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/
 
Karthikeyan was penalised for impeding Schumacher, so why was Schumacher not penalised for impeding Hamilton? And should Massa be penalised for causing an avoidable accident (since he compromised Button's flying lap by needlessly running over a high kerb and bringing out the yellow flags)?

Vettel should definitely get a grid drop for changing his helmet design one time too many, and Webber ought to be punished for not shaving this morning. And I'm sure I noticed Alonso's front wing flexing 0.002mm too much, which must be worth a sanction. All of which ought to put Lewis back on pole again.

Penalty Schmenalty.
 
"No penalty for Jenson Button, FIA deemed he had lifted enough. Also yellow was erroneously shown after accident by marshal" From Adam Cooper. So they are giving more emphasis to the fact that he lifted.

He must have been on for pole then if he 'lifted enough' yet still set a sector time in that shoddy no grip car that beat his team mates.

He must be gutted about that erroneous yellow flag.
 
If Karthikeyan was also on a flying lap, why was he penalised? Surely that's up to Mercedes to make sure the gap is big enough?
 
Presumably because his 1:34 was outside 107% so he didn't actually qualify, but was allowed based on FP times.
Therefore, he gets stuck on the grid after all penalties are dealt out.

Ricciardo 22rd/ Karthikayen 23rd due to the order of their penalties.
 
Well, normal service resumed in regard to Vettel taking another pole. Another win for Red Bull by the looks of it...

In regard to the penalties to Hamilton and Perez they had to be given. But to have the marshals waving flags and the electronic system, which were confusingly different, is bound to result in such incidents occurring. Either have one or the other - when going at 170mph through a corner is difficult enough without having to process this!
 
Be interesting to see how the Massa story develops.

He has had to revert to the floppy wing, which some claim is too dangerous to use for a full race as it could suffer a failure at high speed.

If he changes it though, in theory he should start from the pit lane as the other wings are different.
Ferrari of course claim otherwise.
 
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