Indian GP qualifying: It all feels very last year…

October 27, 2012 in Bruno Senna, Caterham, F1, Felipe Massa, Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, FIA, Force India, Formula 1, Grand Prixs, HRT, Jenson Button, Kamui Kobayashi, Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton, Lotus, Mark Webber, Marussia, McLaren, Mercedes, Michael Schumacher, Narain Karthikeyan, Nico Hulkenberg, Pastor Maldonado, Paul di Resta, Red Bull Racing, Romain Grosjean, Sauber, Sebastian Vettel, Sergio Perez, Teams & Drivers, Toro Rosso, Williams

After this morning’s qualifying session for the Indian Grand Prix, most fans would be forgiven for thinking that they had been transported back in time. Just as in Korea and Japan, Red Bull dominated in a fashion reminiscent to 2011, securing another 1-2 result and confirming that, in qualifying trim at least, they are indeed in a league of their own.

Unlike Korea, it was Sebastian Vettel who took top spot, with Webber following closely behind. Their commanding performance crushed McLaren and, most importantly for the drivers championship, Ferrari, who could only manage 3-4 and 5-6 respectively. The result will be of particular concern for Fernando Alonso in fifth, who has three cars between him and Vettel. Read the rest of this entry →

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Jenson Button Takes First Pole For McLaren.

September 1, 2012 in Belgian Grand Prix, F1

What better way to return from the summer break than the Belgian Grand Prix? A real fan favourite.

Heading into Qualifying, Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg knew they had their work cut out for them as both had been given a five place grid penalty for gearbox changes.

Q1

Charles Pic was first out in Q1 and set an uncompetitive first lap time of 1:53.493 and it wasn’t long until Sergio Perez put in a competitive lap time, 1:49.642.

Most of the front runners seemed happy to sit in their garages for the first half of the session and let the rest of the pack have a play out on track. Read the rest of this entry →

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Monaco Qualifying and Predictions.

May 26, 2012 in F1 2012, Monaco Grand Prix

F1 has been entirely unpredictable and gripping so far this season and qualifying in Monaco was no different.

Going into qualifying, all we knew was that Michael Schumacher or Pastor Maldonado would not be starting from first on the grid tomorrow, after receiving 5 and 10 place grid penalties respectively. 

Q1
Five minutes into Q1, Sergio Perez came into contact with a barrier and damaged his car and lost a left rear tyre in the process.

Replays showed that Perez appeared to be suffering with a serious steering problem, possibly caused by coming into contact with the barrier earlier in the lap.

Martin Brundle speculated whether it could have been an injury the car sustained in FP3 after Pastor Maldonado barged infront of Sergio Perez. Read the rest of this entry →

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Malaysian Grand Prix: Qualifying Report

March 24, 2012 in Malaysian Grand Prix

Before I start my qualifying report, I must express my annoyance into being tricked to get up an hour early to watch Qualifying.

Sky told me to get up for 7AM, I did, only to find out it doesn’t start until 8AM. I feel tricked and used into an hour of being told about their 5.1 Dolby Surround sound.

Read the rest of this entry →

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Australian Grand Prix: Qualifying Report

March 17, 2012 in Australian Grand Prix, F1, F1 2012, Formula 1

Despite the three practice sessions which have gone before it, Qualifying is where the real excitement starts. Where we find out who’s been sandbagging and who’s really got the pace.

I feel it necessary to mention, that going into Qualifying, Ferrari mentioned on their Twitter that it will be hard for them;

“It is going to be tough for us, no reason to hide the truth” – @InsideFerrari

Are they really in trouble?

Q1

Green lights in Melbourne and Timo Glock for Marussia is the first man out on track, everyone else seems a bit apprehensive.  Read the rest of this entry →

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