Today's Chinese Grand Prix gave further evidence of the capricious nature of modern Formula 1. A comfortable victory in the end for Fernando Alonso and Ferrari, and much to muse on elsewhere in the field.
The extent of Alonso's superiority came as quite a surprise, and must be seen as persuasive evidence that the Italian team will be genuine contenders for the ultimate prizes this season. In stark contrast to early 2012, they have hit the ground running this time around, with the reassurance that the Spaniard's talent and tactical resourcefulness remain undimmed. Team and driver are both up to speed, and this two-pronged challenge looks quite formidable. At the same time Alonso, canny as ever, was quick to acknowledge that the current state of affairs cannot be taken for granted, and that the next race may present new variables to shake things up.
Mercedes continue to press, but it is hard to escape the conclusion that there are couple of small, but significant, pieces missing from their jigsaw. That extra iota of race-pace, and total mechanical reliability, spring to mind. Lewis Hamilton's cautionary pronouncements appear to have been borne out. The team has moved more centre-stage, but there are still areas of weakness to rectify.
Whatever the flaws in the Mercedes situation, their position looks quite enviable in comparison to that of McLaren, who continue to look anaemic. Today's strategy, although permitting some deceptive prominence at times, seemed tailored to getting a solid points finish on the board. Jenson Button was philosophical after the Grand Prix, and he must also be conscious of having to shoulder the burden of leadership in the team, with Sergio Perez continuing to struggle.
A few other things are worthy of mention. Kimi Raikkonen's pace was excellent after a stuttering beginning to the race, and it is this fleet form and relentless consistency which may ensure that the Finn remains in contention in the standings right until the end of the season.
Daniel Ricciardo was once again impressive in the Toro Rosso, and it may be that people will begin to cross-reference his assertive and confident performances with the difficulties afflicting a driver with a not totally unconnected team; a more senior Antipodean, whose future plans are the subject of renewed speculation.
A glance at the drivers' standings could be construed as quite revealing. The four leading competitors - Vettel, Raikkonen, Alonso and Hamilton are threatening to detach themselves from the pack. By most measures, this quartet constitutes the cream of the current Formula 1 driving talent. The respective team-mates of these drivers are enduring various struggles and miseries. Does this mean that more than in the recent past, F1 today places a premium on out-and-out driving skill? I know that some observers see things in less straightforward terms, and the end of the season may be the time to formulate a more definitive assessment.
Three different victors in the opening three races. Heartening, although this year will be hard pushed to match the statistics of 2012!
Showing posts with label chinese grand prix. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chinese grand prix. Show all posts
Sunday, 14 April 2013
Saturday, 14 April 2012
Chinese Grand Prix Qualifying
Not totally unexpected, in view of some of the trends in practice and qualifying thus far in 2012, but great to see Nico Rosberg on pole position for the first time in his Formula 1 career. The traditionalists will also be purring, as this was the first F1 pole for Mercedes as a team entity since the Fangio/Moss days of 1955.
I'm tempted to say that the qualifying sessions in Shanghai have produced a win-win situation for the watching billions. A new pole-sitter, close times and some fancied runners for various reasons further back on the grid than they are accustomed to being.
Some people might view this as a "topsy-turvy" grid, but it is not, really. Mercedes have been there or thereabouts in testing, practice and qualifying, so it was only going to take a minor shift in conditions,circumstances or luck for them to achieve today's outcome. The other "surprising" grid positions are also not totally out of kilter with what has already been seen or predicted so far this year.
The main talking point, other than Rosberg's pole, will undoubtedly be Sebastian Vettel's failure to make the top ten. Funnily enough, I was thinking of saying something to the effect that the recent criticism and scrutiny of Vettel has been premature and misguided. The German will clearly not be thrilled to be where he is on the grid, but even now I'm not reading too much into it. Just one of those things! It is more instructive to look at times, and any mitigating circumstances, rather than pure positions.
Going back to Mercedes, the onboard shots with Rosberg suggested a very stable, responsive and easy-to-drive car, but of course doubts linger about their capacity to maintain a consistent race performance, partly because of their tyre-wear "issues". One also wonders whether Nico's entry into the limelight might galvanise Michael Schumacher into an assertive and aggressive race performance tomorrow?
It remains to be seen whether McLaren, for all their prowess in race trim, will be hampered by their grid positions. On balance, I think not, because of the nature of the track, and the uncertainties surrounding the cars in front of them.
The Sauber and Lotus performances in qualifying have ceased to be surprising or unusual. Consistent top ten positions should now be the norm for these two teams. Kimi Raikkonen's times today have gone slightly unheralded, because of the feats of others, but his position is more proof that he never really "went away", and belongs on the rarefied air near the front of the grid.
What is very noticeable this season is how guarded and equivocal team personnel and drivers are being in their comments post-qualifying and pre-race, eschewing bold predictions or bravado. They all realise just how competitive and fluid the current F1 landscape is, and few people are able to foresee future events with any degree of certainty. This can only be a good thing!
I'm tempted to say that the qualifying sessions in Shanghai have produced a win-win situation for the watching billions. A new pole-sitter, close times and some fancied runners for various reasons further back on the grid than they are accustomed to being.
Some people might view this as a "topsy-turvy" grid, but it is not, really. Mercedes have been there or thereabouts in testing, practice and qualifying, so it was only going to take a minor shift in conditions,circumstances or luck for them to achieve today's outcome. The other "surprising" grid positions are also not totally out of kilter with what has already been seen or predicted so far this year.
The main talking point, other than Rosberg's pole, will undoubtedly be Sebastian Vettel's failure to make the top ten. Funnily enough, I was thinking of saying something to the effect that the recent criticism and scrutiny of Vettel has been premature and misguided. The German will clearly not be thrilled to be where he is on the grid, but even now I'm not reading too much into it. Just one of those things! It is more instructive to look at times, and any mitigating circumstances, rather than pure positions.
Going back to Mercedes, the onboard shots with Rosberg suggested a very stable, responsive and easy-to-drive car, but of course doubts linger about their capacity to maintain a consistent race performance, partly because of their tyre-wear "issues". One also wonders whether Nico's entry into the limelight might galvanise Michael Schumacher into an assertive and aggressive race performance tomorrow?
It remains to be seen whether McLaren, for all their prowess in race trim, will be hampered by their grid positions. On balance, I think not, because of the nature of the track, and the uncertainties surrounding the cars in front of them.
The Sauber and Lotus performances in qualifying have ceased to be surprising or unusual. Consistent top ten positions should now be the norm for these two teams. Kimi Raikkonen's times today have gone slightly unheralded, because of the feats of others, but his position is more proof that he never really "went away", and belongs on the rarefied air near the front of the grid.
What is very noticeable this season is how guarded and equivocal team personnel and drivers are being in their comments post-qualifying and pre-race, eschewing bold predictions or bravado. They all realise just how competitive and fluid the current F1 landscape is, and few people are able to foresee future events with any degree of certainty. This can only be a good thing!
Thursday, 12 April 2012
2012 Chinese Grand Prix Preview
After what by common consent has been an intriguing start to the Formula 1 season, the action resumes this weekend in Shanghai, after a break of three weeks.
It is likely that much of the discussion will be dominated by the thorny topic of the Bahrain Grand Prix, and that is very understandable. However, here's hoping that there is another enthralling race to grab at least some of the attention.
Allowing for the weather conditions which prevailed in Malaysia, and taking nothing away from Alonso's superb drive in Sepang, the team to beat (just) remains McLaren. Jenson Button will be seeking to revert to the form and poise which he displayed in Australia, and to make amends for his uncharacteristic rush of blood in the last race.
Lewis Hamilton's cause will not exactly be aided by a five-place grid penalty in China, because of a gearbox change, but the Briton seems philosophical about this hindrance, and he will still harbour hopes of notching up a win to vindicate his pre-season buoyancy, and to consolidate his solid start to the 2012 campaign.
The three-week hiatus since Malaysia will have been employed by some teams to try to analyse their lack of form and all-round pace. Foremost amongst these would probably be Mercedes, who badly need some kind of race result in China. Red Bull, though having many more points on the board, will also have been striving for solutions.
Fernando Alonso was correct in pointing out, amidst the post-race euphoria in Malaysia, that the race victory there, welcome and merited though it was, did not fundamentally alter Ferrari's position. It is difficult to imagine a quantum leap in performance in Shanghai, but at least the triumph in Sepang may have given the team an extra spring in its step, and instilled a greater sense of impetus.
Several teams will be hoping to build on encouraging beginnings to the season. Williams, and particularly Pastor Maldonado, will be seeking to continue to convert promise into points. For Lotus, one suspects, more of the same would suffice at this stage. Sauber, following the Perez podium in Malaysia, are another outfit threatening to consistently intrude into the party at the front end of the field. It is to be hoped that the young Mexican will not be over-awed by his new-found prominence.
So, there we have it. Another interesting weekend in prospect!
It is likely that much of the discussion will be dominated by the thorny topic of the Bahrain Grand Prix, and that is very understandable. However, here's hoping that there is another enthralling race to grab at least some of the attention.
Allowing for the weather conditions which prevailed in Malaysia, and taking nothing away from Alonso's superb drive in Sepang, the team to beat (just) remains McLaren. Jenson Button will be seeking to revert to the form and poise which he displayed in Australia, and to make amends for his uncharacteristic rush of blood in the last race.
Lewis Hamilton's cause will not exactly be aided by a five-place grid penalty in China, because of a gearbox change, but the Briton seems philosophical about this hindrance, and he will still harbour hopes of notching up a win to vindicate his pre-season buoyancy, and to consolidate his solid start to the 2012 campaign.
The three-week hiatus since Malaysia will have been employed by some teams to try to analyse their lack of form and all-round pace. Foremost amongst these would probably be Mercedes, who badly need some kind of race result in China. Red Bull, though having many more points on the board, will also have been striving for solutions.
Fernando Alonso was correct in pointing out, amidst the post-race euphoria in Malaysia, that the race victory there, welcome and merited though it was, did not fundamentally alter Ferrari's position. It is difficult to imagine a quantum leap in performance in Shanghai, but at least the triumph in Sepang may have given the team an extra spring in its step, and instilled a greater sense of impetus.
Several teams will be hoping to build on encouraging beginnings to the season. Williams, and particularly Pastor Maldonado, will be seeking to continue to convert promise into points. For Lotus, one suspects, more of the same would suffice at this stage. Sauber, following the Perez podium in Malaysia, are another outfit threatening to consistently intrude into the party at the front end of the field. It is to be hoped that the young Mexican will not be over-awed by his new-found prominence.
So, there we have it. Another interesting weekend in prospect!
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