Welcome back to the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi after a thrilling qualifying yesterday when Sebastian once again took pole with a fantastic lap.
As I said in qualifying yesterday the permutations are endless but one thing is for certain Lewis is targetting winning the race and the first corner will be very interesting. Of the first four Mark is in the worst position starting fifth and he simply has to pass Fernando to have any chance at all of winning the championship.
Red Bull have said they will "allow" Mark to pass Sebastian if he can win and Sebastian can't as the race unfolds. All the talk about we are racing for the team maybe put into question today if Mark can win and Sebastian can't but he is in front, hmmm.
Both Mclaren drivers are racing for maximum points for the team and the gap between themselves and Ferrari stands at thirty points going into the race and Mclaren seem to have second place in the bag if they can score at least some points. Whilst Lewis has a chance of the championship it is really out of reach.
According to Martin on his usual grid walk there are three hundred plus permutations as to who can win but at the end of the day it is now down to basically six drivers on the front three rows of the grid.
The grid walk was chaos with Kings, Queens, World Leaders from a host of countries and of course our Bernie and he has so much respect from the world's countries he can encourage major sponsors into the sport.
After eighteen races the tension on the grid is immense particularly for Red Bull and whilst Christian Horner says it is just another race that is bull****. The outcome of today will crown the 2010 world champion and there can be no higher accolade in the world of motor sport.
The track temperature as the cars leave the gird is thirty three with air temperature of twenty nine. The talking is now over and with fifty five laps round this 3.7 mile circuit this is going to be a thrilling spectacle.
Dusk looms over the circuit and the flood lights come on, hearts are pumping, revs are rising and Charlie sits above the grid and there off. What a dramatic start as Jenson jumped straight into second and whilst had a go at Fernando he dropped into third.
Then as the two Mercedes cars of Nico and Michael came together, Michael spun out and as Vitantonio came around completely unsighted launched himself over the top of Michael and both were obviously out. Out came the safety car for the first time today and that can change things as some cars came in to make their compulsory tyre change including Nico's Mercedes.
As the race unfolds the early tyre changes of Nico and Vitaly are coming play as Fernando is stuck behind Vitaly and the middle field runners are suffering. Lewis then pits on lap twenty four with Fernando still down in twelfth. Lewis dropped down to behind Robert and he simply has to pass him.
As it stands on lap twenty five Sebastian is leading the championship and after his tyre stop he came out putting Kamui and Robert between himself and Lewis. It is now getting tense amongst the top three as Jenson is lapping quicker than all of them as his fuel load drops and he has yet to stop.
Fernando is still stuck behind Vitaly who is driving brilliantly but affecting both Fernando and Mark who is still running twelfth and really not working out for him. Jenson is till running first and driving brilliantly and trying to take second in front of Lewis and maybe attack Sebastian if he can force the gap before his tyre stop.
Jenson was still on the super softs which aren't supposed to run that far into the race as he has now completed thirty seven laps. He eventually pits on lap forty and he comes out behind Lewis so the extended run on the soft tyres didn't work. Sebastian then went through in the lead and and on his way on lap forty one to the championship title.
Robert has still not stopped on lap forty three and frustrating Lewis and Jenson even though he has to stop make his compulsory stop to ensure he uses both sets of tyres.
After all the talk about swapping drivers around Sebastian went out into the lead straight away and he never looked as though he was to be headed and drove to the world championship and takes the accolade of being the youngest ever driver to win the highest accolade in motor sport.
Lewis came in second followed closely by Jenson and a fabulous one, two. The jubilation on the pit wall was a sight to behold and if any team knows how to party it is Red Bull. On his closing down lap Sebastian was quite rightly crying in the car as Christian Horner announced his championship over the radio.
On the winding down lap we saw Fernando shacking a closed fist at Vitaly for losing him the world championship and what on earth did Fernando expect him to do. He was behind Vitaly but he still had to pass Robert and Nico anyway. Sorry Fernando that was out of order, you lost because Ferrari got it wrong on the day.
Through the very smart line up of young ladies the top three drivers on the day progressed to the podium and there was a lovely atmosphere between the three drivers who are of course world champions over the past three years.
So as we leave Abu Dhabi and the final race of the 2010 season it is euphoria at Red Bull having taken both the Drivers and Constructors championships, the most iconic in the world of motor sport. Mclaren take second in the Constructors championship and a great season for both Lewis (fourth) and Jenson (fifth).
Fernando had a frustrating day but finished second only four points behind Sebastian and Mark also had a frustrating day behind Fernando and finally finished third in the championship.
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Sunday 14 November 2010
Saturday 13 November 2010
F1 Quali Abu Dhabi
At last we are here, the final race of the 2010 season and the climax to the eighteen race season. Welcome to Abu Dhabi and the Yas Marina circuit in the desert on the Yas Marina circuit off the coast of Abu Dhabi.
The constructors championship went to Red Bull in Brazil and their first of no doubt many. The drivers championship is a different issue with Fernando Alonso (246), Mark Webber (238), Sebastian Vettel (231) and on the outer edge Lewis Hamilton (222).
There are too many permutations to consider as the points are so close with only twenty four points between which is of course less than a race win.
The interest will be what happens in the race between the two Red Bull drivers after the well publicised comments from both drivers over the past weeks. Mark thinks he has been badly done to over the past races and Sebastian basically doesn't care about Mark's feelings and after Turkey can they be sensible and race for the right reasons.
Ferrari on the other hand have developed remarkably over the past races and Fernando has forced himself to the front when all seemed lost. Mclaren seemed to lose the balance of the car over the past races and Lewis's three DNF's haven't helped him at all. Realistically Lewis needs the front three to go off and that is expecting a minor miracle.
This will be the most important quali of the season for the top four and Lewis has showed he is ready to get out there and mix it up with the top three. He is of course very capable of winning this race but he needs luck to win the championship.
Here we go for the last quali of the season as the sun goes down at 1700 Abu Dhabi time, the track temperature drops so the drivers are struggling with tyre temperature, the flood lights come on and all is to play for at this spectacular circuit.
The first of the three quali sessions had all four of the top championship protagonists locked in combat switching around with Fernando two tenths faster than Sebastian. Lewis and Mark. Nobody dropped into the 1.39's but that will come I feel sure. Nico slotted into P2 and that could cause a mix up amongst the top four.
Jenson and Felipe were running in close support in fourth and fifth so its like 2 x 2 x 2 into the arc. We lost the usual 6 newer teams and the main loser of the top teams was Sebastian Buemi in his Red Bull.
Off into quali two and the first into the 39's was of course as Sebastian took off with the softer tyres. Both Mclaren's are mixing it up the front behind Sebastian and all of them are performing to the maximum.
Nico then again put in a stunning lap and slotted into P2 really mixing them all up at the front. Q2 saw Robert, Adrian, Nick, Nico H, Vitantonio and Jaime out of the pole shoot out. All five of the top teams are in the top ten and what can Mercedes and Williams do in the final shoot out.
Here we go for the titanic battle for pole in the most important session of the season in the fight for the championship. The teams are so close it is too close to call and we are now dealing in 1000's of a second and who will come out in front.
What a final session as Sebastian takes pole and that's getting boring as he always seems to manage pole when he needs it, Lewis was absolutely mighty and finished on the front row in P2, Fernando finished up with a great lap in P3, Jenson came in fourth followed by a lowly and out of sorts Mark.
The talking is now over and the race happens tomorrow with both Mclaren's mixing it up at the front and one has to say on the results of the pole session seem to favour Fernando for his third title.
Cannot wait for tomorrow.
The constructors championship went to Red Bull in Brazil and their first of no doubt many. The drivers championship is a different issue with Fernando Alonso (246), Mark Webber (238), Sebastian Vettel (231) and on the outer edge Lewis Hamilton (222).
There are too many permutations to consider as the points are so close with only twenty four points between which is of course less than a race win.
The interest will be what happens in the race between the two Red Bull drivers after the well publicised comments from both drivers over the past weeks. Mark thinks he has been badly done to over the past races and Sebastian basically doesn't care about Mark's feelings and after Turkey can they be sensible and race for the right reasons.
Ferrari on the other hand have developed remarkably over the past races and Fernando has forced himself to the front when all seemed lost. Mclaren seemed to lose the balance of the car over the past races and Lewis's three DNF's haven't helped him at all. Realistically Lewis needs the front three to go off and that is expecting a minor miracle.
This will be the most important quali of the season for the top four and Lewis has showed he is ready to get out there and mix it up with the top three. He is of course very capable of winning this race but he needs luck to win the championship.
Here we go for the last quali of the season as the sun goes down at 1700 Abu Dhabi time, the track temperature drops so the drivers are struggling with tyre temperature, the flood lights come on and all is to play for at this spectacular circuit.
The first of the three quali sessions had all four of the top championship protagonists locked in combat switching around with Fernando two tenths faster than Sebastian. Lewis and Mark. Nobody dropped into the 1.39's but that will come I feel sure. Nico slotted into P2 and that could cause a mix up amongst the top four.
Jenson and Felipe were running in close support in fourth and fifth so its like 2 x 2 x 2 into the arc. We lost the usual 6 newer teams and the main loser of the top teams was Sebastian Buemi in his Red Bull.
Off into quali two and the first into the 39's was of course as Sebastian took off with the softer tyres. Both Mclaren's are mixing it up the front behind Sebastian and all of them are performing to the maximum.
Nico then again put in a stunning lap and slotted into P2 really mixing them all up at the front. Q2 saw Robert, Adrian, Nick, Nico H, Vitantonio and Jaime out of the pole shoot out. All five of the top teams are in the top ten and what can Mercedes and Williams do in the final shoot out.
Here we go for the titanic battle for pole in the most important session of the season in the fight for the championship. The teams are so close it is too close to call and we are now dealing in 1000's of a second and who will come out in front.
What a final session as Sebastian takes pole and that's getting boring as he always seems to manage pole when he needs it, Lewis was absolutely mighty and finished on the front row in P2, Fernando finished up with a great lap in P3, Jenson came in fourth followed by a lowly and out of sorts Mark.
The talking is now over and the race happens tomorrow with both Mclaren's mixing it up at the front and one has to say on the results of the pole session seem to favour Fernando for his third title.
Cannot wait for tomorrow.
Sunday 7 November 2010
F1 race Brazil
So, welcome to Interlagos and the home of the Brazilian Grand Prix for the penultimate race of the 2010 season.
After the wet conditions in practice we are welcomed by a much better day and we hope this will be a classic race with the result taking the championship to Abu Dhabi. The mathematics for the top five are endless and all that I can really say is that if Fernando wins and Mark is below fifth then Fernando wins the championship so lets race and discuss the maths afterwards.
Jenson had an incident when leaving the circuit yesterday after quali as a group of young men bearing various items of armour tried to attack his car and quick thinking by his driver got them away from the incident without risk.
It appears a similar thing happened to the Sauber team but they weren't as lucky and they lost everything. All personnel were OK which is a blessing.
Nico Hulkenberg drove an excellent pole lap and finished some one second plus ahead of both Red Bull's to take his first pole position. The first for a long time for the William's team and with Rubens well up this could be another good day for the Williams Team.
The temperatures have obviously increased yesterday and prior to the start the track temp is 51 with air at 24. Nico Hulkenberg is in an unenviable position, his first pole, in front of the four leaders in the championship in the top five breathing down his neck and if he gets in turn one in front that could assist all four of them
Most of the top ten are starting on the Green walled softer tyres but will Jenson change his strategy starting from his lowly eleventh position as we know he can.
From the flag Sebastian passed Nico H into turn one and very quickly Mark went past also. Then Fernando passed Lewis and Nico H and after what seemed an eternity Lewis got past also. However, this put the Red Bull's well in the lead and split up the first four.
Jenson then came in on lap ten to change tyres and came out in tenth and in this race after all. Lewis then came in for his tyre change on lap twenty after complaining about no grip and he came out just in front of Jenson.
Lewis then started to lap quicker and quicker and his tyres should last to the end of the race. The Red Bull's tyres seem to be ok and the longer they go on their starting tyres the better they will be at the end of the race. Fernando then came in on lap twenty five and we await the Red Bull's to come in running line astern at the front.
Red Bull then responded to Fernando with Sebastian in first and Mark followed so the top four had know all changed tyres and we wait for it all to settle down. After the tyre change round it all stabilised at the front with around three seconds between the front two.
Mark is trying to hunt down Sebastian and he knows he won't get any assistance from him. Fernando is still over seventeen seconds behind Mark and Lewis runs some ten seconds behind Fernando.
On lap forty all the cars are still running which is excellent news as there have not been any accidents but then we lost the first car as Lucas retired his Virgin on lap forty five albeit he did come back out some seven laps down.
Then as Vitantonio came out of turn two he went straight off into the barrier and out came the safety car. Both Mclaren's then came in for tyres which will give them a lot of cars to pass to bring particularly Lewis back up to the fourth position he needs to retain his championship target going to Abu Dhabi.
After things settled down after the safety car Sebastian booted it from the front and extended his lead to Mark. Fernando was closing down Mark and Lewis was putting in fastest lap after fastest lap with his new tyres.
Jenson drove brilliantly and now running in fifth behind Lewis albeit not as fast. Into the final lap still only sixteen seconds covered the top four and the championship will be decided in Abu Dhabi.
The top ten were Sebastian (231), Mark (238), Fernando (246), Lewis (222), Jenson (199), Nico, Michael, Nico H, Robert and Kamui bringing up tenth.
So as we leave for Abu Dhabi Fernando still leads on 246 followed by Mark on 238. Sebastian leaves with 231 with Lewis 222 . So all is to play for in Abu Dhabi and Mark leaves Brazil the most disappointed of the top four.
Red Bull won the Constructors Championship here today and congratulations to them for this very young team who took on the might of Mclaren and Ferrari from their roots as Jaguar and Jacky Stewart's team.
After the wet conditions in practice we are welcomed by a much better day and we hope this will be a classic race with the result taking the championship to Abu Dhabi. The mathematics for the top five are endless and all that I can really say is that if Fernando wins and Mark is below fifth then Fernando wins the championship so lets race and discuss the maths afterwards.
Jenson had an incident when leaving the circuit yesterday after quali as a group of young men bearing various items of armour tried to attack his car and quick thinking by his driver got them away from the incident without risk.
It appears a similar thing happened to the Sauber team but they weren't as lucky and they lost everything. All personnel were OK which is a blessing.
Nico Hulkenberg drove an excellent pole lap and finished some one second plus ahead of both Red Bull's to take his first pole position. The first for a long time for the William's team and with Rubens well up this could be another good day for the Williams Team.
The temperatures have obviously increased yesterday and prior to the start the track temp is 51 with air at 24. Nico Hulkenberg is in an unenviable position, his first pole, in front of the four leaders in the championship in the top five breathing down his neck and if he gets in turn one in front that could assist all four of them
Most of the top ten are starting on the Green walled softer tyres but will Jenson change his strategy starting from his lowly eleventh position as we know he can.
From the flag Sebastian passed Nico H into turn one and very quickly Mark went past also. Then Fernando passed Lewis and Nico H and after what seemed an eternity Lewis got past also. However, this put the Red Bull's well in the lead and split up the first four.
Jenson then came in on lap ten to change tyres and came out in tenth and in this race after all. Lewis then came in for his tyre change on lap twenty after complaining about no grip and he came out just in front of Jenson.
Lewis then started to lap quicker and quicker and his tyres should last to the end of the race. The Red Bull's tyres seem to be ok and the longer they go on their starting tyres the better they will be at the end of the race. Fernando then came in on lap twenty five and we await the Red Bull's to come in running line astern at the front.
Red Bull then responded to Fernando with Sebastian in first and Mark followed so the top four had know all changed tyres and we wait for it all to settle down. After the tyre change round it all stabilised at the front with around three seconds between the front two.
Mark is trying to hunt down Sebastian and he knows he won't get any assistance from him. Fernando is still over seventeen seconds behind Mark and Lewis runs some ten seconds behind Fernando.
On lap forty all the cars are still running which is excellent news as there have not been any accidents but then we lost the first car as Lucas retired his Virgin on lap forty five albeit he did come back out some seven laps down.
Then as Vitantonio came out of turn two he went straight off into the barrier and out came the safety car. Both Mclaren's then came in for tyres which will give them a lot of cars to pass to bring particularly Lewis back up to the fourth position he needs to retain his championship target going to Abu Dhabi.
After things settled down after the safety car Sebastian booted it from the front and extended his lead to Mark. Fernando was closing down Mark and Lewis was putting in fastest lap after fastest lap with his new tyres.
Jenson drove brilliantly and now running in fifth behind Lewis albeit not as fast. Into the final lap still only sixteen seconds covered the top four and the championship will be decided in Abu Dhabi.
The top ten were Sebastian (231), Mark (238), Fernando (246), Lewis (222), Jenson (199), Nico, Michael, Nico H, Robert and Kamui bringing up tenth.
So as we leave for Abu Dhabi Fernando still leads on 246 followed by Mark on 238. Sebastian leaves with 231 with Lewis 222 . So all is to play for in Abu Dhabi and Mark leaves Brazil the most disappointed of the top four.
Red Bull won the Constructors Championship here today and congratulations to them for this very young team who took on the might of Mclaren and Ferrari from their roots as Jaguar and Jacky Stewart's team.
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