Grand Prix News

BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX 22 April 2012

Formula 1 Racing: Bahrain Grand Prixwww.formula1.com
1. Sebastian Vettel 1:35:10.990 5. Nico Rosberg +55.4 sec
2. Kimi Raikkonen +3.3 sec 6. Paul di Resta +57.5 sec
3. Romain Grosjean +10.2 sec 7. Fernando Alonso +57.8 sec
4. Mark Webber +38.8 sec 8. Lewis Hamilton +59 sec

Not since 2006 has F1 witnessed such a start to a campaign, with the reigning world champion claiming his 22nd career victory.

Behind the German, Lotus enjoyed their best race of the season as Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean joined Vettel on the podium.

It was a disastrous race for McLaren, though, with Lewis Hamilton eighth after two pit-stop issues, whilst Jenson Button retired a lap from home.

It was a race, though, many felt should never have taken place, not given the unrest in the Gulf island in the build-up, and the escalation in demonstrations that have occurred this week.

So to have reached the chequered flag will be seen as a triumph of sorts for the ruling al-Khalifa royal family and King Hamad, against whom many of the protests are being staged.

Alonso extends F1 championship lead in Germany as puncture deflates Hamilton's hopesBy Sportsmail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 14:35, 22 July 2012 | UPDATED: 17:04, 22 July 2012

Fernando Alonso stretched his championship advantage to 34 points after claiming his third Formula One victory of the season in the German Grand Prix.
A campaign that started with a record seven different winners in the first seven races has now seen Ferrari star Alonso take a stranglehold by winning two of the last three.
Behind the 30-year-old reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel on home soil at Hockenheim, finished second, but was later hit with a retrospective drive-through penalty, demoting him to fifth. Jenson Button came third.


Vettel was punished for a penultimate-lap move on Button as he ran off the circuit to complete the manoeuvre.
Explaining his actions, Vettel said: 'I wasn't sure he was still on the side or not, I can't see from the inside of the car, so I tried to give him enough room and went wide.'

At least Button can gain some satisfaction from an improved car in which he had taken just seven points in six races prior to here.

As for team-mate Lewis Hamilton, on the occasion of his 100th grands prix, it was one to forget for the 27-year-old, who has now collected a meagre four points from the last three races after retiring 10 laps from home.

Like Button of late, from winning in Canada and leading the way, Hamilton's championship challenge has rapidly gone off the rails to drop to 62 points behind Alonso.

On this occasion a slow start off the line was a pre-cursor to his downfall as Hamilton lost two places going into turn one.
But it was what occurred behind him that ultimately proved his undoing as Felipe Massa ran into the back of Kimi Raikkonen in his Lotus, dislodging the front wing of the Ferrari.

That sent shards of carbon fibre on to the track, yet there was no safety car, so when Hamilton made his way through the first corner at the start of lap two he collected a puncture.

It resulted in a long, slow run to the pits for a change of tyres, and although Hamilton felt he would have to retire then, his team said otherwise, dropping back to 22nd.

Hamilton, though, would later have a significant say as in making his second stop after 33 laps - the halfway point - Hamilton was lapped by leading duo Alonso and Vettel.

It resulted in a radio message from McLaren telling Hamilton not to hold up Button three seconds behind him.

It was a message Hamilton did not need to heed because on fresh rubber, and although effectively a backmarker, given the speed of his McLaren he was able to attack first Vettel and then harry Alonso.

Second best: Vettel congratulated Alonso before showering two of the grid girls


When Hamilton made his move on Vettel into the hairpin at the end of the DRS zone to un-lap himself, the German made his unhappiness felt by waving his hand at the Briton.

That allowed Hamilton to then loom large in the wing mirrors of Alonso, making enough of a nuisance of himself that McLaren were able to pit Button after 40 laps.
Unsurprisingly Ferrari and Red Bull reacted by bringing in Alonso and Vettel a lap later, however, Button did enough on one lap to pick off the latter to move up to second.

Vettel did attempt an immediate pass into the hairpin using DRS, but Button defended brilliantly, albeit picking up a flat-spot on the front-right tyre.

It was a case of then playing a waiting game for Button because, despite closing to within a second of Alonso, he was unable to make any move on the Spaniard.

Instead, Alonso pulled away from Button over the closing laps, who in turn fell back into the clutches of Vettel, who was able to make his move on lap 66 to initially finish runner-up before having the place revoked.

Winging it: Massa lost his front wing which looked to have caused Hamilton's puncture



Behind the leading trio Raikkonen was fourth, followed by the Saubers of Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez, with Michael Schumacher seventh in his Mercedes.

Mark Webber could only finish where he started in his Red Bull - eighth - to fall to 34 points behind Alonso, with Vettel a further two points behind.
Force India's Nico Hulkenberg and Mercedes' Nico Rosberg completed the top 10, the latter from 22nd on the grid, with Paul di Resta just outside the points in 11th in his Force India.
After savouring the champagne, and being interviewed by triple world champion Niki Lauda on the podium, Alonso said: 'It was tough, not an easy race.

'Maybe we were not the quickest, but we were quite competitive, enough to maintain the lead, with some good strategy from the team.
All smiles: The grid girls welcome the drivers onto the track



'After the second stop, when I was coming under pressure, the car was good enough under traction and in top speed to control the race.'

Vettel, however, was fuming with Hamilton for when he unlapped himself as he said: 'I didn't see the point of that.

'It was a bit stupid to disturb the leaders. If he wanted to go fast he should have dropped back, found a gap and go fast then. Overall, I'm not entirely happy.'
Referring to the investigation into Vettell, Button said: "There's nothing to say. The TV camera says it all.

'I'd rather talk about the race. It was a fun race, I really enjoyed racing out there. It was nice to be back on the podium and to get some good points.
'This race gives me a lot of confidence. We're there or thereabouts at the front, but still a little to go to the front.'

Who is HOT Cherry? Lewis or Jensen? I am beginning to think that Lewis is one of the most unluckiest drivers ever...every race now something happens to him

I think Lewis needs to spend less time partying, like a year or so ago Jensen lost
the plot and spent more time partying and he didnt do so well, people saying Lewis
going the wrong way, too many late nights, etc.

As for who is hot!! This guy so hot!

Noooooo don't say Alonso is hot! He is another cry baby because he didn't have his own way at McClaren, got shown up by the rookie...he never respected what the McClaren team is about, there are no team orders and both drivers always get equal play. Its been this way for over 50 years, even with legends Senna and Prost, so who is Alonso to behave like he did. But I do totally agree you with the partying, Jenson when at Bennetton years ago decided to play the party animal and be a playboy, lost his seat in the team as a result, and Alonso took it and became 2 times world champion!!!

Next you will be saying that Conor is hot

Never!

I would never describe Conor as hot, he is a bully boy, arrogant with it and too
sure of himself, he has no self awareness, cant see why on earth he should be
voted out!

cant wait till tomorrow, we need one of the bullies up!


Alonso can be a bit of a hothead, but Im sure he must be very passionate!

also this guy Massa, he's nice too! but hot headed as well, he interrupted Hamilton's interview
last year!