The rich and vibrant city of Abu Dhabi will host this year’s last and most prestigious free-for-all F1 race in the spectacular Yas Marina circuit. It features an underground pit-lane and the race is set to start at 1700 hours local time, making this the one and only race where drivers will be racing into the twilight and finish in the floodlights.

Fact: The first Abu Dhabi GP attracted a crowd of over 50,000 people.

It may seem like the 2009 F1 World Championship is over, particularly after the Brazilian GP last week, in which, the title holder was decided! But the truth is, the race will still be as thrilling as ever. Drivers on the grid still have points to score, a career to think about and employers to satisfy, provided they want to be around for the 2010 F1 World Championship.

Coming to title-winner Jenson Button, the critics are still reprimanding the Briton for disappearing from the podium mid-season. This, in other words, also means that the 29-year-old is under tremendous pressure to perform well if he wants to be on that list of veteran heroes such as of Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen. It will not be easy, especially if you consider the fact that other drivers too are looking forward to giving their respective teams the perfect showdown. As far as the bottom performers and rookies such as Heikki Kovalainen, Nick Heidfeld, Jarno Trulli, Romain Grosjean and Kazuki Nakajima are concerned, these guys are desperate. They would even kill (literally speaking) in order to NOT be out of job next year! So the whole point is, just because the Championship title is decided, there are still some things worth fighting for this weekend.

Prediction: Either of the Red Bull drivers on P1!

From the drivers’ mouth:

LEWIS HAMILTON: “We’ve had a fantastic second half of the season, and it would be perfect to end the year with a win – it would send us into the winter fully motivated and pumped up for the 2010 season. All the signs point to Abu Dhabi being another strong track for us – there are plenty of slow corners leading onto long straights, where KERS will be very advantageous.

“Seeing as it’s likely to be the last race for KERS, it would be fantastic to send it off with a perfect result – that would be a very fitting farewell for all the engineers who have worked so hard to make the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes system the best in the business.”

ROBERT KUBICA: “I have not been to the Abu Dhabi circuit so far. As we do not have a simulator I only know the track from the Internet and from a couple of presentations. The track looks very interesting. The facilities and the buildings around the circuit especially seem to be outstanding. However, before having done the first laps on the track with a Formula One car, it is really difficult to judge the circuit itself. But of course I know this situation from the past.

In 2008 both Valencia and Singapore were new on the calendar. Fortunately I consider myself a driver who does not need a lot of track time to be on a good pace straight away. I guess that a lot of cars will be out on the track on Friday in order to understand the track and to learn as much as possible. I am really looking forward to going there. It will be my last race for this team, but I hope very much to see them on the grid again next year.”

NICK HEIDFELD: “I’m very pleased to be getting another taste of summer and will be flying out to Abu Dhabi a few days early with my family. I’m really excited about the new circuit. Everyone who’s been there already has described it as an incredible place. I think it’s always great to discover a new track. I haven’t found the lack of a simulator to be a disadvantage at other new circuits, and this way it’s even more exciting when you drive out of the garage for the first time.

“This will be a very special race for all of us in the team. So far I haven’t really had that feeling of saying goodbye. But that will change in Abu Dhabi for sure, and will probably be quite intense. I very much hope that the team is given a place on the grid for 2010 soon.”

HEIKKI KOVALAINEN: “I had a very strong race in Brazil and I’m determined to rack up a points finish in Abu Dhabi to make sure we hold on to third position in the constructors’ championship. From what I’ve seen of the track, it looks pretty good – it’s got a couple of fast corners at the start of the lap, but then there’s a real low-speed, technical section towards the end.

“It still looks like it will be a tough track for overtaking, but the facilities look amazing – totally world-class – and I think the idea of a dusk race is very good for our sport. Singapore has set the standard very high with its night race, but Abu Dhabi looks like it will set new standards in Formula 1. I can’t wait to get out there.”

Brawn GP and Jenson Button – World Champions. The news is still a little hard to believe. Like a story straight out of a Steven Spielberg film the journey from a has-been with potential to the top of the standings appears scripted by the fate herself. It began with a bang, was filled with suspense in the middle half, a dash of drama, heartache and unsure moments but everything rounded up with a happy, fairy-tale climax.

The Brawn Grand Prix team will go down as the team that won the Championship with both drivers in 1-2, winning four races back-to-back, wining the Monaco GP on a three-race old engine and all of this in their debut season! Ross Brawn will certainly move comfortably into Formula One legend. There can be no definite analysis of this end. They started with the best car but were soon overtaken by others. Their drivers were initially icons of confidence, radiating that winning spirit but towards the end in-fighting amongst themselves and bitterness eroded that shine. The lack of confidence and strain began to show rather visibly and sometimes it was ugly. But they never allowed themselves to fall or falter whatever the situation that is perhaps the biggest lesson they taught F1. With little money, few prospects and difficult times they motivated themselves, built an extraordinary car, the legendary BG 001, and stormed through the season facing up to all challenges with the same stoic dedication that allowed them to even participate in this season in the first place. Some things cannot be halted and Brawn GP in 2009 proved to be one of those things. Three cheers for the team, for the drivers and for Ross Brawn – Champion among Champions.

What about new apple of Formula One’s eye, Jenson Button? There is much talk about whether he truly deserved this championship, about circumstances, about his apparent cracking under the strain, of his desperate struggles with his team-mate and his apparently lack of talent on the tarmac. The problem lies in the fact that the distinct lines between the fortunes of Button and Brawn GP have become blurred. Jenson Button is the World Champion because he was behind the wheel of the BGP01 car but the opposite is not true. Any driver in the top ten rankings would have been Champion behind that car, Button was in the right team at a critically right time and what a team it turned out to be. It may be a slightly bitter pill for Button to swallow but considering the end results, he should have no complaints.

Button, the son of a rallycross driver from London, showed a lot of promise when he debuted in F1 in 2000 and like so many before and after him looked set to fade into obscurity after a number of years in the sport at the back of the grid. He was only a body to drive a car so that the grid can still sport 20 cars. Unlike his famous team-mate Rubens Barrichello, Button had no pedigree, no famous team-mates, no on-track showdowns, and no tears on podiums. He didn’t even have a decent scandal to his name.

In 2009, driven by team Honda’s abrupt withdrawal from the sport and desperation to stay in the game, with any team or drive, Button made what turned out to be the smartest decision of his life. He accepted a massive pay cut (rumours say his pay was cut from 13 million to less than five) and decided to wear the white and black of the new debutante on the track – Brawn GP. Call it a fortunate stroke of luck, a desperate gamble that paid out in spades or even just the odd workings of Kismat. Whatever it was it went on to make history.

However there is no denying that Button deserved and worked exceptionally hard for this Championship. He is a smooth and aggressive driver whose races are usually error-free and he is a tactical man – thinking, analysing and reacting to events to get an edge over the rest. He pushes himself and the team to greater heights, is unafraid to try unorthodox techniques and takes an active interest in the development of the car. And he is fast – winning six races in the season.

Kimi Raikkonen is usually credited with only two of the above traits – speed and error-free driving – and Hamilton only won five races in 2008 but no one disputes their worthiness to be champion. And as an extra, in shallow sense but this is the glamorous world of Formula One after all, he is good looking and reportedly has a saucy and fiery personality. So cheers to the 10^th British Champion of Formula One, hearty congratulations Button, jolly good show!

Track:

The Interlagos is quite a challenge for most drivers, particularly with the assortment of low, medium and high-speed corners, all packed into one track, not to forget the long straight ones. F1 cars will have to compromise on downforce and drag levels to get a strong performance on the infield and open the possibility of getting a chance to pass a P1 or P2 car at the final and finishing straight track.

Brazilian Felipe Massa has won the Brazilian GP in 2006 and 2008!

Look out for Kobayashi:

Kamui Kobayashi, Toyota’s new driver, will be making his debut at the Brazilian GP this weekend. The Japanese driver will be replacing Timo Glock following Glock's injury sustained in qualifying for the 2009 Japanese GP. As a novice driver, Kobayashi will have to pay attention to areas he is not familiar with – the pit-stops and race starts. Nothing more to expect!

All eyes on Button:

Going into the final and last two rounds of the 2009 Formula One season, no doubt all eyes (and fingers) will be directed at Jenson Button, the 29-year-old Briton who is expected to realise his childhood dream of becoming the World Champion after nine years in the sport. The reigning champion is currently 15 points ahead of his second position rival and teammate Rubens Barrichello. Now all Button needs to do to claim his Championship, is to finish five points ahead of the Brazilian, Barrichello!

It sounds easy enough, especially with a sleek and fast car like the Brawn BGP001. But the problem is, it is not the only fastest car anymore, moreover, Barrichello also drives a BGP001. Button is under tremendous pressure. If Button fails to do it this time, the pressure will multiply tenfold at Abu Dhabi, where Barrichello could rise supreme or Vettel could become the underdog.

The way I see it, the only option left for Button is to maintain his calm and drive like Vettel did at the Japanese GP. No spins, no crashes, no mistakes, no nothing. In fact, I agree with Damon Hill’s suggestion to Button, “Take the season by the throat and win both of the final two races and claim the Championship in style”, which, if decrypted, means, to silence the critics on Button’s capability and worth.

Word has it that Button is not worth going down in history as the only driver next to Jim Clark and Michael Schumacher to have a dominating start at the F1 season. Why? Because he is now practically limping his way to the Championship with his credibility lost. Unpleasant to admit, I know, but it is the truth.

It is predictable to say that Barrichello does not have a chance as much as Vettel does in overtaking Button. The Brazilian has had all but bad luck on his home track. His stats prove that he has had only one podium win at Interlagos, and it wasn’t even a P1. Vettel, on the other hand, is dangerous for Button and lethal for the Brawn GP team. On recollection, Kimi Raikkonen was dragged into a similar situation in 2007, and won the Championship over a fight with the crowd-favourite, McLaren team. Vettel now has nothing to lose and must go all out in the final two races. The ‘win or die’ spirit can still get this young German a title this year. My guess is, he will grab either the Brazilian GP or the Abu Dhabi one, he just needs to remain as flawless as he was at the Japanese GP.

RETROSPECT:

F1 racing in Japan was held off for a decade after the 1977 race saw a Ferrari, driven by Gilles Villeneuve, somersault into a restricted area and kill two by-standers. That was on a track called the Fuji Speedway. F1’s return to Japan came about in 1987 at the current Suzuka Circuit, which covers 53 laps and is well- known for being the only figure-eight race track on the F1 calendar. After many notable races and incidents, the last driver to claim a podium win at the Japanese GP was the recent Singapore GP’s P3 winner, Fernando Alonso of Renault. Will he repeat the feat this year? Doubtful. Especially with a track that’s in favour of many drivers.

With the Championship points already out of the drivers’ mind, the only fight left is that between the Brawn GP drivers and of course, the individual drivers’ points, at least for the contract’s sake. In any case, in addition to the anticipation for the race, the most exciting thing to watch out for is Fernando Alonso replacing Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari! No disrespect to the Finn, but the Spaniard had been crying and howling about how much he wanted to drive the red car ever since he drove his first toy car, presumably, a red one as well.

PREDICTIONS:

Japanese GP predictions? Button!

DRIVERS’ COMMENTS:

Marking the return to Suzuka International Racing Course this weekend, F1 teams gave their thoughts at a press conference summarised to this –

Force India

They hope they will do their best after the tough struggle in Singapore.

Brawn GP

Jenson Button apparently can’t wait to race at Suzuka, while his teammate, Rubens Barrichello, has some ‘special’ memories of the track, but he won’t say what.

Renault

Both drivers, Fernando Alonso and Romain Grosjean, must’ve had a pact as they simultaneously admitted that the Suzuka circuit will be a big challenge for Renault.

Red Bull

Sebastian Vettel, always with a good word, rated Suzuka as the best track in the world, or at least for him it is. His teammate, Mark Webber, aped the German and described the track as a sensational one.

Toro Rosso

Debutants Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi. (Who really cares about them?)

McLaren

Apparently, Lewis Hamilton had been waiting his whole life to race at Suzuka. Typical British exaggeration! Teammate Heikki Kovalainen is more realistic and stated the circuit won't be ideal for McLaren MP4-24.

Toyota

Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock are eager (as usual) to perform well, possibly due to pressure of Toyota's home fans at Suzuka.

BMW

Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld are… delighted (wonder what that even means!).

Marina Bay Street Circuit

The only night race in the 2009 F1 calendar is set to begin on 27^th September 2009 in Singapore. Spaniard Fernando Alonso of Renault is the only driver to win a Grand Prix on this track so far. It will be interesting to see if there’s anyone who can snatch that podium pole away from him this year. Unlike last season, the Marina Bay Street Circuit has been altered and remapped to a certain extent. Turns 1, 2, 3, 13 and 14 have been widened to aid overtaking. Cars will be racing underneath the grandstand at turns 18 and 19. 1500 light projectors, 4 metres apart and 10 metres above the ground, will be installed in all Pit Lanes.

We can expect to see an additional Canon branding on both Brawn GP cars as part of the team’s partnership with Canon Singapore.

In addition, the inaugural F1 Rocks concert will headline the race from 25^th through 27^th at Fort Canning Park. Acts include Beyonce, the Black Eyed Peas, ZZ Top, Simple Minds, N*E*R*D, No Doubt, Jacky Cheung and A*Mei.

Marina Bay Street Circuit Stats

Circuit Length: 5.067km

Number of Laps: 61

Brake Wear: High

Average Speed: 175kph

Raikkonen is back!

The slow start for Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen in his 2009 campaign seems to have been forgotten already, with four consecutive podiums towards the end of the season. Raikkonen looks to be in better shape than he was when the season started. My guess is, the remaining 4 races of the season will see the Finn pull himself out of the drowsy-slacking-beer-drinking-champ that he is and finish the season in style. He will definitely be on the podium yet again at the Singapore GP.

Drop the bomb!

Just the day before official practice for the weekend's Singapore GP begins, Renault's title sponsor ING said it has terminated its contract "with immediate effect"!

What happens now?

We’ll wait and see! Although my guess is, Renault will still race at Marina Bay with the aid of small-time sponsors. And this might just be the last time we will ever hear of Renault. No issues for Fernando Alonso, he is definitely jumping to another team sooner or later.

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The Force of Force India

Looks like Force India is getting it on ever since the P2 win by Giancarlo Fisichella at the Belgian GP. But after the Italian moved to Ferrari, the race at Monza proved that it was the VJM02 which should be on the receiving end for all credit. This is evident with Adrian Sutil having claimed the fastest lap record on all 3 days of racing – Practice, Qualifying and the Race in Italy. In addition to that, Sutil’s VJM02 had always been within view of Kimi Räikkönen’s KERS-enabled F60. With those points in hand, it seems the top ranking F1 teams now have a new threat to reckon with – the force of the VJM02. Can the VJM02 catch up with Brawn BGP 001? I don’t think so, at least not this season or when under tremendous pressure. But it’s true that we can raise the bar higher and expect more from Force India in the next four Grands Prix.

My congratulatory note to Force India for having made it this far!

Under Pressure – Hamilton

We all know Lewis Hamilton of McLaren does not like being at the back of the F1 race, especially since he had been the champion last year. The papers are filled with – “it was the car that did it, not him”. This only put more pressure on the poor Brit, and this pressure translated into devastating results in most of his Grands Prix this year. First one was at the Monaco GP, then again at European GP qualifying, then the Belgian GP and finally the last lap of the Italian GP. This is the major difference between Hamilton and top-notch-but-losing-drivers such as Fernando Alonso of Renault or Felipe Massa of Ferrari. With no sarcasm intended, the question now is not whether Hamilton will win or not, it doesn’t even matter. The more exciting question is how long can Hamilton last before crashing out again? For Singapore GP, I’d say he’d crash at least once, considering the complicity of the track and the blinding artificial lights to add to that.

Buongiorno! The Italians would surely have jumped out of their siesta this Saturday to witness the rise from dust of the phoenix that Force India has transformed into, over the past two races. Monza, the city of Gothic churches and home to the track that was once home to the superb Alfa Romeo, was a perfect setting for an afternoon of Formula One racing with the drivers ready for a showdown and the ladies bracing the slightly chilly air.

The circuit at Autodromo Nazionale Monza was a much easier ball game as compared to the last race at Belgium. The qualifying saw Force India driver Adrian Sutil show that the exit of Giancarlo Fisichella from the team does not mean that there was no one to fit in his shoes. And fit he did in those shoes. With fastest laps behind him for the practice, Sutil scorched the track with his skill and the much improved car, VJM02. He was poised to grab the pole for the race on Sunday, but for the grit of the Brit, Lewis Hamilton. The Brit swooped in on the time that Sutil had set him and inched to the pole with two-tenths of a second ahead of Sutil.

Of all the teams that are participating in the 2009 Championship, Toro Rosso and Williams were caught enjoying the siesta. Both cars for the teams start at the bottom of the grid on Sunday. Another disappointment on the track on Saturday’s Qualifying was the P2 at Belgium, Giancarlo Fisichella. Seems like the Italian’s dream of racing for Ferrari has been realised, but the feeling has not settled in yet. He still has to find his footing in the team’s car.

What makes the race really exciting is the fact that the top ten cars are separated by just over a second from each other. This is what a real Formula One race is supposed to be like. It could be anybody’ race! Although Hamilton and Sutil are up there on the grid, Kimi Raikkonen in P3 and last year’s Monza Champion Rubens Barrichello in P5 would ensure that the leader-board would not be a reflection of the Qualifying.

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel is waiting to strike with vengeance and he has Mark Webber to keep him company for that deadly strike. The cars are so closely placed that betting on just one of them would be way too much to ask for.

I place my money and faith in Sutil, for a change. I see him on the podium, not the Pole. Barrichello will show his magic and occupy the place that he had clinched last year. Hamilton has shown, yet again, that the wounds of the last season are not healed, yet. He would gulp that champagne on the podium on Sunday if things go his way. Who will be the dark horse? Vettel! I see him downing his free supply of Red Bulls and powering ahead to the podium, but in vain. Ciao!

On Raikkonen:

So my prediction was correct! After all, Kimi Raikkonen won the Belgian GP. Some say he got lucky due to the safety car covering the first lap, allowing the Finn to jump from P6 to P1. Others say KERS did it for him, pushing him a fraction of a second ahead of Force India’s Giancarlo Fisichella. But at the end of the day, or to put it in a more politically correct manner, at the end of the race, Raikkonen is still the winner, and that, my friend, is all that matters! Congrats Kimi! You deserve it.

On Fisichella:

The veteran Formula One driver is arguably the most surprising of the season. First, he grabbed pole position at the qualifying race, then, he went on to win second place at Spa. To top it off, the Italian did this without a KERS-assisted engine. The phrase “from zero to hero” is the only thing I can think of when Fisi salvaged 8 points for the team which had never scored any championship points since its inception last season. Does Fisi deserve it? Of course! Anyone tough enough to compete with Ferrari has definitely got guts and skill.

The blip:

Now we know what happens when the ordinary ranking is flipped upside down. Particularly when the likes of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton and other strong contenders are shuffled down. A crash ensues! If you consider the radical Spa tracks, this does not come as a surprise. All I would say about the crash is this, I’m glad it happened!

Next stop, Monza!

I don’t see more than one podium finishes for McLaren. Why? It’s just a hunch. Alonso might spring a surprise during the race but I see him finishing just out of the reach of a podium finish. Barrichello has shown over the years that he is capable of finishing on the podium, and Valencia would see him finish on the podium. Ferrari would sorely miss Massa’s presence and the elusive podium finish, would remain that, elusive. I bet Vettel will spoil the party for McLaren. Let the race begin! (Click here to read the full story)

That pretty much summed up the follow-up to the last race at Valencia Street Circuit for me. With two of the three predictions in place, I went all out on the sweet ale of maize! I went to pay my respects to that weird looking crystal ball gazing lady for her help with the ‘prophesying’. I cannot remember anything beyond the stench at her place and the fact that I was mugged. To cut a long story short, I am not going there again and nor should you. And here I am, back again!

So, the qualifying at the Belgian GP sprung surprises on surprises. It looked to me like a Hitchcock movie, terrifying and thoroughly enjoyable. Giancarlo Fisichella ruled the roster after finishing on the pole and starts his race comfortably at the head of the pack on Sunday. If he wins this one, which would be going overboard on optimism, it would place Force India in a really good position. His teammate, Adrian Sutil would be trying to figure out the tricky track from the bucket in P11.

The leader board, may its soul rest in peace for this race, was turned topsy-turvy. Lewis Hamilton, the unfortunate runner-up in the last race; Jenson Button, the 2009 season leader and Sebastian Vettel were nowhere to be seen near Force India’s Fisichella.

Force India’s performance has improved consistently in this season. Although, being perennially at the bottom of the grid in initial races this season, they have scraped their way up to the mid-grid. A pole, for sure, was not expected. Even the team owner Vijay Mallya would not have had thought of such a possibility.
Funny thing, Hamilton starts behind Sutil at P12. McLaren have their task cut out for this one. Hamilton’s resilience and Heikki Kovalainen’s skills might give McLaren the much needed points.

Toyota has got the grid placement to their benefit with Jarno Truli starting in P2 and Timo Glock in P7. These guys are surely going to have a party of their own on the track this Sunday.

Ferrari has got on their hands a gem of a different kind in Luca Badoer. All the jeers and the venom that has been spewed on him would not make a difference as he starts at the bottom, the real bottom, of the grid. Raikkonen starts at P6 and I bet if he keeps his cool, he would be up there on the podium on Sunday.

Rubens Barrichello has again shown that he is has not aged, yet. Last heard, he was planning to move to Spain after his win at Valencia. His teammate Jenson Button seems to have lost it all. He has been performing dismally. He needs to find his lucky charm or whatever was getting him going.

BMW has come up with a good show and they would be content with a podium for sure. But only if wishes came true! Although Nick Heidfeld starts in P3, I somehow don’t see him finishing in the top 3.

Fernando Alonso will be seen in his Renault at P13 followed by his teammate Romain Grosjean way back in P19. Williams’ Nico Rosberg starts in P1 and his teammate Kazuki Nakajima starts at P18. There really doesn’t seem to be going in the Williams den. As we are talking about results, team Toro Rosso start at the usual P16 and P17 with Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari, respectively.

I bet my money and my words on Kimi Raikkonen, Rubens Barrichello and Jarno Truli for the podium. Timo Glock, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastien Vettel would garner the next set of points, not essentially in the same order.

And as I file this report from my restaurant table, someone has taken ff with my extremely illegal chocolate truffle. I better be on my way to find it or I’ll have to file this from the cell.
And yeah, about the word from the beyond, it heard Fisichella was talking to ‘himself’ before the qualifying. Watch out for that!

Gauw tot ziens!

THE TRACK

There is no other race track more popular among drivers and fans than the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. The track, which was essentially built as a speed course, is one that tests the skills and bravery of every F1 driver.

Its layout is a fast and hilly route, alternating between straight lines and rapid curves. Speeds reach an excess of 330 kph. Plus, its unpredictable weather forces drivers to drive through bright and clear tracks on one part of the course and almost immediately face a long stretch of rainy and slippery tracks. But whatever the weather conditions are, the race goes on.

Currently, the track is 6.973 km long.

RÄIKKÖNEN’S PLAYGROUND

Räikkönen, apart from holding the distinction of the fastest lap record of 1:47.930 at Spa-Francorchamps, could have made a hat-trick if only the Belgian Grand Prix was a part of the 2006 F1 Championship. The Finn has won the championships in Spa-Francorchamps in 2004, 2005 and 2007 season, whilst driving for team McLaren.

With challenges from the formidable Brawn GP, Räikkönen has managed to scrape up 24 championship points so far this year. Twice, he secured the third place - Monaco GP and European GP. At the Hungarian GP he almost claimed the pole position, but for McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, who comfortably led the race from the start with a lead of 15 seconds. Räikkönen started from seventh position at Hungaroring.

In the last season, Felipe Massa had won the Belgian GP Championship. This year, can we bank on Räikkönen to win, considering his the podium wins he has had and the experience and knowledge of the track?

I hope so…the Finn deserves it and Ferrari needs it bad!

FROM THE DRIVERS’ MOUTH

Fernando Alonso (currently at 11^th position with 16 points)

“The approach towards the Raidillon is downhill. There’s a quick jolt; and suddenly you’re going uphill. You can’t see the end of the turn from the bucket seat, and it’s very hard to predict the car’s trajectory when you get to the top of the hill. "

Michael Schumacher (retired)

"Negotiating the extraordinary slope of the Eau Rouge is an indescribable sensation. I think it’s the best track. The strategies of the race have to be planned in very great detail."

Jarno Trulli (currently at 8^th position with 22.5 points)

“At Spa, you have to be ready to face seven kilometres in apnea!”

Barrichello to the rescue…

After three Grands Prix – Great Britain, Germany and Hungary – Brawn GP finally managed to clamber back on the pole, score 12 additional points and save their skins! Hurray to the Brazilian, Reubens Barrichello! No one knows (yet!) what is happening with Jenson Button, the crowd-favourite and championship points leader, but there is no doubt the Brawn BGP 001 is still determined to stay on top. The question now remains – will Button pick up his pace this time? It’s obvious the car still has what it takes to make a winner, especially with the team strategy still in place. Or maybe, the correct question is, now that Ross Brawn had admitted no partiality towards either drivers, would Barrichello grab this opportunity like he did against Lewis Hamilton in the European GP and take more wins in the upcoming races? Likely!

What’s Up Raikkonen?

Raikkonen seems to have an advantage, now that his KERS system is working perfectly. It just gave him a P3 win at the European GP when he punched the button at the corner of his first lap, beating the likes of McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen. Even though the McLaren car seems to have improved significantly over the season, we better watch out for this Finn with his newfound power booster.

Button, Oh! Button… where art thou?

Championship point leader Jenson Button might just be showing his true colours now –

Lazy! Taken for granted! Unimpressive! And getting drunk every night (I made that one up), but it’s apparent that his Brawn BGP 001 had been giving him P1s all this time. Judging from the way he claimed his previous 6 championship wins this season, Button could only win on tracks where overtaking is impossible, and that too if he is leading from the initial laps. On open tracks like the Silverstone Circuit in Great Britain, or the Hungaroring in Hungary, or the recent Valencia Street Circuit, Button could not win! Guaranteed bet, Button will not win the Singapore GP, regardless of what he will say prior to the event.

Hola! Formula One comes to Valencia Street Circuit for the second time. The circuit had hosted its first race the last year and added to the Formula One circuit the second of its kind, fifty-eight years after Monaco Grand Prix circuit was included in the Formula One Championship in 1950. Spanish weather, beautiful ladies and the smell of burning tyres on the asphalt; Valencia has them all.

The only thing missing from making this race a potent mix of all the revelry was the presence of Michael Schumacher.
The uncertainty surrounding Schumacher’s  return gave way to all the assumptions and predictions burning the news wires red. Millions of eye-balls stared at their screens with a glimmer of hope for Schumacher’s return. This interest, I must say, could only be rivalled only by the assumptions and predictions surrounding the identity of The Stig. Unfortunately, the magician could not qualify the fitness tests and the driver-in-eternal-waiting, Luca Badoer, replaced Massa for the European GP at Valencia Street Circuit.

Last year’s winner, Felipe Massa, will be missed on the circuit that would test the drivers’ skills to the hilt. Last year’s runner-up, Lewis Hamilton, showed in the qualifying race that he meant business. He starts on the pole this Sunday.
If the obsession of the Spanish with tomatoes, panache and charm is anything to go by, this race will satiate their senses for sure. The brutality of the bull-fights and the goring of Matadors would come in a close second to the ruthless and the challenging track layout and the high possibilities of crashes and bump-ins. But hey, that’s what street races are all about! That extra rush of adrenalin and that split-second move, its all there waiting for you.

McLaren start with a 1-2 on the grid with Hamilton leading the charge and his associate-in-arms, Heikki Kovalainen, right behind him. McLaren have displayed a great comeback, their engines and cars finally understanding each other. The drivers needed that extra bit of fine tuning and they have shown what they are capable of.

Brawn GP’s Rubens Barrichello put up an impressive show at Valencia and starts at P3 on the grid. Championship leader and Brawn GP’s blue-eyed boy, Jenson Button, was found faltering in the qualifying and he starts the race placed fifth on the grid. If Brawn get the elbow room and manage to skim past the daring McLarens, we could have an amazing contest on our hands.

It seems Renault have, kind of, fallen flat on their faces. The expectations from the home favourite Fernando Alonso went kaput with his dismal performance. He starts his race in the eighth position on the grid. Romain Grosjean, the other Renault driver would certainly have been embarrassed with his performance; more so, after confessing to have a liking for street races. He finds himself at the back of the pack with a fourteenth on the grid.

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel will be the man to watch as he zooms past the mid grid and makes it to the top three. His recovery in the qualifying and a fourth position on the grid are surely going to pump him up.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonnen starts in sixth and his team-mate Luca Badoer finds himself at the bottom of the grid. Williams’ daring and consistent Nico Rosberg starts in seventh position with his team-mate Kazuki Nakajima starting at the bottom of the grid with Badoer. Toro Rosso and BMW had an uneventful qualifying. With BMW already having made it clear that they would pull out of Formula One Championships from the next season, I don’t expect much improvement in terms of machinery.

A few teams have been making their presence felt pretty big time at the bottom of the grid. Toyota begins the race at thirteenth and eighteenth positions on the grid. Toro Rosso is at fifteenth with Sebastien Buemi and nineteenth with Alguesari. Force India has yet to find a consistent foothold in the middle of the grid. Adrian Sutil starts in twelfth and his team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella starts at sixteenth.

I don’t see more than one podium finishes for McLaren. Why? It’s just a hunch. Alonso might spring a surprise during the race but I see him finishing just out of the reach of a podium finish. Barrichello has shown over the years that he is capable of finishing on the podium, and Valencia would see him finish on the podium. Ferrari would sorely miss Massa’s presence and the elusive podium finish, would remain that, elusive. I bet Vettel will spoil the party for McLaren. Adios!

In retrospect, our dear Felipe Massa from Ferrari won last year’s European GP with a lap record of 1m38s. Lewis Hamilton tagged along in second place in his McLaren, followed by Robert Kubica in a BMW. That was the first F1 race held at the Valencia Street Circuit, Spain. A new history is just being written.

THE VALENCIA STREET CIRCUIT

The challenging and innovative layout has 25 turns and more corners than any other Formula One circuits. Tracks are surrounded by high concrete walls but are not so close together as they are in Monaco. Open areas allow drivers to reach top speeds of up to 300 kph, giving the track a very different feel from that at Monaco.

The Valencia Street Circuit was designed by German architect Hermann Tilke, who is also currently designing the Jaypee Group Circuit at Noida, India.

Valencia Street Circuit Stats:

Circuit Length: 5.419 km

Race Distance: 308.883 km

Number of Laps: 57

Brake Wear: High

Tyre Compounds: Soft / Super Soft

Downforce Level: High (7/10)

Tyre Usage: Medium

Average Speed: 200 kph (124 mph)

ONE, TWO AND THREE

What we will see? Test drivers finally getting a chance to bare their guts out… for real!

Romain Grosjean

Renault’s Nelson Piquet will be replaced by a 23-year-old French-Swiss driver Romain Grosjean, nicknamed Choucroute or sometimes Chou. He was the 2007 Formula Three Euroseries drivers' champion and the inaugural GP2 Asia Series champion. Grosjean’s track record showed him as a consistent pole sitter. When asked about the Valencia Circuit in an interview, Grosjean responded by saying “It’s not the easiest place to make your debut, but I’ve always liked street races and enjoy the atmosphere of being in the middle of a city. I am fresh and 100% ready for Valencia”

Jaime Alguersuari

Toro Rosso’s Sébastien Buemi has been replaced by Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari, the youngest Formula One driver in the history of the sport. Before Buemi got fired, Alguersuari had been doing test drives for Red Bull. Eventually, he had his first race at the 2009 Hungarian GP where he climbed from grid position 19 to finish at P11. Amidst all the criticism from world champions like Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, Sebastian Vettel was the only one who patted Alguersuari on the back saying that he should take his time to build up speed. Well, we hope he won’t take too long.

Luca Badoer

After much propaganda and anticipation, Ferrari finally confirmed their replacement for the injured Brazilian (Massa, for the uninitiated). Luca Badoer, an Italian born in Montebelluna, Veneto, will drive his first F1 race at Valencia Circuit on 23 August 2009 after having served for more than a decade with the Ferrari team. In the 1999 F1 season, Badoer was expected to take Schumacher's seat after the latter broke his leg in an accident. Unfortunately, Ferrari betrayed him and opted for the Finnish driver Mika Salo instead.

PREDICTIONS

Crowd favourite Jenson Button might finally get his groove back. MIGHT!

                                                                                                 The Best

A pat on the back

The first thing Hamilton did after his dominant victory in the Hungarian GP was to wildly thump the front of his car. He continued to do pat the car fondly after he parked in the Parmc Ferme, this time climbing on the hood for better reach. I believe it was a silent acknowledgement to the one thing that Hamilton’s driving skills could not fix – vehicle performance. It had to be fixed for him.

It took McLaren nine races to salvage the MP4 – 24. Better late than never I suppose.  Hamilton might have driven to the chequered flag, but it was a McLaren victory. A well deserved one.

That Beautiful Hungarian Trophy

Hungary is a twisted and complicated track but that trophy seems to make the effort worth it. Unlike other tracks, whose trophies have slowly evolved into neo-modern sculptures, Hungary retains a brilliant old world charm in their prize. The beautiful vase has engravings on the top, sides and bottom and features a lovely scenic painting on the reverse side. 

Truly one for the collection.

Talk about Support

Nicole Scherzinger, Hamilton’s girlfriend certainly was a tower of support for her man on Race Day. Viewers witnessed jumps, screams, wild eyed glaring at monitors, hug, squeals and, although hard to confirm, possibly even tears as she cheered her man across the finish line.

Way to go Girl Friend….

The first sip

The trophies had been handed out, the presenters quickly evacuated the stage and the drivers burst the corks and began to spray champagne in wild abandon of their victory…

At least two drivers did that. Raikkonen proceeded to perform his trademark moves – Have a deep, deep sip of it FIRST and then make a half hearted attempt to spray it as little as possible while busily contemplating if anyone would notice if he just disappeared to a quiet corner.

Kimi, It’s good to see you back on the podium. You, your grouchy personality, you morbid looks, and your borderline Alcoholism were deeply missed.

Jamie Alguussuuaaa…er..that new debut in Toro Rosso.

True, he didn't exactly set fire to the track but he came, he participated and he left without crashing out, hitting anyone or otherwise creating any mayhem. Good enough for a debut run.

Jamie ( pronounced Haemie) Alguersuari ( pronounced Al-gay-shuari) is 19, has had no previous experience in Formula One and is a Formula Three Champion.

Welcome to Formula One. Hopefully he will occupy his seat longer than his predecessor. 

                                                                                                   The Worst

Felipe Massa

A detached spring from Barrichello’s Brawn GP rear suspension smashed into Massa’s helmet during Qualifying, cracking his skull and eye socket. He was immediately hospitalized and in the intensive care after emergency surgery.

Much loved, fiery tempered, pint-sized, , cheeky, Championship contender, Michael Schumacher’s protégé, Brazil’s best driver since Aryton Senna – all words that can be used to describe Ferrari driver Felipe Massa.

As of Sunday afternoon, doctors say that he is recovering well and speaking and smiling. Lets wish him a speedy recovery.

 Fernando Alonso’s Fate

Alonso might not have won the race. But he surely would have come second or third. We will never know since his team did not bolt this front left tyre properly, then failed to tell him to stop and the world watched Alonso’s tyre fly off the car.

Alonso lost points, a podium and is currently facing a ban from the Valencia GP for endangering other drivers.

Renault wants a World Champion in it’s stable, but seems to be incapable of giving him even the slightest advantage in any race. How long can Alonso be expected to pull the entire team on his shoulders alone?

Tyres and Pit Stop – Brawn GP in Hungary

Cars that destroyed their tyres in a circuit that demands grip. Drivers who seem incapable of advancing up the ranks, pit stop strategy errors that forces Barrichello to make an unneeded second pit stop to allow Button to climb into point scoring positions.

Mildly put, things are not going to well for our Championship leaders.

Wot waaz yuur time?

Pole position became a mystery at the end of Qualifying when the Hungarian timing counters shut off due to a faulty cable. So we witnessed the rather quaint and unique scene of various drivers milling about enquiring (in various accents and levels of proficiency in English) about each others time to try and guess who got Pole.

While hilarious to watch it, it was a serious failing by the organizers.

That god %#$*@# first corner!!!

Sebastian Vettel got jumped by Raikkonen and Hamilton in the first corner. The wunderkind soon himself in P7. Then a pit stop to change the front wing that was damaged Raikkonen, then once more to the pits to retire a smoking engine.

His team-mate went on to score six excellent points, overtaking him in the Championship and even Jenson Button, his chief rival, got himself two points.

Vettel has definitely seen better days.

If anyone feels something needs to be added to this list, feel free to leave a comment saying so.

Here is wishing Felipe all the best in his recovery. Lets hope we see the pint sized Brazilian back on is feet, trademark grin in place, soon!

Sziasztok! If the qualifying at Hungaroring saw an eventful day, the Race-day surely threw up the biggest shocker of all. Seems McLaren finally got their act together, and the Gods were on their side too, as Lewis Hamilton, the reigning World Champion, won the 2009 Hungary GP with a humungous margin of 11.5 seconds over Kimi Raikkonen, the second driver to cross the finish line.  

Fernando Alonso had started at the pole, but was forced to retire when a wheel came off his Renault with 55 laps to go. If this was not enough, Sebastian Vettel from team Red Bull also retired due to an engine failure. If you aren’t keeping count, let me remind you that Vettel was at P2 at the start of the race. So, effectively, drivers in top two spots were forced to retire owing to technical snags.

It couldn’t have got better for Hamilton, who clocked in his first win for the 2009 season. He raced like a man possessed and sailed through in style. Making all the right moves and perfectly timed pitting, coupled with superb driving, Hamilton showed where he belonged today. If the Red Bulls ran the show in qualifying, Hamilton capitalised on the opportunities at hand. All was not lost for Red Bull as Mark Webber trudged in almost 17 seconds behind Hamilton.

The pre-race blog had posed a question whether the Red Bulls would do what is needed to end up on the podium. Well, the drivers did their part. They stuck to the strategy, extracted every bit of energy from the engines and did not try to do anything extremely foolish. But Maslow’s law raised its ugly head and Vettel was sent packing as the engine fumed and went dead. Mark Webber maintained his consistent run and ended up at P3.

If you missed out someone in all the hullabaloo of the race, he surely would have been Timo Glock. The German had an awesome race when others were battling with tyres flying out and engines puffing smoke. Glock started the race at P13 and ended up at a really impressive P6. Its another thing that Vettel and Alonso had to watch the race from the sidelines.

Force India’s performance went down considerably from Germany. Adrian Sutil was out in the first lap as a result of an engine malfunction. Fisichella ended the race almost where he had started, factoring in that two drivers at the top of the grid were out.

In the pre-race blog, I had wondered if McLaren would get their act together. They sure did. Out of the three Renault engines that had made to the first three places on the grid, only one could end up on the podium. It was preceded by a Ferrari and a Mercedes.
Old days, eh!

There’s almost a month to go for the 2009 Europe GP. The circuit for sure is not the run-of-the-mill kinds. It is a street race baby! If ‘Monaco is like riding a bicycle in your living room (Nelson Piquet)’, Valencia is no better. It would be a good come-back for Felipe Massa as he had won here the last year, becoming the first driver to do so. Hamilton would love to keep the adrenalin pumping and maintain his form. Who could spoil their party? Well, there is a certain Fernando Alonso who would like to give them a good run for their money, provided he has all his tyres in place. Hasta luego!

The qualifying at Hungaroring was one chaotic place to be in for the drivers and the constructors, alike. If the drivers had just the scorching heat on their minds, they were going to get their hands full with a lot to ponder upon.

A piece of debris, presumably a spring from the wing of Barrichello’s Brawn, went flying and hit Felipe Massa in the chin at over 200 kmph. The yellow flags came out as the impact knocked Massa out for a few seconds and his car rammed into a tyre wall. He was air-lifted to a hospital and was said to be coming to terms with what hit him.

The Q3 session for the qualifying was delayed by a good 22 minutes following Massa’s crash. After the tracks were cleared of the debris, the final session came to life. Team Red Bull made it amply clear that they were on the circuit to go for a win. But there was a party-pooper lurking around, going by the name of Fernando Alonso, lapping up great times. Alonso took to the team’s strategy of going aggressive and caught the Red Bulls by horns, or was it by surprise? It is beyond doubt that team Red Bull have shown that where they belong. Would they be doing what they should do, or will the heat play on their minds?

Alonso sneaked in from behind the two Red Bulls and crossed the finish line, but was it enough? Malfunctioning race timers added their bit to the chaos that the qualifying had already been greeted with. So, the teams were left playing the guessing game in the pit-lane. The confirmed times saw Alonso take the Pole with Vettel and Webber following him.

The current World Champion, Lewis Hamilton came in the fourth. Wonder when McLaren will get their act together and let Hamilton work the charm.

Force India finished ahead of BMW and Torro Rosso. Adrian Sutil saw his car getting wreaked in the practice session earlier in the day. The credit goes to the technicians who put the car onto the track with just over 6 minutes to go for Q1.

With three Renault engines in the first three places, there surely would be a Renault up there on the podium. The Red Bulls have the car and the skill to go for the kill. McLaren might end up on the podium if the car stays on with Hamilton. Am I missing someone? Oh yes, Jenson Button, the current leader, might spring a surprise as well. It will surely be a closely fought contest with Button trying to redeem his place and Webber and Vettel revving up to give him a good fight. Alonso did good to get the Pole, but would he end up on the podium? We’ll see. Viszontlátásra

 

P.S.: Ferrari has issued a statement saying that Massa would not be racing tomorrow and that he was recuperating well. He had suffered a cut on the forehead, a minor fracture on the skull and had a brain concussion.

Hungaroring, the Son of Monaco Race Circuit

Budapest, home to a population of over 1.7 million inhabitants, is said to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Brimming with culture, atmosphere, beautiful sites and vibrant nightlife, Budapest boasts over a dozen world heritage sites which attract more than 20 million visitors every year. Their parliament building alone is the third largest in the world.

In this vivacious city is located the Hungaroring Racing Circuit – 70 laps of knotty, narrow and dusty track. Overtaking on this track is almost impossible.

Thierry Boutsen, a former driver for the Arrows, Benetton, Williams, Ligier and Jordan teams, demonstrated this in 1990 when he beat crowd-favourite Ayrton Senna. Boutsen kept his Williams FW13B in front of Senna and finished in first place after 2 hours of a sluggish race. Senna lost simply because he was unable to find space to manoeuvre his way out.

The secret to winning the Hungarian GP lies firstly on the qualifying rounds. If any of the drivers secure a P1 grid position this Saturday, I’m willing to bet everything I have on that driver, be it Jenson Button or Lewis Hamilton or Felipe Massa or even someone as low on the ranking as Adrian Sutil. The next secret is pit strategy.

In the 1998 Hungarian GP, Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher was stuck behind both the McLarens for during the first hour of the race. Halfway through the race, tactician Ross Brawn decided to switch to a 3-stop strategy which resulted in Schumacher’s fine win.

Although passing is unusual here, Ferrari’s Nigel Mansell started from 12^th position on the grid and bullied other drivers and passing car after car to eventually take a well-deserved win in 1989. Jenson Button scored an identical win in 2006 when he started from P14 grid position to wrest first position. Claiming his first F1 victory of his career.

A majority of the fans expected to be present at Hungaroring Racing Circuit in Mogyoród are the Finns, with a handful of Germans and Austrians. It’s safe to say that Kimi Räikkönen and Heikki Kovalainen will certainly receive a cheer more resounding than the 5 German drivers Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg, Timo Glock, Nick Heidfeld and Adrian Sutil.

The Prediction:

The slow, hot and demanding circuit built on sandy soil with 80 percent of racetrack visibility from any point, is hard to predict. In my view, ex-Ferrari manager Ross Brawn has a better chance of winning the 2009 Hungarian GP due to his experience and his out-of-the-box strategies. After all, his driver, Jenson Button had already claimed this track in 2006.

But like the German GP, there is a high possibility we might have an unlikely winner. One who hasn’t had a win throughout this whole season.

Notable Hungarian GP winners who are currently driving:

Rubens Barrichello won in 2002.

Fernando Alonso, who is one of the few drivers to claim that he loves the Hungaroring race track, won the Hungarian GP in 2003. Alonso became the first Grand Prix winner from Spain and also the youngest ever driver to win a Hungarian GP.

Kimi Räikkönen won the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2005, but not without a hard fight in the qualifying rounds. He started from the most handicapped qualifying position, a dusty and dirty track at the back, and finished in P1. No other driver has managed this feat.

Jenson Button took the win from a P14 grid position in the rain-affected 2006 Hungarian GP. This also marked the first Grand Prix of his career.

Lewis Hamilton had a controversial win in the 2007 Hungarian GP. McLaren constructor's points were knocked off race due to an incident in the qualifying rounds.

Heikki Kovalainen claimed his first F1 victory at the Hungarian GP last year.

New kid on the block!

First Australian to appear at a Formula One Championship becomes the first Australian to win a Grand Prix. That is not something we see everyday. Thank God for small miracles. Although I am a Brawn GP fan (particularly Button’s), I must admit, Webber’s win is surprising, non-disappointing, ecstatic and well-deserved.

Initially I had no hopes, nor any expectations from Webber, who started the race a little errantly, and caused a penalty after side-stepping Rubens Barrichello of Brawn GP. But that didn’t hurt; in fact, it only seemed to fuel the Aussie driver who finished the race 9 seconds clear of two-time champion Sebastian Vettel. Even if Webber does repeat this feat in the future races of this season, this alone will mark his capability and status as a driver.

As a team, Red Bull racing seem to be surging ahead at full force – especially when both team members contributed to a P1 win. Not every team does this as well; it’s always “either you or me, not both of us”. Any rumours of a drift between the Red Bull drivers will have to be shushed.

Just like any competitive sport, the result of the 2009 German GP too has raised a question – “Will Red Bull catch up?” Perhaps this question has popped up due to the excitement of today’s surprising win; but the statistics makes one ask.

My bet, Red Bull seems to be the only team that can strip Brawn GP of its F1 domination. There is time for more wins. There is room for hope. Brawn GP will not have an easy win.

Massa, the return!

Without a doubt, Felipe Massa had been struggling with his F60 through almost all of the races this season. Slowly and almost disappearing among the bottom half racers, the Brazilian’s fiery determination is veiled by his calm and cool composure. The P3 win at the 2009 German GP just proved how desperate and strong-willed Massa is for another shot at glory.

The man has the guts and the skill to step up on a podium, high above the rest. Problem is his car is unwilling. Once the Ferrari team can figure out the best laid plan for Massa, even with a car less superior to Brawn GP, the Brazilian can surely set the notch a little higher and claim the championship once again. (Good Luck Massa!)

Ferrari fans, you can put those shiny red toy cars back at the front of your showcase now. You’re still the best!