Grand Prix 2011 Brazilian Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

Only one more to go, better find those samba drums

After Abu Dhabi we move onto Brazil for the final race of the 2011 F1 season and for a lot of people it can't come quick enough, it's certainly been an interesting season with Sebastian Vettel and the RB7 dominating the year with the German breaking almost every record in the book.

But in Abu Dhabi his luck finally ran out. After taking yet another pole position he suffered a dramatic puncture at turn 2 of the first lap and had to retire with damage to his car making it unsafe and undrivable. This turn of events helped Lewis Hamilton put his demons behind him (and Felipe Massa) to take his third win of the season with a perfect drive finishing ahead of Fernando Alonso who brilliantly took second in a slower car.

For Hamilton it marks the end of a dramatic dip in form where he had lost his confidence and hitting everyone around him. He was on the pace all weekend and was unlucky not to take pole. In the race, despite pressure from Alonso, he didn't put a foot wrong all race to take his 17th race win and in the process leading his 1000th lap in F1. Jenson Button has one and a half hands on second place in the championship after taking a strong third place after battling with KERS problems for the first half of the race meaning he was unable to challenge Hamilton or Alonso.

Mark Webber was once again unable to step up to the plate after his team-mate retired and after battling with Button and Massa for most of the race, took fourth after a change of strategy in the middle of the race gave him the jump over the Ferrari who still is a long way off the pace and is more likely to fall behind the Mercedes drivers than challenge the leaders.

Schumacher and Rosberg had very quiet races but came through to finish 6th and 7th as they continue to have a massive gap in the championship between the teams above and below and they are almost running in their own formula of the middle of the points as they arent fast enough to challenge the Ferraris, Red Bulls and Mclarens, but are faster than the Renaults, Force Indias and Torro Rossos.

It was a rare point for Kamui Kobayashi who has had some poor races recently but took the final point for Sauber ahead of his team-mate to inch ahead of Jaime Alguersuari in the standings and at this point of the season, every point is crucial, particularly when contracts are up for renewal which is of utmost importance for a lot of midfield drivers.

Moving onto Brazil, a track where Red Bull dominated in 2010 with Vettel winning to keep his chances of his first championship alive and it was where Red Bull sealed their first Constructors World Championship. It was also Williams last pole position after Nico Hulkenburg shocked everyone to take his first pole.

This year things arent quite so complicated with both championships wrapped up long ago, but there are still a lot of scores to be settled up and down the grid, none more so than the battle for second in the championship with Button and Alonso separated by just 10 points. The newer teams will be hoping for a high attrition race so that one of them might scrape into 10th place and take their first point which would be worth millions to HRT, Caterham and Marussia. Brazil has been the scene of many a classic race (just ask both Mclaren drivers) and this years race should be no different.

For Galahads superb circuit write up, see herehttp://cliptheapex.com/pages/autodromo-jose-carlos-pace-interlagos/
 
The McLaren driver is sporting a special helmet design that combines his own colours with Senna's.

I wonder if that is a move to answer some questions about him copying his helmet off Senna. Can't be the most difficult combination ever, though, can it?
 
Yeah, it's going to take those helmet designers ages to merge this

lewis-hamilton-helmet.jpg


and this

Senna\'s helmet.jpg


:whistle:
 
What I hate about this race, is the mad pit-lane siren! >:(

Yeah that bits annoying but the racing is pure class around this circuit.

Loved the passion Jenson was showing in practice trying to get round young Razia's Team Lotus car. Reckon he could be in for one of his special weekend. We're long over-due one!
 
Weather!- 1000- Sunny Skies 1300- Sunny skies (0.5mm) 1600- Patchy Rain Possible (0.3mm) 1900- Light rain shower (0.3mm) 2200- Light Rain Shower (1.2mm)
Sunday
0100- Light rain shower (0.8mm) 0400- Light drizzle (0.2mm) 0700- Light rain shower (0.6mm) 1000- Moderate or heavy rain showers (4.4mm) 1300- Moderate or heavy rain showers (2.6mm) 1600- Moderate or heavy rain showers (4.6mm) 1900- Light rain (2.0mm)

Brackets mean the amount of rainfall, no rain=no brackets
 
Vettel. Again. If it stays dry during quali.
Wouldn't it be great if it was Barrichello-Massa-Senna on the podium? In that order?
 
I wonder if that is a move to answer some questions about him copying his helmet off Senna. Can't be the most difficult combination ever, though, can it?

No its not. Because he didnt copy Senna. His dad chose the yellow. He's done it out of respect for Senna (his absolute hero) and it will be auctioned for the Senna trust. If you look at the back it has the Senna S on it. He's also changed the interior to make it green like Senna's, all the others are black.
 
Anyone else remember a race like this? Late start, rain predicted in qually but never came and Mclaren were raindancing to save their lives? We all remember how that turned out!
 
Back
Top Bottom