Red Bull Racing needs to act quickly to work out where it is going wrong, rather than keep 'shooting itself in the foot', if the team is to have a chance of winning the world championship this year.
That is the view of Mercedes GP CEO Nick Fry, who reckons that the favouritism row that erupted at last weekend's British Grand Prix over a wing swap is perfect evidence of how Red Bull Racing continues to be its own worst enemy.
Despite having had the quickest car this season, reliability problems, a collision between its drivers in Turkey and the row over swapping a front wing at Silverstone has left the door open for rivals McLaren to lead both championships.
And Fry, who has first hand experience of the trials that come from fighting for a title after helping guide Brawn GP to the crown last year, has told AUTOSPORT he thinks the management of Red Bull Racing needs to get a grip of the situation quickly.
"I do sympathise on the one hand with them," said Fry, who faced similar favouritism tensions last year when Rubens Barrichello hit out at the team over some race strategies.
"But one of the main points is to stop shooting yourself in the foot. Just looking at it from the outside, there seems to be a case of Red Bull causing more problems than they need to.
"They have clearly got the fastest car by quite a margin, and they should be way ahead of the rest of us, and they are not. So they do need to look at themselves and try and work out what they are doing wrong.
"They are beating themselves - which is very satisfying for the rest of us but it should not be what they are up to."
Fry thinks the time has come for Red Bull to get all it management levels together to go through where it has gone wrong, and make sure it can steer its path to title glory.
"I don't know what is going on inside the team, but clearly they need a good discussion between drivers and the three levels of team management - because there is the technical side, the team management and the Red Bull side. They have got to work out how to rectify their issues if they are going to beat McLaren.
"McLaren are clearly the big threat. They are immensely well organised, they are a brilliant team and they have won lots of championships - so beating them is a very tall order. Red Bull have to get their act together quick, because they should be much further ahead than they are."
Fry also believes Red Bull Racing chiefs need to get better control over their drivers - and stop them stirring up the controversies in the first place.
"I think with any management issue, and that is really what it is, you have to nip these things in the bud," he said. "If it is allowed to fester then it can quickly get out of hand.
"When we have had issues in the past, we've had a headmaster's study discussion very quickly and we've made very clear our view on things. And, at the end of the day, we run the team not the drivers. They are an unbelievably important part of the team but they are not the team: and that needs to be very clear. As soon as the lunatics start running the asylum, then you have got big problems."
Fry also reckoned that behaviour like Webber's, who said after the race that he would never have re-signed for Red Bull Racing is he knew he would be treated how he was at Silverstone, needed clamping down on.
"I would consider that something that would warrant a severe discussion behind closed doors," he said. "That is the type of discussion that should be had behind closed doors; it is not a public discussion.
"I think Red Bull have got two brilliant drivers and are both great guys as individuals. They are both very competitive and they have the best car, so they should be able to win."
News from Formula One in the Formation Lap.
Showing posts with label Red Bull. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Red Bull. Show all posts
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Monday, 12 July 2010
Webber says win made 'sweeter' by row
Mark Webber has admitted that his British Grand Prix victory tasted 'sweeter' because Red Bull Racing had moved to favour team-mate Sebastian Vettel with a new front wing.
Red Bull Racing controversially opted to take a new front wing design off Webber's car minutes before qualifying and put it on Vettel's machine - because his own had broken during the final free practice session.
Although team principal Christian Horner insisted that the differences between the two wing versions were minor, and only affected driving characteristics, sources have revealed that there was both a lap time and a weight difference between the two versions.
The move to change wings left Webber furious and, after his victory at Silverstone, he made it clear to the team that he would not have re-signed for 2010 if he knew that was how he was going to be treated.
Writing on his website on Monday, Webber said there was no way of proving that the differences between the wings cost him pole position - but he was aware of how better his win felt because of the perceived favouritism.
"Whether the gap between us in qualifying was the difference between the two front wings, I don't know," said Webber. "But it was a far from ideal situation and it definitely made my win taste even sweeter."
Webber dominated the race at Silverstone, after taking the lead from Vettel with an aggressive dive down the inside at the first corner.
And although his charge later on was hindered by a safety car period, he actually admitted that he was happy the field had bunched up.
"I was actually quite pleased to see the Safety Car because it closed up the field and meant I didn't have to worry about backmarkers. As the race leader, you always worry that that backmarkers haven't seen you coming and we saw in Valencia what can happen if a faster car stumbles over a slower one.
"Lewis was right on my gearbox at the re-start on lap 31, but I got a clean run out of the final corner and managed to put some daylight between us. On my first flying lap I set the fastest lap of the race, which sent a clear message to Lewis that it wasn't going to be his day."
Red Bull Racing controversially opted to take a new front wing design off Webber's car minutes before qualifying and put it on Vettel's machine - because his own had broken during the final free practice session.
Although team principal Christian Horner insisted that the differences between the two wing versions were minor, and only affected driving characteristics, sources have revealed that there was both a lap time and a weight difference between the two versions.
The move to change wings left Webber furious and, after his victory at Silverstone, he made it clear to the team that he would not have re-signed for 2010 if he knew that was how he was going to be treated.
Writing on his website on Monday, Webber said there was no way of proving that the differences between the wings cost him pole position - but he was aware of how better his win felt because of the perceived favouritism.
"Whether the gap between us in qualifying was the difference between the two front wings, I don't know," said Webber. "But it was a far from ideal situation and it definitely made my win taste even sweeter."
Webber dominated the race at Silverstone, after taking the lead from Vettel with an aggressive dive down the inside at the first corner.
And although his charge later on was hindered by a safety car period, he actually admitted that he was happy the field had bunched up.
"I was actually quite pleased to see the Safety Car because it closed up the field and meant I didn't have to worry about backmarkers. As the race leader, you always worry that that backmarkers haven't seen you coming and we saw in Valencia what can happen if a faster car stumbles over a slower one.
"Lewis was right on my gearbox at the re-start on lap 31, but I got a clean run out of the final corner and managed to put some daylight between us. On my first flying lap I set the fastest lap of the race, which sent a clear message to Lewis that it wasn't going to be his day."
Vettel blames clutch for poor start
Sebastian Vettel was left lamenting his slow start in the British Grand Prix, something he reckons was down to having the wrong settings for the clutch.
"I think we were a little bit out of the window with the clutch," said Vettel, who lost the lead of the race to Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber at the first corner.
"I had a bad start, lots of wheelspin, so I lost the immediate pull-away. I think we tried probably a bit too hard [with start settings], but that's life - you try hard to get the optimum."
Vettel appeared to be hit by the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton at the first corner, and the German suffered a puncture as a result of the contact.
He had to complete the lap slowly and pit, returning to the track at the back of the field.
"Into Turn 1 obviously I had to let Mark past and then I don't know if - I didn't feel anything – people said that Lewis touched me. As I said, I didn't feel anything," Vettel added.
"Probably he achieved this time what he [Hamilton] didn't achieve in Valencia. Surely it wasn't his intention to give me a puncture, if it was like that [contact with Hamilton], but with a puncture early on in the race it's a big minus.
"I had to come back slowly to the pits. Then I was on the same set of tyres for the rest of the race. Fortunately the safety car came out so I had a bit of entertaining the last couple of laps."
He added: "From my point of view he had a better start, so obviously I moved to the right trying to defend but he was already there – I knew that because I could see him in the mirror. I knew he didn't stall.
"Then he was there so there was no point in doing something stupid. The race is longer than just one corner. It's a shame I couldn't fight him then, but it's good for the team. I'm happy for the team."
Webber went on to win the race while Vettel recovered to seventh position.
The Australian, however, made it clear he was still angry with the team following its decision to give Vettel one of his front wings.
Vettel refused to comment on Webber's remarks, with the Australian saying on the radio that his performance was "not bad for a number two driver."
"Well, I obviously focus on myself and sort of see, I guess," said Vettel. "Especially after what happened in the past. People have different opinions, I have my opinion, I have made my experiences, sometimes good and bad, and you get to know people probably a bit better and see their true faces. I think I learned my lesson, and I focus on myself."
Webber still seething over wing decision
Mark Webber says he would not have signed a contract extension with Red Bull Racing had he believed he was going to be treated the way he was at Silverstone this weekend.
Red Bull has been surrounded by controversy since yesterday after the team decided to give one of Webber's front wings to team-mate Sebastian Vettel.
The decision left Webber clearly unhappy amid accusation of favouritism Red Bull has denied.
The Australian, starting from second position behind Vettel in today's race, went on to take a commanding win, and made it clear he was still angry by telling his team on the radio, "Not bad for a number two driver".
Webber hopes yesterday's situation was a one-off and he claimed he would not have signed a new contract with Red Bull if he had believed he would be treated that way.
"Yesterday was really a unique situation, and it was the first time we had one bit. I would never have signed a contract for next year if I believed that was the way going forward," said Webber after the race.
"I was disappointed. We will see how it goes in the future, I will keep doing what I am doing and I hope it is enough."
"I have had a few hurdles in my career, sometimes privately as well, so I think you can judge a person's character by how they come back from adversity. Some drivers have that, I've had a bit more than others.
"It can work but obviously it is not how long is a piece of string - you have to make sure it is not constantly happening because it can test you too much but if the balance is right it can put some fuel on the fire."
He said the team will sit down and talk things over tomorrow.
"Yesterday I wasn't happy, clearly, and I am sure we will have some pretty decent chats tomorrow. Today went well for me... and that is it," he said.
When asked if today's win was poetic justice, he replied: "An appointment with Karma? Yeah."
"I don't think it should happen, honestly. I wasn't massively in favour of the decision but that is the way it goes sometimes....some of the drivers offered me front wings on the parade lap from their cars but I said stick with what I've got. Seb didn't!
Red Bull has been surrounded by controversy since yesterday after the team decided to give one of Webber's front wings to team-mate Sebastian Vettel.
The decision left Webber clearly unhappy amid accusation of favouritism Red Bull has denied.
The Australian, starting from second position behind Vettel in today's race, went on to take a commanding win, and made it clear he was still angry by telling his team on the radio, "Not bad for a number two driver".
Webber hopes yesterday's situation was a one-off and he claimed he would not have signed a new contract with Red Bull if he had believed he would be treated that way.
"Yesterday was really a unique situation, and it was the first time we had one bit. I would never have signed a contract for next year if I believed that was the way going forward," said Webber after the race.
"I was disappointed. We will see how it goes in the future, I will keep doing what I am doing and I hope it is enough."
"I have had a few hurdles in my career, sometimes privately as well, so I think you can judge a person's character by how they come back from adversity. Some drivers have that, I've had a bit more than others.
"It can work but obviously it is not how long is a piece of string - you have to make sure it is not constantly happening because it can test you too much but if the balance is right it can put some fuel on the fire."
He said the team will sit down and talk things over tomorrow.
"Yesterday I wasn't happy, clearly, and I am sure we will have some pretty decent chats tomorrow. Today went well for me... and that is it," he said.
When asked if today's win was poetic justice, he replied: "An appointment with Karma? Yeah."
"I don't think it should happen, honestly. I wasn't massively in favour of the decision but that is the way it goes sometimes....some of the drivers offered me front wings on the parade lap from their cars but I said stick with what I've got. Seb didn't!
Webber takes commanding Britain win
Mark Webber responded to the Red Bull front wing controversy in the best way imaginable by taking a commanding British Grand Prix victory ahead of Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button.
Polesitter Sebastian Vettel's chances of victory were ruined by a first-lap puncture, although he recovered to seventh, and there was further controversy over stewarding decisions after a contentious penalty for Fernando Alonso left the Ferrari outside the points.
Webber made a much better start than his team-mate and reached Copse first, despite Vettel's best efforts to squeeze him. Vettel then lurched off the road at Becketts with a right rear puncture, potentially the result of a slight touch from Hamilton's McLaren at the first corner.
Felipe Massa was also trundling back to the pits with flailing rubber - he had been side by side with his slow-starting Ferrari team-mate Alonso through the first corner and wheel banging at Becketts left the Brazilian with a puncture as well.
Webber therefore led from Hamilton, with this pair rapidly dropping quick-starter Robert Kubica (Renault) in third, who had Rosberg's Mercedes and Alonso all over the back of him.
Pitting slightly earlier than Kubica did not work for Alonso, whereas running a little longer did the trick for Rosberg. Eager not to lose more time, Alonso went down the outside of Kubica into Vale on lap 17, and completed the pass by nipping over the kerbs and cutting the first apex of Club.
He then sprinted away after Rosberg, while Kubica was assured that Alonso would be ordered to let him back through. That became a moot point three laps later though, when Kubica retired with a differential problem.
The stewards therefore ruled that Alonso should take a drive-through penalty, a decision announced just before the safety car came out so that debris could be cleared following contact between Adrian Sutil (Force India) and Pedro de la Rosa (Sauber) that left chunks of the latter's rear wing deposited on various straights. With Alonso having to take his penalty immediately after the restart, he tumbled straight to the midfield.
The safety car was a lifeline for Vettel, who had made little progress up to that point, but then started carving through the traffic with a string of spectacular passes, including one on Michael Schumacher. Sutil - who had also put a bold move on Schumacher after the restart - proved Vettel's toughest rival, and it took many laps of tough battling before the Red Bull driver finally muscled through to take seventh on the penultimate lap.
Far away from this excitement, Webber delivered a masterclass at the front of the field. Hamilton managed to tag along until the pitstops, but thereafter Webber was unstoppable, reeling off fastest laps whenever required and leading by 6s before easing off at the end.
Rosberg returned Mercedes to the podium with a strong run to third, despite losing a barge board when sweeping round the outside of the yet-to-stop Jaime Alguersuari's Toro Rosso mid-race. The German finished just ahead of Button, who surged through from 14th to fourth thanks to a great first lap and staying out much longer than most before his tyre change.
Rubens Barrichello gave Williams its second straight top five finish, with Kamui Kobayashi following him home for Sauber's best result of the year.
By the time Vettel was clear of Sutil that pack was too far ahead to reach, so he had to settle for seventh, followed by countrymen Sutil, Schumacher and Nico Hulkenberg.
Alonso's race got even worse when he sustained a puncture in a brush with Tonio Liuzzi's Force India, leaving him 14th, one place ahead of Massa, who needed a further set of new tyres after spinning on the exit of Luffield late on.
PROVISIONAL RACE RESULTS
The British Grand Prix
Silverstone, Britain;
52 laps; 306.747km;
Weather: Sunny.
Polesitter Sebastian Vettel's chances of victory were ruined by a first-lap puncture, although he recovered to seventh, and there was further controversy over stewarding decisions after a contentious penalty for Fernando Alonso left the Ferrari outside the points.
Webber made a much better start than his team-mate and reached Copse first, despite Vettel's best efforts to squeeze him. Vettel then lurched off the road at Becketts with a right rear puncture, potentially the result of a slight touch from Hamilton's McLaren at the first corner.
Felipe Massa was also trundling back to the pits with flailing rubber - he had been side by side with his slow-starting Ferrari team-mate Alonso through the first corner and wheel banging at Becketts left the Brazilian with a puncture as well.
Webber therefore led from Hamilton, with this pair rapidly dropping quick-starter Robert Kubica (Renault) in third, who had Rosberg's Mercedes and Alonso all over the back of him.
Pitting slightly earlier than Kubica did not work for Alonso, whereas running a little longer did the trick for Rosberg. Eager not to lose more time, Alonso went down the outside of Kubica into Vale on lap 17, and completed the pass by nipping over the kerbs and cutting the first apex of Club.
He then sprinted away after Rosberg, while Kubica was assured that Alonso would be ordered to let him back through. That became a moot point three laps later though, when Kubica retired with a differential problem.
The stewards therefore ruled that Alonso should take a drive-through penalty, a decision announced just before the safety car came out so that debris could be cleared following contact between Adrian Sutil (Force India) and Pedro de la Rosa (Sauber) that left chunks of the latter's rear wing deposited on various straights. With Alonso having to take his penalty immediately after the restart, he tumbled straight to the midfield.
The safety car was a lifeline for Vettel, who had made little progress up to that point, but then started carving through the traffic with a string of spectacular passes, including one on Michael Schumacher. Sutil - who had also put a bold move on Schumacher after the restart - proved Vettel's toughest rival, and it took many laps of tough battling before the Red Bull driver finally muscled through to take seventh on the penultimate lap.
Far away from this excitement, Webber delivered a masterclass at the front of the field. Hamilton managed to tag along until the pitstops, but thereafter Webber was unstoppable, reeling off fastest laps whenever required and leading by 6s before easing off at the end.
Rosberg returned Mercedes to the podium with a strong run to third, despite losing a barge board when sweeping round the outside of the yet-to-stop Jaime Alguersuari's Toro Rosso mid-race. The German finished just ahead of Button, who surged through from 14th to fourth thanks to a great first lap and staying out much longer than most before his tyre change.
Rubens Barrichello gave Williams its second straight top five finish, with Kamui Kobayashi following him home for Sauber's best result of the year.
By the time Vettel was clear of Sutil that pack was too far ahead to reach, so he had to settle for seventh, followed by countrymen Sutil, Schumacher and Nico Hulkenberg.
Alonso's race got even worse when he sustained a puncture in a brush with Tonio Liuzzi's Force India, leaving him 14th, one place ahead of Massa, who needed a further set of new tyres after spinning on the exit of Luffield late on.
PROVISIONAL RACE RESULTS
The British Grand Prix
Silverstone, Britain;
52 laps; 306.747km;
Weather: Sunny.
Saturday, 10 July 2010
Vettel on pole as Red Bull crushes rivals
Red Bull continued its domination of the British Grand Prix weekend as Sebastian Vettel led Mark Webber in a seemingly easy front row sweep.
And while Red Bull proved unstoppable, its main title rival McLaren had a very tough session - with Lewis Hamilton fourth and reigning champion Jenson Button a disastrous 14th.
The latter described his car as 'undriveable', and was a lost to explain why its grip had suddenly disappeared in Q2, leaving him on row seven.
Vettel and Webber had been first and second in Q1, swapped places in Q2, and then led their rivals by just over 0.7 seconds after their first Q3 runs put them comfortably first and second, Vettel just ahead.
That was how they stayed, as Webber could not quite improve on his 1m29.758s at the end, whereas Vettel found a little more time and got his pole mark down to 1m29.615s.
Fernando Alonso was best of the rest in third for Ferrari, despite being frustrated to be caught behind Rubens Barrichello's Williams on his last Q3 run. Nevertheless, he was still able to hold off Hamilton.
Mercedes got both cars back in the top ten, Nico Rosberg taking fifth place - 0.8s and five places ahead of team-mate Michael Schumacher.
Renault's Robert Kubica will join Rosberg on row three, followed by Felipe Massa in the second Ferrari, Barrichello, and the impressive Pedro de la Rosa (Sauber) - who produced the best qualifying form of his comeback so far.
Button aside, there were few surprises among the drivers failing to make the top ten, except perhaps Force India's second straight Q2 elimination. Adrian Sutil narrowly missed out in 11th, while Tonio Liuzzi was 15th - and may yet face questions over impeding 13th-place qualifier Nico Hulkenberg's Williams.
Liuzzi had earlier edged though to Q2 with his last lap having briefly looked set for a Q1 departure. His improvement pushed Toro Rosso's Jaime Alguersuari outside the cut in 18th.
Lotus's Heikki Kovalainen and Virgin's Timo Glock had a close battle for the top spot among the new teams, eventually won by the Finn again - although the gap up to the established midfield was back up to 2s.
Returnee Sakon Yamamoto will unsurprisingly start last for Hispania, though he was within a respectable 0.4s of team-mate Karun Chandhok.
Pos Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3
1. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1:30.841 1:30.480 1:29.615
2. Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:30.858 1:30.114 1:29.758
3. Alonso Ferrari 1:30.997 1:30.700 1:30.426
4. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:31.297 1:31.118 1:30.556
5. Rosberg Mercedes 1:31.626 1:31.085 1:30.625
6. Kubica Renault 1:31.680 1:31.344 1:31.040
7. Massa Ferrari 1:31.313 1:31.010 1:31.172
8. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1:31.424 1:31.126 1:31.175
9. de la Rosa Sauber-Ferrari 1:31.533 1:31.327 1:31.274
10. Schumacher Mercedes 1:32.058 1:31.022 1:31.430
11. Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:31.109 1:31.399
12. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1:31.851 1:31.421
13. Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth 1:32.144 1:31.635
14. Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:31.435 1:31.699
15. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 1:32.226 1:31.708
16. Petrov Renault 1:31.638 1:31.796
17. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:31.901 1:32.012
18. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:32.430
19. Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth 1:34.405
20. Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1:34.775
21. Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 1:34.864
22. di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth 1:35.212
23. Chandhok HRT-Cosworth 1:36.576
24. Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth 1:36.968
And while Red Bull proved unstoppable, its main title rival McLaren had a very tough session - with Lewis Hamilton fourth and reigning champion Jenson Button a disastrous 14th.
The latter described his car as 'undriveable', and was a lost to explain why its grip had suddenly disappeared in Q2, leaving him on row seven.
Vettel and Webber had been first and second in Q1, swapped places in Q2, and then led their rivals by just over 0.7 seconds after their first Q3 runs put them comfortably first and second, Vettel just ahead.
That was how they stayed, as Webber could not quite improve on his 1m29.758s at the end, whereas Vettel found a little more time and got his pole mark down to 1m29.615s.
Fernando Alonso was best of the rest in third for Ferrari, despite being frustrated to be caught behind Rubens Barrichello's Williams on his last Q3 run. Nevertheless, he was still able to hold off Hamilton.
Mercedes got both cars back in the top ten, Nico Rosberg taking fifth place - 0.8s and five places ahead of team-mate Michael Schumacher.
Renault's Robert Kubica will join Rosberg on row three, followed by Felipe Massa in the second Ferrari, Barrichello, and the impressive Pedro de la Rosa (Sauber) - who produced the best qualifying form of his comeback so far.
Button aside, there were few surprises among the drivers failing to make the top ten, except perhaps Force India's second straight Q2 elimination. Adrian Sutil narrowly missed out in 11th, while Tonio Liuzzi was 15th - and may yet face questions over impeding 13th-place qualifier Nico Hulkenberg's Williams.
Liuzzi had earlier edged though to Q2 with his last lap having briefly looked set for a Q1 departure. His improvement pushed Toro Rosso's Jaime Alguersuari outside the cut in 18th.
Lotus's Heikki Kovalainen and Virgin's Timo Glock had a close battle for the top spot among the new teams, eventually won by the Finn again - although the gap up to the established midfield was back up to 2s.
Returnee Sakon Yamamoto will unsurprisingly start last for Hispania, though he was within a respectable 0.4s of team-mate Karun Chandhok.
Pos Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3
1. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1:30.841 1:30.480 1:29.615
2. Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:30.858 1:30.114 1:29.758
3. Alonso Ferrari 1:30.997 1:30.700 1:30.426
4. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:31.297 1:31.118 1:30.556
5. Rosberg Mercedes 1:31.626 1:31.085 1:30.625
6. Kubica Renault 1:31.680 1:31.344 1:31.040
7. Massa Ferrari 1:31.313 1:31.010 1:31.172
8. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1:31.424 1:31.126 1:31.175
9. de la Rosa Sauber-Ferrari 1:31.533 1:31.327 1:31.274
10. Schumacher Mercedes 1:32.058 1:31.022 1:31.430
11. Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:31.109 1:31.399
12. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1:31.851 1:31.421
13. Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth 1:32.144 1:31.635
14. Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:31.435 1:31.699
15. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 1:32.226 1:31.708
16. Petrov Renault 1:31.638 1:31.796
17. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:31.901 1:32.012
18. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:32.430
19. Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth 1:34.405
20. Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1:34.775
21. Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 1:34.864
22. di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth 1:35.212
23. Chandhok HRT-Cosworth 1:36.576
24. Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth 1:36.968
Vettel leads the way in final practice
Red Bull will go into British Grand Prix qualifying in excellent form having topped final practice at Silverstone in addition to leading both Friday sessions.
But the team also had a frightening moment when the nose section on pacesetter Sebastian Vettel's car came loose on his final run.
Vettel had already set a 1m30.958s lap to depose Fernando Alonso's Ferrari from the top spot, and was set to go even quicker when his car's nose box suddenly detached at the top and dropped down on the approach to Abbey, leaving the front wing scraping on the ground.
The German nursed the car back to the pits, and his time remained unbeaten.
Mark Webber completed a Red Bull one-two, 0.034 seconds behind Vettel, with Alonso third despite parking in the Ferrari garage with a problem in the closing minutes. He had been quickest until Red Bull's late surge.
Nico Rosberg showed encouraging form for Mercedes in fourth, ahead of Alonso's team-mate Felipe Massa and mid-session leader Robert Kubica (Renault).
It was a low-key hour for McLaren after the removal of its exhaust-blown diffuser though, with local heroes Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button only seventh and 12th.
Michael Schumacher put the second Mercedes in the top ten in eighth, ahead of a strong run from Sauber's Pedro de la Rosa and Williams's Rubens Barrichello.
Other drivers hampered by issues included Adrian Sutil (whose Force India had a gearbox problem) and Jarno Trulli (Lotus), who lost more yet track time to hydraulic problems. Timo Glock managed the least mileage of all, a throttle glitch limiting his Virgin to just six laps.
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1:30.958 14
2. Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:30.992 + 0.034 15
3. Alonso Ferrari 1:31.101 + 0.143 10
4. Rosberg Mercedes 1:31.188 + 0.230 15
5. Massa Ferrari 1:31.240 + 0.282 16
6. Kubica Renault 1:31.519 + 0.561 18
7. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:31.549 + 0.591 16
8. Schumacher Mercedes 1:31.555 + 0.597 14
9. de la Rosa Sauber-Ferrari 1:31.559 + 0.601 18
10. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1:31.581 + 0.623 16
11. Petrov Renault 1:31.698 + 0.740 17
12. Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:31.703 + 0.745 16
13. Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth 1:31.867 + 0.909 17
14. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1:31.947 + 0.989 16
15. Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:31.994 + 1.036 13
16. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:32.235 + 1.277 18
17. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:32.331 + 1.373 20
18. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 1:32.723 + 1.765 18
19. Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth 1:34.339 + 3.381 20
20. di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth 1:35.479 + 4.521 17
21. Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 1:36.098 + 5.140 11
22. Chandhok HRT-Cosworth 1:36.286 + 5.328 16
23. Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1:36.640 + 5.682 6
24. Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth 1:37.178 + 6.220 18
But the team also had a frightening moment when the nose section on pacesetter Sebastian Vettel's car came loose on his final run.
Vettel had already set a 1m30.958s lap to depose Fernando Alonso's Ferrari from the top spot, and was set to go even quicker when his car's nose box suddenly detached at the top and dropped down on the approach to Abbey, leaving the front wing scraping on the ground.
The German nursed the car back to the pits, and his time remained unbeaten.
Mark Webber completed a Red Bull one-two, 0.034 seconds behind Vettel, with Alonso third despite parking in the Ferrari garage with a problem in the closing minutes. He had been quickest until Red Bull's late surge.
Nico Rosberg showed encouraging form for Mercedes in fourth, ahead of Alonso's team-mate Felipe Massa and mid-session leader Robert Kubica (Renault).
It was a low-key hour for McLaren after the removal of its exhaust-blown diffuser though, with local heroes Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button only seventh and 12th.
Michael Schumacher put the second Mercedes in the top ten in eighth, ahead of a strong run from Sauber's Pedro de la Rosa and Williams's Rubens Barrichello.
Other drivers hampered by issues included Adrian Sutil (whose Force India had a gearbox problem) and Jarno Trulli (Lotus), who lost more yet track time to hydraulic problems. Timo Glock managed the least mileage of all, a throttle glitch limiting his Virgin to just six laps.
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1:30.958 14
2. Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:30.992 + 0.034 15
3. Alonso Ferrari 1:31.101 + 0.143 10
4. Rosberg Mercedes 1:31.188 + 0.230 15
5. Massa Ferrari 1:31.240 + 0.282 16
6. Kubica Renault 1:31.519 + 0.561 18
7. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:31.549 + 0.591 16
8. Schumacher Mercedes 1:31.555 + 0.597 14
9. de la Rosa Sauber-Ferrari 1:31.559 + 0.601 18
10. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1:31.581 + 0.623 16
11. Petrov Renault 1:31.698 + 0.740 17
12. Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:31.703 + 0.745 16
13. Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth 1:31.867 + 0.909 17
14. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1:31.947 + 0.989 16
15. Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:31.994 + 1.036 13
16. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:32.235 + 1.277 18
17. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:32.331 + 1.373 20
18. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 1:32.723 + 1.765 18
19. Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth 1:34.339 + 3.381 20
20. di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth 1:35.479 + 4.521 17
21. Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 1:36.098 + 5.140 11
22. Chandhok HRT-Cosworth 1:36.286 + 5.328 16
23. Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1:36.640 + 5.682 6
24. Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth 1:37.178 + 6.220 18
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Horner: No favouritism in chassis choice
Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner has dismissed suggestions that the team's decision to give Mark Webber a chassis recently rejected by Sebastian Vettel is a sign of favouritism within the Milton Keynes outfit.
Webber's huge accident in Valencia has forced a chassis shuffle for this weekend's British Grand Prix - with Webber taking chassis number 3 for Silverstone. This is the same one that Vettel ditched after the team discovered problems with it after Monaco.
Although that move prompted comments from fans on Red Bull Racing's own website suggesting it was evidence of the team hindering Webber's title challenge, Horner insists that such claims could not be further from the truth.
Speaking at Silverstone on Thursday, Horner said the chassis had been completely repaired - and that tests conducted at the factory showed it was in perfect shape.
"Chassis at the end of the day are brackets that effectively components are bolted to, and the chassis has gone through a rigorous R&D and stress tests," said Horner. "We are 100 per cent confident that the chassis, both chassis, are in equal condition.
"If we were favouring one over the other, you could do it in different ways. If you look at it objectively, Sebastian is in the car that Mark raced in Bahrain at the first GP, and so effectively all they have done is swap chassis.
"During the course of the year, both drivers – nine out of 10 times – get to drive all the chassis that you have produced so they are just like any other component. There is nothing special; there is nothing secretive about them. They are effectively a bracket that you bolt bits to."
Horner confirmed that the damage to chassis #3 had been around the front suspension pick-up point – and also that the team would now be working on a fifth car in the wake of Webber's accident.
"We initially hadn't planned to build a fifth chassis but now we have lost one then yes, inevitably, the fifth one will come on stream at some point," he said.
Vettel was also sure that there would be no lingering problems for Webber – despite the difficulties he encountered with the car earlier in the year.
"There is nothing wrong with it," he said. "The chassis at the point it was changed was cracked, but since then it has been repaired so it is fine."
When asked if the car, which he had nicknamed 'Luscious Liz', was being unfaithful to him in Britain, Vettel said: "I don't know if he [Webber] gives any names to his cars. It is an exclusive right - so it is only valid for me."
Webber's huge accident in Valencia has forced a chassis shuffle for this weekend's British Grand Prix - with Webber taking chassis number 3 for Silverstone. This is the same one that Vettel ditched after the team discovered problems with it after Monaco.
Although that move prompted comments from fans on Red Bull Racing's own website suggesting it was evidence of the team hindering Webber's title challenge, Horner insists that such claims could not be further from the truth.
Speaking at Silverstone on Thursday, Horner said the chassis had been completely repaired - and that tests conducted at the factory showed it was in perfect shape.
"Chassis at the end of the day are brackets that effectively components are bolted to, and the chassis has gone through a rigorous R&D and stress tests," said Horner. "We are 100 per cent confident that the chassis, both chassis, are in equal condition.
"If we were favouring one over the other, you could do it in different ways. If you look at it objectively, Sebastian is in the car that Mark raced in Bahrain at the first GP, and so effectively all they have done is swap chassis.
"During the course of the year, both drivers – nine out of 10 times – get to drive all the chassis that you have produced so they are just like any other component. There is nothing special; there is nothing secretive about them. They are effectively a bracket that you bolt bits to."
Horner confirmed that the damage to chassis #3 had been around the front suspension pick-up point – and also that the team would now be working on a fifth car in the wake of Webber's accident.
"We initially hadn't planned to build a fifth chassis but now we have lost one then yes, inevitably, the fifth one will come on stream at some point," he said.
Vettel was also sure that there would be no lingering problems for Webber – despite the difficulties he encountered with the car earlier in the year.
"There is nothing wrong with it," he said. "The chassis at the point it was changed was cracked, but since then it has been repaired so it is fine."
When asked if the car, which he had nicknamed 'Luscious Liz', was being unfaithful to him in Britain, Vettel said: "I don't know if he [Webber] gives any names to his cars. It is an exclusive right - so it is only valid for me."
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Brabham, Jones back Webber for title
Former world champions Jack Brabham and Alan Jones have tipped fellow countryman Mark Webber to go on and win this year's title judging by his form in winning the Spanish and Monaco Grands Prix.
Webber has moved to the head of the title standings following his back-to-back successes, and Brabham and Jones both think the form of the Red Bull Racing driver put him on course to grab the title.
"Mark can win the world championship, I have no doubt about that,'' Brabham told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"It's a great day for Mark and Australia. It's a prestigious race, the hardest and most difficult race in the world and he did not put a foot wrong. I watched all the way through and he was very, very good.
''He is ahead on the world championship now and he deserves to win it. It would be a tremendous thing for Australia and for him. He has all my support and good wishes. I'm proud of him.
"An Australian winning the world championship again would be one of the greatest things I could imagine happening. When you win at Monaco, you can win the world championship. I hope he can do it and I think he will.''
Brabham's views have been backed by Australia's other former champion Jones, who sees Webber constantly improving.
"I think it was fantastic, he whacked it on pole, he did a very good start, he withstood pressure several times on the restart which is always nerve-racking as you are always expecting the guy in second to jump you, so I think he did very well indeed," Jones told the Australian.
"He's just getting better and better. His confidence is building and building and beating Vettel off the line on two occasions will do him no harm at all."
Webber has moved to the head of the title standings following his back-to-back successes, and Brabham and Jones both think the form of the Red Bull Racing driver put him on course to grab the title.
"Mark can win the world championship, I have no doubt about that,'' Brabham told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"It's a great day for Mark and Australia. It's a prestigious race, the hardest and most difficult race in the world and he did not put a foot wrong. I watched all the way through and he was very, very good.
''He is ahead on the world championship now and he deserves to win it. It would be a tremendous thing for Australia and for him. He has all my support and good wishes. I'm proud of him.
"An Australian winning the world championship again would be one of the greatest things I could imagine happening. When you win at Monaco, you can win the world championship. I hope he can do it and I think he will.''
Brabham's views have been backed by Australia's other former champion Jones, who sees Webber constantly improving.
"I think it was fantastic, he whacked it on pole, he did a very good start, he withstood pressure several times on the restart which is always nerve-racking as you are always expecting the guy in second to jump you, so I think he did very well indeed," Jones told the Australian.
"He's just getting better and better. His confidence is building and building and beating Vettel off the line on two occasions will do him no harm at all."
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Red Bull warns rivals over Monaco pace
Red Bull Racing has warned its rivals not to expect an easier time at this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix - even though its cars have traditionally been less competitive at the street venue.
On the back of a very strong performance in Spain last weekend, where the team was dominant in qualifying and got both cars on the podium in the race, Red Bull's rivals have been left scratching their heads about how they can catch up with the Milton Keynes-based team in pure downforce terms.
But although few expect its advantage to be as big on the tight Monaco street circuit, team boss Christian Horner believes those who think the RB6 will be as weak as its predecessors in Monaco will be in for a disappointment.
Last year Sebastian Vettel could only qualify fourth, and then crashed out of the race after struggling with tyre degradation.
"It is a race that we are determined to do well at," said Horner. "It is a circuit that we weren't particularly strong at last year, but we feel we have improved the car in a lot of areas compared to last season and we believe we can be very strong in Monaco."
The pace of the RB6 in the early stages of the season, and especially in Spain, has shown that the car is a step forward over its predecessor in high-speed corners. However, Horner thinks Adrian Newey's design team has also made big steps forward with its slow-speed performance too - which will be vital for the tight confines of Monaco.
"What I am really pleased to see is that if we had an Achilles Heel last year it was on the slower speed corners," Horner told AUTOSPORT.
"Some of the work that the guys have done over the close season and in the early development of RB6 is that we have maintained our high speed performance but also really improved the low speed performance.
"A combination of factors have come in to play, so it is very pleasing to see the drivers' performance in the last sector in Spain for example, where with both RB4 and RB5 it was not our strongest area."
Red Bull's rivals will also face the other problem that the RB6 seems much better able to extract single-lap performance from the softer compound tyres than any other car on the grid – which will be crucial for getting a good grid slot in Monaco.
On the back of a very strong performance in Spain last weekend, where the team was dominant in qualifying and got both cars on the podium in the race, Red Bull's rivals have been left scratching their heads about how they can catch up with the Milton Keynes-based team in pure downforce terms.
But although few expect its advantage to be as big on the tight Monaco street circuit, team boss Christian Horner believes those who think the RB6 will be as weak as its predecessors in Monaco will be in for a disappointment.
Last year Sebastian Vettel could only qualify fourth, and then crashed out of the race after struggling with tyre degradation.
"It is a race that we are determined to do well at," said Horner. "It is a circuit that we weren't particularly strong at last year, but we feel we have improved the car in a lot of areas compared to last season and we believe we can be very strong in Monaco."
The pace of the RB6 in the early stages of the season, and especially in Spain, has shown that the car is a step forward over its predecessor in high-speed corners. However, Horner thinks Adrian Newey's design team has also made big steps forward with its slow-speed performance too - which will be vital for the tight confines of Monaco.
"What I am really pleased to see is that if we had an Achilles Heel last year it was on the slower speed corners," Horner told AUTOSPORT.
"Some of the work that the guys have done over the close season and in the early development of RB6 is that we have maintained our high speed performance but also really improved the low speed performance.
"A combination of factors have come in to play, so it is very pleasing to see the drivers' performance in the last sector in Spain for example, where with both RB4 and RB5 it was not our strongest area."
Red Bull's rivals will also face the other problem that the RB6 seems much better able to extract single-lap performance from the softer compound tyres than any other car on the grid – which will be crucial for getting a good grid slot in Monaco.
Monday, 19 April 2010
Horner: RBR would have won normal GP
Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner is adamant his team would have dominated the Chinese Grand Prix had it been run in normal conditions.
Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber finished a distant sixth and eighth respectively in the Shanghai race, despite having started from the front row of the grid.
Red Bull struggled in the tricky conditions, with rain hitting the circuit several times during the race.
Horner believes, however, that had it been dry, his drivers would have emerged on top quite easily.
"A far from straightforward race in very tricky conditions, and sixth and eighth is still very valuable points," Horner told AUTOSPORT.
"It is just obviously frustrating, that with a straightforward dry race today I don't think the opposition would have seen us."
Despite Red Bull having missed several opportunities in the first four races of the season, Horner insists there are lots of reasons to be positive.
"We know we have a fast car," he said. "I think in conditions like in China it is not just about strategy, there is a degree of luck involved. And when you start seventh and eighth you have less to lose and more to gain.
"We head back to Europe have gone to four very different venues, had had two 1-2 starts and one 1-3 start.
"So I think there is an awful lot of positives. As you saw with Ferrari here, they didn't score big points either. So I think it is innate to the championship that there will be swings and roundabouts to it."
And he reckons Red Bull is operationally stronger than last season, despite having won just one race out of a possible four so far.
"Absolutely. There is no question about that. Here was not anything to do with strategy or operationally. I think the communication between the engineers and the cars and the drivers - at the end of the day they made all the same calls as Lewis [Hamilton] did, so I don't think there are any issues there whatsoever."
Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber finished a distant sixth and eighth respectively in the Shanghai race, despite having started from the front row of the grid.
Red Bull struggled in the tricky conditions, with rain hitting the circuit several times during the race.
Horner believes, however, that had it been dry, his drivers would have emerged on top quite easily.
"A far from straightforward race in very tricky conditions, and sixth and eighth is still very valuable points," Horner told AUTOSPORT.
"It is just obviously frustrating, that with a straightforward dry race today I don't think the opposition would have seen us."
Despite Red Bull having missed several opportunities in the first four races of the season, Horner insists there are lots of reasons to be positive.
"We know we have a fast car," he said. "I think in conditions like in China it is not just about strategy, there is a degree of luck involved. And when you start seventh and eighth you have less to lose and more to gain.
"We head back to Europe have gone to four very different venues, had had two 1-2 starts and one 1-3 start.
"So I think there is an awful lot of positives. As you saw with Ferrari here, they didn't score big points either. So I think it is innate to the championship that there will be swings and roundabouts to it."
And he reckons Red Bull is operationally stronger than last season, despite having won just one race out of a possible four so far.
"Absolutely. There is no question about that. Here was not anything to do with strategy or operationally. I think the communication between the engineers and the cars and the drivers - at the end of the day they made all the same calls as Lewis [Hamilton] did, so I don't think there are any issues there whatsoever."
Sunday, 18 April 2010
Webber: Red Bull blown away in China
Webber says Red Bull was 'blown away' at the Chinese Grand Prix after the team had to settle for a disappointing result having started from the first row.
Webber finished in eighth position, two places behind team-mate Sebastian Vettel, as Red Bull was unable to be competitive in the difficult conditions.
The Australian admitted his team was simply not fast enough.
"We got blown away so it was a very difficult grand prix for us," Webber told the BBC. "We weren't quick enough, simple as that.
"They were changeable conditions but it's the same for everyone, and the car is very sensitive in these conditions if it is not going one way or the other for you. Interesting grand prix.
"We know (where we lose out in these conditions) and we have got to improve it."
Vettel, starting from pole, admitted the result was disappointing, although he reckons the points could be important later on.
"In the end to finish sixth can be quite important, but our main competitors finished ahead so that's not nice," Vettel told the BBC. "It was a very difficult race for us, both of us struggled quite a lot in certain conditions.
"Once we are in clean air our pace was decent, but you know, it is very on/off in these conditions and it is a lot just to maintain track position.
"We need to understand why we were not able, especially out of the restart, why we were not able to be there straight away. We were lacking a little bit of temperatures in the tyre."
The German, under investigation for his pitlane incident with Lewis Hamilton, said he did not understand the Briton's driving.
"I was in a similar track position as he was after the first stop and we found our way through the field," he said. "At the stop you were mentioning I was ahead, I don't know why he was keen to touch me.
"I thought hopefully I don't suffer a puncture after that, don't really understand because I was a bit ahead. He turned out to be a little bit faster on the track anyway so we need to see."
Webber finished in eighth position, two places behind team-mate Sebastian Vettel, as Red Bull was unable to be competitive in the difficult conditions.
The Australian admitted his team was simply not fast enough.
"We got blown away so it was a very difficult grand prix for us," Webber told the BBC. "We weren't quick enough, simple as that.
"They were changeable conditions but it's the same for everyone, and the car is very sensitive in these conditions if it is not going one way or the other for you. Interesting grand prix.
"We know (where we lose out in these conditions) and we have got to improve it."
Vettel, starting from pole, admitted the result was disappointing, although he reckons the points could be important later on.
"In the end to finish sixth can be quite important, but our main competitors finished ahead so that's not nice," Vettel told the BBC. "It was a very difficult race for us, both of us struggled quite a lot in certain conditions.
"Once we are in clean air our pace was decent, but you know, it is very on/off in these conditions and it is a lot just to maintain track position.
"We need to understand why we were not able, especially out of the restart, why we were not able to be there straight away. We were lacking a little bit of temperatures in the tyre."
The German, under investigation for his pitlane incident with Lewis Hamilton, said he did not understand the Briton's driving.
"I was in a similar track position as he was after the first stop and we found our way through the field," he said. "At the stop you were mentioning I was ahead, I don't know why he was keen to touch me.
"I thought hopefully I don't suffer a puncture after that, don't really understand because I was a bit ahead. He turned out to be a little bit faster on the track anyway so we need to see."
Saturday, 17 April 2010
Vettel hails 'fantastic' pole lap
Sebastian Vettel hailed his final qualifying lap as "fantastic" after securing pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix.
The German claimed his third pole in four races, also making sure Red Bull has secured the top spot in all the grands prix of the season so far.
Vettel, who had struggled with his car's set-up before qualifying, admitted his lap had been superb, especially on the first sector, where the German had had more trouble this weekend.
He qualified nearly three tenths ahead of team-mate Mark Webber.
"It was tough today. I was not so happy yesterday and this morning especially Mark was quite a bit quicker than me," said Vettel.
"We did some changes and went a little bit in Mark's direction but it was extremely difficult. "I was struggling in the first sector especially but now in qualifying I was purple in sector one.
"I found a line like last year a little bit. I had two very good runs in Q3, the last corner on the first run I was a bit too wide, otherwise it would already have been a good time, but the second run was a bit better everywhere.
"It was a fantastic lap, and the fourth consecutive pole position for Red Bull. We are proving we have a very good car independent of the circuit type. We are always up there.
"Special thanks to the mechanics because they had zero lunch as we required a lot of changes that they had to work from free practice to qualifying."
Vettel said he is confident he will be strong in any conditions in tomorrow's race, when rain is expected to hit the circuit.
"I think it will be raining tomorrow, it's just a question of when," he added. "It will be similar to the last two races. We are not afraid of any rain, for Sunday it looks quite bad if you look at the weather.
"The question is will it be wet throughout the whole race or after the start? We have good memories of the wet conditions last year and if the rain comes it is best to start at the front because you are the one who sees the best. Dry or wet we should be well armed for tomorrow."
The German claimed his third pole in four races, also making sure Red Bull has secured the top spot in all the grands prix of the season so far.
Vettel, who had struggled with his car's set-up before qualifying, admitted his lap had been superb, especially on the first sector, where the German had had more trouble this weekend.
He qualified nearly three tenths ahead of team-mate Mark Webber.
"It was tough today. I was not so happy yesterday and this morning especially Mark was quite a bit quicker than me," said Vettel.
"We did some changes and went a little bit in Mark's direction but it was extremely difficult. "I was struggling in the first sector especially but now in qualifying I was purple in sector one.
"I found a line like last year a little bit. I had two very good runs in Q3, the last corner on the first run I was a bit too wide, otherwise it would already have been a good time, but the second run was a bit better everywhere.
"It was a fantastic lap, and the fourth consecutive pole position for Red Bull. We are proving we have a very good car independent of the circuit type. We are always up there.
"Special thanks to the mechanics because they had zero lunch as we required a lot of changes that they had to work from free practice to qualifying."
Vettel said he is confident he will be strong in any conditions in tomorrow's race, when rain is expected to hit the circuit.
"I think it will be raining tomorrow, it's just a question of when," he added. "It will be similar to the last two races. We are not afraid of any rain, for Sunday it looks quite bad if you look at the weather.
"The question is will it be wet throughout the whole race or after the start? We have good memories of the wet conditions last year and if the rain comes it is best to start at the front because you are the one who sees the best. Dry or wet we should be well armed for tomorrow."
Sunday, 4 April 2010
Vettel leads dominant Red Bull one-two
Red Bull finally delivered the kind of crushing performance it had threatened to all season as Sebastian Vettel led Mark Webber home in a one-two demonstration run at Sepang.
Nico Rosberg gave the new Mercedes works team its first podium in third, although his team-mate Michael Schumacher was an early retirement, while the McLarens and Ferraris all recovered into the top ten following their qualifying miscues, although Fernando Alonso suffered a last gasp engine failure.
The potential for downpours and chaos had dominated conversation in the build-up, but ironically the race was dry throughout. Vettel got a great start from third, instantly passing Rosberg and slipping down the inside of Webber into the first corner to take the lead.
The two Red Bulls then pulled away from the Mercedes in formation, remaining a second or so apart until their pitstops on laps 23 and 24, where any chance of Webber threatening Vettel was removed when an airgun problem on his right front wheel meant his tyre change took a crucial 1.4s longer. That briefly put Webber behind the yet-to-stop Lewis Hamilton, and gave Vettel a clean break. He duly cruised clear to clinch his and Red Bull's first win of 2010.
Rosberg was a safe third throughout, but the second Mercedes of Schumacher dropped out on lap eight when its left rear wheel came loose.
Robert Kubica continued Renault's strong form with fourth, never quite close enough to scare Rosberg, and safe from attack from behind as fifth-placed Adrian Sutil (Force India) had his hands full resisting Hamilton by the end.
Hamilton made the most assertive progress of the displaced frontrunners, getting into the top ten within seven laps, despite being warned for excessive weaving during a spectacular battle with Renault rookie Vitaly Petrov, and ultimately rising as high as second as he left his pitstop until lap 30.
He emerged right alongside team-mate Jenson Button, who had pitted as early as lap 10, but it was Hamilton's strategy that proved best, as the younger Briton fended off his team-mate and then quickly pulled away - leaving Button at the mercy of the charging Ferraris. Felipe Massa had run until lap 28 before pitting, while Fernando Alonso, who had struggled with a downshift problem all race and been low-key in the early stages, stayed on hards until lap 36, and then set a string of fastest laps as he charged into contention.
Massa eventually got past Button and then closed on Sutil and Hamilton, while Alonso remained stuck behind Button until he dived past with two laps to go - only for his Ferrari's engine to immediately fail as he completed the move. Alonso's retirement means Massa edges into the championship lead.
Jaime Alguersuari earned his first Formula 1 points with the finest drive of his career to date, as he determinedly battled past Nico Hulkenberg and Petrov to ultimately take ninth.
Williams could not capitalise on its brilliant qualifying result, with Rubens Barrichello tumbling to last at the start thanks to an overheating clutch, and Hulkenberg losing a few positions on lap one then dropping further back as his early tyre stop strategy failed to pay off. He at least picked up 10th thanks to Alonso's late failure.
The battle between the new teams turned physical in Malaysia. Virgin's Timo Glock retired on lap three when a bid to overtake Jarno Trulli saw him spin into the Lotus, while Heikki Kovalainen's attempted pass on Virgin driver Lucas di Grassi seven laps later caused more contact - the Lotus slicing a rear tyre on the Virgin's front wing as it slid past sideways.
It was di Grassi who ultimately emerged on top, giving Virgin its first race finish as he nursed its inadequate fuel level to the flag and finished ahead of the two Hispanias. Trulli made the flag despite backing right off with hydraulic problems at the end - with similar issues forcing Kovalainen to lose several laps in the pits.
Also hitting mechanical trouble were Petrov, Force India's Tonio Liuzzi, and both Saubers - Pedro de la Rosa striking engine problems on his way from the garage to the grid.
The Malaysian Grand Prix
Sepang F1 Circuit, Malaysia;
56 laps; 310.408km;
Weather: Sunny.
Pos Driver Team Gap
1. Vettel Red Bull-Renault
2. Webber Red Bull-Renault + 4.8s
3. Rosberg Mercedes + 13.5s
4. Kubica Renault + 18.5s
5. Sutil Force India-Mercedes + 21.0s
6. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes + 23.4s
7. Massa Ferrari + 27.0s
8. Button McLaren-Mercedes + 37.9s
9. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1m10.6s
10. Hulkenberg Williams + 1m13.3s
11. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1m18.9s
12. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth + 1 lap
13. Alonso Ferrari + 2 laps
14. Di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth + 3 laps
15. Chandhok Hispania-Cosworth + 3 laps
16. Senna Hispania-Cosworth + 4 laps
17. Trulli Lotus-Cosworth + 5 laps
Not classified/retirements:
Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth 46 laps
Petrov Renault 32 laps
Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 12 laps
Schumacher Mercedes 9 laps
Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 8 laps
Glock Virgin-Cosworth 2 laps
De la Rosa Sauber-Ferrari 0 laps
Fastest lap: Webber 1m37.054s
World Championship standings, round 3:
Drivers: Constructors:
1. Massa 39 1. Ferrari 76
2. Vettel 37 2. McLaren-Mercedes 66
3. Alonso 37 3. Red Bull-Renault 61
4. Button 35 4. Mercedes 44
5. Rosberg 35 5. Renault 30
6. Hamilton 31 6. Force India-Mercedes 18
7. Kubica 30 7. Williams-Cosworth 6
8. Webber 24 8. Toro Rosso-Ferrari 2
9. Sutil 10
10. Schumacher 9
11. Liuzzi 8
12. Barrichello 5
13. Alguersuari 2
14. Hulkenberg 1
Saturday, 3 April 2010
Horner says tyre choice was a gamble
Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner has praised Mark Webber's decision to run with intermediate tyres after the Australian secure his first pole position of the year.
Horner added, however, that the decision was a gamble that could have backfired.
Webber secured the top spot by 1.3 seconds from Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, as Red Bull scored its third pole in three races.
"I think cool heads from both the engineering crew and the drivers," said Horner of how the team managed to get Webber first and Sebastian Vettel third on the grid.
"We took a bit of a gamble - that I was happy to take in the final session, where as Mark wanted to go with the inters, which was brave."
"Our spotters were telling us there was more rain due, but it was one of those things that was worth rolling the dice. Both drivers did a great job to finish first and third. The ability to get it wrong today was very high."
Horner also backed the decision to stop qualifying when it was obvious there was too much water on track.
"Absolutely. Both our drivers were immediately on the radio saying they were passengers, out of control, doing a lot of damage. I think the race director and the stewards made exactly the right call in those conditions. The difficulty will be tomorrow in the race if we have similar."
He added: "Every day I've been here it's rained between 4pm and 7pm, it's just a question of when. The chances are it's going to rain tomorrow, it's just when, whether it's before the start of the race, during the race or ideally, just after it. But we're not likely to be that lucky."
Horner added, however, that the decision was a gamble that could have backfired.
Webber secured the top spot by 1.3 seconds from Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, as Red Bull scored its third pole in three races.
"I think cool heads from both the engineering crew and the drivers," said Horner of how the team managed to get Webber first and Sebastian Vettel third on the grid.
"We took a bit of a gamble - that I was happy to take in the final session, where as Mark wanted to go with the inters, which was brave."
"Our spotters were telling us there was more rain due, but it was one of those things that was worth rolling the dice. Both drivers did a great job to finish first and third. The ability to get it wrong today was very high."
Horner also backed the decision to stop qualifying when it was obvious there was too much water on track.
"Absolutely. Both our drivers were immediately on the radio saying they were passengers, out of control, doing a lot of damage. I think the race director and the stewards made exactly the right call in those conditions. The difficulty will be tomorrow in the race if we have similar."
He added: "Every day I've been here it's rained between 4pm and 7pm, it's just a question of when. The chances are it's going to rain tomorrow, it's just when, whether it's before the start of the race, during the race or ideally, just after it. But we're not likely to be that lucky."
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
Brembo denies Vettel's brake failure
Brake manufacturer Brembo has denied reports that Sebastian Vettel's retirement from the Australian Grand Prix was caused by a brake failure.
The Red Bull Racing driver retired from the Melbourne event while leading comfortably, after he suffered a mechanical problem on his front left wheel.
Red Bull's brake supplier Brembo issued a statement on Tuesday clarifying that the failure had nothing to do with the brakes.
The company said Red Bull had confirmed a torque drive between the front left axle and wheel has been lost.
"With regard to the retirement of the Red Bull Racing's driver Sebastian Vettel during the Grand Prix of Australia, Brembo communicates that the cause of his exit in Turn 13 was not caused by the braking system supplied by Brembo, as some publications have reported," Brembo said.
"Red Bull Racing has confirmed that Sebastian Vettel retired from the Australian Grand Prix after the torque drive between the front left axle and wheel was lost.
"Post-race investigations revealed the wheel nut was correctly tightened at the pitstop as well as other possible causes of the fault.
"The team has communicated that it's studying a number of solutions at present, which can be implemented for the Malaysian Grand Prix."
The Red Bull Racing driver retired from the Melbourne event while leading comfortably, after he suffered a mechanical problem on his front left wheel.
Red Bull's brake supplier Brembo issued a statement on Tuesday clarifying that the failure had nothing to do with the brakes.
The company said Red Bull had confirmed a torque drive between the front left axle and wheel has been lost.
"With regard to the retirement of the Red Bull Racing's driver Sebastian Vettel during the Grand Prix of Australia, Brembo communicates that the cause of his exit in Turn 13 was not caused by the braking system supplied by Brembo, as some publications have reported," Brembo said.
"Red Bull Racing has confirmed that Sebastian Vettel retired from the Australian Grand Prix after the torque drive between the front left axle and wheel was lost.
"Post-race investigations revealed the wheel nut was correctly tightened at the pitstop as well as other possible causes of the fault.
"The team has communicated that it's studying a number of solutions at present, which can be implemented for the Malaysian Grand Prix."
Saturday, 27 March 2010
Vettel heads all-Red Bull front row
Red Bull team-mates Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber will start tomorrow's Australian Grand Prix from the front row after dominating the qualifying battle in Melbourne today.
Adrian Newey's design was the fastest thing around Albert Park throughout the three sessions, and Vettel edged his Australian team-mate by just over a tenth of a second to claim pole position with a 1m23.919s best in the final part of qualifying - the only lap below 1m24s so far this weekend.
The track cooled considerably during the final part of qualifying and for a while it looked as though nobody would get near the Red Bulls, as both leapt to the top of the timesheet early on.
Home hero Webber had a go at toppling his young German team-mate late-on, but lost time in the middle sector of his best lap, having been fastest of all in sectors one and three, and had to settle for second.
Only Ferrari's world championship leader Fernando Alonso hooked together a good enough lap to get close. The Spaniard's late 1m24.111s best put him third, just under two tenths shy of pole.
The rest found themselves a whopping six tenths off the Red Bull pace in final qualifying. Reigning world champion Jenson Button qualified his McLaren-Mercedes fourth, two tenths clear of Ferrari's Felipe Massa.
Both Mercedes drivers struggled to get the best from the softer tyres, so wound up sixth and seventh, with Nico Rosberg again getting the better of his seven times world champion team-mate Michael Schumacher.
Williams' Rubens Barrichello, Renault's Robert Kubica, and Force India's Adrian Sutil rounded out the top 10, as McLaren's Lewis Hamilton made a shock exit from qualifying in Q2.
The 2008 world champion aborted a quick lap during his first run and sat in the garage last of the 17 runners at the midway point of the session.
Hamilton improved to seventh fastest on his second run with the same set of soft tyres he used for his first, but fell to 11th as others improved, Hamilton's tyres fell away, and the fuel tank began to run dry.
Sutil, Barrichello and Kubica were thus able to join the rest of the drivers from the 'big four' teams for final qualifying, while both Toro Rossos, both Saubers, Nico Hulkenberg's Williams, and Tonio Liuzzi's Force India were all eliminated.
Circuit newcomer Vitaly Petrov was the only runner from the established squads to drop out in first qualifying. Toro Rosso's Sebastien Buemi sat ‘on the bubble' for much of the session, before dropping the Russian into the hot seat with a late improvement.
Petrov looked set to save himself with a minute of running remaining, but suffered a massive oversteering moment through the ultra-fast turn 12 having set two personal best sector times. The Renault man did improve on a last-gasp final lap, but only got within 0.220s of Kamui Kobayashi's Sauber.
As expected, the six drivers at the three new teams were all eliminated in Q1. HRT again propped up the grid, but encouragingly got within six seconds of the outright pace in Q1 and within a second of Timo Glock's faster Virgin in 21st.
The Lotus drivers finished up fastest of the new teams, with Heikki Kovalainen just over three tenths clear of team-mate Jarno Trulli in 19th, but over two seconds adrift of Petrov's time.
Adrian Newey's design was the fastest thing around Albert Park throughout the three sessions, and Vettel edged his Australian team-mate by just over a tenth of a second to claim pole position with a 1m23.919s best in the final part of qualifying - the only lap below 1m24s so far this weekend.
The track cooled considerably during the final part of qualifying and for a while it looked as though nobody would get near the Red Bulls, as both leapt to the top of the timesheet early on.
Home hero Webber had a go at toppling his young German team-mate late-on, but lost time in the middle sector of his best lap, having been fastest of all in sectors one and three, and had to settle for second.
Only Ferrari's world championship leader Fernando Alonso hooked together a good enough lap to get close. The Spaniard's late 1m24.111s best put him third, just under two tenths shy of pole.
The rest found themselves a whopping six tenths off the Red Bull pace in final qualifying. Reigning world champion Jenson Button qualified his McLaren-Mercedes fourth, two tenths clear of Ferrari's Felipe Massa.
Both Mercedes drivers struggled to get the best from the softer tyres, so wound up sixth and seventh, with Nico Rosberg again getting the better of his seven times world champion team-mate Michael Schumacher.
Williams' Rubens Barrichello, Renault's Robert Kubica, and Force India's Adrian Sutil rounded out the top 10, as McLaren's Lewis Hamilton made a shock exit from qualifying in Q2.
The 2008 world champion aborted a quick lap during his first run and sat in the garage last of the 17 runners at the midway point of the session.
Hamilton improved to seventh fastest on his second run with the same set of soft tyres he used for his first, but fell to 11th as others improved, Hamilton's tyres fell away, and the fuel tank began to run dry.
Sutil, Barrichello and Kubica were thus able to join the rest of the drivers from the 'big four' teams for final qualifying, while both Toro Rossos, both Saubers, Nico Hulkenberg's Williams, and Tonio Liuzzi's Force India were all eliminated.
Circuit newcomer Vitaly Petrov was the only runner from the established squads to drop out in first qualifying. Toro Rosso's Sebastien Buemi sat ‘on the bubble' for much of the session, before dropping the Russian into the hot seat with a late improvement.
Petrov looked set to save himself with a minute of running remaining, but suffered a massive oversteering moment through the ultra-fast turn 12 having set two personal best sector times. The Renault man did improve on a last-gasp final lap, but only got within 0.220s of Kamui Kobayashi's Sauber.
As expected, the six drivers at the three new teams were all eliminated in Q1. HRT again propped up the grid, but encouragingly got within six seconds of the outright pace in Q1 and within a second of Timo Glock's faster Virgin in 21st.
The Lotus drivers finished up fastest of the new teams, with Heikki Kovalainen just over three tenths clear of team-mate Jarno Trulli in 19th, but over two seconds adrift of Petrov's time.
Thursday, 25 March 2010
Australia Preview - Red Bull, or Prancing Horse?
After all the anticipation of the opening round of the championship in Bahrain a fortnight ago, this weekend’s second round is almost as eagerly awaited - if only to see if anyone catch match Red Bull’s fearsome speed, or unsettle Ferrari’s finishing ability.
As things stand after events at Sakhir, Red Bull start the favourite in Melbourne from Ferrari, with McLaren and Mercedes a little slower unless they can get effective updates on to their cars quickly enough.
"We are kind of on the same level as Mercedes, I would say," McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton said after Bahrain. "We just did maybe a better job in Bahrain but it's a battle between us and Mercedes to see who can step up and improve faster and do a better job.
"As for the Red Bull, it’s ridiculously faster than anyone else. It's insane. The downforce they had on their car last year was at some points just about double what we had. Even at the end of the year they had so much more than us, even though we had won a couple of Grands Prix. They have got the fastest car by quite a big step. They should be quite a lot further ahead in general."
Hamilton also believes that, despite Fernando Alonso setting fastest lap in Bahrain by a second from Force India’s Adrian Sutil, that there is still a gap between the Ferrari and the Red Bull. “Fernando was very quick in the race and they are obviously a little bit closer, but it's a good half second,” said the British driver.
Ferrari’s team principal Stefano Domenicali was delighted with their first one-two since France in 2008, but says the reds need to raise their game after reliability concerns obliged them to fit fresh engines for the race, and Felipe Massa had an overheating problem in the race.
"We have just done a check of all the problems we faced in the three days we had in Bahrain," Domenicali said. “Of course the result in the end was very, very good - it was excellent, a first and second place in the first race. It was really an outstanding achievement, but we have seen the list of problems was quite high and we need to address them all and make sure that these are solved before the start of the race in Australia."
Behind the big four, Renault and Force India are expected to fight for ‘best of the rest’ honours, with Williams hoping to take a step closer to them. The R30 showed more speed than expected in Bahrain, but both Robert Kubica and Vitaly Petrov were unlucky not to score points. Force India’s Sutil will be hoping to avoid mistakes, while Vitantonio Liuzzi is determined to build on his good start to the season.
BMW Sauber, too, hope that they have cured the two disparate hydraulic problems that brought Pedro de la Rosa and Kamui Kobayashi to premature halts.
Among the newcomers, Virgin showed they have the fastest car so far but it too has been plagued by hydraulic issues, as was Karun Chandhok’s HRT. The Indian will be hoping for a lot more track time than he got in Bahrain, as he and team mate Bruno Senna get to grips with Formula One racing, while Lotus are hoping that an update can get them some more speed.
Albert Park is a notoriously bumpy track and is always very green on Friday before it rubbers in. Grip levels are usually quite low anyway, so the set-up priority focuses on driveability to generate maximum driver confidence. It is also very hard on brakes, and there have been disc failures in the past.
The ban on refuelling may be felt even more keenly here because of that factor, and management of Bridgestone’s hard and soft compounds could be trickier than it proved in Bahrain even though the compounds are harder here.
Interestingly, the weather forecast suggests that rain showers might further enliven proceedings.
Sunday, 21 March 2010
Hamilton: Red Bull has big advantage
Lewis Hamilton reckons Red Bull has a 'ridiculous' margin of superiority over its rivals based on its performance in Bahrain.
The McLaren driver said Red Bull had the most downforce of any team in 2009, and that it has maintained its advantage into the new season.
Sebastian Vettel took pole for Red Bull at Sakhir and was set to win the race until his engine lost power and he dropped to fourth.
"The Red Bull is ridiculously faster than anyone else's car," Hamilton told the British media. "It's insane. The downforce they had on their car last year was at some points just about double what we had.
"Even at the end of the year they had so much more than us, even though we had won a couple of grands prix.
"They have both got the fastest car by quite a big step. They should be quite a lot further ahead in general."
Although Ferrari's Fernando Alonso was able to pressure Vettel even before his problems at Sakhir, Hamilton does not think even Ferrari is a match for Red Bull on raw speed.
"Fernando I think was very quick in the race and they are obviously a little bit closer, but it's a good half second [deficit]," said Hamilton.
The Briton rates his McLaren team as being in a battle with Mercedes right behind the leaders.
"We are kind of on the same level as Mercedes I would say," Hamilton said.
"We just did maybe a better job at the weekend but it's a battle between us and Mercedes to see who can step up and improve faster and do a better job."
The McLaren driver said Red Bull had the most downforce of any team in 2009, and that it has maintained its advantage into the new season.
Sebastian Vettel took pole for Red Bull at Sakhir and was set to win the race until his engine lost power and he dropped to fourth.
"The Red Bull is ridiculously faster than anyone else's car," Hamilton told the British media. "It's insane. The downforce they had on their car last year was at some points just about double what we had.
"Even at the end of the year they had so much more than us, even though we had won a couple of grands prix.
"They have both got the fastest car by quite a big step. They should be quite a lot further ahead in general."
Although Ferrari's Fernando Alonso was able to pressure Vettel even before his problems at Sakhir, Hamilton does not think even Ferrari is a match for Red Bull on raw speed.
"Fernando I think was very quick in the race and they are obviously a little bit closer, but it's a good half second [deficit]," said Hamilton.
The Briton rates his McLaren team as being in a battle with Mercedes right behind the leaders.
"We are kind of on the same level as Mercedes I would say," Hamilton said.
"We just did maybe a better job at the weekend but it's a battle between us and Mercedes to see who can step up and improve faster and do a better job."
Monday, 1 March 2010
Mateschitz says only title will suffice
Dietrich Mateschitz says Red Bull Racing must fight for the championship this season, as he is adamant his squad belongs in the group of top teams now.
Red Bull finished in second position in both championships last year, being beaten by Brawn GP after a strong start to the season by the British outfit.
Mateschitz's team, however, was the strongest in the final part of the campaign and is looking to keep its momentum going into 2010 to reach the top.
The Red Bull boss admits that, after such a strong 2009, only the title will suffice for his team this year.
"We have realistic expectations that of course progressed each year," said Mateschitz. "Last year we wanted to finish among the top three teams, which we achieved.
"This year we have to fight for the championship because we belong to the three fastest teams. The rest is not dependent on us but on FIA decisions, driver errors, reliability, safety car periods and so on."
Mateschitz believes last year's row over the double diffusers hurt his team, and he reckons Sebastian Vettel could have taken the title if not for that.
"At the start of last season, we were the only team without a double diffuser that could match Brawn's pace," he said. "If you consider we had to rebuild the car, Vettel had to accept the penalty after Melbourne, he could have been champion already last year.
"Now we have to continue where we finished last year. There is no guarantee for the championship, but it is a target."
The Austrian is also convinced that both Vettel and team-mate Mark Webber are ready to fight for the title, and he reckons their rivalry is only a good thing for the team.
"As Sebastian, he can too. Two drivers of equal strength are no problem but a huge advantage because they push their respective limits. Sebastian had more wins and poles last year than Mark but on fastest laps they were equal. Vettel of course is an exceptional personality that might come out maybe in some decades.
"By his pressure Mark could push his limits remarkably. The fact that Vettel is a product of our young driver scheme is an additional satisfaction for us."
Red Bull finished in second position in both championships last year, being beaten by Brawn GP after a strong start to the season by the British outfit.
Mateschitz's team, however, was the strongest in the final part of the campaign and is looking to keep its momentum going into 2010 to reach the top.
The Red Bull boss admits that, after such a strong 2009, only the title will suffice for his team this year.
"We have realistic expectations that of course progressed each year," said Mateschitz. "Last year we wanted to finish among the top three teams, which we achieved.
"This year we have to fight for the championship because we belong to the three fastest teams. The rest is not dependent on us but on FIA decisions, driver errors, reliability, safety car periods and so on."
Mateschitz believes last year's row over the double diffusers hurt his team, and he reckons Sebastian Vettel could have taken the title if not for that.
"At the start of last season, we were the only team without a double diffuser that could match Brawn's pace," he said. "If you consider we had to rebuild the car, Vettel had to accept the penalty after Melbourne, he could have been champion already last year.
"Now we have to continue where we finished last year. There is no guarantee for the championship, but it is a target."
The Austrian is also convinced that both Vettel and team-mate Mark Webber are ready to fight for the title, and he reckons their rivalry is only a good thing for the team.
"As Sebastian, he can too. Two drivers of equal strength are no problem but a huge advantage because they push their respective limits. Sebastian had more wins and poles last year than Mark but on fastest laps they were equal. Vettel of course is an exceptional personality that might come out maybe in some decades.
"By his pressure Mark could push his limits remarkably. The fact that Vettel is a product of our young driver scheme is an additional satisfaction for us."
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