Author Topic: 2012 Grand Prix season (Read 89971 times)

TBWG · « **Reply #45 on:** April 13, 2012, 10:52:47 AM »

Lewis leads the way
by Joe Saward

Lewis Hamilton set the pace in the first practice session in China, on a drizzly, overcast, polluted Shanghai day. The McLaren driver was a second clear of Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher in their Mercedes-Benzes, which have been deemed legal by the stewards following a Thursday evening exploratory protest by Lotus F1 Team. The two Saubers of Sergio Perez and Kamui Kobayashi were fourth and fifth ahead of the two Red Bulls (Mark Webber ahead of Sebastian Vettel) and Jenson Button's McLaren. The two Toro Rossos were next with Daniel Ricciardo ahead of Jean-Eric Vergne, while Ferrari was next with Fernando Alonso ahead of Felipe Massa.

The Williams of test driver Valtteri Bottas was next ahead of the Force India of Nico Hulkenberg and Williams regular racer Pastor Maldonado. Heikki Kovalainen was next for Caterham, ahead of Romain Grosjean's Lotus, Timo Glock's Marussia and Giedo Van der Garde in the second Caterham. Jules Bianchi was next for Force India ahead of Pedro de la Rosa's HRT, Charles Pic's Marussia, Narain Karthikeyan's HRT and Kimi Raikkonen's Lotus, which had DRS problems.

TBWG

TBWG · « **Reply #46 on:** April 13, 2012, 02:39:52 PM »

Michael Schumacher quickest in second practice for the Chinese Grand Prix
By Edd Straw Friday, April 13th 2012

After rain restricted the number of laps completed in the morning, every team opted for an intense schedule during the second 90-minute.

Morning pacesetter Lewis Hamilton picked up where he left off early on, hitting top spot after just eight minutes while on a six-lap run on medium Pirellis.

With everyone opting for primes for their first serious runs, Hamilton's time was 0.134s faster than Schumacher, with Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel two-tenths further back.

Hamilton and the Mercedes driver continued on mediums on their second run, while Sauber driver Kamui Kobayashi jumped up to third place with a lap within a tenth-and-a-half off Hamilton on the half-hour mark. A few minutes later, the Japanese survived a lurid slide off the track after being caught out while pushing too hard.

Vettel was the first of the frontrunners to set a time on the soft compound tyre, lapping a quarter-of-a-second quicker than Hamilton on the first flier of his second run and subsequently improving by another four tenths of a second.

Team-mate Mark Webber, running the latest-spec exhaust compared to the early specification used in the first part of pre-season testing that Vettel ran, slotted in just under three-tenths behind his team-mate not long before the halfway point of the session.

While the Red Bulls had taken three laps to get the peak performance out of their soft tyres, both Schumacher and Hamilton, who shortly after headed out on their fresh soft rubber, extracted the performance from their tyres immediately.

Schumacher posted his best time, a 1m35.973s, on his first flier, but Hamilton looked set to outpace him after setting the best time of all in sectors one and two before losing his advantage, and another 0.172s, in the final sector.

Neither Nico Rosberg in the second Mercedes, nor Jenson Button in the second McLaren, were able to match the pace of their team-mates, ending up fifth and sixth ahead of Kobayashi, whose earlier lap on prime rubber was enough for seventh overall.

Force India driver Paul di Resta ended up eighth fastest, within a second of the outright pace and a couple of tenths ahead of team-mate Nico Hulkenberg, with Alonso, who couldn't get the maximum out of his soft tyres on his first flying lap, just behind.

Several drivers had offs during the session. Both di Resta and Caterham driver Vitaly Petrov suffered spins at the final corner after running wide at the exit and losing it on the damp runoff, but the biggest moment of the day was provided by Marussia driver Timo Glock.

The German appeared to lose his front wing under braking for Turn 1, locking up and clattering through the gravel trap and ending up against the barrier. The team was uncertain as to the cause of the off, but Glock's initial concern that he had hurt his hands soon abated.

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m35.973 32
2. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m36.145s + 0.172 29
3. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m36.160s + 0.187 26
4. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m36.433s + 0.460 23
5. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m36.617s + 0.644 30
6. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m36.711s + 0.738 27
7. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m36.956s + 0.983 28
8. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m36.966s + 0.993 30
9. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m37.191s + 1.218 30
10. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m37.316s + 1.343 32
11. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m37.417s + 1.444 22
12. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m37.616s + 1.643 33
13. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1m37.836s + 1.863 30
14. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m37.930s + 1.957 31
15. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m37.972s + 1.999 25
16. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m38.176s + 2.203 34
17. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m38.293s + 2.320 30
18. Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 1m38.783s + 2.810 37
19. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 1m38.990s + 3.017 36
20. Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 1m39.346s + 3.373 19
21. Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 1m39.651s + 3.678 15
22. Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 1m40.343s + 4.370 24
23. Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 1m40.753s + 4.780 30

All Timing Unofficial

TBWG

JimNasium · « **Reply #47 on:** April 13, 2012, 06:06:20 PM »

Where can I watch the GP on Sunday?

TBWG · « **Reply #48 on:** April 13, 2012, 09:00:10 PM »

Quote from: JimNasium on April 13, 2012, 06:06:20 PM

Where can I watch the GP on Sunday?

Paddy's Irish Bar!

TBWG

JimNasium · « **Reply #49 on:** April 14, 2012, 07:36:50 AM »

Quote from: TBWG on April 13, 2012, 09:00:10 PM

Quote from: JimNasium on April 13, 2012, 06:06:20 PM
Where can I watch the GP on Sunday?

Paddy's Irish Bar!

TBWG

Thanks mate. I'll be there.

John the Traveller · « **Reply #50 on:** April 14, 2012, 02:14:36 PM »

A service announcement on behalf of TBWG.

Tall Bloke With Glasses has asked me to advise all F1 followers of his reports that his normal report service will continue after he has sorted out his banning from the BE website.

I for one hope that this matter is rectified in a timely manner Mod !

Yours in bewilderment,

John the Traveller

John the Traveller · « **Reply #51 on:** April 14, 2012, 03:17:56 PM »

On behalf of TBWG I present the qual list for Shanghai......what a shake up.
Keke will be proud and no doubt Schumi relieved. Kobayashi is now in a position to use the Samurai spirit he is known for! Lew better watch his p's and q's. Kimi and Jenson will be breathing hard on the first four and I think Jenson will out. Mark better watch himself as the Mexican wizard is alongside. Positions 9,10 and 11 are packed with experience and raw talent. Looks like a great race! The down side for me is that I will be in Oz watching it instead of being in Brian's establishment in Buriram city. All those with an interest in good racing and very good company should make their way to the Irish Pub tomorrow.
Cheers,
JT

01 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:35.121
02 Lewis Hamilton McLaren 1:35.626 0.505
03 Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1:35.691 0.570
04 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber 1:35.784 0.663
05 Kimi Raikkonen Lotus 1:35.898 0.777
06 Jenson Button McLaren 1:36.191 1.070
07 Mark Webber Red Bull 1:36.290 1.169
08 Sergio Perez Sauber 1:36.524 1.403
09 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:36.622 1.501
10 Romain Grosjean Lotus No time
11 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 1:36.031 0.33
12 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:36.255 0.555
13 Pastor Maldonado Williams 1:36.283 0.583
14 Bruno Senna Williams 1:36.289 0.589
15 Paul di Resta Force India 1:36.317 0.617
16 Nico Hulkenberg Force India 1:36.745 1.045
17 Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso 1:36.956 1.256
18 Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso 1:37.714 1.422
19 Heikki Kovalainen Caterham 1:38.463 2.171
20 Vitaly Petrov Caterham 1:38.677 2.385
21 Timo Glock Marussia 1:39.282 2.990
22 Charles Pic Marussia 1:39.717 3.425
23 Pedro de la Rosa HRT 1:40.411 4.119
24 Narain Karthikeyan HRT 1:41.000 4.708

Daft Ada · « **Reply #52 on:** April 14, 2012, 04:15:27 PM »

Well I reckon the old slacker is too pissed on Archa to work a keyboard.... He's the same every Songkran! Dare say he will surface eventually!

I reckon he is also still getting over the shock Of Alonso winning in Malaysia

Daft

teppo42 · « **Reply #53 on:** April 14, 2012, 04:56:15 PM »

Paddy's is showing F1 nowadays? Excellent.

TBWG · « **Reply #54 on:** April 14, 2012, 08:43:13 PM »

Hi Folks

Thanks to John the Traveller for updating things in my enforced absence, not sure what all that was about !

But I am sober now

, well sort of so hopefully normal service will resume. Burp!

TBWG

PS Much as I would like to see Nico Rosberg win, it ain't gunna appen, that Merc is a a real tyre abuser and will put pay to his and Shueys aspirations.

JimNasium · « **Reply #55 on:** April 15, 2012, 01:15:00 PM »

I went. It was unbearable. I left.

TBWG · « **Reply #56 on:** April 15, 2012, 04:50:12 PM »

Quote from: JimNasium on April 15, 2012, 01:15:00 PM

I went. It was unbearable. I left.

Know what you mean ~~~ I was hoping the guitarist would get electrocuted with all all that water flying about.

But rest assured it is not normally like that!

TBWG

TBWG · « **Reply #57 on:** April 15, 2012, 04:56:49 PM »

Keke's boy done good ~~~~ shows what I know about tyres! FA

Nico Rosberg takes commanding maiden F1 win in the Chinese Grand Prix
By Matt Beer Sunday, April 15th 2012,

Nico Rosberg finally claimed his maiden Formula 1 race victory, and a first win for the modern incarnation of the factory Mercedes team, with a commanding drive in a thrilling Chinese Grand Prix.

The result made Rosberg the first new winner since Mark Webber took victory in the 2009 German Grand Prix. The last triumph for a works Mercedes was back in the 1955 Italian GP with Juan Manuel Fangio.

McLaren duo Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton completed the podium, ahead of Red Bull's Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel.

At a track where he had led only to fade in each of the last two years, Rosberg ensured he stayed at the head of an absorbing race in which myriad tyre strategies played out through a lead pack that sometimes grew to a dozen cars.

Not only did drivers vary between two and three pitstops, but there were huge differences in stint length. Despite Mercedes' tyre difficulties in the opening two 2012 races, this time the team handled the rubber perfectly - allowing Rosberg to deploy a textbook two-stop strategy and keep himself ahead of most of the action.

The German pulled away from his team-mate Michael Schumacher in the opening laps, soon establishing a four-second lead. Schumacher's chance to feature in the lead battle then ended when he retired with an incorrectly fitted right-front wheel immediately after his first pitstop.

Button was Rosberg's main threat thereafter. A great start immediately took him to third, and he was catching Rosberg on a three-stop plan for a while, only for Rosberg's pace immediately after his final stop to secure his victory even before Button's lost several seconds with a left rear wheel issue at his final pitstop.

Kimi Raikkonen's two-stopping Lotus held second going into the closing stages, but trying to do half the race on his third set of tyres proved too optimistic, and he tumbled from second to 14th in just a handful of laps.

Vettel, following a similar strategy, was first to pass Raikkonen, and looked like he might salvage second from his qualifying disaster. He could not hold off the McLarens or Webber with their fresher tyres from a three-stop strategy, with Button getting through five laps from the end and Hamilton and Webber doing likewise amid a thrilling tussle over the last two laps. Webber took fourth despite his first pitstop coming as early as lap six, and two trips off the road - one of which featured a wild flight over the Turn 13 kerbs.

While Raikkonen fell back, his team-mate Romain Grosjean did a two-stop plan with a very long middle stint and was able to battle to sixth, ahead of Williams duo Bruno Senna and Pastor Maldonado.

Erstwhile championship leader Fernando Alonso was ninth for Ferrari, having lost a little ground running off-track trying to pass Maldonado.

Sauber was a factor in this pack but could not repeat its Malaysian heroics. Kamui Kobayashi fell back with a poor start and finished 10th, just ahead of team-mate Sergio Perez, who led for a while on a two-stop plan. Paul di Resta (Force India) and Felipe Massa - who also led for a spell in his Ferrari - followed them home.

PROVISIONAL RACE RESULTS

The Chinese Grand Prix
Shanghai, China;
56 laps; 305.066km;
Weather: Dry.

Classified:

Pos Driver Team Time
1. Rosberg Mercedes 1h36:26.929
2. Button McLaren-Mercedes + 20.626
3. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes + 26.012
4. Webber Red Bull-Renault + 27.924
5. Vettel Red Bull-Renault + 30.483
6. Grosjean Lotus-Renault + 31.491
7. Senna Williams-Renault + 34.597
8. Maldonado Williams-Renault + 35.643
9. Alonso Ferrari + 37.256
10. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari + 38.720
11. Perez Sauber-Ferrari + 41.066
12. Di Resta Force India-Mercedes + 42.273
13. Massa Ferrari + 42.700
14. Raikkonen Lotus-Renault + 50.500
15. Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes + 51.200
16. Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 51.700
17. Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1:03.100
18. Petrov Caterham-Renault + 1 lap
19. Glock Marussia-Cosworth + 1 lap
20. Pic Marussia-Cosworth + 1 lap
21. De la Rosa HRT-Cosworth + 1 lap
22. Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth + 2 laps
23. Kovalainen Caterham-Renault + 3 laps

Fastest lap: Kobayashi, 1:39.960

Not classified/retirements:

Driver Team On lap
Schumacher Mercedes 16

World Championship standings, round 3:

Drivers: Constructors:
1. Hamilton 45 1. McLaren-Mercedes 88
2. Button 43 2. Red Bull-Renault 64
3. Alonso 37 3. Ferrari 37
4. Webber 36 4. Sauber-Ferrari 31
5. Vettel 28 5. Mercedes 26
6. Rosberg 25 6. Lotus-Renault 24
7. Perez 22 7. Williams-Renault 18
8. Raikkonen 16 8. Force India-Mercedes 9
9. Senna 14 9. Toro Rosso-Ferrari 6
10. Kobayashi 9
11. Grosjean 8
12. Di Resta 7
13. Vergne 4
14. Maldonado 4
15. Ricciardo 2
16. Hulkenberg 2
17. Schumacher 1

All timing unofficial

TBWG

PS Don't forget your flack jacket for Bahrain!l

nookiebear · « **Reply #58 on:** April 16, 2012, 10:08:42 AM »

Bahrein in doubt again!!

TBWG · « **Reply #59 on:** April 19, 2012, 09:30:00 PM »

Hi F1 fans

Things are getting underway in Bahrain!

TBWG

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