Author Topic: 2011 F1 Grand Prix season (Read 86807 times)

John the Traveller · « **Reply #75 on:** May 04, 2011, 07:40:09 PM »

Movement at Williams

Williams technical director Sam Michael and chief aerodynamicist Jon Tomlinson will leave their posts at the end of the year, the Grove-based outfit confirmed on Tuesday.

The team also revealed that they have signed former McLaren technical director Mike Coughlan as chief engineer.

Michael hinted in April that heads could roll after Rubens Barrichello and Pastor Maldonado failed to see the chequered flag in the first two races of the season. An although both drivers made it to the finish line in China, they were well off the pace of the top 10.

Team boss Frank Williams confirmed on Tuesday morning that Michael and Tomlinson would part company with the team when their contracts expire at the end of the current season, saying they hope the changes they make will help them to return to the front of the grid.

"Both Sam and Jon are talented and driven people who have worked hard for Williams over 10 and five years respectively," he said.

"Nonetheless, they have recognised that the team's performance is not at the level that it needs to be and have resigned in order to give the team the opportunity to regroup and undertake the changes necessary to get back to the front of the grid.

"Both will continue to work in their present positions through until the end of the year to ensure that the team maintains focus and momentum during the 2011 season. We are very grateful to Sam and to Jon for their professional approach."

Coughlan, who left McLaren in 2007 following the spy scandal involving Ferrari, will join the team in June.

"Mike Coughlan is a fine engineer with extensive experience across Formula One and both civil and defence engineering," Williams said.

"He left Formula 1 in 2007 because of conduct which he acknowledges was wrong and which he profoundly regrets. His two year ban from the sport expired some time ago and Mike is now determined to prove himself again.

"Williams is delighted to be able to give him the opportunity to do this and we are very pleased to have one of the most talented and competitive engineers in the sport helping us to return to the front of the grid.

"This is the first step in re-building and strengthening our technical group. We will announce the next steps as they develop."

Coughlan is delighted that Williams have given him another opportunity after his woes of 2007.

"I am grateful to Williams for giving me this opportunity. My experience in 2007 was life-changing," he said.

"Since then, I have endeavoured to put my skills to good use in the design of the Ocelot vehicle whose purpose is to transport soldiers in safety. I have also enjoyed my time with Michael Waltrip Racing: they are an excellent race team and I wish them well for the future.

"Now, I am looking forward to returning to a sport which I love and to joining a team that I have admired for many years. I will dedicate myself to the team and to ensuring that we return to competitiveness while respecting the ethical standards with which Williams has always been synonymous."

All change......and Bernie has confirmed a "friendly" take over enquiry from News Limited......when will the fun stop

Cheers,
John

TBWG · « **Reply #76 on:** May 04, 2011, 07:53:06 PM »

Hi F! bums

Rumour has it that Patrick Head is also retiring at the end of season!

S'pose he wants time to spend all that dosh he made out of the Williams floatation?

TBWG

TBWG · « **Reply #77 on:** May 06, 2011, 10:52:20 AM »

Well F1 fans it's talk Turkey time!

What with all the Bull**it going on at the moment will this be the last Turkish GP, will Bahrain get a race in 2011, will Rupert Murdoch come up with enough readies to satiate Bernies greed and will the Pope drive for Ferrari?

Time will tell ~~~ now lets get on with the racing!

TBWG

Admin · « **Reply #78 on:** May 06, 2011, 10:57:39 AM »

TBWG · « **Reply #79 on:** May 06, 2011, 03:54:50 PM »

Hi F1 Bums

Well the main protagonists do not even feature in first practice top 10! McLaren did not even bother to go out other than for installtion laps and at the end for practice starts. Vettel wishes he had not gone out after creaming it on the barrier in the wet conditions!

Anyway here are the times. (2nd practice should be dry)?

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m38.670s 13
2. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m40.072s + 1.402 14
3. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m40.132s + 1.462 18
4. Nick Heidfeld Renault 1m40.338s + 1.668 9
5. Vitaly Petrov Renault 1m40.401s + 1.731 10
6. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m40.421s + 1.751 16
7. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m40.697s + 2.027 14
8. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m41.094s + 2.424 18
9. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m41.178s + 2.508 22
10. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m41.347s + 2.677 16
11. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m42.564s + 3.894 5
12. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Cosworth 1m42.597s + 3.927 7
13. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m43.525s + 4.855 11
14. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1m43.913s + 5.243 5
15. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Renault 1m43.986s + 5.316 6
16. Tonio Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth 1m44.787s + 6.117 20
17. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m44.954s + 6.284 4
18. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1m45.183s + 6.513 15
19. Jerome D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth 1m45.237s + 6.567 11
20. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1m48.461s + 9.791 8
21. Karun Chandhok Lotus-Renault 1m51.676s + 13.006 6
22. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m55.791s + 17.121 13
23. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 2m00.666s + 21.996 4
24. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes no time 1

All Timing Unofficial

TBWG

TBWG · « **Reply #80 on:** May 06, 2011, 07:49:21 PM »

Well Folks

Macca & Merc show their form but Alonso WTF?

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m26.456s 26
2. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m26.521s +   0.065   29
3. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m27.033s +   0.577   31
4. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m27.063s +   0.607   21
5. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m27.149s +   0.693   31
6. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m27.340s +   0.884   37
7. Vitaly Petrov Renault 1m27.517s +   1.061   37
8. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m27.725s +   1.269   37
9. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m27.844s +   1.388   32
10. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1m28.052s +   1.596   37
11. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m28.069s +   1.613   27
12. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m28.153s +   1.697   36
13. Nick Heidfeld Renault 1m28.475s +   2.019   35
14. Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m28.765s +   2.309   32
15. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Cosworth 1m28.828s +   2.372   19
16. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1m28.946s +   2.490   20
17. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Renault 1m29.409s +   2.953   39
18. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m29.637s +   3.181   27
19. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Renault 1m30.281s +   3.825   37
20. Jerome D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth 1m31.035s +   4.579   28
21. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1m31.221s +   4.765   22
22. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1m31.320s +   4.864   29
23. Tonio Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth 1m31.989s +   5.533   30

All Timing Unofficial

TBWG

TBWG · « **Reply #81 on:** May 07, 2011, 04:15:41 PM »

Hi folks

Vettel tops practice 3 but Merc shine ~~~

Pos Driver

Team/Car Time Gap Laps
1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m26.037s 17
2. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m26.038s + 0.001s 17
3. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m26.404s + 0.367s 16
4. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m26.420s + 0.383s 19
5. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m26.578s + 0.541s 17
6. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m26.726s + 0.689s 14
7. Vitaly Petrov Renault 1m26.755s + 0.718s 20
8. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m26.819s + 0.782s 12
9. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m26.883s + 0.846s 12
10. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m27.080s + 1.043s 16
11. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m27.121s + 1.084s 20
12. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Cosworth 1m27.255s + 1.218s 18
13. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1m27.318s + 1.281s 19
14. Nick Heidfeld Renault 1m27.379s + 1.342s 17
15. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1m27.528s + 1.491s 19
16. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m27.644s + 1.607s 18
17. Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m27.724s + 1.687s 15
18. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m27.976s + 1.939s 19
19. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Renault 1m28.911s + 2.874s 15
20. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Renault 1m29.697s + 3.660s 17
21. Jerome D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth 1m31.097s + 5.060s 25
22. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1m31.175s + 5.138s 19
23. Tonio Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth 1m31.375s + 5.338s 19
24. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1m32.009s + 5.972s 15

All timing unofficial

Now for qualy

TBWG

TBWG · « **Reply #82 on:** May 07, 2011, 07:17:06 PM »

Hi F1 Fans

Well Singha Beer sponsored Red Bull team have front row sewn up ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pos Driver Team Time Gap
1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m25.049s
2. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m25.454s + 0.405
3. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m25.574s + 0.525
4. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m25.595s + 0.546
5. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m25.851s + 0.802
6. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m25.982s + 0.933
7. Vitaly Petrov Renault 1m26.296s + 1.247
8. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m26.646s + 1.597
9. Nick Heidfeld Renault 1m26.659s + 1.610
10. Felipe Massa Ferrari No time
Q3 cut-off time: 1m26.740s Gap **
11. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1m26.764s + 1.154
12. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1m27.027s + 1.417
13. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m27.145s + 1.535
14. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Cosworth 1m27.236s + 1.626
15. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m27.244s + 1.634
16. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m27.255s + 1.645
17. Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m27.572s + 1.962
Q3 cut-off time: 1m28.321s Gap *
18. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Renault 1m28.780s + 1.767
19. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Renault 1m31.119s + 4.106
20. Jerome D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth 1m30.445s + 3.432 ***
21. Tonio Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth 1m30.692s + 3.679
22. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1m30.813s + 3.800
23. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1m31.564s + 4.551
24. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari No time

107% time: 1m33.103s

*** Jerome D'Ambrosio starts from last due to a 5 place demotion for passing under a yellow flag during practice.

* Gap to quickest in Q1

** Gap to quickest in Q2

TBWG

John the Traveller · « **Reply #83 on:** May 07, 2011, 07:24:51 PM »

Well TBWG it should get interesting just after the lights go out

Cheers,
John

TBWG · « **Reply #84 on:** May 08, 2011, 10:12:51 PM »

OK folks

results here ~~~~~

But now getting a bit boring ...........personaly I'd like to see someone else get a look in or championship will be done and dusted by mid season.

Also Schumacher should rethink his F1 career getting embarrasing watching him dice his way to the back!

PROVISIONAL RACE RESULTS

The Turkish Grand Prix
Istanbul, Turkey;
58 laps; 309.396km;
Weather: Sunny.

Classified:

Pos Driver Team Time
1. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1h30:17.558
2. Webber Red Bull-Renault + 8.807
3. Alonso Ferrari + 10.075
4. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes + 40.232
5. Rosberg Mercedes + 47.539
6. Button McLaren-Mercedes + 59.431
7. Heidfeld Renault + 1:00.857
8. Petrov Renault + 1:08.168
9. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1:09.300
10. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari + 1:18.000
11. Massa Ferrari + 1:19.800
12. Schumacher Mercedes + 1:25.400
13. Sutil Force India-Mercedes + 1 lap
14. Perez Sauber-Ferrari + 1 lap
15. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth + 1 lap
16. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1 lap
17. Maldonado Williams-Cosworth + 1 lap
18. Trulli Lotus-Renault + 1 lap
19. Kovalainen Lotus-Renault + 2 laps
20. D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth + 2 laps
21. Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth + 3 laps
22. Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth + 5 laps

Fastest lap: Webber, 1:29.703

Not classified/retirements:

Driver Team On lap
Di Resta Force India-Mercedes 45
Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1

World Championship standings, round 4:

Drivers: Constructors:
1. Vettel 93 1. Red Bull-Renault 148
2. Hamilton 59 2. McLaren-Mercedes 105
3. Webber 55 3. Ferrari 65
4. Button 46 4. Renault 42
5. Alonso 41 5. Mercedes 26
6. Massa 24 6. Sauber-Ferrari 8
7. Petrov 21 7. Toro Rosso-Ferrari 6
8. Heidfeld 21 8. Force India-Mercedes 4
9. Rosberg 20
10. Kobayashi 8
11. Buemi 6
12. Schumacher 6
13. Sutil 2
14. Di Resta 2

All timing unofficial

TBWG

TBWG · « **Reply #85 on:** May 20, 2011, 08:42:52 PM »

Hi F1 Bums

Well it looks like a double for Webbah in first 2 practice sessions!

First Practice ~~~

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m25.142s 27
2. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m26.149s + 1.007 20
3. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m26.379s + 1.237 29
4. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m26.480s + 1.338 27
5. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m26.738s + 1.596 26
6. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m26.988s + 1.846 19
7. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m27.016s + 1.874 32
8. Nick Heidfeld Renault 1m27.132s + 1.990 21
9. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m27.138s + 1.996 22
10. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1m27.212s + 2.070 20
11. Vitaly Petrov Renault 1m27.241s + 2.099 22
12. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m27.471s + 2.329 23
13. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Cosworth 1m28.005s + 2.863 11
14. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m28.027s + 2.885 26
15. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1m28.163s + 3.021 22
16. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m28.654s + 3.512 28
17. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m28.819s + 3.677 23
18. Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m28.995s + 3.853 9
19. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Renault 1m29.231s + 4.089 21
20. Jerome D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth 1m30.896s + 5.754 18
21. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1m31.235s + 6.093 24
22. Tonio Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth 1m31.268s + 6.126 23
23. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Renault 1m31.418s + 6.276 12
24. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1m32.106s + 6.964 25

All Timing Unofficial

2nd Practice ~~~

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m22.470s 35
2. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m22.509s + 0.039 27
3. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m22.826s + 0.356 37
4. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m23.188s + 0.718 32
5. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m23.568s + 1.098 34
6. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m23.586s + 1.116 35
7. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m23.981s + 1.511 30
8. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m24.278s + 1.808 30
9. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m24.290s + 1.820 33
10. Nick Heidfeld Renault 1m24.366s + 1.896 31
11. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m24.483s + 2.013 38
12. Vitaly Petrov Renault 1m24.786s + 2.316 43
13. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m25.296s + 2.826 33
14. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1m25.303s + 2.833 38
15. Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m25.457s + 2.987 34
16. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Cosworth 1m25.603s + 3.133 43
17. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m26.073s + 3.603 32
18. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Renault 1m26.417s + 3.947 37
19. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1m27.123s + 4.653 20
20. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Renault 1m27.189s + 4.719 34
21. Jerome D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth 1m28.036s + 5.566 36
22. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1m28.062s + 5.592 28
23. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1m29.469s + 6.999 28
24. Tonio Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth 1m29.476s + 7.006 31

All Timing Unofficial

Looks like another Red Bull Fest.

TBWG

TBWG · « **Reply #86 on:** May 21, 2011, 05:20:24 PM »

Hi Folks

Red Bull dominate 3rd practice!

Vettel grabs top spot in final practice

By Matt Beer Saturday, May 21st 2011, 10:03 GMT

Sebastian Vettel set a sensational fastest time in final practice for the Spanish Grand Prix - despite only getting a single flying lap in the session due to a problem on his car.

The world champion had only managed three installation laps before an issue forced him to return to the Red Bull garage. Repairs were only completed with a few minutes to go, but his lack of running proved no impediment whatsoever as Vettel breezed straight to the top with a 1m21.707s on his only flying lap of the morning.

Until then, Vettel's team-mate Mark Webber had been in total command.

The Australian had been quickest in both sessions yesterday, and soon hit the front this morning as well, establishing a one-second margin over the field on hard tyres, and then doing the same when everyone switched to softs in the final minutes. But when Vettel emerged, Webber found himself deposed by just 0.084 seconds.

Mercedes' Michael Schumacher led the way for a while thanks to an early change to softs, and ended the session third - albeit a full 1.3s off Vettel's pace.

The McLarens were only fourth and fifth, ahead of Nico Rosberg in the second Mercedes, Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi and Renault's Vitaly Petrov.

Nick Heidfeld's Renault catches fire at CatalunyaThe latter's team-mate Nick Heidfeld had the most dramatic incident of the morning when his Renault caught fire after 25 minutes. Heidfeld quickly parked the car as flames took hold around the right-hand sidepod and exhaust, and while he was unhurt, the team faces a huge job to get the car ready for qualifying.

Local hero Fernando Alonso was only ninth in the leading Ferrari, and had to park in the garage in the closing minutes after appearing to get stuck in sixth gear.

Pos Driver Team/Car Time Gap Laps
1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m21.707s 6
2. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m21.791s + 0.084s 17
3. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m23.057s + 1.350s 16
4. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m23.068s + 1.361s 13
5. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m23.214s + 1.507s 14
6. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m23.397s + 1.690s 18
7. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m23.669s + 1.962s 17
8. Vitaly Petrov Renault 1m24.043s + 2.336s 18
9. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m24.270s + 2.563s 11
10. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1m24.318s + 2.611s 18
11. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m24.322s + 2.615s 17
12. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m24.329s + 2.622s 19
13. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Cosworth 1m24.399s + 2.692s 17
14. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m24.535s + 2.828s 16
15. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1m24.695s + 2.988s 18
16. Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m24.722s + 3.015s 14
17. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m25.223s + 3.516s 19
18. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Renault 1m26.236s + 4.529s 11
19. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Renault 1m27.000s + 5.293s 20
20. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1m27.706s + 5.999s 20
21. Tonio Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth 1m28.330s + 6.623s 17
22. Jerome D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth 1m29.057s + 7.350s 18
23. Nick Heidfeld Renault 1m29.200s + 7.493s 6
24. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1m29.562s + 7.855s 16

All timing unofficial

TBWG

Admin · « **Reply #87 on:** May 21, 2011, 05:26:15 PM »

TBWG · « **Reply #88 on:** May 21, 2011, 08:32:54 PM »

Hi F1 fans

Grid for tomorrows race ~~~~ and your on your own as I will be in transit to UK (Nok Air permitting) when race is on!!

Webber secures pole in Spain

By Matt Beer Saturday, May 21st 2011, 13:02 GMT

Mark Webber, Red Bull RacingMark Webber claimed his first pole position since last year's Belgian Grand Prix in qualifying in Spain.

The Australian beat his Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel to the top spot as the duo mounted an intra-team battle nearly a second clear of all their rivals.

Both chose to make just one Q3 run, with Vettel - who had been suffering an apparent KERS issue earlier in qualifying - setting a 1m21.181s before Webber beat it with a 1m20.981s. Under no threat from anyone else, they then sat out the remaining five minutes of the session.

Lewis Hamilton escaped a big lock-up on his best lap to take third for McLaren, which looked set to fill row two until Fernando Alonso produced his best qualifying effort of 2011 so far to take fourth from Jenson Button. Felipe Massa was back in eighth in the second Ferrari, 0.9s off Alonso.

Vitaly Petrov was an impressive sixth for Renault, just ahead of Nico Rosberg, whose Mercedes team-mate Michael Schumacher chose not to go for a time in Q3.

Pastor Maldonado showed his strongest Formula 1 form yet to make it to Q3 for the first time - and only the second time for Williams this year - and was just off Massa's pace in ninth.

The Toro Rossos and Saubers will share rows six and seven, but the most notable result of Q2 was that Heikki Kovalainen got Lotus into the second part of qualifying for only the second time in the team's history. He then went on to beat the Force Indias to 15th place, though the latter team had played it conservatively and opted to only use hard tyres in Q2, saving more softs for the race.

Kovalainen's progress was not just due to Lotus having made a step forward this weekend, for two big names dropped out in Q1. A gearbox problem stranded Rubens Barrichello (Williams) in 19th place while despite Renault's best efforts, Nick Heidfeld's fire-damaged car could not be repaired in time for qualifying.

Jarno Trulli only just made it out in Q1 due to a gearbox issue but still manged to grab 18th, and a hydraulic problem gave Jerome D'Ambrosio some scores before the Virgin driver scraped in with a time 0.2s quicker than the 107 per cent cut-off, placing him behind the Hispanias.

Pos Driver Team Time Gap
1. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m20.981s
2. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m21.181s + 0.200
3. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m21.961s + 0.980
4. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m21.964s + 0.983
5. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m21.996s + 1.015
6. Vitaly Petrov Renault 1m22.471s + 1.490
7. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m22.599s + 1.618
8. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m22.888s + 1.907
9. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Cosworth 1m22.952s + 1.971
10. Michael Schumacher Mercedes
Q3 cut-off time: 1m23.506s Gap **
11. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m23.231s + 1.691
12. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m23.367s + 1.827
13. Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m23.694s + 2.154
14. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m23.702s + 2.162
15. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Renault 1m25.403s + 3.863
16. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercede 1m26.126s + 4.586
17. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercede 1m26.571s + 5.031
Q3 cut-off time: 1m25.874s Gap *
18. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Renault 1m26.521s + 3.561
19. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1m26.910s + 3.950
20. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1m27.315s + 4.355
21. Tonio Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth 1m27.809s + 4.849
22. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1m27.908s + 4.948
23. Jerome D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth 1m28.556s + 5.596
24. Nick Heidfeld Renault No time

107% time: 1m28.767s

* Gap to quickest in Q1

** Gap to quickest in Q2

TBWG

John the Traveller · « **Reply #89 on:** May 22, 2011, 06:50:48 AM »

Have a safe trip back TBWG.
Poor timing with the flights though :-)
Cheers, John

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