arrival of the lap 56 checkered as his hard-charging teammate was closing distance. Starting 18th, Webber's strategy adjustment allowed the second Red Bull Racing car to surge through the field at an alarming rate. Clocked as one of the fastest cars on the racetrack, Mark Webber's three-stop plan allowed the Australian to maneuver himself to the front. With some Formula 1 observers noting Webber's results as considerably lackluster compared to his dominating teammate, the 2011 Chinese Grand Prix establishes again the strength of both Red Bull Racing cars.

Rolling out the top-10 behind the Nico Rosberg and the Ferrari Formula 1 cars, Michael Schumacher continues to challenge fellow drivers on-track with skills that only a 7-time World Champion would possess. Finishing 8th, Schumacher was more than 26 seconds in front of Lotus Renault Racing's Vitaly Petrov and 10th place Kamui Kobayashi.

As Sebastian Vettel's early season showing and Mark Webber's drive in China reflects, the Red Bull Racing team is shown as a formidable squad again in 2011. However, McLaren F1 is proving to be an early challenger having at least one car on the podium at the end of grand prix this season. After three races in the 2011 Formula 1 season, Vettel is 21 points ahead of Lewis Hamilton.

Next race for the Formula 1 tour will ake place on May 8th as drivers and teams are given a long preparation for the Turkish Grand Prix.

Reigning F1 Champ Vettel Defense Starts with Australian GP Pole

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

With the start of the 2011 Formula 1 season delayed to the due cancellation of the Bahrain Grand Prix amid government protests and regional instability, the extra time gave the multi-million dollar teams much-needed additional time to ready for the season debut in Australian.

Convening for the 2011 Australian Grand Prix, drivers and teams of Formula 1 will competition quickly find out if the sporting moves made in the off-season would play off on grand prix weekends. Question swirl ahead of Formula 1 cars making their first laps in competition. Will the Red Bull Racing squad’s with 2010 champion Sebastian Vettel repeat their magical year in 2011? Could McLaren, Ferrari or even another team emerge as revitalized challengers for 2011 Formula 1 glory? How will the Lotus saga play out on the racetrack between two separate teams? Will Pirelli gain respect in the first race as the grand prix grid’s sole tire supplier? As engines started for Formula 1 qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix, racing fans gain the first pieces of evidence to solving these questions.

Right from the start of Q1, the leading early combatants for the 2011 Formula 1 season was established as Red Bull Racing and McLaren. 2010 Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel was in top form early in the Red Bull-Renault beating Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren-Mercedes Q1 time by less than 1/10th of a second. Amongst the top drivers in Q1, sophomore Formula 1 pilot Vitaly Petrov soared in the newly minted Lotus-Renault GP team. The Russian Petrov was 3rd fastest in Q1 and eventually placed 6th fastest at the end of Australian Grand Prix qualifying.

In Q2, Red Bull and McLaren continued to dice for the front positions at the Australian Grand Prix track. Button took the early but Sebastian Vettel would soon attack to Albert Park circuit posting a top time at 1:24.090 to repeat as qualifying session leader.

A few cars and drivers met with misadventures through Q2 of the first qualifying session of 2011. Overrunning a turn, Rubens Barricello’s beached his Williams found the sand trap early in the second qualifying grouping. In a more dramatic display later, Ardian Sutil lost control out of the final turn as the driver was laying power onto the Albert Park circuit. Spinning his Force India-Mercedes ahead of the start-finish line on the front stretch, Sutil kept the Formula 1 car out of the walls regaining control.

Fighting for respect, Mercedes GP drivers Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher returned in 2011. Early on in Australia, Rosberg continued to outpace his teammate; the 7-time champion Schumacher. Progressing through all three sessions of qualifying, Nico Rosberg would obtain a 7th place start for the Sunday main event. Topping his best lap effort, Michael Schumacher’s Mercedes GP car just missed the 10-car field for Q3 qualifying ending 11th for the beginning of the Australian Grand Prix.


Shooting first, the McLaren Formula 1 team drivers unloaded their machines on the Albert Park track at the start of Q3. The McLaren-Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton led that charge just about 10 seconds ahead of teammate Jenson Button. On his early hot lap, Hamilton delivered a 1:24.501 second time. In the second McLaren-Mercedes, Button fell short of his teammate by 3/10th of a second. Taking first and second spot early in Q3, McLaren would for face a final challenge from the Red Bull Racing duo.

Leading the Austrian-based group, the reigning Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel delivered a shockingly fast effort little more than 30 seconds following the McLaren cars clocked the racetrack. Finding speed that would prove unmatchable, Vettel posted a fastest lap of 1:23.529 seconds. Beating eventual 2nd place in Q3 driver Lewis Hamilton by 0.778 seconds, the Red Bull Racing driver was the only driver throughout the Australian Grand Prix qualifying to enter the 1 minute, 23 second territory.

Taking the pole position for the 2011 Australian Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel repeats his Formula 1 qualifying performance last season. Vettel’s Red Bull teammate Mark Webber improved greatly through the session picking up from an 8th fastest run in Q1 to a 3rd place starting spot for his home grand prix. The second McLaren of Jenson Button will start 4th on Sunday followed by the Ferrari driven by Fernando Alonso.

For the first grand prix of the 2011 Formula 1 season, 22 cars will line the grid for the 58-lap event. Bumped out of the race are the HRT F1 drivers of Narain Karthikeyan and Vitantonio Liuzzi who failed to meet Formula 1’s newly reinstituted 107 percent qualifying time rule.


2011 Australian Grand Prix
Starting Grid

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


Did Not Qualify

23. 23 Vitantonio Liuzzi HRT F1
24. 22 Narain Karthikeyan HRT F1

Monza Madness as Alonso Takes Ferrari to Italian GP Win

Photo Credit: Andrew Ferraro/ LAT Photographic

Six races remaining in the 2010 Formula 1 schedule, the series' top-3 teams (Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull Racing) have shown incredible parity with each other. Though Mark Webber delivered Red Bull Racing a second after the last race at the Belgium Grand Prix, the team's Renault-engined car appeared to have suffered a speed shortage on the low-downforce circuit. While the McLaren's Mercedes engine was rumoured to be down on power since the season's first race at Bahrain, a new rear wing and diffuser design allowed the British team to equalize pace with the high-horsepower Ferraris.

With Italy associated as Ferrari's home territory, the hearts of the Italian auto racing fans probably skipped a beat when the prancing horse's driver Fernando Alonso soared to supremecy in qualifying Saturday afternoon. Taking the grid the pole position, the Spanard's Ferrari would be overtaken on the start by fellow front row sitter Jenson Button. As the one McLaren-Mercedes shot to the Italian Grand Prix's early lead, the other team car would not make it past the first lap. 2008 F1 drivers champion Lewis Hamilton collided with the #7 Ferrari of Felipe Massa resulting in a suspension break which saw Hamilton's Italian Grand Prix end in the gravel. Admitting fault in being over-anxious on the first lap, Hamilton said on his official website “I was trying to position the car in a certain way, I was too close to Felipe, and his left rear clipped my right front. The car was damaged after that, and there was nothing I could do; you try your best, but some things just don’t go your way". Felipe Massa was more fortunate as his Ferrari continued competitively after the contact.

As the green flew for the Italian Grand Prix, the Red Bull Racing squad found the race to be a consistent struggle as both Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel were out of touch with the top-3 runners all day. After setting fast time during a Friday practice, Vettel found through the weaker effort his Saturday qualifying that his Renault engine could have been down on power. Changing the powerplant prior to the grand prix start, the pace of Vettel's car was more hindered by a brake issue during the race. At one point, Sebastian Vettel allowed Red Bull teammate Mark Webber by for than 5th place.

In regards to Mark Webber's pass on Sebastian Vettel, there was at least one allegation leveled by Speed channel reporter implying team order might have been communicated indirectly to Vettel. This speculation was based on Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner's apparent endorsement of team orders after an FIA ruling where no further penalties were levied against Ferrari for an incident in the German Grand Prix late July. While team orders for determining the outcome of Formula 1 races had been strictly forbidden, Ferrari's judging was said to be a "presedent" by Horner as the FIA did not punish the Italian team further for the German Grand Prix outcome. As Mark Webber is better positioned in the 2010 Formula 1 driver's championship where the 5th spot would help the Australian Webber, team orders were neither confirmed or denied on that occasion.

While Jenson Button held onto the Italian Grand Prix lead, Alonso Ferrari maintained a very tight interval on the rear of the Mercedes-powered McLaren. Unable to completely break away from Alonso, a lap 39 pit stop by the Scuderia Ferrari team proved a deciding factor the Italian Grand Prix. Thanks to an ultra-fast pit stop by the Ferrari crew, Alonso was launched out of pit road ahead of Button's McLaren-Mercedes. Fernando Alonso's trademark skill on cold tires sustained his position at the front. In fact, Button narrowly avoided losing the runner-up position to the other Ferrari of Felipe Massa.

As the top-3 maintained their position at the finish, Alonso won at 2.9 seconds on Button with Brazil's Massa rounding out the podium for the Italian Grand Prix. With Ferrari's 1st and 3rd at Monza the Italian supporters, known throughout Formula 1 as the tifosi, allowed horns to blare on the air and applause echo through the trees of the Monza landscape.

In distant but hard fought 4th place, Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel recorded the finish thanks to some pit stop strategy that recalled the German driver late in the race for his tire change. Nico Rosberg in 5th led the factory Mercedes GP team taking the position late from Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber. Rosberg said in post-race “Fifth place was an ok result today except for losing the place to Sebastian at the end there. It was a tough fight and I was pushing to the maximum throughout the race, firstly with Robert at the start and then with Sebastian towards the end.

Finishing 6th, Webber was able to make opportunity from the somewhat off-colour effort as the Australian retook the driver championship point led from Lewis Hamilton. Williams F1 Nico Hulkenberg, Renault's Robert Kubica, Mercedes GP's Michael Schumacher and the 2009 Italian Grand Prix winner Rubens Barrichello in a second Williams-Cosworth were 7th through 10th at Monza.
Following the 2010 Italian Grand Prix, the season's point standings are dramatically reshaped. Lewis Hamilton's zero-point day as result of his early retirement allowed Mark Webber to emerge 5 points in front for the Formula 1 driver's points. Fernando Alonso's win with Ferrari was the first time since 2006, the Spanish driver gained 20 points on the leader in the Formula 1 drivers championship. Alonso is only 21 points behind Mark Webber but Jenson Button is only 1 point behind him in 4th place in the standings. Salvaging a decent finish from a difficult race, Vettel's points gain allowed him to stand only 2 points behind Button.


2010 Formula 1
Italian Grand Prix
Race Results

1. Fernando Alonso Ferrari
2. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
3. Felipe Massa Ferrari
4. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
5. Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
6. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
7. Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth
8. Robert Kubica Renault F1
9. Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
10. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth
11. Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari
12. Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes
13. Vitaly Petrov Renault F1
14. Pedro de la Rosa BMW Sauber-Ferrari

15. Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari
16. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes
17. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth
18. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth
19. Sakon Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth
20. Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth
21. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth
22. Bruno Senna HRT-Cosworth
23. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
24. Kamui Kobayashi BMW Sauber-Ferrari

Hamilton's The Man in Montreal; Wins 2nd Canadian Grand Prix

Photo Credit: Lotus Racing


Saying bonjour to the Formula 1 drivers and teams for the 8th race of the 2010 season, the Canadian Grand Prix returns to the F1 circuit and Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve after a one-year hiatus.

Gaining the pole through a fastest lap time Saturday around the 4.361 mile road course, Lewis Hamilton and McLaren Formula 1 team starts in a handsome position on the race grid. Even before the race began however, Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber lost his front row starting spot when the team addressed a gearbox problem on his Red Bull-Renault.

Once the race got underway, the start was shaken by contact between the Ferrari of Felipe Massa and the Force India-Mercedes belonging to Vitantonio Liuzzi. Though requiring pit service to fix car damage, the incident was not enough for the FIA to call out the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG pace car. In fact, uncharacteristic for a the past F1 outings by Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the 2010 edition of the race went on without a safety car period at any point in the event.

Head to head, the McLaren and Ferrari fought to get their driver out first. Unleashed, both Alonso and Hamilton stormed down the pit road side-by-side with Fernando Alonso just edging out the McLaren. However, shortly afterwards, Hamilton thrusted past the Ferrari F2010 for what would be a defining pass in settling the race's victor.

Remembered as a demanding track on the mechanicals of a Formula 1 car, an engine failure on Pedro de la Rosa's BMW Sauber-Ferrari and a brake issue on the Lotus-Cosworth of Jarno Trulli were the only major technical-related retirements in the race along with Bruno Senna. The only real physical attributes drivers and teams were contending with in the Canadian Grand Prix were the Bridgestone tires. While the primary compound was the hardest compound selected for the teams to run in the race weekend, several drivers faced trouble preserving their rubber. In the standout case in the Canadian Grand Prix, Mark Webber attempted to run longer on a set of primary tires only to see his nearly 11 second lead reduced to a few car lengths over Lewis Hamilton. As Webber's Red Bull-Renault fell into the grasp of Hamilton's McLaren-Mercedes, the tires on the Red Bull Racing tire were showing severe signs of shredding. Losing the large interval lead, Webber also lost any hope of a podium finish. When Webber pitted, the top-3 were led by the two McLarens of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso in third spot.


Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

As the race was going well for younger drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, 7-time Canadian Grand Prix winner Michael Schumacher pressed through one of the toughest days the 41 year-old German had experienced since his F1 return. Starting 13th, Schumacher was able to lift himself into a top-10 spot inside the Canadian Grand Prix running order past halfway but would fall quickly into the gunsights of mid-mark F1 teams.

On lap 61, Sabastien Buemi in the Toro Rosso-Ferrari was able to vault himself past Schumacher started with a determined charge down the front stretch into the Senna curves. Falling to Buemi, when Felipe Massa charged on Schumacher's Mercedes GP car on the final laps, the German was intent not to away anymore championship points. As Massa attempted a move on the outside of Schumacher through the Casino stretch, the Mercedes gave no room to the Ferrari causing Massa to clip Schumacher's rear tire. Massa's Ferrari suffered a damaged front wing and would require a late race pit stop for a replacement nose piece costing him also a point-scoring finish. The incident questions whether Felipe Massa made a misjudgement or if Schumacher made a second blocking move into the corner; a move which is a no-no.

Completing the bad day for Michael Schumacher ended with a dream moment for both Force India Formula 1 team cars. Into the final lap, Vitantonio Liuzzi was working on a way past with his teammate Adrian Sutil in tow. Through a well-timed last lap move, Luizzi found an opening around Schumacher's Mercedes which provided a path for his Force India teammate to follow capturing the 10th and final point-scoring position for the Canadian Grand Prix.

For his second win in a row for 2010, Lewis Hamilton brought his McLaren-Mercedes to victory excitedly celebrating in the site of his very first Formula 1 pole and victory in 2007. A 1-2 for McLaren, the team effort allowed the group to launch over Red Bull Racing in the Formula 1 Constructors Championship. Joining the McLaren pair, Fernando Alonso brought Ferrari a podium effort while his teammate Massa suffered hard-luck throughout the Canadian Grand Prix event. Happy with his 3rd place finish, Alonso will be looking to the next Formula 1, the European Grand Prix in his home country of Spain. The race on the Valencia Street Circuit is on June 27th.

Performed in front of a crowd of 300,000 race fans through the 3 days of race action, the weekend of the Canadian Grand Prix has once again proven that Canadian and even American Formula 1 audiences are substantial.


2010 Canadian Grand Prix Formula 1 Unofficial Race Results

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

Hamilton and McLaren Takes Canadian GP Pole; Red Bull Qualifying Streak Ended

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

After sweeping the pole position spot for the first 7 races of the 2010 Formula 1 season, the Canadian Grand Prix rates as significant for Red Bull Racing as the event where their consecutive 1st place start streak ends. However, it did not occur without a stubborn fight from Red Bull Racing teammates Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber. Entering the final Q3 session, Sebastian Vettel stood only 3/100ths of a second slower than Lewis Hamilton's McLaren-Mercedes. However, as lap times continued to fall at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Hamilton lowered his own Q2 time by 4/10ths of a second. Enough to fend off the charge of the Red Bull-Renaults, his 1 minute, 15.105 second lap time in Montreal gave the Brit his first Formula 1 pole his the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year.

Making the Formula 1 pole in Montreal even more memorable for Lewis Hamilton was the fact his McLaren-Mercedes ran out of fuel coming back to the pits at the end of the Q3 session. Providing for an amusing picture as Hamilton was pushing his McLaren down the stretch along the Casino de Montreal. While an entertaining sight for fans, the F1 officials were not the least bit amused by the scene. The McLaren team was fined $10,000 for what is called exceeding the maximum allotted time for returning to pit road.

Settling with 3rd fastest, Sebestian Vettel was able to close on Hamilton with a time just 3/10ths slower than the McLaren-Mercedes, his teammate was able to sandwich his way between the two cars through Q3. 5th fastest after Q2 Mark Webber leap-frogged Vettel to led the Red Bull Racing's grand prix charge mustering a 2nd place front row position thanks to a strong Q3 showing.

In 4th and 5th Ferrari's Fernando Alonso as well as the second McLaren of Jenson Button are in excellent striking position to take advantage of any first turn collisions which might occur between the front row vehicles. With Circuit Gilles Villeneuve's first lap leading into a tight, slow Senna turn hairpin section, often breeds chao.

Deserving a chance to be mentioned, Vitantonio Liuzzi for Force India stormed to 6th on the starting grid. The defending race winner (the 20o8 race winner since there wasn't a 2009 event) Robert Kubica posted a 8th fastest effort. Winning the race with BMW-Sauber in 2008, Kubica's former team starts deeper in the grid with team cars in 17th and 18th place.



Photo Credit: Glenn Dunbar/LAT Photographic


In 2008, the team now known as the Mercedes GP team was the Honda F1 factory team. Since then, Brawn brought that shell of that team taking it to a championship in 2009 before selling majority control to Mercedes-Benz. Essentially the first race for the Mercedes factory team, the team had some encouraging runs in Friday practice and even a 4th fastest speed for Michael Schumacher in Saturday morning, the silver arrows were off target in Canadian Grand Prix qualifying. 10th fastest and about a second slower than the pole sitter, Nico Rosberg leads the team with Michael Schumacher shut-out of the Q3 time trial session in 13th place. Ross Brawn offered some perspective to the tough qualifying outing for Mercedes GP. "A very disappointing qualifying session for us today, particularly as I was quite encouraged by our performance yesterday and this morning. However when it came to qualifying, we just weren't able to put our laps together."



Photo Credit: Mercedes GP


Almost mid-way through the season, race teams of HRT, Lotus Racing and Virgin Racing are still presiding at the rear of grand prix events as they continue to search for competitive speed. However, in qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix, the speed differential between the teams have been closing. Within the top times of the top-23 Formula 1 times, 4.8 seconds separate much of the 2010 Formula 1 field.


Canadian Grand Prix Qualifying Results 2010 Formula 1

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

2009 F1 Champion Button Driving for McLaren in 2010

Photo Provided by Brawn GP/Mercedes Grand Prix

As the 2009 Formula 1 season ended just under a month ago, some radical off-season deals for the 2010 tour is already set to reform the grand prix starting grid. With the surprising announcement that Brawn GP operation morphing into Mercedes Grand Prix last Monday, indications pointed that the 2009 F1 World Champion Jenson Button would be housed under the new Silver Arrows banner for 2010. However, two days later, broadcasts proclaimed the reigning Formula 1 champion Button would be driving for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes outfit in 2010. Spending 7 seasons inside the team that evolved from BAR to Honda to Brawn GP in 2009, Jenson Button responded in a in Vodafone McLaren Mercedes' official release by saying “It’s always a difficult decision to leave a team when you’ve been there for so long. But life is all about challenges – and, most important of all, it’s about challenging yourself. So, although I won the World Championship with Brawn GP last year, and I’ll never forget that, I was always adamant that I wanted to continue to set myself fresh challenges."

Teaming up with 2008 F1 champ Lewis Hamilton for an all-British driver lineup, Hamilton has been very complimentary to the entrance of Jenson Button into the McLaren F1 team. In Lewis Hamilton's words, “I already know Jenson, and we get on very well together. We both really want our team to succeed. Although we’ll be pushing each other hard, I’m sure we’ll very quickly establish a great working relationship. He’s an exceptional driver: very controlled and very smooth, and he has a real depth of knowledge and experience."

Considering the timing of Jenson Button's move to McLaren and the intricacy of Formula 1 contracts, it would be safe to believe that the planned to switch teams well before the Mercedes-Benz buy-in to Brawn GP was made official.