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/
 
I guess as usual everyone will have their own interpretation of the incident.

Hamilton fans will blame Massa.
Those who aren't fans of Hamilton will blame Hamilton.
Neutrals will toss a coin?

Same old, same old.
 
I am really losing patience with Massa, in-fact, I would actually be glad if he wasn't in F1 anymore from next season. In my mind he has just completely lost it in many different ways. He gives absolutely nothing to Ferrari - im sure there are many other drivers on the grid that could have got more points this season for Ferrari. I don't think he deserves his seat there at what is the most prestigious and famous team.

It's now been too long to keep on saying that the "old Massa" will come back. He clearly is not the driver he used to be and I think this is causing him a lot of frustration. He also has this abnormal issue with Hamilton where he would rather crash his car than let Lewis past. I always feel like if he is involved with Hamilton in the race, he will not play it clean or give Lewis enough room. This was quite clear today and he basically just turned his car into Lewis. I know Lewis has been guilty of causing some damage to Massa's car, but never has it been done in a malicious or intentional way.

All of the other top drivers can race wheel to wheel, Hamilton included. Look at Hamilton and Webber at Korea - they were side by side for over half a lap and it was clean racing. Hamilton has raced with Jenson, Alonso, Vettel, etc and they give each other room. Massa seems to be able to race with other people and therefore clearly sets himself a different set of rules when he is racing Lewis.

Two words Massa - unprofessional and unsafe.
 
Grand Chelem for Vettel - in case anyone didn't notice. Getting dull isn't it, shades of Schumacher and Ferrari. How many records could Vettel break this year?
Can he get most pole positions in a season this year?
 
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.

Isn't that more to do with the fact that Jenson's tyres are generally in better shape going further into the race? If you look at this year, for most races, either Lewis or Jenson has been faster than the other for the whole race, not just part of it.

Also, if Button is faster on lighter fuel then why is he generally out-qualified, or am I misinterpreting something?
 
It's a point I've made before Tranq and I don't have any evidence to back it up just my personal impression. Button appears to have a problem getting things hooked up in Qualie which Hamilton doesn't but, as you say, he probably looks after his tyres better which gives him better pace toward the end of a race. I don't think that explains it all though and Hamilton's obvious fragile mental state recently explains a lot as well.
 
Interesting to see what Davidson has to say on the Hamilton-Massa incident:-

"BBC 5 live analyst Anthony Davidson: "The two just don't mix do they? Lewis was on the inside and Massa just turned in. Massa knew Lewis was there and it was 100% the Brazilian's fault. After the race Massa will be complaining but it was a brilliant move by Lewis.""

This was before the stewards decision as well I think. I couldn't believe it when Brundle and Coulthard were even contemplating that it could be Lewis' fault on this occasion. People will know im a Lewis fan but hopefully also know that I say what's fair and look at the facts. Lewis has had a messy season and made some careless errors but on this occasion he just had someone drive into him, in my mind, on purpose. That is what has angered me so much about it.
 
That's something coming from Davidson, who definitely isn't Hamilton's biggest fan.

Regarding Brundle and Coulthard, several times this season they have blamed Hamilton only to reverse that opinion after the race (well, Brundle has), on viewing replays.
Sadly it's too late then as the damage has already been done on TV, so all everyone remembers is Hamilton getting the blame again from the two main BBC commentators.
 
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.

yeah i agree.normally lewis will be super quick untill his tyres start to go.but from the start today he didnt have enough speed.
 
I couldn't stop laughing when i found out he went the kerb again
He was just being plain greedy for lap time, no other reason.

He hit the kerb in qualifying and then again in the race - did any other driver actually have a retirement due to hitting one of those kerbs? I cannot remember, but don't think so. To let it happen once is careless, and to let it happen twice is a little unforgiveable. Again, this goes back to my earlier point where I said Massa does not deserve his seat at Ferrari anymore. I know it is harsh but I think it is pretty justified.
 
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.

i think its more to do with tyres later on in the race.because during quali with lighter fuel lewis is normally quicker.
also lewis didnt have the speed from start to finish which was strange.
 
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