Force India Positive Despite di Resta’s Mistake During Practice

Force India have remained positive after practice at Suzuka, despite Paul di Resta’s incident in the early stages of the second practice session. After a productive opening session for the Silverstone-based outfit, di Resta dipped his front-right wheel onto the grass whilst negotiating turn 13 and embedded his car into the barriers.

This incident prematurely ended the Scot’s session, however Nico Hulkenberg enjoyed a relatively smooth second session as Force India continue to improve in the highly competitive midfield. Although Hulkenberg feels comfortable with the car on low fuel, the German has admitted that the team needs to improve on their high fuel performance before the race. Paul di Resta on the other hand feels he was too ambitious early on in the second session, which resulted in his unfortunate spin.

“The morning session was straightforward and the balance was good straight after lunch with the changes we had made to the car.” Explained Paul di Resta, “Unfortunately I made a mistake quite early on and was probably a bit too ambitious. I found myself with my two right side wheels on the grass and lost grip on the loose dirt. It’s a shame it had to happen so early in the session and it creates extra work for the guys tonight. You have to be on the edge to feel what the car is doing and sometimes these things happen, but hopefully it won’t cost us too much for the rest of the weekend.”

With both Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg hinted at being considered as possible replacements for Felipe Massa at Ferrari for next season, any errors such as di Resta’s spin could be detrimental in their quest to drive for the Scuderia. Both drivers have enjoyed decent results in the previous races, and are striving to continue their competitiveness this weekend at Suzuka after a bittersweet day of practice.

Picture Copyright © Getty Images

Bruno Senna Adamant Paul di Resta Deserved A Penalty

The Williams of Bruno Senna has remained adamant that Force India’s Paul di Resta fully deserved a penalty for their on track clash during the early stages of the Italian Grand Prix. The duo were battling side-by-side for 10th, when di Resta squeezed the Brazilian driver onto the grass and subsequently across the tarmac run-off area at turn 4.

Unlike Sebastian Vettel, who carried out similar tactics later on in the race to defend against Championship leader Fernando Alonso, Paul di Resta was not issued a drive-thru penalty. Although Bruno Senna respects the stewards’ decision, the Brazilian driver still believes the Scot should’ve been penalized for what Senna believes was driving reminiscent of Romain Grosjean at the Belgian Grand Prix.

“It was pretty clear,” explained Bruno Senna. “I had the front wing of my car next to his car and then of course the tyre under braking and he squeezed me off the track. We touched. Fortunately, we didn’t launch each other but for me a driver has been banned for a race for doing something similar to that and even Vettel got a drive-through penalty for squeezing Alonso off the track. It’s a stewards’ decision, so we’ll respect it, but I don’t think that what Paul did was right. It’s racing and sometimes we make errors in judgement but it’s up to the stewards to decide.”

As Bruno Senna rejoined the circuit after being allegedly forced off the track, the Brazilian driver nearly collected the unsuspecting Red Bull of Mark Webber. With no penalty imposed upon Paul di Resta, the Scot was able to continue and finish within the points, whereas Bruno Senna narrowly missed a point scoring opportunity and finished the race on 11th.

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Differing Views On Vettel Penalty After Italian Grand Prix

Both Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso seem have to different views on the penalty issued to the reigning World Champion, after the two drivers narrowly avoided each other during the Italian Grand Prix. Alonso was forced to take avoiding action as he tried to overtake the German through turn 3, running onto the grass in the process.

The incident in question was very much déjà vu for the two drivers, who were involved in a similar incident during last season’s Italian Grand Prix, in which Sebastian Vettel managed to overtake Fernando Alonso around the outside at turn 4. Unlike last season, Fernando Alonso immediately began to complain on the team radio, insisting that the German driver be issued a penalty for his alleged dangerous driving.

After several laps of deliberation, the race stewards finally imposed a drive-thru penalty upon Sebastian Vettel, who by then had been eventually overtaken by Fernando Alonso. This penalty was effectively the beginning of the end of Vettel’s race, as the German retired on lap 48 due to his returning alternator issue. Whereas Vettel dropped out of the race in the closing stages, Fernando Alonso was able to capitalize on the German’s misfortune and finish 3rd behind eventual race winner Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez.

Fernando Alonso believes the stewards’ decision was correct, and that Sebastian Vettel was on the limit as he allegedly forced the Ferrari driver off the circuit. However, Sebastian Vettel naturally disagrees with the stewards’ decision, stating he was frustrated with the harsh decision. The German then quipped that maybe he should’ve complained the year before, when the roles were reversed and Vettel was the driver skipping over the grass at turn 3.

“When I found myself fighting with Vettel I went off the track and, from then on, the car was not right.” Explained Fernando Alonso, on his incident with Sebastian Vettel. “It wasn’t nice bouncing through the gravel but, afterwards, I was able to overtake him anyway a few laps later. I don’t want to comment on the penalty he received, but what he did was definitely on the limit.”

“I obviously should have complained last year, just as he did today.” Said Sebastian Vettel, who failed to finish the Italian Grand Prix. “For sure I was frustrated as it cost me dearly but now it is water under the bridge. As I said I didn’t complain last year and I won’t in the future. That’s not my way of going about things.:

Regardless of who was at fault during the Italian Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel was unable to make any inroads to Fernando Alonso’s lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship. With Vettel now 4th in the Drivers’ Championship, the German will understandably be hoping the mechanical gremlins which plagued him throughout this weekend are conquered before the next race in Singapore.

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Narain Karthikeyan Spun After Suffering Suspension Issue

Narain Karthikeyan retired from the Belgian Grand Prix on lap 32 after spinning off at turn 15, ending what had until then been a positive race for the Indian driver. Narain Karthikeyan has confirmed that prior to his spin, he was suffering with suspension issues on his car, which materialized after his second stop.

After the huge incident on the opening lap, Narain Karthikeyan found himself in a very competitive 14th position, largely thanks to the many retirements and pit stops throughout the frenetic opening lap. After the restart, Karthikeyan naturally began to descend through the order, however he enjoyed many on track battles with the likes of Heikki Kovalainen and Charles Pic before eventually spinning off at turn 15.

With his right rear tyre bouncing down the gravel trap, many believed that the Indian driver had fallen foul of a loose tyre after his earlier pit stop, however Karthikeyan has since confirmed that he had been suffering with suspension issues since his second stop. Whether the suspension issues were the sole cause of Karthikeyan’s spin is unknown, however Pedro de la Rosa was able to finish the race in 18th and last position, after a bittersweet race at Spa-Francorchamps. The Spanish-outfit have no time to rest, as they join the rest of the F1 fraternity in immediately traveling to Monza for next weekend’s Italian Grand Prix.

Picture Copyright © HRT F1 Team

Tom Dillmann Holds Off Razia For Maiden GP2 Victory

Tom Dillmann has secured his maiden GP2 victory after a nail-biting sprint race in Bahrain, crossing the line only +0.1 seconds ahead of Luiz Razia. Championship leader Davide Valsecchi finished 3rd, after taking victory in the feature race yesterday.

Heading down into turn 1 at the start, there was mayhem as Esteban Gutierrez and Giedo van der Garde made contact. This forced the Dutchman into a spin, which in turn forced the majority of the drivers’ to take avoiding action as the Caterham spun it’s wheels causing smoke to waft over the other drivers’.

By the end of lap 1, Luiz Razia was already in 3rd position and was hunting down the iSport International of Marcus Ericsson. The Brazilian driver eventually caught and passed Ericsson into turn 1 on the 4th lap. The first corner incident between Gutierrez and van der Garde was now under investigation by the race stewards, however it was later announced that no further action was to be taken. Johnny Cecotto jr. became the first retirement, with what looked like a mechanical failure on lap 1.

The Swedish driver of Marcus Ericsson made the race even more difficult for himself, as he collided with a polystyrene brake marker which was on the track. This caused slight damage to his front wing, and he began to slip down the order thereafter.

After dominating the feature race, Davide Valsecchi was not having the sprint race all his own way, and was passed by the Lotus of Esteban Gutierrez for 5th place. Gutierrez then charged on and passed GP3 graduate Rio Haryanto for 3rd, as Valsecchi finally made a move on Ericsson for 5th place.

Davide Valsecchi then began his race charge, passing Haryanto for 4th on lap 12 before reeling in the Mexican of Esteban Gutierrez. Heading down into the tight turn 8, Davide Valsecchi lunged up the inside of Gutierrez, snatching 3rd place away from the Lotus driver.

As the race entered it’s closing stages, GP3 graduate Tom Dillmann came under serious pressure from Luiz Razia. The Frenchman never won a race in GP3 in 2011, and looked set to take his maiden victory in Bahrain. However, as the laps faded away Razia closed right up on Dillmann, with the two crossing the line on the final lap only three tenths apart.

With the scenario similar to that of the 1992 Monaco Grand Prix where Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna jostled for the lead in the closing stages, Luiz Razia tried his hardest to find a way around the 23-year-old Rapax driver. However, it was not to be and Tom Dillmann crossed the line in sensational style to take his maiden GP2 victory only a tenth ahead of the Brazilian.

Results - 23 laps:

Pos Driver Team Time/Gap
 1.  Tom Dillmann         Rapax                41m16.276s
 2.  Luiz Razia           Arden                  + 0.198s
 3.  Davide Valsecchi     DAMS                   + 3.958s
 4.  Esteban Gutierrez    Lotus                 + 16.488s
 5.  Felipe Nasr          DAMS                  + 18.602s
 6.  Rio Haryanto         Carlin                + 20.425s
 7.  Marcus Ericsson      iSport                + 26.294s
 8.  Fabio Leimer         Racing Engineering    + 29.605s
 9.  Fabio Onidi          Coloni                + 33.490s
10.  Nathanael Berthon    Racing Engineering    + 34.078s
11.  Nigel Melker         Ocean                 + 43.463s
12.  James Calado         Lotus                 + 44.371s
13.  Max Chilton          Carlin                + 46.743s
14.  Julian Leal          Trident               + 47.439s
15.  Rodolfo Gonzalez     Caterham              + 54.991s
16.  Brendon Hartley      Ocean                 + 59.764s
17.  Stephane Richelmi    Trident             + 1m00.655s
18.  Stefano Coletti      Coloni              + 1m02.090s
19.  Giedo van der Garde  Caterham            + 1m02.632s
20.  Ricardo Teixeira     Rapax               + 1m07.468s
21.  Giancarlo Serenelli  Lazarus             + 1m08.293s
22.  Jolyon Palmer        iSport              + 1m18.688s
23.  Fabrizio Crestani    Lazarus             + 1m26.049s

Retirements:

     Simon Trummer        Arden                   21 laps
     Dani Clos            Addax                   19 laps
     Johnny Cecotto       Addax                    0 laps

Picture Copyright © Glenn Dunbar/GP2 Series Media Service

Martin Brundle Off To Sky Sports For 2012?

Next year the broadcasting of Formula 1 in the United kingdom changes as the BBC will co-broadcast F1 alongside major sporting TV company Sky Sports. Sky have almost monopolized sport over the last decade as popular sports such as Football, Cricket and Golf have made Sky their new home and as of 2012, Formula 1 will be added to the growing list of sports covered by the company.

The BBC will still broadcast F1 next year as they plan to show 10 races live and the other 10 in a delayed highlights format that has yet to be announced whereas Sky Sports will show all 20 races live next year including all three Practice Sessions and Qualifying.

The highlight of this slightly controversial decision has now switched to who Sky Sports will sign up as their presenters, commentators and pit lane reporters. It has been highly speculated over the last few months that former ITV and current BBC commentator, Martin Brundle, is in talks with both companies over his future with the sport. He has tweeted saying that he has received offers from both companies and that he will be taking the weekend to decide on his future.

If Martin Brundle does join Sky Sports, how will that affect the BBC F1 Team, who have produced some of the best F1 coverage the sport has ever seen in their long and colorful years covering the sport, their first race coverage being the 1978 Canadian Grand Prix which was won by local hero Gilles Villeneuve and featured commentary from Murray Walker before being joined a year later by former World Champion James Hunt. Will the BBC take the offer of using Sky’s commentary, an opportunity that must be offered to them as part of the deal with Sky or will they continue with their own commentary minus probably the only true heir to Murray Walker’s throne in Martin Brundle? If this decision is taken it is understood that David Coulthard will be joined by Speed TV’s Australian commentator Leigh Diffey. If Martin Brundle does join Sky it is believed he will be joined by current colleague and BBC Radio 5 Live commentator David Croft who is renowned for his colorful and sometimes explosive commentating style. 

It is also understood that Sky are keen to have ex ITV and current BBC pit lane reporter Ted Kravitz and current ITV Sports presenter (and ex BBC and ITV F1 presenter) Steve Rider on their team, meaning that if this does become a reality that the BBC F1 Team will also be a pit lane reporter down, leaving only Lee McKenzie and Natalie Pinkham remaining.

Of course there are two races remaining in 2011, and there is a whole winter off season in which these various contracts will be flying ever other way before Sky can reveal their 2012 F1 Team Line-Up.