Webber will get the lead during the race not the start....and only if he can get it up to second. If he falls back too far, Seb ain't waiting on him.... What ya think?
I think as long as a chance to tie Schumi's 13 is still alive, it is up to Webbuh to make his own bones.
Webber claims he wants no help and I think that's how much he'll get. Off the track he's focused on fighting for more points than Hamilton, Button and Alonso, on the track he's focused on racing. Good on him.
Fascinating F1 paddock gossip: Ferrari has had problems with its new front wing 'fluttering'. They seem to be learning how to make the wing pass the stiffness test during scrutineering and yet still have the wing flex so that it gets added downforce at speed - something it is rumoured that Red Bull have perfected. It's an amazing coincidence that Ferrari brought this new wing to India having just developed it themselves - when Mark Webber's Red Bull crashed in Italy last month, the car's front wing somehow got 'lost' and wasn't amongst the wreckage returned to Red Bull. Presumably some tifoso (a Ferrari fan) has been lucky enough to pick up the 'discarded' Red Bull front wing and walk out of the Monza circuit with it under his jacket (some jacket...) as a stylish new wall decoration for this home. And presumably he invited his new friend from the Ferrari aerodynamics department round for dinner to admire the new decoration. Of course you might think that a loyal tifoso would just drive up to Ferrari's headquarters and drop off the wing - but then surely Ferrari would have just given it back to Red Bull. Wouldn't they? :biggrin5:
I'm sure the timing is purely coincidental. :wink: In fact, it may just be a coincidence, we'll never know for sure. Regardless, I wonder whether the thing is more trouble than its worth. Was Alonso running the "flutter" wing or was it just Massa? The Speed commentators were pushing the severe oscillation as likely weakening Massa's suspension. I personally think his problem stemmed from the way he was hitting those orange anti-cutting curbs much more directly end-on than other drivers but I suppose it could be one effect exacerbating the other.
* WARNING CONTAINS RACE RESULTS* Vettel atop the podium for his 11th victory this season..... Button wins the race for second with Alonso holding off a charging Webber for the third and final spot on the podium!! Vettel + Red Bull = complete domination.
I saw Heikki Kovalainen running in 10th place for a few laps! I wonder how long it's been since he's been up there.
Christian Horner on Seb Vettel's ongoing desire for fastest laps - and why only a cow on track would stop him... Red Bull says Vettel is not taking risks chasing fastest race laps (autosport.com)
So, Massa and Hamilton collided again. This time Massa was penalized. Any opinions? I think the stewards were right at least in that Hamilton wasn't solely to blame this time. Not sure either deserved a penalty but if I had to choose one I would have given it to Massa...I think. (FWIW, Johnny Herbert was the driver steward this round) [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hvx5cj9_xPo]Felipe Massa Lewis Hamilton Accident Incident Crash - SKY - F1 2011 - Round 17 - India - YouTube[/ame]
I have no arguments with that one. He left the door open, Hammi took the shot. Not that I am in the same league, but I would have tried exact same pass. It does not get any more basic than under braking into a corner. Racing 101.
We Brits are spoiled with BBC F1 coverage, having F1 ex-drivers Brundle and Coulthard as commentators, aren't we? To start with, they hummed and hawed over the instant replays - though their discussion was whether or not Hamilton would get penalised - until there was a head-on shot that showed Massa turning his head to look at Hamilton, and then turning his car into him. As soon as they saw that, they put Massa in the wrong.
I didn't see that view, I imagine the stewards did though. If Massa knew where Hamilton was then he also knew what would happen if he cut to the apex, and he went for it anyway.
I've looked at a few videos and can't find anything that makes this clear. Look at the third view on this one. Though Hamilton went deeper into the corner at first, he clearly was braking harder than Massa for an instant. Depending on which instant in time Massa looked over I suppose he could have thought Hamilton had abandoned the pass and was backing out of it, thus ceding the line. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nRX8hLOC60]Felipe Crashes into Lewis Hamilton India 2011- BBC - F1 2011 - Round 17 - India - YouTube[/ame] I assume the stewards had more and better views than we'll ever see and as always it's a judgment call in the end on their part. It was an opportunistic (though reasonable, IMHO) move by Hamilton -- that's what racers do -- while Massa stuck like glue to what seemed to be the ideal racing line -- ditto. I don't think I want to be a steward...
Just have to believe that Massa didn't do it intentionally because of the risk to his car too. Was it a mistake? Yes. But it shouldn't be a penalty.
Only in a vacuum. I am sure their "rubbing" over the past few races and Massa approaching Hamilton in the pits (which has been widely replayed) playing into the stalwarts' interpretation of Massa's intent in that point in time.
I was so glad to see Massa get a drive through. No I do not believe he did it intentionally just as I do not believe Lewis hit Massa intentionally in past events. Good hard racing by two drivers who do not like each other.
Exactly and should have been a no call. Not a fan nor hater of either driver but they were racing hard, Massa probably shouldn't have turned in but on the other hand, Hamilton could have back out and made the pass at another time. It wasn't the last lap and neither were racing for a win after all.. No call.