Formula 1 Gran Premio de España Santander 2012

[Seismica]

Never mind

There is one thing I am curious about though. Last year we had the blown diffuser and the best time was 1'23.5xx in a Red Bull that dominated the grid.

This year pole is 1.8 seconds quickers, and everyone down to Felipe Massa in 17th place (Before Hamilton's disqualification) beat it.

Now I do follow the technical side of F1 more than the average fan, but how in the world did the teams find 1.8 seconds (more in some cases) when they're supposedly running less downforce?

The track conditions must have been absolutely perfect, that is the only explanation I can think of. If memory serves, it rained in practice last year as I remember Perez hitting a patch of water under the bridge down at turn 4 and spinning off, but it was bone dry by qualifying, if a little green. It doesn't fully explain how the cars are 2 seconds faster than last year.

 

[CarolinaBlue704]

I bet someone got paid lots of money to make sure Hami was at the back to help make it a Spaniard win.

It's clear at this point that McLaren have a one, maybe multiple, rogue mechanics on their team.

These rogue mechanics are likely receiving checks from Maranello.

 

[Centura]

There is one thing I am curious about though. Last year we had the blown diffuser and the best time was 1'23.5xx in a Red Bull that dominated the grid.

This year pole is 1.8 seconds quickers, and everyone down to Felipe Massa in 17th place (Before Hamilton's disqualification) beat it.

Now I do follow the technical side of F1 more than the average fan, but how in the world did the teams find 1.8 seconds (more in some cases) when they're supposedly running less downforce?

The track conditions must have been absolutely perfect, that is the only explanation I can think of. If memory serves, it rained in practice last year as I remember Perez hitting a patch of water under the bridge down at turn 4 and spinning off, but it was bone dry by qualifying, if a little green. It doesn't fully explain how the cars are 2 seconds faster than last year.

No? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Spanish_Grand_Prix

Mark Webber did 1:20.981 in Q3.

Also, the conditions were dreadful. Extremely hot and very windy.

 

[Seismica]

No? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Spanish_Grand_Prix

Mark Webber did 1:20.981 in Q3.

Also, the conditions were dreadful. Extremely hot and very windy.

Hmm... now i'm confused...

I got that from yesterday, some news site (Guessing the BBC - unreliable as ever) said that Vettel held the lap record at 1'23.5xx. It isn't true of the race or the qualifying record,

 

[SuperDiscoDaz]

The lap record is the fastest racing lap and not the fastest qualifying lap which is normally faster.

 

[Pupik]

This "must have enough fuel" rule is the dumbest rule I've never heard of.

 

[Centura]

Hmm... now i'm confused...

I got that from yesterday, some news site (Guessing the BBC - unreliable as ever) said that Vettel held the lap record at 1'23.5xx. It isn't true of the race or the qualifying record,

The current layout have been used since 2007.

Fastest lap (race): 1:21.670 by Kimi Räikkönen in 2008.
Fastest lap (qualifying): 1:19.995 by Mark Webber in 2010.

By the way, when a commentator talks about fastest laps, they are always talking about ones set in the race.

This "must have enough fuel" rule is the dumbest rule I've never heard of.

How else are they going to validate that the fuel they used complies with the regulations?

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

So in this case, Maldonado is being credited with his first career pole?

Interesting. To be fair, he drove a blinder. Great lap.

No, Lewis still gets credited the pole as far as official stats go. This topic came up already once this season when people were talking hypotheticals for his six grid penelty.

 

[Centura]

No, Lewis still gets credited the pole as far as official stats go. This topic came up already once this season when people were talking hypotheticals for his six grid penelty.

No, he does not.

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton has lost his pole position for Sunday’s Spanish race after the stewards found his car did not have sufficient fuel onboard to comply with the rules on its return to parc ferme.

As a result of the decision, Williams’ Pastor Maldonado inherits pole for the Barcelona round, whilst Hamilton - excluded from the qualifying results - will start from the back of the grid.

A penalty is applied after qualifying for the grid. It's called a grid penalty, after all...

Anyway, a comparison:

Turn 9 in 2010: Flat in sixth gear.
Turn 9 in 2012: Huge lift and downchange to fifth gear.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

No, he does not.



A penalty is applied after qualifying for the grid. It's called a grid penalty, after all...

I mean't to say doesn't. I was reading the official website and getting info from F1 fanatic. You can clearly see that I typo'd since the user I was replying to was trying to say Lewis retains the pole. Thanks for beating me before I could fix it though 👍

talking about this ->

Starting from 1st =/= Getting pole.

Hamilton got pole. Maldonado starts 1st because of a subsequant penalty for Hamilton.

Alonso is a brave man lining up alongside Ginsters Maldonado going into turn one...

 

[Mike Rotch]

I bet someone got paid lots of money to make sure Hami was at the back to help make it a Spaniard win.

Harsh penalty for LH, they could have just reverted to his first time in Q3. but, rules are rules and everybody else follows them.

I wonder if some people on the grid are secretly miffed too, now moving from the clean side of the track to the dirty for the start.

 

[Sureboss]

The current layout have been used since 2007.

Fastest lap (race): 1:21.670 by Kimi Räikkönen in 2008.
Fastest lap (qualifying): 1:19.995 by Mark Webber in 2010.

By the way, when a commentator talks about fastest laps, they are always talking about ones set in the race.


How else are they going to validate that the fuel they used complies with the regulations?

Controlling it before it goes in the car/fuel distro tank and then sealing it?

Why on earth they need a litre as well, still, rules are rules and McLaren make a mistake yet again.

 

[tribolik]

Hamilton starts at the back of the field?

 

[NINE_HUNDRED]

Hamiltons win will be even more special now...

But seriously, the mistakes the team are making are awful.

 

[shawnjets]

Could anyone give me a short preview of what happened and who got pole?

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Webber -
"People kept improving and we got caught with our pants down"
"I've done races in the middle of the field here and it sucks"

 

[PAWEL17]

Hamilton starts at the back of the field?

Hahahahaha, nice.

 

[GTPorsche]

Watching Q1 this morning, I had a feeling Senna would throw that last lap away in that very corner.

Also had a feeling that Hamilton's pole was a bit quick compared to what he had previously done in the session. Not having enough fuel will do that I guess.

 

[Seismica]

The current layout have been used since 2007.

Fastest lap (race): 1:21.670 by Kimi Räikkönen in 2008.
Fastest lap (qualifying): 1:19.995 by Mark Webber in 2010.

By the way, when a commentator talks about fastest laps, they are always talking about ones set in the race.

I'm guessing the 1'23.5xx the news site was referring to was a time set by Vettel in winter testing, that seems the most likely explanation.

 

[Pagey279]

Hamilton starts at the back of the field?

I think it's safe to say Alonso and Maldonado had the same expression on their faces......oh and me too

 

[TyrrellRacing]

Watching Q1 this morning, I had a feeling Senna would throw that last lap away in that very corner.

Also had a feeling that Hamilton's pole was a bit quick compared to what he had previously done in the session. Not having enough fuel will do that I guess.

No he went out on a new set of softs that's why he was quicker. The fuel had a limited effect, he almost certainly would've had pole even if he had more than enough fuel.

 

[bypo]

Hamilton is and always will be the guy who everybody likes to punish..
Those who drive hard like he does, doing risking things like he sure does (in bahrein when he passed rosberg outside the track and with a meter left to the rail just for example) will get their a** kicked at a minor flaw. ALWAYS.
Look at Senna's story and the troubles he had with the FIA Director Balestre in his time..

For me this penalty is obviously too harsh. Vettel, Rosberg, Petrov, Webber, Massa.. they all stopped the car a few times in the last year after doing their qualifying!

 

[zed300]

This "must have enough fuel" rule is the dumbest rule I've never heard of.

What seems even dumber is they, the mechanics have known the rule for "X" amount of time now, and they, the engineers, know how much they use.

How can this ever happen then.....

 

[tribolik]

For me this penalty is obviously too harsh. Vettel, Rosberg, Petrov, Webber, Massa.. they all stopped the car a few times in the last year after doing their qualifying!

TBH I never saw a F1 driver going straight to the hotel in is F1 after qualy

But seriously you must be talking about after the race because I saw all the qualy sessions last year and no one stopped the car before getting into the pits

And its worse in DTM... I remember watching a race a couple of years ago and a merc won but didnt have enough fuel to get back to the pits and was disqualified...

 

[TyrrellRacing]

What seems even dumber is they, the mechanics have known the rule for "X" amount of time now, and they, the engineers, know how much they use.

How can this ever happen then.....

It wasn't intentional, it was another cock up.

Millions upon millions spent looking for extra hundredths, then they throw it all away.

 

[PAWEL17]

The last win for Williams was in Brazil 2004, and by a colombian. I hope Maldonado gets away cleanly.

 

[bypo]

TBH I never saw a F1 driver going straight to the hotel in is F1 after qualy

But seriously you must be talking about after the race because I saw all the qualy sessions last year and no one stopped the car before getting into the pits

And its worse in DTM... I remember watching a race a couple of years ago and a merc won but didnt have enough fuel to get back to the pits and was disqualified...

do you remember Webber giving a ride to alonso after he got no fuel left in the car when a session ended? You have to. Either way, it's a a very hard punishment.
I think it doesnt suit the sport. They killed the chances for someone to win. And for me that is always too harsh in motorsport. Even for the spectators!

 

[dsgerbc]

It wasn't intentional, it was another cock up.

Millions upon millions spent looking for extra hundredths, then they throw it all away.

They have sensors to monitor everything, it should have been obvious that he won't have enough. I'm not too versed in regulations, was stopping at the end of pit-road even an option? Or did they need to pick up those marbles/rubber pieces to pass the weighing?

 

[ZEROX]

do you remember Webber giving a ride to alonso after he got no fuel left in the car when a session ended?...

Bro.
Race and qualifying is different. Rules are rules.
I know it's harsh but i don't think that'll be a problem for Hammy.

 

[GTPorsche]

The last win for Williams was in Brazil 2004, and by a colombian. I hope Maldonado gets away cleanly.

What does Colombia have to do with this?