So since no one else has done it yet, I figured I'd write up a news-style report on the race last week. Not sure if I'll have the time to do this after every race, but we shall see how we go! I'll be taking a bit of poetic license here, just to keep it interesting
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The Real F'N Deal finally kicked off to the roar of 19 cars at 18000 rpm through the custom-built Sakhir circuit in the desert nation of Bahrain. The test race had had a few teething problems, so the FBI section of the FIA were working around the clock to ensure that everything would go to plan. Unfortunately several teams were still searching for a driver, with McLaren, HRT, Sauber and Toro Rosso with only one driver each. Regardless, everyone was raring to go.
It was difficult to say which team looked the strongest from the pre-season, and qualifying was everyone's first real chance of seeing who would be the teams to beat. Pubical set the pace with a time of 1:00.58, but his Renault team mate VitArcy PetRuss was unable to match his pace and was down in ninth. The team that really looked dangerous, however, was Williams. Petechello and NicoJackenburg qualified in second and third, and looked to be a force to reckon with early on. Benson Jutton, the only McLaren in the field, took out fourth place, with Mercedes driver NicoRussberg rounding out the top five. Three of the usually weak teams, Lotus, Virgin and HRT managed to get a car in the top 10, with Lotus managing both cars. The surprise of the session was that neither Ferrari managed higher than 12th.
The race kicked off soon after, and straight away there was carnage on Turn 1. Jezzalainen, Pheenliuzzi, Greggy Glock, Senna, Davo Alonso and PetRuss were all caught up in a horrific accident that saw two cars fly through the air. Senna was badly affected, pitting on lap one for his damage, but unfortunately his HRT pitcrew misunderstood their instructions and only changed the tyres, meaning he had to come back in during lap 2 to put the car back together. Some of those caught in the fracas at turn one were able to make a comeback, with Jezzalainen and Greggy Glock eventually challenging for the top 10 again at around the 15 lap mark.
But the race at this stage belonged to Pubical, who led lap after lap with NicoRussberg holding firmly to 2nd place. His style of cutting the chicane after turn 1 was appearing to pay off, but there were some that criticised it, stating it was only a matter of time that the car would start to hurt for it. Greggy Glock undid all his hard work when an unidentified object, quoted to be "another window" (whatever that means) obscured his vision and he left the track.
Pubical was still in the lead at lap 45, but was finally in the pits for his compulsory tyre change. NicoRussberg took the lead in his absence but not for long, as he soon had to serve his pitstop also. The real fun was about to start! Pubical set the fastest lap of 1:01.00 on the 2nd last lap, and with a gap of over 30 seconds looked set to take the chequered flag. But disaster struck as he cut the chicane one time too many and broke his suspension. Limping around at around half his normal speed, he was easily overtaken by NicoRussberg, but the Mercedes driver had issues of his own as he was desperately trying to save fuel.
Russberg trundled around, with one eye on the fuel gauge and the other in his mirrors. It wasn't until the final corner that he saw Benson Jutton and Ti Grassi eating up the distance, and Russberg was forced to give it one last squirt. He cleared the finish line with an empty tank, but a mere second ahead of Benson with Ti Grassi not far behind. Pubical managed to limp it around for fourth, just ahead of Petechello, Zarracello and NiKoJackenberg. Best climber, Filipe M'Alcat managed to turn his start in 16th to 8th on the grid, and the top 10 was completed by Jezzalainen and Pheenliuzzi.
The dramas were not over, though. Pubical had insult added to injury when his car failed to appear for the compulsory post-race testing, and he lost all points for the round, and added to VitArcy Petruss's DNF, this gave Renault the terrible fate of no points.
Russberg's 1st place gives Mercedes the constructor's lead, assisted by Hutchmacher's 11th. They are only nine points ahead of Williams, and 2nd to 5th is separated by just six points. Virgin Racing are in 3rd place with 38 points, just ahead of Lotus and McLaren who are equal 4th with 34, a good showing for the latter who still are short a driver. Ferrari are 6th, with Force India, Red Bull and HRT behind them. Renault, Sauber and Toro Rosso are still yet to make any inroads points-wise.
Round 2 sees us head down under of the Australian Grand Prix. Will Russberg be able to defend his win? Will anyone run out of fuel? Will Renault pick up the points we all know they are capable of? Will Jezzalainen and Petruss keep their cars on the ground? All will be revealed!
Driver Points:
MER. NicoRussberg: 40
MCL. Benson Jutton: 34
VIR. V Ti Grassi: 30
WIL. Petechello: 22
LOT. Zarracello: 20
Constructor Points:
Mercedes: 49
Williams: 40
Virgin: 38
Lotus: 34
McLaren: 34