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Monday, October 29, 2012

Vettel Cruises to Seemingly Effortless Indian Grand Prix Win

Photo source: Pirelli Photo Service


With the 2012 Formula 1 tour nearing completion with only four race dates remaining on the calender, the Indian Grand Prix on the 5.14 kilometer Buddh International Circuit was 60 laps that Sebastian Vettel needed to build up his narrow six-point lead in the driver points standing over the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso.

For Alonso, entering the 2012 Indian Grand Prix weekend would not be the ideal circumstance for regaining the Formula 1 drivers championship points lead. Heading into the event, the Red Bull Racing driver Sebastian Vettel had the momentum of not only three straight race wins but as the 2011 Indian Grand Prix victor. Winning the pole, race and clocking the fastest lap in the 2011 Formula 1 event on the Buddh International Circuit last season, Vettel had already repeated in the 2012 weekend with the top spot on the 24-car grid. Launching impressively in his Red Bull-Renault, Sebastian Vettel was accompanied closely by teammate Mark Webber when the starting lights turned off commencing the 60-lap Indian Grand Prix. While the Red Bull Racing cars surged to early domination, Fernando Alonso was intent to get around the 3rd and 4th place McLaren-Mercedes vehicles. Taking several laps, Alonso's Ferrari would eventually found its way around Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.

A race with a minimal of retirements, Sergio Perez, Michael Schumacher and Petro de la Rosa were the only competitors who did not make it to the checkered flag. Losing any chance of a successful effort early in the Indian Grand Prix, “that was a pretty unsatisfactory race today. It was effectively over just after the start; I lost so much time getting back to the pits with the puncture that any hope of scoring points was gone." said Schumacher who was part of an overall bad race for Mercedes GP. Finishing 11th, Michael Schumacher's teammate Nico Rosberg missed out scoring points in the Indian Grand Prix to the Williams-Renault driven by Bruno Senna.

Leading, Sebastian Vettel steadily cruised in his Red Bull-Renault. However, his teammate's Red Bull Racing car would fall under the attack of Fernando Alonso's Ferrari. Complicated by a lack of extra speed due a failed KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System unit on his race car, Webber was prey to Alonso's red car through the DRS speed zone. Taking second place, Alonso would be unable to catch title rival Sebastian Vettel who took a second Indian Grand Prix by a 9.4-second advantage.

A near flawless race for Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing with only a single tire stop serving as a break in the unopposed Sunday drive, Vettel padded his overall drivers point lead to a 13-marker advantage over Fernando Alonso who finished second in India. The Indian Grand Prix victory by the Red Bull Racing team delivered engine supplier Renault its 150th victory in the Formula 1 series.


Photo Source: Pirelli Photo Service

Behind second place Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber held on to the final podium position by just 0.7 of a second over McLaren's Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton's teammate Jenson Button followed distantly to a fifth place finish ahead of Ferrari's Felipe Massa. Kimi Raikkonen's seventh place finish in his Lotus-Renault race car is allowing the Finnish driver to hold third place in the Formula 1 drivers' standing. Raikkonen is the only competitor currently in the top-7 drivers of the 2012 standings without a race win this season. Nico Hulkenberg driving for Force India, Lotus F1 Team driver Romain Grosjean and Bruno Senna for Williams F1 rounded out the top-10 of the Indian Grand Prix.

The next stop for the quickly depleting 2012 edition of the Formula 1 schedule is a visit to the Yas Marina Circuit for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 4th.



2012 Formula 1
Indian Grand Prix
Race Results


Pos # Car #/ Driver/ Constructor
1 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
2 5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
3 2 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
4 4 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
5 3 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
6 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari
7 9 Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault
8 12 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes
9 10 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault
10 19 Bruno Senna Williams-Renault
11 8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
12 11 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes
13 16 Daniel Ricciardo Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari
14 14 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari
15 17 Jean-Eric Vergne Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari
16 18 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault
17 21 Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault
18 20 Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault
19 25 Charlie Pic Marussia-Cosworth
20 24 Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth
21 23 Narain Karthikeyan HRT F1
22 7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
23 22 Pedro de la Rosa HRT F1
24 15 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Vettel Edges Webber for Indian Grand Prix Pole

Photo source: Pirelli Photo Service


Assuming the Formula 1 driver's championship points lead after a Korean Grand Prix victory, Sebastian Vettel has four races remaining in the 2012 Formula 1 season to defend his reign in the top open wheel racing series in the world.

Competing for the second time at the Buddh International Circuit for the Indian Grand Prix, Vettel approaches the fourth to last event in the 2012 tour as the defending 2011 winner of the pole and race. In qualifying, the German Red Bull Racing star followed-up last season's success with a performance granting him a second pole for the Indian Grand Prix. Lapping at 1 minute, 25.283 seconds in the final Q3 run, Vettel's Red Bull-Renault narrowly beat-out brand mate Mark Webber for the top spot. For the third Formula 1 race in a row, the front row of a grand prix will be dominated by the Red Bull Racing organization.

With the Indian Grand Prix serving as the part of the four remaining races in the 2012 Formula 1 tour, Red Bull Racing has risen to challenge for both the ongoing drivers championship and the constructors title against Ferrari. Fernando Alonso qualified 5th for the Grand Prix of India barely topping Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa. The Scuderia Ferrari team is 77 points behind Red Bull Racing in the team constructors title with 43 points on the table for each of the remaining event.

Just six points behind Ferrari in the constructor points for Formula 1, McLaren will be attempting to forget some late season missteps (including the recent Korean Grand Prix) that has cost the team as well as drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button a meaningful chance at titles. Showing some good overall strength, McLaren-Mercedes race cars occupy the second row with Hamilton ahead of Button.

In seventh spot for the start of the Indian Grand Prix, Kimi Raikkonen's Lotus-Renault is less than a second slower than the pole-winning car of Sebastian Vettel. This can bode well to the competition at the Indian racetrack. Sergio Perez for Sauber, the Williams-Renault of Pastor Maldonado and Nico Rosberg driving for Mercedes GP rounded out the top 10 for the Indian Grand Prix grid.


2012 Formula One
Indian Grand Prix
Starting Grid

Pos # Car #/ Driver/ Constructor
1 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
2 2 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
3 4 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
4 3 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
5 5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
6 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari
7 9 Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault
8 15 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari
9 18 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault
10 8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
11 10 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault
12 12 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes
13 19 Bruno Senna Williams-Renault
14 7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
15 16 Daniel Ricciardo Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari
16 11 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes
17 14 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari
18 17 Jean-Eric Vergne Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari
19 21 Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault
20 20 Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault
21 24 Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth
22 22 Pedro de la Rosa HRT F1
23 23 Narain Karthikeyan HRT F1
24 25 Charlie Pic Marussia-Cosworth

Monday, October 15, 2012

Vettel Takes Korean Grand Prix, F1 Driver's Points Lead

Photo Source: Pirelli Photo Service

One of only five races remaining in a turbulent 2012 Formula 1 season, the 24 cars entered the country of Korea for the third-ever time. Entering this weekend with a driver's championship that could change with a matter of a few positions on track, 55 laps around the Korean International Circuit would be the site for some dramatic action to continue fueling the wide-open 2012 tour.

Taking pole of the Korean Grand Prix, Australian Mark Webber led both the field and an all-Red Bull Racing front row. As the lights went off to start the race, Webber's teammate Sebastian Vettel showed no desire to be in second place for long. Launching perfectly, Vettel was able to capture the lead from Webber through the first corner. Mark Webber's less-than ideal start almost cost him second place as McLaren's Lewis Hamilton challenged early.

Despite the start for Lewis Hamilton, the 2012 Korean Grand Prix for McLaren F1 was a pure disaster first made evident by Jenson Button. On the first lap, Button's race ended when his McLaren-Mercedes was impacted by the Sauber-Ferrari of Kamui Kobayashi. Mercedes GP's Nico Rosberg was not part of early race contact with Kobayashi. Parking his wounded Mercedes GP along a wall opening along the DRS activation stretch, the retired German's car was a potential aid to Sebastian Vettel as a local caution bought him extra laps to build a gap. Rosberg's car was removed by lap 10 allowing the DRS zone to finally be opened. The Sauber-Ferrari served a drive-through penalty as a result of the turn 3 incident on lap 8 and would ultimately retire after completing just 16 laps as a sad follow-up to the celebratory tone of a first-ever Formula 1 podium in Japan.

With most of the field starting the race on the Pirelli supersoft compound tires, some tempted conventional wisdom by opting with the harder tire option. With a one-stop strategy contemplated at the beginning of the race for some drivers, only Pastor Maldonado's Williams-Renault and Narain Karthikeyan's HRT-Cosworth could carry out the daring plan. Ultimately, the one-stop strategy was an unwise move as both drivers finished well outside of the top-10 of the Korean Grand Prix. In fact, the Korean International Circuit proved challenging for the majority of team that chose to make the race on two stops as right front tires wear was a typical problem for runners in the race.


Photo Source: Sauber Motorsport AG


After Button's early exit, the sole hope of the McLaren-Mercedes depended on Lewis Hamilton. While going the distance, Hamilton's race was a victim of extensive wearing or "graining" throughout the Korean Grand Prix. Adapting to a three-stop plan for Pirelli tires, it was a fight by Hamilton to hold off the Sauber-Ferrari of Sergio Perez for 10th, the final point-paying position in the Formula 1 result. The final laps for the McLaren-Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton was also provided with some theatrics when a piece of green carpeting of the track's curbing ripped and became tangled on the right side of the race car. The overall issues for McLaren F1 in Korea cost the race team second in the manufacturer's points to Ferrari.

With a concern of tire wear in the final laps, Sebastian Vettel crossed the start/finish line first with his Red Bull-Renault. Triumphant for his third win in a row on the Formula 1 circuit, Vettel finished 8.2 seconds ahead of his teammate Mark Webber. With Fernando Alonso only able to muster a third place effort with his Ferrari, the Korean Grand Prix ends with the German Sebastian Vettel also becoming to new driver points leader. Vettel now holds a 6-point advantage on Alonso with a four-race run left in the 2012 Formula 1 season.

Following-up a podium in the Japanese Grand Prix, Felipe Massa is showing new life with Ferrari posting a 4th place finish ahead of Kimi Raikkonen's Lotus-Renault. Sixth place for Force India, Nico Hulkenberg fought bravely throughout the Korean Grand Prix event. Romain Grosjean brought the second Lotus F1 Team car across the finish line. Not as glorious as the 1-2 showing by Red Bull Racing, the Scuderia Toro Rosso organization recorded an outstanding result with both Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo scoring points ahead of the lone McLaren-Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton.

After two weeks in a row of racing, the Formula 1 series teams and drivers get a one-week rest ahead of the Indian Grand Prix on October 28th.



2012 Formula 1
Korean Grand Prix
Race Results

Pos # Car #/ Driver/ Constructor
1 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
2 2 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
3 5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
4 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari
5 9 Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault
6 12 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes
7 10 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault
8 17 Jean-Eric Vergne Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari
9 16 Daniel Ricciardo Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari
10 4 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
11 15 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari
12 11 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes
13 7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
14 18 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault
15 19 Bruno Senna Williams-Renault
16 21 Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault
17 20 Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault
18 24 Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth
19 25 Charlie Pic Marussia-Cosworth
20 23 Narain Karthikeyan HRT F1
21 22 Pedro de la Rosa HRT F1
22 14 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari
23 8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
24 3 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Mark Webber Takes First 2012 F1 Season Pole in Korea

Photo source: Pirelli Photo Service


Running hot in the Formula 1 series thanks to wins in Singapore and Japan, Sebastian Vettel in his Red Bull-Renault has made up 35 points on Ferrari's Fernando Alonso. Entering the Korean Grand Prix, Vettel sits only 4 point back from the Spaniard Alonso creating meaningful 6-race run to the completion of the 2012 Formula 1 season.

The third time visiting the Korean International Circuit, race teams really only have one season of usable notes at the 5.615-kilometer track based on the inaugural grand prix being a rain-marred affair. It only only in the 2011 race that the Korean International Circuit high g corners and twisty characteristics gave the open wheel cars a true measure for competition. Still a bit of wild card for drivers and teams, the Korean Grand Prix could pose an interesting challenge with the narrowing world championship. Amusingly, the two previous winners of the Korean Formula 1 race is Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel.

Qualifying for the 2012 edition of the Korean Grand Prix take place at 22 degrees Celsius on a dry surface, Sebastian Vettel immediately asserted authority on the race course. Setting top time in the first and second round of time trials, the Q3 session allowed the two-time reigning Formula 1 champion to feel confident. As Vettel pegged a 1 minute, 37.316 second time on the scoreboard, the final instant of the 10-minute session would have the #1 Red Bull-Renault unseated from the top of the grid by the team car. Crossing the start-finish line with a 1 minute, 37.242 second lap, Mark Webber secured his first earned pole position in the 2012 Formula 1 season. Webber did start on pole at Monaco but only because fastest-driver in qualifying Michael Schumacher was demoted for a penalty.

With all Red Bull Racing front row, Lewis Hamilton grabbed the third spot for the start of the 55-lap Korean Grand Prix. Driving for McLaren-Mercedes through the end of the season, Hamilton and his teammate Jenson Button (starting 11th) are fighting for individual as well as team honours through the rest of 2012. In second place in the constructor's championship, McLaren F1 is 41 points behind Red Bull Racing and 20 points ahead of Ferrari. With a maximum of 43 points available in each of the remaining grand prix races, there is a lot of room for movement entering the Korean Grand Prix between the top teams.

Looking to be able to once again put distance on others in the driver's championship, Fernando Alonso starts 4th in the second row. The third row of Korean Grand Prix is occupied by the Lotus-Renault of Kimi Raikkonen alongside the second Ferrari of Felipe Massa. Romain Grosjean for the Lotus F1 Team and Nico Hulkenberg driving the Force India-Mercedes will sit in the fourth row on the grid ahead of the Mercedes GP squad. Nico Rosberg leads Michael Schumacher in the Mercedes GP team as thry round out the top-10 on the Formaul 1 grid for the Korean Grand Prix.

Losing brakes before he was able to log a qualifying lap in Q1, Narain Karthikeyan has been granted permission to start the Korean Grand Prix with his HRT-Cosworth securing a full 24-car field.



Formula 1
Korean Grand Prix
Starting Lineup


Pos # Car #/ Driver/ Constructor
1 2 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
2 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
3 4 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
4 5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
5 9 Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault
6 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari
7 10 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault
8 12 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes
9 8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
10 7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
11 3 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
12 15 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari
13 14 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari
14 11 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes
15 18 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault
16 16 Daniel Ricciardo Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari
17 17 Jean-Eric Vergne Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari
18 19 Bruno Senna Williams-Renault
19 21 Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault
20 20 Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault
21 24 Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth
22 22 Pedro de la Rosa HRT F1
23 23 Narain Karthikeyan HRT F1
24 25 Charlie Pic Marussia-Cosworth

Monday, October 8, 2012

Vettel Tops in Joyful Japanese Grand Prix Finish

Photo Source: Pirelli Photo Service


With only 6 races remaining in the 2012 Formula 1 season, the drivers' championship has become a race between a Red Bull and a prancing horse. Steadily gaining points and winning three races up to the August break of the 2012 tour, Fernando Alonso entered the Japanese Grand Prix with a rather secure 29-point advantage on the Red Bull-Renault of Sebastian Vettel. A comfortable lead that not even a full non-points race for Alonso will cause him to usurp to Vettel, a one race will morph the 2012 Formula 1 Driver championship into a close and fierce fight.

Red Bull Racing led by Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber swept the front row positions for the 53.-lap Suzuka preparing to  For the second time in the last four grand prix races, the first corner of a grand prix was decisive event within an event. Just like the Belgium Grand Prix, the blame for the calamity heading into the first turn of the Japanese Grand Prix was placed on Romain Grosjean, the French driver for Lotus F1 Racing. Also the same as the Spa-Francorchamp event, the incident would prove costly for Fernando Alonso. After getting squeezed by a Lotus-Renault, Alonso caught the outer edge of the first corner and spun out in his Ferrari F2012 immediately retiring from the grand prix. Fernando Alonso would be joined by Nico Rosberg from Mercedes GP as an early race retirement. Alongside Romain Grosjean, Bruno Senna driving for Williams-Renault would suffer nose damage and Mark Webber. Grosjean was later penalized with a 10-second stop and go for his part in the lap 1 chaos.

A safety car was deployed on the circuit as track crews recover the vehicles and debris leftover from the start of the Japanese Grand Prix. Also caught in the lap 1 mayhem was the second-place starting Mark Webber. Losing a position on the start of the Japanese Grand Prix, Webber's Red Bull-Renault briefly ended up in the grass. While able to rejoin the Suzuka track, the Australian driver was well behind his race-leading teammate. Mark Webber would fight his way to a 9th place result which keeps him in fifth place in the driver's championship.


Photo Source: Sauber Motorsport AG

From the lap 3 restart when the safety car released the remaining Formula 1 cars back to green flag racing, Sebastian Vettel soared away from the field putting himself out of reach any challenge. Stopping only to attend his team's pit stall twice for new tires, Vettel's Red Bull-Renault commanded the Japanese Grand Prix and would cross the start/finish line with a 20.6-second lead over second place. Having won the previous grand prix in Singapore, Vettel became the first driver in this Formula 1 season to record two consecutive victories. The Japanese Grand Prix was the exact race needed to create a serious two-way battle for the 2012 Formula 1 drivers' championship. A non-points day for Alonso results in Vettel closing to within 4 points heading into next week's Korean Grand Prix.

While Sebastian Vettel's well-earned third Japanese Grand Prix made a big impact on the Formula 1 circuit, the additional two podium finishers after the course of 53 laps made the post-race celebration very special. Besieged by his inconsistent 2012 season performance compared to his Ferrari teammate Alonso, Felipe Massa posted a runner-up result. Massa's first podium finish since the 2010 Korean Grand Prix, the feat should help the potential of seeing the Brazilian compete with Ferrari for an 8th season in 2013.

Being in Japan, the 3rd place finisher drove the crowd of Suzuka into a justified frenzy. Competing in his third full season of Formula 1 with Sauber F1, Kamui Kobayashi fought off a mean charge from the seasoned Jenson Button to claim his first Formula 1 podium. “It hasn’t sunk in yet, it is hard to believe – I achieved my first podium in Suzuka! It was a fantastic race and we have been working really hard to get to this point since we were lacking pace on Friday. But the Sauber F1 Team did a great job to recover from there. Starting from third obviously helped a lot and also the long run I did on Friday made me very confident for the race. The team has built a great car this year." said Kobayashi. The first podium for Japan's Kamui Kobayashi was overall popular as he stood beside a Sebastian Vettel who he had competed against in Formula 3 in 2006.


Photo Source: Sauber Motorsport AG

Partly recovering from a so-so qualifying performance, the McLaren-Mercedes race cars of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton improved 4 places each. Jenson Button finished 4th while Lewis Hamilton took 5th place. Able to dodge damage from the first lap incident, the second Lotus-Renault of Kimi Raikkonen collected a solid 6th place ahead of Nico Hulkenberg and Pastor Maldonado. Scoring the final point of the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix, Daniel Ricciardo driving for Toro Rosso hold off Michael Schumacher for the 10th place spot. Claiming from 23rd place, Schumacher's attempt at a better effort with his Mercedes GP car was affected by a 10-grid position penalty coming as a result of colliding into Ricciardo's Toro Rosso teammate in the Singapore Grand prix.

On October 14th, the Korean International Circuit will host the Formula 1 tour and the now-highly competitive point battle between Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel.



2012 Formula 1
Japanese Grand Prix
Race Results


Pos # Car #/ Driver/ Constructor
1 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
2 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari
3 14 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari
4 3 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
5 4 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
6 9 Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault
7 12 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes
8 18 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault
9 2 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
10 16 Daniel Ricciardo Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari
11 7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
12 11 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes
13 17 Jean-Eric Vergne Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari
14 19 Bruno Senna Williams-Renault
15 20 Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault
16 24 Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth
17 21 Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault
18 22 Pedro de la Rosa HRT F1
19 10 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault
20 25 Charlie Pic Marussia-Cosworth
21 23 Narain Karthikeyan HRT F1
22 15 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari
23 5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
24 8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Vettel, Red Bull Ruled in Japanese Grand Prix Qualifying

Photo Credit: Pirelli Photo Service


At one time the finale on the Formula 1 calendar, the Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit is now immersed into a 20-race schedule as the 6th race remaining of the season. A popular trip for Formula 1 based strong fan base and  for many drivers sharing bonds with the country of Japan through their junior motorsport years, the 5.807-kilometer Suzuka track is known to be a challenge. Testing drivers, teams and cars through high braking as well as some speedy portions of the course, Saturday's qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix is an important momentum build-up for the 53-lap main event on Sunday.

In Friday's second practice session, the Red Bull-Renaults began a claim to the top of the time charts at Suzuka. With Mark Webber setting the pace in Friday, teammate Sebastian Vettel topped Webber the next day in the final practice ahead of qualifying. Winning the past two Formula 1 World Championship, Sebastian Vettel has has stubbornly fighting from a so-so start of the 2012 season to close to 29 points of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.

Prevailing in Saturday's qualifying, Vettel mounted a 1-minute, 30.839-second time mid-way through the Q3 session to capture pole for the Japanese Grand Prix. Driving for Red Bull Racing, Vettel won the 2009 and 2010 editions of the competition at the Suzuka Circuit. With two victories in the Japanese Grand Prix, the only driver who has scored more than a pair of wins at Suzuka is Michael Schumacher who recorded six in his career up to this weekend.

Setting the next fastest time in qualifying roughly a quarter of a second slower than Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber is looking for third win for the 2012 season coming into the Grand Prix of Japan with two consecutive non-point scoring finishes.


Photo Credit: Sauber Motorsport AG



Jenson Button was third fastest in qualifying but will face a five-grid position penalty as a result of an unapproved gearbox change on his McLaren-Mercedes. Nico Hulkenberg, driving a Mercedes-Benz engined Force India will also be dropped from 10th to 15th place for a similar gearbox change. Certain to delight the Japanese audience in Suzuka, Kamui Kobayashi driving in his home country for Sauber F1 will start behind Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull-Renault. In post-qualifying, Kobayashi commented, "From where I am starting I should have a chance to fight for a podium finish, and it would be a dream come true if I could achieve my first podium in Formula One in front of my home crowd." Kobayashi will be joined by the Lotus-Renault race car piloted by Romain Grosjean on the second row. Grosjean's teammate Kimi Raikkonen encountered difficulties through the last minutes of qualifying resulting in his Lotus-Renault qualifying 7th after the grid spot demotion of Jenson Button.

The Sauber-Ferrari of Sergio Perez will start in third row of the Japanese Grand Prix alongside Fernando Alonso's Scuderia Ferrari. Winner of the 2007 Japanese Grand Prix during the brief time if was run at Fiji Speedway, Lewis Hamilton will start 9th behind teammate Button. Alonso's teammate in Ferrari Felipe Massa starts in tenth place for Sunday's race.

It was a difficult qualifying session in Japan for the Mercedes GP cars. Nico Rosberg is starting 13th for Sunday's main event at Suzuka while Michael Schumacher is placed in 23rd on the grid serving a 10-grid position penalty for a collision with Jean-Eric Vergne's Toro Rosso-Ferrari at the Singapore Grand Prix. "It was a shame that we couldn´t do more today, after things hadn´t looked too bad this morning, but we simply didn´t get the performance together. Although we should also say that, knowing the high-speed characteristics of this circuit, we didn´t necessarily expect to look in great shape here." Michael Schumacher admitted after qualifying.

A Formula 1 grand prix starting at 3 PM local time in Japan, the race broadcast in the Eastern time zone in North American will be 2 AM.



2012 Formula 1
Japanese Grand Prix
Starting Grid

Pos # Car #/ Driver/ Constructor
1 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault
2 2 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault
3 14 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari
4 10 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault
5 15 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari
6 5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari
7 9 Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault
8 3 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes
9 4 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
10 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari
11 11 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes
12 18 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault
13 8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP
14 16 Daniel Ricciardo Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari
15 12 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes
16 17 Jean-Eric Vergne Scuderia Toro Rosso-Ferrari
17 19 Bruno Senna Williams-Renault
18 20 Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault
19 24 Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth
20 22 Pedro de la Rosa HRT F1
21 25 Charlie Pic Marussia-Cosworth
22 21 Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault
23 7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP
24 23 Narain Karthikeyan HRT F1
 

Schumacher to Reenter Retirement After 2012 F1 Season

Photo Credit: Mercedes GP


When Mercedes-Benz bought up Brawn GP at the end of 2009, the vision of the newly-created Mercedes GP "Silver Arrow" team was a German branded race car with an all-German driver line-up. Partnered with young gun Nico Rosberg, Mercedes GP brought the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher out of retirement to campaign as the experienced wheelman for the new Silver Arrows team. Three years later, the holder of 91 grand prix wins and so many other Formula 1 records announced the end of his comeback appearance in the series.

At a Thursday press conference within Japan's Suzuka circuit where the Formula 1 tour is set to race Sunday, Michael Schumacher announced his three-season to the cockpit of the series will end after 2012. Speaking to the press, Schumacher said, "I have decided to retire from Formula One at the end of the season, although I am still able to compete with the best drivers of the world. This is something that makes me proud, and this is part of why I never regretted my comeback. I can be happy with my performance and the fact that I was continuously raising my game during the last three years. But then, at some point it is time to say goodbye.". Schumacher's retirement announcement roughly a week after Lewis Hamilton had been confirmed as jumping ship from McLaren for the Mercedes GP team.

As presented before in this blog and xslspeedreporter.com, Michael Schumacher's 2012 season with Mercedes GP has been far from form seen from the 7-time Formula 1 World Champion a decade ago. In terms of the performance in the Mercede-Benz W03 race car, Schumacher has recorded just a single podium in the European Grand Prix in Valencia, Spain after 14 races. Discounting the 2010 adjustment to the Formula 1 scoring system that opened the top-10 finishers to points-placing positions, the 2012 tour could be viewed as Michael Schumacher's worst-ever full season world championship performance. As opposed to his 10 years at Ferrari where he stood as the undisputed leader of the race team, Michael Schumacher was humbled by the younger Nico Rosberg who often outpaced the legendary driver. "Already during the past weeks and months I was not sure if I would still have the motivation and energy which is necessary to go on; and it is not my style to do anything which I am not 100% convinced about. With today’s decision I feel released from those doubts. In the end, it is not my ambition to just drive around but to fight for victories; and the pleasure of driving is nourished by competitiveness." said Schumacher.

In the press conference, Micheal Schumacher continued to say, "In the past six years I have learned a lot, also about me, and I am thankful for it; for example, that you can open yourself up without losing focus. That losing can be both more difficult and more instructive than winning; something I had lost out of sight sometimes in earlier years. That you have to appreciate to be able to do what you love. That you have to live your convictions. I have opened my horizon, and I am at ease with myself. I would like to thank Daimler, Mercedes-Benz and the team for their trust. But I also would like to thank all my friends, partners and companions, who over many good years in motorsport supported me. But most of all I would like to thank my family for standing always by my side, giving me the freedom to live my convictions and sharing my joy."

Team principal for Mercedes GP Ross Brawn had a long career that had been greatly intertwined with Michael Schumacher's. Working with Schumacher at Benetton and Ferrari as well as the most recent stint at Mercedes GP, Brawn had some deep insight into the German driver being together for all seven driver championships in Formula 1. "Having worked with Michael for so many years, it is an emotional day today as he announces his retirement from Formula One for the second, and final, time. We have enjoyed so many experiences together during our time at Benetton, Ferrari and Mercedes, and I feel very proud, honoured and privileged to have had the opportunity to work with Michael so closely. In my opinion, he is the greatest Formula One driver, and the records which he holds in our sport speak volumes for his success and commitment." said Ross Brawn.


With 6 races remaining, Michael Schumacher will be more committed than ever to influence his series-leading watermarks in Formula 1.