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

And so on to Spain, after the anti climax that was Turkey, it seems that no-one can stop Vettel as he marched to his 3rd win in 4 races and is in dominant form as we head to the Iberian peninsula. Despite the highest amount of overtakes since records began (126), a lot of people were questioning how authentic these overtakes were due to their artificial nature because of the DRS. The Spanish Grand Prix hasn't been known for its overtakes, indeed this is a track where more often than not, the driver who gets pole goes on to win so thats the race in the bag for Vettel. In 2010 the race was won by Mark Webber in the first of back to back wins from Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel. lewis Hamilton was on course for second until a wheel rim failure with two laps to go.

After a dominant performance in Turkey, Red Bull will be aiming at another one two in Spain, and on current form and given the nature of the track it is hard to see past the Red Bulls from extending their championship lead. However Ferrari and particularly Alonso have showed that Red Bull won't have it their own way and no doubt Alonso will be boosted by a capacity crowd all cheering him on. Mclaren planned to bring updates to Turkey but abandoned them and instead will introduce them this weekend to plug the ever increasing gap with Hamilton currently second in the drivers championship, over 30 points behind Vettel.

Mercedes were Jekyll and Hyde in Turkey and its not exactly hard to figure out who was who. Mercedes Rosberg has shown improved form recently and has been mixing with the Mclarens and Ferraris and with continued development, Mercedes will be confident of a top 5 finish this weekend.

Renault have seemed to have fallen back recently with Heidfeld and Petrov in the lower reaches of the points, their podium form of Australia and Malaysia now seems a distant memory and have now been overtaken by Mercedes in the development battle. In the midfield it is really tightening up as Toro Rosso have found a speed boost with Buemi claiming points in Turkey and Kobyashi coming from last on the grip to claim a top 10 position with Force India not holding the same level of competitiveness as the first few races with Di Resta's first DNF of his career.

While Team lotus didn't gain the jump that they hoped, they have high hopes that this weekend is the one where they establish themselves as a solid midfield runner while Virgin and HRT continue to fight it out over who gets the wooden spoon.

With the arguments over DRS raging on, no doubt we will see a circuit record of overtakes as cars breeze past each other down the main straight but if only one thing is certain it is that Red Bull will be right at the front barring major developments (or crashes)

For Galahads excellent circuit write up, see here http://cliptheapex.com/pages/circuit-de-catalunya/
 
  • Martin Brundle complaining qualifying secondary to the race. And that bears defecate in woods.
I'm sorry but say this but Qualifying been boring is much better, than having a boring race. This season's tyre reg's make races much more exciting and i thought that's what must people wanted to better racing. At times you have to lose something in one area to gain something in another area.
 
I'm sorry but say this but Qualifying been boring is much better, than having a boring race. This season's tyre reg's make races much more exciting and i thought that's what must people wanted to better racing. At times you have to lose something in one area to gain something in another area.

Absolutely agree. I don't think anyone has ever done a blog, forum post or comment on the web, nor written an article in the media about, the all time best qualifying sessions ever!
 
Well exactly, anything can happen at Monaco. Cars can be much more or less competitive than usual. Plus, the individual driver skill comes into play, so the drivers not in the Red Bull will gain there too; hint hint.
 
Canada's a Mclaren track so i'm expecting Jen's or Lewis to do well their!

But tbh I think this Red Bull car is too good and will do well at any track it goes to. So even if they don't win Seb or Mark are still likely to be on the Poduim. If things keep going the way they are i can see Vettel/Webber and Red Bull winning the championship 3 or 4 races before the season finishes, because other than KER'S related issues this season the Red Bulls releability seems rock solid.
 
I've just looked at the sector times. What's strange is how Hamilton and Button only set the 9th and 12th fastest sector 1 times. Hamilton was slower than Maldonado, Koboyashi and Buemi in sector 1. Quite strange. I wonder why that is?
 
What did everyone think of Brundles idea of fresh options to the teams in the last 5 minutes of the pole shootout?

I actually quite liked the idea although the teams would have to hand one set of softs back after so as not to gain an unfair advantage. Otherwise I liked it. All 10 drivers would surely go again in the last 5 minutes as well as the first.
 
I've just looked at the sector times. What's strange is how Hamilton and Button only set the 9th and 12th fastest sector 1 times. Hamilton was slower than Maldonado, Koboyashi and Buemi in sector 1. Quite strange. I wonder why that is?
Perhaps they are running more wing in the race than last year going for the grip over the straight line speed.
 
What did everyone think of Brundles idea of fresh options to the teams in the last 5 minutes of the pole shootout?

I actually quite liked the idea although the teams would have to hand one set of softs back after so as not to gain an unfair advantage. Otherwise I liked it. All 10 drivers would surely go again in the last 5 minutes as well as the first.

If thats the case then they'd simply not run in the first 5 minutes and save a set of options!
 
After the third free practice session today the engine of car number 09, driver Nick Heidfeld, was
replaced for a previously used one.

This engine is one of the eight new engines allowed for the 2011 Championship season and this is in
conformity with Article 28.4a of the 2011 Formula One Sporting Regulations.
After the third free practice session today the gearbox of car number 09, driver Nick Heidfeld, was
replaced for a new one.

As this is the first time a replacement gearbox is being used before the end of five consecutive Events
no penalty will be given this time according to Article 28.6f of the 2011 Formula One Sporting
Regulations.
http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/f1_media/Documents/esp-document-26.pdf

The Stewards have received a request from Lotus Renault GP to allow car 9 Nick Heidfeld to start the
race even though no time was set during qualifying.

In accordance with Article 36.3 of the 2011 FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations the Stewards permit
car 9 Nick Heidfeld to start the race due to setting a suitable lap time during a free practice
http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/f1_media/Documents/esp-document-30.pdf
 
Perhaps they are running more wing in the race than last year going for the grip over the straight line speed.

I think you misunderstood. I wasn't referring to the straight line speed traps, I was referring to their actual time around sector 1 of the track. They were much more competition in sectors 2 and 3, but strangle slow in sector 1, where there is quite a few high speed corners.
 
I said a while ago that qualifying was going to suffer due to the reduced number of sets of tyres now available.

Qualifying is a big let down this year, it used to go down to the last driver last year a lot of the time.
Now it's all over with half the time left on the clock.
 
I think you misunderstood. I wasn't referring to the straight line speed traps, I was referring to their actual time around sector 1 of the track. They were much more competition in sectors 2 and 3, but strangle slow in sector 1, where there is quite a few high speed corners.
oh right yeah I did I thought you meant speed traps, it still might explain it in part though, isn't most of the straight in sector 1?
 
The problem is in the last few years we have had a great qualy session and then a poor race, or the other way around. Still not found the happy medium
 
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