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AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

By ALAN BALDWIN
Published on Saturday 21 April 2012 00:00

NICO Rosberg followed up his first Formula 1 win with Mercedes with the fastest lap in practice for a Bahrain Grand Prix overshadowed by petrol bombs and protests elsewhere in the Gulf kingdom

The German, who took the first victory by a Mercedes works team since 1955 at last weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, lapped the desert Sakhir circuit in one minute 32.816 seconds in the afternoon session.

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton set the pace in the morning, when Formula 1 cars took to the reconfigured track for the first time in more than two years after last year’s race was cancelled following a bloody crackdown on an anti-government uprising.

Human rights activists and pro-democracy protesters have called on the glamour sport to cancel the event again this year.

“That was a good start to the weekend,” said Rosberg, a winner after 110 unsuccessful attempts, while casting doubt on how meaningful the times were. “The most important thing still is to improve our race pace.

“The conditions are really tough out there so the race will be quite demanding from the tyre perspective,” added the German, who was fourth before lunch.

Australian Mark Webber was second fastest for Red Bull in the same session, ahead of team mate and double world champion Sebastian Vettel.

The two drivers used different exhaust configurations in China, with Vettel reverting to one used in pre-season testing after finding an update not to his liking. “Regarding set-up, I think we got the answers in China that we were looking for and that’s helped us here,” said the 24-year-old German, who was second on the morning timesheets.

“I think others are the favourites this weekend but we are focusing on ourselves and pushing hard.”

With tight security beyond the metal fences of the paddock, and few spectators in the stands, drivers got down to business on a circuit whose layout has been shortened since 2010 when fans witnessed a boring race with little overtaking.

Hamilton, the 2008 champion who is leading the standings after three successive third places, said looking after the tyres was going to be the big challenge in the blazing conditions.

“The temperatures keep on rising until it feels just like driving on an ice-rink,” he said, after finishing fourth in the afternoon.

Neither Hamilton, who started the first two races on pole position, nor Vettel have won a race yet this season with three different winners in the opening rounds.

The Ferraris of Spaniard Fernando Alonso and Brazilian Felipe Massa were 13th and 15th respectively in session one and eighth and 12th in the second.

Force India’s Scottish driver Paul Di Resta was third quickest in the morning but neither he nor his German team-mate Nico Hulkenberg took part in the afternoon due to safety concerns.

The British-based team, who allowed two members to go home on Thursday after staff were caught in a petrol bomb incident as they were driving back to their hotel, clearly wanted to ensure staff were away from the track before nightfall.

“It’s not necessarily a ‘get home before dark’ [situation],” said deputy principal Bob Fernley. “We’ve had issues, as you all know, with things and we have to make sure that the crew are comfortable in the environment and that’s what we’re working on. But the crew are totally committed to delivering qualifying and the race.”

NICO Rosberg grabbed the first pole position of his Formula One career at the 111th time of asking.

And the 26-year-old did it with ease and a set of tyres to spare at the Shanghai International Circuit ahead of today’s Chinese Grand Prix.

LEWIS HAMILTON again raised hopes of a McLaren revival by topping the timesheets at the end of first practice for Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix.

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AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Published on Thursday 19 April 2012 02:39

Jenson Button has admitted to placing his complete trust in the FIA with regard to this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

Formula 1 personnel have so far been untroubled by the myriad of protests and rallies that have taken place this week, even if there is an anti-F1 slant in some places. That was evident yesterday in the village of Al Dair where a 5,000-strong group of men, women and children staged a pro-democracy demonstration, but also voiced their opposition towards F1.

Where the sport is concerned, however, the emphasis is on safety, and it is apparent that on the roads to the Sakhir International Circuit there is an increased police presence with scores of vehicles. Whether it is enough to deter some protesters, in particular the more hardline Coalition of the Youth of the Feb 14 Revolution, remains to be seen.

Button, when asked whether he had any safety concerns this weekend, issued a firm: “No.”

He added: “I trust in the FIA that they know all the information – I don’t personally – so we have to trust in their decision. I don’t think they will ever want to put us at risk. They do a lot on safety for drivers, in terms of the circuits and the cars and what have you, and that’s a priority for them. So I believe in the FIA’s decision. If everything is straightforward and nothing happens, it’s not even going to be in the back of my mind at all.”

For all the teams and drivers it is now simply a case of getting through the weekend, placing as much emphasis as possible on the racing without getting distracted by events elsewhere in Bahrain. For Button, who has spent the last couple of days warm-weather training in Dubai after a chilly weekend in Shanghai, the heat of the Middle East is certainly welcome.

With temperatures expected to be over 30 degrees centigrade, Button added: “It’s a massive thing for us, for me especially. I don’t know why I can’t work tyres in cold conditions. It must be the way I drive. I’ve tried driving differently but it doesn’t work. Heat really helps me.”

Despite that, Button still managed to finish second in China behind maiden winner Nico Rosberg to trail McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton by two points in the drivers’ standings. His aberration aside in Malaysia, when he collided with the HRT of Narain Karthikeyan on a damp track, Button has been first and second in the other two races.

“The table makes for good reading at the moment,” said Button. “It’s not quite as good as Lewis, but we’re very close. Only two points between us. The thing we’ve got to take from the first three races, in terms of the performance of our car, is that we might not have been the quickest all the time, but we’ve been close to being the quickest and that is important.

“In our hearts we want to win every race, and that’s what we come racing for, but we have to be consistently fighting for victories.”

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Published on Saturday 21 April 2012 14:22
SEBASTIAN Vettel is back on pole position for the 31st time in his Formula One career after grabbing top spot on the grid for today’s controversial Bahrain Grand Prix.
After a record-breaking 15 poles last season, Vettel had failed to get anywhere near the front row prior to yesterday, the 24-year-old even recording a miserable 11th in China last weekend, his worst performance for 42 races. But from nowhere, Vettel and Red Bull have managed to find some speed this past week.
McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton was forced to settle for second, just 0.098seconds behind Vettel’s pole lap of one minute 32.422secs, with team-mates Mark Webber and Jenson Button on the second row in third and fourth. Bathgate’s Paul di Resta, below, made it to the third qualifying session for the first time this season and his Force India is tenth on the grid. He outperformed team-mate Niko Hulkenburg who was 13th.
Qualifying took place against a backdrop of virtually empty grandstands in light of the unrest in the Gulf state that has overshadowed this event.
Last weekend’s polesitter and race winner Nico Rosberg was only fifth in his Mercedes, followed by a superb performance by Daniel Ricciardo in sixth for Toro Rosso. Lotus’ Romain Grosjean was seventh, followed by the Sauber of Sergio Perez, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and Di Resta.
In Q2 Kimi Raikkonen was dumped out of the top ten by team-mate Grosjean. Sauber’s Kamui Kobayashi and Hulkenberg line up 12th and 13th, ahead of Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, who again failed to make Q3, while Williams’ Bruno Senna lines up 15th.
After starting second in Shanghai, Michael Schumacher will be forced to fight his way through the field from 17th. Finn Heikki Kovalainen, in his Caterham, is 16th. Williams’ Pastor Maldonado qualified 17th, but drops to 22nd due to a five-place penalty for a gearbox change. Behind Schumacher will be Toro Rosso’s Jean-Eric Vergne, Vitaly Petrov in a Caterham, Marussia’s Charles Pic and HRT’s Pedro de la Rosa.On the back row will be Timo Glock in his Marussia and Narain Karthikeyan for HRT.
Vettel said afterwards: “It’s not been an easy start to the season, but what we have done here is what we expect from ourselves.”


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Published on Wednesday 11 April 2012 14:12
THE Formula One Teams’ Association have made it clear that any decision on whether this year’s Bahrain Grand Prix goes ahead has to be taken by the FIA.
They issued a statement in response to suggestions the teams had a say in matters.
That followed remarks made yesterday by supremo Bernie Ecclestone in which he stated no-one could be forced to go, but making it abundantly clear if any team did pull out they would be in breach of contract.
Ecclestone added: “We can’t say ‘you’ve got to go’. Commercially they have to go, but whether they decide to or not is up to them.”
FOTA, however, have switched the focus from the teams to the FIA.
Their statement read: “There’s been some media speculation recently to the effect the teams may seek to cancel this year’s Bahrain Grand Prix.
“That wouldn’t be possible. Teams are unable to cancel grands prix.
“We race in an international series called the FIA Formula One World Championship, and it is therefore for the FIA to offer the teams guidance on these issues.”
The whole saga surrounding the April 22 race at the circuit in Sakhir has now taken on a distinct political edge, something F1 has always tried to distance itself from.
That was clear yesterday when the Bahrain International Circuit issued a statement in which they quoted a number of sources and leading figures claiming the Gulf kingdom was safe to visit.
However, there have been renewed reports of violence in Bahrain today.
THE crown prince of Bahrain last night cited his country's need for time to heal as one of the primary reasons behind the decision to postpone next month's Formula 1 grand prix.
Bahrain refused yesterday to give up hope of rescheduling its postponed Formula One Grand Prix with a statement that kept all options open.
FIA president Jean Todt yesterday ducked the thorny issues surrounding the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Bernie Ecclestone has acted to resolve the issues surrounding the Formula One calendar following the Bahrain Grand Prix saga this week.


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Posted on Saturday 14 April 2012 12: 22

DAMON HILL is expressed in his faith, is the time the Gulf Kingdom for humans, "with their lives," the Bahrain GP full support.

Hill's message follows yesterday's FIA, which broke the silence at the end of the race to go ahead to confirm the certificate issued by the schedule.

1996 World Champion last Saturday expressed misgivings as to the race, the request for subsequent verification, the butterfly effect, because he felt the situation was "hotting."

But now the motor sports will continue, on the basis of the measures taken by the n, Hill said: "I am now 100% of the FIA decision, the Bahrain race.

"All of the arguments made for and against. No one has any illusions, in accordance with the situation. But the less your lips, for the most part, Bahrainis also have the right to get their lives and we have with us F1 fans responsible for the area.

"I hope to see all of the symbol of the F1, which is possible if we peacefully together."

Security is now a primary concern for all groups, which implement their own measures to guarantee the safety of their personnel. To simplify the travel of staff to see the unmarked vehicles and does not have a safety belt, in order to ensure that the team Kit, they are not applied, even if some of the use of the bullet proof vehicles and employing specialized in information security.

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Published on Monday 23 April 2012 00:00
TEAM principal Martin Whitmarsh was left to put a consoling arm around one member of his McLaren team in the wake of what he described as a “classic bad day at the office”.
After asserting, following last Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix, that mistakes needed to be limited in order to win the championship in a highly competitive season, errors again undid McLaren in Bahrain yesterday.
Sadly, for one unnamed team member especially, it has been a wretched two races, which resulted in him beating himself up and being asked to step aside for Lewis Hamilton’s final pit stop.
In China last week, Jenson Button was denied a shot at victory by a slow final change of tyres as the left wheel nut cross-threaded at the first time of asking.
Yesterday, at Hamilton’s first stop, the drive pegs failed to align, again at the left rear, a fault Whitmarsh claims was not of the gunman’s making.
Fourteen laps later, another cross-thread with the same wheel delayed Hamilton, forcing Whitmarsh to make the change.
So from second on the grid, Hamilton was forced to settle for eighth, ultimately losing his championship lead to Red Bull race winner Sebastian Vettel who took the chequered flag for the 22nd time in his career.
“Any guy who volunteers to be a gunman in a team is a brave guy,” said Whitmarsh. “These guys are mechanics who don’t get paid extra for doing it, who put themselves in the firing line and under an enormous amount of pressure.
“I’ve been speaking to him just now, because I know how hard he is being on himself. I’m very protective of my staff because they deserve my protection. He’s taken it very badly, but I’ve given him the reassurance and support of this team.
“It has to be remembered – all of us, from team principal down, make mistakes from time to time. It’s pretty bloody annoying when we do it, and we’re often more understanding of other people than we are when we make our own mistakes.
“But there’s a lot of pressure these days with three-second stops, and everyone knows the last gun off is the one that dictates the speed of that change. So if it hasn’t been going well for you, it is an enormously stressful position to be in.
“We did have to change him for the last stop of the race because he took it fairly badly.”
Hamilton also plans to offer a kind word as he said: “I don’t know who he is, but I will go and see the guy, try and lift him up. That’s all I can do really. Otherwise, it’s about doing my best and trying to remain positive.”
To rub salt into McLaren wounds, Button’s hopes of sixth place – potentially fifth as he was closing in on Nico Rosberg in his Mercedes – were wrecked by a late puncture and cracked exhaust, forcing him to retire a lap from home.
“That was the classic bad day at the office,” added Whitmarsh. “We had two bad pit stops, a puncture caused by an exhaust failure which damaged the differential, and we were slow.
“We didn’t have the pace, but then a few other things went wrong to make it a really difficult afternoon for everyone.”
Reigning champion Vettel’s victory, which has lifted him four points clear of Hamilton, was relatively straightforward after starting from pole for the 31st time. There was a time when he came under pressure from Kimi Raikkonen, but he kept the Finn at bay to leave Lotus in second and third as Romain Grosjean stood on the podium for the first time in his career.
“It was an incredible race. Extremely tough,” said Vettel after becoming the fourth different victor this year, a scenario not seen in F1 since 2003.
“We will have a good time now and then push harder so that we are there again in the next race. But it’s a very tight season, cars are very close to each other and small things can make a huge difference on a Sunday.”
Mark Webber finished fourth for the fourth consecutive race, but trails Vettel by just five points, with Rosberg fifth and Scotland’s Paul Di Resta sixth in his Force India after adopting a two-stop strategy in comparison to three for those around him.
Rosberg, meanwhile, avoided any action from the FIA after being involved in two separate incidents with Hamilton and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who finished seventh.
Alonso fumed with the German over the radio at the time, and again after the race, claiming he could have been seriously injured but for the width of the track at that point. Alonso said: “I can only say that if, instead of such a wide run-off area, there had been a wall, I’m not sure I’d be here now to talk about it.”


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Posted on Saturday 14 April 2012 00: 33
Lewis Hamilton is relishing a podium place this weekend against the following encouraging Start to his campaign, the prospect of China Grand Prix.

His sports update for McLaren at the end of the exercises with the Hamilton ready for the quickest changeable Shanghai International Circuit and the Mercedes ' Michael Schumacher later in the 90-minute 0.172 seconds to carry out the second.
With the search for at least one strong, Hamilton, 27-year-old you start your favorite finish, even if he does not start on quickest intended-Pole tomorrow.
That is five places on the grid penalty for Hamilton will have to pay for that is to take place today after the error was detected in the previous week, as the result of a change in the gearbox.
In spite of the fact that after Mastering the cold, damp, light conditions, hitting up to a maximum of 15 degrees centigrade temperatures, Hamilton said: "it has been a great day.
"It remained dry in the afternoon so we got our successfully run the program. Still we will try out in order to improve the structure of the bovine aid schemes, but the new bits of the car seem to work. The guys back at the factory made a great job. " Then, starting from the pole for the opening of the two races, in Australia and Malaysia, only to finish third in both of the Hamilton said: "I may be changing my car the gearbox before P3. It is going to close in the qualifying session tomorrow. It is a good battle.
"We hope we can start at the highest possible grid because I believe that we'll be posting on the race and leading the team. I love the future and gaining positions. "
It was a team-mate Jenson Button, who struggled to reach the temperature of his rings and one of Schumacher, who posted the time of one minute 35.973 sec in his Mercedes at a later time to complete the three-fourths of the different story.
"It has been a bit of a difficult day for me," said the 32-year-old. Trying to find a good "was the test set-up, but the cold weather makes it more difficult to understand, because the tyres of the car does not work completely. We fully understand the temperatures and will not be able to get them all the way to the right of the field. If we can make the change settings and tyre changes to the five or ten degrees temp, then the change goes out the window. That is something we can sort. "
The second and the sixth button Sandwiching Hamilton were the reigning champion Sebastian Vettel Red Bull and team-mate Mark Webber, with Mercedes ' Nico Rosberg fifth in his Mercedes.
Paul di Resta Force India, which was forced to make a test and reserve driver Jules Bianchi finished eighth fastest in the first session Fp2 plausible. Scot was the second down, Schumacher, but the 0.225 sec ahead of team-mate Nico Hulkenberg, who had granted such benefits run the FP1.
Glock range has been given all clear after hurting his hand tyre wall, because of the failure of the diagnostic tests and the Marussia nose box.
The German said: "it is damage, you may be able to wait for the effect, but is mainly cosmetic and is healthy.
"The Long night of the mechanisms I believe so frustrating for a result that is more comfortable for all round the other day. Personally, I'm fine. "


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