Indian Grand Prix 27 October 2012
With 4 more races to go and 100 points to be had, Vettel and Red Bull will surely be gunning for victory in India to hold on to their fragile 6 point championship lead. They had their first one/two victory of the season in Korea earlier this month which put them ahead in both constructors and driver standings.
Mclaren didn’t have anywhere near as good a race, with Button being taken out by Kobayashi on lap 1, and Hamilton losing position to Alonso on turn one, then suffering a mechanical problem on lap 18, which saw him limp home to a P10 finish. Torro Rosso had a fantastic weekend with Vergne and Ricciardo both finishing within the points and Massa proved to Ferrari he still has it by finishing fourth and confirming he will race for them again next season.
The Buddh International Circuit is personally one of my favourite tracks, this year is only the second time Formula 1 have visited, however with it’s long, long straight between turns 3 and four expect to see some amazing speed and control from the drivers, with the added extra of the DRS zone here the speeds could well be off the clock. The ensuing twists and turns of the next sector ensure the drivers don’t get too complacent following the straight drive. This sector is also where tyre management and gear usage is imperative, it will be up to the individual to control the speed, gear changes, steering and braking in order to gain maximum position. They also need to be very aware of the track temperature here, as it is renowned for dropping drastically. Already the track is faster than last year with Vettel holding fastest lap at 1m 27sec in 2011, he has already beaten that in practice with a 1m 26sec lap time. The Red Bull team were dominant again in practice with Alonso holding a respectable 3rd, followed by Rosberg, Raikkonen, Hamilton and Button. There will be an almighty battle between Alonso and Vettel on Sunday, so expect to see some incredible risk taking action.
Pole Position: Vettel
Fastest Lap: Vettel
Top Ten Finishers: Vettel, Alonso, Hamilton, Webber, Rosberg, Button, Raikkonen, Di Resta, Massa and Grosjean.
Enjoy the Race, I know I will!!
Leave a Reply