Korean Grand Prix - 21 Oct 2010 - 24 Oct 2010 |
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Korean GP: Lap by Lap Report
Welcome to Korea for race 17 of the 2010 season. The track temp's 18°C and it's raining cats and dogs. The virgin asphalt of the debut track is slippery and cars are already sliding through the track as the drivers clock a few laps just before lining up on the grid. The Grid
The Red Bulls after a dominating qualifying session are at the front row of the grid with Vettel at pole. Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton are on row 2. Nico Rosberg and Felipe Massa are next on the grid. Jenson Button and Robert Kubica are P7 and P8 respectively. Ex teammates Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello complete the top ten. Nico Hulkenberg and Kamui Kobayashi are next on the grid. Nick Heidfeld and Adrian Sutil are P13 and P14. The two Toro Rosso's are on row 8. Vitantonio Liuzzi and Jarno Trulli are next on the grid. Behind them are Timo Glock and Vitaly Petrov following a five place penalty. Heikki Kovalainen and Lucas diGrassi are on row 11. The two HRTs complete the grid.
The race is delayed by ten minutes while the officials decide on the race proceedings.
The race official deems it too dangerous for a normal start. The race therefore starts behind the safety car. As the cars leave the grid, the magnitude of the rain become more than apparent. With almost zero visibility, even the frontrunner, Sebastian Vettel is complaining. The track is so slippery, even the safety car is pushed to its edge to stay on track. As the race completes its first lap, Massa is informed over the radio that the rain is expected to last another 20 minutes, which means the safety car will stay on for another 5 to 10 laps.
Lap 3
Drivers are struggling to stay on track with zero visibility. The track is extremely slippery.
The race is red-flagged. The drivers bring their cars back to the grid and wait for the track conditions to improve. Judging from the weather report, this is going to take a while.
After about an hour, after the rain has subdued, the marshals and the ground crew have swept the track free of water, the race has restarted. The restart will be behind the safety car as the track is still slippery.
Lap 6
Sakon Yamamoto has an off-track moment. The HRT clearly shows how slippery the track still is. In this track condition, the safety car will have to stay out.
Barrichello is told over the radio that light rain is expected to continue for the next 25 minutes. This means the race will continue to be behind the safety car for the next ten laps.
As Vettel crosses the start-finish line, still behind the safety car, he informs his team over the radio that the track conditions are improving but the water is not getting drained fast enough.
Lap 8
Seven time world champion Michael Schumacher runs off track. He quickly regains controls and rejoins the pack.
Hamilton tells his team over the radio that the track conditions are ‘good'. He is visibly keen on getting on with the race.
Lap 12
Webber is told over the radio that Hamilton is keen on racing. Webber replies saying the conditions are still not safe.
Alonso's team informs him that the rain will last another 5 minutes.
It's getting quite boring watching the cars trail behind the safety car. We feel sorry for the spectators.
Lap 17
Hamilton says the track conditions are much better and almost good enough for intermediates. Finally! The words every F1 fan in the world has been waiting to hear.
The officials inform that the safety car will be in at the end of the lap.
Lap 19
There is still water on the track and the virgin asphalt adds to the slipperiness, Sutil goes offtrack. Trulli and Senna too go off track at the same corner. All three cars recover safely.
The race is over for Webber and Rosberg. Webber loses control, spins out and hits the wall. He re-enters the track and clips Rosberg and crashes at the other side of the track.
The race leader is still Sebastian Vettel, flying through the track. Trailing behind him is Alonso and Hamilton fighting for second. Behind them are Massa, Button, Schumacher, Kubica, Hulkenberg, Barrichello and Sutil.
Lap 24
Bruno Senna and Jarno Trulli have a tussle and the latter loses his front wing. Trulli drives off and heads into the pits at the end of the lap and is unfortunately out as his car is missing more than its front wing. The Lotus is apparently having hydraulic issues and is out of the race.
Lap 27
Michael Schumacher overtakes Jenson Button's McLaren with a sweet and simple manoeuvre. The seven time world champion may have been lacklustre throughout the season but it's moments like this that reminds us who he is and what separates him from the rest.
Lucas diGrassi has crashed into the barriers and is out of the race.
Sebastian Vettel is setting the track on fire. He clocked the fastest at 1:54.098
Lap 29
Button rejoins the race after shifting to intermediates. He is caught up behind heavy traffic at P16. Sutil too pits and re-enters at P18. With the track still relatively wet and slippery, it may be too early to shift to intermediates.
Lap 31
Its pit frenzy as a convoy of cars including Hamilton, Schumacher, Massa, Barrichello and Kubica enter the pits.
Liuzzi is running strong at 10th in his Force India. He had a disastrous qualifying, finishing only 18th fastest.
Sebastian Buemi is out of the race after colliding with Timo Glock. His car has sustained heavy damage and rests at the edge of the track, kissing the barriers. The safety car is out to recover the STR.
Lap 33
The frontrunners, Vettel and Alonso re-enter the race after pitting. Vettel retains his race lead but Alonso following a fumble by a pit crew member gets delayed by a few seconds and is now third behind Hamilton.
Lap 36
Hamilton runs wide and Alonso isn't one to let the opportunity pass. As we draw closer to the end of the season, every point is vital for a chance at the championship and the difference between second and third might just make the difference.
Meanwhile the other McLaren driver, Jenson Button too is making mistakes. He goes off-track while battling slower back-runners
Lap 40
The previous laps saw Alonso, Vettel, Hamilton and Massa taking turns clocking the fastest lap.
It's still Vettel leading the race with Alonso, Hamilton, Massa, Schumacher, Barrichello, Hulkenberg, Kubica, Liuzzi and Kobayashi
Lap 46
It's game over for Sebastian Vettel. A plume of smoke is visible as Alonso speeds past Vettel. Vettel takes the car ahead and parks it at the edge of the track. A volley of sparks erupts from underneath his car as the Renault engine breaks apart. The Red Bull is on fire as Vettel jumps off the car. He grabs a fire extinguisher and does his own act of fire fighting as he waits for the ground crew to come and remove the vehicle.
The McLaren and Ferrari pits erupt in Joy as Red Bull laments its misfortune.
Lap 47
Sutil has been making too many mistakes this race. In his eagerness to gain a few places he tries a very risky manoeuvre, trying to overtake Kobayashi. Sutil loses control midway into the move and crashes into the Sauber. The Force India is a mangled mess lying off-track. Luckily Kobayashi's Sauber takes little damage and continues with the race.
Lap 52
Button is having a bad day. The track conditions have cost him a chance of a decent finish. He loses control of the McLaren again but regains before causing any damage.
Liuzzi overtakes Barrichello and claims 6th. Force India can at least be satisfied with the points.
Final lapM
Fernando Alonso takes the chequered flag followed by Lewis Hamilton. Felipe Massa claims the final podium position. Michael Schumacher with his best performance this season is fourth. Behind him are Kubica, Liuzzi, Barrichello, Kobayashi, Heidfeld and Hulkenberg.
This has been a very eventful inaugural race, with rains playing protagonist to the drama. See you guys in two weeks for the only South American race this season, the Brazilian GP.
Click here for the korean GP Race Results.
Welcome to Korea for race 17 of the 2010 season. The track temp's 18°C and it's raining cats and dogs. The virgin asphalt of the debut track is slippery and cars are already sliding through the track as the drivers clock a few laps just before lining up on the grid. The Grid
The Red Bulls after a dominating qualifying session are at the front row of the grid with Vettel at pole. Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton are on row 2. Nico Rosberg and Felipe Massa are next on the grid. Jenson Button and Robert Kubica are P7 and P8 respectively. Ex teammates Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello complete the top ten. Nico Hulkenberg and Kamui Kobayashi are next on the grid. Nick Heidfeld and Adrian Sutil are P13 and P14. The two Toro Rosso's are on row 8. Vitantonio Liuzzi and Jarno Trulli are next on the grid. Behind them are Timo Glock and Vitaly Petrov following a five place penalty. Heikki Kovalainen and Lucas diGrassi are on row 11. The two HRTs complete the grid.
The race is delayed by ten minutes while the officials decide on the race proceedings.
The race official deems it too dangerous for a normal start. The race therefore starts behind the safety car. As the cars leave the grid, the magnitude of the rain become more than apparent. With almost zero visibility, even the frontrunner, Sebastian Vettel is complaining. The track is so slippery, even the safety car is pushed to its edge to stay on track. As the race completes its first lap, Massa is informed over the radio that the rain is expected to last another 20 minutes, which means the safety car will stay on for another 5 to 10 laps.
Lap 3
Drivers are struggling to stay on track with zero visibility. The track is extremely slippery.
The race is red-flagged. The drivers bring their cars back to the grid and wait for the track conditions to improve. Judging from the weather report, this is going to take a while.
After about an hour, after the rain has subdued, the marshals and the ground crew have swept the track free of water, the race has restarted. The restart will be behind the safety car as the track is still slippery.
Lap 6
Sakon Yamamoto has an off-track moment. The HRT clearly shows how slippery the track still is. In this track condition, the safety car will have to stay out.
Barrichello is told over the radio that light rain is expected to continue for the next 25 minutes. This means the race will continue to be behind the safety car for the next ten laps.
As Vettel crosses the start-finish line, still behind the safety car, he informs his team over the radio that the track conditions are improving but the water is not getting drained fast enough.
Lap 8
Seven time world champion Michael Schumacher runs off track. He quickly regains controls and rejoins the pack.
Hamilton tells his team over the radio that the track conditions are ‘good'. He is visibly keen on getting on with the race.
Lap 12
Webber is told over the radio that Hamilton is keen on racing. Webber replies saying the conditions are still not safe.
Alonso's team informs him that the rain will last another 5 minutes.
It's getting quite boring watching the cars trail behind the safety car. We feel sorry for the spectators.
Lap 17
Hamilton says the track conditions are much better and almost good enough for intermediates. Finally! The words every F1 fan in the world has been waiting to hear.
The officials inform that the safety car will be in at the end of the lap.
Lap 19
There is still water on the track and the virgin asphalt adds to the slipperiness, Sutil goes offtrack. Trulli and Senna too go off track at the same corner. All three cars recover safely.
The race is over for Webber and Rosberg. Webber loses control, spins out and hits the wall. He re-enters the track and clips Rosberg and crashes at the other side of the track.
The race leader is still Sebastian Vettel, flying through the track. Trailing behind him is Alonso and Hamilton fighting for second. Behind them are Massa, Button, Schumacher, Kubica, Hulkenberg, Barrichello and Sutil.
Lap 24
Bruno Senna and Jarno Trulli have a tussle and the latter loses his front wing. Trulli drives off and heads into the pits at the end of the lap and is unfortunately out as his car is missing more than its front wing. The Lotus is apparently having hydraulic issues and is out of the race.
Lap 27
Michael Schumacher overtakes Jenson Button's McLaren with a sweet and simple manoeuvre. The seven time world champion may have been lacklustre throughout the season but it's moments like this that reminds us who he is and what separates him from the rest.
Lucas diGrassi has crashed into the barriers and is out of the race.
Sebastian Vettel is setting the track on fire. He clocked the fastest at 1:54.098
Lap 29
Button rejoins the race after shifting to intermediates. He is caught up behind heavy traffic at P16. Sutil too pits and re-enters at P18. With the track still relatively wet and slippery, it may be too early to shift to intermediates.
Lap 31
Its pit frenzy as a convoy of cars including Hamilton, Schumacher, Massa, Barrichello and Kubica enter the pits.
Liuzzi is running strong at 10th in his Force India. He had a disastrous qualifying, finishing only 18th fastest.
Sebastian Buemi is out of the race after colliding with Timo Glock. His car has sustained heavy damage and rests at the edge of the track, kissing the barriers. The safety car is out to recover the STR.
Lap 33
The frontrunners, Vettel and Alonso re-enter the race after pitting. Vettel retains his race lead but Alonso following a fumble by a pit crew member gets delayed by a few seconds and is now third behind Hamilton.
Lap 36
Hamilton runs wide and Alonso isn't one to let the opportunity pass. As we draw closer to the end of the season, every point is vital for a chance at the championship and the difference between second and third might just make the difference.
Meanwhile the other McLaren driver, Jenson Button too is making mistakes. He goes off-track while battling slower back-runners
Lap 40
The previous laps saw Alonso, Vettel, Hamilton and Massa taking turns clocking the fastest lap.
It's still Vettel leading the race with Alonso, Hamilton, Massa, Schumacher, Barrichello, Hulkenberg, Kubica, Liuzzi and Kobayashi
Lap 46
It's game over for Sebastian Vettel. A plume of smoke is visible as Alonso speeds past Vettel. Vettel takes the car ahead and parks it at the edge of the track. A volley of sparks erupts from underneath his car as the Renault engine breaks apart. The Red Bull is on fire as Vettel jumps off the car. He grabs a fire extinguisher and does his own act of fire fighting as he waits for the ground crew to come and remove the vehicle.
The McLaren and Ferrari pits erupt in Joy as Red Bull laments its misfortune.
Lap 47
Sutil has been making too many mistakes this race. In his eagerness to gain a few places he tries a very risky manoeuvre, trying to overtake Kobayashi. Sutil loses control midway into the move and crashes into the Sauber. The Force India is a mangled mess lying off-track. Luckily Kobayashi's Sauber takes little damage and continues with the race.
Lap 52
Button is having a bad day. The track conditions have cost him a chance of a decent finish. He loses control of the McLaren again but regains before causing any damage.
Liuzzi overtakes Barrichello and claims 6th. Force India can at least be satisfied with the points.
Final lapM
Fernando Alonso takes the chequered flag followed by Lewis Hamilton. Felipe Massa claims the final podium position. Michael Schumacher with his best performance this season is fourth. Behind him are Kubica, Liuzzi, Barrichello, Kobayashi, Heidfeld and Hulkenberg.
This has been a very eventful inaugural race, with rains playing protagonist to the drama. See you guys in two weeks for the only South American race this season, the Brazilian GP.
Click here for the korean GP Race Results.
