Here’s the pics from Suzuka where Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel were the stars at the 2011 Japanese Grand Prix. It’s one of AUSmotive’s biggest F1 race compilations ever, with 109 images for you after the break. There’s some fantastic shots in there too; the late afternoon light was captured perfectly by the world’s best photographers.
Today’s Japanese Grand Prix was a story of two winners that almost ended in tears before the first corner. Sebastian Vettel had put his Red Bull on pole position ahead of Jenson Button’s McLaren. When the lights went out to start the race Button very nearly got past Vettel into the first turn. Perhaps he might have too had Vettel not squeezed Button onto the grass. The stewards looked at the incident and deemed it a fair move.
From that point on Vettel looked as though he would claim his second drivers’ world championship with a race win. However, a Safety Car period and a conservative approach conspired to push the 24-year-old back to third following sterling drives from Button and Fernando Alonso (Ferrari). Of course, third place was more than enough for Vettel to etch his name into the record books as the sport’s youngest ever dual-champion. And, in truth, the race win was just reward for Button who has been snapping at the heels of the Red Bulls for a few races now.
Seeing a Ferrari on the podium added some welcome colour, too. We expect the final four races will become something of a travelling carnival now. While there’s still likely to be a tight scrap for second place in the drivers’ title race—between Button (210pts), Alonso (202), Webber (194) and Hamilton (178)—it won’t quite have the same intensity as chasing the main prize.
For the Australians, Mark Webber drove a reasonable race, with good pace in the middle stages, to finish in fourth place. Two places better than his P6 starting position. While Daniel Ricciardo once again finished ahead of his more experienced HRT teammate, although that still amounted to second last.
Words from the first three drivers after the break. You may need to indulge Vettel, too, who had quite a lot to say about his second world crown.
[Pics: Red Bull/Getty Images]
Red Bull Racing has hung onto its 100% pole position record for 2011 by just .009 seconds when Vettel went quickest in qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix. Today’s final qualifying segment was turning out to be a bit of a non-event—three drivers chose to conserve tyres for the race and did not set a time—but the closing few minutes had enough drama to keep chins wagging for some time.
The McLarens have been sharp all weekend, consistently topping the time sheets. Lewis Hamilton was shaping as the best threat yet to break Red Bull’s qualifying dominance. In the end, though, Sebastian Vettel found something within and claimed pole with a best time of 1:30.466. Jenson Button was ever so close behind, his time was 1:30.475.
For Lewis, who held provisional pole after the first run in Q3, it was a case of tough luck. Seven drivers went out for a late run with Hamilton, Mark Webber and Michael Schumacher at the end of the tail. With seconds remaining until the chequered flag fell for Q3, Lewis slowed to find a clear gap bewteen himself and Button ahead. In doing so Mark Webber pounced and overtook Hamilton with Schumacher following Webber through.
Only Webber managed to cross the line in time to set a final fast lap. No live footage of the incident was shown, but Hamilton’s ire was clear for all to see after he stepped out of his car. He elaborates a bit more in the press conference text available below. For his part, Mark has said the incident was nobody’s fault.
Vettel only needs to finish the race tenth or better to wrap up his second world drivers’ championship.
[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]
While it is only the formality of a solitary point separating Sebastian Vettel from his second world crown, Red Bull Racing wants to see Mark Webber win at least one of the five remaining races in 2011.
“All of us want to see Mark get a victory before the end of the year, and we want to see him achieve the runner-up spot,” said Team Principal, Christian Horner.
“If we could convert both titles, and with both drivers at the top of the drivers’ championship, that for us would be an absolutely perfect year.”
Despite the brilliance shown at times by Webber in 2010 he still only finished third in the title race after a poor final race in Abu Dhabi. Plus, it’s now 14 months since Mark registered his most recent win, at Hungary.
Despite this Mark has shown he can win at some of F1’s greatest tracks, with wins at Monaco and Silverstone under his belt. No doubt he would like to add Suzuka to that list too.
Sebastian Vettel’s dominance in 2011 has been perfectly captured by the image above. Love him or hate him, nobody can deny the young German has been in a class of his own this year. And so it was at the Singapore Grand Prix; Vettel’s most complete race this season.
To see how the also rans went we have compiled another 80 pictures from the unique night race held at Marina Bay. They’re all there for you after the break and don’t forget to click your favourite images to view in 2000px super sizing.
In winning the Singapore Grand Prix overnight Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) did something he hasn’t been able to do this year: he led the race from start to finish. He was never troubled and while he has mathematically left the door open for the title to go elsewhere, it is now only Jenson Button (McLaren) who can upstage him.
Actually, the real likelihood is that Vettel’s already impressive 309pt tally and 124pt lead in the drivers’ championship will only be extended in the five remaining races. He will become the sport’s youngest ever dual world champion, never mind the added bonus of joining an elite club of drivers to go back to back. Atop the podium, you sense the gravity of his achievements are starting to sink in. It’s been a more mature and measured title assault from the 24-year-old this year, in more ways than one.
The only fight of any merit in 2011 has been the scrap over second place. Were it not for Vettel we’d be salivating over the prospect of having three divers separated by the same number of points (Button 185pts; Alonso, Ferrari 184pts; Webber, Red Bull, 182pts).
At Marina Bay it was the same three men who scrapped it out for the minor placings. Button able to stroll past a customary slow Webber off the line played piggy in the middle; Vettel comfortably ahead and a Webber–Alonso duel behind. The Australian entertaining the purist fan with two stellar moves to overtake Alonso either side of a pit stop undercut.
Another podium for Webber, then, and under any other circumstances we’d be applauding loudly from down under at seeing the Aussie flag among the final ceremonies. Yet, Vettel’s dominance rather makes Webber’s otherwise respectable efforts this year look feeble.
Strange as it may be, you feel we must focus our attention towards the back of the field to find Australia’s next great hope to Daniel Ricciardo (HRT). The young West Australian once again finished ahead of his more experienced teammate Tonio Liuzzi. Webber has paved the way, let’s hope Ricciardo can walk the walk.
Post-race comments from the first three can be read after the break.
[Pics: Red Bull/Getty Images]
Sebastian Vettel claimed his 11th pole position of the year in qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix overnight. On track to defend his 2010 world championship the Red Bull charge posted a best time of 1:44.381 around the Marina Bay street circuit.
Mark Webber (Red Bull) ensured yet another front-row lockout for the team with a time of 1:44.732 (+0.351).
Jenson Button (McLaren) claimed P3 for the race start (1:44.804 +0.423) and finished just five thousandths of a second ahead of his teammate Lewis Hamilton (1:44.809 +0.428).
The two Ferraris round out the top six, with Fernando Alonso (1:44.874 +0.493) almost a full second ahead of Felipe Massa (1:45.800 +1.419).
Nico Rosberg put his Mercedes on P7 (1:46.013 +1.632) and was the last of the top 10 to set a time. Fellow Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher and Force India pair, Adrian Sutil and Paul di Resta, opted to conserve tyres for tonight’s race.
Daniel Ricciardo out qualified his HRT teammate Tonio Liuzzi by four tenths of a second, but they find themselves in the familiar position at the rear of the field.
The tactic of sitting out of the final top 10 qualifying has caused some controversy, but the lead drivers are unanimous that access to a greater number of tyres would eliminate the problem.
[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]
Recently we’ve been able to bring you previews of upcoming Grands Prix thanks to McLaren. Ahead of this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, though, they’ve given us nothing.
Instead we’ve gone for a new approach with Porsche Carrera Cup driver Yuey Tan’s video. He’s pretty excited about racing in front of his home crowd so this preview adds a nice local touch.
Also available after the break is onboard footage of Mark Webber’s fastest lap from Q3 in 2010.
Here’s your pictorial reminder of what went down at the 2011 Italian Grand Prix. Unusually, this includes a few pics of Mark driving around in his busted car as well. Seems most teams don’t like showing broken cars when the driver is mostly at fault. There’s been a few exceptions, though, and we’re always keen to share them when they arise.
Lotus, Mercedes GP and Renault didn’t come to play with many pics from Sunday’s action. We’ve used a few Saturday fillers for you, which we prefer not to do. However, we can’t have you miss out on your fair share of pics.
There’s 80 pics in all this time around, all waiting for you after the break. Knock yourselves out!
The fat lady is preparing her vocal chords and we expect she will be singing Sebastian Vettel’s tune at the next Grand Prix. That’s right, following yet another peerless drive from Vettel to win the 2011 Italian Grand Prix, he can formally wrap up the 2011 drivers’ title at Singapore in a couple of weeks if results go his way.
In Monza overnight Vettel’s only concerns came following a bullet-like start from Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) to steal the lead. The Safety Car quickly came out after Tonio Liuzzi’s (HRT) slip’n’slide move on the grass cleaned up a few midfield runners.
When the lights went green Vettel had the Ferrari in his sights and pulled a sterling move on the outside of Curva Grande to reclaim the lead. The 24-year-old is silencing the doubters who claim he cannot race wheel-to-wheel when the going gets tough. He may still have a bit to learn in that regard, but his last two races have shown he is head of the class.
In all of the chaos around him Jenson Button (McLaren), who had a poor start, quietly worked his way into second place with a mature drive. Again Alonso struggled on the harder tyres and held on for third, denying Lewis Hamilton’s (McLaren) late race charge for a podium place.
It was a bad day for the Australians, with Daniel Ricciardo (HRT) stalling on the start line. He was able to eventually get going again and complete a total of 39 laps but he was “not classified” so it was a data gathering exercise for the team and no more. Mark Webber (Red Bull) meanwhile put himself between a rock and Felipe Massa’s Ferrari and lost his front wing in the process. A few corners later, with parts of the wing lodged in his undertray, he lost steering and went off into a tyre barrier ending his race.
Webber’s DNF has relegated him from second to fourth in the drivers’ standings. He’s on 167 points, behind Button (167pts, ahead on wins), Alonso (172pts) and the 2011 champion-in-waiting Vettel (284pts).
More from the top three after the break.
[Pic: Ferrari]
Sebastian Vettel has put his Red Bull machine on pole position for the tenth time in 2011 after setting the quickest time (1:22.275) in qualifying at the Italian Grand Prix overnight.
The 2010 world champion ended up with a comfortable lead over the McLarens of Lewis Hamilton (1:22.725) and Jenson Button (1:22.777). All of the top three made minor mistakes during Q3 and Vettel was the only one able to regroup and better his first flying lap in the final session.
Mark Webber qualified fifth (1:22.972) and really wasn’t that far off the pace, Sebastian Vettel aside; he remains in a class of his own.
Daniel Ricciardo (1:28.054) put his HRT on P23 ahead of teammate Tonio Liuzzi (1:28.231).
Sebastian Vettel is sitting pretty ahead of tonight’s race, but the McLaren duo won’t let him run away with the race without a fight. After the break you can read what the top three had to say.
[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]
Renault Sport F1 brings us this great little video showing half a dozen Formula One drivers fooling around on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
Red Bull, Lotus and Renault all use the RS27 engine and Renault Sport figured it was a good enough excuse to get Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber, Heikki Kovalainen, Jarno Trulli, Nick Heidfeld and Vitaly Petrov to do some hot laps around the ‘Green Hell’.
Mostly they were driving Meganes and Clios, but at the end we get a small preview of Renault’s new DeZir and Twizy concepts. Looks like it was a fun day.