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

Got your breath back yet?

After an exhilarating grand prix which lasted for record time, it seems as if there is renewed optimism that Sebastian Vettel can be caught after a last lap slip in the moist conditions in Canada allowing Jenson Button to take his first win for over a year despite a turbulent race which included crashes with Alonso and team-mate Hamilton, a puncture and a drive through.

However, a candidate for most improved driver since the season started is a certain Michael Schumacher. Ridiculed early on after a poor start, he seems to have found the groove again and if it hadn't have been for the last safety car, he arguably would have gotten his first podium since returning to the sport, indeed he was closing the gap to Vettel and could even have taken the win at one of his favourite circuits. Now that he has overtaken Rosberg in the standings, is it time for him to push on and show that he is worth the 7 world championships to his name?

Another name that has been bandied about the press recently is Lewis Hamilton, after a disappointing race in Monaco, he followed it with a worse showing at one of his most successful circuits. During the race he hit everything that moved, and seemed to take the blame for most if not all of the incidents, whether he deserves the current criticism is another thing entirely. He knows he needs a strong showing in Valencia where he has finished 2nd on every single visit so far to the Spanish circuit.

It is the second home race of the year for Fernando Alonso, but it looks like he is going to need more than home support to beat the Red Bulls here, however an improved showing in Canada was masked by a clumsy incident with Button which punted him out of the grand prix. Felipe Massa had an overall strong race and recovered form an impact in the wall to finish 6th after beating Kobayashi in a drag race to the line.

Williams claimed their first points of the year finally with Barrichello claiming a handful of points while Toro Rosso managed to get both drivers into the points which will go some way into relieving the pressure on the two embattled drivers who will no doubt be looking over his shoulder.

Looking ahead to Valencia, it is easy for people not to get their hopes up about any exciting racing as the European Grand Prix here hasn't been known for frantic racing, particularly as the 2009 race didn't have any overtaking whatsoever, yes, there were 0 overtakes. But with a combination of two long straights and the new dual DRS zones, we should be seeing tons of overtaking into the hairpin, remember Kobayashi's overtake on Alonso late on last year.

No doubt Mark Webber will want to eradicate last years memories where he found that Red Bull literally did give him wings when he flew 360 degrees in the air after tagging Kovalainens lotus at high speed, seeing as this happened in what will probably be a DRS zone this year, I sincerely hope we do not see a repeat, while Webber walked away unharmed, it is never nice to see that happen in any kind of motorsport.

For Galahads superb circuit write up, see here http://cliptheapex.com/pages/valencia-street-circuit/
 
I expect there might be a few disappointed people after Q3 today.

I think Red Bull will still be right up there, possibly with a slightly reduced advantage.

You know Mr.Brogan I do believe that you may well be right.Notice that Mr.Hamilton is nearly 1.5 seconds slower
 
In fact, where it might compromise Red Bull and others more is the gamble of balancing engine settings to have a good quali and not to blow up in the race. Would love to see Vettel's engine go pop on lap 60.
 
You know Mr.Brogan I do believe that you may well be right.Notice that Mr.Hamilton is nearly 1.5 seconds slower

McLaren do not care about Pole Position, that is blindingly obvious. They run wing settings that are almost completely opposite of every other team.
 
Yeah we have been left to clutch at straws because of Webber. When a car is as fast as the Red Bull you have to hope the drivers can take points off each other, otherwise it is like the Schumacher era. Something just isn't right at the moment with Webber.
 
Normal service resumed?

Alonso looked to be on the ragged edge to make a 39.5 on primes and 37.7 on options....
.... while Vettel beat those by 8 tenths and 4 tenths respectively, with all the drama of an average ep of Eastenders :disappointed:

Not sure about McLaren, but if they're holding something back it better be better than really very good.
 
Vettel's lap time was the fastest ever at the circuit, including all previous practice and qualifying sessions.

He was actually on for a quicker time until he was held up slightly by a few other cars and the yellow flag.
 
The Pirelli tyre seems to produce really quick laps with degradation being the cost. Exactly how it should be.
 
I'm going to seriously stick my neck out and say...Lewis will get pole. :o I'd be happy if Mclaren and Ferrari just closed the gap though.
 
Haha...yep not surprising at all. I don't necessarily expect it, but being optimistic is part of the fun for me.
 
Vettel can afford to be aggressive in this race due to his massive lead in the points, even if he takes the life out of his engines, they can swap engines out in following races until the championship is secured, if the engines fail during the latter part of the season, they can take grid drops at the start of these races, accept mid pack points and still win both championships.
 
Go Bump and Crash! I actually like that nickname, with a bit of irony attached to it.
 
Only one hope for both qualifying and race ..... no incidents at that silly last-corner-come-pit-entrance combination.

Expectation - Vettel on pole and race win, others to squabble for the rest of the places in both. :yawn:
 
Nothing surprising there then.

Vettel well up on everyone else.

What a disappointing end to Q3 too with everyone aborting their last flying laps.
 
They need to sort out the way they broadcast qualifying. They always follow the first major driver to start their final run, rather than the most interesting. Then, on the timings at the bottom of the picture they show the driver they are following (obviously) and then whoever was second across the line. Vettel and Hamilton were 1&2 going into that crescendo but we got to see about 10 seconds of Vettel and nothing for Hamilton. Obviously they can only follow 1 driver, but they could give better information out. Why not rotate the drivers information on the bottom right. We are only looking for sector split times, so why not show the interesting ones as they come. I usually load up F1 live timings, but it was out of sync with what i was watching so i didn't use it, but it seems silly that i even have to.

The reason i'm talking of the coverage instead of the racing is because that was very some old...Will be interesting though to finally have Webber number 2 at the start, unless Horner doesn't let them race. Considering Mclaren's race pace it is great to see Lewis there on the second row. Wonder if Webber knows to look out yet because if Lewis gets a opportunity he will be coming up the inside, whether he likes it or not.
 
Back
Top Bottom