GP3 Series Turkey 2011: victories by Nigel Melker and Alexander Sims

The weekend passed, accompanying the formula on the occasion of his first European race, and making opening race next to GP2, has been disputed the first race of the GP3 Series 2011 in Turkey, with victories of Nigel Melker and Alexander Simswith the pilot of CSR Mucke to lead the Championship, ahead of Andrea Caldarelli.
Melker was leader in the first race already in the first round, after a good start, ahead to Tom Dillmann, and thanks to an overtaking by the outside curve 12 to Andrea Caldarelli. From there, he devoted himself to administer its distance, especially after the departure of the safety car, but the Italian could not with Melker, who took the first victory of the year.
After Melker and Caldarelli, Dillman completed the podium. In the second race, with the reverse grid, Alexander Sims it was clear, and nothing more out, he escaped, without giving options to their rivals. Thanks to its speed, was a great victory, ahead of Michael Christensen, CSR Mucke driver. Precisely his teammate was the third step of the podium.
It must be said that, coming eighth in the GP3, finishing a career third has an important merit, since that cars tend to much match the performance of the pilots. Andrea Caldarelli was fifth, result that gives its provisional second position in the classification of drivers, with 10 points, four behind Melker.
The next race will be held in two weeks, at the Circuit de Catalunya, on the occasion of the Grand Prize of Spain of formula 1, following the European season in the category. We are sure that this weekend it reckoning more thrills. For now, Turkey has helped US to see that the GP3 will have talent also in 2011.
1. Nigel Melker RSC Mucke 28m13.773s
2 Andrea Caldarelli Tech 1 + 0. 605s
3. Tom Dillmann Carlin + 2. 942s
4 Valtteri Bottas ART + 3. 840s
5 Antonio Felix da Costa Status + 4. 410s
6 Mitch Evans MW Arden + 7. 214s
7 Michael Christensen RSC Mucke + 10. 608s
8 Alexander Sims Status + 11. 713s
9 Dean Smith Addax + 11. 928s
10 Gabby Chaves Addax + 19. 559s
11. Nico Muller Jenzer + 23. 673s
12. Zoel Amberg Atech CRS + 24. 192s
13. Nick Yelloly Atech CRS + 24. 977s
14 Ivan Lukashevich Status + 26. 180s
15 Aaro Vainio Tech 1 + 26. 354s
16 Tamas Pal Kiss Tech 1 + 27. 239s
17 James stalled ART + 27. 507s
18. Matias Laine Manor + 29. 871s
19 Simon Trummer MW Arden + 30. 222s
20 Dominic Storey Addax + 30. 644s
21. Conor Daly Carlin + 31. 336s
22 Pedro Nunes ART + 32. 066s
23. Maxim Zimin Jenzer + 53. 931s
24. Adrian Quaife-Hobbs Manor + 1m03.096s
25. Vittorio Ghirelli Jenzer + 1 lap
Drop-outs:
Rio Haryanto Manor 13 laps
Luciano Bacheta RSC Mucke 8 laps
Leonardo Cordeiro Carlin 3 laps
Lewis Williamson MW Arden 3 laps
Marlon Stockinger Atech CRS 1 laps
1 Alexander Sims Status 27m03.624s
2 Michael Christensen RSC Mucke + 7. 406s
3. Nigel Melker RSC Mucke + 13. 983s
4 Antonio Felix da Costa Status + 17. 667s
5 Andrea Caldarelli Tech 1 + 17. 876s
6 Dean Smith Addax + 18. 760s
7 Mitch Evans MW Arden + 18. 948s
8 Valtteri Bottas ART + 22. 792s
9. Tom Dillmann Carlin + 22. 951s
10. Rio Haryanto Manor + 27. 212s
11. Nick Yelloly Atech CRS + 31. 637s
12 Gabby Chaves Addax + 32. 829s
13 James stalled ART + 34. 111s
14. Zoel Amberg Atech CRS + 35. 985s
15. Nico Muller Jenzer + 36. 315s
16. Adrian Quaife-Hobbs Manor + 36. 883s
17. Maxim Zimin Jenzer + 37. 400s
18 Tamas Pal Kiss Tech 1 + 37. 804s
19 Luciano Bacheta RSC Mucke + 38. 419s
20 Lewis Williamson MW Arden + 38. 692s
21 Simon Trummer MW Arden + 39. 477s
22 Leonardo Cordeiro Carlin + 40. 348s
23. Marlon Stockinger Atech CRS + 47. 122s
24 Ivan Lukashevich Status + 55. 843s
25. Conor Daly Carlin + 57. 717s
26 Pedro Nunes ART + 1 lap
Drop-outs
Vittorio Ghirelli Jenzer 7 laps
Aaro Vainio Tech 1 0 laps
Matias Laine Manor 0 laps
Dominic Storey Addax 0 laps

My Grand Prize of Turkey 2011: still fun... and the dominance of Vettel

 I know that it is not standard in this type of Chronicles, but could not open this post in any other way other than get the comparison of the back to back of the big awards of Turkey in 2010 and 2011, Ivan Illan had good share on twitter (@ McKormick) the same Sunday in the race. I think that there is extra any comments thereon of telling us the lines.
At this point, and after four Grands Prix, already we can formalize that the new formula of this 2011 is going to follow a pattern of crazy and fun races until the end of season. Well, perhaps I advance a tad. The Grand Prize of Spain which is around the corner will possibly be the harder test that we stay ahead, but between Pirelli and the DRS, I think that it will be overcome without too many problems.
At the same time, it has become absolutely impossible to pursue a career without Live Timming. Those who are not yet accustomed to it, probably not who are enjoying racing even half of what it could do so; and those who already wear time with that habit, all accumulated practice is being put to the test more than ever this season, do not you think? I have the feeling that I cannot follow as many fronts as in previous years, and without too many problems, could. Even with those that follow, which are usually groups of head, I feel that I need information to draw accurate conclusions from what really is happening on the track.
This information I'm missing, and that at certain times of the race brings me head, is the tires. On Sunday in Turkey, this "little problem" was raised to the maximum power. We think that a 4 stops strategy involves the use of 5 different tyres games. And the complexity already not confined only to the fact of knowing if it is mounted hard or soft, but to try to find out if it's new or used games.

The latter is not trivial, as Webber managed to overtake Alonso in his last stint with an extra set of tires nuevas… of the hard compound! I am sincere: I was convinced that the last stint of Webber would be with the soft new that you reserved on Friday, and until that made me realize that were hard, spent a few laps. But this is the new formula 1! With an eye on the TV, one in the Live Timming, and one in the Twitter... expected, I need an eye!... In short, is easier than ever to us to escape things. A little help from the FOM, especially in regards (crucial) information on tires, would not be bad, as I asked in the first race of the year.
Not wanting to miss the opportunity to share you these thoughts, but plays focus on what gave him the race, which was not little. Already it is no surprise to anyone the dominance of sebastian vettel at the front, but I assure you that it should be. The time difference may seem minimal, I believe that the superiority of the German was higher than in other races. Everyone will agree that it didn't have to risk to make only 3 stops if the rest of direct rivals was to 4, but Vettel could well have achieved 3 stops, as it has been officially confirmed, and if true, is not a good sign.
We can say that Ferrari has improved significantly by having entered in direct position struggle with the Red Bull of Mark Webber, something unpublished until now. But I still insist that in the hands of Fernando Alonso, and with the exception of China, that Ferrari 150 ? has always given the feeling of being a very good race car. The difference with regard to previous occasions? That Alonso could manage off to a bad start to be from the first round in positions that give you option to podium. No more, no less. Fernando pace in race was simply spectacular, and the differences evident with Massa, in a circuit where the Brazilian is a specialist, are very significant. It is still worrying, however, that Ferrari lost on average in boxes 1 second per stop. In races for three or four stops, that is a lot of time.

McLaren, for its part, had a weekend to forget. Apparently, this time not reserved they new games of tires for the race. If worked it in China, I do not understand and did not follow the same strategy. The strategy of Button was a real disaster, and to culminate Sunday for forget, a problem in the pit stop in Hamilton left without options. That Yes, the fight fraticida between Button and Hamilton on track was the most beautiful of all the weekend (with permission of other so many struggles of even three cars in parallel). Until now, go and review it was something we have forgotten in formula one, but the DRS has these things. Artificial? Maybe, but it is so and so bonito…
Nor do I believe that we have to crush both the DRS. There are also many overtaking outside the area of use of the DRS, and overtaking are not all as simple as often it seems the clearest proof us gave Rosberg, who being slower than their persecutors, and riding hard against the soft of Massa and Webber, was able to make them sweat blood for a few laps to win the position. Then the strategy chosen by Mercedes seemed to squander the options I had. Although being a strategy chosen by Brawn (I guess), and having finished 5th at the end (could have sucked more?), I prefer not to criticise the guru. And as I have no desire to speak evil of no one, nor the race Schumacher, I assess this once.
In conclusion, highlighting the great race who made Buemi and Kobayashi as far as the points when it had really bad, the apparent improvement of Williams, and, unfortunately, a new bad Jaime Alguersuari race, this time due to a defective set of tires. If is true that, as Toro Rosso, a dismissal is rifando to make room for Ricciardo, urgent is that again the best version of the Catalan pilot. Montmelo is the ideal place to do so.

Turkey F1 2011 Grand Prix: Michael Schumacher and cars clash

Lights and shadows leaves the Grand Prize of Turkey held yesterday. Some are going with good taste. Others would prefer to make clean slate. Michael Schumacher is one of those who opt to forget the trial held in the Turkish route. The German had a painful performance, I would say that even shameful for all a global heptacampeon.
From virtually the start Schumacher already had the first incident. On lap 2 in curve 12 of Istanbul Park, Mercedes GP own played with the R31 Vitaly Petrov Renault. The Russian did nothing Orthodox interior to the kaiser, everything has to be said. The Renault came to knife and some cast, what Schumacher, either because he did not see him or by err on the side of hard, said closing the door in a surprising way. Result, touch and loss of the front wing of the Mercedes. There they wouldn't finish the wanderings of the German in his Turkish Odyssey.
Schumacher also them was stiff with several of his rivals. The race was exceeded the Toro Rosso's Sebastien Buemi, the Ferrari of Felipe Massa, Sauber of Kamui Kobayashi and the Renault of Nick Heidfeld and the previously touted Vitaly Petrov. All of them could give good account of the global heptacampeon in the Turkish route.
Particularly striking was the maneuver with Felipe Massa. In his overtaking attempt, the play went wrong and his former teammate recovered the position, but Buemi, rogue, also he surpassed. Any time spent always was better would have to be thinking of the German.
What does negatively surprised me was the harshness with which was used for virtually all of the evidence. The global heptacampeon not provided anything things to their rivals, with maneuvers to the limit. The worst of all, the touch with Petrov. It seemed to me see another similar, but unfortunately I do not remember the other protagonist. Perhaps it was Massa, perhaps was Buemi, perhaps was any of the above.
If the return of Michael Schumacher is going to be remembered by the horrible trap to Rubens Barrichello and maneuvers as today with Vitaly Petrov, better that it had not returned. It would be better for all that is had been practicing with cars of shock. Numantinas defenses of Schumacher have nothing to do with cleaning that show almost all of his rivals. Valga example the beautiful struggle between Hamilton and Button, in which both always be left margin to avoid unnecessary dangers.

Grand Prix of Turkey F1 2011: Jaime Alguersuari sufe by tyres and sixteenth

Jaime Alguersuari has been victim today tyres and his enormous degradation, it has not been passed the sixteenth position. The Catalan pilot has had a difficult race, with tires that have been demoted in the last stint. That has meant that Alguersuari had been forced to make a last stop in boxes two laps from the end.
Jaime he had kept, as did Alonso, a game of soft, in official training tire, in order to use it in career, and be able to gain. In fact, during the time that he has used these tyres, he has shot well and fast, but in the end things have not gone as the pilot of Toro Rosso hoped.
The worst thing about this situation, for him, it is that Sebastien Buemi has made a career of book, with a virtually copied strategy to the Alguersuari, and leaving only a position ahead. The Swiss was seventh up to few laps from the flag to pictures. In the end, ninth position for Buemi, who tells Jaime that makes him very happy.

Interestingly, the result of Sebastien Buemi, 9th leaving sixteenth, beside me, great joy me and shows me that the strategy of the team has been good for me both Seb, and that we are increasingly closer understanding the behavior of the Pirelli tyres. To me I missed only five laps to have achieved the objective of the team.

Leaving part everything about the world of formula one, its results, and their expectations for the future, Jaime Alguersuari has wanted to take a short moment of remembrance and tribute to the golfer Severiano Ballesteros. "seve" left us Saturday morning, and Jaime has wanted to keep in mind, sending a hug to his family.

Grand Prix of Turkey F1 2011: Sebastian Vettel won a spectacular career

The truth is that we have experienced a spectacular Grand Prize of Turkey. A race to create the hobby with overtaking of all types and of all colors. The winner was once more Sebastian Vettel. The German leads three of four so far this season. The pilot of Red Bull has cruise speed in his defense of the title and being land of by media on their rivals.
The podium completed it Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso. Fourth concluded Lewis Hamilton, fifth Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button sixth. The positions of honor not decided until the final laps, with a struggle for you to you between Webber and Alonso who held emotion until the last turns. Finally left winning the Red Bull of the Australian and the Spanish had to settle with the last box of the podium, which apparently seen, known to many.
The output once more, was quite pleasant for Vettel. The battle took place behind. Webber did his best output and was exceeded by Rosberg. Alonso and Button are paired in the first corner, but the Spanish stayed firm and did not lose the position. Hamilton Sin instead of optimistic facing the first curve, opened more than enough and was exceeded by Alonso and Button.
The first round concluded with Vettel in the lead, followed by Rosberg, Webber, Alonso, Button and Hamilton. There he was not going to finish the thing. The show was going to start from the third round once the DRS could be activated, and the range of strategies. It seemed that there would be variety between the different teams, although at the end the best were the four stops were the pilot's head.
From the third round the race was a non-stop from overtaking. Button to Hamilton, Webber to Rosberg, Alonso to Rosberg, Hamilton to Button… They were so many that it is difficult to remember them all, and even less to remember the order in which occurred. Well it is true that the DRS showed grant an extra brute to facilitate overtaking. As commented Marc Gene and Pedro de la Rosa in the retransmission of laSexta, this time the mechanism was too much advantage.
Career came in the final moments with Vettel in head with a comfortable lead on their rivals. Alonso had perched to second place, closely followed by Webber. Button came in fourth position, with Hamilton on the heels. In both cases, the persecutors could outpace its rivals, Webber to Alonso and Hamilton to Button. In the latter case, the difference of having made a stop less was a very big burden for Button.
The bottom line that I can make the Grand Prize of Turkey is very good. A race very entertaining and emotion to the end. A shame that Fernando Alonso could not occupy the second drawer of the podium. Yet the third position is a great result which should be a turning point in their season.

Turkey F1 2011 GP: Ferrari isn't as bad as it seems

The newly completed Grand Prize of Turkey leaves a sour taste in Maranello. For one reason or another, not everything is rosy in Istanbul Park for the Scuderia. The Italians have yet to find the key in certain details which will ultimately make the difference.
The positive part of the weekend has been Fernando Alonso ended in a worthy third final position which is the first podium for Ferrari this season 2011. The downside was that it has become clear that the Italians still have much to improve to fight with Red Bull. They are back to the level of the McLaren, or close to, but the team of energy drinks is still one step ahead of the rest.
The classification is still the great unfinished business of the team of the rampant cavallino. Yesterday the registration of Fernando Alonso was eight tenths slower than Sebastian Vettel. The Spanish was beaten by the defending champion of the world, by Mark Webber, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. Many obstacles in your way if you want to aim for victory on Sunday.
As it is usual, on the Sunday day uncovers the jar of essences of the single-seater. His pace allows you to fight your to you with the Red Bull. It is true that leaving behind, when he meets free via its rivals already have escaped just enough so that, in the case of Sebastian Vettel, the differences are insurmountable.

The cross remain pit stops. In Ferrari rarely manage to lose the 4 seconds to change tires, while in Red Bull takes 3.5 seconds on average. Even today there was a time when that took 3.1 seconds to replace the four wheels of the car of Vettel. In the case of the race of today, with four stops, they are at least 2 seconds which lost Alonso on his rivals. A time which is then forced to recover track.
In the case of Felipe Massa a stop sentenced him. Still see him apathetic and with lack of mordant. It is on the track as a soul in penalty and he looks desganado, opposite to a hipermotivado Fernando Alonso that gives everything in each race. Today the right rear wheel played you a bad pass to the Brazilian. When the mechanic was going to put the new tire, he lost a very valuable time because the shaft continued spinning. There is clear why was such a situation, although Pedro de la Rosa dropped that it might be due to the fact that Massa had not stepped on the brake to stop the turn. There is that.
About the conspiracy against best Massa theories leave them for science fiction films. At this point there is no team orders, which is not to say that the roles of both pilots are already defined. What is clear is that Ferrari is not going to throw stones against themselves in the foot, thus hurting its pilot, would be fools to do so. Even more seeing as they are, after Red Bull and McLaren in the constructors standings. They are closer to Renault which others as above to be risking precious points conspiring against the Brazilian.
Today it has been shown that Ferrari have the potential to give back to the tortilla. That will do it or not depends entirely on them. Subject premium there is, but it remains to be seen if the Grand Prize of Spain confirms the improvement. The big evolution package is scheduled for that race. If by then they fail to take that step they need, shuts down and let's we go.

Turkey F1 2011 GP: Fernando Alonso returns to the podium in a fantastic career

The winner today was Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull showing unbeatable again, but one of the protagonists has been Fernando Alonso, who has now returned to the podium in a fantastic race. Ferrari is not as bad as it might have seemed, or as you could be expected after the problems of the weekend, and Alonso has taken much party, to 150 ° Italy.
Because we must bear in mind that Fernando has today made an impressive career. She is clear that the store is a set of soft tyres definitely has been a wise decision, which has compensated more than not giving a last lap yesterday. The Asturian has been skillful enough during the race and Eaglets to second position.
There has been able to endure during many twists and turns, making the rubber with the Australian pilot of Red Bull. In the end, Webber has had the last word, and in a final part of career with great force, which it has even set the fastest lap, he has been able to advance to Fernando Alonso. In any case, a podium is a great result, and, as they say, "the Championship is very long".

A good weekend in general. The car was now better than during the first three races. Finally I have happened it to me, driving. I've been fighting with Webber for second position, and I had a very well. We have lost time with Rosberg ahead, at the beginning, so it was impossible to fight for the victory. In the end, Mark had the fresh tires and I have not been able to maintain my position.

GP2 Series Turkey: victory of Stefano Coletti in a rugged race

Stefano Coletti victory in a second career quite rugged. The Monegasque driver has made a good start and has closely followed to Dani Clos for much of the race. Six laps has cost him the pilot of Trident overtake Dani Clos, and it has done after an interesting "tuya-mia" with the Catalan.
Since that time, Coletti has taken advantage of the advantage that it had to continue towards victory. Dani Clos, for its part, has been losing time gradually, first advanced by Giedo van der Garde and later by Charles Pic. Arriving at the equator of the race, it was already fifth, by Sam Bird, which came with a great pace.
For what have commented since Racing Engineering, already knew that it would be difficult for Clos to conserve their tyres throughout the race. It seems, therefore, that Dani could have been the victim of the new tyres, taking an approach of development of the overly aggressive car. Looking at Montmelo, that will change, safe.
The fact is that, in two weeks, you will be able to recover in the home race for Dani, on the Circuit de Catalunya. Returning to the race, Bird remained with its strong rhythm, approaching Charles Pic, threatening to steal the third position. But they still had to pass things, before arriving at the end of the race.
Five laps from the end of the sprint race, Julian Leal and Davide Rigon have played in the area of the goal line, causing a very spectacular crash. With so few laps to the end, and with the medical car on the track, everything seemed to indicate that the race would end as it was. After all, Davide Rigon has been hurt in the leg and was receiving medical care.
But in the end, the Turkish team has been much faster than expected, and is has been able to compete in the final lap, a last lap where he could spend everything. In fact, Marcus Ericsson has performed with her teammate, Sam Bird, and lost positions. Bird was away from the podium that had been searching for throughout the career.
But the latest round of English has been exceptional, and it has managed to be brought forward to Charles Pic, and finished in third position. You have had a turn, would have been able with Van der Garde. Dani Clos, for its part, after a stop in boxes, has recovered five positions on the last lap, demonstrating that it can go faster when the tires are well.
In as far as the other members of the podium yesterday, Romain Grosjean and Jules Bianchi have played in the first bars of the runway, fact which has left them without options in what was left of race. Bianchi has been at the gates of the points, with the sixth position, while Grosjean has been tenth but you will get one point for having the fastest lap.
The next meeting of the Championship will be in two weeksin the first of our two runs of House, at the Circuit de Catalunya. Romain Grosjean and Sam Bird come tied to points with 13, just three ahead of Giedo van der Garde and Stefano Coletti. Since then, this is tight, and if Montmelo Racing is as exciting as the of this weekend, signed now!
Unfortunately, shortly after the race, receive information from that Davide Rigon suffers fracture tibia and fibula, and, therefore, to be losing a good part of the season. Many spirits to Davide.
1 - Romain Grosjean - 13pts
2 Sam Bird - 13pts
3 - Stefano Coletti - 10pts
4 - Giedo van der Garde - 10pts
5 Jules Bianchi - 6pts
9 - dani Clos - 1pt

Grand Prix of Turkey F1 2011: Hispania Racing F1 Team takes their two cars to the finish

Yesterday in the classification was good, now in race the situation has been different, but in any case, Hispania Racing F1 Team has carried its two cars to the finish, which is always very important, taking into account the lack of mileage of the team during the preseason.
Hispania career has generally been quietsince that have always been some distance of the Virgin of Jerome D'Ambrosio and the Lotus. While Narain Karthikeyan was trying to keep up with the Belgian pilot, Vitantonio Liuzzi had a day with more problems.
The Italian driver has reached target two turns of his teammate, after a day which has not been easy for him. Arrive at two rounds of your team-mate has to be hard, even if the problems were not necessarily fault.
In any case, within two weeks, Hispania will be the first of two races home with Virgin as a goal to beat, something that today is not impossible, as it was demonstrated in the good classification of Vitantonio Liuzzi yesterday same.

Grand Prix of Turkey F1 2011: continues the dictatorship of Sebastian Vettel with his fourth consecutive pole

Four runs brought this 2011 season and four pole positions leads Sebastian Vettel. The German is used in each qualifying session while nobody SBI cough him. The reigning world champion has been far superior to its rivals at Istanbul Park. Vettel is cementing its title defense in the fight against the Cronus from Saturday, which is showing intractable.
Mark Webber has finished second to four tenths of his team-mate, with Nico Rosberg racing its attempt until the end of the Q3 and which served to be third. The Mercedes was pleasant to the Q3 surprise, Lewis Hamilton, who finished fourth, and Fernando Alonso, who ended fifth. The Spanish is paid to that position on the grid.
This has been the trust they had in Red Bull, to both Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber have reserved the second game of the Q3 soft tire for the race tomorrow. Ferrari have been saved that second game with only a lap in the final attempt, the so-called outlap Felipe Massa for its part did not take part in the Q3. Ferrari's strategy or problems with your car? It should not be forgotten that they had to change the engine to its 150 ? Italy Ferrari after the last session of free practice.
In the Q1 Kamui Kobayashi was linked to the fixed six that do not normally reach the Q2, the two Hispania F1 Racing Team of Narain Karthikeyan and Vitantoni Liuzzi, the couple of Virgin Racing formed by Jerome D'Ambrosio and Timo Glock and both Team Lotusboth Jarno Trulli as Heikki Kovalainen. In the case of the Japanese a problem prevented him from marking time and had to leave the session ahead of schedule.
The Q2 was, as always, more exciting than the previous round. Occasionally there is some unexpected misfortune, and this time the shock almost takes Nick Heidfeld. The German Renault almost does not happen until the Q1, but at the last minute cut managed to save the furniture in extremis; It was fought by just 24 thousandths.They were by the way, Rubens Barrichello, Adrian Sutil, Paul di Resta, Pastor Maldonado, Sergio Perez, Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari.
Tomorrow we will witness a race with one interesting range of strategies. The pilots who have chosen to reserve games of tyres with regard to the race, and of those who have chosen to secure a good place on the grid to cope with a more comfortable position booting and with fewer scares.

Grand Prix of Turkey F1 2011: Sebastian Vettel again in all the senses, and Michael Schumacher a one thousandth

It has not needed more than a session to return at your own pace. Sebastian Vettel has become, in every way, although only a thousandth ahead of Michael Schumacher. It must be said that, although the Red Bull is intractable, Mercedes has been today at a very high level. In fact, after Schumacher, we have to Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg.
But there is a remarkable thing, and is that Vettel and Schumacher are four tenths ahead of its rivals, which is a world, but we must also bear in mind that Vettel has found a Hispania in the drawn on his lap, and perhaps would have been able to make a time even something better.
After the Red Bull and Mercedes are the two McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, followed by a Vitaly Petrov which continues to demonstrate their quality, and Fernando Alonso, eighth, just ahead of his teammate, Felipe Massahas ended his session early due to some problems with the engine.
Fernando, for its part, has not left to track to last half an hour since the beginning of the session. Half of this session, lost, and I lost because the faces in the Scuderia were a poem. Some problem has existed in the seat of the Asturian language, and this is worrying, the hydraulic problems yesterday.
In addition, 10 minutes to the end of the meeting, more hydraulic problems have been reproduced in the Ferrari 150 ? Italy Alonso, and their meeting over at that time, not to return to track. Week-end complicated, therefore for the Ferrari number five, which already suffered hydraulic problems in yesterday.
As for Jaime Alguersuari, has suffered a departure from runway, caused by mechanical problems to 37 minutes for the end of the session, and it has lost about 20 minutes of meeting. A penalty for the pilot of Catalan, although it has at least not been without leaving to track in this third third free practice session, which is what seemed at first.
In the end, Jaime has been 17th, ahead of Kamui Kobayashi and six cars of the three new teams of the past year, and it is that they are still far away. Even Team Lotus, which appeared to take, during the offseason, following a second nearest car, and that is, today, still a world.
Finally, what of the Hispania? They have occupied their usual vigesimotercera and 24th position, but Liuzzi is only two-tenths of Timo Glock. Bearing in mind that D'Ambrosio will emerge from the last position after receiving a penalty, if Liuzzi exceeds Glock, it could leave the 23rd position.
1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m26.037s 17
2 Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m26.038s + 0. 001s 17
3. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m26.404s + 0. 367s 16
4. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m26.420s + 0. 383s 19
5 Jenson Button McLaren - Mercedes 1m26.578s + 0. 541s 17
6 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m26.726s + 0. 689s 14
7. Vitaly Petrov Renault 1m26.755s + 0. 20 718s
8. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m26.819s + 0. 782s 12
9 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m26.883s + 0. 846s 12
10. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m27.080s + 1. 043s 16
11 Sergio Perez Sauber - Ferrari 1m27.121s + 1. 084s 20
12 Pastor Maldonado Williams - Cosworth 1m27.255s + 1. 218s 18
13 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1m27.318s + 1. 281s 19
14. Nick Heidfeld Renault 1m27.379s + 1. 342s 17
15 Rubens Barrichello Williams - Cosworth 1m27.528s + 1. 491s 19
16 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m27.644s + 1. 607s 18
17. Jaime alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m27.724s + 1. 687s 15
18. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m27.976s + 1. 939s 19
19. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Renault 1m28.911s + 2. 874s 15
20. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Renault 1m29.697s + 3. 660s 17
21. Jerome D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth 1m31.097s + 5. 25 060s
22 Timo Glock Virgin - Cosworth 1m31.175s + 5. 138s 19
23 Tonio Liuzzi hrt-cosworth 1m31.375s + 5. 338s 19
24 Narain Karthikeyan hrt-cosworth 1m32.009s + 5. 972s 15

Jerome d'Ambrosio receives a penalty of five positions for the grid of the Grand Prize of Turkey

Jerome d'Ambrosio receives a penalty of five positions for the grid of the Grand Prize of Turkey, after having failed a few yellow flags at the second session of free practice, held this morning at the Istanbul Park circuit.
Specifically, the time that has happened the offense has been after one of the exits of track of Pastor Maldonado, in the area above the curve 8. It was then, when, according to the FIA, Jerome D'Ambrosio has not reduced the speed of progress.
Therefore, and in view of the grills of output we have seen so far, it is likely that Jerome D'Ambrosio comes out on Sunday from the last position of the starting grid, as it is virtually impossible to get finished in 18th position or better.
Will continue tomorrow morning to the action of the world of formula one, with the third session of training free, which, in principle will already see Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso on track, after their varied problems of this morning.

Grand Prix of Turkey F1 2011: continues the race live with us

Finally again the Formula 1 European hours, because the hours of the first great prizes are nothing short of exhausting, everything to be said, and we continue with the idea of doing Live tracking of each race in our LIVE Motorpasion F1. Sunday at 2 p.m. (peninsular time, check the schedules of the Grand Prize of Turkey) will begin the test and we will be as we usually do one half hour before.
So do not forget, on Sunday at the 19 starts from Motorpasion F1 live to see what is happening on a Grand Prix now same seems something vague, in the light of what happened in today's free practice Friday. We can see the theoretical progress of Ferrari if there are no setbacks, will attend the more than likely improvement of the Mercedes GP and will see if Vettel slumps in the first session of free happens invoice (which will be that we are sure that not).

The 2011 of the GP2 season begins this weekend at Turkey

The 2011 of the GP2 season begins this weekend in Turkey, at Istanbul Park, and many pilots who can fight for the title. Among the ART and DAMS, the Jules Bianchi, Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez, are the Spanish teams, Racing Engineering and Barwa Addax, and Dani Clos, that runs with the first of the two. In addition, this year, we have the debut of two new teams in the category, Carlin and Team AirAsia.
Pastor Maldonado, the defending champion of the GP2, given your particular bet, and this is nothing more and nothing less than Jules Bianchi. According to the Venezuelan ART pilot is who has more chances to win. Even more than the theoretical favorite, Romain Grosjean, who has already won the GP2 Asia Series were contested at the beginning of this year.
In any case, we will begin to emerge from doubts on Saturday and Sunday, or even today, with qualifying training. Anyway, interesting things to mention as any, and for example in Super Nova, there is no second official pilot. We are sure that they will have someone to drive that car, but we still do not know, in the absence of a single day.
The same week also begins the GP3, this year without the presence of Spanish pilots. Among the Favorites, we have to Valtteri Bottas, Alexander Sims or Andrea Caldarelli, as well as many more. The GP3 is, by nature, a category of surprises, so there is little to say until we see what happens after the first weekend. We will be waiting with desire.

Grand Prix of Turkey F1 2011: compounds chosen by Pirelli

Facing the Grand Prize of Turkey, elected compounds follow the same pattern as that the three previous Grands Prix. Pirelli will take the composite soft ("option") and hard ("prime") to Istanbul Park. As already announced a few weeks ago, the tires will be the same in the Grand Prix of Spain and will not change until the Monaco Grand Prix.
This weekend we will see the new way to differentiate the compounds, since Pirelli color the side of the tire soft to distinguish more easily the hard. Hopefully the supplier to let all parties happy, because this matter seems never ending story.
It will have to see how they respond the Pirelli tires in the Turkish route. A circuit that has a reputation for being quite aggressive with tyres due to their abrasive asphalt and high temperatures prevailing in the area. To this detail added 8 curve, which can be the terror of some, we can have an explosive combination at Istanbul Park.

Grand Prix of Turkey F1 2011: rain, hydroplaning, and Sebastian Vettel accident

First Turkey 2011 Grand Prix free practice have been marked by rain and water on the track. This water has prevented try aerodynamic improvements in some teams 100% and at the same time has given rise to many cases of hydroplaning in the curve 11. In addition, in the last half hour of the meeting, Sebastian Vettel has crashed his car after negotiating the curve 8 and step lightly on the piano to the exit, at full acceleration. The result has been to destroy the car against protections (impact of registered 7.2G) and a red flag that has remained for 7 or 8 minutes on the track.
Seeing the repetition can be seen as the rear train loses a little before the last part of the curve, and he gets soaked piano, immediately going against barriers to correct. A mild stranger in the car, and not a problem of another kind have been the cause of the accident, because it seemed to go through the site perfectly. The result, two suspensions on the right side made powder.
Update: I added the video of the coup of Vettel, let us hope that inmediatamente… will not withdraw it

Fernando Alonso set the fastest time of the session with 1'38. 670 in a round that have wanted to try the grip "in depth", while Nico Rosberg has been in the 1'40. 072 throughout the session. It's funny but times (including Alonso) show that the runway was not for jokes, and only has been lower than the 1'39 in the event that I discussed. In fact to ten minutes from the end, eight pilots had not registered any time (Trulli, Karthikeyan - who stopped his engine before the they pass 5 minutes of meeting, - Maldonado - which would leave his Williams pulled on track at the end of the session-Perez)(, Chandok, Barrichello, Button and Lewis Hamilton). They would later be the majority.
As mentioned, Narain Karthikeyan stopped its engine just about mintos after starting the session, as we hear on the radio stopped himself, was a stop for caution as confirmed from Hispania via Twitter. Vitantonio Liuzzi Meanwhile set a good time, 1'44. 787.
The curve 11 has become an aquapark, track by very clear hydroplaning outputs have happened and we have recorded one of Timo Glock, two of Michael Schumacher, one of Vettel, Massa, Pastor Maldonado… and I believe also Buemi. Much water accumulated in that curve and limited capacity of evacuation for tires in such pools and at the speed that they undertake.
The same Michael Schumacher almost goes against the barriers in the same curve 8, has been on the verge of losing the car 5 minutes from the end (just before his second hydroplaning) and it has been saved by a hair coming out of the track.
Finally it has no set time Lewis Hamilton, we do not know exactly why. Jenson Button has marked time, Yes, but 2'00 that says absolutely nothing, most who have not had time to get the car ready, or have chosen to calm before the FP2. In any case it is strange to see that they have not left. As soon as we know how to update the post.
So, as everything is, "tiempazo" of Fernando Alonso taking into account how have others, 1.402 faster than the two Mercedes GP of Rosberg and Schumacher, and followed them by the two Renault Petrov Heidfeld and Petrov. Then the time of the meeting and again after the second round of free.

Turkey F1 2011 Grand Prix: McLaren to half a second of Red Bull

The picture was presented quite bleak in McLaren in view of the mediocre preseason were. Nothing is further from reality, the evolution of the Woking team has been spectacular. So much that even Lewis Hamilton managed to victory in the Chinese Grand Prix, third event of the calendar.
The distance to the a priori untouchable Red Bull has been shrinking gradually. The Chief Engineer of the British team, Phil Prew, he has dared to quantify what they have to catch up with the cars of the energy drink: between 3 and 5 tenths. A difference that expect to iron out as soon as possible. So Jenson Button has been testing the new developments in the simulator that McLaren has Woking.

I believe that we are between three and five tenths of Red Bull. It is obviously a distance that we want to reduce. Not have the car faster at the moment, Red Bull is still the reference. We have a number of improvements to Turkey which hopefully will allow us to reduce the gap with them.

The British is optimistic in the face of the race in Istanbul Park, a track which in his opinion comes well:

I think that Turkey should be a relatively favourable for us track, and if trends give us that performance plus and well kept the tires we will be able to remain competitive. We are also aware that everyone will try to improve your car, so I hope that we have done enough to keep us ahead of our rivals.

Mikhail Aleshin will be with Carlin for the first meeting of the GP2 in Turkey

Contrary to what appeared to be from some weeks ago, Mikhail Aleshin will be with Carlin for the first meeting of the GP2 in Turkey. At the time, the team announced that, due to lack of (probably economic) agreements between the pilot and the team itself, its steering wheel was left in limbo, waiting to resolve these unforeseen.
In the end, appear to have resolved their differences in a way satisfactory to both parties, or at least enough satisfactorily as Aleshin compete in Turkey. I mention only Turkey because in the release of Carlin he has not discussed races later, so it is possible that his "contract" is only for an appointment, at the moment.
Aleshin, as announced at the end of last month that he would compete in the German Formula 3, therefore, will be competing at Istanbul Park. The first podium finish with Carlin, did precisely in the Turkish circuit, which makes that the Russian pilot are especially motivated before the weekend is coming.

This race is a great opportunity for my. I would like to give a huge thanks to the team for giving me this opportunity.

Improvements of Ferrari for the Grand Prize of Turkey

Ferrari will bring improvements for the Grand Prize of Turkey. Specifically, the Scuderia will bring new front and rear wings, as well as new air of the brake ducts. These improvements are the first after discovering that the wind tunnel showed no reliable data on 150 ° Italy. Ferrrari they believe that these improvements will bring closer them to the front.
During the beginning of season, Ferrari was quite disappointed and, indeed, although currently occupy third place in the constructors championship, they have not got any podium, which is unacceptable for a team that must have as a goal fight for both the World Championships; both drivers and the brands.
In addition to the problems of the wind tunnel, Nikolas Tombazis has recognized that there are also problems in the methodology of work in Ferrari. He added that the programme is to bring improvements in every race from now on. Finally, he said that although he believes that they will get closer to the front, yet they will not be where they should be.
The most surprising of all this is that Tombazis has stated that the problem of Ferrari is that, with the passage of the years, have become too conservative. They have ceased to be aggressive with the design, which means that they are always contrapie to rivals, while in other teams, as in Red Bull, innovations give them wings, and never better said.

Turkey GP is not ruled out by 2012

The doors are not completely closed to the of Turkey of formula one Grand Prix. While the organizers pointed out that they neglected entirely celebrate in 2012, now seems that still harbor hopes that the great circus follow so the Istanbul Park circuit in the future.
The main problem that have been found are the excessive demands of Bernie Ecclestone. So it is said, asks nothing more and nothing less than US $ 26.5 million so that the Grand Prize of Turkey continue forming part of the calendar. This figure almost doubles quota that have been religiously paying so far.
The organizers have refused in round to meet the aspirations of the little dictator. Despite this, they hope to hold talks in the coming months to see if they come to an agreement. That's what Murat Yalcintas, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Istanbul, told Autosport:

This year will be a turning point for the future of the Grand Prize of Turkey. Based on the results of these discussions, the race can continue or not. The two sides have not yielded its official version yet. All I can say is that Mr. Ecclestone insists an agreement of 26.5 million of dollars a year, and the Turkish Government has not positively assessed this proposal. We hope to make a final decision between August and September of 2011.

We have to wait a couple of months to know if finally we will continue to enjoy the curve 8 and its famous four vertices. We hope that the small Warhol lowered slightly its claims and that Istanbul Park remains part of formula one. In my opinion is one of the few decent tilkodromos in the calendar.