August 2009 Archives

Wet race or dry race?

Dry. I've won in the wet, but dry is safer

Yacht or plane?

Yacht. I have a boat, and in the summertime it becomes my second house.

Minivan or motorcyle?

Motorcycle. I have a Harley-Davidson. With all the traffic in Rome, it's easier to get around on a motorcycle.

Mozart or Motorhead?

Motorhead is...? Oh, ok, yeah, Motorhead.

Money or glory?

Glory first, money right behind.

Kimi Raikkonen ended a 25 race drought to win the Belgian Grand Prix. But the biggest cheer was for the man who finished second.

Giancarlo Fisichella scored Force India's first ever points - leaving team boss Vijay Mallya "in a state of shock". He led from pole position, but was compromised by a first lap crash that brought out the safety car. On the re-start, Raikkonen was able to use his KERS boost to blast past Fisichella. Nevertheless, the Force India had the pace to keep within a second of the Ferrari throughout the race.

"He overtook me because of the KERS and I'm a little bit sad because... second is a great result but we could have won," said Fisichella.

Sebastian Vettel was glad of third place as many of his championship challengers faltered. It means he takes a six-point chunk out of Jenson Button's lead, after the Englishman was hit by Romain Grosjean on the first lap. His Renault predecessor, Nelson Piquet, reacted sarcastically via Twitter. "Well done Grosjean," he typed. The crash also took out Lewis Hamilton.

Raikkonen's team mate, Luca Badoer, finished a distant last again. Fisichella's performance this weekend has led to rumours he may drive the number 3 Ferrari at his home grand prix in two weeks. "That's just rumour," he said, denying there had been any contact. "Even if they call, there are many things to think about, so we'll see."

There have been six different winners from the last six races - something we haven't seen since 1982. It was also Raikkonen's fourth win at the Spa Francorchamps circuit, and there was an uncharacteristic flicker of a smile on the podium. "We were probably not the fastest in laptimes, but we managed to keep everyone behind," said the hard partying Finn. Asked if he had missed the taste of champagne, he replied "A drink after the race always tastes good, it doesn't matter what's in the bottle."

RACE RESULTS:

1. Kimi Raikkonen - Ferrari
2. Giancarlo Fisichella - Force India-Mercedes
3. Sebastian Vettel - Red Bull Racing-Renault
4. Robert Kubica - BMW-Sauber
5. Nick Heidfeld - BMW-Sauber
6. Heikki Kovalainen - McLaren-Mercedes
7. Rubens Barrichello - Brawn-Mercedes
8. Nico Rosberg - Williams-Toyota

DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP

1. Button - 72
2. Barrichello - 56
3. Vettel - 53
4. Webber - 51.5
5. Raikkonen - 34

CONSTRUCTORS' CHAMPIONSHIP

1. Brawn GP - 128
2. Red Bull Racing - 104.5
3. Ferrari - 56
4. McLaren - 44

Fernando Alonso says he's going to struggle to produce the late season surge he did last year. "The 2009 Renault is finished and the team are concentrating on the 2010 car. Therefore, to finish well we really need to be perfect at all the races," said the Spaniard who, it is strongly rumoured, will be driving for Ferrari next year. 

"When I left Renault at the end of 2006 it was because I wanted a new challenge. I wanted to win another championship with a different team. That was my mission, because I knew it would give me so much more confidence. It's difficult to know which team has the best future right now. BMW's future looked good, and then they announced they were leaving F1."

Sebastian Vettel says Rubens Barrichello is still young enough to race at the top level, despite his advancing years. Though, no matter how many races he wins this season, if that bald spot gets any bigger... 

"If you're quick enough you're not too old," said Seb. "Unless you are grey and fat, in which case you should probably stop."

Romain Grosjean may have made his grand prix debut in Valencia last weekend, but the Renault driver hasn't quit his day job. 

When he's not racing, the 23 year-old works part time in a bank in Geneva as an investor relations manager. "I'm still at the bank - I was there on Tuesday," confirms Grosjean. "It's good to hold onto my previous life, and everyone was happy to see me". 

Heikki Kovalainen joked that the only reason Grosjean visited the bank was to check he'd been paid by Renault boss Flavio Briatore.

Sebastian Vettel was understated after blowing two engines in Valencia, saying this was "not a good thing". Now he had just two new engines to last him the rest of the season, or else he'll have to take a grid penalty. 

"We are considering our options. One option is for me to do less running in practice, which is obviously not an advantage. But maybe I should take a coffee break rather than accept a ten place penalty". 

The German is 25 points adrift of championship leader Jenson Button. "We are still in a hunting position, he said.

Spa has an old-school charm, where you can imagine the ghosts of Jim Clark and Graham Hill strolling round the town. Many high-rollers come here out of season, too, to play at the town's casino, which is the oldest in the world. Spa, as the name suggests, is a spa town, so why not go for a soak in the thermal baths. You're spoilt for choice when it comes to pubs - this is Belgium and beer is literally a religion. Its ales have been brewed by Trappist monks for centuries. L'Auberge is regarded as the best restaurant around, and with prices to match. Max Mosley and his FIA honchos are regulars when they're in town. So much for cost cutting.

www.casinodespa.be

www.thermesdespa.be

www.auberge-spa.be

Spa Francorchamps is exactly as a grand prix track should be - fast, fearsome and full of atmosphere. History can be felt everywhere here, and the circuit retains close links with a road racing past - although the 14.9km lap has been pruned to 7km. Nevertheless, the terrain is the same, and it's that undulating asphalt, ploughing through dense forest, that defines its character.

For the drivers, it's a test, and for the strategists it's a nightmare, as the weather in the Ardennes is wildly unpredictable. It can be bone dry at the far side of the circuit, and flooded in the pits.

The hairpin at the start, La Source, usually catches out a couple of cars at the start. Eau Rouge is at the foot of the hill that follows, and despite some re-working it's still an awesome challenge, taken in sixth gear at 300kph and with a blind crest. At -3.5g it's the only corner in F1 to offer negative g-force. The straight after this is long and kinked, and the best overtaking opportunity for cars that can draft the one ahead. From La Source to Les Combes, the cars are on full-throttle for 23 seconds, so this is a real test of engine durability.

From Les Combes - the key passing spot - it's then downhill all the way through the fast and demanding Pouhon to Stavelot, where the original circuit is rejoined on the ascent to the pits. Blanchimont is a corner of note, taken through the trees in sixth gear, before the new Bus Stop chicane.

Lewis Hamilton took the chequered flag here last year but was then penalized. Traditionally, Kimi Raikkonen is a real threat here.

Jenson Button says he doesn't care if he doesn't win another race this year; he just wants to win the world championship.

That could prove prophetic. The Englishman has been fortunate that, though he's only taken 11 points from the last four races, he has still scored in each and the wins have been shared by four different drivers. Thanks to this, his lead has barely shrunk: he still enjoys an 18-point buffer.

Thanks to a faultless win in Valencia, his veteran team mate Rubens Barrichello is now in second place in the standings. Barrichello says he wants the title and will not be Button's rear gunner. He had enough of being the bridesmaid at Ferrari to last a lifetime.

Ferrari is in trouble. Though their car is improving, and Kimi Raikkonen is picking up regular podiums, the Finn sagely warns "it will be difficult to fight McLaren in the constructors' championship because we only have one car scoring". Ferrari are third in the standings, five points ahead of McLaren.

The injured Felipe Massa was replaced by test driver Luca Badoer in Valencia, who qualified last, spun twice, finished last and picked up four pitlane speeding fines. At the end of the race, out of sight of the TV cameras, he careened into the back of Adrian Sutil's stationary car in parc ferme. He did little to impress last weekend, earning the cruel nickname 'Look-how-bad-you-are'.

As it's been just a few days since the last grand prix, there have been speculative jokes as to whether Luca Badoer will get to the Belgian Grand Prix on time.

One must remember that he hadn't raced in a decade, so he was bound to be rusty. However, his prickly demeanor in interviews did little to endear him to the press, who have savaged him in Italy.

Ferrari say they will see what happens this weekend. Badoer is set to race, but he could be replaced if he's still so far off the pace in practice. Unlike Valencia, he has raced at Spa-Francorchamps before.

Spa, in Belgium, is one of the most emotive and shockingly fast tracks on the calendar. It's a test of raw skill, and the drivers love it - it makes them feel like proper racing drivers, and behave accordingly: doing donuts with hire cars in the car park (Giancarlo Fisichella!), bringing Winnebagos and inviting their mechanics to barbeque.

 Red Bull, who had a nightmare in Valencia, should be back on it this weekend. The long sweeping curves and low ambient temperatures will suit the RB5 well. The Brawn excelled in Barrichello's hands in Valencia, but it remains dependent on a hot track temperature, which Belgium is unlikely to produce. The weather here can be an absolute lottery. Sebastian Vettel, now 25 points adrift of the lead due to his engine failure last weekend, is a maestro in the wet and will be doing a rain dance come Sunday.

Lewis Hamilton too will be looking to go one better than he did last weekend, and continue his renaissance.

Rubens Barrichello loves that he's winning again. Here are some other things he loves:

1. MY KIDS

"To be with them is my favourite thing in life. My wife always tells me I'm the kid."

2. GOLF

"For five years it's been a passion. It's not dissimilar to racing. When you get a corner wrong you have to reset yourself and prepare for the next one. Likewise in golf, you go from ball to ball and if you make a mistake, you reset yourself. It's nice to be close to nature, also, and if you've had a tough day whacking the hell out of the ball is a good way to get over the stress."

3. KARTING

"I do a few races at the end of the year. It keeps me sharp, and I love to do it."

4. GOING OUT WITH FRIENDS

"I only get to do it back in Brazil in November and December. I don't drink beer but we drink caipirinhas with sake, which is quite nice. When I'm in Sao Paulo I like to go to a place called Original."

5. POKER

"Kubica and Fisichella play on the same website as me. It's called Pokerstars.com. After our debriefs we'll often play Texas Hold 'Em against each other online. The biggest amount of money I've won in a tournament is $1000."

Rubens Barrichello took an emotional victory on the streets of Valencia, prompting mechanics from every team to pour into the pitlane and applaud him. It was the 37 year-old's first victory in five years, proving that despite this being his 17^th season, he's lost none of his speed.

"This win is dedicated to Felipe," said Rubens, whose friend Massa was injured at the previous grand prix after hitting debris that had fallen off Barrichello's car. "He drove brilliantly here last year, and he has a good memory. When I saw him he gave me tips for faster racing lines". Rubens wore a get well soon message on his helmet.

To win he had to beat Lewis Hamilton, who started on pole. Rubens held third position for the first stint but, with extra fuel on board, he was able to pass Hamilton thanks to a later pitstop. The world champion suffered at the hands of his team, who cancelled a second pitstop order when Hamilton was already committed to the pitlane, and found there were no tyres ready for his car.

"We win and we lose together," said Lewis, defending McLaren, who have developed a weak car into a race winner this season. "We can't take second place for granted or be disappointed we didn't get the win."

An exhausted but elated Barrichello kissed the podium step as he received his trophy. It's his first victory in a car that isn't a Ferrari, and he said it felt "fantastic, just like the old days."

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen was third while new team mate Luca Badoer struggled all weekend. He qualified last, spun twice in the race, was penalized for crossing the white line of the pit exit and finished a distant last.

Meanwhile, championship contenders Red Bull had a day to forget. Mark Webber could only manage ninth in a car that simply wasn't fast enough, while Sebastian Vettel suffered a fuel rig problem, forcing him to re-pit, before his engine blew for the second time this weekend. "I will fight for the championship 'til the last breath but days like this... not finishing the race is not a good thing". To make matters worse, he has just two engines left to last him the remaining six races.

RACE RESULTS

1.  Barrichello   Brawn-Mercedes       

2.  Hamilton      McLaren-Mercedes     

3.  Raikkonen     Ferrari              

4.  Kovalainen    McLaren-Mercedes    

5.  Rosberg       Williams-Toyota    

6.  Alonso        Renault             

 7.  Button        Brawn-Mercedes       

 8.  Kubica        BMW Sauber           

 9.  Webber        Red Bull-Renault    

10.  Sutil         Force India-Mercedes 

11.  Heidfeld      BMW Sauber           

12.  Fisichella    Force India-Mercedes

13.  Trulli        Toyota              

14.  Glock         Toyota              

15.  Grosjean      Renault           

16.  Alguersuari   Toro Rosso-Ferrari 

17.  Badoer        Ferrari

DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP

1. Button 72

2. Barrichello 54

3. Webber 51.5

4. Vettel 47

CONSTRUCTORS' CHAMPIONSHIP

1. Brawn GP 126

2. Red Bull Racing 98.5

3. Ferrari 46

4. McLaren 41

A number of the drivers stay at the beachfront Las Arenas Balneario resort, which is handy for the restaurants that line the promenade and easy walking distance from the street circuit. The best party last year was at the spectacular open-air Umbracle garden club, at the site of the City of Arts and Sciences. As guests entered the venue they were each given a glass of champagne with something in it - and it looked like a diamond. Once you'd polished off the glass you were encouraged to take the item to a man with a magnifying glass who could verify whether it was real or fake. Sadly, your correspondent was lumbered with a glass stone. Felipe Massa, on the other hand, nearly managed to swallow a genuine one-carat diamond. And he won the race too. Talk about the 'ice' in icing on the cake.

www.booking.com/hotels/hotel/es/balneariolasarenas.en.html

www.umbracleterraza.com

Positioned as Spain's answer to Monaco, the Valencia Street Circuit winds around a harbour and across a dynamic-looking swing bridge, which is welded shut, forcing yacht captains to get their berths into the harbour before the track action begins.

Unlike Monaco, though, with its flotilla of gin palaces, Valencia is an industrial port and while there are always a sprinkling of luxury vessels - such as Mansour Ojjeh and Vijay Mallya's 100+ metre yachts - they are outnumbered by fishing boats and shipping containers.

Valencia has one notable straight, which is one more than Monaco, and encourages overtaking - though we saw little of it in the circuit's inaugural year. As with any street circuit, there are more bumps than on a purpose built track, and the first proper corner - Turn 2 - is made trickier by being both bumpy and tight. This is the best place to sit, though, if you cant to see a passing move. The next stretch is rather stop-start in nature down to Turn 8, with the emphasis on traction rather than aerodynamic grip. Between Turns 10 and 12 the cars run flat-out for 12 seconds. There are 25 corners in total, which make this circuit rather challenging physically over the course of 57 laps, and easy to make a mistake. Due to its coastal location, a strong sea breeze can cause balance problems.

Despite being a wide track, which usually aids overtaking, 2008 saw very few position changes and Felipe Massa achieved a dominant victory.

Early this morning, while the other drivers were still at their hotels wolfing down breakfast, Romain Grosjean was leading his engineers around the Valencia Street Circuit, analyzing every kerb, bump and twist.

He's making his F1 debut this weekend with Renault, replacing Nelson Piquet. But there has been something of a curse for rookie drivers at Renault. Piquet and Heikki Kovalainen both finished second in the GP2 championship - the same position held by Romain - before heading to Renault F1, and both claim they were tormented by the pressure team boss Flavio Briatore put them under.

At least Grosjean has prior race experience in Valencia. That cannot be said of the other new name on the timing screens.

Luca Badoer hasn't raced in a decade, yet he will fill-in for the injured Felipe Massa for the rest of this season. It's his first visit to this track. "I didn't even know where to park my hire car, or where the pit garage was this morning," he complained.

Having been promised the comeback story of the decade, fans who had scrambled for grandstand tickets have been left crushed by the announcement that Michael Schumacher is unable to replace Massa due to a neck injury. So Badoer, Ferrari's long-time test driver, becomes the first Italian to race for the Scuderia in 15 years. At 38, he's the oldest driver on the grid.

He also has the dubious honour of having driven the most races (48) without scoring a point. This may soon change, though, because Ferrari are back and so are McLaren - Lewis Hamilton scored his first win of the year last time out.

Championship leader Jenson Button is under pressure from Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and even Williams - Nico Rosberg has outscored Button at the last three races. "The car is not bad, but we have gone in the wrong direction," said Jenson, who won six of the first seven rounds. "Some of the changes we've made are positive, others probably less so. It's difficult to make changes to a car when we have no testing."

With F1 factories under an enforced shutdown during the August break, tomorrow will be critical for Brawn as they aim to re-discover their pace in practice.

Qualifying is key in Valencia because overtaking is very difficult. McLaren will be at an advantage here because their KERS system works so well. It will give Lewis Hamilton a 60bhp power boost into the first corner - something he used to great effect in Hungary.

If Lewis can get past the pace-setting Red Bulls and improving Ferraris at the start, he may be impossible to pass. In turn, non-KERS teams like Red Bull and Brawn may qualify on low fuel, just to ensure they're quicker off the line. Therefore, the European Grand Prix may throw up some interesting strategic play.

As for the Spanish fans, they're relieved that this week the FIA's ruling to ban Renault from this race has been overturned. Fernando Alonso will race in front of his home crowd. There is anger, however, that Ferrari's other test driver - Spaniard Marc Gene, winner of this year's Le Mans 24 Hours - has been overlooked. Badoer is under huge pressure to make his 49^th race count.

LUCA BADOER

Age: 38

Nationality: Italian

F1 starts: 48 (last race - Japan 1999)

He's been in intense cardiovascular and neck training for two weeks, and been racing go-karts with Schumacher. But he never shone as a racer ten years ago, so why does Ferrari think he could be quick now?

"It was clear for us that if it was not Michael, it was my turn. It's 10 years since my last GP, but since then I have driven almost 150,000km in an F1 car. I'm used to doing two race distances in one day. I'm in a better position than a rookie, and after all my testing I deserve this. Racing for Ferrari has been a dream for my entire life."

ROMAIN GROSJEAN

Age: 23

Nationality: French

F1 starts: 0

Grosjean has shown he knows how to lead a race, having posted two dominant GP2 series wins this year. But he has also made mistakes when racing in a pack, and that's exactly where he'll be this weekend. He mustn't let his frustrations get the better of him.

"I am very proud to be a Frenchman with a French team. My training regime has been the same as GP2, but with a bit more work on the neck. My aim is to finish the race and not make too many mistakes. At the moment I sleep very well, but maybe tomorrow I will wake up a few times in the night."