Formula 1 2010 Season [may contain real time spoilers]

[Kymmy]

Top ten times of the 2nd free practice

Button (1:28.280)
Webber (1:28.378)
Vettel (1:28.590)
Hamilton (1:28.672)
Alonso (1:28.725)
Rosberg (1:28.914)
Schumacher (1:28.974)
Kubica (1:29.225)
Petrov (1:29.501)
Massa (1:29.620)

[Matty_]

Congrats to Mark Webber for his third pole in a row! , the guy really is on the crest of a wave (as the BBC team keep telling us, Aussie, Surfer ). Also great lap by Lewis to split the Red-Bulls although i doubt he would have if Vettel hadn`t had "issues".
I wonder i said issues will effect tomorrows race, it seemed he wasn`t happy with the car after qualifying, though that maybe just the fact he didn`t get pole

Alonso =

[Jon T]

Vettel and Webber come together - Vettel out.

Couple of laps later, Button tries an overtake on Hamilton, they appear to touch but no harm done.

[Hom3r]

Great to see a Brit 1 2

[Matty_]

Did David Coulthard ever have a coming together with Mika Hakkinen when they where team mates at McLaren?

Maybe David should confirm this

Good race with two teams fighting it out at the front with all four cars seeming to have similar pace, plus the added bonus of potential rain. Personally from what i saw it looked like Vettel was at fault for the "incident" and Webber was lucky that he finished third.
You could see from the driver interviews that Webber thought he`d turned in on him. I also liked the bit where Lewis clocked the camera was on them and basically said "not now guys, big brother is watching"

Ferrari =

[Flyboy]

Congratulations to Lewis and Jensen, about time the luck went Lewis's way for a change. Good racing between them in the last few laps.

I do feel sorry for Mark Webber though. He ran a perfect race only to be scuppered by his team "mate." But what a recovery; he rejoined the race only three seconds behind Jensen Button, pitted for a new nosed and still came out in front of Schumacher. Driver of the race, for me.

If he had bowed out though, it would have put both McLarens in first and second for the championship.

[Hom3r]

If we are honest, Webber and Vettel should have finished 1 2, and Vettels moment of madness gifted 1 2 to Hamiton and Button.

[Kymmy]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

If we are honest, Webber and Vettel should have finished 1 2, and Vettels moment of madness gifted 1 2 to Hamiton and Button.

If we're honest Hamilton won, Button 2nd and Webber 3rd and Vettel was a stupid little boy

(sorry I don;t go for what could have happened, just what did happen )

[G UK]

Just got in from my Duty Pilot Fireman shift at the airfield and watched the race. Hmm, a race with what appeared to be three unhappy drivers on the podium.

My take on the front end of the grid:

Red Bulls: Close with Webber fading towards the end (Tyres?) Vettel pulling a perfectly good move spoiled by a moment of madness trying to squeeze Webber as if he was on another team. Webber doesn't expect this as its not something usually done between team mates. 100% Vettel's fault (bearing in mind they are team mates) showing his inexperience but an easy mistake to make and I hope hes not crucified for it.

Mclaren: Hamilton as expected pushing his car harder throughout the race whilst Button looks after his, towards the end Button pumps in the fastest laps and gets faster and faster against a fading Hamilton (Tyres !?!). After the Red Bull accident Buttons inevitable attempt at a pass doesn't quite pay off and scared the Mclaren team call a hold to the proceedings

I'd guess at the following thoughts at the end.

1. Hamilton: Knows his battle with Button was called off by the team probably feeling guilty he was gifted the win and knew that Button was faster and would have given him a run for his money.
2. Button: Knew he was faster but team orders stopped him challenging for a pass he no doubt was sure he could make.
3. Webber: Gutted that he was taken out, even more so by his team mate. Silver Lining is he's leading the championship
4. Vettel: Initially blamed Webber, after calming down then very guilty as he knew it was his fault.

In the rest of the race:

- Ferrari will be kicking themselves for such a poor showing as they slip further behind. Have they given up on this year already?

- Sauber seem to have made big steps forward passing both Toro Rosso and Williams

- Lotus race pace is steadily improving easily making them the quickest of the new teams and it seems will not be long before they are on the tales of the midfield. Qualifying was hard to judge due to the use of the Hard Tyre but puts them likewise slightly improving. Shame about the reliability which they need to improve lest they live upto "Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious"

- Virgin's qualifying pace was good with Glock keeping the gap to the Lotus respectable but what happened to Di Grassi? Race pace was poor but at least they made it to the end which is a start

- HRT are improving, qualifying was nothing special however race pace was on par with the Virgins and they actually made a pass on Di Grassi's Virgin

[dev]

Webber faded because he was told to turn his engine down to save fuel. Likewise so was Hamilton / Button but Button saved less. All 3 drivers could have gone faster but were at the risk of not finishing. Hamilton seemed unhappy because him being told to save fuel almost lost him the win against his team mate who also got told to save fuel. So you were kinda wrong on the front end of the grid

I agree on Ferrari, Renault seem to be doing better than Ferrari at the moment I guess if Ferrari aren't winning they're not interesting in improving just like last year.

Sauber's true pace wasn't really known - this is the first race they've both finished so they've hardly had a good weekend to show their true pace but they've definitely improved.

The 3 new teams are improving but reliability is an issue for all 3 with Virgin being the most reliable, Lotus are definitely the pace setters of the new teams as you say. That is something I expected as Lotus have got more experienced staff and so should be ahead. HRT are really only on the grid to keep their place and don't really have a proper setup geared to improving the car.

[G UK]

Webber faded because he was told to turn his engine down to save fuel

Where did I miss that? I cannot remember hearing any mention of either of the Red Bulls being asked to save fuel prior to "the" incident

Likewise so was Hamilton / Button but Button saved less.

Pardon!! You do realise teams are not legally allowed to give team orders to stop racing etc. and therefore you have to read between the lines!!!

Being asked to save fuel when it goes to both drivers and is made sure that it is a point that both drivers have been told can easily be read as "calm down both of you". The whole sudden Jenson your tyres and fuel are critical was a blatant "slow down or else" message especially as throughout the majority of the race and through past experience Jenson is so much easier on both than Hamilton!!

Also couple this with the evasiveness to Eddies questions (who knew precisely what was being pulled) post race and the Hamilton-Button battle call-off becomes obvious

So you were kinda wrong on the front end of the grid

If you don't look past the surface, I would see my above comment about the subsurface politics

Sauber's true pace wasn't really known - this is the first race they've both finished so they've hardly had a good weekend to show their true pace but they've definitely improved.

Sauber have had lots of trouble yes but the times they showed early season were slow, they have improved in the last few races and todays result is either a freak or a breakthrough.

The 3 new teams are improving but reliability is an issue for all 3

I Agree

Virgin being the most reliable

Close one but I would argue its Lotus

Lotus are definitely the pace setters of the new teams as you say. That is something I expected as Lotus have got more experienced staff and so should be ahead.

I agree, I'm liking the attitude of Kovalainen who seems to understand exactly what hes signed up for (a long term, development contract) whereas Trulli seems to be grumpy in comparison and wanting quick competitiveness.

HRT are really only on the grid to keep their place and don't really have a proper setup geared to improving the car.

I would have agreed prior to this weekend but they have ditched Dallara and in both qualifying and race trim have been snapping at the heels of Virgin. Time will tell with HRT whether this can be carried forward.

[dev]

I wasn't disputing that McLaren may have told their drivers to cool it after they swapped the lead twice. I'm disputing the fact that Webber / Hamilton were fading due to tyre issues.

Webber was in fuel saving mode - Vettel wasn't as he had saved some fuel earlier so could run flat for 1 lap more - http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/84050

The McLarens were told to save fuel before the Red Bull incident - Red Bull even told Vettel that the McLarens were saving fuel. They were told a few times actually and Hamilton slowed more than Button which is why they closed up.

I'd disagree on the tyre usage as well - Bridgestone have repeatedly said there is hardly anything between the 2 McLaren drivers in terms of tyre wear with both being in the middle in terms of heavy/light tyre usage.

[Kymmy]

It will be interesteing to see if Mclaren do release the fuel figures for their two drivers

[Matty_]

I couldn`t care less who was told to save what where, it was the best dry race for quite a while. Lets hope Red-Bull and Mclaren can keep battling at the front and hopefully another team can match them for pace.

This is the sort of thing we wan`t to see in Formula 1, bit of action, controversy and team mates going at it hammer and tongue, not some boring follow me leader or more likely the leader(s) cruise(s) off into the distance and the rest just scrap a little here and there.

It is racing after all

I know this is but has anyone been to Goodwood? I`m going this year so if anyone has any tips cookies are at the ready...

[Kymmy]

FOS or the revival,

Been to the FOS and it's a great time.. Take a small earphone radio with you as they have all the broadcast audio on a radio freq. The rally stages are excellent viewing and if you like being next to a F1 car with the engine singing then it's the place to be