Author Topic: 2012 Grand Prix season (Read 88655 times)

TBWG · « **Reply #90 on:** June 25, 2012, 02:23:21 AM »

Maldonado loses European point

Pastor Maldonado has been hit with a 20-second penalty for causing the collision that put Lewis Hamilton out of the European GP.

Fighting for position on the penultimate lap of the 57-lap grand prix, the Williams driver attempted to overtake Hamilton and put all four wheels off the track.

However, he then came back on, hitting Hamilton and putting him to the wall and into retirement.

The duo were both called into the stewards' office to give their account of the incident.

However, before going in, Maldonado made it clear who he believed was to blame.

"He (Hamilton) tried a very aggressive movement on me," said the Venezuelan.

The stewards, though, did not agree and after deliberating slapped Maldonado with a 20-second penalty for "failing to rejoin the track in a safe manner."

The penalty drops Maldonado from tenth to 12th.

TBWG

nookiebear · « **Reply #91 on:** June 25, 2012, 07:26:06 AM »

Hamilton wouldn't have been in that position if his pit team hadnt fcuked up yet again

TBWG · « **Reply #92 on:** July 06, 2012, 05:54:07 PM »

A honeymoon in Northants
by Joe Saward

Romain Grosjean got married last week and was obviously on tip-top form at Silverstone as he set the pace in the wet first practice for Silverstone, three tenths ahead of the Toro Rosso of Daniel Ricciardo, Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez. The order was therefore rather less than normal, largely because of the conditions. Behind the Sauber driver was Felipe Massa, Mark Webber, Kamui Kobayashi, Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg.

Next up were Jean-Eric Vergne, Sebastian Vettel, Vitaly Petrov, Williams F1 test driver Valtteri Bottas, Heikki Kovalainen, Pastor Maldonado, Kimi Raikkonen, Jenson Button, Timo Glock, Pedro de la Rosa, HRT test driver Dani Clos, Charles Pic, Fernando Alonso, who did just a few laps, with the Force Indias at the back, the team having decided not to do more than installation laps with Paul di Resta and Jules Bianchi.

TBWG

TBWG · « **Reply #93 on:** July 06, 2012, 09:36:58 PM »

Do you think she fa*ts in bed?

TBWG

TBWG · « **Reply #94 on:** July 06, 2012, 09:50:35 PM »

Lewis and a home-made jam
by Joe Saward

Lewis Hamilton set the pace on Friday afternoon at Silverstone, although thousands of spectators did not get to see it happening because of a major traffic planning disaster in the Silverstone area, which left them sitting in jams for hours on end as the authorities tried to figure out what to do next to clean up the mess. One would have thought that after decades running the event they would have worked it out by now...

Hamilton led Kamui Kobayashi, Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg, Sergio Perez, Jenson Button and Heikki Kovalainen. This was an indication that the times should not be taken too seriously. There were several incidents, notably for Bruno Senna, who did his Williams some considerable damage. Even Fernando Alonso was caught out and knocked the nose off his Ferrari.

Kimi Raikkonen's Lotus was next, ahead of Nico Hulkenberg, Alonso, Paul di Resta, Pastor Maldonado, Sebastian Vettel, Jean-Eric Vergne, Felipe Massa, Timo Glock, Senna, Vitaly Petrov, Charles Pic, Naraign Karthikeyan, Romain Grosjean, Dan Ricciardo, Mark Webber and Pedro de la Rosa.

TBWG

TBWG · « **Reply #95 on:** July 07, 2012, 01:14:17 AM »

F1 GB GP style!

TBWG

John the Traveller · « **Reply #96 on:** July 07, 2012, 02:48:55 PM »

Do you think she fa*ts in bed?

TBWG I think it's fair to say that I just wouldn't care!!!!!

Cheers,
JT

TBWG · « **Reply #97 on:** July 07, 2012, 05:17:40 PM »

Red reign?
by Joe Saward

Fernando Alonso set the fastest lap of the Saturday morning session at a cool but dry Silverstone, beating local hero Jenson Button by a tenth. There were 10 drivers covered by a second and 14 within 1.3secs of the fastest time. Romain Grosjean was third ahead of Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton and Maldonado. The two Saubers were next with Sergio Perez beating Kamui Kobayashi, despite the Mexican knocking off his nose in an off-track moment. The top 10 was completed by Nico Hulkenberg, ahead of Bruno Senna, Paul di Resta, Mark Webber, Michael Schumacher and Jean-Eric Vergne. Felipe Massa was next up, ahead of Daniel Ricciardo, Nico Rosberg, the two Caterhams (Heikki Kovalainen ahead of Vitaly Petrov), the two Marussias (with Timo Glock ahead of Charles Pic (who had fuel system problems and stopped on the track twice, having been returned to the pits first time on a truck). The HRTs were at the back this time with Narain Karthikeyan ahead of Pedro de la Rosa.

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m32.167s 21
2. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m32.320s + 0.153s 20
3. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m32.358s + 0.191s 25
4. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m32.420s + 0.253s 21
5. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1m32.454s + 0.287s 25
6. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m32.477s + 0.310s 20
7. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m32.622s + 0.455s 21
8. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m32.940s + 0.773s 19
9. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m33.046s + 0.879s 20
10. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m33.150s + 0.983s 19
11. Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 1m33.267s + 1.100s 25
12. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m33.367s + 1.200s 20
13. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m33.398s + 1.231s 24
14. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m33.462s + 1.295s 24
15. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m33.673s + 1.506s 22
16. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m33.674s + 1.507s 21
17. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m33.707s + 1.540s 21
18. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m33.733s + 1.566s 15
19. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 1m34.298s + 2.131s 18
20. Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 1m34.781s + 2.614s 20
21. Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 1m36.605s + 4.438s 18
22. Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 1m37.060s + 4.893s 14
23. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1m37.269s + 5.102s 23
24. Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 1m37.429s + 5.262s 17

All Timing Unofficial

TBWG

TBWG · « **Reply #98 on:** July 07, 2012, 09:48:40 PM »

No rain – it’s Spain!
by Joe Saward

Fernando Alonso snatched pole position at the British Grand Prix with a lap that was just a fraction faster than Mark Webber's Red Bull Renault in the Q3 session at Silverstone. Michael Schumacher ended up third for Mercedes, ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Felipe Massa.

Things went wrong for Lotus (again) with Kimi Raikkonen sixth but Romain Grosjean failing to get a run after spinning off at the end of Q2.

Pastor Maldonado was seventh ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Hulkenberg.

Grosjean will start 10th.




Pos Driver Team Time Gap
1. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m51.746s
2. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m51.793s + 0.047
3. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m52.020s + 0.274
4. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m52.199s + 0.453
5. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m53.065s + 1.319
6. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1m53.290s + 1.544
7. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m53.539s + 1.793
8. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m53.543s + 1.797
9. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m54.382s + 2.636
10. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault no time
Q2 cut-off time: 1m56.931s Gap **
11. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m57.009s + 2.112
12. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m57.071s + 2.174
13. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m57.108s + 2.211
14. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m57.132s + 2.235
15. Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 1m57.426s + 2.529
16. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m57.719s + 2.822
17. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m57.895s + 2.998
Q1 cut-off time: 1m47.105s Gap *
18. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m48.044s + 1.765
19. Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 1m49.027s + 2.748
20. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 1m49.477s + 3.198
21. Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 1m51.618s + 5.339
22. Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 1m52.742s + 6.463
23. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1m53.040s + 6.761
24. Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 1m54.143s + 7.864

107% time: 1m53.718s

* Gap to quickest in Q1

** Gap to quickest in Q2
+ 1.319

TBWG

TBWG · « **Reply #99 on:** July 07, 2012, 10:02:58 PM »

Nico Hulkenberg will take a five-place grid penalty for the British Grand Prix after his Force India team elected to change the gearbox on his car.

The German finished in fifth place in Valencia a fortnight ago but his team found a problem with his gearbox after the event.

The unit was changed ahead of final practice at Silverstone, which means he will be given a mandatory five-place grid penalty after qualifying.


Charles Pic will take a five-place grid penalty for the British Grand Prix after his gearbox was changed before qualifying.

The Frenchman, who ended up last overall in the rain-hit qualifying session, needed to have a replacement gearbox fitted following the problems that he encountered on Saturday morning.

Pic's penalty is unlikely to make any difference to his starting position.


Jean-Eric Vergne said he has had a 'reset' in the brain following his European Grand Prix crash, where he was given a 10-place grid penalty for Silverstone after colliding with Heikki Kovalainen's Caterham.

The Frenchman, who retired from the race following the accident in Valencia, admitted that the incident (which also cost him a 25,000 euro fine) is not something he intends to repeat.

TBWG

TBWG · « **Reply #100 on:** July 08, 2012, 08:39:28 PM »

Mark Webber charges to superb British Grand Prix victory

By Matt Beer Sunday, July 8th 2012, 13:31 GMT

Red Bull's Mark Webber trimmed Fernando Alonso's Formula 1 championship lead to 13 points by hunting down and passing the Ferrari in a dramatic conclusion to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Sebastian Vettel completed the podium and almost managed to make it a Red Bull one-two as he gained on Alonso's tyre-troubled car at the end.

Alonso pulled out a five-second lead over Webber in the first stint and maintained it for the majority of the race. But while most of the field used soft tyres early then switched to hards, Alonso waited until his final stint to try the softs, and could not keep up his previous pace.

Webber caught up rapidly and was on the Ferrari's tail with seven laps to go, trying several moves before deploying his DRS on the run towards Brooklands on lap 48 out of 52. Alonso defended the inside as Webber swept around the outside, and after attempting to retaliate at Luffield, the Spaniard had to let Webber go and concentrate on staying clear of Vettel.

The world champion had run fifth in the opening stint before a slightly early first stop helped him jump to third, where he would finish, unable to catch Alonso in the end.

Felipe Massa spent the opening laps trying ever-more creative attempts to overtake Michael Schumacher's Mercedes for third, finally managing at Stowe on lap 11. The Ferrari lost out to Vettel in the following pit sequence, then resisted the fast-closing Lotus of Kimi Raikkonen to take fourth.

Lotus got two cars in the top six despite Romain Grosjean breaking his front wing in a brush with Paul di Resta on the first lap. The resulting puncture and associated damage ended the Force India's race, while Grosjean charged back from last to sixth.

Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button could only finish eighth and 10th in the McLarens. Hamilton spent a while in the lead and enjoyed a spirited dice with Alonso as he ran a very long first stint on hards, but then did just a handful of laps on softs before switching back to harder Pirellis. The Briton's pace then faded and he lost seventh place to Schumacher late on.

Although Button jumped to 12th at the start, his progress was less dramatic thereafter. In the closing laps he was in the thick of an epic dice for ninth with Bruno Senna and Nico Hulkenberg, won by the Williams. Hulkenberg (Force India) ran wide at Copse in the heat of battle and dropped out of the points.

The other major incident of the race involved Pastor Maldonado and Sergio Perez. Running seventh and ninth in the first stint, they pitted together on lap 11 but then collided at Brooklands on their out-laps. The furious Perez sustained terminal damage to his Sauber, while Maldonado dragged his Williams back to the pits for repairs and finished 16th.

Completing a bad day for Sauber, Kamui Kobayashi hit several mechanics at his final stop. Initial reports suggested there were no serious injuries and the Japanese driver continued to 11th ahead of Hulkenberg.

Nico Rosberg had a less dramatic bad pitstop during what was already a low-key midfield race, which ended with his Mercedes 15th.

PROVISIONAL RACE RESULTS

The British Grand Prix
Silverstone, Britain;
52 laps; 306.198km;
Weather: Dry.

Classified:

Pos Driver Team Time
1. Webber Red Bull-Renault 1h25:11.288
2. Alonso Ferrari + 3.060
3. Vettel Red Bull-Renault + 4.836
4. Massa Ferrari + 9.519
5. Raikkonen Lotus-Renault + 10.314
6. Grosjean Lotus-Renault + 17.101
7. Schumacher Mercedes + 29.153
8. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes + 36.400
9. Senna Williams-Renault + 43.300
10. Button McLaren-Mercedes + 44.400
11. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari + 45.300
12. Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes + 47.800
13. Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 51.200
14. Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 53.300
15. Rosberg Mercedes + 57.300
16. Maldonado Williams-Renault + 1 lap
17. Kovalainen Caterham-Renault + 1 lap
18. Glock Marussia-Cosworth + 1 lap
19. Pic Marussia-Cosworth + 1 lap
20. De la Rosa HRT-Cosworth + 2 laps
21. Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth + 2 laps

Fastest lap: Raikkonen, 1:34.661

Not classified/retirements:

Driver Team On lap
Perez Sauber-Ferrari 14
Di Resta Force India-Mercedes 3
Petrov Caterham-Renault 1

World Championship standings, round 9:

Drivers: Constructors:
1. Alonso 129 1. Red Bull-Renault 216
2. Webber 116 2. Ferrari 152
3. Vettel 100 3. Lotus-Renault 144
4. Hamilton 92 4. McLaren-Mercedes 142
5. Raikkonen 83 5. Mercedes 98
6. Rosberg 75 6. Sauber-Ferrari 60
7. Grosjean 61 7. Williams-Renault 47
8. Button 50 8. Force India-Mercedes 44
9. Perez 39 9. Toro Rosso-Ferrari 6
10. Maldonado 29
11. Di Resta 27
12. Schumacher 23
13. Massa 23
14. Kobayashi 21
15. Senna 18
16. Hulkenberg 17
17. Vergne 4
18. Ricciardo 2

All timing unofficial

TBWG

TBWG · « **Reply #101 on:** July 09, 2012, 02:23:49 AM »

Just seen the fastest laps of each driver at Silverstone ~~~ Jenson & Lewis were lucky to finish as high as they did.

They posted 15th and 16th fastest laps during the race, Glock's Marussia was next slowest after Lewis! They were beaten by every other established team/driver other than Maldonado's Williams.

Bearing in mind McLaren have admitted their car was cr*p on slow circuits it would appear it is not any better on fast circuits. So after an encouraging start to the season it now appears they have their backs against the wall.

On the other hand Lotus Kimi & Romain were 1st and 2nd quickest so every opportunity for another winning marque this season.

TBWG

TBWG · « **Reply #102 on:** July 10, 2012, 04:41:38 PM »

Webber re-signs for Red Bull
by Joe Saward

Red Bull Racing has announced that it is going to keep the same driver line-up again in 2013. Sebastian Vettel is already under contract for next year and Mark Webber has now been signed on a one-year deal, which means that rumours of the Australian going to Ferrari to partner Fernando Alonso have failed to become a reality.

"I’ve been with Red Bull Racing since 2007 and have achieved nine grand prix wins during that time," he said. "I’m high on confidence at the moment and firing on all cylinders. I know the team well and I’m very comfortable here; we have grown together over the years and it feels like absolutely the right thing to stay with Red Bull for another season. The team is constantly working hard to improve in all areas and we’ve shown that together we can win races. It’s great to be able to make this announcement off the back of the win in Silverstone at the weekend and I’m looking forward to competing on the edge and pushing myself in every race again next season."

TBWG

TBWG · « **Reply #103 on:** July 20, 2012, 04:44:41 PM »

German GP Practice 1

Oh, what a grey day!
by Joe Saward

Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton set the pace in a session when the track was damp but not really wet, although it did rain during the session. The cars featured a significantly updated package. Third quickest was Fernando Alonso in his Ferrari, ahead of Michael Schumacher, Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg. Nico Rosberg was seventh with the top 10 completed by Felipe Massa, Pastor Maldonado and Romain Grosjean.

Kamui Kobayashi was 11th ahead of Sebastian Vettel, Valtteri Bottas (who spun off at the end of the session in Bruno Senna's Williams) and Daniel Ricciardo. Kimi Raikkonen was 15th ahead of Jules Bianchi (in Paul di Resta's Force India), Jean-Eric Vergne, Vitaly Petrov, Heikki Kovalainen, Mark Webber (who was taking things easy), the Marussias of Charles Pic and Timo Glock and the HRTs of Pedro de la Rosa and Dani Clos (in for Narain Karthikeyan in the session).

TBWG

TBWG · « **Reply #104 on:** July 20, 2012, 08:41:31 PM »

We’ll keep the red flag flying here…

July 20, 2012 by Joe Saward

Pastor Maldonado set the pace in the afternoon session on Friday at Hockenheim, beating Nico Rosberg by a fraction, but the times were fairly meaningless given the weather, which was chucking it down at the start of the session. It improved a little but then the rain came again and the session ended with Michael Schumacher smacking his Mercedes into the wall in the stadium area and bringing out a red flag that ended the session prematurely.

Sebastian Vettel was third fastest ahead of Sergio Perez, Romain Grosjean, Nico Hulkenberg (who had an impressive 720-degree spin), Daniel Ricciardo, who dumped his car into the gravel, Jenson Button, Mark Webber and Kimi Raikkonen.

Outside the top 10 were Jean-Eric Vergne, Felipe Massa, Kamui Kobayashi, the Marussias of Charles Pic and Timo Glock (somewhat out of position), Bruno Senna, Heikki Kovalainen, Paul di Resta, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Vitaly Petrov, Narain Karthikeyan, Schumacher and Pedro de la Rosa.

TBWG

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