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

In a case of after the lord Mayor's show, we are back to square one after Valencia served up another placid race with the same result - A Sebastian Vettel victory. Some people reckon that the championship will be decided at Silverstone as if Red Bull still win despite the EBD ban, that is the championship over and done with for this season, and it's hard to argue with that considering Vettel has only dropped 14 points so far this season after 6 wins and 2 second places, not even Schumacher in his 2002/2004 pomp started a season like that.

So we go to a circuit where 3 drivers hold as their home grand prix, lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Paul Di Resta, but the Mclaren pair go into their home race in low spirits after their update package failed to get them closer to Red Bull on a circuit where Red Bull were supposedly weaker at than other tracks, a feeling that has been reflected across the paddock with Alonso admitting that the championship was virtually over and it would be more productive to focus on 2012 and 2013.

Silverstone has recieved a massive redevelopment as part of the 17 year contract it recieved when Donnington couldn't come up with the goods to stage a British Grand Prix and the new addition this year is the pit lane complex which looks stunning and has really elevated Silverstone into the 21st century as one of the elite grand prix facilities, (and certainly one to show off to the other countries when they come here ;) )

With the rule changes this could be the most unpredictable race of the season however, as we saw in Valencia, if anyone can adapt to rule changes, it's Red Bull, Adrian Newey has often been able to pull a rabbit out of a hat when the chips are down so don't be surprised to see Vettel take his seventh win of what has been a remarkable season for the young German who has swept all before him and is now walking towards his second World Championships and joining the select few who have won back to back Championships.

It's been a curious couple of weeks for Ferrari, off the pace and then suddenly back on it in Valencia and once again (like Turkey) they are the second fastest team again when the car is in the hands of Alonso (although Massa didn't exactly have a bad race himself)

Further down the grid at Toro Rosso, Alguesari has proven a point to his critics after a points finish at his home race and his second points finish in a row, and if he wants to keep his race seat there, he needs more of where that came from as Ricciardo is no slouch and will want the second seat at Toro Rosso next year. Even Sutil in the Force India shrugged off his critics to beat his team mate to claim a handful of points to relieve the pressure on his shoulders, albiet for only a short while.

For Galahads superb circuit write up see here http://cliptheapex.com/pages/silverstone-circuit/
 
Incidentally the fact the problem didn't occur during FA's last stop would tend to indicate his car was indeed set-up for a dry race, and Vettel was probably honest in claiming he was suffering from the same problem because he stopped extending his lead after the first round of pit-stops, and instead began lapping slower than his pursuers, hence the exciting four-car battle we got at this period of the race.
 
That was quite sweet that move, also extremely dangerous by Maldonado to swipe across that closely, but then Schumacher just before Maldonado makes his move moves his steering wheel to the right...

Impressive
 
That was quite sweet that move, also extremely dangerous by Maldonado to swipe across that closely, but then Schumacher just before Maldonado makes his move moves his steering wheel to the right...

Impressive

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You know, I think it might actually be bit of an optical illusion at work there, Maldonado sticks to the inside line the length of Hangar straight, then makes a defensive move on the outside, but Schumacher anticipates and switches across on the inside.
But because he (Michael) changes line so rapidly from one side to the other it gives the impression Maldonado is moving across much more rubustly than he actually is... if you stick to the picture on the left it doesn't rally look particularly harsh at all...
 
The chart of the tyre usage is quite interesting. One thing that shows up is that Vettel's second option stint was the shortest in the race, yet the commentators said that his tyres were completely shot.

Rosberg and Heidfeld managed 22 laps each on their second (and final) sets, Heidfled also did 22 laps on his first option stint, whilst Schumacher did a 22 lap stint followed by a 20 lap stint.

Also I overtook the Pirelli Formula 1 tyre lorry on the M25 about 10:30 am yesterday (Tuesday). Not a lot of people know that.
 
Just downloaded my pictures. This was about the only decent one with my £50 speshal compact...

Silverstone Wing.jpg
 
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