F1 Chinese GP 2009

[DooberRoni]

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk279/DooberRoni/F1-China-Post-Banner.png
© images & logos property of their respective owners - graphic composition © DooberVille.com


The Chinese Grand Prix makes its sixth appearance on the F1 calendar and, for the first time, ever, the race is being held in April instead of its usual October slot. The earlier appearance for the track on the schedule means the teams can expect cooler conditions and a greater chance of rain.

Bridgestone will be providing the same tire selections they had in Melbourne, The teams will be faced with a difficult strategy question: use the super-soft tyres in the first stint to get rid of them and hope to take advantage of a safety car period or save them until the end when the extra rubber build-up on the circuit may help them last longer?

A decision on the diffusers is expected on Tuesday, the 14th. If they are declared legal, how many teams will show up in China sporting some new bits? If they are declared not legal, will the three teams using them suddenly go to the rear of the field? Will they throw out the results of the first two GP's? It could get ugly but then again this is F1. What's a little dirt? I notice they seem to have lost their title sponsor, Sinopec, this year too?

Previous Winners
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk279/DooberRoni/chinaPrevious.jpg
courtesy of wikipedia.org (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Grand_Prix)


More to follow - keep up with the news at DooberVille's F1 page (http://www.dooberville.formula1.htm)

[ÜberDoober]

Still no ruling on the diffusers yet. Would sure be nice if we know something before practice starts. :realMad:

I may be late for both practice and qualifying? :ack2: Have to pick up the g/f at the airport at 10:30 and stuff starts at 11:00. Friday night, we're heading out to the NASCAR Nationwide race at PIR. Supposed to start at 6:30 and should be over in time to be home by 11:00 but with traffic and stuff, you never know?

I'll sure be glad when F1 and MotoGP get the hell out of Asia! :blink:

[ÜberDoober]

Make a wish and have it come true...

DIFFUSERS DECLARED LEGAL!!

Too much news to put up links! Check out DooberVille F1 for all of it. I am wading through some of the stories now but think this is good news.

Yeah, the protesting teams will now have to develop new diffusers and spend millions of dollars but had the diffuser teams been declared illegal, there could have been civil war? Think any of the non-diffuser teams will show up in China tomorrow with one already to go? :winky:

[ÜberDoober]

Uh oh! Possible rain in Shanghai for the weekend?

From what I can tell, Renault will be trying out their new double-decker diffuser this weekend. That was fast! Adrian Newey will be missing this GP and instead staying home and inventing a new diffuser for RBS. Ferrari is still bitching about it! :ack2:

Can't wait!

[ÜberDoober]

Man, things are turbulent this season, if nothing else? Announcements are out that Ron Dennis is completely out of McLaren't F1 program as of now. This is pretty big. Martin Whitmarsh will step in as team principal. From last week's Ronspeak, we knew he wasn't in an acting capacity at Sepang but now to have him totally be gone, that's strange? Wonder how Lewis, Ron's nurtured wonderboy will handle the changes?

Live practice is on SPEED tonight at 11:00 my local time. Guess I'll go to work sleepy again on Friday. Hopefully, I'll perk up and get a second wind before going to the NASCAR Nationwide races on Friday night.

[ÜberDoober]

Well, well. Seems McLaren has an "interim" new double decker diffuser. Surprise, Surprise.

First practice times are up:

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:37.334 + 22
2. Button Brawn GP-Mercedes (B) 1:37.450 + 0.116 18
3. Barrichello Brawn GP-Mercedes (B) 1:37.566 + 0.232 19
4. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:37.672 + 0.338 23
5. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:37.752 + 0.418 20
6. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:37.764 + 0.430 19
7. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:37.860 + 0.526 24
8. Glock Toyota (B) 1:37.894 + 0.560 21
9. Alonso Renault (B) 1:38.089 + 0.755 19
10. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:38.195 + 0.861 24
11. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:38.223 + 0.889 23
12. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:38.274 + 0.940 20
13. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:38.307 + 0.973 26
14. Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:38.319 + 0.985 18
15. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:38.418 + 1.084 20
16. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) 1:38.456 + 1.122 21
17. Fisichella Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:38.460 + 1.126 19
18. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) 1:38.463 + 1.129 18
19. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:38.730 + 1.396 25
20. Piquet Renault (B) 1:38.825 + 1.491 20

Not sure I can stay awake for practice. Haven't slept more than 5 hours the last few nights and am poopered. I'll probably watch in bed.

Hope to be home from NASCAR tomorrow in time for qualifying.

[ÜberDoober]

Well, it looks like things are back to normal, whatever "normal" is this year. Brawn GP back on top in practice two. Ferrari is struggling in a major way and LuHam's first practice result was a fluke.

P2 Results
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Button Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:35.679 35
2. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:35.704 + 0.025 36
3. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:35.881 + 0.202 35
4. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:36.105 + 0.426 32
5. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:36.167 + 0.488 22
6. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:36.217 + 0.538 42
7. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:36.377 + 0.698 32
8. Glock Toyota (B) 1:36.548 + 0.869 40
9. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:36.674 + 0.995 34
10. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:36.800 + 1.121 34
11. Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:36.829 + 1.150 30
12. Massa Ferrari (B) 1:36.847 + 1.168 34
13. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:36.941 + 1.262 28
14. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:37.054 + 1.375 33
15. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:37.219 + 1.540 34
16. Piquet Renault (B) 1:37.273 + 1.594 36
17. Kubica BMW-Sauber (B) 1:37.491 + 1.812 34
18. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (B) 1:37.544 + 1.865 28
19. Alonso Renault (B) 1:37.638 + 1.959 28
20. Fisichella Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:37.750 + 2.071 31

[ÜberDoober]

Yea! Made it home from NASCAR tonight in time for Qualifying. Man! I'm pooped! About 11 minutes before qually starts. Think I need a quick snack?

[LittleAlguy]

I have a sneaking suspicion that if just one team had the double diffusers that they'd have no problem throwing the book at them.

Qualifying has commenced! :D

edit: Oh yeah, that KERS is just working wonders. :rolleyes:

[LittleAlguy]

Vettel getting super tail-happy on that final corner. Seeing that is one of those simple pleasures for being a race fan.

edit: oh boy, I had flashbacks there with Webber's off.

[ÜberDoober]

Hahaha! Nice to see you, LittleAlguy! Up in the middle of the night, eh?

Close call for Weber. Think Kovalainen will get a lap in this race? Two races and he hasn't finished 1 lap and with 5 min to go in Q1, he's last.

[LittleAlguy]

I think Heikki breaks the duck here.

Yup, that's just the life of a die hard. I'm glad I've gotten some things done with my life. I still have plenty to do, though.

Hmm, for some reason, BMW Sauber seem to have trouble figuring out Shanghai.

[ÜberDoober]

Kubica out! Wow!

Thought Bourdais had a shot at Q2 but Buemi was 8th.

[LittleAlguy]

I'll have them in my thoughts. :(

Hmm, that's an odd way to slow down.

[ÜberDoober]

MASSA OUT! Along with Kovalainen, Glock, Nakajima, Heidfeld! Wow!

Buemi makes Q3 for the first time. Impressive rookie so far.

[LittleAlguy]

Hamilton finally through to P3. The grid is once again shuffled.

[LittleAlguy]

LOL @ Varsha's Buemi comment. :rofl:

[LittleAlguy]

Vettel takes the pole. First ever for Red Bull. Alonso pulls a big one out of the hat.

[ÜberDoober]

Vettel, Alonso, Weber. What is going on in the World? I need to pick my jaw up off the floor.

[ÜberDoober]

How very interesting. I can't wait to see what happens tomorrow.

After walking 86 miles and up and down a million steps at the NASCAR Nationwide race tonight at PIR, I am whooped so off to bed I go. :winky:

Catch y'all tomorrow!

[LittleAlguy]

Pre-race weights:
1. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 644kg
2. Fernando Alonso, Renault, 637
3. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 646.5
4. Rubens Barrichello, Brawn GP, 661
5. Jenson Button, Brawn GP, 659
6. Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 664.5
7. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 650.5
8. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 673.5
9. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 679
10. Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso, 673
11. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber, 679
12. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren, 697
13. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 690
14. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 682.7
15. Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso, 690
16. Nelson Piquet, Renault, 697.9
17. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 659
18. Adrian Sutil, Force India, 648
19. Timo Glock, Toyota, 652
20. Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India, 679.5

That certainly explains much of Alonso's speed in Q3.

[ÜberDoober]

Cool! Thanks for posting up the weights. I've been a lazy bum today. It's just coming up on 11:30 here and the pre-race show.

I've seen the Inside Grand Prix that's on twice now. Did you catch Bernie's comment that "if Europe doesn't wake up, they're going to find themselves a 3rd world economy". Go Bernie!

Showtime!

OMG RAIN!

[LittleAlguy]

Here's the rain. This will be fascinating.

[LittleAlguy]

Cool! Thanks for posting up the weights. I've been a lazy bum today. It's just coming up on 11:30 here and the pre-race show.

I've seen the Inside Grand Prix that's on twice now. Did you catch Bernie's comment that "if Europe doesn't wake up, they're going to find themselves a 3rd world economy". Go Bernie!

Showtime!

OMG RAIN!

Oh yeah, I saw that. I remember him say something like that before.

[ÜberDoober]

I am enjoying an adult beverage and piece of cold yummy Chicago style pizza. Ummmmmm.

I had just finished reading that the rain was expected to be clear by the race and tune in and see it is wet. This race could be one of the most unusual ever? I just hope there isn't a big pile up going into one or that they don't red flag and call the race again like Malaysia.

I'm excited! :ack2:

[ÜberDoober]

Have you read about the complaints people have had about the timing graphics being too high up on the screen and cut off? I'm having it this week. At least I did for qualifying.

That shot of one of the new diffusers they just showed was a good angle to really see how they make the downforce.

[LittleAlguy]

I haven't had Chicago-style in a while. Very good stuff but the calorie count for it is :eek:. Not that I'm super strict calorie-wise but I gasped the first time I saw those numbers. Still makes my mouth water. I won't give up New York style, though. :coolshades:

I think with these conditions, they should start behind the safety car.

[ÜberDoober]

Awesome intro. I believe that is Sam Posey doing the narration?

[LittleAlguy]

Have you read about the complaints people have had about the timing graphics being too high up on the screen and cut off? I'm having it this week. At least I did for qualifying.

That shot of one of the new diffusers they just showed was a good angle to really see how they make the downforce.

I haven't had that happen to me. During qualifying at Melbourne, the graphics were cut off on the side but it corrected itself.

Yup, that's Sam alright.

[ÜberDoober]

Wow! It is pretty wet. Safety Car start for sure.

[LittleAlguy]

I hope this doesn't end up being like that '02 Surfer's race.

[ÜberDoober]

They've got to go soon. I have seen much worse.

[ÜberDoober]

Alonso in! Oh how very interesting. :ack2:

[LittleAlguy]

Hmm, strange strategy change from Renault.

[LittleAlguy]

Look at Buemi hanging on behind the last two champs.

Oops.

[ÜberDoober]

Lot of offs! Some real racing going on.

[LittleAlguy]

Wow, lots of people going wide on the final corner.

[ÜberDoober]

Buemi is insane!

[LittleAlguy]

Buemi is insane!

I don't think he knows any better. :p

Trulli is not doing himself many favors. Perhaps not enough downforce.

Btw, that was before Kubica mounted him.

[ÜberDoober]

Trulli's day goes from bad to worse. That could have been terrible.

[ÜberDoober]

More drama! Safety car again. If this was for Trulli's wreck, it sure is late.

[LittleAlguy]

Buemi with some damage. Leftover debris or another incident?

nevermind. That could have much worse.

[LittleAlguy]

The Ferrari woes continue. Massa stopped dead.

[ÜberDoober]

Massa out. :(

[ÜberDoober]

So, SeaBass back in an Indycar next year?

[LittleAlguy]

Bourdais, please come back.

Alonso making the move.

Hamilton by Raikkonen AGAIN.

[ÜberDoober]

Hobbs said Pace car again. :)

[LittleAlguy]

That's a pretty ingenious design from the Toyota team for their wing replacement system.

[ÜberDoober]

That's a pretty ingenious design from the Toyota team for their wing replacement system.

Yeah it was. Watch for it to immediately be copied by the other teams. :)

[ÜberDoober]

Oh Piquet.

[LittleAlguy]

I love Hobbs's sound effects. :rofl:

[LittleAlguy]

What a move from Webber. That took a lot of intestinal fortitude.

[LittleAlguy]

I don't see Button making it all the way even with the fuel saved from SC.

[ÜberDoober]

I don't see Button making it all the way even with the fuel saved from SC.

Yeah, seems highly unlikely.

[ÜberDoober]

Rosberg on inters. Things are getting very interesting.

[LittleAlguy]

Hamilton not having a great stint.

1:54.6 for Keke's son on the first flyer.

[LittleAlguy]

Wowzer, those inters are not getting it done.

Hamilton re-passed.

[LittleAlguy]

Aww, Sutil :( He was in position to score the team's first points.

[LittleAlguy]

Red Bulls for everyone. They take their first win and 1-2.

[ÜberDoober]

I'm back. What a lousy time to have my Internet go down again. I am so sick of the last two weeks of things working fine in the daytime and evening then going to hell in the middle of the night. I had a service call scheduled last week but had to cancel in because I couldn't be home. I will for sure get it taken care of this week. It fakes me out because it 2 or 3 days a week, it is fine.

As I speculated, last night's race was most unusual. I just don't know what to expect anymore but the three amigos certainly seem to be touting Sebastian Vettel as the next Michael Schumacher? Can't exactly say I agree with that but the kid has had some impressive moments.

The Formula 1 world has been turned all topsy-turvy and I've got to say, this may be the most amazing season I've ever seen? The good news is that Bahrain is only a week away and is on at a fairly reasonable time for you east coasters. I look to be getting up at 4:00/4:30 in the morning. :ack2:

[ÜberDoober]

The Chinese Grand Prix
Shanghai International Circuit, China;
56 laps; 305.066km;
Weather: Wet.

Classified:

Pos Driver Team Time
1. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1h57:43.485
2. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) + 10.970
3. Button Brawn GP-Mercedes (B) + 44.975
4. Barrichello Brawn GP-Mercedes (B) + 1:03.704
5. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) + 1:05.102
6. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) + 1:11.866
7. Glock Toyota (B) + 1:14.476
8. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) + 1:16.439
9. Alonso Renault (B) + 1:24.309
10. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) + 1:31.750
11. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) + 1:34.156
12. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) + 1:35.834
13. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) + 1:46.853
14. Fisichella Force India-Mercedes (B) + 1 lap
15. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) + 1 lap
16. Piquet Renault (B) + 2 laps

Fastest lap: Barrichello, 1:52.592

Not classified/retirements:

Driver Team On lap
Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B) 51
Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 44
Massa Ferrari (B) 23
Trulli Toyota (B) 19