Webber Wins Tight Monaco GP

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

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

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

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

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

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

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

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

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

Photo Credit: Eric Vargiolu/DPPI

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

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

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



2012 Formula 1
Monaco Grand Prix
Race Results

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

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.

F1 Finale in Brazil Nets Record 15th Pole for Vettel

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

The finale Grand Prix in the 19-race Formula 1 championship season of 2011, the Autódromo José Carlos Pace or Interlagos race track hosts a late November event which will decide what teams and drivers head into the off-season with confidence for 2012. At one time an early event on the Formula 1 schedule, the Brazilian Grand Prix was bumped to one of the concluding races on the grand prix circuit in 2004. Presented in a country passionate about auto racing, the races on the Interlagos track have a history for producing a memorable outcomes.

Won by four different drivers since 2007, the Brazilian Grand Prix's defending winner Sebastian Vettel will start from pole position. Time trial magic becoming patented by Vettel, the German driver flew to a record-setting 15th Formula 1 pole for the season at the 4.309 kilometer Autódromo José Carlos Pace track. Taking the lead in the Q2 session, Vettel piloted his Red Bull-Renault to a stunning Q3 lap of 1 minute, 11.918 seconds. Sebastian Vettel became the only driver in the Formula 1 qualifying session at Brazil to run under the 72-second range.

The 15th pole for Sebastian Vettel in his championship-winning 2011 driver title run beats the 1992 mark of 14 poles set by Nigel Mansell. While a nonetheless impressive feat, Vettel was aided by a 2011 Formula 1 season 4 races longer than the 1992 year's run by Mansell driving for Williams F1. Most impressive is the fact the 15 pole positions for Sebastian Vettel combines with the 3 races Red Bull Racing teammate Mark Webber scored the top starting spot. Losing in qualifying on just one occasion at the Korean Grand Prix, the Red Bull-Renault dominated 2011 Formula 1 time trials 18 of 19 races.

Beating some forecasts calling for rain, the final Formula 1 qualifying session for 2011 saw the 24-car field unleashed under dry conditions. Vettel's triumph in Q3 resulted in a time 0.179 of a second faster than teammate Mark Webber making it the 6th occasion that the Red Bull Racing team will dominate the front row.

While the first row is covered by Red Bull-Renaults, the second row for the 2011 Brazilian Grand Prix will feature the main rivals to Sebastian Vettel's otherwise conquering performance this season. McLaren-Mercedes cars in 3rd and 4th feature Jenson Button ahead of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton. The second place team in the manufacturer championship for 2011, rumours have surrounded the McLaren team's future engine supplier with mentions that Honda might want to return to Formula 1 powering the 8-time championship constructor.

The Ferrari of Fernando Alonso and Nico Rosberg's Mercedes GP car are deposited into the third row of the Interlagos Formula 1 event. Rosberg's teammate Michael Schumacher qualified 10th for the grand prix breaking into the final Q3 session did not record a time trial run.

Pleasing the hometown Brazilian crowd, two popular national sports names will start in the top-10 for the 2011 Brazilian Grand Prix race. Ferrari driver Felipe Massa returns to the Interlagos circuit where he popularly won twice in 2006 and 2008. In fact, the 2008 victory at the home track was the last race the Brazilian enjoyed at the top of a Formula 1 podium. Making his second Formula 1 start at Interlagos is Bruno Senna, nephew of two-time track winner and grand prix legend Ayrton Senna. Bruno Senna will start 9th for the Lotus Renault GP team in Sunday's race. Making has 18th Brazilian Grand Prix start, Rubens Barrichello emerged to a 12th place starting position becoming the third and final hometown hero at the final Formula 1 race of the season.

For Sunday's Formula 1 race, weather is expected to throw teams for a curve ball for race setup. Weather predictions have up to a 100 percent chance of rain and thundestorms hovering above the Interlagos circuit during race time. Race organizations such as Mercedes GP have expressed the need to keep their options open as weather conditions will become a challenging variable to teams and race drivers.

With 71 laps around the 4.309-kilometer Interlagos track, the 2011 Formula 1 will close out starting at 2PM local time or 11am Eastern time.


2011 Formula 1
Brazilian Grand Prix
Starting Lineup

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

Hamilton Takes Abu Dhabi Grand Prix After Red Bull Team Falters

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

 

The penultimate round of the 2011 Formula 1 season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was staged Sunday by a qualifying that saw Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel pull some magic to take pole away from the fast in practice McLarens. Capturing a 14th pole in the single season (equaling the 1992 mark set by Nigel Mansell driving the radically-advanced Williams-Honda), Vettel was on course to equal another benchmark of 13 wins in a season if he could take victory at Yas Marina and the next round at Interlagos in Brazil. The first two Abu Dhabi Grand Prix events has been a playground for Sebastian Vettel as he took victory in both races. With many factors in favour of Vettel's victory for 2011 at Yas Marina ahead of the grand prix, auto racing rarely cooperates with history.

 

Winning 11 races during the 2011 season, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix would not be another top podium run for Sebastian Vettel. On the start of the race, a right-rear tire puncture with Vettel's Red Bull-Renault dramatically affected the proclaimed 2011 Formula 1 champion. Spinning in the second corner of the first lap, Sebastian Vettel limped his car to pit road where it was officially retired. A monumental event within the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel's early exit from the race marked a rare moment in modern Formula 1. Not only was this Vettel's first race of 2011 where he failed to score a point but the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was the first time since the 2010 Korean Grand Prix that the two-time driver's champion's Red Bull-Renault did not finish. 

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

With Sebastian Vettel removed from the event, the second-place starting McLaren-Mercedes car of Lewis Hamilton inherited the race lead. While Hamilton's McLaren soared to the front, teammate Jenson Button immediately fell victim to a challenging Ferrari piloted by Fernando Alonso. Alonso took second place on the race track ahead of the first lap completion. Button fought an issue with his KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) hindering the Englishman's performance through the remaining 54 laps of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Behind Button through the event, the remaining Red Bull-Renault wheeled by Mark Webber campaigned the team colours in 4th place. Resorting to a three-stop strategy, Webber held off running the medium compound Pirelli tires until the last laps of the race. Running third at the time, Webber's lap 54 pit stop dropped the Red Bull Racing car out of the podium position. This grand prix was the first Formula 1 race of the season to be lacking representation by the Red Bull Racing team.

With exception of a few laps during pit stops, Lewis Hamilton flew around the 5.554-kilometer Yas Marina Circuit to a comfortable 8.4-second victory over Fernando Alonso. Leaving the Ferrari driver Alonso lonely on the podium, Jenson Button soldiered to a third place finish. As Mark Webber crossed the line for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 4th, the Red Bull Racing car was followed by the Ferrari of Felipe Massa along with the two Mercedes GP vehicles seeing Nico Rosberg ahead of Michael Schumacher.

An honourable mention in the finishing results of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix goes to the Williams F1 machines of Rubens Barrichello and Pastor Maldonado. Starting on the 12th and final row of the race due to an oil leak on Barrichello's car and a grid penalty on Maldonado's vehicle, both drivers made massive improvements to just miss the points-paying top-10. Brazilian Rubens Barrichello surged 11 positions to 12th while Pastor Maldonado climbed 9 spots to 14th in the final running order.

Capping the 2011 edition of Formula 1, the Brazilian Grand Prix is set for November 27th.

  

2011 Formula 1
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Race Results

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

 

Vettel Sails Through Yas Marina for Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Pole

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

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

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

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

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

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



2011 Formula 1
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Starting Grid

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

McLaren Tops Friday Practice for Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vettel's Sweet Path to 2011 Formula 1 Championship

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

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

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

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

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

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

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

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

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

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

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

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

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

Button Wins Thrilling Japanese GP; Vettel Claims 2011 F1 Championship

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

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

 

2011 Formula 1

Japanese Grand Prix

Suzuka Circuit

Race Results

 

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

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

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti USA

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

2011 Formula 1 Season
Singapore Grand Prix
Race Results

 

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

 

 

Italian Grand Prix Results with Fast Vettel Victory

Photo Credit: Andrew Ferraro/LAT Photographic

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

2011 Formula 1
Italian Grand Prix
Race Results

 

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