Lap 61 Alonso pulling away now, the gap is 1.3 seconds and the bad news
for Button is that Vettel is creeping up on him. Raikkonen in 4th struggling
to get on the podium and I think the gap’s too large. Rosberg is in the
points and that’s a wonderful achievement for someone that started the day
21st on the grid.
Lap 60 Button told “we can win this race”. expect the move to
come in a few laps time. both drivers responding to the other and both
flashing purple on the section times.
Lap 59 Button’s tyres looking in better conditions at the moment, as I
mentioned earlier, McLaren have instructed their driver not to make a move
until the last five laps. Such a shame to see hamilton’s race come to an end
and on such a special occasion, still, having said on lap 3 that he should
retire he’s done his team-mate a tremendous service this afternoon.
Lap 58 Button told to go for it as Alonso will encounter problems with
traffic. I get the feeling we’re in for an unreal end to this race. Tyres
are shot and it’s too late to make a final stop. Will Alonso miss out on
another win in the dying moments?! looks as though Hamilton has retired
Lap 55-56 Alonso goes wide on the drag strip but it doesn’t affect the
gap between him and Alonso. Further back Rosberg is recovering well from
that late stop and is closing in on 10th place Paul di Resta. Schumacher
fastest with 1:19:007.
Lap 54 if you’re reading this and wondering where Romain Grosjean has
featured in today’s race it’s a rather disappointing answer. he’s never
really been in it having pitted on the first lap due to debris on the track.
Such a shame for a driver that has made such a big impact on the
season…been really impressive.
Lap 53 Schumacher pits and that’s his third stop! It’s fast but could
rule him out of the points. According to the McLaren team they’re holding
off making the move on Alonso and are anticipating a move for the win in the
final five laps due to Alonso tyre degradation.
Lap 52 Both Force India cars now back in the top 10. Alonso still
managing to keep Button at arms length, the Mclaren needs to make a move
soon. Gap remains 0.9 seconds.
Lap 51 All going a little wrong for Schumacher’s team-mate Rosberg
who’s had to pit again. He was 8th but now finds himsefl out of the top 10.
Lap 50 nine tenths of a second now between Alonso and Button, the
ferrari really responding at the moment. Further back and Vettel’s gone wide
of the mark again and only added more space between himself and button while
Schumacher’s coming underpressure from Kobayahsi in 5th,
Lap 49 all that hard work from Hamilton to help button out has forced
him into the pits for new tyres from 16th place. Webber’s climbed to 9th and
is on Rosberg’s tail but Massa’s dropped two places to 14th. Amazingly, no
retirements as yet.
Lap 48 Massa closing in on the top 10 now, given the start he hjad this
afternoon the fact he has fought back to 12th is pretty impressive. Still
fighting to keep his drive next season. As things stabnd ferrari will be
delighted with the result…Mark Webber, closest to Alonso in the overall
standings, is back in 10th place so there’ll be a good points gap if things
rermain this way.
Lap 46 Kobayashi takes 6th from Hulkenberg, terrific driving from both
Force India and Sauber drivers this afetrnoon they’ve all been battling with
one another. Just seven tenths between Button and Alonso in front now, can
Mclaren steal a win here?
Lap 45 Alonso responding to Button’s pace and is cloking the fastest
times between the pair. Race leader now coming into traffic. vettel told he
will have problems with his tyres towards the end of the race so now is the
time to “be smart”.
Lap 44 Raikkonen now back in 4th place and is being chased by
Schumacher. Vettel told to “hang on in there and pace yourself.”
Another great Sauber/Force India duel going on between Hulkenberg and
Kobayashi for 6th.
Lap 43 Vettel goes wide on turn one and that’s increased button’s
advantage…slip frm Red Bull and Button now on the hunt for Alonso. 1.3 the
gap between Alonso and Button.
Lap 42 and that pit stop has worked fantastically for McLaren as Vettel
comes out of the pits behind Button! And the McLaren driver really has to
defend hard there, Vettel is really really trying his luck to reclaim second
place! Fantastic racing!
Lap 41 Raikkonen fastest with 1:19:7. Button is flying and the road is
clear ahead of him. Ferrari and Red Bull react and Alonso and Vettel pit.
Lap 40 McLaren call Button in and they’re putting him on the medium
compound tyres for the last 29 laps. Fantastic stop from the team and that’s
been a rarity this season. Perez and Webber following Button in.
Lap 39 Kobayashi moves into 4th as Raikkonen pits, last time the Lotus
went in it initiated all other teams. What will McLaren do about Button now?
Perez is 5th being chased by Raikkonen who has Webber on his tail in 7th.
Lap 38 Hamilton told to attack Alonso, this team play from the McLarens
is wonderful to watch. There’s not been a better opportunity for Button to
make the move on Vettel as his car is not at full power. Vettel two seconds
down on Alonso and 1.9 ahead of Button
Lap 37 Further back then Hulkenberg’s made a move on Maldonado and
taken 10th place from the Williams so that’s both Force Indias in the top
10.
Lap 36 All this work from hamilton is certainly helping Button who is
now just over a second behind Vettel, great teamwork. Vettel not amsued on
the radio as he is told he has no more KERS.
Lap 35 Hamilton makes a move on Vettel and the Red Bull lets him “overtake”
he’s technically unlapping himself. What can Hamilton do to help Button
close in on Vettel? Vettel waving his arms at the McLaren as if to say “get
the hell out of my way”. Brilliant.
Lap 34 Button is flying and he’s nearly halved the gap between him and
race leader Alonso. Hamilton told Button is three seconds behind and he is
not to hold him up at all. That’s gotta hurt…getting lapped by your
team-mate on one of the biggest weekends of your career.
Lap 33 further back there’s a strong battle back from Massa who is back
up to 14th. Hamilton’s just pitted so that should be his time in the pits
done and dusted now. Both McLarens driving near each other…will they use
this to an advantage to get Button back in touching distance of the leaders?
Lap 32 Hulkenberg has now gone on to the softs. Raikkonen is also on
that compound but complaining that he needs them changed…his team want
four more laps out of them. Button’s right rear showing signs of
degradation. Think we’re in for pits round two shortly.
Lap 31 Charles Pic lapped by Vettel and the Marussia car may well have
just done Alonso a favour by delaying Vettel by a few hundreths of a
second.. Webber making a move on Hulkenberg and is up to 6th, the Force
India car let that happen a little too easily.
1-10 Alonso, Vettel, Button, Raikkonen, Schumacher, Perez, Hulkenberg,
Webber, Kobayashi, Rosberg
Lap 29 Vettel now in the DRS zone and heapnig the pressure on Alonso.
Button told he is close to catching up with the battle between 1st and 2nd
and this could work out very well for Button if he plays it right.
Lap 28 Jenson Button the fastest man on the track and that’ll come as a
warning to the Ferrari and Red Bull ahead. Button just four seconds behind
the lead having just clocked a 1:20:727
Lap 27 Vettel’s gained on Alonso consistently over the last three laps
and he’s almost in the DRS zone. We could have an epic battle coming up in
17th and 18th…Hamilton is on Massa’s tail and we all know what happens
when they race one another.
Lap 26 Vettel is slowly but surely gaining on Alonso who seems to be
struggling a little with his medium tyres. Hamilton told if he can get
another four laps on his tyres then they will go for a one-stop race
(barring the emergency stop on lap 3).
Lap 25 Massa called back into the pits. And the Force india/Sauber
battle for 9th continues into this lap, really entertaining to watch this is
and Kobayashi just defends enough to hold off Di Resta.
Lap 24 game of leapfrog currently going on in 9th place between Di
Resta and Kobayashi. Raikkonen told he is the fastest car on the track and
to go ahead and catch the leaders.
Lap 23 and Kobayashi has pitted so Button is in third and free to hunt
down the Red Bull. There’s 6.3 seconds between the McLaren and the leading
Ferrari. Raikkonen is now up to 4th with Schumacher behind. Another German
doing well is Hulkenberg in 6th. Hamilton’s gained another place and is 18th
and chasing Petrov. He’s assured he may be able to finish on a one-stop
strategy.
Lap 22 Button assured his pace is good and he is on the right track.
Kobayashi in front is yet to pit so the McLaren will reclaim third place
shortly and he will be significantly closer to Vettel in second than he was
before the stops.
1-5 Alonso, Vettel, Kobayashi, Button, Raikkonen
Lap 21 Kobayashi’s lead is short lived. Vettel reclaims his lead and
there was no argument from the Sauber. Hamilton has made some progress at
the back, he’s up to 19th.
Lap 20 Perez clocks the fastest time of the afternoon with a 1:20:777.
He’s back in 8th at the moment but being chased by Hulkenberg. Maldonado
loses position to Webber so the Australian’s up to 9th. Vettel pits and
Kobayashi leads
Lap 19 McLaren out for Button. Alonso told “no problem” and
to see what their rivals do for now.
Lap 18 Alonso is in the pits so Vettel leads. That’s 18 laps from
Ferrari and he’s coming out on the mediums, good job he was just sliding a
lot on that final lap. Webber continuing to struggle.
Lap 17 Saubers travelling very well at the moment, they’re in 4th and
5th but driving faster than the front two and neither has stopped yet.
Vettel told he is doing a fine job but needs to push. Bet Hamilton’s in a
foul mood right now. Still not sure why he immediately said he should
retire…far too defeatist
Lap 16 Schumacher is on fire this afternoon! He’s just taken position
in a very risky overtake from Hulkenberg amd those soft tyres are really
working for him at the moment. Meanwhile Alonso is pulling away at the front
and is over two seconds ahead of Vettel.
Lap 15 Amid all the pits stops, Alonso still leads with vettel and
Button behind. Perez and Kobayashi are 4th and 5th respectively. Massa now
up to 15th and chasing Vergne but there’s still no improvement from Hamilton
in 22nd.
Lap 14 Webber came out of the pits in 14th but runs wide to lose his
spot to Williams. Webber looking uncomfortable at the moment, has the
opportunity to make a move but is back out early. Schumacher pits for soft
tyres
Lap 12 plenty of drivers coming into the pits now, Raikkonen is in so
Perez is up to 8th for now and chasing Webber. Further back Massa has
climbed to 19th but Hamilton remains in 22nd. Webber pits for the hard tyre.
Lap 10-11 Senna is still in the race despite problems on the first lap.
Force India pit crew out for Di Resta so he’s on a three-stop strategy and
it’s a good pause from the team. Button makes the move on Schumacher and
gets the place! he’s now third, that was wonderfully executed.
Lap 9 Alonso exactly a second faster than Vettel at the front. Perez
has hauled himself into the top 10 and just takes 9th from Di Resta, great
fight back from him having been handed a 5 place grid penalty. Hamilton the
fastest man out there…though he is over a minute behind the leader.
Lap 8 Hamilton: “The car doesn’t feel stable still problems with
the left rear.” His times are good so he needs to just knuckle down.
Button meanwhile is up to 4th and he’s made a wonderful move on Hulkenberg
and now goes after another home favourote Schumacher. Clock suggests he is
faster than the Mercedes.
Lap 6 looking at the replay it’s unfortunate for Grosjean as it looks
like rRicciardo caused him probelms on the first corner, the Frenchman was
actually no where near the contact but suffered the worst. Hamilton back in
22 at the moment behind Massa. Here’s the view from his McLaren in what was
an agonisingly slow start
Lap 5 Alonso now fastest 1:22:6 but Vettel is in the DRS zone, great
hold from the Ferrari at the moment but he’s under pressure by the world
champion. His Red Bull team-mate is back in 7th. Perez is storming through
and fantastic driving from Paul di Resta against Raikkonen! The Lotus has
overtaken the Force India but that was awesome to watch, wheel-to-wheel
stuff!
Lap 4 Hamilton on the radio: “That’s it guys, we should retire.”
he has not yet called it a day.
Lap 3 Alonso is leading but Vettel is closing in. Schumacher is driving
in third, Hulkenberg fourth and Button fifth. Webber is fastest with a
1:22:8
Lap 2-3 number of drivers changing to the hard tyre and things are not
looking great for hamilton who’s just lost a place to Ricciardo and he is
down to 10th! he is on the radio saying he has a problem, a big problem, his
left rear has gone. This could be terminal
Lap 1 Outstanding attack from Schumacher on Vettel on this lap, the
elder German really really pushing hard. Vettel’s struggle has been great
news for Alonso who is flying away in the lead. Massa in the pits already
and he’s lost his front wing. Grosjean also in the pits and it’s a very,
very long stop for the Lotus. Senna also stops.
First turn: Wonderful start from Alonso at the front and Kovalainen
goes really wide on the first turn. Vettel holds place but Raikkonen and
Webber overtook Hamilton there.
Here we go then….
1300 so rude forgot to mention and congratulate Heikki Kovalainen who
is also celebrating his 100th Grand Prix this afternoon, officially his
100th start will be Hungary next weekend.
1257 for the record, Bernie Ecclestone has not turned up at the race
this afternoon despite promises that he would. Anyway, that’s unimportant
right now, it’s a fantastic shake up to the grid this weekend, think we’re
in for a fantastic race. Final preparations being made and the cars will
shortly be out for the formation lap. No rain expected at the moment.
How they start on the Nurburgring
1st row
Fernando Alonso (ESP/Ferrari)
Sebastian Vettel (GER/Red Bull-Renault)
2nd row
Michael Schumacher (GER/Mercedes-AMG)
Nico Huelkenberg (GER/Force India-Mercedes)
3rd row
Pastor Maldonado (VEN/Williams-Renault)
Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)
4th row
Lewis Hamilton (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)
Mark Webber (AUS/Red Bull-Renault)*
5th row
Paul di Resta (GBR/Force India-Mercedes)
Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Lotus-Renault)
6th row
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Toro Rosso-Ferrari)
Sergio Perez (MEX/Sauber-Ferrari)*
7th row
Kamui Kobayashi (JPN/Sauber-Ferrari)
Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari)
8th row
Bruno Senna (BRA/Williams-Renault)
Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA/Toro Rosso-Ferrari)
9th row
Heikki Kovalainen (FIN/Caterham-Renault)
Vitaly Petrov (RUS/Caterham-Renault)
10th row
Romain Grosjean (FRA/Lotus-Renault)*
Charles Pic (FRA/Marussia-Cosworth)
11th row
Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes-AMG)*
Timo Glock (GER/Marussia-Cosworth)
12th row
Pedro de la Rosa (ESP/HRT-Cosworth)
Narain Karthikeyan (IND/HRT-Cosworth)
*indicates drivers handed five-place grid penalties
1255 Many a driver on the grid could learn a good lesson in positive
thinking from Jenson Button. It’s not been the greatest season for him so
far but the Briton refuses to let his head drop. Refusing to be despondent
about his car he insists he is aiming and is confident of clinching a place
on the podium this afternoon.
I definitely think we should aim for a podium and I think we should aim even
higher. In dry conditions, we have made some good improvements to the car
aerodynamically and mechanically and it is just in the wet where we struggle
with tyre temperature. The car feels good in the dry and I have done a lot
of high-fuel running so we have a lot of information that other people
don’t. On Friday we did three long runs and today I did two long runs so I
feel we are more ready to race than anyone.”
Right, time for some predictions? I’ve got a good feeling about Jenson Button
this afternoon, I’m not certain he’ll win the race but I’ll back him to be
on the podium with Alonso and Vettel. What do you think? Drop
me an email with your podium predictions.
Our man Tom Cary is in Germany, here’s the latest from him this
afternoon:
“So, after the drama of the Red Bull inquiry I’m now about to head to
the grid. My view of the ‘off-throttle blown diffuser torque talk’ issue is
that they are doing exactly what other teams would have done if they had
thought of it. T’was ever thus etc There is no ‘spirit of the regulations’
regulation” as Adrian Newey once said. Or sthg similar. Red Bull have
pushed it as far as the wording will allow and were able to make the
stewards concede the point after being called in to explain themselves.
Expect the regulation to be clarified asap. Other issues? Bernie Ecclestone
does not appear to have shown up, despite his office claiming yesterday that
he would. He said he didn’t want his presence to be a “distraction”
given the ongoing investigation into the German bribery trial. Right. Let’s
go racing.”
Here’s a rundown of the Nurburgring
- Venue: Hockenheim, Germany
- Circuit length: 4.574km/2.842miles
- Laps: 67
- Race distance: 306.458km/190.424miles
- Lap record: 1min 13.780secs (Kimi Raikkonen, 2004)
- 2011 winner: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) (at the Nurburgring)
- 2011 pole position: Mark Webber (Red Bull) 1 min 30.079secs (at the
Nurburgring) - 2011 fastest lap: Lewis Hamilton 1min 34.302secs (at the Nurburgring)
- Corners: 17 (6 left/11 right)
- Tyre compounds to be used: medium/soft
- Overtaking chance: high (into turn 6)
1248 German national anthem now being sung and four home hopefuls on
the grid this afternoon though it must be said Vettel and Schumacher are the
only two in a position that’s likely to put them on the podium. They start
2nd and 4th respectively.
12:44 Just over 15 minutes until lights out then and as i mentioned
earlier the Red Bull cars will not face any sanctions for the alleged
technical rule breach so that means Sebastian Vettel stays on the front row
with Alonso…that’ll ake for a great first turn, here’s the Spaniard’s
feelings about the weekend as he goes in search of his third win of the
season:
It was similar to Silverstone in that you don’t know the full extent of the
conditions. Even waiting for five to seven minutes in the garage, when you
get back out on track you have completely different grip and standing water
in places you don’t expect. You get surprise after surprise in the car,
moments everywhere, especially with aquaplaning into turn six (the hairpin).
It was not an easy qualifying for anybody. It’s easy to finish in the
gravel, the grass, the wall or whatever. Those type of conditions are more
about survival. But in the end it was a good result, very satisfying. Today
was good, but we need to concentrate tomorrow and also look at the sky. The
weather has been so changeable at the moment – yesterday and today – so
tomorrow we need to be ready for anything.
Staying on the topic of Hamilton’s 100th race, here’s what our man David
Coulthard had to say about his six years of racing…with a little advice on
the subject of his future:
I can’t quite believe that Lewis Hamilton has racked up 100 races already.
It seems like only yesterday he was a teenager on McLaren’s books and I was
driving for the team. I have a vivid memory of a youthful Lewis following me
around the Hugo Boss factory in Metzingen once, between the suits and
shirts, furtively asking me for advice. He was driving in F3 at that point
and McLaren wanted him to do another season in the series. Lewis and his
father, Anthony, were keen to push on and were discussing moving him to
another team. I told him that you don’t get organisations like McLaren
backing you every day of the week and that finding sponsorship was a
difficult and precarious business. Interestingly, Lewis finds himself in a
similar position now, assessing his options, weighing up whether McLaren
still represent his best bet. He doesn’t need my advice these days but if he
was to ask, I would tell him exactly the same thing. McLaren are a special
team, a massive team and you do not give up a race seat there lightly. I
would advise Lewis to stay right where he is, and I am sure he will.
Today marks a very special day for Lewis Hamilton, it’s his 100th
grand prix and he’s been tweeting like a fiend all morning about it. It’s a
fantastic achievement for a driver who only five years ago was the ‘rookie’.
Since Australia 2007 he’s amassed 18 wins, 21 poles and 46 podium finishes.
McLaren even made him his own special logo for the weekend (see left).
Here’s what the man himself has had to say about it:
It just feels so unreal to think that I have done 100 grands prix, it just
feels surreal to me. Of course it means something – to get to 100 is
important. I didn’t notice my 10th, my 20th, my 50th, or any of the others.
It just went by so quickly. When you’re having a good time, time flies by.
And the years have gone by very quickly. I’m in my sixth year of Formula One
and that’s insane. It feels like it’s gone quicker than my Formula Renault
years, Formula 3, and GP2. My six years in Formula 1 feels as long as my two
years in F3. It feels very similar to that, but obviously it’s a lot more
races. It’s great, and hopefully I have many more races to do in the future.”
You can also vote
for what you think has been Hamilton’s best and worst race in our online
poll:
1226 Elsewhere on the grid, Sergio Perez of Sauber has been handed a
five-place grid penalty impeding rivals during qualifying. He joins an
ever-extending list of drivers hit by grid penalties this weekend; Grosjean,
Webber and Rosberg have all been demoted for unscheduled gearbox changes.
12:18 Before that decision was made, here’s what Bauer said in
his report:
Having examined the engine base torque map of car numbers 01 (Vettel) and 02
(Webber) it became apparent the maximum torque output of both engines is
significantly less in the mid-rpm range than previously seen for these
engines at other events. In my opinion this is therefore in breach of
Article 5.5.3 of the 2012 F1 Technical Regulations as the engines are able
to deliver more torque at a given engine speed in the mid-rpm range.
Furthermore this new torque map will artificially alter the aerodynamic
characteristics of both cars which is also in contravention of TD (technical
directive) 036-11.”
1215 Good afternoon and welcome to coverage of the German grand
prix…excited? You should be not only for this race but an altogether
phenomenal day of sport…and the Olympics haven’t even started. I’ll
forgive you for having one eye on this blog and another on the open or the
cricket or maybe the Tour de France, quite remarkable so let’s hope we get a
good race this afternoon.
It’s been a news-filled 24 hours since Fernando Alonso secured pole position
yesterday, let’s take a look at what’s been going on.
The big news from Germany this lunchtime is that Red Bull were under
investigation after Jo Bauer questioned the engine torque map of the cars of
Sebastian Vettel and team- mate Mark Webber. The suggestion is that the
engine’s throttle is more open than it should be for a given accelerator
position. The effect this has on the car is more air through the engine, and
in turn over the exhaust to aid aerodynamics and downforce. It’s just been
announced that no further action will be taken against the team.
How they start on the Nurburgring
1st row
Fernando Alonso (ESP/Ferrari)
Sebastian Vettel (GER/Red Bull-Renault)
2nd row
Michael Schumacher (GER/Mercedes-AMG)
Nico Huelkenberg (GER/Force India-Mercedes)
3rd row
Pastor Maldonado (VEN/Williams-Renault)
Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)
4th row
Lewis Hamilton (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)
Mark Webber (AUS/Red Bull-Renault)*
5th row
Paul di Resta (GBR/Force India-Mercedes)
Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Lotus-Renault)
6th row
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Toro Rosso-Ferrari)
Sergio Perez (MEX/Sauber-Ferrari)*
7th row
Kamui Kobayashi (JPN/Sauber-Ferrari)
Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari)
8th row
Bruno Senna (BRA/Williams-Renault)
Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA/Toro Rosso-Ferrari)
9th row
Heikki Kovalainen (FIN/Caterham-Renault)
Vitaly Petrov (RUS/Caterham-Renault)
10th row
Romain Grosjean (FRA/Lotus-Renault)*
Charles Pic (FRA/Marussia-Cosworth)
11th row
Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes-AMG)*
Timo Glock (GER/Marussia-Cosworth)
12th row
Pedro de la Rosa (ESP/HRT-Cosworth)
Narain Karthikeyan (IND/HRT-Cosworth)
*indicates drivers handed five-place grid penalties