Oct 29 2011

F1: Buddh Qualifying

This is the inaugural race at Buddh, a short, fast track with only 16 turns.  Speeds average around 130.5 mph with top speeds approaching 200.  Each lap of the 3.2 mile circuit takes about 1:26.

Unlike Yeongam’s first season the course is quite smooth, though it hasn’t much been rubbered in or tested since it only opened September 1st.  They will be running 2 DRS zones during the race, though in Qualifying of course they can use it anywhere.

Pirelli is offering Hards and Softs which means teams will be very concerned about tire management during this session and you’ll probably find the top contenders spending a lot of time parked after they lay down their hot laps.  Alonso at least will be running a new engine though I suspect that has as much to do with the fact there are only 2 races left after this one as anything else.  Might as well use them up.

Once more the stewards are picking on Hamilton, both he and Maldonado will suffer a 3 grid penalty for driving too fast through a yellow.

The Practice and Qualifying sessions will repeat tomorrow starting at 2 am before the Race itself at 5.  The Race will be shown again at 3 pm for you sleepy heads.

As always surprising developments, if any, below.

rustymancuso581

17 comments

Skip to comment form

  2. by calling the Softs ‘Primes’ and the Hards ‘Options’, contrary to their practice all season.

    Thank goodness I use the proper terms which also give you an indicator of the relative difference of the 2 compounds.

    There are 4 in total- Super Soft, Soft, Medium, and Hard.

  3. 5 position grid penalty for changing it.

  4. just loose sod over dust.

    Typical of new construction though sometimes they cheat even more and just paint it green.

  5. Now less than 2 left.

  6. Kobayashi (somewhat surprising)

    Kovalainen

    Trulli

    Ricciardo

    Karthikayen

    d’Ambrosio

    Glock

  9. Renault out, Mercedes out.

    That’s a surprise.

  10. Petrov

    Schumacher

    di Resta

    Maldonado

    Senna

    Barrichello

    Perez

  17. Vettel

    Hamilton

    Webber

    Alonso

    Button

    Massa

    Rosberg

    Never left the pit-

    Sutil

    Buemi

    Alguersuari

Comments have been disabled.