The start was the most exciting part of the race.
By Erik Nielsen
Photos courtesy and copyright Ferrari Media
McLaren challenges, but Vettel prevails; Welcome back, Bob
Sebastian Vettel did something different this weekend, for the first time in memory, the pole sitter did not win at Barcelona. He also needed to actually work for this win, holding off a hard charging Lewis Hamilton who was hot on the German’s rear wing for the closing laps. The Brit could not find a way around for the win. History will likely show that this was one more incremental step for the Red Bull driver’s 2011 championship, but those that watched the race know that this was closer racing than has been seen so far this season.
Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel
The Woking based team seems to have found some speed now that the racing has returned to the continent, Jensen Button ended up with the last spot on the podium, ahead of Mark Webber, but still a pit stop back in the timing.
Local favorite Fernando Alonso brought the crowd to its feet at the start of the race by taking the lead from a fourth place finish, but the Pirelli tires weren’t up to the task and the Ferrari driver would watch his placing slide back until fifth place when the checkered flag fell. The Scuderia has started working on the 2012 car but the press office is still repeating the Monty Python chant that they’re not dead yet. Moments later, the Greek Foreign Office came by and asked if the same people were interested in selling bonds for them as a side job.
Felipe Massa
Shock, horror, you have to be kidding me. Michael Schumacher finished in seventh place, ahead of his team mate, Nico Rosberg. The debate continues in the media on if Herr Schumacher should hang up his helmet and count his millions of Euros in his private garage. The managers in Stuttgart are still writing checks and never underestimate his ability to sell cars (or taxis if you’ve spent any time in the Fatherland). If he’s having fun, I’ll keep poking fun at his lack of speed.
Nick Heidfeld’s Renault finished behind Rosberg’s Mercedes and ahead of both Saubers, who rounded out the points paying positions. Rookie Sergio Perez scored his first points (that haven’t yet been taken away) in his F1 career.
Lotus still stands for lots of trouble, usually serious. The Virgins seem to be the track whores, and Williams continues their further embarrassment to Sir Frank.
With the exception of the first couple of laps, the racing still wasn’t that exciting, and certainly not worth almost $500 for good seats for the weekend (those in attendance don’t have the benefit of Tivo). Monkeying with the formula likely will just make it even more of a joke than it currently is. With gas pushing $4 a gallon in the US (I know, this is where the Europeans chime in that it hasn’t been this cheap in years), the cards are stacked against the ever increasing costs of the sport. That’s not keeping the Agnellis or Fox from making an unsolicited pitch for taking over the sport. While the Fox piece may not make much sense, the Agnellis have a huge vested interest in Ferrari having a home with the eyes of millions of potential tee shirt customers glued to the sport.
Fernando Alonso
Racing goes to the most boring race in the most exciting location (if you are a Russian oligarch) this weekend as we return to Monaco. There are a few guarantees in the principality: limited passing, the pole sitter has the best chance at winning, and many are going to pay way too much for drinks. Can’t wait.
Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso
Race Results
| 1 | VETTEL | RBR-Renault | 1h39m03.301s |
| 2 | HAMILTON | McLaren-Mercedes | + 0.6s |
| 3 | BUTTON | McLaren-Mercedes | + 35.6s |
| 4 | WEBBER | RBR-Renault | + 47.9s |
| 5 | ALONSO | Ferrari | + 1 lap |
| 6 | SCHUMACHER | Mercedes | + 1 lap |
| 7 | ROSBERG | Mercedes | + 1 lap |
| 8 | HEIDFELD | Renault | + 1 lap |
| 9 | PEREZ | Sauber-Ferrari | + 1 lap |
| 10 | KOBAYASHI | Sauber-Ferrari | + 1 lap |
| 11 | PETROV | Renault | + 1 lap |
| 12 | DI RESTA | Force India-Mercedes | + 1 lap |
| 13 | SUTIL | Force India-Mercedes | + 1 lap |
| 14 | BUEMI | STR-Ferrari | + 1 lap |
| 15 | MALDONADO | Williams-Cosworth | + 1 lap |
| 16 | ALGUERSUARI | STR-Ferrari | + 2 laps |
| 17 | BARRICHELLO | Williams-Cosworth | + 2 laps |
| 18 | TRULLI | Lotus-Renault | + 2 laps |
| 19 | GLOCK | Virgin-Cosworth | + 3 laps |
| 20 | D’AMBROSIO | Virgin-Cosworth | + 4 laps |
| 21 | KARTHIKEYAN | HRT-Cosworth | + 5 laps |
| 22 | MASSA | Ferrari | + 7 laps, gearbox |
| 23 | KOVALAINEN | Lotus-Renault | + 17 laps, accident |
| 24 | LIUZZI | HRT-Cosworth | + 37 laps, gearbox |
| Fastest Lap |
HAMILTON | McLaren-Mercedes | 1m26.727s |
Note – Heidfeld failed to set a Q1 time within the 107% requirement but permitted to race due to setting a suitable lap time during free practice.
Driver’s Championship Standings
| 1 | VETTEL | RBR-Renault | 118 Points |
| 2 | HAMILTON | McLaren-Mercedes | 77 Points |
| 3 | WEBBER | RBR-Renault | 67 Points |
| 4 | BUTTON | McLaren-Mercedes | 61 Points |
| 5 | ALONSO | Ferrari | 51 Points |
| 6 | ROSBERG | Mercedes | 26 Points |
| 7 | HEIDFELD | Renault | 25 Points |
| 8 | MASSA | Ferrari | 24 Points |
| 9 | PETROV | Renault | 21 Points |
| 10 | SCHUMACHER | Mercedes | 14 Points |
| 11 | KOBAYASHI | Sauber-Ferrari | 9 Points |
| 12 | BUEMI | STR-Ferrari | 6 Points |
| 13 | SUTIL | Force India-Mercedes | 2 Points |
| 14 | PEREZ | Sauber-Ferrari | 2 Points |
| 15 | DI RESTA | Force India-Mercedes | 2 Points |
Constructor’s Championship Standings
| 1 | RBR-RENAULT | 185 Points |
| 2 | McLAREN-MERCEDES | 138 Points |
| 3 | FERRARI | 75 Points |
| 4 | RENAULT | 46 Points |
| 5 | MERCEDES | 40 Points |
| 6 | SAUBER-FERRARI | 11 Points |
| 7 | STR-FERRARI | 6 Points |
| 8 | FORCE INDIA-MERCEDES | 4 Points |