2012 European Grand Prix Results and Maria de Villota Update

In my last piece, I wrote that Valencia needs to be gotten rid of because it is just a parade lap with the same weather, but lack of history and theater that makes Monaco so special still. Well, I know when I am wrong. And how wrong I was! Did I need to wait this long to write this? No. Was I just lazy and not willing to sit at my computer for a few minutes to write this? Yes. But now I am and it was a phenomenal race that had me yelling and screaming and jumping and fist-pumping throughout. In a few words, it was the best race we have seen this season. As if we didn’t have enough of a wild ride already with seven different winners in the first seven races, Fernando Alonso comes through from 11^th on the grid (with the aid of some bad luck for other runners, including two alternator failures on the Renault and the Renault powered Red Bull, and another horrendous pit stop for Lewis Hamilton). Plus, it was a remarkable showing for both Michael Schumacher, making his way to third on the podium, and Mark Webber, who started a lowly 18^th to finish fourth. Overall, quite the exciting race, and one that will hopefully propel this season forward to continue as one of the greatest ever.

1. Fernando Alonso

2. Kimi Raikkonen

3. Michael Schumacher

4. Mark Webber

5. Nico Hulkenberg

6. Nico Rosberg

7. Paul di Resta

8. Jenson Button

9. Sergio Perez

10. Bruno Senna

In much sadder news, it was revealed today that the test driver for Marussia F1, Maria de Villota, after a freak accident during testing wherein she crashed into one of the team’s support trucks, is in critical, yet stable, condition, but has lost her right eye. No doubt the car she was driving is being inspected and picked apart and having loads of information culled from it to see just what happened to destroy this promising young woman’s racing career in one fell swoop. Marussia will hopefully find the problem and things will be done to correct it, but it no way can replace what would have been a very big achievement for a woman race car driver. I wish Maria all the best in her long recovery. Because of this accident, I have to believe that the FIA will take an even harder look and do more testing on the front roll cage. After Felipe’s freak accident and now this (along with many other freak roll-over and tire detachment accidents), there might be some more new rules coming down the pipeline shortly.

2012 Bahrain Grand Prix Results

Turns out that only one protester was killed during the Grand Prix weekend. So all in all, not too bad for Bernie I guess, although F1 was marred by sharing headline space on the international papers with the goings on in Bahrain when they should have stayed out once again. No matter the result of this race, F1 did not gain any new fans.

Also, how freaking insane is this season so far? Four races and four different winners. I think next week might see the fifth if either Hamilton or Raikkonen can get to the front of the pack. Who knows? Anything seems possible this season. Hell, it’s so crazy I didn’t have even one position in the top 10 correctly called! Usually I can hit on at least one of them, but nothing is for certain in 2012. Also, if anyone noticed, the previous race featured an all Mercedes podium, while this one featured all Renault powered cars. And the race before that almost featured all Ferrari powered vehicles… well, not almost, but 2/3 of the podium isn’t bad. Seriously, anything can happen. Should be the slogan for this season. The Spanish Grand Prix is up next.

1. Sebastian Vettel

2. Kimi Raikkonen

3. Romain Grosjean

4. Mark Webber

5. Nico Rosberg

6. Paul di Resta

7. Fernando Alonso

8. Lewis Hamilton

9. Felipe Massa

10. Michael Schumacher

2012 Malaysian Grand Prix Predictions

After the McLaren of Jenson Button dominated the field in Australia, they are clearly the class of the field. The Red Bulls are slightly behind, but will begin to show their true pace on the sweeping curves of the Sepang Circuit. Unless something truly screws up the starting order (RAIN) or something happens during the race (ALSO RAIN) I don’t see any way that a McLaren doesn’t win this race. But which one? This time out, I’m picking Lewis to have a flying start and run away from the field. If it rains, then I would still pick him, as he has proven in the past to be very good at feeling his way around a wet track. The only thing that could slow him down this weekend would be the abrasive track surface, as we all know that Hamilton is not the gentlest driver when it comes to preserving tires. That accolade would go to his teammate Button, but I just don’t see Lewis losing this one, but I think it will be a close fight between him and Vettel. Farther down the field is going to be much harder to call this year. The Mercedes are fast, but eat their tires up. The Ferraris are slow, but Fernando punches above his weight. And both of the Lotus cars could be well represented, but Kimi has a grid spot penalty and Grosjean is an unknown after not finishing in Australia. Regardless, it’s going to be a good race, and will be an absolute stormer should the rain start to fall.

1. Lewis Hamilton

2. Sebastian Vettel

3. Jenson Button

4. Mark Webber

5. Michael Schumacher

6. Fernando Alonso

7. Kimi Raikkonen

8. Nico Rosberg

9. Felipe Massa

10. Romain Grosjean