We have another qualifying session under our belts now, the end of all qualifying in Europe until we return next year. Where the European season is cut officially two 8 races with Turkey being dropped from the calendar to allow space for the return of the US GP next year in Texas. And while we are on the subject of internationality the new stats feature on blogger's updated UI has brought to light some very interesting data. It appears these little ramblings are being viewed across the world with a decent following in the USA and Singapore, among many others. So hello to you people of the world and thank you for reading my little contribution to the internet.
Anyway back to the session at hand and well, things seem to be falling into a state of continued repetition on Saturday afternoons with that German Bloke refusing to relinquish his grasp on the top spot on the grid. On a track where the advantage was thought to be lower than elsewhere there is still a full half a second dividing Vettel from the cars behind. Agreed there were some mitigating circumstances that may have exacerbated that gap but still it is an impressive show of power from the German Bloke.
So here is how today's session fell into place when the action unfolded Muhahahahaha - well it's the beginning of Panto rehearsals so trying to work on character while writing this is going to be interesting especially considering I'm playing the baddie. And the in the words of Plankton "Being is so much fun", but with that little digression aside this is how qualifying for the Italian GP played out.
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| Credit to F1Fanatic.co.uk for the image |
Qualifying
Within the royal park, in the shadow of the monolithic banking that surrounds the final sector of the circuit, an atmospheric ambiance was building. The final race of the European phase was bathed in expectant sunshine. awaiting an clear fight for supremacy on the fastest circuit on the calendar.
Q1 was started not by the home teams but by the home drivers in the form of Jarno Trulli and Vitantonio Liuzzi for Lotus and HRT respectively. All three of the newer teams had been further off the back of the established grid in practice and were destined not to progress out of Q1, leaving a sole relegation space up for offer. At the front the whole of division one and the Mercedes cars were able to set times on the medium tyre without any threat of going out. Wing Commander Petrov was also in strong form after being out qualified in Spa.
The attention was aimed further back as a raft of cars swapped places trying to keep out of the doomed 18th position. Maldonado ended up in the fence on the inside exit of the parabolica after deploying DRS too early and spinning out, only the front wing was damaged. but while that was repaired he held the relegation spot. As the times began to fall it became apparent that Torro Rosso and Sauber were at the bottom of the midfield and it was between them to settle who would be knocked out. With Maldonado fixed he jumped well out of the drop zone unleashing the revolving door of relegation. By the time the timer counted out it was Jaime El Incognito who was relegated but with a prospect of bonus points tomorrow.
Then it was time for Q2, and contrary to tradition this year as the lights faded to green on the pit lane exit no-one seemed willing to leave the pit lane. Time for some audience participation - can you help get the drivers out of pitlane, oh yes you can... you see what panto does to a person. Anyway the first one to emerge from the garage was Maldonado and duly un-opposed went fastest. For the first 6 minutes of the session only the midfield teams ventured out but the top teams decided it was time to set some times and took over the top of the timesheets. Initially it was Two-cakes-up Button on the Q2 pole before that German Bloke replaced him.
As this was the battle to enter Q3 things were a lot more interesting on the other side of the qualification boundary, the top five teams had locked out the top ten places, with the exception of Renault Squadron's Bruno Senna. He was in an epic fight with both Force India cars who were the class of division two all session, Di Resta initally stole 10th from Senna before Sutil knocked the Brazillian down to 12th. Things were far from said and done as Junior Airman Senna was able to pick up a tow from Hamilton to find 0.006s ahead of Paul Di Resta with Sutil only 0.049 outside the top ten. The session also eliminated both Saubers and Williams cars along with Sebastien Buemi.
Then there were only 10 remaining for the final shoot out, and as with Q2 when the timer started a grand total of nothing happened. Once again there was a reluctance to leave the garage, but eventually Felipe Massa emerged onto the track. But where was the other Ferrari, where was Fernando can you find him - that's right he's behind you Felipe. The two red machines left in formation flying formation a la Renault Squadron aiming to tow each other round the track to improve lap time.
During the first round of laps Vettel headed the field from the Mclaren duo and then the Ferraris, with Webber not electing to do two runs, engine conservation perhaps considering he didn't opt for a new motor for Monza. Both Mercedes and Wing Commander Petrov were also on planning on a single run, with Mercedes off-setting the runs to minimise traffic. Drivers were opting to to do two/three laps per run which Vettel decided was a good time for an epic drift in the Ascari chicane.
Onto the final run of the day things didn't make an awful lot of sense - here is the most technical and advanced sport in the world and all the cars bar Rosberg managed to be in a single queue headed by Webber and finished by Vettel. There was an outlap of drivers jostling to find some space Vettel backing off behind Vitaly and Webber and Button I'm swapped places twice for the lead of the queue. Inevitably this would have compromised the runs of those trapped in the middle of the jam, where the Ferraris and Schumacher were running.
Surprisingly enough Webber at the front of the queue didn't manage a particularly fast lap on either of the efforts as he only managed 4th, which then became 5th when pipped by Alonso. The MacLaren drivers failed to improve cementing the grid in place. Wing Commander Petrov managed to beat both Mercedes to be the lead non-division one entry, with Senna not doing a time in 10th. But the last car over the line was Sebastien Vettel who pulled a faster lap out to extend pole position to 0.5s ahead of Hamilton and Button.
The Official Bonus Points Championship points winners
Here are the winners from the Itallian GP qualifying session
- Daniel Ricciardo - for out-qualifying team-mate Liuzzi for the first time and in Vitantonio's home race
- Force India - for being the clear class of the mid-field and having both cars less then half a tenth from the top ten
- Wing Commander Petrov - for being the lead non-division one car, ahead of the Mercedes team
- Sebastien Vettel - not so much for being as dominant as normal but for an epic slide in Ascari
- Jarno Trulli - for being considerably the fastest division three car instead of being beaten by Heikki
The Still Official Dubious Dealings Championship
Only one penalty point is to be awarded after qualifying and that goes to Bruno Senna a sort of instant penalty point as as reward for deciding not to bother with Q3. I know it's a strategic call but it's too defeatist and if you made the shoot out why not have a go - they could have got Rosberg who was on an alternate strategy and started on the clean side of the grid. But no laziness prevailed, so people what do you think we should do to him.... oh dear not that, after all this is a family production. I know how about that penalty point and it has been hence awarded.
Looking to Tomorrow
Well with the grid in place there is a slight two-by-two look to the field with car performance having a greater influence than driver prowess. But will that carry forward into the race tomorrow who knows with the dual DRS zones in operation there is a significant chance there will be some position changes to re-arrange the order. Even though Vettel may have taken a dominating position, keeping it for the 53 laps of the race may not be so easy.
There is also intrigue further back the likes of Jaime El Incognito and Kobayashi are much further back then they would like although it does seem that's where the pace of those cars is at this weekend as all four entries from Sauber and Torro Rosso are in the same zone of the grid. It could be interesting to see them marching forward given the current run of the driver in 18th place scoring points on the race day. Sauber could be especially interesting given their ability to conserve tyres on a track where pitting less is a strong advantage.
It promises to be a very exciting race, and that is even after the funnelling effect of the first corner where wings and wheels could get detached. I would extrapolate how things might work looking at the GP2 start but Eurosport aren't showing it till later, at the same time as Dr Who... BOOO!!!! HISSS etc. But this season has shown the drivers showing a lot of restraint on the opening lap - except in Spa where madness prevailed. Waiting until the DRS is activated to improve their position with less risk. I expect the European season to be ended this weekend in spectacular style with a fantastic race, so until then my international audience I bid thee farewell in preparation for the closing number.
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