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

Is the season over yet?

Unfortunately the answer is no as the F1 circus rumbles onto India for a brand new track, but after problems with the construction of the track, there is a degree of hesitation as not everyone is overjoyed about the prospect of a race there at the current moment in time. Added to the fact that it is another Tilke track, many fans aren't optimistic for an exciting race, but we've been proven wrong before. After all, we thought 2011 would be a close championship!!

Red Bull reasserted itself as the best car on the track after a dominant win in Korea with Vettel taking yet another win as he continues to rewrite the record books in the same way as Schumacher used to, just not as controversially as the elder German. Mark Webber had his strongest races recently pushing Hamilton very hard for second place, perhaps showing that he still has it for next season.

Hamilton put a long list of poor races behind to finish second in Korea after taking his first pole position of the season and it turned out after the race that he was running with tyre bits in the front wing which was costing a good couple a tenths a lap, something which would surely have cost him a true crack at a third race victory of the season, but at the very least it shows that he's getting back to his best, but a split with his partner might explain a less than happy mood recently.

Ferrari are constantly lingering as the team behind the top 2 and they are almost in a race with themselves as they are far quicker than Mercedes but not quick enough (mainly Massa) to challenge the Red Bulls and Mclarens for victories, particularly on a consistent basis after the problems with the EBD after Silverstone.

In the midfield there is a serious log jam as Mercedes, Renault, Force India, Sauber and Toro Rosso fight over points and championship places as a lot of money is at stake for 4th-8th in the championship and it's probably the best place to see action at the moment as the racing has been close and extremely well fought with different cars being better at each different circuit with none having the best all round package of the 5 teams. Now even Team lotus is getting involved in the action as they are starting to beat some of these cars on pure pace which will no doubt please the owners, and Kovalainen beating Petrov on pure pace in Singapore would particularly have pleased the team after the rows with Group lotus this season.

No-one knows what to expect from the Indian track, but early reports indicate it's better than previous Tilke tracks, but then it can't be worse than Bahrain and Abu Dhabi really.... We hope so anyway.

For Galahad's superb write up, see here http://cliptheapex.com/pages/buddh-international-circuit/
 
Horner isn't ruling out using team orders to secure Mark Webber 2nd place in the championship. Pathetic when it isn't even for the WDC, I really hope it doesn't happen in India on their inaugrual race as it could leave the fans feeling cheated and may put Indians off F1 entirely.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/95702

CH: OK, Seb. Mark. Is. Considerably. Slower. Than. You. Can you confirm you understand the message?
SV: Ahh, I get you.
CH: Cancel that last instruction, he's just been passed by Lewis. And Jenson. And Fernando.
SV: That's what I'm talking about!
CH: Sorry?
SV: I mean, that's really bad for the team!
 
Never have I heard of a driver especially a World Champion help their team-mate to finish second. There was an article on Autosport about this when Vettel won the World Championship, most if not everyone thought that Vettel helping Webber would be ridiculous including I.

Well, Horner begs to differ....
 
It would appear the circuit is being plagued with power cuts.
Like much of the sub-continent then! Load shedding (intentional) along with sporadic unplanned power cuts tend to be the norm, not the exception - so you'd think they would've thought of that and laid on some portable generators for the event...
 
Well problems like that are to be expected when a brand new facility is finished only weeks, even days before the race.

What would be better is if the track and everything had to be finished about 3 months before the F1 event and raced on a couple of times with lower formulas or amateur races or track days to discover any and iron out any problems so none arise come the main event.

Bit like what they say they should have to do really. :rolleyes:
 
Well problems like that are to be expected when a brand new facility is finished only weeks, even days before the race.

It's not even finished yet...

Going to be an interesting race I think. I read on twitter that the safety car was sliding all over the place because of the dust, and this was after they had swept it. I have a feeling practice is going to be a bit of a mess.
 
CH: OK, Seb. Mark. Is. Considerably. Slower. Than. You. Can you confirm you understand the message?
SV: Ahh, I get you.
CH: Cancel that last instruction, he's just been passed by Lewis. And Jenson. And Fernando.
SV: That's what I'm talking about!
CH: Sorry?
SV: I mean, that's really bad for the team!

Rocky: Sebastian drop back through the field, Webber is P11 and stuck behind Kobayahi
Seb: What? I can't hear you? Repeat that please?
Rocky: Drop back through the field until Webber is infront of you
Seb: Radio broke, I can't hear you
Rocky: Do your bit for the team, and let Mark through
Seb: No I don't want to pit, losing signal
 
Lewis top of the time sheets .:DOk its only first practice, but I can still enjoy it. Mercs looking good and er......a dog on the track, no I dont mean the HRT, I mean a real dog:o
 
Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez have both been given three-place grid penalties in India for ignoring double waved yellow flags.
The incidents occurred right at the end of FP1 after Pastor Maldonado had stopped with an engine failure at Turn 16, just before the end of the lap.
Hamilton the fastest lap of the session right at the end, while Perez also did his fastest lap of the morning at that time.
Vitaly Petrov already has a five-place penalty after hitting Michael Schumacher in Korea, so things could get a bit complicated tomorrow afternoon…
http://adamcooperf1.com/2011/10/28/grid-penalties-for-hamilton-and-perez/

Stupid reason to throw away potential pole and end up a few rows back.
 
3 place grid penalty? That is just stupid, I always thought it's a fine for a couple thousand pounds/euro, obviously a new penalty they just invented for Lewis
 
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