European GP Qualifying - WOW! - and the race was even BETTER

[Tim Doll]

Remembering all too well the days when one second wouldn't cover 1st - 3rd on an F1 grid, I'm simply amazed at how close qualifying has been this year, and especially the last few races.

I still wish the Pirelli's weren't quite as big a factor in the actual race, but in qualifying my only complaint is when someone doesn't even go out in Q3 to save tires (my solution would be to give anyone who makes it to Q3 a new set of tires to replace the set they used to set their fastest lap in Q3)

The European GP qualifying may well have set a new high for competitiveness in qualifying. Consider, at the end of Q2, positions 1-9 were covered by 0.200 seconds, 1 - 13 covered by 0.291 seconds!!!! The difference between positition 10 and 11 - advancing to Q3 or not - 0.004 seconds!

And lest anyone think people were sandbagging in Q2 to save tires, in Q3 half of them failed to equal their Q2 times and no one save Vettel was more than a ten or so better than their best Q2 time. Further, if you throw out Vettel's amazing pole lap (over 3 tenths better than second), from 2 - 9 was only 0.391 seconds (and as noted the lower half went SLOWER than they did in Q2).

Simply, simply amazing. I just hope the race is as good.

Tim
_________________
Standard disclaimer - I'm FREE - No longer affiliated with any organization, I can say whatever I darn well please!.

Everett, Washington

[Tim Doll]

Unbelievable race - simply fantastic.

Bummer for Vettel - he had the field covered, Alonso was unreal - consider that starting 11th, the only car he really didn't pass was Vettel (and perhaps Hamilton when his jack broke during the pit stop). I was worried that, being a street circuit there would be little passing, but three of the top four started outside the top ten. I'm not an Alonso fan, but he has really proved what an outstanding driver he is the last two years. The Ferrari isn't that good (see Massa) but Alonso is making it work.

Speaking of Massa - he just hasn't been the same since the broken skull. I've been a Massa fan, but I think it's about time for Ferrari to bring in someone new.

Watching Shuey and Webber come up through the field after their last tire stop was great - and the TV types had the good sense to actually show much of it. Apparently Rosberg did pretty much the same thing but they didn't show it

Some red-mist for Hamilton - again. Fighting for the spot is fine, but you got to know when to conceed rather than crash I hope the FIA doesn't see fit to mess up his next race with a penalty, but I can't say it wouldn't be deserved.....

Tim
_________________
Standard disclaimer - I'm FREE - No longer affiliated with any organization, I can say whatever I darn well please!.

Everett, Washington