Red Bull's Vettel Rallies to Canadian GP Pole

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

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

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

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

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

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

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

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


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

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

Vettel Holds Off Raikkonen for 2012 Bahrain GP Win

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

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

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

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

Photo Credit: Sauber Motorsport AG

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

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

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

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

Photo Credit: Glenn Dunbar/LAT Photographic

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

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

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

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

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

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



2012 Formula 1
Grand Prix of Bahrain
Race Results

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

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

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.

Sebastian Vettel Scores First Ever Grand Prix of India Pole Position

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

 

Bringing the festival of Formula 1 to one of the most populous regions in the world, the Buddh International Circuit located in New Delhi hosts the ever Indian Grand Prix. A newly-completed entertainment complex, the 16-turn, 5.137-kilometer track tests the 2011 Formula 1 drivers and teams with several, sweeping high-speed turns and high ambient temperatures for late October.

 

A first ever visit to the circuit, many drivers got advance interaction with the Indian Grand Prix circuit by computer simulation programs including Team Lotus. Team Lotus driver Heikki Kovalainen commented prior to visiting the circuit, "There’s the obvious overtaking zone at the end of the long straight and then a few pretty standard medium speed corners but I think the main challenge for us is going to be finding a balance that suits the demands of T10 to T13, which is quick, and the hairpins at T3, T4 and T16. We won’t know anything about tyre degradation until we get out there, but whatever happens it’s going to be hot, probably a bit mad, but seriously good. I can’t wait!”

 

 

Photo Credit: Charles Coates/LAT Photographic

 

Allocated an extra set of tires for Friday practice, the real-life adaptation to the Buddh International Circuit resulted with the Red Bull Racing and McLaren F1 team leading the way. Among the hot and haze of the New Delhi climate, qualifying for the Grand Prix of India started with minimum air temperatures in the high 20 degree Celsius range.

 

Defeated in the Korean Grand Prix race weekend's pole qualifying session by year-long nemesis McLaren F1, Red Bull Racing is eager to restart their streak of pole which ended at 16 races. Immediately, acclaimed 2011 Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel took top position of the time sheets in qualifying. Lapping the race track in a 2nd fastest time of 1 minute, 26.218 seconds in the initial Q1 session, Vettel's Red Bull-Renault barely held off the charge of the McLaren-Mercedes of Jenson Button. For Button, the 2nd place in the session result required a last-second run from near elimination inside the first qualifying group.

 

The surprise in early Indian Grand Prix qualifying came with the Lotus Renault GP car of Vitaly Petrov vaulting to the 1st place spot in Q1 using fresh, softer Pirelli tires. While Petrov impressed with fastest in Q1, the second year driver for Lotus Renault GP would miss a top-10 placement in Q2 to Jaime Alguersuari's Toro Rosso-Ferrari. Due to a Friday practice infraction, Vitaly Petrov will be dropped an addition five-grid spots to 16th place.

 

Out of the HRT Formula 1 organization for much of the season following the European Grand Prix, Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan was suited up for the first Indian Grand Prix. An instant hit with his home country, Karthikeyan actions during qualifying neither impressed Michael Schumacher, Mercedes GP or Formula 1 race stewards. As Schumacher was making a flying lap late in the Q1 session, the HRT-Cosworth of Karthikeyan was deemed to have disrupted the qualifying run. The Indian driver will be demoted to the second-last starter for the Grand Prix of India as a penalty. 

 

Becoming the only driver to score a time under the 85-second barrier in Q2, Sebastian Vettel picked up nearly half a second on his Q3 fastest lap to command pole at 1 minute, 24.178 seconds. While the McLaren-Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton qualified second fastest following the Q3 session, the British driver will be starting in 5th position for Sunday's event. Hamilton received a three-grid position penalty by the race stewards after they deemed the McLaren F1 driver failed to slow for double-yellow flag. Thereby, the Red Bull-Renault of Mark Webber will be elevated to a front row starting position alongside teammate Vettel.

 

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and McLaren driver Jenson Button will start on the second row for Sunday's first Indian Grand Prix. In the race's third row, the penalized Lewis Hamilton starts alongside Felipe Massa's Ferrari which suffered major front suspension damage after hitting a corner curb. Nico Rosberg's Mercedes GP leads off the fourth row with Adrian Sutil and the Force India team giving their home country fans a reason to cheer.

 

Starting at 5 am Eastern time, the first Indian Grand Prix event is set to start under a hot sun.

 

 

2011 Formula 1
Indian Grand Prix
Buddh International Circuit
Starting Line-up

  

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

 

 

 

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

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 Makes Successful Last Minute Charge for Japanese GP Pole

Photo Credit: Nissan/Infiniti

After a season long dominance in grand prix qualifying, it appeared poised that the Red Bull-Renault could be defeated for the first time during the 2011 Formula 1 campaign. In a first set of runs for the 2011 Japanese Grand Prix, the McLaren-Mercedes cars of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button had gained the provisional front row. Ahead of both Red Bull Racing cars of Mark Webber and 2011 Formula 1 championship contender Sebastian Vettel, the McLaren team was determined to present something other than Red Bull Racing colours on a Formula 1 pole position. Not since Williams took pole at the Brazilian Grand Prix has another Formula 1 team car claimed top spot in qualifying.

 

Unwilling to surrender, Red Bull Racing would not allow the McLaren Formula 1 team to gain this pole without a fight. With only seconds left in the Q3 session, Sebastian Vettel crossed the start/finish line securing one final lap in the final 10-minute session. In a show of last minute brilliance, the Red Bull-Renault was guided around the 18 turns of the 5.807 kilometer Suzuka track to a superior final run. Crossing the finish line with a 1 minute, 30.466 second lap time, Sebastian Vettel took pole for the third straight time at the Japanese Grand Prix.

 

Making a final effort, Jenson Button displayed near equal grace as Vettel in the very late stage of Japanese Grand Prix's Q3 session. Driving his McLaren-Mercedes, Button missed the pole position by an alarmingly tight 0.009 seconds. The McLaren team shows up at Suzuka with a rear wing specially designed for the Japan circuit and appears to be on an even playing field with the Red Bull Racing organization.

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

Not withstanding the intensity of the final qualifying runs of Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button, action on the Suzuka track was actually quite humdrum during the day. Through Friday practice, Formula 1 teams have become increasingly concerned about tire wear of the Pirelli racing slicks on the Japanese track surface. Only six of the ten eligible drivers and cars in the final Q3 session actually recorded runs. Several teams chose to preserve their fresh, allotted tires rather than improve position in qualifying.

 

Starting 7th for tommorow's Japanese Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher was the leader of the four-car pack recording no times with a final qualifying run. However, in the case of Schumacher and the Mercedes GP team, the fact a run was not registered in qualifying was blamed on poor planning for the time to release themselves on track. Exiting the track behind Vettel, Button and Webber, Michael Schumacher would not cross the start/finish line before the 10-minute session clock clicked down to zero. A sluffu for one Mercedes GP car, the second car piloted by Nico Rosberg did not even participate in the Japanese Grand Prix qualifying session to due a hydraulic issue with his car.

 

For this race weekend in Japan, the Suzuka is likely to play host to another championship in a long-running heritage for the circuit. Entering into the Japanese Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel needs only to gain a single point in the Formula 1 standings to lock up the 2011 Drivers Championship. The second straight Formula 1 championship title for the young German driver will also be secured if closest points rival Jenson Button does not win the Japanese Grand Prix event.

 

Running during what is expected to be a wonderful sunny day, the 2011 Japanese Grand Prix will start at 3PM in Japan (translating to 2AM Eastern time.

 

 

2011 Formula 1
Japanese Grand Prix
Suzuka
Qualifying Results

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

 

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

V is for Valencia Victory by Vettel

Photo Credit: Nissan Infiniti USA

Presiding on a hot Sunday, the third European Grand Prix on the Valencia 25-turn street course

Coming into the European Grand Prix, motor racing fans previously watched the 2011 Formula 1 championship leader Sebastian Vettel perform a rare misstep at the Montreal street course. Getting loose at the end of the Canadian Grand Prix, Vettel slid his Red Bull-Renault allowing Jenson Button to pass for the top podium position. By taking pole on Saturday qualifying, Sebastian Vettel and the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team were ready to immediately set aside the final laps of the Canadian Grand Prix.

As the green lights dimmed to start the 2011 European Grand Prix, Vettel's Red Bull-Renault dash out in front of his teammate Mark Webber. For 57 laps, the German Sebastian Vettel drove flawlessly on the Spanish Sunday afternoon negotiating the Valencia 3.367-mile street course.

Chasing down the second Red Bull-Renault, the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso flew at his home grand prix. Starting 3rd, the Spaniard Alonso navigated by Webber on lap 21 using the DRS wing enhancement heading into turn 12. The Ferrari took second place at this point of the European Grand Prix but lost it through a pit stop exchange. As Alonso fell behind Webber on lap 29, The second member of the Scuderia Ferrari team Felipe Massa experience a race-hindering pit stop. On lap 30, Massa's Ferrari pit crew were slowed by a wheel nut getting jammed in a tire changing air gun. Taking over 8 seconds to change Pirelli racing slicks, the #6 Ferrari was displaced from the 4th place running Lewis Hamilton.

Into the European Grand Prix's latter stage, Fernanado Alonso's Ferrari regained the runner-up spot with a combination of the Spanish driver's considerably fast pace and other circumstances that slowed the #2 Red Bull-Renault. Through the final laps, Mark Webber was instructed by Red Bull team engineers to short shift through the gearbox's lower 3 gears. An attempt to ease the volatile state of the transmission, the maneuver slowed the Australian's pace late but allowed the Red Bull-Renault to soldier on to the third and final podium spot.

Unlike the carnage-filled Canadian Formula 1 race, every car that started the European Grand Prix crossed the finish line. The only moment of true anxiety in the race occurred when the Lotus-Renault GP driver Vitaly Petrov and the 7-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher collided on lap 15. Following the race, Michael Schumacher responded to the race changing incident saying "I saw Petrov quite late, even though I was aware that he was coming, and tried to brake as late as possible and go round the corner with him. But when I wanted to draw back, I locked the front wheel and slipped into him, which was clearly my mistake." Vitaly Petrov finished 15th in the race while Michael Schumacher (who needed to attend pit road for a replacement front nose and wing assembly) came across the finish line 17th.

Repeating the 2011 grand prix race domination shown by the reigning Formula 1 champion, Sebastian Vettel took his Red Bull Racing team to victory for his 6th time in the 8 races currently run on the world tour. As Vettel sailed to the European Grand Prix, he extends his lead in the 2011 Formula 1 driver championship by 77 points over the nearest position. The 2011 European Grand Prix did cause a shift in the second-place spot of the Formula 1 driver points. Mark Webber's 3rd place in the event gave him a enough points to tie McLaren's Jenson Button for the runner-up in the current standings.

Next for the Formula 1 tour is the July 10th British Grand Prix.

Formula 1

2011 European Grand Prix

Race Result

1. 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing
2. 5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
3. 2 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing
4. 3 Lewis Hamilton McLaren
5. 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari
6. 4 Jenson Button McLaren
7. 8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
8. 19 Jaime Alguersuari Scuderia Toro Rosso
9. 14 Adrian Sutil Force India
10. 9 Nick Heidfeld Lotus Renault GP
11. 17 Sergio Perez Sauber
12. 11 Rubens Barrichello Williams F1
13. 18 Sebastien Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso
14. 13 15 Paul di Resta Force India
15. 10 Vitaly Petrov Lotus Renault GP
16. 16 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber
17. 7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
18. 8 12 Pastor Maldonado 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 Narain Karthikeyan HRT F1

Friday Practice for Canadian GP Breeds Interesting Developments

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP

The 7th race on the 2011 Formula 1 championship calendar, the Canadian Grand Prix represents the only time this season the most premier open wheel racing series visits the North American continent. Situated in the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on an island off the coast of Montreal, 24 drivers and cars arrived Friday to start the race weekend with two practice sessions.

An accustoming site throughout 2011 is the Red Bull-Renault of Sebastian Vettel at the top of every Formula 1 chart (practice, qualifying and the race). Following the first practice for the Canadian Grand Prix, the sight of Vettel's Red Bull-Renault against the start/finish line stretch represented a rare mistake in a near flawless season. While Sebastian Vettel started the grand prix weekend on a sore note, the reigning Formula 1 World Champion immediately rallied. In the second practice session Friday, Vettel recorded the second fastest time at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve course. “Canada is a very unique place. It’s not a real track because it’s on an island and also used for public roads." Vettel said detailing the track which has hosted the Canadian Grand Prix since 1978. The German racer compares the race course to the Australian Grand Prix's track saying "It’s a bit similar to Albert Park in Melbourne, as it’s mainly used for traffic with a second function as a race track. It’s very slippery there, the asphalt is very smooth and we saw last year that tyre degradation is huge, but it’s always good fun to go there." Racing in Canada, Sebastian Vettel shares "It’s a great race, the atmosphere is fantastic and the fans are very special"

Fully prepared with a counter-attack against the dominant Red Bull-Renault, the Friday practices shined light on a possible change to the course of the entire Formula 1 season to date. In the first practice, Mercedes GP showed some serious muscle in Montreal. The German factory team's Nico Rosberg was fastest with 7-time world driving champion Michael Schumacher piloting his Mercedes GP to a third fastest run. The track where Schmacher holds a Canadian Grand Prix record 7 wins, the driver comments “Montreal is a great city to visit and the Canadian Grand Prix is always one of those races where it feels like the whole city gets involved and creates a really nice atmosphere. The circuit itself is very much a stop-and-go scenario with much of the focus on top speed and braking."

Separating the Mercedes GP cars was the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso. Alonso's teammate Felipe Massa also flew quickly around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for a fourth fastest time. In the second afternoon practice Friday, Alonso bettered his effort from the previous track session by placing the Ferrari at the top of the time sheet. Lapping the track at 1 minute, 15.107 seconds, Fernando Alonso was 0.369 seconds faster than the resurging Sebastian Vettel. Felipe Massa's Ferrari again was close to Alonso on the time charts just 0.494 seconds slower than the lead Ferrari Formula 1 car. In 4th and 5th, the Mercedes-Benz engined McLaren cars of Lewis Hamilton as well as Jenson Button were strong. In contrast to the strong showing in the first Friday practice, Mercedes GP team were deep down the session's results in 19th and 20th place.

A new ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix weekend was the health of Sauber driver Sergio Perez after a hard crash near the end of the Monoco Grand Prix qualifying. Given medical clearance to run the Canadian Grand Prix, Perez returned to the track Friday driving his Sauber-Ferrari. Posting a very respectable 11th fastest time, it became evident to the Formula 1 rookie Perez that his recovery was not quite completed. Sergio Perez will sit out the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix and the Sauber F1 team has sought the services of last season's team driver Pedro de la Rosa to substitute.

The top-four drivers and cars were separated by just a little over one second in the first practice but the gap decreased to 0.8th of a second after practice two.