2011 Brazilian Grand Prix

[niky]

Button takes Massa. Massa's on old tires, but Button's on hard tires. All DRS.

Vettel takes more softs. Everyone expects rain. Seems like Button's gamble won't pay off, but Mother Nature is a fickle lady.

Engineer to Kobayashi:

"Don't do anything stupid, for God's sake... please don't-a-do-anything-stupid with Di Resta..."

Massa about to lose a place to Hamilton.

 

[ZEROX]

Forgive me. I'm in extreme sarcasm mode today.

It's okay. Lol.
Now let's enjoy the race.

Mass and Hamilton...again. Just don't crash. Again.

 

[GTPorsche]

Please, please don't let Massa and Hamilton collide.

 

[dhandeh]

Massa letting Button and Vettel through, and then putting up a fight with Hamilton. That's why I dislike him, it's almost like he wants to make a situation.

 

[niky]

You can bet your sweet patooties that Massa is not going to make this easy.

Hamilton's gearbox problem is affecting his corner entry. Possibly a problem with downshifting under braking, or maybe he's just going in too hot.

-

Whatever, that McLaren just doesn't have the acceleration or braking to overtake Massa, no matter how much more grip he has. That's ruined Hamilton's race.

-

Meanwhile, Rob Smedley is cackling with glee.

 

[C-ZETA]

Massa letting Button and Vettel through, and then putting up a fight with Hamilton. That's why I dislike him, it's almost like he wants to make a situation.

He's trying to prove his Naughty Boy of the Year award from BBC wasn't given for nothing.

 

[ZEROX]

It won't be raining it seems.

 

[GTPorsche]

I don't think Massa has "let" anyone passed. He's made the same defensive moves on Vettel, Button and Hamilton in the DRS zone.

 

[Alex p.]

Rain is on the way...

 

[Robin]

Hamilton's gearbox gone!

 

[ZEROX]

Hamilton out.
Vettel or Senna are next.

 

[niky]

Massa stays ahead of Hamilton on his pit stop. Great job.

Vettel sets another fastest lap. Gets another radio reminder to preserve that gearbox.

Betting pool? I'm putting my money on Vettel continuing to buck those orders till the end of the race.

Meantime... Hamilton loses his gearbox completely. It decides it wants a nice long vacation and helpfully selects neutral for him to allow him to coast to a stop.

 

[Saidur_Ali]

Got to love the way Vettel gave that that place to Webber. When Webber got near, Vettel pulled away and then slowed down after the end of lap to let him through. He knows Webber doesn't like things handed to him.

 

[C-ZETA]

The gearbox virus is now showing its symptoms for one sufferer, it seems.

 

[astrosdude91]

A bad way to end a bad season for Hamilton.

 

[GTPorsche]

Hamilton's gearbox is gone and the steering wheel looks dead while the car is still running.

 

[ranhammerR34]

Yep, looks like it grinds to a halt for Hamilton. --- Randy

 

[Mr. S]

Still hoping Hamilton can keep Massa at bay.

 

[niky]

Here's something interesting... Button is just over twenty seconds behind Webber. He could just finish second in the race... and if Webber stumbles, he could... win.

Sutil and Rosberg battling like crazy. Sutil with a naughty wag at Rosberg after the overtake, and makes it stick, even though Rosberg tries to use the DRS on him down the back straight.

EDIT:

Wha? Button takes another set of tires? Probably the tires were finally going away from him.

Wonder why they went for the hard tires again? Still in fourth, but gave up more time to Alonso... for no reason...

 

[TheBook]

Here's something interesting... Button is just over twenty seconds behind Webber. He could just finish second in the race... and if Webber stumbles, he could... win.

Doesn't Webber have to stop again, assuming the race stays dry? In that case, Button might get past that way. EDIT: neeeeeeever mind.

 

[niky]

Right... that was absolutely bizarre. But maybe, going by the times Button was setting before that stop, they figured that he would lose that place to Alonso at the end, anyway, so they brought him in.

Button's engineer says he can do qualifying pace laps till the end of the race on the hards, maybe that's the new gamble.

 

[astrosdude91]

Vettel: "I feel like Senna in '91."

Rocky: "Good for you."

 

[ZEROX]

I see some spots of rain but not much.

 

[GTPorsche]

Looks like Massa will still finish no higher than 5th.

 

[Saidur_Ali]

Maybe Ayrton is looking down on Bruno, Lewis and Sebastian and giving a taste of gearbox problems like he experienced .

 

[niky]

So the McLaren gamble might pay off... Button has the pace on Alonso, and could overtake him. But Alonso is not the easiest person in the world to pass.

Don't know if Button will risk it... but he might... tries on the Senna S, now he'll do a DRS overtake? He's got it!

Fantastic combo. He managed to hit the DRS zone locked onto Alonso's rear bumper and had juuuust enough space to get around. Now he's looking to take on Vettel... who just went off.

 

[Saidur_Ali]

Clever driving from Button. Cut back inside, got the speed on exit and boosted with Kers and then got DRS. Job done.

 

[astrosdude91]

Dat slide from Alonso.

 

[GTPorsche]

Dat slide from Alonso.

Right as the feed cut to the shot of the McLaren mechanics.

 

[Robin]

That was an amazing slide, really thought he might loose it there!