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

Party time has officially begun... if you are Red Bull anyway

So, its now over, Sebastian Vettel is the 2011 world champion after finishing third behind Fernando Alonso and winner Jenson Button. Vettel is not only the youngest ever world champion, but the youngest person to defend his championship after walking to the championship with (so far) a podium in every race bar one and a phenomenal record in qualifying with pole in near enough every single race.

The RB7 has no doubt been the best car of the season and has been night and day quicker than anything else on wheels. Adrian Newey must now be known as the scourge of F1 as he has designed yet another car that has won the championship but surely this has to be one of if not the best car he has ever designed as the RB7 doesn't have the fragility that has struck Newey designed cars.

For Mclaren they have finally found the winning formula again after winning a track that everyone thought Red Bull would walk, however , like in 2010 and 2009, it has come too late and has cost them a shot at the title, but Mclaren really have been Red Bulls only consistent challenger this year due to the surprise lack of speed from the Ferraris.

It hasn't been a great season for Ferrari, in pre season all the signs pointed towards a very strong year for the Scuderia, but it was apparent early on that they were only the third fastest team behind Mclaren (whose pre season was shocking in comparison). After an early season shuffle and because of new regulations they were able to win in Silverstone but that has been the only highlight for Fernando Alonso and as for Massa it has been even worse.

Going into Korea we go into the real unknown as it is unclear who has the best package suited to Korea as the only race we've had at the circuit was severely rain affected so it should be a jump into the darkness, although it will be an even bigger jump when we go to India in the not too distant future.

So congratulations Seb, who is starting to rewrite the record books almost with the ease that Schumacher did in his pomp. Eight world championships for Seb by the time he's finished?

For Galahads brilliant circuit write up, see here http://cliptheapex.com/pages/korean-international-circuit/

 

[Viscount]

I'm thinking an unlikely feud developing between Liuzzi and Petrov.

They could be like Trulli and Sutil in '09, but I doubt they'll be near each other on the track often enough. But for Liuzzi's sake I hope they don't start a feud Petrov strikes me as kind of guy who'd settle problems himself rather than through the stewards.

 

[Slyboogy]

They could be like Trulli and Sutil in '09, but I doubt they'll be near each other on the track often enough. But for Liuzzi's sake I hope they don't start a feud Petrov strikes me as kind of guy who'd settle problems himself rather than through the stewards.

I agree, I tend to call Petrov the "skeleton man" since he looks quite scary, but in reality he is very friendly!

 

[mjo]

You have to wonder why this design flaw wasn't picked up during the years of planning...

I think the original plan was to have an ultra-long pitlane, right around the outside of the turn one runoff. But due to time constraints... I suppose they still could have changed it.

 

[Jos the Boss]

Just watching the replay on the red button - have they not bothered doing any more work on the track since last year? It still looks like a building site.

Because interlagos dosen't?

 

[Vortex]

Have to admit, I was expecting it to look totally different this year going on what they said last year. Guess they’ve got the GP and are satisfied with that, that or the money ran out after paying Bernie.

 

[KekeTheKing]

Beautiful weather in Korea this time of year huh?

They say it's supposed to be better for the race.

I can't believe they sent people out on slicks at the end of FP2. I guess it was because they just had to give them back to Pirelli anyway. It was pointless though.

 

[mjo]

Beautiful weather in Korea this time of year huh?

They say it's supposed to be better for the race.

I can't believe they sent people out on slicks at the end of FP2. I guess it was because they just had to give them back to Pirelli anyway. It was pointless though.

Apparently there is a 30% chance of rain for Sunday.

 

[steveg]

I agree, I tend to call Petrov the "skeleton man" since he looks quite scary, but in reality he is very friendly!

He looks like a serial killer. It's those eyes !!

 

[downforce]

Despite all his issues and the fact I have been highly critical of him I actually have a good feeling about Hamilton for this race.

 

[Cookinflatsix]

Brilliant stuff from Lewis, he should have had pole in Japan

Let's hope that team allow him to do a good job tomorrow

 

[Hamberg]

Let's hope Lewis allows himself to do a god job tomorrow!

 

[F1ang-o]

He looks like a serial killer. It's those eyes !!

IMHO He looks like he has finally realised.........
"People treat your kindness as a weakness & your honesty as a chance to take advantage"
Hope Massa's McLaren magnetised car.......doesn't get anywhere need LH.

 

[FB]

Tyre strategy will be very interesting given the way Red Bull went in qualifying.

 

[Dizzi]

Hadn't noticed in the flurry of excitement for pole that Massa has outqualified Alonso again, nice to see him fighting where he can.
An exciting qualifying for once, had no idea who of the top 4 would be on pole.
I thought Lewis would be a bit happier, very strange reaction after getting a pole, Whitmarsh wasn't exactly ecstatic either.

 

[Cookinflatsix]

Hope Massa's McLaren magnetised car.......doesn't get anywhere need LH.

Good thing is that almost immediately Alonso will be in front of Massa to act as a buffer to Lewis

 

[riskitall]

Brilliant stuff from Lewis, he should have had pole in Japan

Let's hope that team allow him to do a good job tomorrow

i think lewis will do a great job,but his team need to get his strategy right.they need to pit him at exactly the right times.
but lewis knows he has to get the job done tomorrow,thats one of the reasons why he didnt celebrate getting pole.

 

[Fenderman]

Something is going on behind the scenes. The whole mood of that press conference was subdued and it seemed very short. I know they don't stay with it very long, but still ...

 

[Cookinflatsix]

Even Jake 'that must be the highlight of his life, bye bye'

 

[Andrea_Moda_Rules]

Well, Well this whole weekend as seemed a little odd, fair to say RedBull on the Back foot a little and a good job by Vettel? Are RedBull trying to counter a weakness in there car with there supposed Race Stratergy, Or is it a cunning move that other Teams have missed?

I was feeling a little a cold about this GP but hey, To me it looks very very intresting.

Oh and I have the answer to the million dollor question about Lewis Hamilton's form recently........ I picked him in my fantasy Team. As soon as he leaves he gets Pole. Que a dominant race victory tomorrow . Doh!

 

[steveg]

i think lewis will do a great job,but his team need to get his strategy right.they need to pit him at exactly the right times.
but lewis knows he has to get the job done tomorrow,thats one of the reasons why he didnt celebrate getting pole.

Whenever Hamilton starts ahead the problem always seems to be that for whatever reason (usually tyres) Button gets his nose in front just before the first round of stops which allows him to pit first. This compounds the problem for Hamilton who's tyre struggles increase with having to do an extra lap while Button goes off on his merry way and the outlap/inlap differences. between them means that in the blink of an eye it goes from Hamilton leading for much of the first stint to being 10 seconds behind in the second stint.

I really do hope that this scenario does not unfold tomorrow as for me it's the Pirelli tyres - which simply don't allow for hard racing that are at the root of Hamiltons 'on-track' problems.