Well.... How on earth has that happened - everything that is logical and reasonable has folded into complete oblivion. At this present moment in time I am sitting here in front of this machine a fresh quantity of tea in the mug and event though the flag fell several moments ago none of it make sense. Here is the predicament, you see as it has been well documented Valencia has a received a well deserved reputation for being frankly dull and empty in terms of action and frankly pretty much anything. Even in the support races over the years this place has been in operation the standards have been nothing to write home about. Then there was today, when the formbook of this track, the reputation and records can now be all thrown out the window and into the monsoon that is presently pouring down outside Blog HQ. Before we all get carried away with ourselves it is time to be calm and objective as how the 57 laps here played out can be considered to be more of an anomaly than a look into things to come. Probably on account of Valencia not being on the calendar for too much longer.
Having managed to consume the majority of some remaining cookies from the race, and the fog of confusion surrounding how that came to fruition begins to lift, here in the HQ - but the finalisation of the race result is far from complete. As there are two current allegations.investigations being conducted involving competitors running in the a different places within the points, and here is the advantage of the more reliable structure of the bonus points system. Where things like this can take a while to sort out but the bonus points are instant and decisive - although at this point I have no real idea how to assign them today due to the immensity of the race with so much complexity and deserving performances. Notice how many words are being added here because trying to convert the lunacy that just elapsed into a series of cohesive paragraphs, the sound that came out of Ben Edwards at the end of the race just has to sum up difficult it was. Rather expecting that particular note to become popular on youtube for a while to come - so funny - but time has come to document the European GP of 2012.
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| A summary of the race: F1Fanatic.co.uk |
Today was the scene of the first reverse outside broadcast for the Blog, I know, pushing all sorts of boundaries there although I do think that has exhausted all of the possible permutations but these things happen. At the start of the race it is safe to say that expectations were rather low for the upcoming laps, yes we had cars out of position, so there was some hope, but logic and reason (remember those) dictated that it should be a challenge to remain conscious throughout the event. The provision of sugary foods was in place to counter fatigue which was planned for the coming 90 minutes. We were one driver short on the grid once more as glock's intestinal infection prevented him from taking the start.
But the cars were in place and one by one the lights upon the gantry burst into illumination before reluctantly bringing one of the least anticipated sets of laps underway - and from the moment that the final photon of light escaped the start it was clear that we were not in for a traditional Valencia race. Immediately both of the Lotus cars made a charge towards the front, swamping towards Maldonado, Pastor defended against Kimi on the inside of the first corner However that was only one of the black cars taken car of, as Grosjean found the smallest of spaces to the inside of the Williams into the second corner and onto an early podium position. The grid was immensely tightly packed in the foolishly designed first chicane, but somehow there was no significant contact or any missing wings.
Out front Vettel was gone and not coming back as Hamilton was holding off the challenges of Grosjean's Lotus, in the middle of the pack there were cars in all sorts of positions, using every conceivable line as they crossed the bridge. The last time that formation was in effect someone ended up upside down, but once again no-one hit each other - saving the violence for later in the race. Things were not going so well a little further back where Webber hadn't made too much ground from his lower grid position pinned behind Riccardo, and a poor start for Button knocked him out of the points positions. While travelling in the opposite direction were the Ferraris more so in the hands of Fernando in front of the home crowd. In a demonstration of how important every position matters to the drivers Charles Pic and Narain had a little coming together shedding wing pieces in a spirited battle over last place. Back at the front of the grid-ish because Vettel was in a different country on pace, but the next car in line was under pressure from Romain and the Frenchman went all the way round the outside of the McLaren. Lewis tried to squeeze out the Lotus but the move was impossible to defend.
More Lotus action a little further back as Raikkonen was now right behind Maldonado's Williams, Kimi had more sense then to look round the outside of the Venezuelan in the first part of the corner - for reasons that will be covered later. But apparently there was some space between the Williams and the wall after Pastor ran a little wide in turn 12, and with some miraculous co-operation from Maldonado for once, Kimi took the place. Further back the pit window has opened and it was Button and more surprises as it was Perez joining the McLaren in attaining some new tyres so on lap 12, a magical one-stop wonder race was probably not on the table this time round. For some reason there was more overtaking in Valencia as Alonso dispatched the Force India of Hulkenberg and the other Ferrari of Massa having pitted overtook the Torro Rosso of Vergne.
The first sequence of pit stops were very interesting as it really mixed up the order quite a bit as some cars were running really long opening stints and had track position over drivers on fresher tyres by virtue of staying out. In most races where this sort of development takes place, we end up with pockets of cars through the field and especially on a track like this at this stage of the race everyone is spaced out. Not this time because we had Michael Oh Sch...umacher who was collecting a whole load of friends, if there was an award for the longest train of cars behind one driver it would have to go to the German. It even outstripped the line of cars that Raikkonen found in China, not only was the train longer, it was a lot more animated as well. Because it contained drivers that needed to escape the train to avoid their race being compromised, including Alonso, and Webber, it was the Spaniard who was once more on a charge in the middle of the chaotic line of impending mayhem.
It was the type of gathering that could easily descend into destruction and therefore Fernando had even more reason to want to escape the building storm - and the forecast was looking destructive - Alonso made the first move on Webber. As it turns out there is room round the outside of turn two to make an overtaking manoeuvre - who'd have thought - which put him behind Senna and into third place in the Schumacher train. With the storm of drivers rumbling loud behind the Ferrari, streaming far into the distance beyond the top ten places, sweeping up the likes of Perez and Button into the impending chaos, Fernando made his move on Senna on the outside of what is rumoured to be turn 12. He had only one car left to break free from the train before it imploded but had to be a little more conventional this time and used the inside of the track for once, as Michael had been defending to top of the queue rather severely for a while. He picked a good time to leave the train as it got a little closer to disintegrating as Webber saw his chance to move up a spot on Senna into turn 7.
Both Senna and Schumacher were running out of tyres and backing up the pack even more, opening the door for Raikkonen who was also trapped in this train of cars, who dove down the inside of Senna. At this point the door was still a little ajar, and that's all Kobayashi needed to sense a pass, however Bruno didn't really agree and closed the gap as Kamui was in it. Which was the implosion we were expecting for several laps now but had somehow managed to avoid - the Sauber lost it's front wing and Senna executed a complete rotation with a rear puncture from the contact. Contact that was to earn the Williams driver a drive through penalty for causing a collision, not something the folk in the Sky commentary box understood - but there are many things that seem to go missing there.
Life moved from the controlled chaos of the Schumacher train which was deflated by the collision which took two cars to the pit lane and by Michael himself taking to the pit lane, and back into madness a little further back. So who did we have to make a fool of themselves, well step forward Jean Eric Vergne who for some reason forgot how wide his car was and that there is a chance of other cars using the track... you are not alone out the Mr Vergne. As the Frenchman thought it would be a grand idea to nudge Heikki out of the way in the middle of the straight, a straight which is not becoming Kovalainen's favourite place as it was the same one that launched Webber in 2010. This time round the results were not to destructive but both cars suffered a puncture from the glancing contact, for some reason there was not action imposed on Jean-Eric well there will be point from me for that. Yet Vergne was not done yet on his rampage of madness and lunacy, sprinting back to the pit-lane with a failing rear tyre could be considered an act of moronic proportions as shards of carbon fibre and rubber were constantly thrown into the air all over the track. But there was the one interesting development as the crazed Frenchman did bring out the safety car before pulling into retirement.
The intervention ruined the massive lead that Vettel had over Grosjean and Hamilton but it was going to get a whole lot more interesting, and brought a spontaneous round of pit stops - something that never bodes too well for the McLaren team. Can't imagine the thoughts running through Lewis' head en route to his garage of mechanics given how well it has gone too often this season, and this time was no different, as it kicked off with a jack failure and the combo was finished by a sticking left front. Consequently Alonso ended up in third and Hamilton dropped to 6th. We were poised to enter the second phase of the race for any of you folk still reading this long document by this stage - so brace yourselves as there is a lot more to come.
On the restart Alonso was once more on the move looking at Grosjean in turn one, before being forced to the outside on the run down to the second turn. As we have found out earlier there is enough room to pass on the outside and once more Fernando made the move stick to become the lead car in the charge towards Vettel out front. Towards the middle of the pack things were to work out a little worse in the other side of the Ferrari garage as the on board footage saw a nose section come straight into the side of the Massa's car, resulting in another puncture this time for Felipe and a penalty for the offending nose section. Later identified as belonging to Kobayashi and was handed a penalty - but that development took a backseat when right at the front mechanical dramas gripped the internal workings of the German Blokes machine. Something breaking in a Red Bull is about as likely as giving big foot a high five on a unicycle, but it was happening and it was terminal. Another safety car was feared but the marshals were able to take away the car under double waved yellows.
The crowd erupted into a noise which would be the first sound that can be heard from space, apparently in space you can here the Spanish scream when Alonso took the lead, but Grosjean wasn't too far behind and was plotting on being the eighth different winner this season. Apparently the madness of Valencia wasn't done yet as mechanical issues also claimed the Lotus of Grosjean from second place making life a lot more easier for Alonso out front. Romain slowed gently looking for a gap in the fence, preferably one containing marshals to push the car off the track. There was a pact seeming forming just outside the points as Schumacher and Webber were on a personal charge taking pairing up to pass each car in their sights. Much to their surprise and certainly people here at Blog HQ the first car to be taken care of was in fact the Caterham of Petrov - precisely Vitaly was in the points albeit temporarily and only in tenth but still.
Webber and Schumacher marched on and teamed up when passing Button who was having another dire and uninvolved day, his pessimistic post qualifying predictions were appearing to be more accurate than he hoped for down in 9th. Petrov had been caught next by Ricciardo a meeting that didn't go to well, both cars tried to enter the same piece of track. Daniel became the second Torro Rosso driver to forget how wide a Caterham is and failed to allow enough room for Vitaly - contact was made and Ricciardo was close rolling and Petrov lost a wing. Back to the Webber, Schumacher mutual appreciation brigade and they ploughed past the two Force India drivers and the Sauber of One-Stop Perez.
Right out front Alonso had built a sufficient gap as Hamilton had Raikkonen to deal with, and in his defence of the position it benefited Fernando greatly both allowing to escape and holding Kimi at bay. But all that work managing the Lotus was damaging to Lewis' tyres which started to wear quite significantly to the point where he was powersliding off the bridge. Raikkonen naturally gained a better run on the slowing McLaren but Hamilton defended to the inside of turn 12 halting the attack, well merely postponing the inevitable while the Williams of Maldonado was getting ever closer; as were the Michael & Mark team. Hamilton went into defensive mode as the car approached turn 17, but slid wide on the failing tyres opening a large enough space on the inside and Kimi was through into second.
Did that mean finally things were settled as there were only two laps left on the counter - well no - we hadn't exhausted the madness as best of buddies Hamilton and Maldonado were in close proximity, which never ends well. Last season in Monaco Hamilton binned the Williams on a late restart, but Hamilton was hitting pretty much everyone that day, going for a high score at the time. The rivalry was reignited in Belgium in qualifying when it was Pastor's turn to launch an attack ramming the McLaren - that would make this the tie breaking round. Maldonado threw the first strike moving to the outside as Hamilton countered the move with a standard inside defence. Pastor tried to hang on round the outside of the corner as Hamilton eased him further wide and onto the run-off area. This could be seen as a mistake as it were, as Maldonado doesn't take to well to being muscled out of an overtaking manoeuvre, it was the same event that sparked the shunting in Spa. At this particular corner, there was a lot of run-off space acres of it in fact, enough space to land a whole fleet of aircraft, but Pastor decided the best place to rejoin the track happened to be occupied by a McLaren. You can see where this is going, and soon so did Lewis as he was swiftly introduced to the barriers and out of the race. The Williams continued without a front wing and immediately fell victim to the Michael & Mark team.
Alonso ahead of all this crossed the line first and broke the streak of differing winners, and generating probably the biggest noise ever recorded in all of time, followed across the line several seconds later by another podium finish for Raikkonen. Normally this would be a happy occasion for a driver, but someone failed to tell Kimi that, sometimes one does wonder what actually goes on in that mind, only sometimes though - perhaps an ice cream would help. What Kimi was lacking in apparent happiness the rest of the grid made up for as the Michael & Mark team crossed the line next meaning that Schumacher had earned himself a podium for the first time since the comeback. The next team up was the Force India squadron to take a large haul of points in 5th and 6th - what should be noted is that Paul Di Resta completed the race on one stop. Be careful Mr Perez you seem to have some competition in that special ability, behind him Rosberg headed another dismal day for Button in 7th and 8th. A two stopping one-stop Perez finished 9th, and Maldonado minus his front wing finished 10th but has had the position stripped since the blog started meaning that Senna claims the final championship point.
Fernando took his time getting to the poduim post-race, I was hoping there would be some doughnuts on the run-off area, the FIA don't like it but it is worth so many bonus points - any racing drivers reading this and want bonus points... But decided to have a party with some marshals instead and wouldn't have left had the medical car was sent round to pick him up, and have him manually returned. A party was rather well deserved as he claims the lead of the world championship with those not so important FIA points.
The bonus points championship points winners
After that race deciding only ten drivers to assign bonus points to was rather difficult, and it was so much harder deciding which order those ten drivers were to be placed in but here they are.
25pts - Fernando Alonso - For being awesome, passing people inside, outside and everywhere else from 11th to the win
18pts - Sebastien Vettel - In an era of close racing being so dominant earns some points despite failing to finish in the end
15pts - Team Michael & Mark - I would have separated the points here but both of them were inseparable so both drivers get the points
12pts - Romain Grosjean - Started the streak of passing in Valencia and could have taken the race without an alternator failure
10pts - Kimi Raikkonen - Performed some great moves and manage to pass Maldonado without making him mad and it wasn't for Hamilton might have had a shot at a win
8pts - Vitaly Petrov - For being in the points in a Caterham - enough said really
6pts - Valencia - Here are some points for not being appaling when we figured you would be
4pts - Paul Di Resta - For completing the race in a single stop when Perez couldn't
2pts - Ben Edwards - Simply for the note he made when Hamilton ended up in the wall - Hilarious.
1pt - Jean Eric Vergne - Despite being a pillock bringing out the safety car through his foolishness was a spark of genius for the quality of the race
The penalties championship
We did have a lot of time when everyone was well behaved, even for the opening phase of this race but it soon descended into mayhem and lunacy - but along with lunacy comes some penalties and we had some today.
- Kamui Kobayshi - five place grid drop - for hitting Massa
- Bruno Senna - Drive through penalty - hitting Kamui
- Narain Karthikeyan - Drive through penalty - speeding in pit lane
- Pastor Maldonado - 20s time penalty - for hitting Hamilton
- Jean Eric Vergne - 10 place grid drop + $25,000 fine - for hitting Heikki
Penalty points championship
Looking at the list of penalties this weekend this corner of the internet does seem a little redundant as all the things I was going to give points for have been penalised by the authorities so there is little more I can do. But they didn't a penalty to Ricciardo in his contact with Petrov as there should be on there and that is where I do come into play. So there is one penalty point there, but everyone else have been taken care of by the race stewards
Looking ahead to Britain
Ah, jolly good, the grid are pottering over here to little old England as we leave the surprisingly good Valencia behind perhaps for the last time as plans to alternate the race with Barcelona are in the pipeline. Neither track are particularly brilliant, even on today's showing we can't move Valencia up into a higher ranking on the back of a single chaotic event, but Barcelona is a nicer lap to drive in the pre-race video. The transition onto Silverstone is a remarkable difference replacing a modern sterilised facility with a traditional high-speed European circuit which brings with it the threat of English weather. If the climate outside blog HQ is anything to go by the event will be completed in canoes rather than racing cars. Should be interesting to see the footage from the local touring car races today down at Croft today if it rained as much there it will be hilarious.
It is always nice to welcome the British GP, which means there may be a few extra people lurking round the internet for that event so I will welcome you all too to this part of the world for that weekend and for any further races. Personally the new modifications made to Silverstone for the past two seasons have not been a favourite, the old layout was so much better to drive but it worked out worse off for racing. It is often the sacrifice we make too often in track design - something that played out today, an awful lap and design lead to what grudgingly can be called the best race of the season so far. So until next time this is farewell from the blog.
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