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/
 
Hamilton is a faster driver than Button no question. So why why why has Button been about half a second faster per lap all race. Hamilton's first stint was an absolute nightmare and even now (on Primes) he is off the pace. Ignoring the Massa incident I'm banging my head off a brick wall here - just what is going on !!
 
I've said it before, Hamilton is fast over a single lap and on the old Bridgestone tyres.

For some reason he doesn't do so well during a race with the new Pirelli tyres.
 
Well. Race as dull as ditchwater but what a great performance by each of the top 3 and Alguersuari and Schumacher need some special mentions again.
 
Interesting interview from Hamilton there.

Very despondent and basically confirming that Massa hasn't spoken to him for "a long, long time", despite Hamilton putting his arm around him on the grid and wishing him well for the race.

From the replays it's fairly obvious that Massa knew where Hamilton was but was probably hoping the penalty would go the other way, based on the fact that whenever Hamilton is involved, it's usually more than a 50:50 chance.
 
It was definitely a new interpretation on the rule... Massa had his nose in front.

As you know though I have consistently argued that the car alondside deserves at least a cars width, and that is how the stewards seem to have called it today.
 
I've said it before, Hamilton is fast over a single lap and on the old Bridgestone tyres.

For some reason he doesn't do so well during a race with the new Pirelli tyres.
I can understand Hamilton not being able to make the tyres last as long but his times were down even from the start where he's ususally fast which points towards some knd of set up issue similar to Japan. Seems Hamilton is struggling to understand the pirelli/driving style/setup combination. Either way as a Hamilton fan my frustration just grows race by race.
 
If the two cars had been the other way around and it was Massa who was half way up the inside and bumped Lewis off and Lewis got penalised opinions on here would be very different! Massa was hard done by.
 
If the two cars had been the other way around and it was Massa who was half way up the inside and bumped Lewis off and Lewis got penalised opinions on here would be very different! Massa was hard done by.

That's not true. I believe this hinges on Massa knowing he was there and fair racing. Massa knew he was there and he did not race fairly. Again. Bro was right with what he did.
 
Didn't Hamilton comment that the car was damaged post the Massa incident and he had trouble in the right hand corners? Also, on the relative pace of Button and Hamilton, I come back to the point I've made before - Hamilton faster on full tanks, Button faster as the fuel load lightens.
 
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