When we left Japan we saw the conclusion of the driver's championship as that German Bloke put it completely out of reach from the chasing pack despite his only challenger winning the race. And now while the sun has well and truly set over Yeongam, many hours ago now another championship has been wrapped up and sealed off - Red Bull finalising the constructors championship and occupying 66.666*% of the podium in the process. Leaving the rest of the season to be run as a series of one-off all-for-glory events for the leaders while the mid field will be aiming to secure a better pit-stall and championship position for the 2012 season.
Behind them was a race where battles were fought on-track and in the pit lane.making rather strategic use of the DRS zone. The tyres weren't as diverse as it was threatened in the pre-race and across the qualifying program forecasting huge amounts of stops and monolithic amounts of tyre wear and degradation on the softer compound. But they held up as well as at any other race of the season running a traditional two-three stop strategy for many of the runners - it was even postulated that Lotus were trying a one-stop plan but it didn't play out.
The Race
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| Credit to F1Fanatic.co.uk |
The skies above Korea were dull and laden with moisture, hovering ominously, bearing down on the racetrack. Yet they only loitered keeping the precipitation trapped within the veils of vapour and cloud, only the occasional spot making it's way onto the camera lens around the diabolical turns 4-6. The teams and drivers set their vehicles ready for the first Korean GP to start and possibly finish in the dry.
At the start the first few rows got away in the order that they started and with such a short run down to the first corner there wasn't too much time to make any position changes, but the mid-field seemed all to arrive into T1 all at the same time. Luckily they all managed to avoid each other by fanning out, using the maximum width of the track - although somewhere in the melee a Torro-Rosso was forced to slow on the exit of T2 being dodged by Saubers and Williams in the process.
Down into turn three, the cars once more fanned out looking for an advantage into the hairpin and it was Massa who made the greatest move passing both Webber and Button into what was then third at the time. Jenson fought back round the outside in turn 4 while Alonso was now in competition with Webber. At the very front of the pack Hamilton failed to close the door on Vettel and the German went through into the lead - and that would be the last we'd see from him in a while.
Mark managed to use the horrid section of corners to his advantage to go past both Massa and Button within the space of two corners to claim his turn in third while Jenson was eased out wide allowing Alonso through. This stabilised the positions for a while as more spots of rain fell on the camera lenses but not enough to signify anything more torrential, just enough for a slippery surface flag in the evil chicane complex. Further back in the opening couple of laps an HRT seemed to loose an front wing, there were no indications to figure out which one or who was hit by it.
By the end of the first ten laps the minute drizzle had tapered off, and light began to pierce the skies cascading unto the track below, glinting off the more shiny liveried vehicles when cresting the hill before turn 7. But the beginning of the pit stop window was approaching as the field had settled down into a rhythm, Vettel out front from Hamilton, Webber and. The others were starting to get rather trapped behind Massa
who was holding up his team-mate, Button and Rosberg was catching in the Mercedes.
In an effort to get out from behind a slow Massa, both Button and Rosberg took to the pits - exiting alongside each other. But Nico locked up and ran wide ceeding the position to Jenson - however that meant he crossed the DRS detection line first so Rosberg could activate it and re-take the position on the straight. It was only temporary as Jenson was able to re-take the position round the back of the circuit where the McLaren was stronger than the Mercedes. Despite their little battle both cars did jump the two Ferraris.
Stability was about to be breeched, yellow flags were out in the turn three hairpin, reports Schumacher had span and rejoined - the reports were true with the exception that he'd rejoined missing his rear wing and most of his rear wheel. There was also an entire front wing laying on the track, so who did it belong to - well it turned out Wing Commander Petrov decided he didn't like Schumacher anymore and wanted rid of him and coming within millimetres of taking Alonso out in the process. The pair have made contact before this year, such as in Istanbul but this time Vitaly was at fault being sidetracked by racing the Ferrari who'd just left the pits.
The Safety Car was called to allow the marshals to clear the scattered parts of Renault Squadron, and Mercedes wings littering the hairpin - maintain Korea's record of a 100% of races being interrupted by the SLS. Bunching the cars back up again ready for the restart, a restart Vettel handled with ease being able to build up the 1s gap to Hamilton before the DRS became active. The positions remained stable towards the front but the mid-field were getting rather involved with each other - Kobayashi was running three wide at one point with a Torro Rosso and Bruno Senna - resulting in a chipped front wing. Forcing the Sauber driver to drop back after using the most strategic use of DRS of the season on Maldonado some laps earlier.
However change was on the cards, Ferrari running in close formation behind Rosberg with Massa the lead attacking car - Felipe made several attempts of at Nico but the speed of the Mercedes in a straight line countered the DRS laden charge. But the constant pressure forced Rosberg into an error - severely locking his front wheel inducing a flat spot allowing both chasing red machines through.
Another battle was raging further up the field as Webber had caught up with Hamilton's McLaren and enjoyed a spectacular interchange of position. All kicking off in the evil 4-6 complex where Lewis ran wide in the first part of the series allowing Webber to throw it down the inside of the last of the three corners. Hamilton cut back to the inside of the Webber and ran two wide through-out the entire of the middle sector virtually but the position was finally handed back to Lewis several turns later.
This battle brought Button and Alonso closer but just tantalisingly out of reach, unable to access the DRS to chase down Webber in front. With five laps remaining Webber had another go at passing Hamilton this time into turn one after lapping the Lotus of Jarno Trulli. He claimed the position but Lewis was awarded the DRS activation, and mixed with the superior traction of the McLaren Webber was defenseless on the main straight having to concede defeat to Lewis on this occasion, as the Red Bull was unable to find a way through for the remainder of the race.
Just behind them Alonso declared he'd given up with it all and couldn't catch Button ahead, but one man who hadn't given up was Jaime El Incognito who had appeared in the points right behind Rosberg and the two fastest cars in a straight line were in battle. Jaime's team-mate Buemi was also moving forward systematically passing the Force India Team finishing with Di Resta a few laps from home, but that was as far as he was going to get. Back with Alguersuari however he was able to conquer Rosberg using the DRS to overpower the Mercedes into turn three, as Nico seemed to be running out of fuel.
Back at the very front of the grid, Vettel sauntered across the line to claim his tenth victory of the season and firmly cementing his domination of 2011 by claiming fastest lap on the final lap, Hamilton was able to hold Webber off for third with Button in fourth. The man who gave up rounded out the top five while Massa finished a distant 6th, as Jaime was king of division 2 and defeated division the remaining 1.5 runner Rosberg into 7th while the German claimed 8th before pulling over on the lap back to the pits. As did Alonso - the man who gave up - with I'd suspect fuel issues also. The points positions were filled by Buemi in 9th and Paul Di Resta for Force India in 10th.
The Official Bonus Points Championship points winners
As now both the actual championships have been won and finished off this weekend everything going in Red Bull's direction for the year I've now become the holder of the only open competition of the series where so many drivers/teams/inanimate objects can still be crowned overall champion. Here are the winners from the Korean GP
10pts - Mark Webber - for making such brilliant use of a crap corner in the form of the 4-6 chicane, and for a fantastic race with Lewis Hamilton and on top of all that for deciding that the official dignitaries on the podium needed soaking.
8pts - Jaime El Incognito - for once more appearing in the points from seemingly nowhere to win division two and beating the division 1.5 car of Rosberg as well
6pts - Heikki Kovalainen - for beating both Saubers -yes Kamui had wing damage and Perez pitted on the last lap but for also being faster than the Renault ahead of Senna in a division three car.
5pts - Alonso, The man who gave up - for managing to avoid Schumacher on pit exit and then by a combinaition of luck and a tiny amount of skill avoided Petrov's nose by the smallest of margins.
4pts - Felipe Massa - for the manoeuvre on lap one to take both Webber and Button in one corner
3pts - Kamui Kobayashi - for the the most sneaky use of the DRS section, allowing Maldonado through only to regain the position in T3, rather than defending into 1 and losing it into 3.
2pts - Hamilton - for being able to race wheel to wheel without hitting anyone, that was mainly due to Webber but Lewis didn't hit anyone today
1pt - Red Bull Racing - OK I guess winning the constructors championship deserves a point.
The Also Official Penalties Championship
After a weekend in Japan where the officials didn't need to disperse any form of penalty this weekend things were a little different.
who was holding up his team-mate, Button and Rosberg was catching in the Mercedes.
In an effort to get out from behind a slow Massa, both Button and Rosberg took to the pits - exiting alongside each other. But Nico locked up and ran wide ceeding the position to Jenson - however that meant he crossed the DRS detection line first so Rosberg could activate it and re-take the position on the straight. It was only temporary as Jenson was able to re-take the position round the back of the circuit where the McLaren was stronger than the Mercedes. Despite their little battle both cars did jump the two Ferraris.
Stability was about to be breeched, yellow flags were out in the turn three hairpin, reports Schumacher had span and rejoined - the reports were true with the exception that he'd rejoined missing his rear wing and most of his rear wheel. There was also an entire front wing laying on the track, so who did it belong to - well it turned out Wing Commander Petrov decided he didn't like Schumacher anymore and wanted rid of him and coming within millimetres of taking Alonso out in the process. The pair have made contact before this year, such as in Istanbul but this time Vitaly was at fault being sidetracked by racing the Ferrari who'd just left the pits.
The Safety Car was called to allow the marshals to clear the scattered parts of Renault Squadron, and Mercedes wings littering the hairpin - maintain Korea's record of a 100% of races being interrupted by the SLS. Bunching the cars back up again ready for the restart, a restart Vettel handled with ease being able to build up the 1s gap to Hamilton before the DRS became active. The positions remained stable towards the front but the mid-field were getting rather involved with each other - Kobayashi was running three wide at one point with a Torro Rosso and Bruno Senna - resulting in a chipped front wing. Forcing the Sauber driver to drop back after using the most strategic use of DRS of the season on Maldonado some laps earlier.
However change was on the cards, Ferrari running in close formation behind Rosberg with Massa the lead attacking car - Felipe made several attempts of at Nico but the speed of the Mercedes in a straight line countered the DRS laden charge. But the constant pressure forced Rosberg into an error - severely locking his front wheel inducing a flat spot allowing both chasing red machines through.
Another battle was raging further up the field as Webber had caught up with Hamilton's McLaren and enjoyed a spectacular interchange of position. All kicking off in the evil 4-6 complex where Lewis ran wide in the first part of the series allowing Webber to throw it down the inside of the last of the three corners. Hamilton cut back to the inside of the Webber and ran two wide through-out the entire of the middle sector virtually but the position was finally handed back to Lewis several turns later.
This battle brought Button and Alonso closer but just tantalisingly out of reach, unable to access the DRS to chase down Webber in front. With five laps remaining Webber had another go at passing Hamilton this time into turn one after lapping the Lotus of Jarno Trulli. He claimed the position but Lewis was awarded the DRS activation, and mixed with the superior traction of the McLaren Webber was defenseless on the main straight having to concede defeat to Lewis on this occasion, as the Red Bull was unable to find a way through for the remainder of the race.
Just behind them Alonso declared he'd given up with it all and couldn't catch Button ahead, but one man who hadn't given up was Jaime El Incognito who had appeared in the points right behind Rosberg and the two fastest cars in a straight line were in battle. Jaime's team-mate Buemi was also moving forward systematically passing the Force India Team finishing with Di Resta a few laps from home, but that was as far as he was going to get. Back with Alguersuari however he was able to conquer Rosberg using the DRS to overpower the Mercedes into turn three, as Nico seemed to be running out of fuel.
Back at the very front of the grid, Vettel sauntered across the line to claim his tenth victory of the season and firmly cementing his domination of 2011 by claiming fastest lap on the final lap, Hamilton was able to hold Webber off for third with Button in fourth. The man who gave up rounded out the top five while Massa finished a distant 6th, as Jaime was king of division 2 and defeated division the remaining 1.5 runner Rosberg into 7th while the German claimed 8th before pulling over on the lap back to the pits. As did Alonso - the man who gave up - with I'd suspect fuel issues also. The points positions were filled by Buemi in 9th and Paul Di Resta for Force India in 10th.
The Official Bonus Points Championship points winners
As now both the actual championships have been won and finished off this weekend everything going in Red Bull's direction for the year I've now become the holder of the only open competition of the series where so many drivers/teams/inanimate objects can still be crowned overall champion. Here are the winners from the Korean GP
10pts - Mark Webber - for making such brilliant use of a crap corner in the form of the 4-6 chicane, and for a fantastic race with Lewis Hamilton and on top of all that for deciding that the official dignitaries on the podium needed soaking.
8pts - Jaime El Incognito - for once more appearing in the points from seemingly nowhere to win division two and beating the division 1.5 car of Rosberg as well
6pts - Heikki Kovalainen - for beating both Saubers -yes Kamui had wing damage and Perez pitted on the last lap but for also being faster than the Renault ahead of Senna in a division three car.
5pts - Alonso, The man who gave up - for managing to avoid Schumacher on pit exit and then by a combinaition of luck and a tiny amount of skill avoided Petrov's nose by the smallest of margins.
4pts - Felipe Massa - for the manoeuvre on lap one to take both Webber and Button in one corner
3pts - Kamui Kobayashi - for the the most sneaky use of the DRS section, allowing Maldonado through only to regain the position in T3, rather than defending into 1 and losing it into 3.
2pts - Hamilton - for being able to race wheel to wheel without hitting anyone, that was mainly due to Webber but Lewis didn't hit anyone today
1pt - Red Bull Racing - OK I guess winning the constructors championship deserves a point.
The Also Official Penalties Championship
After a weekend in Japan where the officials didn't need to disperse any form of penalty this weekend things were a little different.
- Pastor Maldonado - Drive Through Penalty - for going the wrong side of a bollard in the pit lane, which would appear to be the bollard on exit as I couldn't see any others. Has to have a bonus point also for most unusual penalty of the season
- Wing Commander Petrov - Five Place Grid Drop - for assaulting the Mercedes of Michael Schumacher at the end of the DRS section after passing Alonso and oh so nearly taking the Ferrari with him
The Still official Dubious Dealings Championship
When the officials have no power to issue an official sanction this where this championship steps into the forefront to point those drivers/teams/ other assorted individuals or objects out and deliver penalty points.
- The Korean pit lane exit - resembling a section of circuit that could have been designed by a child with a crayon blindfolded. Certainly was an afterthought to the design of the layout a 'we'll just stick this bit on the end' approach, caught Rosberg out in practice and almost caused a collision between Schumacher and Alonso in the race.
Looking to forward to India
From the the former newest edition to the season to it's immediate successor now, introducing the Indian GP's first time on the calendar with another dual personality style layout quite simliar in theory to Korea. An opening section built from long straights and heavy breaking zones, and the second half of the lap in the form of a series of quick flowing corners judging by the layout - one I haven't driven on so have limited knowledge. But from what I have seen India has one thing Korea doesn't have and that is a significant amount of undulation, which makes it sound a lot more interesting.
A new addition to the season is always an exciting prospect, somewhere different and unusual in a new country to boot. It's a new track to learn not only for the drivers and teams but for me sitting here, a new batch of corners to understand and then see in action. A place where we have no idea who will come out on top especially considering how close the division one cars have been running recently, this race will be a voyage into the complete unknown for more reasons than one.
When it comes to making the posts for the weekend, there we or more accurately I encounter a problem in the fact that I don't have an Indian GP layout to film the video on. There is a developmental version released but it is rather inaccurate - with the pit-lane on the wrong side of the front straight. However there is hope, I scouted YouTube for independent productions of the track and found a rather nice one which I do hope to be able to use for the weekend coming up.
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