Despite the small margin of victory, quite a commanding display from McLaren's Lewis Hamilton at the Hungaroring. The other happy man will be Fernando Alonso, who despite finishing only fifth, actually increased his lead in the points standings.
The race was not as processional or turgid as some which we have witnessed at this circuit in the past, but neither was it as exciting as most of the other Grands Prix of 2012. The nature of the track dictated a lack of fluidity and dynamism in the running order, in relative terms, and the intense heat added another factor. Tyre matters seemed more pervasive than ever. Some teams and drivers will have felt that they possessed the pace, but were frustrated at their inability to make progress. Indeed, Force India appeared to be making this very point post-race. This has been a recurring theme down the years at the Budapest venue.
McLaren looked strong all weekend, this form having been hinted at in Germany. Hamilton's smooth and trouble-free getaway from the line served as a good platform. A partially botched first pit-stop could have proved costly for Lewis, but fortunately for him Romain Grosjean was affected similarly. After that, in the opinion of some, Grosjean's relative inexperience in tyre management played a role.
Despite their failure to overhaul Hamilton, the Lotus team will have been pleased to have got two cars onto the podium, returning to the convincing form of some recent races. Kimi Raikkonen's strategy proved effectual, and there was a very spicy moment on lap 46 when the two team-mates locked horns at the first corner! Once again, the Finn amply demonstrated that he has lost little of his old fire, in overcoming Grosjean, and taking second position. Both Lotus drivers exuded some optimism after the race, and they must still feel confident of mounting the top step of the podium before the season is out.
There were a few other interesting sub-plots today. It was nice to see Bruno Senna get a good solid points finish, and comprehensively outshine his highly-rated team-mate in the race. This will hopefully give the Brazilian added confidence with which to tackle the remainder of the campaign.
Sauber showed some promise, but then sank into midfield, a fate which also befell both Force India and Mercedes. For the latter, Michael Schumacher had a particularly miserable day, with problems on the parade lap, a penalty, and ultimately retirement from the race.
We now have a break, before moving on to Spa, which could hardly contrast more with the Hungaroring. For all the talk of a tightly contested championship, the fact remains that Alonso has established a lead, and bridging the gap to the Ferrari driver looks an increasingly tall order. He can afford to drive tactically on occasion, keeping a watchful eye on the fortunes of his principal rivals. It looks unlikely that somebody will suddenly string a series of wins together. Alonso looks in a very strong position, it must be said.
Showing posts with label bruno senna. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bruno senna. Show all posts
Monday, 30 July 2012
Sunday, 25 March 2012
Malaysian Grand Prix 2012 - Review
Well, few people saw that result coming, although when the weather began to close in just prior to the start of the race, Fernando Alonso must have fancied his chances a little. Those conditions were tailor-made for the Spaniard's finesse and awareness.
Almost as impressive as Alonso's assured display out on the track was his realistic and pragmatic attitude afterwards, being keen to stress that the result, although welcome, did not alter some fundamentals about Ferrari's situation. The wet weather, and Alonso's delicate touch, will have masked some deficiencies in the car, which still need to be tackled and alleviated.
Receiving almost as many plaudits as Alonso's performance has been that of Sergio Perez in the Sauber. Showing commendable maturity for a relative newcomer, he took all the fluctutations and strategic intrigues in his stride, until that minor error near to the end. The conspiracy theorists were unsurprisingly out in force when some advice was directed to Perez over the radio, which was swiftly followed by his mistake. Personally, I am inclined to think that the charges are wide of the mark; the radio message from the pits merely seemed to be imploring the young Mexican to "be careful", and to be mindful that second place is preferable to no place at all.
Perez has unobtrusively made a favourable impression since he entered F1, although not perhaps generating the headlines and hysteria which tend to accompany some rising stars. Consistently solid performances, and sometimes placing the car where it doesn't really belong, have helped to build up a picture and reputation of someone who has a bright future. Rumours have been circulating about his whereabouts in the future, and they are sure to intensify after today's events, particularly when cross-referenced with the problems being endured by others.
Those who dominated proceedings in Melbourne had mixed fortunes in Melbourne. Jenson Button made an uncharacteristic error of judgement when trying to pass Narain Karthikeyan, and thereafter suffered a race plagued by niggling difficulties. There was to be no repeat of his famous win in Canada last year.
After the red flag, Lewis Hamilton had a solid if unspectacular run, although his progress was impeded by a couple of dramas at pit stops. Lewis is racking up the points at the moment, and although he is a born winner, he must realise that these points-scoring finishes could be crucial in what looks set to be a closely-fought campaign. I was pleased to see that he alluded to this in his post-race comments, sounding measured and philosophical.
Red Bull continue to mystify slightly. A lack of inspiration, and outright pace, is affecting them at the moment. Other teams have upped their game, but Red Bull are just not the formidable force on the track of the past two years. After Australia, the team was at pains to stress that they were not fully up to pace, and we expected a bit more at Sepang. The rain in the race naturally complicates any assessments, and a dry weekend in China may enable us to reach some more definitive conclusions.
After promising signs in qualifying, the Mercedes team once more singularly failed to deliver on race day. True, Michael Schumacher was seemingly blameless when tipped into an early spin, but after that he and Nico Rosberg were largely anonymous. There may be some soul-searching in the hiatus before we go to China.
The Williams team continued its encouraging opening to 2012, with a fine and combative display from Bruno Senna, finishing sixth, and Maldonado had not done himself any harm before his late retirement. The car is clearly a good one, and it is to be hoped that this form can be prolonged.
The Lotus team also sought to build on its Albert Park exploits, with a good if unexceptional drive from Kimi Raikkonen. He will be pleased to have finished both races in the points, and also to have got more mileage under his belt, although I think theories that his five-place grid penalty adversely affected his race prospects are overplayed. By contrast, Romain Grosjean again failed to finish, and needs a result or two to add substance to his undoubted ability and flair.
All told, however, this race was won by the panache and all-round skills of Fernando Alonso, aided in no small part by the slick pit work of Ferrari. This is one thing which the Scuderia certainly has mastered so far this season! Admittedly, the frailities of others, as ever in changeable conditions, also helped the Ferrari cause, but this in no way detracts from their achievement.
The first two races have certainly given us plenty of entertainment, and there is much to mull over for the teams, drivers, media and fans in the three weeks before the Chinese Grand Prix....
Almost as impressive as Alonso's assured display out on the track was his realistic and pragmatic attitude afterwards, being keen to stress that the result, although welcome, did not alter some fundamentals about Ferrari's situation. The wet weather, and Alonso's delicate touch, will have masked some deficiencies in the car, which still need to be tackled and alleviated.
Receiving almost as many plaudits as Alonso's performance has been that of Sergio Perez in the Sauber. Showing commendable maturity for a relative newcomer, he took all the fluctutations and strategic intrigues in his stride, until that minor error near to the end. The conspiracy theorists were unsurprisingly out in force when some advice was directed to Perez over the radio, which was swiftly followed by his mistake. Personally, I am inclined to think that the charges are wide of the mark; the radio message from the pits merely seemed to be imploring the young Mexican to "be careful", and to be mindful that second place is preferable to no place at all.
Perez has unobtrusively made a favourable impression since he entered F1, although not perhaps generating the headlines and hysteria which tend to accompany some rising stars. Consistently solid performances, and sometimes placing the car where it doesn't really belong, have helped to build up a picture and reputation of someone who has a bright future. Rumours have been circulating about his whereabouts in the future, and they are sure to intensify after today's events, particularly when cross-referenced with the problems being endured by others.
Those who dominated proceedings in Melbourne had mixed fortunes in Melbourne. Jenson Button made an uncharacteristic error of judgement when trying to pass Narain Karthikeyan, and thereafter suffered a race plagued by niggling difficulties. There was to be no repeat of his famous win in Canada last year.
After the red flag, Lewis Hamilton had a solid if unspectacular run, although his progress was impeded by a couple of dramas at pit stops. Lewis is racking up the points at the moment, and although he is a born winner, he must realise that these points-scoring finishes could be crucial in what looks set to be a closely-fought campaign. I was pleased to see that he alluded to this in his post-race comments, sounding measured and philosophical.
Red Bull continue to mystify slightly. A lack of inspiration, and outright pace, is affecting them at the moment. Other teams have upped their game, but Red Bull are just not the formidable force on the track of the past two years. After Australia, the team was at pains to stress that they were not fully up to pace, and we expected a bit more at Sepang. The rain in the race naturally complicates any assessments, and a dry weekend in China may enable us to reach some more definitive conclusions.
After promising signs in qualifying, the Mercedes team once more singularly failed to deliver on race day. True, Michael Schumacher was seemingly blameless when tipped into an early spin, but after that he and Nico Rosberg were largely anonymous. There may be some soul-searching in the hiatus before we go to China.
The Williams team continued its encouraging opening to 2012, with a fine and combative display from Bruno Senna, finishing sixth, and Maldonado had not done himself any harm before his late retirement. The car is clearly a good one, and it is to be hoped that this form can be prolonged.
The Lotus team also sought to build on its Albert Park exploits, with a good if unexceptional drive from Kimi Raikkonen. He will be pleased to have finished both races in the points, and also to have got more mileage under his belt, although I think theories that his five-place grid penalty adversely affected his race prospects are overplayed. By contrast, Romain Grosjean again failed to finish, and needs a result or two to add substance to his undoubted ability and flair.
All told, however, this race was won by the panache and all-round skills of Fernando Alonso, aided in no small part by the slick pit work of Ferrari. This is one thing which the Scuderia certainly has mastered so far this season! Admittedly, the frailities of others, as ever in changeable conditions, also helped the Ferrari cause, but this in no way detracts from their achievement.
The first two races have certainly given us plenty of entertainment, and there is much to mull over for the teams, drivers, media and fans in the three weeks before the Chinese Grand Prix....
Sunday, 18 March 2012
Australian Grand Prix 2012
In the build up to the Australian Grand Prix, I discussed the prospects for the race with some friends online. I stuck my neck out and predicted that Jenson Button would emerge victorious, based on McLaren's assured and consistent pre-season, and an expectation that the man from Somerset would have everything "together" for the opener, in his usual neat fashion.
And so it proved. A performance of some aplomb and authority from Button, who was assertive when he needed to be, at the start of the race, and at the restart following the safety car period. Although his lead was never that vast on the stop-watch, he was not seriously challenged throughout. However, there was plenty of interest and significance behind him.
Button's confident display clearly impacted on Lewis Hamilton, whose demeanour post-race was much remarked upon. There has been major comment on how Hamilton has addressed some "issues" over the winter, but it is easy to forget that his team-mate has also worked hard and prepared assiduously, albeit with less media fanfare. Even when we make allowances for the vagaries of tyre wear, strategies and safety car interludes, Lewis clearly knows that he will have his work cut out this season, and was clearly perceptive in his recent assessment that Button constitutes his greatest threat, as things stand.
One of the major talking points of the race was the tenacious performance of Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari. This must have given the Italian team some heart, after their travails during testing and also throughout practice and qualifying in Melbourne. Once again, Alonso exhibited his fighting qualities, and his ability to transcend technical deficiencies.
Felipe Massa was less impressive than his team-mate, and although he could not be totally blamed for the collision with Bruno Senna, it will not have helped his cause too much. His performance will inevitably be contrasted with the praiseworthy effort of Alonso.
Red Bull were not quite on the pace, but the remarks emanating from their camp suggest that they are not quite extracting the maximum potential from their machine, and that there is more to come. Perhaps Malaysia, a different kind of circuit, will reveal more, and give us a truer barometer of the relative strengths of McLaren and Red Bull. Sebastian Vettel stuck to his task, and showed some gritty racer's attributes. The reigning champion has acknowledged that McLaren have built an effective car, but is remaining positive.
Mercedes promised much, but the results just did not materialise in the race proper. There were hints of tyre-related difficulties. Michael Schumacher was in a good position when he was forced out, but Nico Rosberg, after a bright start, struggled to make serious headway later on. Still, it is clearly premature to discount a team with their resources and expertise.
Of the rest, Williams' rebirth has been pleasing to behold, although the outcome in Melbourne was ultimately frustrating. Of course, whether they can sustain this early form remains to be seen. Pastor Maldonado no doubt silenced some of his critics today, but equally his detractors will have nodded sagely at some of his antics, culminating in the late crash. Senna was unlucky at the start, and judging by his team-mate's pace, may have been well up the field. Race pace is all well and good, but perhaps the Williams hierarchy need to remind their drivers that the odd solid points finish would not go amiss.....
The Saubers to some degree justified the good things said about them following the pre-season tests, although they pursued what could be described as a conservative race strategy. That said, both drivers raced hard and resolutely, with Kobayashi giving us some reminders of the form he showed when he first entered F1.
Romain Grosjean was not able to build on his excellent qualifying effort, lacking momentum off the grid, and then being despatched into the gravel by Maldonado. However, things look promising for Lotus, with F1 returnee Kimi Raikkonen showing real spirit as the race progressed, clearly trying hard, and giving us the occasional glimpse of "the old Kimi".
Overall, this was an encouraging start to the new F1 season. Although McLaren have an advantage at this stage, it is clearly surmountable, and the evolution of the regulations, together with a minor reshuffling in the pack, has delivered a cocktail which looks like providing a fine spectacle. There was much good dicing throughout the field in Australia, and we can only hope that this continues.
And so on to Sepang. I,for one, am definitely looking forward it!
And so it proved. A performance of some aplomb and authority from Button, who was assertive when he needed to be, at the start of the race, and at the restart following the safety car period. Although his lead was never that vast on the stop-watch, he was not seriously challenged throughout. However, there was plenty of interest and significance behind him.
Button's confident display clearly impacted on Lewis Hamilton, whose demeanour post-race was much remarked upon. There has been major comment on how Hamilton has addressed some "issues" over the winter, but it is easy to forget that his team-mate has also worked hard and prepared assiduously, albeit with less media fanfare. Even when we make allowances for the vagaries of tyre wear, strategies and safety car interludes, Lewis clearly knows that he will have his work cut out this season, and was clearly perceptive in his recent assessment that Button constitutes his greatest threat, as things stand.
One of the major talking points of the race was the tenacious performance of Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari. This must have given the Italian team some heart, after their travails during testing and also throughout practice and qualifying in Melbourne. Once again, Alonso exhibited his fighting qualities, and his ability to transcend technical deficiencies.
Felipe Massa was less impressive than his team-mate, and although he could not be totally blamed for the collision with Bruno Senna, it will not have helped his cause too much. His performance will inevitably be contrasted with the praiseworthy effort of Alonso.
Red Bull were not quite on the pace, but the remarks emanating from their camp suggest that they are not quite extracting the maximum potential from their machine, and that there is more to come. Perhaps Malaysia, a different kind of circuit, will reveal more, and give us a truer barometer of the relative strengths of McLaren and Red Bull. Sebastian Vettel stuck to his task, and showed some gritty racer's attributes. The reigning champion has acknowledged that McLaren have built an effective car, but is remaining positive.
Mercedes promised much, but the results just did not materialise in the race proper. There were hints of tyre-related difficulties. Michael Schumacher was in a good position when he was forced out, but Nico Rosberg, after a bright start, struggled to make serious headway later on. Still, it is clearly premature to discount a team with their resources and expertise.
Of the rest, Williams' rebirth has been pleasing to behold, although the outcome in Melbourne was ultimately frustrating. Of course, whether they can sustain this early form remains to be seen. Pastor Maldonado no doubt silenced some of his critics today, but equally his detractors will have nodded sagely at some of his antics, culminating in the late crash. Senna was unlucky at the start, and judging by his team-mate's pace, may have been well up the field. Race pace is all well and good, but perhaps the Williams hierarchy need to remind their drivers that the odd solid points finish would not go amiss.....
The Saubers to some degree justified the good things said about them following the pre-season tests, although they pursued what could be described as a conservative race strategy. That said, both drivers raced hard and resolutely, with Kobayashi giving us some reminders of the form he showed when he first entered F1.
Romain Grosjean was not able to build on his excellent qualifying effort, lacking momentum off the grid, and then being despatched into the gravel by Maldonado. However, things look promising for Lotus, with F1 returnee Kimi Raikkonen showing real spirit as the race progressed, clearly trying hard, and giving us the occasional glimpse of "the old Kimi".
Overall, this was an encouraging start to the new F1 season. Although McLaren have an advantage at this stage, it is clearly surmountable, and the evolution of the regulations, together with a minor reshuffling in the pack, has delivered a cocktail which looks like providing a fine spectacle. There was much good dicing throughout the field in Australia, and we can only hope that this continues.
And so on to Sepang. I,for one, am definitely looking forward it!
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Rubens Barrichello
With the news, as expected, that Bruno Senna will fill the one vacant seat at Williams for the 2012 season, another Brazilian driver is contemplating what looks like the end of the one of the most distinguished and eventful of all Formula 1 careers. With characteristic good grace and class, Rubens Barrichello wished his successor good luck, but where does he himself go from here?
I first came across the name Rubens Barrichello in 1990, when my interest in motorsport was at its height, and I avidly devoured news of the goings-on in the junior formulae. In winning the intensely competitive GM Lotus Euroseries, the novice exhibited not just a fine turn of speed, but also some of the subtler qualities which separate the potential World Champion from the mass of raw and eager youngsters.
There was more of the same in British Formula 3 the following year, as Rubens engaged in a lively tussle for the title with David Coulthard, eventually emerging triumphant. I seem to recall that he occasionally had some difficulty getting off the starting line, and this made for some entertaining racing, something not always prevalent in Formula 3!
Rubens continued his motor racing education in Formula 3000 in 1992. He did not meet with the instant success enjoyed in the previous categories, and there must have been the fear, seemingly endemic amongst young drivers, of an imminent career plateau. However, any worries proved unfounded, as he was signed up by the Jordan F1 team for 1993.
As soon as he entered the highest echelon of the sport, Rubens showed that he belonged there, with his maturity and natural talent. The 1994 season brought conflicting emotions, with points on the board, but also the trauma of a serious crash in practice at Imola, and the death of Ayrton Senna.
The capricious form of the Jordan team dictated that the following two campaigns did not improve markedly on what had gone before, and Rubens must have been delighted with the chance to drive for the new, but well equipped, Stewart team for 1997. His second place at Monaco was memorable, prompting emotional scenes, including tears from Jackie Stewart himself.
By now, Rubens was regarded within the F1 fraternity as a fast, reliable and technically adept performer, as well as a consummate team-player. It must have been somewhat galling, therefore,that when the Stewart outfit notched up its first victory, at the Nurburgring in 1999, it was team new-boy Johnny Herbert to whom the cards fell, although the Brazilian hid any disappointment with his usual good humour and grace.
Now came the call from Ferrari, and although he was playing second-fiddle to the great Michael Schumacher, at least Rubens had the theoretical possibility to be a contender for race-wins and podiums at every Grand Prix. His outpouring of emotion and joy on the podium at Hockenheim after his first F1 victory was both moving and engaging, and everyone in the sport was genuinely delighted that he had achieved that richly deserved milestone.
The rest of Barrichello's tenure at Maranello brought more Grand Prix wins, but also controversy and debate concerning his precise role within the team, and his relationship with Schumacher. Whatever reservations Rubens may have harboured, he got on with his job professionally and assiduously, reinforcing his reputation as a steadfast and conscientious customer, as well as a "good bloke".
After the dizzy heights and tumult of the Ferrari years, the rest of Ruben's career was perhaps destined to be an anti-climax, but a renaissance of sorts occurred in 2009, with the almost fairytale exploits of the Brawn equipe.
The time with Williams has been frustrating, but Rubens usually managed to maintain his dignity and optimism.
His strenuous efforts to remain in F1 at the end of 2011 indicated that his motivation and desire remained intact, but can he adapt those competitive juices to other, less exalted, forms of motorsport? The DTM, Indycars and endurance racing all remain theoretical possibilities.
If this is indeed the end of Rubens Barrichello in F1, it will feel strange without him. Many fans will not have seen a race without him competing. In many respects he has set a benchmark for how drivers conduct themselves, overcome adversity and maintain motivation and focus.
Whatever the future holds for Rubens, the best of luck to him.
I first came across the name Rubens Barrichello in 1990, when my interest in motorsport was at its height, and I avidly devoured news of the goings-on in the junior formulae. In winning the intensely competitive GM Lotus Euroseries, the novice exhibited not just a fine turn of speed, but also some of the subtler qualities which separate the potential World Champion from the mass of raw and eager youngsters.
There was more of the same in British Formula 3 the following year, as Rubens engaged in a lively tussle for the title with David Coulthard, eventually emerging triumphant. I seem to recall that he occasionally had some difficulty getting off the starting line, and this made for some entertaining racing, something not always prevalent in Formula 3!
Rubens continued his motor racing education in Formula 3000 in 1992. He did not meet with the instant success enjoyed in the previous categories, and there must have been the fear, seemingly endemic amongst young drivers, of an imminent career plateau. However, any worries proved unfounded, as he was signed up by the Jordan F1 team for 1993.
As soon as he entered the highest echelon of the sport, Rubens showed that he belonged there, with his maturity and natural talent. The 1994 season brought conflicting emotions, with points on the board, but also the trauma of a serious crash in practice at Imola, and the death of Ayrton Senna.
The capricious form of the Jordan team dictated that the following two campaigns did not improve markedly on what had gone before, and Rubens must have been delighted with the chance to drive for the new, but well equipped, Stewart team for 1997. His second place at Monaco was memorable, prompting emotional scenes, including tears from Jackie Stewart himself.
By now, Rubens was regarded within the F1 fraternity as a fast, reliable and technically adept performer, as well as a consummate team-player. It must have been somewhat galling, therefore,that when the Stewart outfit notched up its first victory, at the Nurburgring in 1999, it was team new-boy Johnny Herbert to whom the cards fell, although the Brazilian hid any disappointment with his usual good humour and grace.
Now came the call from Ferrari, and although he was playing second-fiddle to the great Michael Schumacher, at least Rubens had the theoretical possibility to be a contender for race-wins and podiums at every Grand Prix. His outpouring of emotion and joy on the podium at Hockenheim after his first F1 victory was both moving and engaging, and everyone in the sport was genuinely delighted that he had achieved that richly deserved milestone.
The rest of Barrichello's tenure at Maranello brought more Grand Prix wins, but also controversy and debate concerning his precise role within the team, and his relationship with Schumacher. Whatever reservations Rubens may have harboured, he got on with his job professionally and assiduously, reinforcing his reputation as a steadfast and conscientious customer, as well as a "good bloke".
After the dizzy heights and tumult of the Ferrari years, the rest of Ruben's career was perhaps destined to be an anti-climax, but a renaissance of sorts occurred in 2009, with the almost fairytale exploits of the Brawn equipe.
The time with Williams has been frustrating, but Rubens usually managed to maintain his dignity and optimism.
His strenuous efforts to remain in F1 at the end of 2011 indicated that his motivation and desire remained intact, but can he adapt those competitive juices to other, less exalted, forms of motorsport? The DTM, Indycars and endurance racing all remain theoretical possibilities.
If this is indeed the end of Rubens Barrichello in F1, it will feel strange without him. Many fans will not have seen a race without him competing. In many respects he has set a benchmark for how drivers conduct themselves, overcome adversity and maintain motivation and focus.
Whatever the future holds for Rubens, the best of luck to him.
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
Bruno Senna to Williams?
One snippet of Formula 1 gossip which escaped my attention in the pre-Christmas frenzy was the report that Bruno Senna visited the Williams team's factory at Grove, with a view to discussing possibilities for the 2012 season.
It had been generally assumed in F1 circles that Adrian Sutil was the firm favourite for the second seat in Sir Frank's team, having been linked with the drive towards the end of the 2011 season. However, the situation now seems a good deal more fluid, with Senna's overtures, and renewed efforts by Rubens Barrichello to maintain his presence in Grand Prix racing.
Looking at all this from a purely driving perspective, the range of options would appear, from the Williams perspective, to be quite enviable, but in reality they are less than inspiring.
Senna has relative youth and enthusiasm, and did show flashes of promise in his 2011 outings, but lacks experience. Barrichello represents continuity, unparalleled experience and a proven track record. There have been doubts about his motivation, but maybe the widespread presumption that his F1 days are over has stung him into renewed vigour? Sutil would, on the surface, seem to combine some of the elements presented by both of the the other two candidates. Solid experience, unrealised and untapped potential, and something still to prove.
Not to be forgotten in all of this is the presence of Pastor Maldonado in the team. Maldonado's performances have not been totally convincing, and part of Willliams' thinking on the second driver must surely reflect this. This would presumably count against Senna.
Of course, all this analysis has so far disregarded the issue of sponsorship. Reports suggest that the three candidates all have access to funds of some description. The ultimate choice of driver may tell us much about the state of the Williams team's finances, and whether their "racers" ethos still remains intact....
It had been generally assumed in F1 circles that Adrian Sutil was the firm favourite for the second seat in Sir Frank's team, having been linked with the drive towards the end of the 2011 season. However, the situation now seems a good deal more fluid, with Senna's overtures, and renewed efforts by Rubens Barrichello to maintain his presence in Grand Prix racing.
Looking at all this from a purely driving perspective, the range of options would appear, from the Williams perspective, to be quite enviable, but in reality they are less than inspiring.
Senna has relative youth and enthusiasm, and did show flashes of promise in his 2011 outings, but lacks experience. Barrichello represents continuity, unparalleled experience and a proven track record. There have been doubts about his motivation, but maybe the widespread presumption that his F1 days are over has stung him into renewed vigour? Sutil would, on the surface, seem to combine some of the elements presented by both of the the other two candidates. Solid experience, unrealised and untapped potential, and something still to prove.
Not to be forgotten in all of this is the presence of Pastor Maldonado in the team. Maldonado's performances have not been totally convincing, and part of Willliams' thinking on the second driver must surely reflect this. This would presumably count against Senna.
Of course, all this analysis has so far disregarded the issue of sponsorship. Reports suggest that the three candidates all have access to funds of some description. The ultimate choice of driver may tell us much about the state of the Williams team's finances, and whether their "racers" ethos still remains intact....
Monday, 28 November 2011
Brazilian Grand Prix 2011
So, the 2011 Formula season has reached its end. Not the most riveting race to sign off with, but there are plenty of side issues and subtexts which are worthy of discussion. In some ways, it is unfortunate that the threatened rain did not materialise in Interlagos, as this would have spiced things up slightly!
Whether Mark Webber could have won if Sebastian Vettel's gearbox maladies had not intervened is a matter of conjecture, but the form from practice and the early laps of the race itself would seem to indicate that the German would have notched up another victory. The nature of the Interlagos circuit worked in his favour, making the problems manageable.
Even though the win in Brazil was fortunate, it was some compensation for the frustrations and setbacks endured by Webber throughout 2011. It still seems mildly extraordinary that he won only the single race in the whole season.
The race ended up being a bit anti-climactic for McLaren, not quite living up to the pre-race hopes and expectations. Jenson Button's late surge on to the podium appeared to vindicate his strategy, but only belatedly. Second place in the championship was reward for Button's consistency and intelligent driving during the season.
Lewis Hamilton's gearbox failure, coming after the euphoria of Abu Dhabi, was symptomatic of his roller-coaster year. Hamilton was in quite philosophical mood after the race, the inference being that he will put 2011 down to "experience" and do his best to come back stronger (and luckier) next year.
One of the major talking points of the race was the coming-together between Michael Schumacher and Bruno Senna. It did seem that Senna moved over slightly , but by the same token it was an optimistic, and far from straightforward, move by the seven-times champion. I am no expert, but I think that allowances have to be made for the nature of the track layout at that point, which may have contributed to the Renault driver's line. It seems that I was not alone in considering the penalty imposed on Senna quite harsh...
In what may turn out to be his F1 swansong, Rubens Barrichello did not quite have the race that he was looking for on his home turf. However, he did at least exhibit some spirit after difficulties early on.
Of course, Williams are being linked with a move for Adrian Sutil, and some eyebrows may have been raised when Sutil was very impressive in Brazi, battling tenaciously and finally finishing sixth. A job application in all but name? To be fair, Force India as a team were pretty much on form all weekend. The performance cannot have done his Williams prospects any harm, at the very least.
The chances of Kimi Raikkonen joining Williams for 2012 have faded, so it is looking increasingly like it may be a Sutil/Maldonado pairing at Grove next season. Hardly inspiring you might say, and the pressure would be on Sutil to step up to the plate and genuinely begin to fulfill his undoubted potential.
On another Williams-related note, it seems that Patrick Head will be withdrawing from major involvement in the F1 project. Following the case of Ron Dennis, this is another sign of the changing of the guard in Formula 1 generally, with new faces taking over from those who have been so prominent in the past two or three decades.
Just to finish, a word about the Interlagos circuit itself. Watching the television coverage yesterday, I was reminded what a superb track it is, certainly one of the best on the calendar. It remains a breath of fresh air in this homogenized age, with its anti-clockwise direction, elevation changes and quirky mixture of corners.
So, 2011 is over. Roll on 2012!
Whether Mark Webber could have won if Sebastian Vettel's gearbox maladies had not intervened is a matter of conjecture, but the form from practice and the early laps of the race itself would seem to indicate that the German would have notched up another victory. The nature of the Interlagos circuit worked in his favour, making the problems manageable.
Even though the win in Brazil was fortunate, it was some compensation for the frustrations and setbacks endured by Webber throughout 2011. It still seems mildly extraordinary that he won only the single race in the whole season.
The race ended up being a bit anti-climactic for McLaren, not quite living up to the pre-race hopes and expectations. Jenson Button's late surge on to the podium appeared to vindicate his strategy, but only belatedly. Second place in the championship was reward for Button's consistency and intelligent driving during the season.
Lewis Hamilton's gearbox failure, coming after the euphoria of Abu Dhabi, was symptomatic of his roller-coaster year. Hamilton was in quite philosophical mood after the race, the inference being that he will put 2011 down to "experience" and do his best to come back stronger (and luckier) next year.
One of the major talking points of the race was the coming-together between Michael Schumacher and Bruno Senna. It did seem that Senna moved over slightly , but by the same token it was an optimistic, and far from straightforward, move by the seven-times champion. I am no expert, but I think that allowances have to be made for the nature of the track layout at that point, which may have contributed to the Renault driver's line. It seems that I was not alone in considering the penalty imposed on Senna quite harsh...
In what may turn out to be his F1 swansong, Rubens Barrichello did not quite have the race that he was looking for on his home turf. However, he did at least exhibit some spirit after difficulties early on.
Of course, Williams are being linked with a move for Adrian Sutil, and some eyebrows may have been raised when Sutil was very impressive in Brazi, battling tenaciously and finally finishing sixth. A job application in all but name? To be fair, Force India as a team were pretty much on form all weekend. The performance cannot have done his Williams prospects any harm, at the very least.
The chances of Kimi Raikkonen joining Williams for 2012 have faded, so it is looking increasingly like it may be a Sutil/Maldonado pairing at Grove next season. Hardly inspiring you might say, and the pressure would be on Sutil to step up to the plate and genuinely begin to fulfill his undoubted potential.
On another Williams-related note, it seems that Patrick Head will be withdrawing from major involvement in the F1 project. Following the case of Ron Dennis, this is another sign of the changing of the guard in Formula 1 generally, with new faces taking over from those who have been so prominent in the past two or three decades.
Just to finish, a word about the Interlagos circuit itself. Watching the television coverage yesterday, I was reminded what a superb track it is, certainly one of the best on the calendar. It remains a breath of fresh air in this homogenized age, with its anti-clockwise direction, elevation changes and quirky mixture of corners.
So, 2011 is over. Roll on 2012!
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