2011 Chinese Grand Prix: Podium positions hanging in balance until strategy wins it – Formula 1
A total of six drivers have set their eyes on the top stair of the podium, but the one having the best strategy will win it.
The first two races of the 2011 season were dull as the 2010 season. Despite overtaking induced through the Kinetic Energy Recovery System and Drag Reduction System, front runner Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull was running in his own world.
If we take a look back at the Chinese Grand Prix, it would be called the first Grand Prix of the 2011 Formula 1 season because for the first time almost six drivers had it and then lost it. The Chinese Grand Prix was truly a spectacular race which the Federation
Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) wanted.
Starting off with the first lap, both McLarens were well out of reach of the pole sitter, Vettel. Especially, Jenson Button amazed everyone with his brilliant run in the first few laps of the race and took a substantial lead on his teammate, Lewis Hamilton.
Button had it in the bag until his wrong pit stop saw him lose an important grid position to Vettel. Button accidentally stopped in the pits of Red Bull after which he lost precious time to Vettel.
Meanwhile, Nico Rosberg of Mercedes GP took the leading role and showed good speed and reliability in his MGP-W02. Nico’s run was impressive in a sense that the Mercedes team had struggled in the past two races and were looking completely down and out.
Nico qualified in fourth place and was the race leader for almost 25 laps before he gave the leading duties to Ferrari’s Felipe Massa.
The Brazilian driver was also very delighted to get the leading role in the 2011 Formula 1 season for the first time. The Ferrari team had also previously struggled in the last couple of races due to speed and reliability issues.
Massa enjoyed the lead for a good 10 laps or so before he pitted and Fernando Alonso took the leading role. Alonso’s reign was short as he pitted after just two laps in the leading role.
Alonso’s position was taken by Red Bull’s Vettel. Vettel took the lead on a fresh set of hard compound tyres in a hope that he would complete a total of 25 laps on them without another pit-stop.
Vettel kept the lead for almost 20 laps but was looking uncomfortable in the car because when Pirelli wears out, it is no fun to drive them. Vettel was on two-stop strategy which proved wrong on the Pirelli tyres.
Meanwhile, a strategic Hamilton came roaring in his MP4-26 on a fresh set of hard tyres for the final 13 odd laps. Although Hamilton lost 25 seconds to Vettel in a pit-stop, but on a fresh set of tyres in the final few laps, Hamilton took the lead form Vettel
in the final few laps of the race to take the win.
Another three-stop driver, Mark Webber, showed that Pirelli can do wonders. Webber started the race in 18th position and ended in third place.
16 out of 19 scheduled race are still remaining and a lot more strategy battles will be seen by the teams. After the first three races, it can be concluded that no two-stop races will be seen in 2011 on Pirelli tyres.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely of the writer’s and do not represent Bettor.com’s official editorial policy.
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