Chinese GP Thread will contain Practice, Qualifying and Race Spoilers

[Fernando]

Spoiler:

Shanghai will host the third round of the 2012 Formula One World Championship as the 12 teams head back to the Far East for the Chinese Grand Prix. This will be the ninth running of the Chinese Grand Prix, all of which have been held at the Shanghai International Circuit. Built on marshland in the district of Jiading, SIC introduced F1 to the plus-size grand prix venue. Featuring an enormous paddock, team buildings perched above an ornamental lake and spectator facilities capable of seating over 200,000 people, including a main grandstand by itself capable of holding 29,000, the Hermann Tilke-designed circuit is very much a statement. But take away the infrastructure and what's left is an intriguing track that has all the right ingredients to produce a race that mixes tactical challenges with real blood-and-thunder driver appeal.

The standout features of SIC are the two enormously long straights, both of which are prefaced by slow corners and terminate in heavy braking zones. It makes for excellent overtaking opportunities into the Turn 14 hairpin and the turn one 'snail'. SIC features two of these 'snails' – sections of track that curl back on themselves in very tight corners. The snail at Turns 1-2-3 has a closing radius – meaning it gets tighter – while the Turn 11-12-13 snail has an opening radius. While Formula One delights in fast, flowing sections of track, the reality is that getting the slower combinations right is what makes for a good lap time and differentiates drivers.

Ferrari and McLaren are tied on three wins apiece, with Renault and Red Bull Racing being the other victorious constructors in Shanghai. Red Bull's win in 2009 was its first in F1, though in the 54 races since then they have added another 26 victories for a strike rate just under 50 per cent. Going into this race, however, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso leads the Drivers' Championship while McLaren are top in the Constructors'.

CIRCUIT DATA

Shanghai International Circuit

Length of lap:
5.451km
Lap record
1:32.238 (Michael Schumacher Ferrari, 2004)
Start line/finish line offset
0.000km
Total number of race laps
56
Total race distance
305.066km
Pitlane speed limits
60km/h during practice;
100km/h during race

CHANGES TO THE CIRCUIT SINCE 2011

The grass bordering the track around turns 1, 2 and 6 has been replaced with asphalt which has been painted green using an approved non-slip paint.

The tyre barrier to the drivers' right in the pit entry has been fitted with a conveyor belt retaining system.

Chinese GP Facts
► The only driver to win the Chinese Grand Prix twice is McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, victorious last year and in 2008 – however Hamilton is perhaps better remembered in connection with this venue for sliding out of the 2007 race while attempting to enter the pitlane on very worn tyres. His failure to score in what was the penultimate event handed Kimi Räikkönen a lifeline in the World Championship which Räikkönen grasped by winning in China and again two weeks later in Brazil to take the title by a solitary point.
► The 'snail' at the end of the start/finish straight and the hairpin turn 14 are good overtaking points, though the winner of the Chinese Grand Prix has never come from beyond the front three rows of the grid. Mark Webber's charge last season from 18th to 3rd was the only time anyone starting outside the top ten has appeared on the podium. ► The Chinese Grand Prix is the first in a triple-header of FIA World Championship events for the Shanghai International Circuit this year. The six hours of Shanghai will be the final event of the inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship at the end of October and one week later the World Touring Car Championship will visit for its penultimate round, before heading off to Macau.
► Since hosting the first Chinese Grand Prix in 2004, the Shanghai International Circuit has also played host to Australian V8s (2005) and MotoGP (2005-2008). Of the four MotoGP rounds held at the circuit, Valentino Rossi won the first and last, sandwiching wins for Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner.
► The circuit is built on reclaimed marshland. It is supported by a buoyant polystyrene sandwich sitting on top of 40,000+ concrete piles, some of which go 80m deep into the soft earth. Built at a fast pace the circuit has been vulnerable to subsidence, requiring extensive resurfacing work over the year to even out bumps in the track. ► Four of the eight grands prix held at the Shanghai International Circuit have required intermediate or full wet tyres and rain has threatened on several other occasions. Changing race dates from September/October to April has not proved to make rain during the grand prix more or less likely.
► The Hermann Tilke-designed circuit was laid out to resemble the Chinese character 'Shang', meaning 'upward' or 'to ascend'.
► Michael Schumacher's lap record stil stands from the original 2004 Chinese Grand Prix. Three of the first four races of 2012 take place at tracks with a lap record set by Schumacher in 2004.
► Only Jenson Button has won the Chinese Grand Prix with the no.1 of a reigning World Champion on his car. And only three times in eight runnings has the winner in China gone on to lift the World Championship that season.

Source: FIA Official Site

[Guest]

Looks like a straight fight for pole between Jenson & The Mercs. Lewis should end up around P6/7. Ferrari are struggling immensely with graining and rear tyre wear. Ferrari need there to be rain forecast, otherwise Alonso is in big trouble in terms of remaining championship leader. A wet qualifying really would destroy Mercedes, no DRS use during qualifying at all and would of course shake up the grid.

[monty junior]

Practise 2 results

1 7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1:35.973 (32)
2 4 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:36.145 0.172 (29)
3 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault 1:36.160 0.187(27)
4 2 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing-Renault 1:36.433 0.460 (24)
5 8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:36.617 0.644 (31)
6 3 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:36.711 0.738 (28)
7 14 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1:36.956 0.983 (28)
8 11 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1:36.966 0.993 (31)
9 12 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1:37.191 1.218 (31)
10 5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:37.316 1.343 (32)
11 15 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1:37.417 1.444 (22)
12 16 Daniel Ricciardo STR-Ferrari 1:37.616 1.643 (33)
13 9 Kimi Räikkönen Lotus-Renault 1:37.836 1.863 (30)
14 17 Jean-Eric Vergne STR-Ferrari 1:37.930 1.957 (32)
15 10 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1:37.972 1.999 (26)
16 18 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1:38.176 2.203 (35)
17 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:38.293 2.320 (31)
18 19 Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 1:38.783 2.810 (37)
19 20 Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 1:38.990 3.017 (36)
20 21 Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 1:39.346 3.373 (20)
21 24 Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 1:39.651 3.678 (15)
22 22 Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 1:40.343 4.370 (25)
23 25 Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 1:40.753 4.780 (30)
24 23 Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1:41.125 5.152 (26)

[dyrewolfe]

QUALIFYING RESULTS
1. N Rosberg - Mercedes - 1:35.121
2. M Schumacher - Mercedes - 1:35.691
3. K Kobayashi - Sauber - 1:35.784
4. K Raikkonen - Lotus - 1:35.898
5. J Button - McLaren - 1:36.191
6. M Webber - Red Bull - 1:36.290
7. L Hamilton - McLaren - 1:35.626*
8. S Perez - Sauber - 1:36.524
9. F Alonso - Ferrari - 1:36.622
10. R Grosjean - Lotus - 1:35.903 (Q2) - did not set time in Q3
11. S Vettel - Red Bull
12. F Massa - Ferrari
13. P Maldonado - Williams
14. B Senna - Williams
15. P Di Resta - Force India
16. N Hulkenberg - Force India
17. D Ricciardo - Toro Rosso
18. J Vergne - Toro Rosso
19. H Kovalainen - Caterham
20. V Petrov - Caterham
21. T Glock - Marussia
22. C Pic - Marussia
23. P de la Rosa - HRT
24. N Karthikeyan - HRT

Despite setting the 2nd fastest time, with his 5 place grid penalty, Hamilton will start 7th. More significantly, it means Mercedes lock out the front row, as well as getting their first pole position since 1955.

Be interesting to see if the Mercs can maintain their positions in race conditions. Rosberg said in his post-quali interview that the temperature started to drop towards the end of Q3 which helped his tyres work better. We will also be treated to the spectacle of Vettel fighting his way through the pack from 11th - presumably he will start on harder tyres and go for a long first stint.

According to the commentary, Vettel and Webber are using different spec cars, as well as different set-ups. Apparently Webber is using some older components, which give a set-up he feels more comfortable with.

[Fernando]

2+5 = 7

Was a stunning lap by Rosberg be interested to see how their race pace develops.

Sauber certainly looked pace with both Kamui/Sergio in top 10

[mystiroakey]

so then mercedees and brawn have really done something here.!!

well done rosberg and the team

[Mad for Chelsea]

feel sorry for Grosjean, starting in front of Vettel that'll be a third non-finish in three races when he doesn't just let him past then...

a bit surprised to see Button so far back, hope Hamilton can make a charge. Will be interesting to see if the Merc race pace is any better here, and aren't the Saubers doing well?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Vettel

[mystiroakey]

what has vettel gone ande done lol.

anyway we are on for a top race.. vettel and hamy back.

hamy to win

[liverbnz]

Kimi's in a good position here. Might put a few quid on him.

[monty junior]

Amazing lap by Rosberg, it looked an excellent lap on board, accurate and smooth and in the end it was pole by a mile.

Kobayashi you have to say did a great job as well, i honestly fancy he could win tomorrow. The Sauber is quick, very good to it's tyres, so why not.

[Guest]

Ross Brawn said 'it's going to be a tough race for us'.......says it all, Ross is one those guys who just tells it straight, plain and simple. There is no way in a couple of weeks that Mercedes have rectified those horrific tyre wear issues at high fuel. Yes, qualifying front row was inevitable with that long straight using DRS but I still reckon tomorrow is going to be about Lewis & Jenson coming through the field.

As for Vettel.....they now know the new exhaust system is the way forward even though they still havent fully come to terms with the one Webber is using. Vettel is basically in shock at the moment and he doesn't quite know what to do, he's lost his untouchable aura and his confidence is dwindling. For Alonso, it's all about damage limitation until the European phase of the season. I'm excited about Kimi tomorrow and the McLaren boys coming through, should be some great racing

[Belgarion of Riva]

Exactly John, I agree. Hammy and Jenson need to be careful at the first corner and this race is up for grabs. Their race pace is better than the Mercs and I hope the team doesn't let them down with stupid pitstops.

[sportform]

I can't wait to see Kobayashi push his way past the Rosberg and Schumacher.

I would definitely like to see him driving for one of the top teams in the near future.

[sportform]

The biggest battle will be between the BBC and Sky tomorrow morning. The BBC got over 5m for the race last year and Sky's viewing figures have been around 25% of what the BBC had for the first two races.

It will be interesting to see if Sky can hold that figure (would be just over 1.25m viewers tomorrow) or whether many people desert them for the BBC.

[A-Darts]

Havnt watched any of this in years, only a few names i recognise, M Schumacher still on top i see, what ever happend to Ralf? I may watch this tomarrow and catch up...

[mystiroakey]

yeah get involved- gonna be a good season- alot of teams very close in terms of performance- no one car is the best overall

[monty junior]

Ralf was booted out of Toyota at the end of 2007 Darts, never to be seen in F1 again.

I don't see Button coming through the field at any great rate of knots, he's not been quick at any point this weekend. I think he'll finish 4th or 5th, i think this race is between Hamilton,Kobayashi and Raikkonen. But of course with the Mercedes up front, a saved set of option tyres and their straight line speed down the back straight they could get a podium at least.

[monty junior]

yeah get involved- gonna be a good season- alot of teams very close in terms of performance- no one car is the best overall

From something like 1st to 15th in Q2 there was something like 6 tenths in it. Considering it's one of the longer tracks of the calendar year it's amazingly tight.

[sportform]

I don't see Button coming through the field at any great rate of knots, he's not been quick at any point this weekend.

That could have been said about his qualifying last year but he often found much more pace in the race.

[mystiroakey]

button will gain or crash or have bad pitts bad luck , same goes for vettel ham and alonso

[mystiroakey]

great race so far.. button could do this!!

[mystiroakey]

lols-- 'massa- alonso is on a different stratergy let him by' bend over massa- you do realise alonso is behind you!! haha

[mystiroakey]

buttons pit crew just handed the race to rosberg - wtf!!!!

[SteveG]

fed hamilton into a load of slow traffic TWICE. Well done Mclaren - brilliant strategy for Lewis once again !!

[mystiroakey]

well if he was second he would have won- gear box and 5 places cost him

[harryspiv]

Typical, just as I was getting a break from the German national anthem

He did deserve it though, can't begrudge that.

[SteveG]

Great race right to the end with lots of different tyre strategies.
Fantatic win for Ross. Really pleased - i would hate to have not seen him get a win in his career and now the monkeys off his back.
Unlucky Shumi.
Brilliant drive from Vettel - never saw that one coming ater his start.
Nightmare pitstop for Button.
And lastly unlucky Hamilton - always ice skating uphill with stupid FIA grid rules and crap strategy from his team. Although he did make hard work of Perez.

[A-Darts]

Watched it, a very decent race, the commentating is still great in my opinion. Good drive from alot of the racers, Rosburg done great, never seen him before.. But good race, i shall watch some more over the rest of the season.

[mystiroakey]

great race from ros button and ham- really annoying that ham got the pen and button lost time inb the pit- it could have been even more entertaining to see if a two stop would have worked.

eitherway best race for ages and lewis tops the championship

[dyrewolfe]

Well, that was definitely a race of 3 halves.

Pretty frenetic opening spell, a rather dull middle stint and the mother of all last stints. Some fantastic racing from everyone, from 2nd to 12th or so.

First of all, congrats to Nico Rosberg on his maiden pole and win. Led from start to finish and never looked in any trouble...and by the time he did have any trouble he was over 20 seconds in the lead.

Rotten luck for Schumacher...was looking good in second place until the pit stop error forced his retirement.

Another good race for McLaren. Great drives from both Hamilton and Button to grab the other two podium spots. Both drove brilliantly and pulled off some great overtakes. Disappointing that they messed up Button's last stop, effectively ending the battle for the lead.

A good race too for Red Bull, considering. A good 4th place finish for Webber, overtaking Vettel in the process. Both Red Bulls also involved heavily in the battle for 2nd on down. Good effort from Vettel with a decent points finish in 5th, after starting 11th.

Good candidate for Moment of the Race was Mark hitting the kerb and nearly getting airborne again, with the nose of his car off the ground for a good few seconds.

Could have been a better race for Lotus. A great drive from Grosjean to finish 6th but they got Kimi's strategy horribly wrong. After being 2nd for some time, his tyres just droppe doff the cliff and he lost 10 places in the space of 2 laps. Feel very sorry for him.

A good result for Williams on Frank's 70th birthday. Senna 7th and Maldonado 8th to bag more constructors points for the team.

[mystiroakey]

"Led from start to finish and never looked in any trouble"

really!!

anyway he did well- but for alot of that race button looked good for the win

[dyrewolfe]

well if he was second he would have won- gear box and 5 places cost him

Pretty dumb comment, especially as Button finished ahead of him, DESPITE the botched pit stop.

[mystiroakey]

btw grosjean is one class driver!!

[mystiroakey]

well if he was second he would have won- gear box and 5 places cost him

Pretty dumb comment, especially as Button finished ahead of him, DESPITE the botched pit stop.

personally i think commet is pretty dumb but there you go- did you watch the race?

by the noinseical commets you made above i serously doubt it!

[dyrewolfe]

"Led from start to finish and never looked in any trouble"

really!!

anyway he did well- but for alot of that race button looked good for the win

Not really. Although he had a 10 second lead after the second (I think) round of stops, Rosberg was going quicker and eating into his lead.

[mystiroakey]

drywolfe you either didnt watch the race of you are cant read a race

[dyrewolfe]

well if he was second he would have won- gear box and 5 places cost him

Pretty dumb comment, especially as Button finished ahead of him, DESPITE the botched pit stop.

personally i think commet is pretty dumb but there you go- did you watch the race?

by the noinseical commets you made above i serously doubt it!

Oh for god's sake grow up. For a 34-year-old you are unbelievably childish.

[mystiroakey]

It wasnt just buttons 6 secs lost- it was getting fed into traffic.

hamilton also got feed into treffic due to the 5 gri place pen.

if neither happened i am not saying either would deffo have won- but i would put money on it.

and the fact that ham had the quicker qualy i would have obvioously put him fav over button. therefore i satnd by the comment that hamy could have won.

mercs 2 stop looked better due to mclarens mistakes- i dont think it wa sthe right stratergy

[mystiroakey]

well if he was second he would have won- gear box and 5 places cost him

Pretty dumb comment, especially as Button finished ahead of him, DESPITE the botched pit stop.

personally i think commet is pretty dumb but there you go- did you watch the race?

by the noinseical commets you made above i serously doubt it!

Oh for god's sake grow up. For a 34-year-old you are unbelievably childish.

so you person that starts the 'stupid' remarks calls me childish.. bad morning is it?

[mystiroakey]

drywolfe - boutton started ahead due to hamiltons 5 place grid pen- thats a big reason as to why he was ahead- how hard is that to understand.

you call my comment dumb- no your comment is dumb if you cant understand that. its simple

[Fernando]

Cut it out now the pair of you

[mystiroakey]

soz ..

Drywolfe peace.

it was a great race, thats what matters!

both mc drivers did well with bad luck.

ros did brilliantly for the win

[The Special Juan]

The animosity here is incredible.

Well done to Nico. It was Vettel-esque but better as Jake(?) said. Don't think Button would have won regardless of the pit stop. Nicos was just a class apart.

Well done to Williams too. 7th and 8th is very good.

[dyrewolfe]

drywolfe - boutton started ahead due to hamiltons 5 place grid pen- thats a big reason as to why he was ahead- how hard is that to understand.

you call my comment dumb- no your comment is dumb if you cant understand that. its simple

And Button's botched 3rd stop meant he came out in 6th BEHIND Hamilton AND Alonso...

Your start position is no guarantee that events during the race won't put you out of position later on. Hence my comment that it was stupid to assert that had Hamilton started 2nd he would have won...even assuming he could have kept up with Rosberg.

[mystiroakey]

i think button would have pushed nico very hard if not passed him- but anyway that is what both teams take away from this.

the mclarean team has made alot of mistakes in the first 3 races- yet are 1st and 2nd in the standings.However plenty of drivers are very close and many could win this

its shaping up for a brilliant season. F1 is back

[mystiroakey]

drywolfe - boutton started ahead due to hamiltons 5 place grid pen- thats a big reason as to why he was ahead- how hard is that to understand.

you call my comment dumb- no your comment is dumb if you cant understand that. its simple

And Button's botched 3rd stop meant he came out in 6th BEHIND Hamilton AND Alonso...

Your start position is no guarantee that events during the race won't put you out of position later on.

he didnt come out behind hamilton, - i dont understand what you are talking about so lets just drop it dude

[dyrewolfe]

The animosity here is incredible.

Well done to Nico. It was Vettel-esque but better as Jake(?) said. Don't think Button would have won regardless of the pit stop. Nicos was just a class apart.

Well done to Williams too. 7th and 8th is very good.

You think a couple of people arguing about possible outcomes is incredible animosity?

[harryspiv]

Well, that was definitely a race of 3 halves.

[supremeskills]

drywolfe - boutton started ahead due to hamiltons 5 place grid pen- thats a big reason as to why he was ahead- how hard is that to understand.

you call my comment dumb- no your comment is dumb if you cant understand that. its simple

And Button's botched 3rd stop meant he came out in 6th BEHIND Hamilton AND Alonso...

Your start position is no guarantee that events during the race won't put you out of position later on. Hence my comment that it was stupid to assert that had Hamilton started 2nd he would have won...even assuming he could have kept up with Rosberg.

that didnt happen,at no stage during the race was button behind lewis and alonso.
did you actually watch it?yes after his messy pitstop button came out behind traffic,but alonso and lewis were not part of it,they were further behind.
and lewis starting in 7th rather than 2nd definitely hurt him.
but well done rosberg,his deserved the win,and good drives by lewis and jenson too.

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