“Vettel stuns Spa – RBR-Renault start 2nd half of F1 season in dominant form.”
SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS
PRE RACE
Race day dawns across the Ardennes Valley. The weather has been wet for most of the free practice sessions and qualifying for today’s race – with waves of dull grey clouds rolling in off the surrounding landscape. Today, however, the weather gods have smiled on Spa, and whilst it is still fairly overcast in places, it appears as though there will be some respite from the inclement weather and we will see a dry race.
The driver steward for this weekend’s race is Nigel Mansell, a former F1 World Champion. There has already been a contentious issue for the stewards to deal with: the Hamilton and Maldonado incident in qualifying. Lewis Hamilton was on a “flying lap” or “hot lap” in qualifying, when he caught and passed the two Williams cars who were coasting along. The qualifying session ended shortly afterwards, and as Hamilton was cruising down the start/finish straight, Maldonado intentionally drove into Hamilton’s car… Fortunately not much damage was done as both cars were not going fast at the time; this in no way discounts the fact that Maldonado’s actions were totally unacceptable. The sanction that he received was to be demoted to start in 23rd position on the grid. The question as to whether or not he should have received a stronger punishment, such as being banned from the race, is open to further debate. You can draw your own conclusions on that one. If one recalls the Monaco F1 GP earlier in the season, Maldonado was in a very good points scoring position, in his first Monaco F1 GP, when Hamilton appeared to take him out of the race with an audacious and dangerous passing manoeuvre. One is hesitant to draw instant conclusions in these situations, but clearly these two drivers have a few issues which they need to sort out between themselves. Then again, in the extreme pressure cauldron of F1 racing, when the adrenalin is flowing, and a driver has milliseconds to make a decision, racing incidents can will and do happen.
START
Sebastian Vettel (RBR-Renault) sits on pole position after a brilliant Saturday qualifying. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes) and Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) pushed hard in qualifying, but in the end Vettel put in a stunning lap to claim pole.
The entire grid, with the exception of Button (13th) and Schumacher (24th) has elected to start on the soft compound Pirelli tyres. Schumacher (Mercedes) had an accident in qualifying after his car lost one of its rear tyres; and he was consequently unable to set a time.
A massive crowd has turned out to support this race. Moving seas of colour bedeck the various grandstands as the fans show their support for their favourite teams and drivers. The air is heavy with a sense of expectation and excitement: the anticipation steadily builds as the clock winds down and the start of the race draws closer. Can you feel it? Formula 1 is here, and is about to set alight the legendary circuit of Spa-Francorchamps with non-stop high speed racing action.
The start/finish straight is a veritable hive of activity as final preparations are made. Finally the 5 minute buzzer sounds – engines roar into life – the grid is cleared of all but the cars. Vettel sets off and leads the pack around the long 7km circuit. Each driver goes through his own routine of generating heat in the tyres and brakes: fast accelerations and decelerations, all the time mindful of the car in front of him.
Once more the cars are formed up on the grid, the slight adjustment to the angle of the car betraying which line the driver intends pursuing off the start line. Looking down the grid there is a slight diffusion and merging of colour created by the mirage of a heat haze generated by the exhaust emissions. The noise is terrific as 24 F1 cars prepare to scream down into the Turn 1 hairpin (“La Source”). The race stewards are satisfied; the five red light sequence begins… hold, hold, hold… lights out go!
We are racing in Spa-Francorchamps!
RACE
Lap 1
There is plenty of jousting for position as the drivers attempt to out-brake each other into the tight hairpin.
DiResta makes contact with Button.
Senna makes contact with Alguersuari (who retires with a broken front suspension).
The 2 Lotus Renaults make contact.
Shards of sharp carbon fibre body parts litter the track as there as more minor contacts throughout the pack.
Vettel leads but Rosberg takes him to lead to the race.
The Order on Lap 1 is as follows:
Rosberg leads, followed by Vettel, Massa, Hamilton, Alonso, Buemi, Perez, Webber, Kobeyashi and Petrov.
The racing throughout the pack is fast and fierce.
Lap 2
Alonso takes Hamilton for 4th position.
Senna pits.
Lap 3
Vettel takes Rosberg for 1st position.
Alonso sets the fastest lap: 1:56:493
Lap 4
Webber pits from 8th.
(Pit Lane time: 21,015s. Pit-stop time: 3,7s).
Button pits.
(New front wing after the contact with DiResta).
Lap 5
Massa is pushing Rosberg hard.
Alonso takes Massa for 3rd position.
Hamilton takes Massa for 4th position.
Lap 6
Vettel pits – from 1st – rejoins 8th.
(Pit Lane time: 20,898s. Pit-stop time: 3,6s).
The stewards are investigating and incident between Senna and Glock.
Both drivers are sanctioned with a Drive through Penalty.
The Order after 6 Laps is as follows:
Rosberg leads, followed by Alonso, Hamilton, Massa, Kobeyashi, Petrov, Sutil, Vettel, Buemi and DiResta.
Lap 7
Alonso takes Rosberg for 1st position – great move.
Buemi pits.
Glock pits to serve his Drive through Penalty.
Lap 8
Buemi pits to serve his Drive through Penalty – and retires from the race.
Hamilton takes Rosberg for 2nd position.
A good move in the DRS zone at 316km/h.
Vettel takes Kobeyashi for 5th position.
Alonso pits – from 1st – rejoins 8th.
(Pit Lane time: 20,994s. Pit-stop time: 3,7s).
Webber takes Alonso for 8th position – shortly after Alonso rejoined the track from the pits.
The Order after 9 Laps is as follows:
Hamilton leads, followed by Rosberg, Massa, Vettel, Kobeyashi, Petrov, Sutil, Webber, Alonso and DiResta.
Lap 10
Massa pits from 3rd position.
Alonso takes Webber for 6th position.
Lap 11
Hamilton pits – from 1st – rejoins 8th.
(Pit Lane time: 21,895s. Pit-stop time: 5,6s).
Lap 12
Liuzzi pits.
Rosberg pits – from 2nd – rejoins 14th.
(Pit Lane time: 23,090s. Pit-stop time: 5,9s).
The Order after 12 Laps is as follows:
Vettel leads, followed by Alonso (@5,671s), Webber (@4,513s), Hamilton (@3,750s), Kobeyashi, Sutil, DiResta, Barichello, Schumacher and Massa.
Lap 13
Alonso sets the fastest lap: 1:53:747
Hamilton crashes out, spectacularly blasting through an advertising board, after making contact with Kobeyashi. A bizarre accident, difficult to judge who was responsible.
The Safety Car is deployed to enable the marshals to safely recover Hamilton’s car.
Lap 14
Vettel pits – from 1st –rejoins 3rd.
(Pit Lane time: 21,411s. Pit-stop time: 4,3s).
Sutil pits from 5th.
Button pits.
(Pit Lane time: 21,756s. Pit-stop time: 3,5s).
Schumacher pits.
Barichello pits.
There is a flurry of pit stops as the drivers seek to utilise the advantage afforded by the Safety Car.
Lap 15
Riccardo retires.
Kobeyashi pits.
(New front wing after contact with Hamilton).
Lap 16
Racing resumes as the Safety Car exits the track.
Lap 17
Rosberg takes Massa for 4th position – good move.
The Order after 17 Laps is as follows:
Alonso leads, followed by Vettel, Webber, Rosberg, Massa, Sutil, Schumacher, Perez, Petrov and Button.
Lap 18
Button takes Perez and Petrov in the Turn 1 hairpin off the start/finish straight – awesome move.
Vettel takes Alonso for 1st position – good move.
Lap 19
Vettel sets the fastest lap: 1:52:281
Perez takes Barichello for 10th position.
Lap 22
Button is on a charge up the field as he takes Schumacher for 7th position.
Perez is given a Drive through Penalty (incident with Buemi).
The Order after 22 Laps is as follows:
Vettel leads, followed by Alonso (@4,401s), Webber (@1,961s), Rosberg (@4,469s), Massa (@0,635s), Sutil, Button, Schumacher, Petrov and Perez.
Lap 23
Button takes Sutil for 6th position.
Lap 25
Button takes Massa for 5th position – great move.
Lap 26
Button takes Rosberg for 4th position.
A good move in the DRS zone at 318m/h.
Lap 28
Liuzzi pits.
Perez pits and retires (broken rear suspension).
The Order after 28 Laps is as follows:
Vettel leads, followed by Alonso (@5,811s), Webber (@2,853s), Button (@7,658s), Rosberg (@4,931s), Massa, Sutil, Schumacher, Petrov and Maldonado.
Lap 30
Alonso pits – from 2nd – rejoins 4th.
(Pit Lane time: 21,243s. Pit-stop time: 4,1s).
Maldonado pits.
Kobeyashi pits.
Vettel pits – from 1st – rejoins 3rd.
(Pit Lane time: 20,780s. Pit-stop time: 3,8s).
Massa pits – rejoins 7th.
(Pit Lane time: 21,856s. Pit-stop time: 3,6s).
Rosberg pits – rejoins 8th.
(Pit Lane time: 21,171s. Pit-stop time: 4,0s).
DiResta pits.
Rosberg takes Massa for 7th position.
Lap 32
Webber pits – from 2nd – rejoins 4th.
(Pit Lane time: 20,947s. Pit-stop time: 3,3s).
Vettel takes Button in the DRS zone – good move.
Sutil pits.
Barichello pits.
Massa takes Schumacher for 7th position.
Lap 33
Button pits – from 2nd – rejoins 4th.
(Pit Lane time: 21,640s. Pit-stop time: 4,4s).
Massa pits – from 7th – rejoins 11th.
(A puncture shortly after his previous pit stop has cost him track position).
The Order after 34 Laps is as follows:
Vettel leads, followed by Alonso (@6,638s), Webber (@4,044s), Button (@3,951s), Rosberg (@6,856s), Sutil, Schumacher, Petrov, Maldonado and DiResta.
Lap 35
Schumacher takes Sutil for 6th position – great move.
Lap 36
Webber is catching Alonso.
Glock pits.
Lap 37
Webber takes Alonso for 2nd position – a brave high speed move in the DRS zone.
Lap 38
D’Ambrosio pits.
Lap 39
Massa takes Maldonado for 9th position – good move.
The Order after 40 Laps is as follows:
Vettel leads, followed by Webber (@6,135s), Alonso (@4,332s), Button (@1,287s), Rosberg (@28567s), Schumacher (@0,420s), Sutil (@9,989s), Petrov, Massa and Maldonado.
Lap 42
Button takes Alonso for 3rd position.
Schumacher takes Rosberg for 5th position – good move.
Lap 44
Vettel takes the win!
A great drive from the World Champion in taming the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
2. Webber (@3,741s)
3. Button (@9,669s)
4. Alonso (@13,022s)
5. Schumacher (@47,466s)
6. Rosberg
7. Sutil
8. Massa
9. Petrov
10. Maldonado
Retired: 19/24 starters finished the race. Alguersuari (broken front suspension), Hamilton (crash), Riccardo, Perez (broken rear suspension) and Buemi retired.
SUMMARY
It has been an exhilarating, very fast Belgium Grand Prix. Spa-Francorchamps more than lived up to its billing as a legendary high speed track. There was action aplenty: some of the high speed overtaking manoeuvres were breathless to watch. It is easy to see why Spa remains a firm favourite with drivers and fans alike.
Early in the race it appeared as though the RBR-Renault cars were having issues with their tyres, which were blistering badly in the front. The Ferraris were quick, and it looked at one stage as though Alonso would take the win. Strategy let the Ferrari team down; they chose to use the slower “option” or harder compound tyre near the end of the race. Button (McLaren Mercedes) had a great race: starting 13th and finishing 3rd. Schumacher (Mercedes) had an awesome race: starting 24th and finishing 5th. After a very poor start, Webber (RBR-Renault) drove a good race to finish 2nd. Maldonado also had a good race: starting 23rd and finishing 10th. Sutil in the Force India-Mercedes had a good drive.
Vettel was imperious, and drove a stunning race to secure the win. RBR-Renault has certainly laid down the marker at the start of the second half of the F1 season for the other teams. It was a commanding performance from them to finish 1st and 2nd.
Vettel salutes the crowd as he jubilantly gets out of his car in Parc Ferme. The beautiful Shell Grid Girls form an honour guard for the top 3 as they make their way to the podium. Vettel gives his now customary jump as he ascends to the top step of the podium – his joy at winning a great race is clearly evident. Adrian Newey represents RBR-Renault on the podium. The presentation ceremony is over and the formalities have been dispensed with – which means only thing – it’s champagne time! It rains Mumm champagne and Newey gets well soaked. This is Formula 1!
NEXT STOP:
The next race on the calendar is the Gran Premio Santander D’Italia at Monza on the 11th September 2011. Monza is another very fast track – tyre strategies and car setup will again play a critical role here. You can expect another high speed action packed race.
Written by Mark Batchelder, Road and Race’s F1 Connoisseur
Call me wind because I am aboslteluy blown away.