Vettel heads yet another Red Bull 1-2 in shortened final practice at India
Sebastian Vettel has headed yet another Red Bull 1-2 result during the third and final practice session ahead of the Indian Grand Prix, which was shortened by 20 minutes due to visibility issues. The duo were followed by the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso, with Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg a competitive 4th.
After a Friday dominated by Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull around New Delhi’s Buddh International Circuit, the teams and drivers returned to the track for the third and final practice session in a bid to finalize their preparations ahead of qualifying later in the day. However, the start of the third session was frustratingly delayed by several minutes after the heavy smog that had lingered over the track all weekend prevented the medical helicopter from safely operating. Eventually the session was started after a 20 minute delay, leaving only 40 minutes for the teams and drivers to complete their preparations before the all-important qualifying hour.
This led to a frenetic start to the third and final practice session, as the Sauber of Esteban Gutierrez eventually led out a long queue of awaiting drivers all naturally eager to return to the circuit. Whereas some drivers immediately returned to the confines of the pit-lane after an installation lap, others elected to complete timed laps. Esteban Gutierrez set the initial benchmark with a 01:30.709, before Mark Webber immediately rose to the top for Red Bull with a 01:27.879. The Ferrari duo of Felipe Massa and then Fernando Alonso then shot to the top of the timing sheets respectively, with the Spaniard producing a 01:27.792 to thwart his team-mate.
As the shortened session progressed, Mark Webber was quick to return to the top for Red Bull with an impressive 01:27.180. After a tough Friday around the Buddh International Circuit, McLaren’s Sergio Perez pushed beyond the limits as he missed the apex at Turn 7. However, the Mexican’s minor mistake failed to deter him from progressing during his next lap, as he stormed to the top of the timing sheets with a 01:27.136. Eventually reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel left the confines of the pit-lane to begin his preparations for the all-important qualifying hour, with Pirelli’s soft tyre compound bolted to his Red Bull RB9.
Although Fernando Alonso initially managed to return to the top with a 01:27.011, Sebastian Vettel was soon able to assert his authority over proceedings with a sensational 01:25.332 with Pirelli’s softer rubber at his disposal. The 26-year-old’s team-mate, Mark Webber, slotted into 2nd position as the final practice session neared its completion, therefore creating yet another Red Bull 1-2 at the top of the timing sheets. Whilst the Milton Keynes-based outfit dominated out on track, Nico Hulkenberg returned to the pits and ran over a mechanics foot in the process. Luckily no major injuries were caused, as Max Chilton spun out on track at Turn 6 but managed to continue.
As more drivers began switching to Pirelli’s softer tyre compound during the latter stages of the session, the times behind the Red Bull duo ebbed and flowed however no-one seemed capable of questioning their authority. Esteban Gutierrez was seen flying over the high kerbs at Turn 7 in his Sauber, with the entire front of his car raising into the air and crashing spectacularly back to the track without causing any damage. As the session entered its closing minutes, Lewis Hamilton was forced to run wide at Turn 12 after Romain Grosjean himself ran wide at Turn 11 and rejoined the track right in front of the former World Champion.
After a shortened session the checkered flag was soon unfurled signaling the end of the third and final practice session, with the Red Bull drivers’ of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber 1st and 2nd respectively. The duo were distantly followed by the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso, with Nico Hulkenberg continuing to impress in the Sauber in a strong 4th position. With all three practice sessions now completed, the teams and drivers will be frantically crunching the numbers before the all-important qualifying hour gets underway later in the day.
Pos Driver Team Time Gap Laps 1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m25.332s 16 2. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m25.892s +0.560s 14 3. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m26.105s +0.773s 19 4. Nico Hulkenberg Sauber-Ferrari 1m26.306s +0.974s 17 5. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m26.350s +1.018s 16 6. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m26.435s +1.103s 20 7. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m26.438s +1.106s 15 8. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m26.441s +1.109s 19 9. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m26.489s +1.157s 15 10. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m26.557s +1.225s 17 11. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1m26.635s +1.303s 14 12. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m26.641s +1.309s 13 13. Sergio Perez McLaren-Mercedes 1m26.737s +1.405s 13 14. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1m26.847s +1.515s 17 15. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m26.876s +1.544s 17 16. Valtteri Bottas Williams-Renault 1m26.883s +1.551s 15 17. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m27.259s +1.927s 18 18. Charles Pic Caterham-Renault 1m27.941s +2.609s 18 19. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 1m28.019s +2.687s 15 20. Giedo van der Garde Caterham-Renault 1m28.498s +3.166s 16 21. Max Chilton Marussia-Cosworth 1m29.094s +3.762s 11 22. Jules Bianchi Marussia-Cosworth 1m29.169s +3.837s 13
Picture Copyright © Pirelli
Mark Webber Fastest In Shortened Final Practice Session At Canada
Mark Webber has ended a shortened third and final practice session fastest overall for Red Bull, in drying conditions around Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The Australian ace produced the time in the dying seconds of the session, and was followed by Adrian Sutil in 2nd and Lewis Hamilton in 3rd.
Once again the teams and drivers were greeted with damp weather conditions around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for the start of the third and final practice session, which was frustratingly delayed for 30 minutes due to repairs being carried out on the barriers at Turn 11. This was due to a heavy incident earlier in the day during the Ferrari Challenge support event, and required a lengthy delay as repairs were carried out.
Eventually it was confirmed that the session would begin at 10:30 local time, and would last only for 30 minutes. This led to a hectic final practice session, as the entire field instantly took to the track on both the intermediate and full wet tyres in a bid to finalize their preparations for the weekend ahead. The Caterham duo were the first to take to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, with Giedo van der Garde in particular setting the initial benchmark with a 01:30.873. The times naturally tumbled drastically as the session progressed, with Esteban Gutierrez and then Sergio Perez rising to the top with the latter producing a 01:27.984.
Adrian Sutil then rose to the top for Force India, before former Canadian Grand Prix winner Jenson Button continued to lower the benchmark with an impressive 01:26.340. Esteban Gutierrez, Nico Hulkenberg and then Valtteri Bottas rose to the top, with the latter producing a 01:25.126 before team-mate Pastor Maldonado disposed of his rookie team-mate. However, Valtteri Bottas immediately bounced back with a 01:24.314.
Although the track conditions continued to improve, many drivers were unwilling to switch to Pirelli’s P Zero range of tyres as wet patches continued to linger around the circuit. Giedo van der Garde ran extensively wide at Turns 3 and 4, skipping across the grass and narrowly avoiding the tyre barriers. Nico Hulkenberg then rose to the top for Sauber, with the Hinwil-based outfit continuing to search for improvements after a disappointing day yesterday.
Felipe Massa and then Esteban Gutierrez rose to the top, before the entire field switched to Pirelli’s P Zero dry tyres for the final few minutes of the final practice session. Sergio Perez was the first man to do so on the medium tyres, however he soon switch to the super-soft compound as did the entire field. Felipe Massa produced the first fastest dry lap of the session for Ferrari with a 01:22.482, before Kimi Raikkonen, Pastor Maldonado and then Jenson Button continued to lower the benchmark on slick rubber with the latter producing a 01:20.520.
As the checkered flag emerged, the times continued to tumble drastically with Paul di Resta, Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton, Adrian Sutil and then Mark Webber all rising to the top. However, it was the Australian sensation who eventually ended the session fastest overall for Red Bull, after producing a 01:17.895 in the dying seconds of the session. Although the session ended in drying conditions, uncertainty still surrounds the weather forecast for the all-important qualifying hour later in the afternoon.
Pos Driver Team Time Gap Laps 1. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m17.895s 7 2. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1m18.248s + 0.353s 8 3. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m18.732s + 0.837s 7 4. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m18.977s + 1.082s 10 5. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m19.131s + 1.236s 6 6. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m19.457s + 1.562s 7 7. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m19.496s + 1.601s 6 8. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m19.750s + 1.855s 9 9. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m19.790s + 1.895s 9 10. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1m20.316s + 2.421s 8 11. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m20.596s + 2.701s 9 12. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m21.035s + 3.140s 12 13. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m21.364s + 3.469s 7 14. Max Chilton Marussia-Cosworth 1m21.652s + 3.757s 9 15. Nico Hulkenberg Sauber-Ferrari 1m22.021s + 4.126s 14 16. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 1m22.720s + 4.825s 15 17. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m23.058s + 5.163s 7 18. Giedo van der Garde Caterham-Renault 1m23.132s + 5.237s 14 19. Sergio Perez McLaren-Mercedes 1m23.309s + 5.414s 8 20. Charles Pic Caterham-Renault 1m23.620s + 5.725s 12 21. Valtteri Bottas Williams-Renault 1m24.317s + 6.422s 12 22. Jules Bianchi Marussia-Cosworth 1m26.195s + 8.300s 9
Picture Copyright © Getty Images
New Jersey Grand Prix Postponed Until 2014
The proposed New Jersey Grand Prix, which was initially scheduled to hold its inaugural race next season, has been postposed until at least 2014 following doubts surrounding the progress of what will become a street race incorporating the Manhattan skyline. The inaugural race was scheduled for June 2013.
However, after ongoing speculation with regards to the progress made on the construction and planning of the new venue by race organizers, F1 Supremo Bernie Ecclestone has officially confirmed that the race will be postponed for one year. The race was initially planned to take place one week after the Canadian Grand Prix, and would finally see the United States host two races in a season once again for the first time since 1984.
“It is not going to happen next year,” confirmed Bernie Ecclestone to Eurosport. “If they came up with the contract with us and we were satisfied the question is could they carry out the work in six months? Winter in New York is not good.”
This sudden change of events leaves a gap in the 2013 Formula 1 calendar between the Canadian and British Grands Prix, which looks unlikely to be filled. However, with Bernie Ecclestone rumored to be striving to return the Turkish Grand Prix to the calendar, next season could still remain at 20 races.
However, due to the fact that the Canadian Grand Prix is considered a flyaway race, it is highly unlikely that any race would be able to tie-in with the gap now present due to the postponement of the New Jersey Grand Prix.
Picture Copyright © Getty Images
Fabrizio Crestani Fastest In Shortened Practice At Silverstone
Fabrizio Crestani has finished a shortened practice session fastest, as torrential rain brought a premature end to the opening GP2 session of the British Grand Prix weekend. With heavy rain lashing down upon the Silverstone circuit, three red flag delays were caused as the drivers struggled to get to grips with the sodden track.
The session started in torrential conditions, which only worsened as the session wore on. Stephane Richelmi was the first man out on track, as he led out a queue of drivers eager to sample the treacherous conditions. It wasn’t long before the drivers began to spin, with Esteban Gutierrez doing so on only his out lap coming into the final corner. Julian Leal set the initial pace for Trident Racing, setting a 02:24.395. Daniel de Jong became the next driver to push too hard, as the Dutchman spun his Rapax car. Fabrizio Crestani then went fastest, before the first red flag delay was caused as Ricardo Teixeira spun at the final corner and beached it on the kerbs.
The delay only last several minutes, before the session resumed with Julian Leal leading the pack out back on track. Rodolfo Gonzalez was the next victim of the horrendous conditions, as the Caterham driver was seen beached in the gravel on the exit of turn 14. Esteban Gutierrez then shot to the top, with a 02:24.207 before Crestani returned to the top almost immediately with a 02:23.035.
Fabio Onidi then brought out the second red flag delay, as the Italian driver spun his Scuderia Coloni on the exit of turn 4. Once the session returned to green flag conditions, it was Victor Guerin and Julian Leal who returned to the track first. It was Guerin who brought out the third and final red flag delay of the session, as the Brazilian driver spun and stalled his car on the exit of the final turn. Once the red flag was brought out, it was decided that the session would not restart due to the increasingly treacherous conditions.
The GP2 paddock will be hoping for better conditions later this afternoon, as the 26 drivers return to the Silverstone circuit for their qualifying session for tomorrow afternoon’s feature race.
Picture Copyright © Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service
Ryan Hunter-Reay Storms To Victory At The Milwaukee IndyFest
Ryan Hunter-Reay has taken his first IndyCar victory of the 2012 season, after a stunning victory at the 2012 Milwaukee IndyFest ahead of Tony Kanaan and James Hinchcliffe after a frenetic 225 laps around the Milwaukee Mile. Will Power remains in the lead of the Drivers’ Championship, as Hinchcliffe moves up to 2nd ahead of Scott Dixon.
The race was unfortunately delayed due to rain, however once the shower had passed over the Milwaukee Mile the race was able to get going. At the start Dario Franchitti flew into the lead from pole, opening up a considerable gap to Hunter-Reay in 2nd. Further down the order, Will Power was picking his way precariously through the pack after his grid penalty. The Championship leader made minor contact with Katherine Legge on lap 19, as Josef Newgarden peeled off into the pits with with fuel pressure issues. This then resulted in a drive-through penalty for the IndyCar rookie, who drove over a tyre gun upon exiting his pit.
On lap 65 Dario Franchitti joined many on entering pit road under green flag conditions, thus handing the lead down to Helio Castroneves. Only moments after making his stop, Simona de Silvestro brought out the first full course caution as the Swiss Miss spun her Lotus-powered car on track. Under yellow flag conditions, the top four of Castroneves, Hinchcliffe, Dixon and Power peeled off into the pits to make their first pit-stops.
As the race returned to green flag conditions, EJ Viso led away at the front. Whilst the Venezuelan driver enjoyed his time out front, Target Chip Ganassi team-mates Franchitti and Dixon came perilously close as the Kiwi finally made a move stick on his British team-mate.
The race was run under green flag conditions for only 16 laps before Justin Wilson brought out the second caution as his engine expired in spectacular fashion with smoke billowing out of the rear of his car. Upon stopping at the side of the track, Wilson’s car then proceeded to catch fire at the rear, as the Briton frantically jumped out of his car.
Whilst the safety car controlled the race at the front, the majority of the field pitted under caution. Castroneves returned to the front, as the Brazilian driver failed to pit with the rest of the pack. The restart was aborted for one extra lap, as the cars failed to line-up correctly.
As Castroneves led at the front, albeit without pitting, a further caution was caused only moments later when Takuma Sato collected James Jakes as both drivers ended up slamming out of the race and into the wall. JR Hildebrand also retired with a separate mechanical issue on his car.
The race once again restarted on lap 122, as Helio Castroneves continued his dominance at the front. Scott Dixon’s race was ruined after IndyCar officials handed the Kiwi a harsh drive-through penalty for allegedly jumping the restart. However, out on track Ryan Hunter-Reay simply glided past the Penske of Castroneves as the Brazilian’s tyres began to wear out. As the race continued under green flag conditions, many front running drivers were forced to make green flag pit-stops, however on lap 182 the fourth full course caution was caused as light rain began reportedly falling at certain points on the track.
This brief caution lasted only a handful of laps, as Hunter-Reay continued to lead at the front as the race was resumed on lap 192. However, it was only two laps later when a shocking development occurred when reigning Series Champion Dario Franchitti was seen in the wall, bringing out the fifth full course caution. Only moments beforehand Franchitti was seen rubbing wheels with Ryan Briscoe, as the Australian driver failed to notice the Briton on the inside. Further replays suggested that Franchitti’s incident was caused by a failure on the car, possibly suspension related.
Once the race was resumed on lap 201, it was ran incident free until the end as Ryan Hunter-Reay soared to his fourth IndyCar career victory. This was also the first win for an American driver in the 2012 season, the first since Ed Carpenter at last years Kentucky Indy 300.
The IZOD IndyCar fraternity now gears up for another back-to-back race weekend, as next weekend the teams and drivers head to the Iowa Speedway for the 2012 Iowa Corn Indy 250. Marco Andretti won last years race, ahead of Tony Kanaan and Scott Dixon.
Picture Copyright © Getty Images
Barcelona Day 2 – Afternoon Session – Grosjean Fastest Again
The French contingent of the 2012 Formula 1 grid have dominated the proceedings of the second day of testing at the Circuit de Catalunya, with Jean-Eric Vergne and Romain Grosjean ending each session fastest respectively.
The morning session was delayed by 30 minutes due to heavy fog, and because of this delay an extra 30 minutes was added to the end of the day. The morning session was plagued with seven red flag delays, with everything from debris on the track to cars embedding themselves in the gravel keeping the track marshals busy.
As with the week so far, the majority of the teams focused extensively on race simulations, with Jean-Eric Vergne’s time from the morning period going unbeaten for the majority of the afternoon.
However, it was fellow countryman Romain Grosjean who finally went top. The Lotus driver completed a 60-lap race simulation early on in the afternoon period, before switching to faster runs. It was whilst he was completing these faster runs that he set a 01:22.614.
The Toro Rosso of Jean-Eric Vergne caught fire momentarily towards the end of the morning period, which forced the rookie to sit out the majority of the afternoon session as the mechanics fixed the issue. Vergne was able to return to the track with roughly 30 minutes to go, however he was restricted to completing pit-stop practice only.
Sebastian Vettel was another driver who improved in the afternoon session, as the reigning World Champion went 3rd with a 01:23.361. Sauber suffered from a hydraulic leak in the afternoon period, restricting their track time. Kamui Kobayashi completed 77 laps in total, ending the day 6th fastest +1.222 seconds off the the pace.
The test session continues tomorrow, as pre-season testing enters its final two days before the teams head off for the season opening Australian Grand Prix.
Today’s times:
Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Grosjean Lotus 1m22.614s 123 2. Vergne Toro Rosso 1m23.126s +0.512 31 3. Vettel Red Bull 1m23.361s +0.747 85 4. Alonso Ferrari 1m23.447s +0.833 124 5. Kovalainen Caterham 1m23.828s +1.214 104 6. Kobayashi Sauber 1m23.836s +1.222 77 7. Hulkenberg Force India 1m23.893s +1.279 33 8. Schumacher Mercedes 1m23.978s +1.364 79 9. Hamilton McLaren 1m24.111s +1.497 65 10. Senna Williams 1m24.925s +2.311 48 11. Maldonado Williams 1m25.801s +3.187 20
F1 News 24/7
Andy's GP Blog 