Final lap final retirement of the afternoon and Romain Grosjean who
caused the problems right at the start calls it a day. Button closes in but
just cannot do enough to get himself on the podium, what a fantastic drive
from Kobayashi to take third…and he only just does it. For the first time
since 1990 a Japanese driver will stand on the podium and the crowd has gone
nuts, the noise is unreal! Also huge celebations from Ferrari, Massa drove
incredibly well to take second.
Lap 52 Button now 1.1 behind so no DRS on the pit straight, Kobayashi
really impressing here as is Ricciardo in the Toro Rosso. Not ignoring the
front but Vettel is way ahead and set to go within four points of Alonso in
the championship table with Massa second, focus will stay on the fight for
third now.
Lap 51 Hamilton has totally dropped off the pace no and trails Button
by 14 seconds. The latter is in the DRS zone behind Kobayashi but unless the
Sauber drops some pace it looks like McLaren will just miss out on the
podium. Button really pushing but he’ll only get a couple of chances.
Lap 50 Kobayashi now showing signs of closing in on Massa though I fear
that is asking too much, perhaps if we had 10 laps left.
Lap 49 so five laps to go and all being well Vettel is safe for victory
here though he’s locking up a little but with an 19 second lead it shouldn’t
worry him too much. The real battles now in these final laps is that for 3rd
place between Kobayashi and Button and for 10th between Ricciardo and
Schumacher, the young Australian doing a remarkable job defending his point.
Lap 47-48 1.7 seconds now separates Kobayashi and Button, the Japanese
driver is responding to the McLaren’s speed. Further back, Ricciardo is
doing well to hold Schumacher off position 10. Petrov is carrying out a
drive through penalty for ignoring blue flags
Lap 46 huge test for Kobayashi at the moment, it’s the home favourite
against the man who calls Japan his second home and the latter has nine laps
to cause a huge upset. Webbertold his tyre temperature is too high, this
could be the first upset in terms of who takes some points today.
Lap 45 Right so who’s on for points today besides our four front
drivers? Provided no crashes or engine problems Hamilton looks fine as do
Raikkonen and Hulk. Maldonado, Webber and Ricciarado in the final point
places but Schumacher Di Resta and Vergne are looming.
Lap 44 Button told he is another half a second faster that Kobayashi “come
on mate there’s a podium position here”. Gap is now 1.8 seconds
Here’s what Fernando Alonso has said about his early retirement:
“I lost pace on the right had Button on the right, Kimi didn’t leave
me any room. That’s the way it is. One time I will retire and maybe next
time Vettel will retire, you never know. Five races to go as there’ll be a
mini championship.”
Lap 43 Vettel now a whopping 18 seconds clear so the interest really is
falling on that third podium place as Massa is looking comfortable in
second. Button catching Kobayashi and is on course to upset the home crowd
here and just took four tenths off the gap in this lap.
Lap 42 Kobayashi warned that Button is closing in on him especially in
the first sector of the track. And Senna takes the place from Grosjean and
goes 14th, great move from the Williams driver.
Lap 41 Schumacher now really fighting for a point of two. he’s in 11th
but on the softs and trying to make a break. Ricciardo is the man he is
chasing. Further back there’s a great contest going on between Senna and
Grosjean, the Brazilian really showing some good fight but just unable to
take the position.
Lap 40 Charles Pic is out of the race, he’s just been wheeled back into
the Marussia garage with engine failure, that’s the fifth retirement today.
If you’re wondering how Alonso is doing, here’s his car…
Lap 39 Vettel on the radio asking about his front wing…not sure what
the problem is, or even if there is one. The German didn’t sound too
concerned. Unexpected fastest lap time here and it’s Bruno Senna in his
Williams 1:37:157
Lap 38 easy for Vettel he could have stopped off for a cup of tea he’s
so far ahead of Massa in second. Quiet as he has been all this race Lewis
Hamilton is showing signs of some good speed in these latter stages. He’s
currently fifth behind his team mate…which McLaren will finish top?
Lap 37 Massa pits from second and goes onto the hard compound tyres,
that’ll slow him for the rest of this race but can he hold on to a podium
place? Schumacher has come in too and is on the softs. What they heck
hey…he’s going for it and I don’t blame him as he started back in 23rd,
that’s the sign of a seven-time champion. Vettel pits for the second time
and goes on the hard tyres.
Lap 36 Button pits so Kobayashi has gone third and the McLaren pits top
is longer than normal so they have to start again to get back on that
podium. Button stopped too far forward in his pit box so his team had to
adjust.
1-10 Vettel, Massa, Button, Kobayashi Hamilton, Raikkonen, Hulkenburg,
Maldonado, Schumacher, Webber
Lap 35 Karthikeyan becomes the fourth retirement this afternoon, just
awaiting confirmation on the cause of his withdrawal.
Lap 34 OK we’re back. Vettel has pulled further ahead and is over 15
seconds in front of Massa. Kobayashi is back up to 4th for now as Maldonado
pits and in front of him it looks like the gap between Button (3rd) and
Massa is too large for the McLaren to make up so just a place on the podium
their target.
Lap 32-33 apologies for the silence here, having technical issues with
the feed, just trying to sort it out…
Lap 31 if it stays like this then it will be Massa’s first podium in I
believe 36 races! What good timing that would be for him but would it be
enough to save his drive? I really think Ferrari are going to replace him in
the off season…what do you think? Vettel’s now starting to lap the back
runners…he’s flying.
Lap 30 Here’s what Perez has had to say on his exit “I tried to
overtake and he moved late to the inside and I broke late and the only room
I had was on the outside. I tried (the same move again) it again but it
didn’t work.”
Lap 29 Grosjean now the fastest man out there with a 1:38:437. Anyone
joining us now, the Ferrari you’re seeing second to Vettel at the front is
not, I repeat not, that of Alonso. The championship leader crashed out on
the first lap along with Rosberg and Massa, yes Massa, is currently in a
podium position.
Lap 27-28 Webber pitted from 9th at the start of this lap, he’s doing
well though, this picture shows what position he was in on the first lap.
Schumacher has made the move on Di Resta and has done is successfully. Force
India will not be happy with how easy that move was for the Mercedes. Button
told “this pace is good, Kobayashi is there for the taking”.
Lap 26 Di Resta also being told to floor it as his tyres are in better
than good condition…seems he’s been going a little too easy on it perhaps.
Button likely to pit again soon as he is “target minus 1” and told
to give them a little more care, shame though as he is literally going up
the exhaust of Kobayashi’s Sauber.
Lap 25 Hamilton may feel some relief as Hulkenberg radios in with car
problems, they don’t look race-ending for now but he is slowing up a little.
Lap 24 Kobayashi told to put his foot down and he obliges by pulling
away from Button, they’re now about a second apart. Behind the McLaren is a
two-second window and then the Lotus of Raikkonen. Schumacher fans, he’s is
up to 12th and chasing Di Resta.
Lap 23 Vettel remains 11 seconds clear of Massa who has Kobayashi in
his rear view mirrors. A little further back, Hamilton (6th) is under
increasing pressure from Hulkenberg in 6th and the Force India is really
showing his worth here. Maldonado remains in the top 10 and Webber is up to
9th after a miserable start.
Lap 22 Senna carries out his penalty and will likely drop from 16th to
the back of the pack. There is hope for him, you’ll remember that about 10
laps ago Grosjean was there after his 10-second stop-go and he’s back up to
15th so in with a hope of points.
Lap 21 Drive through penalty for Bruno Senna for causing the collision
with Rosberg on the first lap…does that mean Grosjean’s penalty was too
harsh? Button back on the radio saying he keeps missing gears on his car,
McLaren team appear pretty relaxed about it.
Lap 20 so Perez joins Alonso and Rosberg, I think the Sauber driver
just tried a little too hard there having failed to right his car from a
little over steer on turn five. Credit to him though, he could have caused a
far worse accident there.
Lap 19 haven’t written this for a while, McLaren’s pit stop for
Hamilton is not good, it’s not disastrous but he stalls on his exit as the
tyres are not on as smoothly as you would want. Now Button is flying, his
engineers seems to have assured him the gear box problems he mentioned will
be OK and he’s gaining on Kobayashi and looking to go second. Perez gets it
so wrong and in trying to maybe prove a point as he went to make a move on
Hamilton on turn six he is out of the race! Hamilton will be chuckling to
himself with that I imagine…
Lap 18 Ricciardo is doing a great job holding Button off for now but I
fear it won’t be long until experience prevails. Vettel emerges from a great
pit stop and is back in the lead. Oh dear, Button on the radio saying he is
having problems with his gearbox and don’t forget that’s a brand new one
from Wednesday.
Lap 17 Jenson Button is in 5th and chasing Kobayashi and Ricciardo but
struggling to get by. Vettel has pitted after 17 laps so for now Massa
leads…
Lap 16 Perez has pitted and that was good from the Sauber team and
their man emerges behind a bit of traffic. Ricciardo for Toro Rosso driving
well and looking competitive in 5th at the moment. Vettel’s lead has
extended to 11th seconds. Massa going well in second and he’ll know how
important this race is to him, as he has been all season he is literally
driving for his F1 life. Hamilton and Maldonado pit.
Lap 15 Kobayashi has been called in by Sauber so Massa promoted again
to second, Vettel (race leader) will be no where in sight. Strange, and I
dare say I am tempting fate by typing this, but Maldonado has been
uncharacteristically quiet so far though I can’t help but think that him
chasing Hamilton (4th) may spark some fireworks!
Lap 14 news that stewards are now looking into Senna’s involvement in
the collision that ended Rosberg’s race on the first turn…will bring you
news on that when I get it. Button has pitted and re-joins in eighth chasing
Ricciardo so Massa is up to third for now. Early indications suggesting a
two-stop race for the majority of cars today.
Lap 12-13 Grosjean still riding at the back of this race having been
handed that penalty. Hamilton has dropped to 7th and is being chased by
Hulkenburg who’ll be hoping to impress today given the number of media
outlets and “people in the know” linking him to Felipe Massa’s
drive at Ferrari. Hamilton assured he is going well…very well in fact he’s
gone five laps further on these tyres than his team expected.
Lap 11 Button really struggling for speed at the moment. Rosberg saying
his exit was a ‘real pity’ and blames Grosjean’s contact with Webber, the
Red Bull then caused a jam so no drivers could get by and as a result a Toro
Rosso went into the back of his Mercedes. Drivers now laying into Grosjean,
he’s slowly earning himself a similar reputation to Maldonado.
Thoughts from Keith Stanbury on my question this morning…
It’s good for Hamilton. It’s good for Mercedes. It’s good for McLaren.
Lewis was in a rut. And a rut is a grave with the ends kicked out..
Lap 10 unsurprisingly Vettel is the fastest man on the track at the
moment having just clocked a 1:39:108. British racing fans will be pleased
to know that the McLarens have improved on their starting place and are
running 3rd (Button) and 6th (Hamilton) though it has not been the greatest
of starts for Paul Di Resta who started 11th and is currently driving back
in 13th.
Lap 9 and Vettel is dominating at the front, he is now five seconds
ahead of Kobayashi and so Button needs to make a move on the Sauber as soon
as possible if he wants to stay close to the lead.
Lap 8 Grosjean told of his penalty and that he has to come in this lap,
he’s currently 22nd. Webber has not re-joined the back of the pack, he’s
20th now but we all know he likes to climb his way back through the pack and
does it so well. The Australian told “we can still get something from
this”…as long as he looks after the tyres.
Lap 7 Grosjean has been given a 10-second stop-go penalty for that
incident with Webber. Just watched a replay of Perez’s move and that
overtake was tremendous he just nipped the inside line on a tight turn. Schumacher
told his team have lost telemetry…wow, he’s just not having a good time of
it this weekend is he! He’s currently driving 14th, which he’ll be pleased
with I would think having started 23rd.
Lap 6 Button is on the prowl for Kobayashi and second place, DRS zones
now activated so the Sauber’s going to have to watch his back, the gap is
under a second. There’s a great battle there between Perez and Hamilton! The
man he is replacing is caught dozing and the Sauber’s taken the position.
Ha, bet that won’t sit well with Hamilton, fabulous move.
Lap 5 well what an unexpected turn of events that first lap brought and
the McLarens have benefited. It’s almost a deja-vu of last season when it
comes to Vettel, he is flying this weekend and he’s established a 2.8 second
lead
1-10 Vettel, Kobayashi, Buuton Massa Raikkonen, Hamilton, Perez, Hulkenberg
Maldonado Ricciardo
Lap 4 incident involving Webber and Grosjean is now under
investigation. Raikkonen on the radio saying he is missing something from
the front wing but his engineers have assured him it’s “not an
important part” and he’s OK to continue without it.
Lap 3 Perez ran out wide there at the start of the lap and that’s lost
him places because of a great manoeuvre from Raikkonen. What an opening few
laps at Suzuka! Replays of the start shows Alonso made contact with
Raikkonen but the Lotus driver was not at fault I don’t think. Also seeing
that Grosjean made contact with Webber as a Sauber came in from his left.
Lap 2 upside for Webber here is that the safety car remains out. What a
start for Glock that was, he started in 18th and has climbed to 11th while
Schumacher has also gained five places and drives 18th. The safety car is
off the track and the race has re-started
Lap 1 a good start also for Button who’s climbed several places but
what a start that was! Webber had a problem and it looked as though his race
was going to end but I’ve seen him back up and running via the pits.
Grosjean is in the pits getting a new nose on his car so ignore my
prediction…except the Vettel to win bit!
First corner: great start from Kobayashi off the line and Kobayashi
overtakes Webber for second but htere’s some contact and a Ferrari a
Mercedes and a Lotus goes off the track! And bad news! It’s Alosno that’s
spun off there, the yellow flags are being waved and the safety car is out. Alonso
and Rosberg are OUT! The championship just blew wide open!
7:00 tyres: Vergne, Pic and Schumacher the only drivers starting
on hard tyres, everyone else starting on softs
I don’t think Ferrari share my confidence:
6:58 Right then, a few minutes to go until lights out of this round 15
race. If you’re just joining me then perfect timing for some race
predictions. Red Bull have been looking phenomenal this weekend and have
their first front row lock out of 2012 so I’m going with Vettel for a lights
to flag win with Alonso and Grosjean on the podium. We’re set for quite an
exciting start today as so many drivers are out of position, especially the
McLarens and Mercedes. Cars now preparing for their formations laps.
A little more about the Suzuka circuit:
Circuit length: 5.807km/3.608miles
Laps: 53
Race distance: 307.471km/191.053miles
Lap record: 1min 31.540secs (Kimi Raikkonen 2005)
2011 winner: Jenson Button (McLaren)
2011 pole position: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) 1min 30.466secs
2011 fastest lap: Jenson Button (McLaren) 1min 36.568secs
Tyre compounds to be used: Hard/Soft
Overtaking chance: Low
Average speed: 237kph (mph)
Gear changes per lap: 40
Number of corners: 18 (8 left/10 right)
Number of safety cars deployed since 2001 (9 events): 4
0650 three penalties on the grid for today’s race then. Jenson Button
starts 8th after getting a 5 place demotion for changing gearbox out of
sequence, Jean Eric Vergne drops three places to 19th for causing
interference during qualifying while Schumacher’s back in 23rd after a 10
place penalty for his collision with Vergne a fortnight ago.
How they start:
1. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Red Bull.
2. Mark Webber, Australia, Red Bull.
3. Kamui Kobayashi, Japan, Sauber.
4. Romain Grosjean, France, Lotus.
5. Sergio Perez, Mexico, Sauber.
6. Fernando Alonso, Spain, Ferrari.
7. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Lotus.
8. x-Jenson Button, Britain, McLaren.
9. Lewis Hamilton, Britain, McLaren.
10. Felipe Massa, Brazil, Ferrari.
11. Paul di Resta, Britain, Force India.
12. Pastor Maldonado, Venezuela, Williams.
13. Nico Rosberg, Germany, Mercedes.
14. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Toro Rosso.
15. x-Nico Hulkenberg, Germany, Force India.
16. Bruno Senna, Brazil, Williams.
17. Heikki Kovalainen, Finland, Caterham.
18. Timo Glock, Germany, Marussia.
19. z-Jean-Eric Vergne, France, Toro Rosso.
20. Pedro de la Rosa, Spain, HRT.
21. Charles Pic, France, Marussia.
22. Vitaly Petrov, Russia, Caterham.
23. y-Michael Schumacher, Germany, Mercedes.
24. Narain Karthikeyan, India, HRT.
x-denotes 5-grid place-penalty for changing gearbox out of sequence
y-denotes 10-grid-place penalty for causing collision in previous race
z-denotes 3-grid-place penalty for causing interference during qualifying
Here’s Telegraph Sport columnist David Coulthard’s thoughts on this
week and where today’s race will be won and lost…
You cannot look beyond the protagonists in the title race. It is now a
three-way battle between Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis
Hamilton. I cannot see Kimi Raikkonen winning it, but if the Lotus develops
well over the last six races then who knows? All eyes will also be on
Michael Schumacher’s Mercedes and Sergio Pérez given announcements this
week.
Where the race will be won: Qualifying will be very important
given the tendency for winners to emerge from the front row. I see McLaren
and Red Bull fighting over pole but Ferrari, Lotus or even Sauber could be
dangerous in the race. Suzuka is fast and flowing and there are a few
overtaking spots, the best probably being the final chicane and the DRS zone
on the start-finish straight.
One last thing: Michael Schumacher’s retirement. My view is
Michael was right to come back if he felt he could offer something. He had
earned the right to call time on his own career. Our differences are well
documented but he was phenomenal in his day and can still do it when the
mood takes him. Putting his Mercedes on pole at Monaco this year was pretty
special
6:41 so what have you all made of Hamilton’s decision to move this
week? I’m chuffed, I think it’s healthy to see a bit of a shake up on the
grid, so many people complained last season that F1 had become boring and
while I think this season has gone a long way in silencing them, Hamilton
moving, a young gun joining McLaren and no doubt more driver movements to
come, will only add to the spice next season promises…as well as the new
rules. Let me know your thoughts
This week’s news:
Stirling
Moss: Hamilton’s move to Mercedes is “not too clever”
Sir Stirling Moss, the last British driver to race for the Silver Arrows,
believes Lewis Hamilton may have made a mistake swapping McLaren for Mercedes,
adding that the German-owned outfit of today cannot be compared with the
legendary team of the post-War era. Speaking ahead of today’s Japanese Grand
Prix, Moss, who raced alongside Argentina’s five-time champion Juan Manuel
Fangio before Mercedes-Benz pulled out of motor racing following the 1955 Le
Mans tragedy, said that he could not understand it.“When I had the chance
back then I grabbed it because I thought [Mercedes] were the best team at
the time,” the 83 year-old told Telegraph Sport.
————————————————————
Interview:
Jenson Button ready to assume senior citizen role
Jenson Button likes sombreros. Apparently he has a picture of himself
somewhere wearing one “and not much else”. The McLaren driver volunteered
this stunning piece of information when asked for his thoughts on his new
Mexican team-mate for 2013, Sergio Pérez. Ever since Button arrived at
McLaren in 2010 Hamilton has tended to dominate the narrative. Next season
all that will change. Button will be the main man at McLaren; the
experienced, former world champion expected to lead the team as young pup
Pérez settles in to life at Woking. Naturally, Button denies there will be
any additional pressure on him – drivers do not generally like to
acknowledge the existence of such a thing – although he does concede McLaren
will be expecting him to take the initiative.
————————————————————
Schumacher
calls it quits…again
It could hardly have been more different to his first retirement. At Monza
in 2006, Michael Schumacher had announced his intention to go in the wake of
the 90th victory of his career, having just cut the gap to Renault’s
championship leader Fernando Alonso to two points and in the full
expectation of going on to win an eighth world title. His valedictory speech
reduced the sea of tifosi on the finish straight to awed silence. On
Thursday, in a press conference in a makeshift paddock home in Suzuka,
Schumacher announced his intention to bid farewell for a second time to a
sport he once owned. He admitted that his three-year comeback with Mercedes
had not lived up to expectations but said that he no longer had the
“motivation and energy” to go on.
6:35 Quite an unexpected grid order then today. Behind the Red Bulls is
the Sauber of Kamui Kobayashi – which will please the home fans – and the
Lotus of Romain Grosjean. Behind them and alongside Alonso is the other
Sauber and the McLaren’s 2013 signing Sergio Perez. Kimi Raikkonen is 7th
and Felipe Mass completes the front 10.
And what of Mr Schumacher, the man who earlier this week announced his (second
) retirement. Well he’s had a nightmare in Japan, after announceing his
decision – which essentially Bernie Ecclestone did for him about a month a
go, the seven-time world champion crashed in practice on Friday and could
only go 13th quickest. He then dropped to 23rd as a result of the 10-place
grid penalty he copped in Singapore where he crashed into the back of Toro
Rosso’s Jean-Eric Vergne.
06:30 Good morning/afternoon F1 fans wherever you are joining me from
in the world and welcome to coverage of the Japanese Grand Prix. If like me
you’ve dragged yourself out of bned at the crack of sparrows for this race
then quick quick, rub that sleep out your eyes, grab a coffee and get set
for what is set to be a pivotal race in the 2012 championship run-in. As
always it’s been a hugely eventful week in the world of F1 and we’ll have a
quick look over the main headlines shortly.
First off though, let’s remind ourselves of what happened during qualifying at
the Suzuka circuit yesterday. After a three-hour deliberation, Sebastian
Vettel was confirmed as the man on pole with his team-mate Mark Webber
alongside him, a great result for the Red Bull team and it continues their
success at this track.
For McLaren it has not been such a dream weekend. In the first race since news
broke of Lewis Hamilton’s intention to race with Mercedes next season.
Jenson Button came into the weekend with a five-place penalty owing to an
unscheduled gearbox change and he starts in 8th while Hamilton is a place
behing in 9th. Hardly the best position for two drivers both sitting over 50
points behind championship leader Fernando Alonso who starts in 6th.