Grand Prix 2012 British Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

After a Grand Prix in Valencia which was probably better than all the others put together it shows that F1 2012 is completely mad. For the first time this season there is a driver with 2 wins after Fernando Alonso benefited from a retirement from Vettel and any pressure from behind was gone when Grosjean lost drive not long after Vettel stopped. The big talking point came on the penultimate lap involving Maldonado and Hamilton which resulted in Hamilton being pitched into the wall and Maldonado lost a podium which seemed pretty certain as it was only a matter of time before he passed the McLaren who had fallen off the cliff.

Without the safety car it was likely that Vettel would have won at a canter as he was a long way ahead before the race changing event in the middle of the race, but he pulled up soon after the restart gifting Alonso the lead and he would keep this until the end of the race, and because of Hamilton's issues he inherited the lead of the Championship with Mark Webber's fourth place meaning he jumped up into second place. Perhaps the biggest shock of the weekend was a first podium for Michael Schumacher since his return to the sport in 2010. Both his and Webber's strategy meant they were able to come through the field and claim major points just like Alonso did as all three started outside the top 10.

Fernando Alonso's victory marks a dramatic turnaround in fortunes for Ferrari as he stormed to victory in a car which was barely faster than the midfield cars at the start of the season, but now the car is as consistently fast as the Lotuses and the McLarens, certainly in race trim anyway but not quite up to the level of the Red Bulls as shown in the early race but we've still yet to see a straight fight between Alonso and Vettel which would provide a true reflection of where the teams are at.

Once again Lotus had the pace for a victory and had Grosjean not have retired he could well have possibly claimed a maiden win for him and the team. Kimi Raikkonen spent most of the race stuck behind Hamilton which prevented him from having a shot at Alonso and by the time he got past there were just a few laps remaining and claimed a comfortable second place which he said underwhelmed him, although since when has he ever been anything but that!?

Looking ahead to the British Grand Prix the atmosphere will once again be fever pitch as McLaren could well be in their best position yet to compete for victory with the high speed corners suiting the MP4-27 and knowing the British summer it could well be a cool day which will suit the car even better and both Hamilton and Button will be fighting for the win. Jenson Button has had a horrid record at Silverstone with no podium finishes in the 12 years he has been driving in Formula One. Hamilton has a better record with podiums in 2007 and 2010 and a famous win in the wet in 2008 where he destroyed the competition.

I know that quite a few members from this site are going to the grand prix and I hope that you all have a great weekend, providing McLaren can nail down their pit stops there is a very good chance that a British driver could be at the top step of the podium, or who knows, if Lotus can finally find the sweetspot then perhaps an eighth winner can be on the cards!

For Galahad's brilliant circuit write up - http://cliptheapex.com/pages/silverstone-circuit/
 
KekeTheKing, I think McLaren are paranoid now after all that happened when Ron was in charge. Their attitude now seems to be, if in doubt don't, and that has rubbed off on to both their drivers.

Max did a good job!!
 
If a driver does six terrible laps yet still ends up with the top times then they can't have been terrible laps can they?
Racing is inherently dangerous & if the weather conditions get so bad the session is red flagged that's okay but keep the clock ticking.
I agree with you about F1 being unfair in many ways, that's why changes happen.
I'd have fewer but clearer rules...but then I'm not in the FIA!
Button's just not getting the rub of he green this year is he?!
 
What I meant was that a driver can do six terrible laps and one good one. Sorry I didn't make it clear enough.

Also earlier I forgot that Hulkenberg has a penalty so di Resta will not start eleventh.

Edit to add final sentence and save a second post. Second edit to get right driver. Must get some sleep one of these nights.
 
This is what Mclaren reported form Jenson on his car to pit radio at the end of P1. Make of it what you will...

“It's raining very hard in the final sector. Nothing I could do, I'm afraid.”
 
Yep. I feel Jenson's undoing in Qualli was, unfortunately, his own. Most cars were making up time in S1 and S2 and then losing it all in S3. Conditions were variable at different points of the circuit.
 
So how about this for a race plan?
Lights go out and Webber gets a terrible start again and is down to P7, Schumacher is P2 while Alonso leads away through Abbey but down the Wellington straight Schumi passes Alonso who goes wide, At Abbey, Hamilton has jumped Maldonado and avoids Webber but Maldonado understeers into Webber taking them both out instantly causing a safety car, Button gets a puncture from it while Grosjean gets part of Maldonado's tyre in his sidepod, overheats his engine and is also out. After the safety car, Schumacher pulls away and takes on the extreme wets, losing the lead while everyone else apart from Hamilton, Button and Perez pit for the extreme wets as well. Alonso leads but the rain gets heavier and he spins while Schumi comes and retakes the lead with Hamilton now up to 3rd, and takes Alonso on the Hangar straight. Perez gets through the field with JB following behind but the track dries again so they pit back to inters, Vergne tries slicks and puts it into the barriers, Alonso's tyres have burnt out and puts it into the wall at the exit of chapel while Raikkonen gets up to the final podium slot with Schumi winning from Hamilton!
 
I think, or hope, that a lot of people from the Silverstone organisers to the FIA will be taking a close look at the events of this weekend to see if improvements could be made r.e. the car parking situation and the qualifying rules.

Considering that enough time elapsed in Q2 for all the drivers to complete (multiple?) timed laps, and the red flag was solely for the weather, I tend to agree with the views of Eddie Jordan and Gary Anderson in that the likes of Perez had made the best use of the conditions fair and square, whereas the likes of Ferrari didn't and should suffer for it. I think maybe the rule should be changed so that if 17 drivers in Q1/10 drivers in Q2/3 drivers in Q3 (for example) have set a time then red flags solely due to weather conditions either a) are not issued, or b) don't result in the remaining time being "paused".

Things aren't looking great for McLaren, again. Hamilton slow on inters but quick on full wets seemingly. Does that mean they've gone for a full wet setup? Seems a bit pointless considering they're rarely allowed to do more than a lap in extreme wets before the red flag/safety car comes out... Button couldn't get a result in qualifying yet again, but he now has far more sets of tyres than anyone else, which is a massive (and unfair) advantage if it's wet tomorrow.

At the end of the day Alonso somehow ends up at the top of the stack, yet again...
 
Button is actually better on slicks in wet conditions and makes fools out of everyone because he goes a lot faster but with the British weather anything can happen in this race
 
In FP1 and 2 drivers weren't using full wet tyres because they don't get them replaced unlike the inters my question is why bother we all know the race wont be allowed to run in full wet conditions they will simply be following a safety car for lap after lap until the track is ready for inters, in fact why bother even bringing full wets just chuck them in the bin and have done with it...
 
So Pastor and lewis are starting side by side on the grid, that should be fun...

Also Jenson has been moved up to 16th after all the penalties have been awarded..
 
FB
I've just watched/listened to the end of Q1 again
Jenson comes in for inters..out on track 2 min.12 secs of session left..... has a good outlap & better times
Team radio ...to JB ...new inters we need three more tenths.
First sector...0.121 up
second sector 1.504 up

Glock goes off at s/f line

Button backs off, ...yelows waved at exit to club corner...
JB radio "It's amazing how much more grip I had on this tyre"

I am not defending Button....just repeating what happened

I do not like what has been happening at McLaren, but this doesn't alter todays events.



.
 
Yes F1ang-o it is a shame when a driver gets criticized for obeying the rules isn't it.

Even Brundle said he thought that Jenson should have kept his foot down and tried to get away with it and he should know better, much better in fact..
 
I think to be honest that Jenson would have a much easier time defending this qualifying if it was not off the back of his recent run. It strikes me that based on the radio conversation he was unable to improve, and the waved yellows is something that occurred at the same time. I am not sure Jenson has mentioned the yellows as a reason yet has he?

That said, I think the car had more inherent pace than he showed, so may be better in the race, although that has not really been the case recently, I guess it is going to depend on the weather, I think both McLarens would rather it was dry..
 
I don't think JB got criticised for obeying the rules...
As I said I wasn't defendind Button, just saying what I heard............I like the truth.
My old Dad used to say "Two wrongs never make a right."
 
Yes and all the cars were losing out massively in that final section but with one and a half seconds in his pocket he must have lifted too much, as far as the flags were concerned, but like I said it is unfair to knock him for that, and Brundle was definitely critical of him for it...

Anyway it doesn't matter now and it does seem that the McLaren just isn't fast in those conditions I don't hold out much hope for either of them in the race..
 
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