Top Ten c2013

With the start of 2014 pre-season testing,  here's the Flat-12 Top Ten for the 2013 F1 World Championship and some thoughts on the year ahead.    Better late than never?

2013 was a difficult year for F1.   Pirelli, acting on direction from the sport, delivered compounds so delicate that drivers were left skittering for grip and engineers scratching their heads.     Purists cried that F1 had become artificial and drivers lamented that their focus was no longer strictly on racing.

Yet for ten rounds this was the 2013 face of F1, where results were far from certain, everyone struggled equally, and tire discontent amounted to little more than grumbling and griping.   That is, until Silverstone.   High cornering speeds and sharp curbs combined to create an altogether separate and dangerous problem of de-laminating rubber and shredding carcasses.    Not good.

Rubber makes the politics go 'round

Red Bull's determined lobbyist capitalized on the debacle to wrap the safety question around compounds as well as tire construction, and convinced the paddock that the time to return to conservative compounds had arrived.   Thus, whatever unpredictability the 2013 World Championship offered was lost, and F1 once again returned to the temple of aerodynamics under the lofty reign of the deity of wind slip.

Politics have always played a role in F1, yet despite a string of exciting seasons where sport trumped scheming, they again rose to the fore in 2013.  Ultimately, the abrupt shift was less about safety than it was aero supremacy.   In this writer's opinion, this past season will go down as a triumph of politics over sport, and one of the poorest competitions over F1's long history.

As the season unraveled, I suspected that the task of drawing a precise perspective on driver performance would be tough.   The thought of musing a brave fight to the podium or unexpected rise of a midfield competitor fell pointless and victim to my cynical nature.  My normal sense of intrigue was virtually destroyed under the weight of fickle motor sport governance.

IMHO, there was a new chink in the sport's armor, and the latter half of the season felt like packaged entertainment.

In this light, is it possible to fairly evaluate one driver against his opponent?   When does uncharacteristic mistakes, dysfunction, and intra-team fighting render the exercise futile?    Ferrari, Lotus, McLaren, Sauber, Williams:  each endured tension and strained driver relationships at some aspect of the campaign.

F1 drivers have often been, to some degree, portrayed as super human.   Michael Schumacher set the example for what a human can achieve through commitment, determination, dedication.    Intense training, conditioning, while adhering to very strict diets is just the beginning and beyond the discipline of most mortal men.

But as aero took precedence, F1 began to look more like a mortal endeavor.   I guess F1 drivers are human beings who stumble through turmoil just like the rest of us, perhaps not as awkwardly, but stumble all the same.  Sometimes at an additional 2.5 seconds per lap.

Therefore, I'm not certain the 2013 season is even worth discussing, but please comment if inspired.    A little debate as winter testing commences might liven what will hopefully be the beginning of a more competitive era.

I did not go back and recount stats, compare lap times.   My logic is seat of the pants and probably flawed.   This is merely an impression, my impression, indelibly engraved in my mind by this horribly disappointing season.

1)  Sebastian Vettel (ranked #4 in 2012, co-#1 in 2011)

Nothing sensational.   Vettel's robotic pole to top step precision every week put me to sleep.    He deserves, however, credit for bullet proof consistency, his almost complete lack of mistakes, and his making the most of the opportunity bestowed upon him.     Vettel is quick, focused.   He's managed to place himself in a position to win and at the end of the day that is often the most important skill of any competitor.    I have always considered him one of the best, but despite his dominance I still don't rate him the most complete driver on the grid.

If Red Bull have one strength, they appear more adept at developing their car over the course of a season.    Looking over the past five years, Newey's cars have never started as dominant as they finished.   It would be fair to suggest that Seb is also an integral part of that evolution.

2)  Nico Hulkenberg (ranked #5 in 2012)

Nico drove with purpose in 2013.    The man definitely had something to prove, and he did just that.   Yet despite proving that he is ready to fight at the front, Hulkenberg found himself victim to shoddy economics and had to resort to yet another midfield contender for 2014.

In time,  I hope we'll see him at Ferrari.     IMHO he's been groomed for that role long enough. 

3)  Kimi Räikkönen (ranked #2 in 2012)

Who'd a thunk Kimi's dominant win in the Melbourne season opener would prove to be his only victory of the season?    Perhaps Räikkönen deserves better than this third place ranking . . . he should be commended for not allowing a lack of proper payment deter his early to mid season efforts: several brave and sensational drives from a man reborn to his prior mid 2008 form.

Unfortunately, as the season wore on things must've been disintegrating in the Lotus camp as Kimi appeared to lose steam by the time the teams reached Korea.  Once Räikkönen was publicly dressed down by Alan Permane in India, it was over.    Kimi showed up in Abu Dhabi despite reports that he had already given up, but his uncharacteristic first corner retirement gave pause to conspiracy theorists across the globe.    No one was surprised when it was shortly announced that he'd driven his last race for Lotus.

4)  Fernando Alonso (ranked #1 in 2012, co-#1 in 2011)

Those who know me will be shocked to find my relegating Fernando to a meager fourth on this tally.    I largely consider Alonso the most complete driver on the grid and perhaps the world.    Unfortunately, as it became apparent that Red Bull was once again gaining the upper hand, Fernando's human side reared itself in the form of frustration.    After three and one third seasons prior where he drove with as much heart, courage, and stamina as we've ever witnessed, to come so close to taking the title in 2010 and 2012, it seemed impossible that he would remain invincible.    To his credit he still managed a string of 2nd place finishes from Belgium to Singapore, so it would be unfair to suggest that he simply gave up.

I had a hard time choosing between Kimi and Fernando.   The argument for rating Fernando higher is strong.   Both drivers endured a lot of frustration with no real manner, but their phenomenal skills, to rise above.   In the end I feel Fernando appeared a bit worn for wear, whereas Räikkönen simply opted to depart.   Alonso may have also engaged his employer in a game of false posturing and media innuendo over a fictitious move to Red Bull.  

5)  Nico Rosberg (ranked #8 in 2012, #3 in 2011)

As I eluded to last year, Nico Rosberg is one tough nut to categorize, compartmentalize, or truly understand.    Often identified as the most inconsistent driver on the grid, I find the description a tad unfair.  Nico delivered three pole positions and two victories in 2013.  Not counting anything but the top step, that makes him the second most accomplished pilot for the year (Alonso: two wins but no poles, and Hamilton: five poles but only one race win).   Rosberg's Monaco victory was without doubt one the most determined drives of the season.

To date Nico has more than held his own over Lewis Hamilton, much as he did over Michael Schumacher.    I'm guessing Nico may have trouble unlocking proper set up on occasion, thus adversely effecting his pace.   He is certainly the most under rated driver in F1.

6)  Romain Grosjean

One of the brighter aspects of 2013 was the re-introduction of Romain Grosjean . . . the Romain Grosjean that many of us suspected was there all along.     I first witnessed Grosjean's pace in GP2 at Spa in 2008 on the high speed blast through Pouhon.     I'm sure many will question my rating him above Hamilton, but I was extremely impressed by the manner in which Grosjean came alive in the mid season.  Although Räikkönen may have at times been off form, Grosjean's ability to "pressurize" his teammate was very real.

7)  Lewis Hamilton (ranked #3 in 2012, #6 in 2011)

I really wanted to rate Lewis higher.  He fared much better than many who questioned his jump from McLaren had expected.   He had five pole positions and at times looked to net more than his single victory in Hungary.   I give Hamilton high marks for continuing to mature and for his positive working relationship with teammate Rosberg.

As he often found himself going backwards once the lights went out, I can only wonder whether inner struggles still distract his eye from the prize.   Hopefully the 2014 title will be more clearly visible through his visor.

8)  Daniel Ricciardo

I don't believe that he's Hulkenberg-ready for the front row, but Ricciardo has demonstrated himself capable of competing there.    It's fair to say that he will only get better as 2014 progresses.
   
9)  Valtteri Bottas

What can I say?   I like this guy.   Impressive, in Montreal especially.   Given my respect for Hakkinen and Räikkönen, perhaps I'm partial to Finnish drivers.
 
10)  Mark Webber  (ranked #10 in 2012, #5 in 2011)

I really like Mark but struggled to find a home for him on this list.  It's hard to know what to think about his time at Red Bull, only to say that I wish he'd gotten out from under there before retiring.    Given the bizarre climate, I should credit Mark for managing results when other drivers such as Fernando might have blown a fuse.

Webber's race starts were consistently shaky, often nullifying whatever advantage he reaped from qualifying.    I often joked that he needed to stop doing pre-race interviews on the grid as he appeared too focused on his post retirement broadcast career.     Between the poor starts and sometimes questionable race judgement, Mark Webber will always remain an enigma to me.  

I hold the cynical opinion that Mark's race car was at times treated by the team as a test mule, effectively providing Red Bull a test restriction work around.   With Vettel on top every weekend and everyone else bumbling along behind, it would be interesting to do the math and determine how many of Mark's points they needed to secure the Constructor's title.

Webber will be missed.    He once demonstrated the pace to be a potential world champion, but I never personally saw that happening at Red Bull.

In closing . . .

No doubt there are a couple of key names missing from my tally.    Again, my logic can be challenged.

Jenson Button:  
Jenson had a down season.     The McLaren was a wash and he spent the first half of the year trying to avoid being run off the road by his over aggressive teammate.     Despite my immense respect for Jenson I've often suspected that he really needs a car to his liking.     He will be back at the front soon, I am certain.    I truly believe the new era bodes well for Jenson as lessor drivers will struggle with torque and putting the power down effectively.

Felipe Massa:  
Felipe finished 2012 on the upswing and I fully expected that trend to continue into 2013.   It didn't.    Ferrari were once again a one horse cavalry. . . and then there was Germany.    Unfortunately for Felipe,  Ferrari were left with no choice but to replace him.   I wish him a successful rebirth at Williams.

The year ahead?    My fear is that Vettel will run away with all 19 victories.    That will make people forget about the funny looking noses, real quick.  I now fully understand why I temporarily loathed Michael Schumacher when he won the first Grand Prix I attended; Imola '04.    The RB-10 looks to pick up where its predecessors left off.

If we are lucky, Mercedes and Ferrari will rise to the fight and their potential.   They possess the best driver pairings in the business.  

Ferrari must deliver a competitive car and more importantly develop it throughout the season.    The arrival of James Allison may ultimately answer Ferrari's life long struggle with tires, and that is huge, but the Scuderia's real challenge may lie beyond the wind tunnel.  Did a lack of managerial prowess handicap the once promising F-138 from being developed to it's full potential?

Given the likelihood we'll witness greater transition in development this season as the teams grapple with the new hybrid turbo era, I sadly expect Red Bull to once again remain on top.

Flat-12 Top Ten

Based solely upon the last three Grands Prix (Abu Dhabi, USA, Brazil), I'd bet that the 2012 F1 season could be safely typeset into almanacs and encyclopedias two decades from now as a remarkable year.     2012 delivered a lot of surprises, and one of the greatest ironies is that two of the best races occurred at Valencia and Abu Dhabi, circuits most commonly regarded for producing boring processions.  

With the season now complete and Sebastian Vettel claiming his third straight world driving title, the time has come once again for armchair analysis.

Enter the 2012 edition of the Flat-12 Top Ten.   A highly subjective, passionate summary utilizing the latest time proven techniques (beer) to measure the following criteria:  level of performance, consistency of performance, ability to overcome adversity (in terms of car, weather, etc.), and avoiding mistakes.

There's a lot of time wasted on compiling such useless lists, but sit back, grab those beer goggles, and join in with your own amateur punditry.

Anyway, I'm linking this post to the Torque F1 Top Ten, for an alternate, perhaps less "hoppy" perspective.  

1) Fernando Alonso

I've been following F1 a long time.     A real long time.    I can identify world champions who conquered even when they did not have the best car before I can tie my shoes.  

Lauda in 1977, Piquet in 1981, Senna in 1991, and Raikkonen in 2007 are but a few who come immediately to mind.    There were non-champion drivers such as Villeneuve who toiled bravely with the wretched 1981 Ferrari 126CK, Senna literally willing pole position at Imola from his schizo Williams prior that fateful day in 1994 . . .

Yet despite all prior examples of man over machinery I can quickly produce, I wonder if any driver at any time has overcome a car so wayward as the F2012 Ferrari to come so close to winning it all?  

Fernando is a better driver now than when he won back to back titles at Renault.     His race starts are unbelievable and his tenacity is absolute.    As with all great drivers he's made a few enemies along the way, but I have no doubt that Fernando Alonso put together the most complete performance of 2012.

Arguably Fernando made only one costly mistake all year long:   leaving Räikkönen no where to go into turn 1 at Suzuka.     Many also contend that his title was lost in the first corner melee at Spa.    Certainly, Spa was a race Alonso could have won and most certainly achieved a podium result, so the fact that he came away from both of these races empty handed is significant.  

However, if we allow that a couple of DNF's might be expected over a 20 race calendar, Monza may have inflicted the most subliminal damage.     Alonso was quickest all weekend, until Q3 . . . and although some doubt lingers over what actually happened, the loss of his expected pole position and almost certain victory hurt.    Further losing 2nd place and 3 points to Perez only added insult to injury.       

2)  Kimi Räikkönen

Räikkönen very nearly found himself leading the Driver's Championship one quarter of the way into the year.    The Lotus looked exceptionally quick at certain times, on certain circuits, but overall the car simply was not ready to run at the front.    Yet Kimi managed, much like Alonso, to turn mid field qualifying positions into podium finishes.     Räikkönen drove with great control all year long.     Fighting for position, he always did so with sublime precision, never once guilty of putting a competitor off, although many still blame him for Suzuka.     His pass on Schumacher into Eau Rouge, move around the outside of Di Resta through the twisty bits in Austin, and his final wheel to wheel exchange with Schumi at Interlagos are but several glorious displays of a driving prowess that F1 missed in 2010 and 2011.

It is for Kimi's consistency and phenomenal precision over the course of the entire season which stand foremost in my mind.

3)  Lewis Hamilton

I've long been a critic of Lewis Hamilton.   I never cared for his methods during his early days at McLaren and still feel that he threw Dave Ryan under the bus.   I always believed he was over-rated and possessed an uncanny knack to flatten brakes and blister tires.   However, times and people change.

Despite a rather uneven 2012 season, Lewis managed to pull it all together by season's end and very nearly won the last three Grands Prix in dominant fashion.    His drive in Austin was without doubt the most determined, disciplined performance of his career.

Hamilton suffered inexplicable pit stop debacles early in the year, and costly technical failures in the latter.     McLaren found themselves floundering mid-season, as demonstrated by their dreadful home race at Silverstone.  

Despite all of this, I took notice of Hamilton's newfound reserve.    His airborne hissy fits were greatly subdued if not all but gone by season's end.   In year's prior, atrocious pit stops would have left Hamilton gasping for someone's head over the team radio.   His off-track soap opera dramas, although taking a different form in terms of tweets, were in check and largely gone.

. . . and so are his days at McLaren.

I don't know what fortunes lie in wait for Lewis at Mercedes, but it's hard to fault his decision.    All one needs to do is take a stroll through the F1 Village at any Grand Prix to realize that McLaren demanded too much in restricting his ability to capitalize on the Lewis Hamilton brand.    My hats off to Lewis for making a tough decision . . . my guess is that he will find himself fighting to get into Q3 instead fighting for pole for much of 2013.
 
4)  Sebastian Vettel  

Although Sebastian Vettel held the narrowest of point margins as the teams began the European season, his 2012 was shaping up nothing like the casual romp he enjoyed in 2011.   He initially appeared to struggle, and was often out paced by his teammate.    However as the teams reached Hungary there were subtle indications that Vettel was back on form and on the rise.    Vettel's season actually began at Spa, the moment Alonso fell victim to Grosjean's crazy, hell bent start.  

Vettel and Red Bull emerged from the summer break ready to capitalize on the post European season and in doing so they cemented Seb's place in the history books.     In contrast to my thoughts on Hamilton, I'd long been a fan of Sebastian Vettel.    People and times do certainly change.  It's fair to say that my growing appreciation for Lewis Hamilton in 2012 was balanced by my growing depreciation for Sebastian Vettel.

The truth of the matter is Vettel remains an exceptional talent, certainly one of the best.    Although questions regarding his abilities to fight from behind have been fairly drawn, he has in my mind adequately demonstrated himself to be very much a complete driver.  

Unfortunately, the more I get to know Seb, the less I like him.    Dare I suggest he's growing overly arrogant and borderline obnoxious?   IMHO, He carries two demons on his shoulder like a poster child for the unwitting:  

The first of which has been his abnormal good fortune.   Vettel has enjoyed not just run of the mill good luck, but instead the sort of fortune the universe does not dole out very often, nor indefinitely.   Vettel is riding a wave that is eventually going to have a fairly hard, rapid crash.

The second demon is Seb's ego.    All of this good fortune has gone to his head.   From my vantage point he does not quite see reality.    Granted, we all can have difficulty seeing our paths objectively, and among us F1 drivers generally tend to be a bit more ego-centric.  Unfortunately, a heady, over inflated self image can betray one's focus and determination, and if Seb can't keep his in check he may soon realize his own zenith to be fleeting.

A fair perspective would recognize that Vettel drove great in Abu Dhabi, but his ascent to the podium was primarily the result of an unusually large number of reasonable foes falling victim to retirement or repair.   (It is also no secret that Vettel enjoys a slight advantage also having two Toro Rosso's who will always jump out of his way).

A fair perspective would acknowledge that he was incredibly lucky to have not retired at Interlagos from the first lap accident of his own making.     Yes, I'm sure there is debate over "own making;" I'd be happy to engage that topic in follow up comments.

In both instances, Seb did well to recover . . . but strictly speaking his performance level has been over blown to mythical proportions.    Let's not forget that his Interlagos recovery included those same Toro Rosso's and a parting gift from Michael Schumacher, who apparently must not have been anticipating a post retirement career at Ferrari.

Am I unfair?     Hardly.   Vettel is a rare talent.   Is he head and shoulders above Alonso, Räikkönen, Hamilton?    No.   Did he earn the 2012 Driver's Title?    Yes.   He is a deserved World Champion.    Did he merit that title above all others?   No, but championships often go that way.  

He is the 2012 World Driving Champion, the youngest three time champion ever, and I congratulate him for his historical achievement.

5)  Nico Hulkenberg

The strongest statement I can make about Nico Hulkenberg is Paul di Resta.    A formidable talent, di Resta looked the stronger of the Force India pair over the early part of the year, but much like Vettel, Hulkenberg sprung to life gaining a career best 4th place at Spa followed by a good run of points finishes in the post European fly away season.   He won the BBC "Overtake of the Year" award for his move past Grosjean & Hamilton in Korea.    His charge to the lead in the wet Brazil conditions was spectacular, albeit cut short by clashing with Hamilton into the Senna "S."

Hulkenberg eclipsed di Resta (originally rumored as headed to McLaren) in silly season prognostication.   As Perez emerged as Hamilton's McLaren successor, many suggested that they should have instead chosen Hulkenberg instead.     Ironic indeed, as it was as if Paul di Resta had never been in the frame for the seat.

Hulkenberg jumps to Sauber for 2013, and I expect him to do quite well.

6)  Jenson Button

Jenson had an up and down year, and lands sixth on my list primarily due to that inconsistency.    He had a number of magnificent drives, the sort many have to come to expect given his highly disciplined race craft.    Button usually excels in changeable conditions, therefore his dominance in a very dry, very clear Belgian Grand Prix was surprising.    So strong was Jenson at Spa that I'm not certain, had Hamilton and Alonso survived the first corner, that they could have caught him on that day.

Jenson now clearly leads McLaren into 2013.    I believe that his maturity, race craft, and calm demeanor will serve McLaren well . . . but all of these will be pale if Jenson can not find consistent pace at the front.    He's got a huge challenge ahead, but may also have the best car on the grid.

We've seen what can happen when Jenson has such a car.

7)  Sergio Perez    

Sergio had moments of brilliance.    Malaysia was in fact one of those classic F1 "arrival" moments, where a driver graduates into the realm of potential greatness.     Sergio also performed exceedingly well taking 2nd (and potentially the title) from Alonso at Monza, earning Niki Lauda's admiration in the process.

Unfortunately, Perez then struggled following his strong showing in Italy and the announcement of his move to McLaren.   Races such as Brazil (unfortunate victim) Abu Dhabi (unfortunate perpetrator) are best forgotten.     His final point for 2012 and for Sauber came with a less than impressive 10th place in Singapore.     Singapore?    In hindsight, that is almost unbelievable.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see how Sergio goes at McLaren.    I believe the potential for greatness in Perez remains strong, but the realization will be dependent upon his stock of this year's lessons.     He appears to be a master at preserving his tires . . . and if he can tie all the loose ends together around that rare skill, he could grow to become unbeatable with the right team.  

8)  Nico Rosberg

At the moment Nico captured his first F1 victory in Shanghai, it appeared that Mercedes had indeed come into 2012 a contender.    Unfortunately, that contention seemed to evaporate almost immediately afterwards.

Nico remains a difficult talent to judge, however I believe that his slight edge over Schumacher during their three years as teammates is significant.      I strongly suspect that Hamilton has a surprise waiting at Mercedes; he will find Nico a hard teammate to beat.

Mercedes as a team are equally difficult to pin down.   They more closely resemble their former iteration as Honda than the singular success of 2009 under the title winning moniker of Brawn GP.

One can only imagine what factors contribute to this, but until Nico Rosberg lands within a truly competitive environment, I'm not sure we'll know much more about his true potential either.

9)   Felipe Massa

Felipe gets major kudos for his startling, sensational return to form.      For a driver whose career looked finished . . . seriously beyond hope . . . the manner in which Massa finally recovered to discover faster pace than his title contending teammate begs recognition.

Massa's driving in the opening laps at Interlagos was outstanding.    The manner in which he and Alonso worked off each other against Webber was something to behold.    

Ferrari have stuck by Felipe over difficult times.   Accordingly, he has played the team role in return.     It will be very interesting to see how 2013 plays out within the Scuderia if he continues to improve.

10)   Mark Webber  

Webber looked stronger than ever, and arguably worse than ever, all in one season.

On all counts he should place higher on my list than 10th, but the pitfalls of 2012 were so drastic he almost did not make the list at all.

His victories at Silverstone and Monaco were well deserved.     He took advantage of Alonso's tire woes to mount victory charge worthy of the year end highlight reel.     He capitalized on Michael Schumacher's grid penalty to turn an inherited pole position grid slot into an almost uncontested victory.
Unfortunately, Singapore and Abu Dhabi contrast sharply, and his drive in Abu Dhabi might qualify as the one of the worst by any driver all year long.

He had a fair number of characteristically bad starts . . . I've often suggested that he needs to quit focusing on his post retirement broadcast career, but if Mark didn't talk to Brundle, Buxton, or Coulthard, I'm not sure who would.

Webber is one of the good guys, a real benefit to the sport, and I'm hoping that he ultimately enjoys the success he deserves.    Conversely, I'm cynical enough to know that won't happen at Red Bull.


 Elsewhere along the grid . . .

Pastor Maldonado scored an impressive first victory in Spain, but I found his overall performance in what looked to be a fairly competitive Williams disappointing.  

Paul di Resta struggled, although I would imagine his results don't properly reflect his resolve . . .

Kobayashi had moments . . . he drove very well under pressure to hold off a quickly closing Button at Suzuka to take his very first podium in his home race . . . a real highlight of the season.  

Grosjean showed remarkable pace and had he kept things a bit more tidy (understatement), I would've have acknowledged that potential above.

Schumacher set the fastest quail time for Monaco and scored the only podium result of his return in Valencia, but was never really in contention, and not really a candidate for top ten consideration.    More thoughts here.

Finally, there are some drivers I just don't have a strong enough grasp for when compiling such summaries . . . Ricciardo, Kovalainen, Glock, Petrov.

With this 20 race season wrapping so late into the year, 2013 is just around the corner.    I suspect that things will not change remarkably over the coming 12 months.  

McLaren will probably have, generally speaking, the fastest car but will need to address their reliability issues.    Red Bull will remain without doubt the strongest team on the grid.    Ferrari will probably continue to struggle with tires.    Lotus?   Williams?   Sauber?  

2013 will bring Bottas (Williams), Gutierrez(Sauber), and potentially other new faces.   Sadly we may lose Kobayashi and Kovalainen.    Petrov's future is also far from certain.     HRT is gone and perhaps, too, are de la Rosa and Kartikeyan.     I'm concerned that the pay driver syndrome is taking a firmer grip on the sport.

The tables won't truly be turned upside down until the rules changes of 2014, which will introduce new, V-6 Turbo power plants.       

How Seb got lucky in Abu Dhabi

Sebastian Vettel’s comeback drive in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was superb. Starting from the pit lane after his disqualification in qualifying, he produced arguably the drive of his career to come from last all the way to third place.

Vettel drove brilliantly on Sunday, and fully deserved to finish on the podium, of that there is no doubt. But he did benefit from a huge amount of good fortune without which he would not have been able to reach the podium.

Let’s go back to Saturday night to see where Vettel got the breaks that allowed him to gain 21 places on race day.

Car Changes

Having been put to the back of the grid for not having enough fuel left in the tank after qualifying, Red Bull took Vettel’s car out of parc ferme and modified it extensively. The gear ratios were changed and the amount of downforce on his car was reduced, giving him a higher top speed and giving him a greater opportunity to overtake in the race.

In addition Vettel’s engine was changed and he was able to start the race with a fresh set of hard tyres, which gave him a much better set-up in race trim than he would otherwise have enjoyed.

First Lap Incidents

There were two notable incidents from which Vettel gained at the start. The first was the turn one collision between the Force Indias and Bruno Senna, and the second at turn nine when Nico Rosberg ran into Romain Grosjean, leaving them both needing to pit for repairs.

This removed four cars which Vettel would otherwise have had to pass on the track, cars which would not have been easy to pass once the field had sorted itself out, and left Senna within easy reach of the Red Bull. This made his progress into a points paying position significantly easier.

These incidents benefitted Vettel to such an extent that by the end of the second lap the only cars separating him from the points were the Caterhams, Marussias, Toro Rossos and Michael Schumacher, all of whom (with the possible exception of Schumacher) the Red Bull would be expected to pass easily.

Collision with Ricciardo and subsequent pit stop

When Vettel was caught out by Daniel Ricciardo’s Toro Rosso behind the safety car and hit a marker board, forcing him to change his front ring, it looked as though he could’ve been facing disaster.

However, the chance to pit behind the safety car gave him the opportunity to change his nose, which was already damaged after a small collision with Bruno Senna on the second lap, and also allowed him to change to a set of soft tyres which increased his pace dramatically.

It meant that once the race resumed Vettel was right behind the cars he had already passed with ease at the start, and this time with much better tyres than the first time around, which meant it was easier for him to progress through the field at the second time of asking.

The Grosjean Factor

This was something not picked up by a lot of people, but in the laps before Vettel made his pit stop Romain Grosjean was running fifth and holding up a train of much faster cars which included Pastor Maldonado, Sergio Perez, Mark Webber and Felipe Massa.

Grosjean was lapping more than a second slower than Vettel before the Red Bull pitted, which allowed him to build up enough of a gap that he was able to rejoin in fourth after his pit stop, a position which may not have been possible had Grosjean not been holding up the pack behind.

Second Safety Car

Vettel made his second pit stop just two laps before the safety car was deployed for a second time for an accident between Sergio Perez, Romain Grosjean and Mark Webber. Not only did Red Bull time his stop perfectly in that it prevented him losing out dramatically by having to pit again under safety car conditions, but it also wiped out the 14 second deficit to Jenson Button which meant any work Vettel had to do to catch the McLaren was effectively done for him by the race being neutralised.

Whilst it is possible that Vettel could still have caught Button, and his pace at the end of the race once he had passed the Englishman suggested that he may have been able to catch him before the race, the safety car gave him the perfect opportunity to pass Button for the podium, and it was something he took full advantage of.

There is no doubt that Vettel drove superbly in the race, there is no disputing that. When he had to pass cars he did it quickly and efficiently, he put in some stunning laps before his second pit stop that allowed him to move into fourth and he took full advantage of the breaks he got to get himself a podium finish that few predicted he would be able to achieve before the race.

However, in a normal race, without the collisions, and without the safety cars, would he have had as much luck as he did and would he have progressed as far up the field as he did? The answer is probably not. He’d have scored a few points, but it would’ve taken a superhuman effort for him to get much further than the lower reaches of the top ten.

But that will not concern Vettel, whose drive was undoubtedly the performance of the race and whose podium ensures that he goes to Austin in two weeks time with a 10 point lead over Fernando Alonso in the drivers' championship.

Stephen D’Albiac

The Right Move?

There are a number of reports coming out of Italy suggesting that world champion Sebastian Vettel has signed a contract to drive for Ferrari starting in 2014, where he will race alongside Fernando Alonso.

Vettel, who is currently leading the drivers’ standings and is looking good to wrap up a third successive world title, has been backed by Red Bull for pretty much his entire single-seater career, and apart from one race with BMW Sauber in 2007 where he stood in for an injured Robert Kubica, has spent his whole time in Formula One with one of the two Red Bull outfits.

Since joining Red Bull Racing in 2009, Vettel has won 24 out of 71 races, taken 33 out of 71 poles and won two world championships. That is significantly higher than the amount of both wins and poles that Ferrari (with 10 wins, 4 poles and no title wins) have taken in the same period. In addition, Vettel is all but officially the number one driver at Red Bull.

So it would seem strange that he would leave the Milton Keynes-based team to join the Scuderia and race alongside Alonso who is, and still will be in two years time, the undisputed favourite in Maranello.

It’s also worth considering that 2014 will see huge changes to the regulations in Formula One. Whilst the biggest change involves the introduction of new engines to the sport and could well favour Ferrari over Red Bull, there will also be rule changes which focus on both front and rear wings and a potential introduction of some form of cockpit protection, which leaves plenty of room for the designers to get to work.

There is little dispute that the best designer in Formula One is Adrian Newey. That’s Adrian Newey of Red Bull. No matter what possible advantage the new engines could give to Ferrari, with Adrian Newey Red Bull will always have a car that will challenge and will most likely master the aerodynamic changes as well as anyone. So, if you’re Sebastian Vettel, why leave Red Bull to go to Ferrari just when F1 will go through a major change in regulations?

You could argue that Vettel wants to test himself against Alonso, widely regarded to be the most complete driver of his generation, and the only way of doing that is to go up against him in the same team. It could also be argued that Vettel still feels he has something to prove. Since being in Formula One, the German has always either had inferior team-mates (such as Vitantonio Liuzzi and Sebastien Bourdais) or the best car. By going to Ferrari, where he will not be given preferential treatment, will be up against someone equally as good as him and where there is no guarantee he will be driving a dominant car, Vettel has the opportunity to prove himself to be indisputably the best driver in the world.

In many ways it is to be admired that Vettel wants to go up against a team-mate as strong as Fernando Alonso. It is something that Michael Schumacher never did in his first career, and something that Ayrton Senna never even contemplated (infact he vetoed the arrival of Derek Warwick in his Lotus days on the grounds that he was too much of a threat to him). It is a risk that Vettel has shown he is willing to take and one that takes a huge amount of courage.

Seb could easily have waited at Red Bull until the end of 2016 (when Alonso’s Ferrari contract expires and at what will be 35 it is perfectly feasible for the Spaniard will decide to call it a day at that point) to try and get his foot in at Maranello, and no-one would’ve batted an eyelid. As a team that likes a big name driver Vettel would’ve been an obvious choice to succeed Alonso at the team. He could’ve gone to a team like Lotus as a stop gap and waited until Alonso’s seat came available. But he hasn’t, and for that he deserves huge credit.

Vettel’s move could go one of two ways. On the one hand, if he goes up against Alonso and gets the better of him, his reputation will be enhanced and he will go down in the sport’s history as one of the true greats. On the other hand, if Alonso beats him, and beats him soundly, then he runs the risk of having his reputation discredited and his achievements merely put down to having the best car.

Is it the right move? Only time will tell.

A clear picture . . .

The clock is spinning way too fast.   F1 2012 has now truly entered the home stretch and although much remains to be decided, I can't help but wonder where the latter part of the European season went, even when it evaporated right before my eyes.

I also can't help but ponder 2012's new found schizo personality . .  we've lost the crap shoot of the first seven or eight rounds to find ourselves back where we started:   Red Bull, McLaren, wondering if Ferrari can rise in answer.    Clearly everyone has finally figured out Pirelli's tricks and have returned to the annual ritual of out tweaking each other to Brazil.

Spa proved to not be much of a race this year.      Sure, I was excited to be there . . . no complaints, how can there be? . . . but even without the first corner calamity I doubt anyone had anything for McLaren.    Sans Hamilton's departure, we probably would have seen a McLaren 1-2 finish.  Thankfully everyone emerged from the first corner with all of their "attachments" in tact, living to fight another day.

I'd high hopes for Kimi as he always drives so well in Belgium, but he simply did not have the car for the job.    The Lotus-Renault has no doubt proven competitive and did initially look strong . . . but Saturday was odd and it was as if the other teams, between a single FP3 session and quali, found a pace that they could not.     Although Räikkönen survived the first corner melee, Button simply drove away from him in the race.

Given Kimi's command of the circuit, that was really saying something.  

Alonso could've wound up on the podium, and perhaps even mounted a challenge to Button, but my instincts counter that the McLaren pace could not have been matched.  

This was not the case in Monza where for all intents Fernando should have won from pole.      He was clearly quickest in FP3, Q1, and Q2.     Then came Q3.   Many suggest that the broken rear sway bar was merely a cover story . . . perhaps so . . . but from my vantage at the Prima Variante, the cause was not as clear as the immediacy in which that pole was lost.      The Ferrari struggled through the left hand exit of the chicane onto the opposite curbing.     The resulting lack of launch into the Curva Grande spelled disaster, and I wonder whether Fernando immediately backed off, knowing his day was done.

Alonso recovered on Sunday, driving a magnificent race to claim what initially looked to be a 2nd place finish.     That was until Sergio Perez served up another stunning example of how to preserve one's tires to their fullest advantage and stole the 2nd step from Fernando in what Niki Lauda later described as the drive of the race.  

Fernando still managed to leave Monza increasing his lead in the driver's title, but Singapore has since rendered that buffer merely a brief respite from his competitors who are getting quicker.

So despite all of Alonso's tenacity, despite his busting Ferrari's collective tails to haul the F2012 from obscurity, his real work begins now.  

There isn't a circuit remaining on the calendar where Alonso and Ferrari can rest.   Suzuka will prove favorable to Red Bull and McLaren, and they will be more likely suited to the heavy dose of Tilke circuits which carry us to Interlagos.

I've heard that provided Alonso can stay on the podium he'll preserve his lead and take the title, but my math does not support that theory.     Ferrari are faced with a battle they know all too well . . . a car that does not maximize tire performance.     It will be upon Ferrari's ability to respond where Alonso's much deserved third driving title will hinge.

Alonso's driven beyond the F2012 all season.  He's already merited the title in a fashion few world champions before him have.   However, his skill alone probably can't answer the rising challenge ahead.

Valencia!

Such is life, but 2012 is flashing by while throwing up challenges of greater complexity and frequency than I'm used to.      Therefore, it is somewhat a shame that I'm not free to sit back in further dissect this amazing F1 season.

This season has already produced more uncertain outcomes than the prior five or six seasons combined.     If I had more time, I'd do some serious research to back up that assessment.

The European Grand Prix at Valencia was no exception.  

Valencia looks a blast to drive . . . especially the practically flat out blind weaving back to the start/finish straight . . . but until yesterday the venue had never offered much in terms of racing.   Last year's GP was probably the most boring in recent memory.

Therefore it was very much a surprise on Sunday to be treated to the stuff from which F1 legends are drawn, and Fernando Alonso's sensational drive from 11th to an emotional victory in front of his native Spanish fans will be replayed on highlight reels for years to come.   

It's hard for me to ignore the potentially symbolic nature of the Valencia podium:     Alonso, overcome with emotion, standing between Ferrari's two most recent world champions.    This crazy season is a long way from becoming subject to internet trending but if I were a betting man I might put a small fortune on this moment.

Alonso won from midfield on this circuit aforementioned for guaranteeing lackluster racing.     He came into 2012 with a dog of a car that would confound most drivers, and has demonstrated remarkable tenacity driving beyond the car's capability and respect for his team in patiently, diligently working for improvement.      Sunday Alonso and Ferrari were rewarded.   

I found Alonso parking his somewhat revitalized F2012 in front of the grandstand and unrolling his newly gifted Spanish flag reminiscent of Senna's celebrations at Interlagos.

What makes this year's European Grand Prix so exceptional, however, is that Alonso's drive was not the only noteworthy performance on display.

Alonso benefitted from a couple of key retirements, most notably Sebastian Vettel, who in typically ho-hum fashion sped away from the front.   Whatever I personally feel for the marketing entity he drives for, I have to hand it to Vettel for remaining a driver not to be discounted.    

Romain Grosjean was also sensational, and had his Lotus Renault electrical system not packed up he might have ultimately robbed victory from Alonso.     Grosjean's path into F1 has been rocky, but his speed and fight are very real.     Despite that his 2012 has so far proven a collection of peaks and valleys, he's holding his own against Kimi Raikkonen.    If he can continue to mature and avoid some of the mistakes which have cost him, he may very well finish ahead of Kimi in the final tally.

Raikkonen put in another solid drive to 2nd.    Kimi capitalized on good fortune when Hamilton's tires went off in the closing stages, but after what happened in China that pendulum was due to swing his way.     I still find Kimi perplexing.    His flashes of brilliance are often segued by moments where it appears some young lady in the grandstands might have caught his attention.      That said, he's an amazing talent, a great benefit to the sport, and I fully expect him to provide quite a show over the remainder of the year.

It was great to see Michael Schumacher back on the podium.     Two and one half seasons following his 2010 return?     I doubt most of us thought it would take that long.      It was fantastic.   I'm hoping he finds his way one or two steps up before year's end.

Finally, a word about Hamilton.    I really have to feel for the guy.      He has been thwarted by his own crew at some point in practically every GP this year.      I'm not anti-McLaren, but when it comes to how passionately and fervently many McLaren fans lash out at Ferrari, I can only laugh at their calamitous pit stops.  

I lost respect for Hamilton several years ago because he'd spend more time on the radio yelling at his team than driving the car.     The irony is that if he were doing that now I'd probably back him up!    LOL

Regarding his clash with Maldonado, I laugh at claims that Hamilton was an innocent victim of an overly aggressive overtaking attempt.     Hamilton was not t-boned.    Much to the contrary, he drove over Maldonado's wheel as result of an ill conceived attempt to squeeze Pastor and protect his position.     The accident was a racing incident, nothing more, with both drivers carrying equal blame.

All in all an absolutely fantastic European Grand Prix . . . and we've much to look forward to as the circus now moves to the core of the European season and some of the fastest, most fabled circuits on the calendar.

  

where has the time gone?

I can't believe that F1 2011 is history.   I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, despite Sebastian Vettel's dominance from moment the lights dropped in Melbourne.

I managed to post my first Top Ten list last year.     I found this season much harder to qualify.    Don't hesitate to comment with your own thoughts if they differ.  

Here's Vol. 2:

1)  Sebastian Vettel    

I hold no contempt toward this adolescent world conqueror even though I very much enjoyed his early departure in Abu Dhabi!  

Ok, fair enough, he's no longer an adolescent.

He is, however, a rare talent.   With the exception of Montreal, I'm having trouble recalling a single mistake that Seb made all season long.    I must acknowledge that consistency.    Seb has obviously demonstrated an uncanny knack for finding the quickest, grippiest line.

2)   Fernando Alonso

I feel like an idiot putting a number 2 in front of Fernando Alonso's name.     Let's start this again.


1)  SEBASTIAN VETTEL & FERNANDO ALONSO

If Alonso is one thing, he is that supreme pilot who can raise his game above it's already lofty perch when the occasion demands.   He is also one of very few drivers who can drive a car to race finish well beyond it's mechanical and aero threshold.  

Fernando is the best driver in the world.     Despite Seb's innate skill, I believe Alonso would beat him in equal machinery.

Several moments come to mind.    His starts in Barcelona and Monza.    His tenacity in England and Abu Dhabi.

2)  JENSON BUTTON

Button may not be the most exciting guy to watch at times but his race craft is becoming legendary.    Very much his own man . . . he gets my vote as the sportsman on the 2011 grid.
 
Stepping into McLaren Jenson has silenced his skeptics and dominated his teammate, never once displaying the slightest insecurity.     He's driving better now than when he won the title with Brawn, and I suspect he will continue to grow stronger.

I feel very fortunate to have witnessed his amazing drive in Montreal first hand.

3)  NICO ROSBERG

I find it interesting to compare Nico with his father.     I sometimes feel that he is actually a more naturally gifted driver, but wonder whether he lacks Keke's fighting instinct.     Keke Rosberg clawed his successes in F1 from drivers such as Senna, Lauda, Prost, Piquet, Mansell.

To the contrary, Nico appears to qualify ahead of Schumacher with apparent ease.    Those qualifying results aren't necessarily translating into race pace, and although I feel both he and Schumi are currently handicapped against Red Bull, McLaren, and Ferrari, the question remains:   Is Nico too nice a guy for F1?

I greatly respect Nico for his skill and maturity, but he resides at this level on my list by default.

4)  MICHAEL SCHUMACHER

Schumi had an inconsistent season, but managed to give us a few glimpses of his old self.     I personally found several of his better drives to borderline on sublime . . . granted all sub podium results, they were beyond the reach of lessor drivers.

I can't add too much other than to express my hope that AMG Mercedes will give him a more competitive car in 2012.     His 20 years in F1 have been a gift, and I will certainly break down to pathetic heap if he finds his way back to the top step.

5)  MARK WEBBER

Geez this was a tough call.      

I've joked that Mark Webber has spent too much pre-race time prepping for his post retirement broadcast career, but the serious truth is that he had a rough year.  

Mark has never been the most consistent driver on the grid . . . I've found him prone to brain fade over the years.    However this season he seemed to develop a strange habit of making those mistakes only at the start then recovering with controlled, solid drives to obtain reasonable results.

It's a mixed bag.    His incredibly brave pass on Alonso into Eau Rouge was a season highlight.    However, the late race recoveries contrast the manner in which he was so dominated by his teammate.    

6)  LEWIS HAMILTON

Another very tough call.     A solid argument can be made as to why Hamilton was not one of 2011's top ten drivers, and I came very close to expressing that belief.

That said, I don't want to belabor the ridiculous infantile moments of 2011.     Let's just say that within his wretched year I found a couple of noteworthy performances.  

I will be very interested to see how 2012 shapes up.

7)   SERGIO PEREZ

Perez demonstrated to me that he is controlled, relaxed, smooth, and exceptionally quick.    He's demonstrated that he can take care of his tires.     The on-board moments prior his crash in Monaco were something to behold.

I'm convinced that he is a force to be reckoned with in the coming years . . .

8)   PAUL DI RESTA

I don't have quite the same handle on di Resta's talent . . . I'm lacking thorough insight into why I find him impressive.     He did not finish the year as well as he started, but again I don't fully understand the reasons that he fell behind his teammate.

Despite my need to study this topic further, I've no doubt that di Resta has merited this spot in my top 10.

9)  KAMUI KOBAYASHI

Selecting a driver for this spot was a toss up.

When I ranked Kobayashi 9th on my list last year, I wondered if he'd garner similar notice in years to come.      

Kamui had a formidable teammate this time around and pretty much held his own.    It's fair to say that given the equipment, he probably could not have risen above mid-field, but I'm again curious as to how I'll rate him next year.

I hope to see more growth, less I fear he risks his potential becoming diluted to just another fixture on the grid.


Other drivers of note . . .

Nick Heidfeld.     I'm afraid we may have seen the last of quick Nick in F1.     It's sadly too easy to forget his amazing start and podium in Malaysia.      Had he survived the year I probably would have rated him, but that did not happen.

Adrian Sutil.     I've never fully understood Sutil's potential.    He started to impress me in the final races, but I'm wondering if this was coincidental or due to the threat of losing his job?    

Rubens Barrichello.     I'm sure Rubens deserves more credit but despite his experience he appears incapable of lifting Williams from disarray.    

Felipe Massa.     In all fairness, Felipe spent the year proving that it does in fact take two to tango.    He may have been the victim more often than Hamilton, but he made enough bad judgment calls to prevent my rating him for 2011.    I saw fleeting glimpses of the Massa I knew pre-Hungary 2009, but it would be a stretch to describe this as a year of growth.     I'm fairly certain 2012 will be his last season with the Scuderia.

Thoughts?

Forza Fernando

Fernando Alonso's performance in yesterday's Italian Grand Prix was epic, and his stunning move past Hamilton and Vettel to take the lead into the Prima Variante will stand time as one of his finest moments in F1.    He almost always starts well, but following a remarkably similar jaw dropping performance earlier this season at Catalunya, Alonso's place among the all-time greats must now be firmly cemented.  

Through sheer force of will and extraordinarily disciplined car control, Fernando managed to gift the Scuderia and the Monza Tifosi a podium finish that almost certainly was not on offer.    

The F150 in Massa's greatly improved hands has proven a midfield runner at best.    Given the strength of Red Bull and McLaren, it is mind boggling to consider that the European season has closed with Alonso lying 2nd in the championship.    Given Ferrari's endless struggle with tire temperature and compounds, it is hard to grasp how Alonso has managed to keep up with everyone else chasing Vettel.

Fernando was certainly aided in his quest by Michael Schumacher, who served a significant part of the GP as yet another thorn in Lewis Hamilton's wayward season.      I have to feel for Lewis, as though I much enjoyed Schumacher's drive among the front runners, Hamilton was probably robbed the opportunity to close on Alonso and eventually assume his spot on the podium.     I don't subscribe to the suggestion that Schumacher was driving dangerously, only that he pushed boundaries as he always has.

I did find it curious, however, at how effortlessly Button managed his way past Schumi when Lewis continually found himself blocked.

Finally, Liuzzi had no one to blame but himself for the season's best display of a F1 car posing as a bowling ball.       Having sat right at that spot in 2006 and 2010, I can't imagine what it must've been to witness first hand that errant HRT skittering across the grass!

All in all, another fantastic race in what has been a season full of memorable Grand Prix moments!

Fantastic Budapest

It would be hard to imagine any F1 fan not being captivated with envy witnessing Lewis Hamilton's attack on Sebastian Vettel in the opening stages of the Hungarian Grand Prix.    Sliding all over the slick, greasy asphalt, Hamilton provided a display of wheel to wheel combat as it has always been idealized in F1.

Unfortunately for Lewis, his efforts were ultimately derailed by a combination of poor tire strategy and impatience.     The Hungaroring is an exceptionally tight circuit.    With the race in his pocket, Hamilton spun the car around.   The time and place of his mistake and "uh oh" recovery maneuver brought another dance with the FIA stewards and thus a costly drive through.  

The truth is that the drive through did not cost him the race, the tire strategy did.  However, the aggressive manner in which Hamilton dumped the clutch to spin his McLaren around 180 degrees did not aid that cause nearly as much as one deep breath might have allowing oncoming traffic to pass.    

Once again, we've another contrasting example of Hamilton's skill and bravado losing out to patience, maturity, and race craft.

Given the manner in which Lewis opened the proceedings, it is easy to understand why so many F1 fans love him.    To his credit, he handled this disappointing result with a braver face than we've seen lately.   Hopefully this is a sign that he is in fact growing.  

Speaking of race craft, Jenson Button, as he has done so often of late, bided his time.   He chose his tires carefully, and then took care of them to maximize the investment.     I believe there is an expression that suggests when one is truly good at something, they refine it down to nothing.    Is it unfair to suggest that Jenson has done just that?     Maybe.

Button did in fact have a couple of spirited dices with his teammate.   It would be inaccurate to simplify his tactics as passively waiting for the folly of those ahead.     Jenson may not provide the same show as Hamilton, but there is no debating his results.     I don't know that he's the most underrated driver on the grid, but he is surely the most underrated world champion in recent memory.

On the other hand, Fernando Alonso wound up with a very important podium finish because of his tenacity.     Perhaps Ferrari will one day build a single seater that does not drive like it is on ice, but Alonso continues to overcome a twitchy, errant race car with old fashioned work ethic.  

Although the F150th Italia did eventually manage to get away from him, he had set a quick enough pace to cushion the fall and rejoin the race in calm, controlled fashion.

Another great race . . .

British Grand Prix

When I think about all of the colorful and many times laughable characters who have populated the F1 paddock since the mid-70's, I doubt those new to the sport are being treated to the same level of entertainment that the crustier among us may have become accustomed.

As Bernie transformed F1 from a gentleman's pursuit to big business, we should have expected to see teams run by marketing companies and masters of business administration.  Heck it happened to the movie business, why not F1?  

Thus the Silverstone squabble between Christian Horner and Martin Whitmarsh was hardly the most exciting thing we've seen, and regardless of blame being simultaneously directed toward Red Bull, the FIA, and Ferrari(!), I found the entire debacle a snoozer.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure both are great gentlemen.    Horner brings many years in motor sport from his days as a driver, and Whitmarsh is a highly educated engineer.    Unlike this blogger, they are true insiders with many years dedicated to motor sport as a profession.

Unfortunately Horner is also charged as the mouth piece and primary corporate communications entity for a team that exists as result of a massive brand marketing strategy.   Red Bull is nothing if it is not a marketing enterprise, and probably one of the more ingenious at that.  

As so eloquently described here, service to such corporate interests requires one being able to speak fluently out of both sides of their mouth.    Christian Horner has perfected that art, and Mark Webber truly deserves better.

Fernando Alonso once again demonstrated why he is largely regarded as the best driver on the grid.     His performance was measured, controlled, and as one might have overheard at Silverstone, brilliant.

He bided his time, turning on the after burners when it counted.     Considering the diverse skill set that a driver must draw upon to be successful in F1, Alonso continues to demonstrate that his is the complete package.

Overall, the race served up plenty of great moments.     The pendulum swung around between Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren until everything started to go awry for the home team.     I really had to feel for the McLaren faithful who must have been "gutted" after being so close to witnessing a victory on home soil.  

Aside from Valencia and despite Vettel's almost insurmountable grasp on the championship, 2011 has been another great season.     It's hard to believe that we are scarcely half way through the calendar.

My guess it that it's going to be a fantastic run from here to Interlagos.





 

Misc thoughts on Monaco

Monaco

As usual, I'm very much looking forward to Monaco.    I'm glad world titles aren't ultimately decided there, but the F1 mecca certainly encompasses everything that is F1: the glamour of the Mediterranean,  cars sliding around impossibly tight corners, and dozens of internet posts about  . . . you guessed it . . . a general lack of overtaking.

When I think back over the memorable moments Monaco has provided  . . . Niki Lauda's remarkable recovery from a puncture to finish 2nd in an era when a single pit stop virtually assured one's doom . . . the nose to gearbox fight between Senna and Mansell for victory in the closing laps of '92 . . . I relish the potential these insanely tight, winding, steeply rising and falling streets have to surprise and astonish.

Perhaps then Monaco transcends annual regulation tinkering and is more about history and anticipation than the latest debate du jour.    It is a spectacle . . . one that I hope to experience very much in person one day.

Spain

Fernando Alonso's start and fight to steal the lead into turn 1 was one of the most inspired displays of raw talent I have seen in a long time.     Given Alonso's knowledge that his car could not keep pace with Red Bull and McLaren on the extremely technical Catalan circuit, I find his fighting spirit rare indeed.    There is no doubt in my mind that he is the best.    Ferrari have their man, and I can only hope that they will provide him with a capable car soon.

Barcelona certainly appeared less chaotic than the prior two Grands Prix.    I'm guessing that this is because Pirelli served up a more stable compound?    Thoughts?  

Where O' where has Kimi Raikkonen gone?

I watched my very first NASCAR Truck race . . . well let's be honest, I fast forwarded through it.    That just about sums up anything that I have to offer on the topic.

Cheers

Observations, Round 2

Perhaps it's the high definition, but I previously did not realize there was quite the degree of elevation change on the very fast left right sweeper leading up to the back straight.     IMHO, Sepang is a great circuit.    It offers at least four, arguably five turns great for overtaking not to mention two long straights excellent for exploiting tow.

Pretty good race.    I could not help but notice (perhaps due to DRS) that there was so much overtaking that it all started to look a bit easy . . . a personal fear previously noted.

Great to see Heidfeld fight so hard to live up to my early praise (LOL).    Poor Petrov.    His race looked more like the Vitaly of latter 2010.    I like Petrov.    It's clear to me that he's a good guy.    Unfortunately, he appears prone to brain fade in the mold of the Monza Gorilla, Vittorio Brambilla.    I had to laugh at Brundle's bemusement when Petrov kept his foot in it returning from his off course excursion late in the race.    

Fortunately, Petrov was not injured but it reminded me of a cynical moment in the "Road Warrior" when he found himself holding a completely useless steering wheel.

Kubica.    The Lotus Renault is strong . . . and for all we know he might be leading the championship now.     Let's hope he continues to recover and returns sooner rather than later.

Not up on the details regarding the penalties handed down to Hamilton and Alonso, but off the cuff my take on this embarrassingly awful moment was that it was purely a racing incident . . . the FIA should not penalize racing.  

I've watched the on board several times and don't see any wrong doing on Hamilton's behalf.    I simply think Alonso got caught out by underestimating his closing speed on the McLaren.     On close inspection it is surprising how slow Hamilton appears in contrast to the Ferrari.  

In the end it was a great shame as Alonso put forth an otherwise noble fight to make the podium.     As my friends across the pond might say, "its early days," but I'm hoping Ferrari can pull it together sooner rather than later.  

There was great analysis on the BBC from Coulthard, who demonstrated via recorded engine note Hamilton's ability to take one of the super quick left right sweepers flat where Alonso was clearly lifting.     My impression is that Ferrari historically struggle with grip, and much as in recent years past, the optimum setup for the 150 remains elusive.

Finally, I have to feel for Mark Webber.     I hope his fortunes take a turn for the better soon.