Adrenaline Shot: The Aston Martin DB9 Special
James Bond started it with the DB5. Let us take an inside look at the latest iteration of the DB series, the DB9.
Showing posts with label Formula 1. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Formula 1. Show all posts
Is the 2013 Formula 1 season over?
The end of an era... again!
Well, it's official. Again. And this time, he says it's final. 7 time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher has announced his retirement from Formula 1 at the end of the season this year. He will be replaced at Mercedes AMG Petronas by Lewis Hamilton for the upcoming season. The 43 year old record holding 91 time race winner didn't have quite the impact he'd hoped when he came out of retirement in 2010 but he was still a joy to watch on track.
“I decided to retire by the end of the year 2012. At some point, it is time to say ‘good bye’ I still feel I am capable of competing against the best but the time sometimes comes to say goodbye and this time it might be forever,” he said at the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team motor home. Schumacher’s first stint in F1, between 1991 and 2006, saw him enter the sport’s record books, winning 7 championship titles and 91 races. He dominated Formula 1 when he won five world titles in a row with Scuderia Ferrari from 2000 - 2004.
Despite his retirement, we are pretty sure Schumi will still be around the world of motorsport. We wish him the best of luck. Check out a video of Schumi's career and achievements below.
R.I.P Professor Sid Watkins
It is a sad sad day for Formula 1... long time friend, head of the Formula 1 on track medical team and first responder, Professor Sid Watkins has passed away. A regular fixture at the races for almost 30 years, the Prof's (as he was affectionately called) absence will surely be felt by one and all. A world renowned neuro-surgeon, he was responsible for saving the lives of many a Formula 1 driver over the course of his tenure.
Beginning his long association in 1978, Watkins began the gradual process of changing attitudes and then changing the circuit medical facilities. At the time circuit medical centers were often nothing more than tents with little in the way of facilities. He was spurred on by such events as the death of Ronnie Peterson in 1979 after which Watkins began a campaign to ensure that the hospitals to which the injured were taken had the necessary facilities.
Watkins's common sense approach and willingness to speak his mind made him a respected figure in Formula 1 circles especially after the deaths of Ayrton Senna (who he was especially close friends with) and Roland Ratzenberger in 1994 at Imola. This was when the Prof was appointed to head a new body called the Advisory Expert Group which revolutionized not only car safety but also circuit safety and systems like the HANS head and neck support. There has not been a driver fatality in Formula 1 ever since.
We are sure the Singapore Grand Prix next week will have a special dedication in his memory.
R.I.P. Prof (1928 - 2012)
McLaren and Button are back with a bang!
Now that recess is over, the Formula 1 season began with a bang... literally. The bang came on the very first corner right after the start of the race when Lotus's Romain Grosjean took out the championship contenders in Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez. He was subsequently fined 50,000 Euros and given a 1 race ban for causing a dangerous accident. Despite this hiccup, it was a sunny day at the office for Jenson Button and the rest of the McLaren team as they literally stormed through the race to take the win in convincing fashion.
Button led the race from the start after qualifying in Pole position and no one else on the grid was in any position to challenge him for the entire race. A superbly balanced drive coupled with the pace of the McLaren meant Button was racing solo for most of the race. The win was his first at Spa and he was joined on the podium by Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel and 4 time Spa winner, Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen. They were followed by the first of the two Force India cars of Nico Hulkenberg and his teammate Paul di Resta took the final points by finishing in 10th place. Ferrari's Felipe Massa, who still has a lot to prove this season, finished in 5th place followed by Vettel's teammate Mark Webber who had a fight on his hands the entire race. Michael Schumacher, Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo rounded up the top 10. Here are the complete results of the race.
Grosjean's collision breathed renewed life into Vettel's title defense and the result moved him into second place with 140 points behind Alonso with 164 points for the Driver's Championship. They are closely followed by Mark Webber with 132 points and Kimi Raikkonen with 131 points. Here are the complete standings.
The season now heads to the high speed Monza circuit for the Formula 1 Gran Premio Santander D'Italia 2012 (Italian Grand Prix) to be held from September 7th to the 9th.
Ever wonder how Formula 1 cars are built?
They are the pinnacle of motor racing and are at the limit of what is technologically possible. We are of course referring to Formula 1. Considering the amount of money spent in designing and developing the cars not to mention the insane amount of money spent in marketing and promotions, it is still a highly secretive circle. There are trade secrets galore and even though you get to see the cars in plain view at every race, it doesn't even scratch the surface of what goes into the production of these million dollar machines. We found a video from Red Bull Racing that gives us a glimpse of some of the processes involved in making these cars. Here it is:
Red Bull reigns supreme at Silverstone
After a crazy weekend at Silverstone for the 2012 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix, it looks like Red Bull gave Mark Webber the wings he needed to pull off a fantastic victory from Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and his teammate, Sebastian Vettel. What began as a rain soaked race weekend turned out to be a spectacular race day on Sunday and all eyes were on the Ferraris to repeat their performance from last year... not to mention home town favorites McLaren. But in the end, the team from Milton Keyes took the win with a well controlled and fast paced drive.
Alonso started off on the hard compound tires (along with Lewis Hamilton) unlike the rest of the pack who started the race on Intermediate tires, but was able to maintain his lead from Pole position for most of the race. In the end, Mark Webber managed to get past Alonso only on the 48th lap (out of 52), when Alonso's tires started fading away. Webber's teammate Sebastian Vettel tried to close the gap between his car and Alonso's Ferrari but was unable to do so and finished the race in 3rd position. Felipe Massa looked like he got his mojo back and drove a great race to finish in 4th place just a hair ahead of the flying Lotus of Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean. Special mention goes out to Grosjean who probably drove the best race of all the drivers and started in 18th position and finished in 6th position. Mercedes' Michael Schumacher fell down a couple of spots from his starting position to finish in 7th position followed by McLaren's Lewis Hamilton in 8th spot. Bruno Senna and Jenson Button rounded up the top 10 with seemingly lack luster performances.
Kamui Kobayashi took 11th after a strong race, which unfortunately was marred when he hit three mechanics when he slightly overshot his pit spot during his second stop. Thankfully no one was seriously injured, but the stewards fined the Japanese driver 25,000 Euro. Pastor Maldonado had yet another altercation during the race, this time it was with Sergio Perez when he drove into the his car as they were racing side by side. They both spun, but Perez was unable to continue thanks to suspension damage. The stewards subsequently reprimanded Maldonado and fined him 10,000 Euro for causing a collision. Here are the complete results of the race.
Webber’s win moves him to the second place in the Drivers championship with 116 points, trailing Alonso who still leads with 129 points. Behind them, Vettel is now third with 100 from Hamilton with 92 and Raikkonen with 83. Here are the complete standings.
Red Bull extended their lead in the Constructors’ championship with 216 points, with both Ferrari and Lotus, with 152 and 144, moving ahead of McLaren with 142.
The season now heads to Hockenheimring for the Formula 1 Grosser Preis Santander Von Deutschland 2012 (German Grand Prix) to be held from July 20th to the 22nd.
Alonso leads pack after drenched session
It was a drenched affair at Silverstone during qualification for the 2012 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix. With the rain playing havoc throughout the entire session causing qualifying to be red flagged in Q2 with 6 minutes and 19 seconds left on the clock, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso finally put together a scorcher of a lap in the final session to earn the Pole position for the race. He will be joined by Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber on the front row. The final session was all about trying to get in at least one clean lap in the midst of all the traffic.
It was a session filled with spin outs, beachings and loads of hydroplaning. With the yellow flag coming out a few times it definitely caused many a flying lap to get cut short for safety reasons. Seven time former world champion Michael Schumacher (the Rainmeister) also managed to put in a quick lap to finish in third spot. And despite a seemingly lackluster lap, reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel managed to bring in the second Red Bull Racing car in fourth place. Ferrari's Felipe Massa, sort of on a second wind, was fifth, followed by the Iceman, Kimi Raikkonen in a Lotus that didn’t have KERS. Williams' Pastor Maldonado improved his Q2 time that was enough to snatch seventh from his Valencia sparring partner McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, who was a disappointed eighth for McLaren. Nico Hulkenberg took ninth for Force India, while Lotus driver Romain Grosjean was tenth after his Q2 time (he did not run in Q3).
Here are the complete results from qualifying.
Notably missing from the top 10 was McLaren's Jenson Button who failed to make it out of Q1 due to traffic and the yellow flag just prior to his flying lap. He completed qualification in 18th place. The starting grid will be a little juggled though, as Kobayashi and Vergne have five and 10-place grid penalties respectively from Valencia, and Hulkenberg and Pic have five-places penalties for gearbox changes.
Alonso wins a thriller at Valencia
And what a race it was. After a slow start with not much action and Sebastian Vettel in the lead, the 2012 Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe looked like it would end without much incident. All that changed at the half way point when the safety car was deployed after Jean-Eric Vergne's Toro Rosso collided with Heikki Kovalainen's Caterham. From that point on all the action began with front runners Sebastian Vettel and Romain Grosjean retiring due to mechanical issues. Home favorite Fernando Alonso drove a superb race to take the lead and stayed there till the end. He was chased by McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen and Williams' Pastor Maldonado. Lewis' race came to an end on the penultimate lap when Maldonado drove into Lewis car and was able to limp past the finish line in 10th place.
All this action meant Michael Schumacher was bumped up to 3rd place and on the podium for the first time since his return to Formula 1. Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber drove the most stellar race and finished in 4th place after beginning in 19th position. Both the Force India cars also finished in the points with Nico Hulkenberg finishing in 5th position and Paul di Resta in 7th. They were split by Schumacher's teammate Nico Rosberg. McLaren's Jenson Button finished in 8th place, no small feat considering the tire degradation issues that he faced throughout the race. Sergio Perez and Pastor Maldonado rounded up the top 10. Here are the complete results of the race.
With this race, and with Vettel and Hamilton not finishing the race, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso now leads the drivers standings with 111 points. He is followed by Red Bull's Mark Webber with 91 points and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton with 88 points. Here are the complete standings. Red Bull Racing still leads the constructors standings with 176 points followed by McLaren with 137 points and surprise surprise... Lotus-Renault with 126 points, aided by very consistent performances by both their drivers.
Formula 1 now heads to Silverstone for the 2012 Santander British Grand Prix to be held from July 6th to the 8th.
Sunny Valencia smiles down at Vettel during qualifying
It was an absolutely gorgeous day at the scenic Valencia Street Circuit in Spain, home of the 2012 Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe. With most drivers taking their time and conserving the number of laps (and consequently their tires) owing to the rising track temperatures, Vettel put in a fiery final qualifying lap to take Pole position by almost 4 tenths of a second from McLaren's Lewis Hamilton. They take the front row on the grid followed by Pastor Maldonado and Romain Grosjean who also put in some fantastic laps before being upstaged in the final seconds of Q1. Lotus' Kimi Raikonnen drove a calm and collected qualifying lap to finish in 5th spot followed by the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg. Both Force India drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta also finish in the top 10 along with McLaren's Jenson Button.
Here are the complete results from qualification.
The surprises of the afternoon came from the Ferrari duo of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa who failed to make it to the final qualifying session and Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber who failed to make it out of the first qualifying session. Webber will begin the race in 18th position. Timo Glock starts from the back of the grid after skipping qualification due to an upset stomach.
The European Grand Prix begins at 2:00PM Valencia time. Click here to see your local timing. In India, the race will be broadcast on Star Sports starting at 4:30PM.
7 in 7 at Montreal.
McLaren's Lewis Hamilton took his 3rd Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada with an absolutely manic drive in a race that was a nail biter from the start to the end. The win puts him at the top of the 2012 Formula 1 Driver's Standing with 88 points to Fernando Alonso's 86. It was a fantastic race all throughout with pit strategy playing a vital role in determining the podium finishers.
Fernando Alonso led for a majority of the race followed closely by Sebastian Vettel when Lewis Hamilton pit from the lead. But Lewis' 2 stop strategy proved to be the downfall of Ferrari and Red Bull Racing who did not have the grip due to extreme tire wear to stop the absolutely blistering pace of the McLaren after its second pit stop. In the end, Vettel decided to pit and was able to salvage some solace in being able to get past Alonso in the penultimate lap to finish the race in 4th place. Renault's Romain Grosjean and Sauber's Sergio Perez also drove absolutely disciplined races and waited until the opportune moment to get ahead of Vettel and Alonso to finish on the podium.
The race also meant the 2012 Formula 1 season saw its 7th different winner in the first 7 seven races... it looks like history is continuing to be made this season. Nico Rosberg, Mark Webber, Kimi Raikkonen, Kamui Kobayashi and Felipe Massa rounded out the top 10. Here are the complete standings of the race. The championship is still wide open for the drivers with the top 4 drivers separated by less than 10 points. Here are the current driver's standings.
We can now look forward to the 2012 Grand Prix of Europe to be held at the Valencia Street Circuit, Spain from the 22nd to 24th of June.
Vettel lays down the hammer at Montreal
Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing laid down the hammer during the qualifying session of the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada 2012. After a seemingly effortless qualifying session, Vettel cruised to Pole position. McLaren's Lews Hamilton will accompany Vettel on the front row of the Canadian Grand Prix after finishing in second place, about 3 tenths of a second behind Vettel.
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso came close to ousting Lewis from the front row but was unable to do so. He will start in Row 2 alongside Vettel's teammate Mark Webber. Mercedes' Nico Rosberg continued his fine form by qualifying in 5th place alongside Felipe Massa, who is fighting to keep his place at Ferrari and definitely needs a good result at Canada. Romain Grosjean, Paul di Resta, Michael Schumacher and Jenson Button round up the top 10. Tire management will be key in tomorrow's race especially considering the ambient temperature in Montreal is expected to hit about 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius).
The qualifying sessions (Q3, Q2 and Q1) were devoid of much drama aside from some drivers almost losing it at the final corner of the track, the Wall of Champions corner, a fast chicane section leading to the front straightaway and the start finish line. Pastor Maldonado was on track to finishing in the top 5 when he lost control on the final corner and damaged the rear suspension of his Williams-Renault. Here are the results from Qualifying today.
History made at a Historic Race
It has never happened in Formula 1. 6 different winners in the first 6 races of a season. The 2012 season has made history with Mark Webber from Red Bull Racing taking the checkered flag at the 2012 Formula 1 Grand Prix De Monaco. And what a fantastic race it was with the top 6 drivers separated by a little over 6 seconds at the finish. Monaco is considered by most to be the hardest track in the calendar with very few areas for passing (if at all), but amidst all the drama, Webber drove a simply superb race to take the win.
Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and Webber's teammate Sebastian Vettel were all hot on his heels at a time differential of just 1.3s. Webber took the lead at the start and held it from Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, but the Lewis lost third to Alonso during their only pit stop. Felipe Massa seemed to be hot on the heels of Lewis' McLaren, but in the end it wasn't enough and he finished the race in 6th place. The Force India duo of Paul di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg drove a superb race and collect some valuable points for the team by finishing in 7th and 8th positions ahead of former World Champion Kimi Raikkonen. Williams' Bruno Senna rounded out the top 10.
Michael Schumacher, who had the fastest time during qualifying (but was penalized), ran into Romain Grosjean at the start which ended the Frenchman’s race, while Pastor Maldonado damaged his Williams’ front wing in the traffic and also retired. Schumacher and Grosjean are under investigation for their incident.
View the complete results of the race.
The result of the race at Monaco means we have a new leader in the Driver's Championship. Ferrari's Fernando Alonso leads the pack with 76 points, followed closely by the Red Bull Racing duo of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber who are both tied at 73 points. McLaren's Lewis Hamilton is fourth with 63 points followed by Mercedes' Nico Rosberg with 59 points.
The result of the race at Monaco means we have a new leader in the Driver's Championship. Ferrari's Fernando Alonso leads the pack with 76 points, followed closely by the Red Bull Racing duo of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber who are both tied at 73 points. McLaren's Lewis Hamilton is fourth with 63 points followed by Mercedes' Nico Rosberg with 59 points.
View the current driver's standings.
The teams and drivers will head West next, for the Formula 1 Grand Prix Du Canada 2012 to be held from the 8th to 10th June at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal.
Cote d'Azur beckons Formula 1 yet again
It is the most prestigious race on the Formula 1 calendar. A star studded event attracting celebrities and the who's who of the motor racing world past and present alike, a victory here is pretty much the dream of every single driver on the starting grid. We are, of course, talking about the Formula 1 Grand Prix De Monaco 2012 in Monte Carlo. Will Sebastian Vettel repeat his victory from 2011 this year? Or will history be made with a 6th driver taking the podium in as many races?
It is a shame Michael Schumacher was penalized 5 spots at the Monaco Grand Prix after a superb drive during qualification to land the fastest time of the session (and silence his critics). The Mercedes driver will drop five places for causing a collision with Williams driver Bruno Senna, at the last race in Spain. His penalty means second place Mark Webber from Red Bull Racing will start tomorrow's race in Pole position, a familiar spot for him considering he won this race a couple of years ago. Webber will be joined on the front row by Schumi's teammate, fellow Mercedes Racing driver Nico Rosberg. McLaren's Lewis Hamilton starts off in third followed by Romain Grosjean in the first of the Lotus cars. Both the Ferraris showed up during qualifying today and will occupy the 7th and 8th spots with Michael starting in 6th place with his penalty alongside Fernando Alonso. They will be followed by Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen in the second of the Lotus cars. Pastor Maldonado finished qualifying in 9th place for Williams but was penalized 10 spots after his crash with Sergio Perez during the final practice session. As a result of the penalty, defending champion Sebastian Vettel, who did not run in the final qualifying session, will start in 9th place alongside Force India's Nico Hulkenberg who benefited from Maldonado's penalty after falling out after Q2 (second qualifying session).
The Monaco Grand Prix begins at 2:00pm Monaco time. Click here to see your local timing. In India, the race will be broadcast on Star Sports starting at 4:30PM.
Here are some of the highlights from the 2011 Formula 1 Grand Prix at Monaco.
It is a shame Michael Schumacher was penalized 5 spots at the Monaco Grand Prix after a superb drive during qualification to land the fastest time of the session (and silence his critics). The Mercedes driver will drop five places for causing a collision with Williams driver Bruno Senna, at the last race in Spain. His penalty means second place Mark Webber from Red Bull Racing will start tomorrow's race in Pole position, a familiar spot for him considering he won this race a couple of years ago. Webber will be joined on the front row by Schumi's teammate, fellow Mercedes Racing driver Nico Rosberg. McLaren's Lewis Hamilton starts off in third followed by Romain Grosjean in the first of the Lotus cars. Both the Ferraris showed up during qualifying today and will occupy the 7th and 8th spots with Michael starting in 6th place with his penalty alongside Fernando Alonso. They will be followed by Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen in the second of the Lotus cars. Pastor Maldonado finished qualifying in 9th place for Williams but was penalized 10 spots after his crash with Sergio Perez during the final practice session. As a result of the penalty, defending champion Sebastian Vettel, who did not run in the final qualifying session, will start in 9th place alongside Force India's Nico Hulkenberg who benefited from Maldonado's penalty after falling out after Q2 (second qualifying session).
The Monaco Grand Prix begins at 2:00pm Monaco time. Click here to see your local timing. In India, the race will be broadcast on Star Sports starting at 4:30PM.
Here are some of the highlights from the 2011 Formula 1 Grand Prix at Monaco.
Maldonado wins 2012 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix
Pastor Maldonado and the Williams-Renault team took their first win since 2004 and his first ever Formula 1 victory (in only his 24th start) with a simply fantastic drive at the 2012 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix. Ferrari's Fernando Alonso finished in 2nd place in his home race followed by the Lotus duo of Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean. Kamui Kobayashi also drove a fantastic race for Sauber and put in some serious overtaking moves and finished in 5th place. He was followed by Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg and the McLaren duo of Lewis Hamilton (who started dead last) and Jenson Button. Nico Hulkenberg from Force India rounded up the top 10th.
The race was filled with ups and downs that involved several overtaking moves (despite Spain being known to be a track where you couldn't overtake) and some incredible racing duels. It did seem as though several drivers were struggling with their tires across the entire race. In the end, it was a calm and calculated drive from the Williams-Renault driver that took the podium. Maldonado's win also marks a great gift on the 70th birthday of Sir Frank Williams, a Formula 1 icon who's team has seen some hard times especially over the past couple of seasons. And once again the driver in pole position went on to win the race at Catalunya!
The teams and drivers will now head to the South of France next, for the most-prestigious race in the calendar, the Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco 2012 to be held from 24th to 27th May at Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Is a Pole to Win in the works for McLaren?
Interesting title isn't it? Since 2000, the person on pole position at the Spanish Grand Prix has gone on to win the race all but twice. That's a strong stat to go by. So will Lewis Hamilton and McLaren take the win? We'll find out tomorrow at the Formula 1 Gran Premio De Espana Santander 2012 in Catalunya, Spain. Lewis qualified in pole position, followed by Williams-Renault's Pastor Maldonado and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, racing at his home track.
It was an interesting qualifying session this time with only one driver from the top teams (McLaren, Red Bull, Ferrari) making it into the top 10 and some drivers choosing not to run in Q3 to preserve their tires for the race. The surprises were from the Lotus duo of Romain Grosjean and Kimi Raikkonen who start tomorrow's race in 4th and 5th place. Kimi by the way has won this race twice. So keep a look out for him. Sergio Perez starts off in 6th with a good result for Sauber-Ferrari followed by the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg in 7th. Defending champion Sebastian Vettel, Michael Schumacher (a 4 time winner here) and Kamui Kobayashi chose not to run in the Q3 and round up the top 10.
Tire management seems to be the key for the race this weekend as has been voiced by several drivers during the course of this past week. So, will staying out of Q3 help? Or will starting at the head of the pack make the difference? Tune in tomorrow!
The Spanish Grand Prix begins at 2:00pm Spain time. Click here to see your local timing. In India, the race will be broadcast on Star Sports starting at 4:30PM.
See the highlights from the 2011 Spanish Grand Prix below.
The Spanish Grand Prix begins at 2:00pm Spain time. Click here to see your local timing. In India, the race will be broadcast on Star Sports starting at 4:30PM.
See the highlights from the 2011 Spanish Grand Prix below.
2012 Formula 1 Airtel Indian Grand Prix Tickets on sale
If you have ever wanted to watch a Formula 1 Grand Prix on Indian soil, now is your chance. Formula 1 has officially announced that ticket sales have begun for the 2012 Formula 1 Airtel Indian Grand Prix. The race weekend is scheduled to run between October 26th and October 28th 2012 at the Buddh International Circuit, in Greater Noida.
Tickets can be purchased via the Formula 1 website for this race (and others as well). We'll make sure we're in attendance this year. How about you?
Sebastian Vettel takes the podium at Bahrain
It was a very subdued event at the 2012 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix. No victory laps and no parades (due to the current political climate in Bahrain). But that didn't mean the on track action was subdued. It was anything but. Defending World Champion Sebastian Vettel won after a superb drive taking first place away from the Lotus twins of Iceman Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean, who showed that Lotus can fight with and beat the big dogs in Formula 1. Red Bull Racing's and Vettel's teammate Mark Webber took fourth place followed by Mercedes' Nico Rosberg.
Force India's Paul di Resta came in fifth place after an impressive drive and bold 2 pit stop strategy. Most of the others opted for a 3 stop strategy owing to the track conditions (heat and dust). Ferrari's Fernando Alonso came in behind di Resta followed by McLaren's Lewis Hamilton who lost a possible podium position due to a couple of shoddy pitstops. His teammate Jenson Button was running in 6th place but had to retire on the penultimate lap due a broken exhaust. How is that for bad luck? Felipe Massa finished in 9th place followed by Michael Schumacher who after an amazing drive managed to get into the top 10 after starting the race in 22nd position!
Formula 1 heads to Europe next for the 2012 Grand Premio De Espana Santander at Calalunya, Spain to be held from 11th to 13th May.
It's a Red Bull McLaren sandwich at Sakhir
Now that the 2012 Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix is a go, despite the civil unrest that the officials have assured is under control, qualification for tomorrow's race has been completed and we have the results. It is a Red Bull Racing and McLaren show at the front of the grid. Defending champion Sebastian Vettel bounced back to take his first pole position of the season in Sakhir on Saturday afternoon, as Lewis Hamilton bumped Vettel’s teammate Mark Webber from the front row. Jenson Button finished in at fourth place.
After last weekend's stupendous performance, Mercedes' Nico Rosberg will start in fifth place followed by Torro Rosso's Daniel Ricciardo in an excellent sixth position. This is one of Torro Rosso's best starts to date. To give you an idea of how competitive all teams are, Q2 was an intensely close session, with the top 14 separated by just seven-tenths of a second! 7 time world champion Michael Schumacher will start in 17th position due to a wing problem he encountered during the first qualifying session.
Now that the Red Bulls seem to be back in the mix, the 2012 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix seems to be heating up with all the top teams in contention for the win. Similar to China, the high speed straightaways and low speed corners coupled with the heat should make for a very compelling race tomorrow. Let's hope there aren't any disruptions due to the current political climate in Bahrain.
Haven't watched a Formula 1 race in a while? Why not brush up on some Formula 1 jargon before tomorrow's race?
Haven't watched a Formula 1 race in a while? Why not brush up on some Formula 1 jargon before tomorrow's race?
F1 Talk: Formula 1 Jargon
While watching the Formula 1 coverage this weekend, an idea struck us. A lot of the commentary on TV sounds very cryptic to someone who has never watched a Formula 1 race before. There are so many technical jargons the commentators use that can make your head spin. That's where we come in. We decided to list out a few of the terms that are being used constantly along with their definitions for your reading pleasure. If there are any that we missed out, do let us know!
APEX
The mid point of the inside line around a corner at which drivers aim their cars to achieve the most traction at the maximum speed.
BALLAST
Weights fitted around the car to maximize its balance and bring it up to the minimum weight limit.
BARGEBOARD
The piece of bodywork mounted vertically between the front wheels and the start of the sidepods to help smooth the airflow around the sides of the car.
BLISTERING
This happens to a tire, or part of a tire, due to overheating. The tires used in Formula 1 work best once they have some heat in them as is provides more grip. But excess heat can cause rubber to soften and break away in chunks from the body of the tire. Blistering can be caused by the selection of an inappropriate tire compound (for example, one that is too soft for circuit conditions), too high tire pressure, or an improperly set up car.
BOTTOMING OUT
When a car's chassis hits the track surface as it runs through a sharp compression and reaches the bottom of its suspension travel.
BRAKE BALANCE
A switch in the cockpit to alter the split of the car's braking power between the front and the rear wheels according to a driver's wishes.
CHICANE
A sequence of corners in alternate directions. They are also referred to as S curves as from a distance they resemble the letter S.
CLEAN AIR
Air that isn't turbulent, and thus offers optimum aerodynamic conditions, as experienced by a car at the head of the field. A lead car has no traffic ahead of it and as a result doesn't have to overcome the air that passes over a car in front of it. This dirty air causes turbulence and instability at high speed.
DIFFUSER
The rear section of the car's floor or undertray where the air flowing under the car exits. The design of the diffuser is crucial as it controls the speed at which the air exits. The faster its exit, the lower the air pressure beneath the car, and hence the more downforce the car generates.
DOWNFORCE
The aerodynamic force that is applied in a downwards direction as a car travels forwards. This is harnessed to improve a car's traction and its handling through corners. The way Formula 1 cars are designed, the faster they go, the more downforce they generate.
DRAG
The aerodynamic resistance experienced as a car travels forwards.
DRS
Stands for Drag Reduction System. The rear wings allow the driver to adjust the wing between two pre-determined settings from the cockpit. The system's availability is electronically governed - it can be used at any time in practice and qualifying (unless a driver is on wet-weather tires), but during the race can only be activated when a driver is less than one second behind another car at pre-determined points on the track. The system is then deactivated once the driver brakes. In combination with KERS, it is designed to boost overtaking. Also like KERS, it isn't compulsory.
DRIVE THROUGH PENALTY
One of two penalties that can be handed out at the discretion of the Stewards whilst the race is still running. Drivers must enter the pit lane, drive through it complying with the speed limit, and re-join the race without stopping. Failure to comply can result in additional penalties.
FLAT SPOT
Area of a tire that is worn heavily on one spot after a moment of extreme braking or in the course of a spin. This ruins its handling, often causing severe vibration.
FORMATION LAP
The lap before the start of the race when the cars are driven round from the grid to form up on the grid again for the start of the race. Sometimes referred to as the warm-up lap or parade lap.
GRAINING
When a car slides, it can cause little bits or rubber ('grains') to break away from the tire's grooves. These then stick to the tread of the tire, effectively separating the tire from the track surface very slightly. For the driver, the effect is like driving on ball bearings. Driving style, track conditions, car set-up, fuel load and the tire itself all play a role in graining.
GRAVEL TRAP
A bed of gravel on the outside of corners designed with the aim of bringing cars that drive off the track to a halt. This is a major safety feature of Formula 1 tracks around the world.
GRIP
The amount of traction a car has at any given point, affecting the ability for the driver to keep control through corners.
JUMPING THE START
When a driver moves off his grid position before the five red lights have been switched off to signal the start. Sensors detect premature movement and a jump start earns a driver a penalty.
KERS
Stands for Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems. KERS recover waste kinetic energy from the car during braking, store that energy and then make it available to propel the car. The driver has access to the additional power for limited periods per lap, via a 'boost button' on the steering wheel. This is starting to become a feature in production road going cars as are several other innovations from Formula 1.
LOLLIPOP
The sign on a stick held in front of the car during a pit stop to inform the driver to apply the brakes and then to engage first gear prior to the car being lowered from its jacks.
MARSHAL
A course official who oversees the safe running of the race. Marshals have several roles to fill, including observing the spectators to ensure they do not endanger themselves or the competitors, acting as fire wardens, helping to remove stranded cars/drivers from the track and using waving flags to signal the condition of the track to drivers.
MONOCOQUE
The single-piece tub in which the cockpit is located, with the engine fixed behind it and the front suspension on either side at the front. These are made of carbon fiber and protect the driver in case of any accidents (including fire).
PADDLES
Levers on either side of the back of a steering wheel with which a driver changes up and down the gearbox. This is also a feature in several cars on the road today.
PADDOCK
An enclosed area behind the pits in which the teams keep their transporters and motor homes. There is no admission to the public.
PARC FERME
A fenced-off area into which cars are driven after qualifying and the race, where no team members are allowed to touch them except under the strict supervision of race stewards.
PIT BOARD
A board held out on the pit wall to inform a driver of his race position, the time interval to the car ahead or the one behind, plus the number of laps of the race remaining. It is also used to communicate with the driver in case their radio communication gear doesn't function.
PITS
An area of track separated from the start/finish straight by a wall, where the cars are brought for new tires and fuel during the race, or for set-up changes in practice, each stopping at their respective pit garages.
PLANK
A hard wooden strip (also known as a skid block) that is fitted front-to-back down the middle of the underside of all cars to check that they are not being run too close to the track surface, something that is apparent if the wood is excessively worn.
POLE POSITION
The first place on the starting grid, as awarded to the driver who recorded the fastest lap time in qualifying.
QUALIFYING
The knock-out session on Saturday in which the drivers compete to set the best time they can in order to determine the starting grid for the race. This occurs in 3 sessions - Q3 for 20 minutes, Q2 for 15 minutes and Q1 for 10 minutes. After each session the slowest drivers are knocked out.
RETIREMENT
When a car has to drop out of the race because of an accident or mechanical failure.
SAFETY CAR
The course vehicle that is called from the pits to run in front of the leading car in the race in the event of a problem that requires the cars to be slowed.
SECTORS
For timing purposes the lap is split into three sections, each of which is roughly a third of the lap. These sections are officially known as Sector 1, Sector 2 and Sector 3.
SHAKEDOWN
A brief test when a team is trying a different car part for the first time before going back out to drive at 100 percent to set a fast time.
SIDEPOD
The part of the car that flanks the sides of the monocoque alongside the driver and runs back to the rear wing, housing the radiators.
SLIPSTREAMING
A driving tactic when a driver is able to catch the car ahead and duck in behind its rear wing to benefit from a reduction in drag over its body and hopefully be able to achieve a superior maximum speed to slingshot past before the next corner.
STEWARD
One of three high-ranking officials at each Grand Prix appointed to make decisions.
STOP-GO PENALTY
A penalty given that involves the driver calling at his pit and stopping for 10 seconds - with no refueling or tire-changing allowed.
TEAR-OFF STRIPS
See through plastic strips that drivers fit to their helmet's visor before the start of the race and then remove as they become dirty.
TELEMETRY
A system that beams data related to the engine and chassis to computers in the pit garage so that engineers can monitor that car's behavior and communicate with the driver on modifications and status.
TURBULENCE
The result of the disruption of airflow caused by an interruption to its passage, such as when it hits a rear wing and its horizontal flow is spoiled.
TIRE WARMER
An electric blanket that is wrapped around the tires before they are fitted to the car so that they will start closer to their optimum operating temperature. Higher the temperature, better the grip.
UNDERTRAY
A separate floor to the car that is bolted onto the underside of the monocoque.
Nico Rosberg and Mercedes fly through Shanghai
What a fantastic race weekend that was! Nico Rosberg brought Mercedes Benz's first victory since 1955 under their own banner with an absolutely blistering drive at the 2012 UBS Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix. He finished the race almost 20 seconds ahead of McLaren's Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton who claimed 2nd and 3rd position on the podium. Red Bull's Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel rounded up the top 5. Rosberg, son of former World Champion Keke Rosberg had a mostly solitary race but the battle for 2nd was down to the wire. The different pit stop strategies (2 stop vs. 3 stop) all came to a head during the last 5 laps of the race with several position changes occurring across the track. The every driver using every possible option available (tires, DRS, KERS) to them to gain the slightest advantage, the race was the most exciting one we have seen in a while. Aside from first place, all the other positions were only decided on the final lap.
With his third 3rd place finish of the season, Lewis Hamilton now leads the Driver's Championship. The current driver's standings are as follows:
- Lewis Hamilton: 45
- Jenson Button: 43
- Fernando Alonso: 37
- Mark Webber: 36
- Sebastian Vettel: 28
- Nico Rosberg: 25
- Sergio Perez: 22
- Kimi Räikkönen: 16
- Bruno Senna: 14
- Kamui Kobayashi: 9
McLaren's 2nd and 3rd place finish also means they extend their leads in the Constructors Championship. We can now look forward to the 2012 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at Sakhir to be held next weekend. Boy, what a season this is turning out to be!
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