Shanghai, April 13-15
Ferrari’s
fightback Is the points leader really back in the hunt?
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The McLarens again locked out the front-row in Sepang, but the mixed conditions saw an opportunity go begging for the English squad.
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Round 3 - Shanghai I Introduction
It’s Mac time
shanghai EDITOR: Stefan Bartholomaeus DESIGN: Kirstie Fuentes SALES/MARKETING: Leisa Emberson IMAGES: Red Bull Racing McLaren Ferrari Mercedes Lotus Force India Sauber Toro Rosso Williams Caterham
It’s time for McLaren to step up to the plate this weekend in Shanghai, where its first one-two finish in almost two years looms as a distinct possibility. The technical team back at Woking have served up a fantastic package for Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton to start the season with. The two Britons locked out the front-row of the grid in both Australian and Malaysia, but circumstances have conspired against the same result being repeated in the races. While wet weather may again greet the teams this weekend, McLaren must make the most of its advantage before the seemingly inevitable fightbacks from both Red Bull and Ferrari prove to peg back the margin. The two-time reigning Constructors Champions already appear well in the battle on race pace, with only one-lap qualifying speed letting the side down. If Adrian Newey and co have not fixed that trait by the time the first major update packages of the season arrive in time for next month’s Spanish Grand Prix it’ll be a surprise. Although Ferrari appears to remain considerably further away from the performance benchmark, the sheer tenacity of Fernando Alonso can never be underestimated. After all, the McLaren drivers both head to China trying to bridge the gap to the Spaniard in the points standings.
Marussia
Regardless of the fate of the much-debated Bahrain Grand Prix, which is scheduled to be run just a week after Shanghai, there really is no time like the present for McLaren.
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Round 1 - Albert Park
Daniel Ricciardo arrives for service during the Malaysian Grand Prix. The Australian would finish out of the points in 12th.
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Round 3 - Shanghai I Cover Story
Ferrari’s
fightback Is the points leader really back in the hunt?
Even Ferrari can hardly believe that Fernando Alonso heads into this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix atop the World Drivers’ Championship standings. Alonso’s victory last time out in Sepang came just eight days after Melbourne’s opening qualifying session of the season had many writing off the Spaniard’s chances of a third world title. The F2012 endured a difficult winter testing period, with its lack of both downforce and top speed seeing the
Scuderia shaping as merely a mid-field contender
and his strategic team to take a popular victory in mixed conditions.
While Alonso could qualify just 12th in Melbourne and ninth in Sepang, fifth and first placed race results see the 2005 and 2006 champion head the standings.
While Alonso is again likely to be a contender if similarly tricky conditions are experienced in China, Ferrari technical director Pat Fry admits that the team is still a long way from the ultimate pace of the benchmark McLarens.
The first result was achieved in typical Alonso style, with a strong start, a decisive move at the first corner and a gritty drive yielding more points than the car deserved. The weather then made the job far easier in Malaysia, where the Ferrari - having rid its 2011 trait of struggling for tyre warm-up - benefited from the experience of Alonso
“I certainly wasn’t expecting to have one driver leading the championship,” says Fry, who joined the Scuderia midway through 2010 after eight seasons at McLaren. “From quite early on in testing, we realised we had quite a few issues we needed to
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several parts of its planned Spanish Grand Prix update package for use this weekend. “We are constantly working on improving the issues we have,” says Fry of the car’s development. “New parts are coming through and we are trying to get them to the race track as quickly as possible. We will have five updates for China, some are quite visible others less so. Then there will be a bigger upgrade package for Spain. It would be nice to have them earlier, but we have already brought forward some parts we were developing for Spain and we should have them in China.”
sort out. Everyone at the factory has been working hard at that, as we still have a long way to go. “I think our dry qualifying performance is still around 0.8s off the best while we want to be the best ourselves. Damp low grip conditions suit our car and flatter some of the issues we have with the F2012 at the moment. You could see that in Melbourne on Friday and again in the race in Malaysia.” True to Alonso’s assertion on Saturday evening at Albert Park that his team would need to work “25 hours a day” in order to catch its rivals, Ferrari has brought forward
By contrast to Alonso’s dynamic start to the season, team-mate Felipe Massa is yet to score a point - the Brazilian clashing with countryman Bruno Senna in Melbourne, before struggling to an off-the-pace 15th in Sepang.
Although an outstanding second place for Sauber’s Ferrari Academy driver Sergio Perez in Malaysia has further intensified the pressure on Massa, Fry says the team is working to provide the 2008 runner-up with what he needs in order to regain his competitiveness. “The car is quite difficult to drive and Fernando has managed to get the most out of it, while with Felipe, we have struggled to find the right balance to keep him happy,” says Fry. “In addition, in Malaysia, we had Felipe on intermediates after the red flag but we had a lot of understeer and so we took the gamble of an additional pit stop which did not work out. The fact the tyres were only graining and not worn out was about the only call we got wrong from the pit wall at the last race. It was a set-back for Felipe, one of a few unfortunate circumstances for him.”
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Round 3 - Shanghai I Track Details
Shanghai International Circuit
Technical preview with Lotus F1’s trackside operations director Alan Permane
THE CAR Rear wing Slightly less downforce than in Sepang and Albert Park in deference to the opportunities for overtaking provided by the two straights in Shangai. Brakes Shanghai is not a severe circuit for brakes. There are some heavy braking zones of up to 5G of deceleration – Turn 1 into 2, Turns 6, 11 and 14 but they are well spread over a lap giving time for the discs and pads to cool. Suspension Kerbs are low meaning that the right height can be lower than would otherwise be necessary. Bumpy braking zone into turn one tests the car’s damping capabilities. The set-up needs to encourage good change of direction from the car at both high speeds (Turns 7-8) and low speeds (Turns 2-3 and 9-10). Tyres Pirelli’s P Zero White medium and P Zero Yellow soft tyres will be nominated. The asphalt is not especially aggressive and temperatures are not particularly high, so there will not be a lot of degradation. There are some significant lateral forces on the car in Turns 1, 8 and 13.
Front Wing Front wing gives slightly less load than at the previous two circuits. Engine Shanghai is about in the middle of the table for the stresses it puts on engines. There is one very long straight where the engine is pushed to its most severe usage, but the rest of the circuit features 16 medium to low corners meaning the engine is used at relatively lower revs for the rest of the lap. The straight between Turns 13 and 14 gives Shanghai the longest straight on the F1 calendar. Gear ratios are therefore carefully calculated to trade off acceleration and maximum speed taking account of aero set-up, engine power, weather, KERS and DRS usage. Short ratios favour acceleration; a longer top gear ratio permits higher maximum speed.
THE CIRCUIT The circuit layout has two straights and a mix of corners, from tight hairpins to flowing curves and radial turns. The constant changes of direction mean correct engine mapping is extremely important to give the drive out of the corners. Turns 12 and 13, the radial corner that leads onto the longest straight on the circuit, demand particular attention. Turns 1-2 These can be bumpy which unsettles the car. This makes braking difficult in the
entry phase of the first corner. Turn 1 leads straight into turn 2 and can be viewed as a single, increasing radius corner which places a lot of load on the front tyres. Tyre management in this corner helps with the durability of the tyres. Turns 3, 6-10 There are heavy traction demands out of these corners. Turn 4 Heavy braking here. Turns 7-8 Good high speed change of direction required here. Turn 9 Braking into turn 9 is tricky – transition from high speed corners into heavy braking. Exiting is important as it sets the car up for turn ten on to the following straight. Turn 13 Turn 13 is banked providing an interesting challenge for the drivers. Turn 14 One of the most high-speed features of the season, the cars have to slow for turn 14 at the end of the long straight. Although this is one of a few heavy braking areas around the track, these are well spread over a lap so the brakes have sufficient time to cool – it’s not a harsh track on braking.
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coming soon
The Bagman Red Bull Racing Base: Milton Keynes, UK Team Principal: Christian Horner Technical Chief: Adrian Newey Chassis: RB8 Engine: Renault RS27-2012
Debut: Albert Park, 2005 Constructors’ titles: 2 Wins: 27 Pole Positions: 38 Fastest Laps: 22
2012 FORM Sebastian Vettel
Championship Position: 6th Best Qualifying: 6th Average Qualifying: 6 Best Finish: 3rd Average Finish: 6.5
Mark webber
Championship Position: 4th Best Qualifying: 4th Average Qualifying: 4.5 Best Finish: 4th Average Finish: 4
THE BAGMAN’s SAY... The Red Bull entries again failed to match the ultimate qualifying pace of their competitors in Malaysia, with Sebastian Vettel repeating his Melbourne effort of sixth on the grid. Vettel’s post-race attack on Narain Karthikeyan whose HRT he had hit in the closing stages of the race - was out of character for the German, and will be well out of mind by the time the teams arrive in China. While the first row of the grid will again prove a tall order, neither Vettel nor Mark Webber are to be discounted when it comes to the race. The Red Bull’s race pace wasn’t far away in the dry Australian race, so it should again be a great battle in Shanghai.
Sebastian Vettel Nationality: German Date of Birth: 03/07/1987 Debut: Indianapolis, 2007 World Championships: 2 Wins: 21 Poles: 30 Fastest Laps: 9 Career Highlights: 2010 and 2011 World Drivers’ Champion, 2nd 2006 F3 Euro Series, 2nd 2004 Formula BMW ADAC
Mark Webber Nationality: Australian Date of Birth: 27/08/1976 Debut: Albert Park, 2002 World Championships: 0 Wins: 7 Poles: 9 Fastest Laps: 13 Career Highlights: 3rd 2010 and 2011 World Drivers’ Championship, 2nd 2001 International F3000, 1st 1996 British FF Festival
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Round 3 - Shanghai I Driver Profiles
Vodafone Mclaren Mercedes Base: Woking, UK Team Principal: Martin Whitmarsh Technical Chief: Paddy Lowe Chassis: MP4-27 Engine: Mercedes-Benz FO 108Z
2012 FORM JENSON BUTTON Championship Position: 3rd Best Qualifying: 2nd Average Qualifying: 2 Best Finish: 1st Average Finish: 7.5 LEWIS HAMILTON Championship Position: 2nd Best Qualifying: 1st Average Qualifying: 1 Best Finish: 3rd Average Finish: 3
Debut: Monte Carlo, 1966 World Championships: 8 Wins: 176 Poles Positions: 148 Fastest Laps: 149
THE BAGMAN’s SAY... Anything less than a one-two finish will be a disappointment for McLaren this weekend. While the Red Bull does not appear to be too far away in terms of race pace, the fact is that McLaren has started the season with the strongest package and needs to make the most of it. Just as Red Bull has done over the last two seasons, McLaren’s championship campaign will be set-up by strong qualifying performances - Malaysia marking the team’s second front-row lockout in as many attempts. Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button have won the last two Chinese Grands Prix between them, and on raw dry pace, the former has to be the favourite to go back-to-back.
Jenson Button Nationality: British Date of Birth: 19/01/1980 Debut: Albert Park, 2000 World Championships: 1 Wins: 13 Poles: 8 Fastest Laps: 7 Career Highlights: 2009 World Drivers’ Champion, 1st 1998 British FF Festival, 1998 British FF Champion
Lewis Hamilton Nationality: British Date of Birth: 07/01/1985 Debut: Albert Park, 2007 World Championships: 1 Wins: 17 Poles: 20 Fastest Laps: 11 Career Highlights: 2008 World Drivers’ Champion, 2006 GP2 Champion, 2005 F3 Euroseries Champion
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Round 3 - Shanghai I Driver Profiles
SCUDERIA FERRARI Base: Maranello, Italy Team Principal: Stefano Domenicali Technical Chief: Pat Fry Chassis: F2012 Engine: Ferrari 056
2012 FORM FERNANDO ALONSO Championship Position: 1st Best Qualifying: 9th Average Qualifying: 10.5 Best Finish: 1st Average Finish: 3 FELIPE MASSA Championship Position: 19th Best Qualifying: 12th Average Qualifying: 14 Best Finish: 15th Average Finish: 16
Debut: Monte Carlo, 1950 World Championships: 16 Wins: 217 Pole Positions: 205 Fastest Laps: 227
THE BAGMAN’s SAY... Ferrari is under no illusions that its Malaysian Grand Prix victory means a return to form for the Scuderia. Ninth on the grid for Fernando Alonso in Sepang showed that the F2012 is still a long way from the ultimate pace of its rivals, and is again likely to come out behind its McLaren, Red Bull, Mercedes and Lotus rivals on Saturday afternoon in China. In the dry, a top five race result will be a good result, while in the wet, anything is again possible. For Alonso’s team-mate Felipe Massa, the season can only get better from here. Making Q3 and scoring points for the first time are modest but by no means certain targets.
FERNANDO ALONSO Nationality: Spanish Date of Birth: 29/07/1981 Debut: Albert Park, 2001 World Championships: 2 Wins: 28 Poles: 20 Fastest Laps: 19 Career Highlights: 2005 and 2006 World Drivers Champion, 1st 1999 Euro Open by Nissan
FELIPE MASSA Nationality: Brazilian Date of Birth: 25/04/1981 Debut: Albert Park, 2002 World Championships: 0 Wins: 11 Poles: 15 Fastest Laps: 14 Career Highlights: 2nd 2008 World Drivers’ Championship, 1st 2001 Euro F3000, 1st 2000 Formula Renault Eurocup
Round 3 - Shanghai I Driver Profiles
Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Base: Brackley, UK Team Principal: Ross Brawn Technical Chief: Bob Bell Chassis: F1 W03 Engine: Mercedes-Benz FO108Z
Debut: Albert Park, 2010 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Pole Positions: 0 Fastest Laps: 0
2012 FORM MICHAEL SCHUMACHER Championship Position: 14th Best Qualifying: 3rd Average Qualifying: 3.5 Best Finish: 10th Average Finish: 15 NICO ROSBERG Championship Position: 15th Best Qualifying: 7th Average Qualifying: 7.5 Best Finish: 12th Average Finish: 12.5
THE BAGMAN’s SAY... Expect the Mercedes pair of Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg to again star in qualifying this weekend before falling back into the pack during the race. While the simmering feud over the W03’s trick DRS largely kept attention away from its tyre usage issues prior to Albert Park, the Brackley entries have proven alarmingly inconsistent across the opening two races. Nico Rosberg’s Malaysian Grand Prix was dashed by a decision to make an extra stop - a driver-requested move that ultimately puzzled the team. Regardless of qualifying, staying in the top 10 during the race will be an achievement for either driver.
MICHAEL SCHUMACHER Nationality: German Date of Birth: 03/01/1969 Debut: Spa, 1991 World Championships: 7 Wins: 91 Poles: 68 Fastest Laps: 76 Career Highlights: 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 World Drivers’ Champion, 1990 German F3 Champion
NICO ROSBERG Nationality: German Date of Birth: 27/06/1985 Debut: Sakhir, 2006 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 2 Fastest Laps: 2 Place of Birth: Wiesbaden Career Highlights: 2nd 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, 2005 GP2 Champion, 1st 2002 Formula BMW ADAC
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Round 3 - Shanghai I Driver Profiles
LOTUS F1 TEAM Base: Enstone, UK Team Principal: Eric Boullier Technical Chief: James Allison Chassis: E20 Engine: Renault RS27- 2012
2012 FORM KIMI RAIKKONEN Championship Position: 7th Best Qualifying: 5th Average Qualifying: 11.5 Best Finish: 5th Average Finish: 6 ROMAIN GROSJEAN Championship Position: 24th Best Qualifying: 3rd Average Qualifying: 5 Best Finish: 21st Average Finish: 22.5
Debut: Albert Park, 2012 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Pole Positions: 0 Fastest Laps: 1
THE BAGMAN’s SAY... The podium finishes of 2011 may not have been repeated in the opening two races, but all in all its been a promising start to the campaign for Lotus. Albert Park qualifying aside, Kimi Raikkonen has shown genuine pace - setting the fastest lap of the race on the way to fifth in Sepang, while indicating that he’s lost none of his race craft. Romain Grosjean has only proven to have one of those two characteristics however, so expect to see a rather more cautious Frenchman during the opening laps in China. The announcement of Lotus’ withdrawal as the team’s major sponsor between Grands Prix is undoubtedly a blow, but shouldn’t affect the on-track performance in the short term.
KIMI RAIKKONEN Nationality: Finnish Date of Birth: 17/10/1979 Debut: Albert Park, 2001 World Championships: 1 Wins: 18 Poles: 16 Fastest Laps: 36 Career Highlights: 2007 World Drivers’ Champion, 2nd 2005 World Driver’s Championship, 2000 British Formula Renault champion
ROMAIN GROSJEAN Nationality: French Date of Birth: 17/04/1986 Debut: Valencia, 2009 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Fastest Laps: 0 Career Highlights: 2011 GP2 and GP2 Asia Series Champion, 2010 Auto GP champion, 2007 F3 Euro Series Champion
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Round 3 - Shanghai I Driver Profiles
SAHARA FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM Base: Silverstone, UK Team Principal: Vijay Mallya Technical Chief: Andrew Green Chassis: VJM05 Engine: Mercedes-Benz FO108Z
2012 FORM PAUL DI RESTA Championship Position: 10th Best Qualifying: 14 Average Qualifying: 14.5 Best Finish: 7th Average Finish: 8.5 NICO HULKENBERG Championship Position: 13th Best Qualifying: 9th Average Qualifying: 12.5 Best Finish: 9th Average Finish: 15.5
Debut: Albert Park, 2008 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Pole Positions: 1 Fastest Laps: 1
THE BAGMAN’s SAY... Force India left Malaysia with its dander up following a double points finish, but there’s hardly room to relax in the cut-throat midfield battle this season. Seventh for Paul di Resta and ninth for Nico Hulkenberg in Sepang came despite the pair qualifying just 14th and 16th respectively - a feat much harder to achieve in a more conventional dry race. Don’t expect many updates to the VJM05 in Shanghai, with the British-based team pinning its hopes on an extensive package that’ll first hit the track at next month’s Mugello test.
PAUL DI RESTA Nationality: Scottish Date of Birth: 16/04/1986 Debut: Albert Park, 2011 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Fastest Laps: 0 Career Highlights: 2010 DTM Champion, 2006 Formula 3 Euroseries Champion, 1st 2006 Masters of F3
NICO HULKENBERG Nationality: German Date of Birth: 19/08/1987 Debut: Sakhir, 2010 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 1 Fastest Laps: 0 Career Highlights: Pole Position for 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix, 2009 GP2 Series Champion, 2005 Formula BMW ADAC champion
Round 3 - Shanghai I Driver Profiles
SAUBER F1 TEAM Base: Hinwil, Switzerland Team Principal: Peter Sauber Technical Chief: Matt Morris Chassis: C31 Engine: Ferrari 056
2012 FORM KAMUI KOBAYASHI Championship Position: 9th Best Qualifying: 13th Average Qualifying: 15 Best Finish: 6th Average Finish: 14.5 SERGIO PEREZ Championship Position: 5th Best Qualifying: 10th Average Qualifying: 13.5 Best Finish: 2nd Average Finish: 5
Debut: Kylami, 1993 World Championships: 0 Wins: 1 Pole Positions: 1 Fastest Laps: 2
THE BAGMAN’s SAY... Sauber - and more specifically Sergio Perez - was the talk of the paddock after the Malaysian Grand Prix, in which the young Mexican took a sensational second place finish. While a potential victory went begging thanks to a slight strategy miscue and a late error from the former British F3 race winner, the drive more than proved Perez’s talent, and has set Sauber up for a tilt at sixth place in the Constructors Championship. Repeating the performance in the dry will be a very tough ask however, with the opening two races having yielded Perez and team-mate Kamui Kobayashi with qualifying averages of just 13.5 and 15 respectively.
KAMUI KOBAYASHI Nationality: Japanese Date of Birth: 13/09/1986 Debut: Interlagos, 2009 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Fastest Laps: 0 Career Highlights: 2008/09 GP2 Asia Series Champion, 4th 2007 F3 Euroseries, 1st 2005 FRenault Eurocup
SERGIO PEREZ Nationality: Mexican Date of Birth: 26/01/1990 Debut: Albert Park, 2011 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Fastest Laps: 0 Career Highlights: 2nd 2010 GP2 Series, 4th 2007 British F3 Championship Class, 1st 2007 British F3 National Class
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Round 3 - Shanghai I Driver Profiles
SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO Base: Faenza, Italy Team Principal: Franz Tost Technical Chief: Giorgio Ascanelli Chassis: STR7 Engine: Ferrari 056
2012 FORM DANIEL RICCIARDO Championship Position: 12th Best Qualifying: 10th Average Qualifying: 12.5 Best Finish: 9th Average Finish: 10.5 JEAN-ERIC VERGNE Championship Position: 11th Best Qualifying: 11th Average Qualifying: 14.5 Best Finish: 8th Average Finish: 9.5
Debut: Sakhir, 2006 World Championships: 0 Wins: 1 Pole Positions: 1 Fastest Laps: 0
THE BAGMAN’s SAY... It has taken just two races for Toro Rosso’s new recruits to get their names among the points, with Daniel Ricciardo’s ninth place run in Australia backed up by a fine eighth place performance from JeanEric Vergne in Malaysia. The Sepang result came despite a significant error from the Frenchman in qualifying, where a lock-up on his final set of tyres saw the rookie bundled out in Q1. Ricciardo had shone in practice earlier in the weekend, giving perhaps the greatest indicator of the STR7’s potential when either of its two relatively inexperienced pilots can piece a whole weekend together.
DANIEL RICCIARDO Nationality: Australian Date of Birth: 01/07/1989 Debut: Silverstone, 2011 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Fastest Laps: 0 Career Highlights: 2009 British Formula 3 Champion, 2nd 2010 Formula Renault 3.5, 2008 Formula Renault 2.0 Champion
JEAN-ERIC VERGNE Nationality: French Date of Birth:25/04/1990 Debut: Albert Park, 2012 World Championships: – Wins: – Poles: – Fastest Laps: – Career Highlights: 2nd 2011 Formula Renault 3.5 Series, 2010 British Formula 3 Champion, 2nd European Formula Renault 2.0 series
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Round 3 - Shanghai I Driver Profiles
WILLIAMS Base: Grove, UK Team Principal: Frank Williams Technical Chief: Mike Coughlan Chassis: FW34 Engine: Renault RS27- 2012
2012 FORM PASTOR MALDONADO Championship Position: 16th Best Qualifying: 8th Average Qualifying: 9.5 Best Finish: 13th Average Finish: 16 BRUNO SENNA Championship Position: 8th Best Qualifying: 13th Average Qualifying: 13.5 Best Finish: 6th Average Finish: 11
Debut: Aires, 1978 World Championships: 9 Wins: 113 Pole Positions: 126 Fastest Laps: 130
THE BAGMAN’s SAY... Pastor Maldonado may have yet to put a point on the board, but Sepang further underlined the fact that Williams has been one of the biggest improvers over the off-season. The absence of blown diffusers this year has clearly benefited the English squad, having been hamstrung in the exhaust-blowing department by its previous Cosworth engine deal. The team’s new technical structure, headed by Mark Gillian and Mike Coughlan, has produced a package that could see either of its drivers in the points in Shanghai. Off-track, the departure of Adam Parr is far from ideal, but the team’s current driver line-up appears to provide a strong compromise between speed and backing.
PASTOR MALDONADO Nationality: Venezuelan Date of Birth: 09/03/1985 Debut: Albert Park, 2011 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Fastest Laps: 0 Career Highlights: 2010 GP2 Champion, 3rd 2006 Formula Renault 3.5, 1st 2004 Formula Renault 2000 Italia
BRUNO SENNA Nationality: Brazilian Date of Birth: 15/10/1983 Debut: Sakhir, 2010 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Fastest Laps: 0 Career Highlights: 2nd 2008 GP2 Series, 3rd 2006 British F3 Championship, 5th 2008 GP2 Asia Series
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Round 3 - Shanghai I Driver Profiles
CATERHAM F1 TEAM Base: Hingham, UK Team Principal: Tony Fernandes Technical Chief: Mike Gascoyne Chassis: CT01 Engine: Renault RS27-2012
Debut: Sakhir, 2010 World Championships : 0 Wins: 0 Pole Positions: 0 Fastest Laps: 0
2012 FORM HEIKKI KOVALAINEN Championship Position: 21st Best Qualifying: 19th Average Qualifying: 19 Best Finish: 18th Average Finish: 18 VITALY PETROV Championship Position: 20th Best Qualifying: 20th Average Qualifying: 20 Best Finish: 16th Average Finish: 17.5
THE BAGMAN’s SAY... Having proven more than a second shy of making Q2 on Saturday in Sepang, the Malaysian Grand Prix showed that Heikki Kovalainen’s main challenge this season is likely to be the task of fending off his new team-mate. Vitaly Petrov qualified less than 0.3s the Finn last time out, before proving to have the upper hand in the race. Both drivers however struggled with tyre issues in both one-lap and long-run modes, leaving hopes modest for Shanghai. Out-pacing its fellow third-year teams while benefiting from any attrition occurring in the midfield continues to be the limit for this squad.
HEIKKI KOVALAINEN Nationality: Finnish Date of Birth: 19/10/1981 Debut: Albert Park, 2007 World Championships: 0 Wins: 1 Poles: 1 Fastest Laps: 2 Career Highlights: 1st 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, 2nd 2005 GP2 Series, 1st 2004 World Series by Nissan
VITALY PETROV Nationality: Russian Date of Birth: 08/09/1984 Debut: Sakhir, 2010 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Fastest Laps: 0 Career Highlights: 3rd 2011 Australian Grand Prix, 2nd 2009 GP2 Series, 3rd 2008 GP2 Asia Series
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Round 3 - Shanghai I Driver Profiles
HRT F1 TEAM Base: Madrid, Spain Team Principal: Luis Perez-Sala Technical Chief: Jean-Claude Martens Chassis: F112 Engine: Cosworth CA2012
2012 FORM PEDRO DE LA ROSA Championship Position: 22nd Best Qualifying: 23rd Average Qualifying: 23 Best Finish: 22nd Average Finish: 22.5 NARAIN KARTHIKEYAN Championship Position: 23rd Best Qualifying: 24th Average Qualifying: 24 Best Finish: 21st Average Finish: 22.5
Debut: Sakhir, 2010 World Championships: 0 WIns: 0 Pole Positions: 0 Fastest Laps: 0
THE BAGMAN’s SAY... The HRT will have taken a tremendous amount of confidence from the Malaysian Grand Prix weekend, where the squad turned its double-DNQ from Melbourne into a reliable race showing. The team brings more cooling and aerodynamic upgrades to the Chinese race, and will be under the guidance of its recently announced technical director Toni Cuquerella for the first time. Cuquerella has been with the team since it joined Grand Prix racing in 2010, and has previous experience at BMW and Super Aguri. Pedro de la Roso was just 0.7s adrift of Charles Pic’s Marussia in Sepang - providing a clear target for Shanghai.
PEDRO DE LA ROSA Nationality: Spanish Date of Birth: 24/02/1971 Debut: Albert Park, 1999 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Fastest Laps: 0 Career Highlights: 1997 Formula Nippon F3000 Champion, 1995 Japanese Formula 3 Champion
NARAIN KARTHIKEYAN Nationality: Indian Date of Birth: 14/01/1977 Debut: Albert Park, 2005 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Fastest Laps: 0 Career Highlights: 4th 2005 US Grand Prix, 4th 2000 British F3 Championship, 4th 2003 Formula Nissan WS
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Round 3 - Shanghai I Driver Profiles
MARUSSIA F1 TEAM Base: Banbury, UK Team Principal: John Booth Technical Chief: Pat Symonds Chassis: MR01 Engine: Cosworth CA2012
2012 FORM TIMO GLOCK Championship Position: 17th Best Qualifying: 21st Average Qualifying: 21 Best Finish: 14th Average Finish: 15.5 CHARLES pIC Championship Position: 18th Best Qualifying: 22nd Average Qualifying: 22 Best Finish: 15th Average Finish: 17.5
Debut: Sakhir, 2010 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Pole Positions: 0 Fastest Laps: 0
THE BAGMAN’s SAY... Marussia is one of several teams bringing a small update package to China while simultaneously working on a bigger development for next month’s first European race of the season. With only a minor step forward in dry weather pace expected, Timo Glock will again be hoping for a weather affected Grand Prix after proving relatively competitive in the heavily wet running in Sepang. Charles Pic meanwhile will look to simply continue his own development process, having trailed his team-mate by a relatively scant 0.35s in Malaysia’s qualifying session.
TIMO GLOCK Nationality: German Date of Birth: 18/03/1982 Debut: Montreal, 2004 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 2 Fastest Laps: 1 Career Highlights: 2nd 2009 Singapore Grand Prix, 2007 GP2 Champion, 1st 2001 Formula BMW ADAC
CHARLES pic Nationality: French Date of Birth: 15/02/1990 Debut: Albert Park, 2012 World Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Poles: 0 Fastest Laps: 0 Career Highlights: 4th 2011 GP2 Series, 3rd 2008 and 2009 World Series by Renault FR 3.5
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SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL INDEPENDENT CONVENIENCE STORE
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Pauls Full Cream Milk 2Lt plus Buttercup & Local Bake 650-700g Bread (White, Thick, Wholemeal or Multigrain). While stocks last. Available at participating stores.
“Lucky 7 is My Store with More”
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www.luckyseven.com.au
Round 3 - Shanghai I Race Stats
Championship Standings World Drivers Championship NO Driver Nat
Car
Points
1
Fernando Alonso
Spain
Ferrari
35
2
Lewis Hamilton
Great Britain
McLaren
30
3
Jenson Button
Great Britain
McLaren
25
4
Mark Webber
Australia
Red Bull
24
5
Sergio Perez
Mexico
Sauber
22
6
Sebastian Vettel
Germany
Red Bull
18
7
Kimi Raikkonen
Finland
Lotus
16
8
Bruno Senna
Brazil
Williams
8
9
Kamui Kobayshi
Japan
Sauber
8
10
Paul Di Resta
Great Britain
Force India
7
11
Jean-Eric Vergne
France
Toro Rosso
4
12
Daniel Ricciardo
Australia
Toro Rosso
2
13
Nico Hulkenberg
Germany
Force India
2
14
Michael Schumacher
Germany
Mercedes
1
15
Nico Rosberg
Germany
Mercedes
0
16
Pastor Maldonado
Venezuala
Williams
0
17
Timo Glock
Germany
Marussia
0
18
Charles Pic
France
Marussia
0
19
Felipe Massa
Brazil
Ferrari
0
20
Vitaly Petrov
Russia
Caterham
0
21
Heikki Kovalainen
Finland
Caterham
0
22
Pedro de la Rosa
Spain
HRT
0
23
Narain Karthikeyan
India
HRT
0
-
Romain Grosjean
France
Lotus
0
World Constructors Championship Pos
Constructor
Points
1
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
55
2
Red Bull Racing
42
3
Scuderia Ferrari
35
4
Sauber F1 Team
30
5
Lotus F1 Team
16
6
Sahara Force India F1 Team
9
7
Williams F1 Team
8
8
Scuderia Toro Rosso
6
9
Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team
1
10
Marussia F1 Team
0
11
Caterham F1 Team
0
12
HRT F1 Team
0
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Round 3 - Shanghai I Race Stats
previous Chinese Grand Prix winners Year Driver 2011 Lewis Hamilton 2010 Jenson Button 2009 Sebastian Vettel 2008 Lewis Hamilton 2007 Kimi Raikkonen 2006 Michael Schumacher 2005 Fernando Alonso 2004 Rubens Barrichello
Constructor Location McLaren-Mercedes Shanghai McLaren-Mercedes Shanghai Red Bull-Renault Shanghai McLaren-Mercedes Shanghai Ferrari Shanghai Ferrari Shanghai Renault Shanghai Ferrari Shanghai
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Round 3 - Shanghai I Race Stats
Past Champions Year Driver Nat 2011 Sebastian Vettel GER 2010 Sebastian Vettel GER 2009 Jenson Button GBR 2008 Lewis Hamilton GBR 2007 Kimi Räikkönen FIN 2006 Fernando Alonso ESP 2005 Fernando Alonso ESP 2004 Michael Schumacher GER 2003 Michael Schumacher GER 2002 Michael Schumacher GER 2001 Michael Schumacher GER 2000 Michael Schumacher GER 1999 Mika Häkkinen FIN 1998 Mika Häkkinen FIN 1997 Jacques Villeneuve CAN 1996 Damon Hill GBR 1995 Michael Schumacher GER 1994 Michael Schumacher GER 1993 Alain Prost FRA 1992 Nigel Mansell GBR 1991 Ayrton Senna BRA 1990 Ayrton Senna BRA 1989 Alain Prost FRA 1988 Ayrton Senna BRA 1987 Nelson Piquet BRA 1986 Alain Prost FRA 1985 Alain Prost FRA 1984 Niki Lauda AUT 1983 Nelson Piquet BRA 1982 Keke Rosberg FIN
Constructor Red Bull Red Bull Brawn McLaren Ferrari Renault Renault Ferrari Ferrari Ferrari Ferrari Ferrari McLaren McLaren Williams Williams Benetton Benetton Williams Williams McLaren McLaren McLaren McLaren Williams McLaren McLaren McLaren Brabham Williams
Wins 11 5 6 5 6 7 7 13 6 11 9 9 5 8 7 8 9 8 7 9 7 6 4 8 3 4 5 5 3 1
Poles 15 10 4 7 3 6 6 8 5 7 11 9 11 9 10 9 4 6 13 14 8 10 2 13 4 1 2 0 1 1
Points 392 256 95 98 110 134 133 148 93 144 123 108 76 100 81 97 102 92 99 108 96 78 76 90 73 72 73 72 59 44
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Lewis Hamilton took a surprise victory last time out in Shanghai - hunting down eventual champion Sebastian Vettel in the closing stages.
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