Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Preview

After the inaugural Indian Grand Prix, the 18th race of the season will start from tomorrow at the Yas Marina circuit. Not many of us are waiting to get this season to an end.

Abu Dhabi Grand Prix had its first race in the year 2009. The circuit was designed by none other Hermann Tilke. He has designed various other Formula One racing track across the world.

Yas Marina circuit has not been favorite circuit of many drivers but it’s surrounded of high spending hotels, golf courses and the Ferrari World theme park. It has 21 Turns, 55 laps and is 5.554 Kilometers long. It’s an anti- clockwise circuit. Pirelli have confirmed to go for its P Zero white Medium tyre as the prime and the P zero yellow soft as an option.

The track has very less overtaking opportunity; but has a huge grandstand at the Hairpin onto the main straight which offers spectators a nice view of overtaking point on the circuit.

Turn 8 is one of the hardest where at the cars slow down to about 50mph. Hence FIA race director is optimistic about the overtaking opportunity this year as there will be two independent DRS zones. One will between Turn 7 and 8 (F1 second longest straight), following the second onto the kinked straight towards the turn 11.

“The race came in for a bit of criticism last year because the cars found it very difficult to overtake. But there are two DRS zones this year, with two activation points, and they should make a significant difference in that respect” says Charlie Whiting.

Redbull’s Sebestain Vettel had won the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009. Last year he had clinched the World Champion title at Yas Marina Circuit whereas this year he has already won a youngest Second World Champion title and I am very sure Vettel will win the GP this year too. So far, since the Circuit has inaugurated, Vettel has only won the race twice.

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton had a three grid penalty at the Indian Grand Prix for ignoring the yellow flags during the practice session. He is going through a hard phase this year. But he still hopes for an optimistic race results.

“I have some fantastic memories of the Yas Marina Circuit. I started from pole position there in 2009, and I led the race until I was forced to stop because of a brake issue. Last year, I finished second and set the fastest lap, so we head there looking to convert all that potential into a race win.” says Hamilton.

Jenson Button is aiming to win races. I reckon he might seal the second place or you think he will beat Vettel?

"We saw at the last grand prix that even though we didn't have the ultimate speed to catch and pass Sebastian, we made him work hard for the win. The championship may not be at stake any more but we're still aiming to win races and put on a tremendous show." says Button.

As like many drivers wants to get on to the podium. The real battle between Vettel, Button, Alonso and Webber will start from tomorrow. Only two more races to go and the battle will continue for next year.

Ferrari chief Stefano Domenicali "In the remaining two races, we want to try and get on the podium and try all we can to get Fernando to second place in the drivers' classification. We will fight hard, as much as we can, for that goal."

We might see another battle between Hamliton and Massa at the Yas Marina Circuit. First we saw in Monaco, Silverstone, Singapore, Japan and then in India.

Force India’s Adrain Sutil shown good result (P9) at the Inaugural IndianGP and rookie Paul Di Resta finished at P13. Adrain managed to score two point s at the team’s home GP. However, Adrian is looking forward to earn some more point s at the Yas Marina circuit.

“It was a difficult race for us last year, but I think this year it should be much better. There are long straights and hairpins, and it’s a track where low-speed corner performance counts. That should suit our car so I think we’ll be okay’. Says Sutil

So let see how interesting the race will be at the Yas Marina circuit. Do you think due to less of high- speed corners, F1 second longest straight, two DRS zone will be a good package for the teams?

German Grand Prix Preview

Out of 19 races so far, it’s the tenth race of the Formula One season in Germany on this weekend at the Nurburgring circuit. Also, it will be the midway point of this season.

I know you guys are much excited as I am for the coming Grand Prix because it will have six German drivers on the grid and after all it will be Vettel’s and other fellow German drivers home GP which will make more exciting to watch and so I reckon it will action packed race as always.

Nurburging circuit is situated around the village of Nurburg and in the Eifel mountains. It has 16 turns, 60 laps and is 5.1 kilometers long.There will be a single DRS Zone. The DRS will start at turn 10 and at the exit of turn 11 the drivers will be able to activate the rear wing.

"The DRS zone has been set for the straight before the tight chicane, so we should see some good overtaking. There's always good action at the first corner: it's nice and wide, with a variety of lines, which gives drivers an opportunity to pass." Says FIA race director Charlie Whiting

Pirelli have confirmed to go for its P Zero white Medium tyre as the prime and the P zero yellow soft as an option. Unlike what we saw at the British GP where half of the circuit was dry and half was wet. So the tyre strategy will be important. It’s not yet confirmed if will see the rain during the race.

"Although they sit next to each other in our range, there is still a significant difference between the P Zero Yellow soft and the P Zero White medium tyre,"

"as we saw on the last occasion that this combination was used at the Grand Prix of Europe in Valencia." Says the Motorsport Director of Pirelli Paul Hembery.

Moreover, the circuit has less overtaking opportunities which will be a struggling point for the drivers. The weather here is not so favorable.

The last race was held in Nurburging was in 2009 and in 2010 the race was held in Hockenheim. Similarly like Spain who enjoys two grand Prix per year in Valencia and Barcelona, Germany had two grand prix per year. But due to excessive hosting fees, it has been a struggle to host the race at the both of the circuits.

Unlike British GP where we see a real passion from the Home crowd, will see the same craziness from the fans of the Germany. After all the two World champion drivers will be racing across the circuit and most important part is that they will have their own home team too Mercedes which will make the atmosphere more cheerful.

British GP which was two weeks back from now, we saw the action packed race. Notably the
following-
• Teams order, bad pit stop error of Redbull.
• Wheel nut problem with the Jenson’ MP4-26 car.
• Force India had a error in the Pit stops.

and offcourse many things to add on. However, the luck was with the Prancing Horse. Alonso did a great job. He drove well .They upgraded their car before the start of the British GP but this doesn’t really clear that it was a new upgrade on their car or it was of because blown-diffuser regulations??

“We have a few more updates coming for this weekend at the Nurburgring and then one further update for Hungary the following week. We are keeping the pressure on to develop as much as we can before the summer break,” says Ferrari Team Principal Stefano Domenicali.

Well last year it was Ferrari’s who had one-two finish by a Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa and in 2009, Redbull had a one-two finish by a Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel. But this year we have been seeing how the Redbull is dominating in many of the races and so it will be a real fight between bulls, Prancing Horse, McLaren and Mercedes.

Although Force India did not gain any point at the British GP but so far the team is doing a great job. The performance is getting better and better. “a total of 21 points separates it from what would be an improved sixth” says Force India Chairman and team principal Dr. Vijay Mallya

I hope we get to see some fantastic performance by Adrian Sutil as he will be racing at his home GP.

McLaren had a bad time at the British GP. Two drivers have defiantly a strong car to compete and also they have been always closer to the Redbull. But this weekend will a tough one.

Apart from the top teams, I reckon Renault looks more competitive this weekend as they too have upgrades on their cars for the Germany Grand Prix.

So what do you think will McLaren have a tough time considering that Ferrari’s are back in the competition through the mid point season? Will the home crowd for Vettel will be a bonus for him to win the race? Or you think Mercedes drivers will have enormous pressure to show their best performance at the Germany Grand Prix or may be a surprise win from Schumi?

European Grand Prix Preview

After the two street races, third street race for the Formula One season will take place at the circuit of Valencia this weekend.

The circuit is situated at the dockside, the temperatures is between 30°C to 40 °C maximum in June. The track was designed by Hermann Tilke. It has 57 laps and 25 corners where turn 9 and 10 are the trickiest corner to overtake. It will be the debut of the Pirelli's Medium tyre compound in the race. Along with it Pirelli's Soft tyre compound will be used as the option tyres, two DRS activation Zone. Qualifying will be very important for the drivers at the track of Valencia.

Track has a variety of tight corners and has a very less chance to overtake. Its first inaugural Grand Prix was in year 2008 where Felipe Massa who drove from Ferrari’s was the winner. But this year Ferrari’s is struggling hard to beat their rivals.

Scuderia’s Chief Designer, Nikolas Tombazis is very optimistic despite of their lesser points for winning the championship title. “How well these next few race go will decide whether or not we feel we are still in with a chance of fighting for the championships this year, even if we are quite a long way behind in the points.”

He also added that coming four races will be very important for their team moreover they will introduce some more upgrades with many changes in their cars at the British Grand Prix.

McLaren has reason to stay more positive for wining the race this weekend after the brilliant performance shown by Jenson Button at the Canadian Grand Prix. Whilst his team made Lewis Hamilton had a collision with Button which lead him to retired the race.

Lewis has been in limelight since few races for his aggressive driving and over takings. Do you reckon is it because he does not have a fast car as Red Bull’s or that he is putting to much pressure on him while driving for wining the races?

Despite of many criticism, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone defence that "I have seen a lot of drivers in my time, a lot of great drivers, I have seen them come and seen them go. And I tell you, Lewis is one of the best. People pay to watch him. He is a racer. He is exciting and that's what everyone wants. That's what people pay to see. Yes, of course, he is involved in some incidents, but if he wasn't then he wouldn't be a racer would he?"

Mercedes’ Michael Schumacher had his best encouraging weekend so far and for the team as well at Canadian Grand Prix. After being so close to P3, he manages to secure his place at P4. I hope that both the drivers come up with better results at the European Grand Prix

Force India’s drivers had a bad time at the Canadian Grand Prix. Both drivers ended up with the unsatisfying results for the fans and the team. Force India’s chairman and team Principal, Dr Vijay Mallya is very optimistic about this weekend race “After the low downforce challenge of Montreal, its back to high downforce in Valencia. We continue to push hard with the development of the car, mainly on the aero side with several small detailed additions this weekend.”

So what do you reckon, who will win the race at the European Grand Prix? Vettel can still dominate this weekend with his RB7? Will Force India be able to gain some points or better results? How stiffness is going to affect the setup of the car?