Sebastian Vettel says that Red Bull learned very little in today’s wet practice at Silverstone – and the German admits he felt sorry for fans who waited patiently and saw relatively little track action.
Vettel was 11th and 13th in the two rain-hit sessions.
“I think we saved the tyres by not running!,” said Vettel. “This afternoon there was too much water. It’s pretty tricky in these conditions, I think it’s more of a shame for the fans sitting in the grandstands waiting for the cars to come out, and we didn’t come. A little bit at the end, but basically a little bit of a waste, because you can’t really try anything.
“We’ll see what happens tomorrow. I think the weather will be the most important thing in determining the rest of the weekend, so hopefully we’ll get some running tomorrow morning and then get ready for qualifying.”
Mark Webber says he can win the 2012 World Championship – but admits that he will have to win some races rather than rely on consistent finishing.
The Monaco GP winner moved into second place in the table when he finished fourth in Valencia.
“The chances are as good as anyone else, I would say,” said Webber. “Obviously I’m with a very good team, I’ve driven very well from I would say the last six races of last year to the first six or seven races of this year. It looks like 2010 in terms of how tight it can be.
“You’ve got to stay in the hunt, you’ve got to be consistent, but you still need to win. You cannot just get your fourths and fifths, you still need to have the opportunity to win Grands Prix and then make sure that you are finishing the other ones, because DNFs obviously hurt as well.
“It is tight between lots of different people, and I think because points have been stolen off people – if you look at the podium in Valencia and Canada for that matter championship guys are winning the races, but in term of championship guys on the podium, it was a bit softer. Sometimes guys on the podium were not guys who are winning races.”
Meanwhile regarding his future plans Webber suggested that retirement at the end of the season is not on his mind right now.
“As I said at the start of the year I think the winter break was good for me and my focus was to really enjoy the start of this season and get the most out of driving again, which was clearly all in my hands, with my motivation and my level of spirit towards the job and the guys.
“So that’s what I’m doing at the moment, I’m really, really enjoying my work. For next year there’s a pretty decent chance I’ll be racing in F1. Let’s see come November, maybe it looks good.”
The family of Maria de Villota has offered its thanks to those who have expressed their support for the Spanish driver over the past few days.
De Villota remains in a stable condition after undergoing surgery.
Her sister Isobel has issued the following statement via the Marussia team: “Maria remains in a critical but stable condition here at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. While there is no further news than that at present, we have at least been able to take encouragement from the fact that Maria has remained stable throughout since the accident, particularly during the first night following such a lengthy surgical procedure as she experienced yesterday.
“We, the family, are supporting each other here at Maria’s side and we take great comfort from the remarkable medical care she has been receiving. We remain positive and this is due, in no small part, to the overwhelming expression of love and support for Maria from every corner of the world. We would also wish to thank everyone at the Marussia F1 Team for all the care and attention they have shown us over the past few days.”
Inevitably Maria de Villota has been in many people’s thoughts as the F1 circus gathered at Silverstone today, and fortunately Marussia team sources have given positive news, saying the Spaniard had a comfortable night and there have been no additional complications.
Meanwhile many drivers have expressed their sympathy for her plight, although understandably they didn’t want to talk about what might have caused the incident.
“Obviously we are very worried for this situation because we are still waiting for some more news,” said her compatriot Fernando Alonso. “We only know what you all know and there are still some difficult days until the situation is completely clear, and the operation has passed completely etc.
“Sad days, for sure, completely shock when you hear the news and how what happened is possible. Obviously we don’t know all the information it’s difficult to talk about the reasons etc until we know the official version but at the moment, it’s so difficult to imagine how this can happen.”
“First of all our thoughts are with her and we all feel very sad to hear about the consequences,” said Michael Schumacher. “None of us has any details of what actually has happened, and therefore I don’t feel it will be right to comment at this point in time. I just wish her well and a good recovery.”
“I don’t know her personally, but when I read about it I was absolutely devastated for her and for her family,” said Lewis Hamilton. “I think it’s very, very tragic and myself and my team, we send on our warmest wishes her way and hope that she has a speedy recovery, hope that things get better.”
“It’s shocking,” said Sebastian Vettel. “It happened on my birthday. I went for a bike ride, it was raining, and I had a puncture, and then I heard about the accident, so it was not a good start to the day, but obviously dreadful for her. I’m just hoping that she has a good recovery from now onwards.
“I’m not pretty clear what happened. I spoke to Timo [Glock], obviously he knows a little bit more. It would be interesting to understand why it happened, if there was a problem, or of it was a mistake that she did. But surely at the moment the most important thing is that she gets into a very good condition soon. Obviously I read that she lost her eye, so yes, it’s shocking.”
Pastor Maldonado says he won’t change his aggressive driving style, despite losing priceless points after his late clash with Lewis Hamilton in Valencia.
The Venezuelan has had a few scrapes this year. He lost a good position in Melbourne when he went off on the last lap, while his Monaco and Montreal weekends were also badly impacted by accidents, both of which led to gearbox changes and a grid penalty.
“I think I’ve been a bit unlucky in the last couple of races,” said Maldonado. “Especially Monaco and Montreal, because I was penalised because of the gearbox. But the pace has been always there.
“And for sure last race it’s difficult to evaluate. Lewis was losing by 3s a lap, and I saw the chance to get into the podium. I had a very difficult race, especially in some moments I was P10, and I recovered quite well. For sure I was looking forward to getting into the podium as well.
“One and a half laps to the end I saw the chance to take the position against Lewis, he tried to defend, I tried to attack. It was a normal contact [accident], I think. For sure it was disappointing, because it was good points for the team, for me as well. Looking forward, it doesn’t change anything. The season is still long, we have plenty of races, coming. So I’m looking forward.
“For sure, I will drive in the same way. We need to push, especially in this moment the gaps are very close, and I think the drivers are making the difference at the moment.”
Although Silverstone has some similarities with Barcelona, where he won in May, Maldonado says it’s too early to suggest that the track will suit the Williams.
“This kind of track our car has been working quite well in the past. But it’s different conditions, different weather, different track as well, different tarmac surface. It’s difficult to predict. At the moment we have a quite good feeling with the tyres, the tyres are working quite well, I know how to manage the tyres during the race, I know how to manage them in qualy. But this is not everything. The team has been working hard even to improve the performance.
“For this race we have a new aero package, a quite big one, so I’m looking forward to test it on the track tomorrow. It’s a home race for the team, so it’s a special one. In the last I’ve done quite well actually, last year was my best qualifying, I think it was seventh or eighth, so for sure I’m looking forward to this weekend. It’s going to be very important for us to find a good result, good points.”
Marussia says that Maria de Villota is in a ‘critical but stable’ condition after undergoing surgery today.
Team principal John Booth confirmed the sad news that she has lost her right eye as the result of the accident.
The team said: “Subsequent to yesterday’s official statements from the Marussia F1 Team, the surgical team at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge embarked on a lengthy procedure to address the serious head and facial injuries sustained by Maria in the accident. The operation began yesterday afternoon and she was in theatre until this morning. Maria remains in a critical but stable condition.”
Meanwhile Booth said: “Maria emerged from theatre at Addenbrooke’s Hospital this morning after a lengthy operation to address the serious head and facial injuries she received in the accident at Duxford Airfield yesterday.
“We are grateful for the medical attention that Maria has been receiving and her family would like to thank the Neurological and Plastics surgical teams. However it is with great sadness that I must report that, due to the injuries she sustained, Maria has lost her right eye.
“Maria’s care and the wellbeing of her family remain our priority at this time. Her family are at the hospital and we are doing everything possible to support them.
“We ask for everyone’s patience and understanding with regard to updates on Maria’s condition. We will provide further information when it is appropriate to do so and with consideration for her family.
“In the meantime, we would all like to take this opportunity to praise the emergency services at Duxford Airfield, who were on stand-by yesterday, as is usual procedure for a Formula One test.
“With regard to the accident, we have embarked on a very comprehensive analysis of what happened and this work continues for the moment.
“Finally, we have been overwhelmed by messages of support for Maria, her family and the Team and we would like to express our sincere gratitude for those.”
The Marussia team says that Maria de Villota is conscious following her serious crash at a straight line test at Duxford Airfield today.
The 32-year-old made contact with a loading ramp at the rear of a team support truck at around 0915 after her first run in the car.
The team’s latest statement said: “Further to the accident involving the Marussia F1 Team’s Test Driver Maria De Villota this morning, the team can confirm that Maria was transferred by ambulance from Duxford Airfield, where the accident happened, to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
“Since Maria’s arrival at the hospital at approximately 10.45hrs this morning, she has been receiving the best medical attention possible at the hospital, which is the region’s major trauma centre. Maria is conscious and medical assessments are ongoing. The team will await the outcome of these assessments before providing further comment.
“The team’s first priority at this time is Maria and her family.”
Santander’s video concept for a London GP was unveiled in the city tonight, with Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button both present to support a project they have helped come to fruition.
Bernie Ecclestone has made it clear that he would love such an event to happen one day – although for the moment it remains just a very clever PR stunt by the McLaren sponsor.
“The idea of an F1 street race in London is something I have had for many years,” said Bernie. “It would be magnificent. A couple of years ago we came very close to an agreement with the City of Westminster and The Mayor’s office but we ran into the small problem of cost.
“A few years back over half a million people turned-up to watch F1 cars parading through the streets of the capital. The public’s appetite for a London Grand Prix is huge, as I am sure it is with the F1 teams and sponsors.”
In fact everyone in F1 accepts that the logistical problems of closing a large part of central London for several days would seem to be insurmountable, never mind any consideration of noise. A lot of thought has gone into the video, however.
The bank asked architects Populous – who have been involved in Silverstone and the O2 Arena – to come up with a realistic outline for what is intended to be a night race.
Santander says it commissioned Populous “to undertake an extensive and wide-ranging approach to its feasibility plan for a London Grand Prix, embracing all logistical considerations from pits and paddock, grandstands, run-off areas, to kerb profiling, access roads for safety and medical access, catch fencing design, noise attenuation strategies, a three megawatt night race lighting system with 1,200 projectors, bespoke garage pods to house the teams in lightweight, eco-friendly and modern temporary buildings such as the media centre. The integrated travel plan includes spectator entry and exit points which are all accessible via public transport.”
It adds that the “14 corner, 5.1km circuit which features a start grid on The Mall, a 192mph Santander straight in the run up to Buckingham Palace and with perhaps one of the most audacious corners anywhere on the sport’s 20 race global calendar, the London Grand Prix route circuit will steer 24 cars from Trafalgar Square into Admiralty Arch.
“The garages and hospitality suites are multi-purpose items which can easily be packed up and used elsewhere.”
John Rhodes of Populous said: “Delivering an event within an existing city is a lot more sophisticated than just sitting down with a copy of the A-Z. We mapped out some of London’s most recognised places and landmarks and then worked out how we would integrate them within the layout. The design process was driven by the twin requirements of creating an exciting circuit and giving the best view of the iconic places associated with it.
“We surveyed the site very carefully so that the plan would be achievable for real. To provide some notion of the level of forensic detail we have considered, we accounted for no less than 27,000 trees in our plan and I am glad to say the race would not impact a single one.”
Hamilton and Button are both keen for it to happen.
“Having been immersed in this project, having helped to shape this track, it feels as real to me as anywhere I’ve raced,” said Hamilton. “Jenson and I have worked in the simulator to provide some useful feedback to inform the circuit design, so this is far more than whimsical thinking out loud.
“The film that encapsulates all of this work is massively detailed as well as logistically achievable. And I have to say, this is an utterly epic track and would produce the most stunning and compelling Formula 1 race. If you add an event of this complexion to London’s staggering roster of world-class sporting events, it surely would have to own the title of the ultimate sporting metropolis?”
“Both Lewis and I are hugely conscious of how integral the UK is to Formula 1,” said Button. “Right the way from our fan base that is highly knowledgeable and engaged to the technology culture and engineering enterprise that makes us the pre-eminent source of racing innovation anywhere on the planet.
“With all of this background, Silverstone is a natural celebration of the UK’s contribution to Formula 1. It is nice to add to this rich tapestry the notion of a London street race, and I agree with Lewis, it is a great hypothetical track to drive, and is as appealing as the reality of the Silverstone circuit.”
Lotus has logged strong podium finishes in 2012, but a first win continues to elude the Enstone team.
In Valencia Romain Grosjean was behind Fernando Alonso and potentially in a position to challenge the Ferrari when he retired with an alternator problem.
Meanwhile Kimi Raikkonen finished second having been overtaken by Lewis Hamilton at the safety car restart. He then spent much of the rest of the race behind the McLaren, before finally getting by in the closing laps. With a clear run, he too might have had a shot at Alonso.
Lotus team principal Eric Boullier insists that he’s not frustrated that a first 2012 win continue to elude his team, despite coming close so often.
“Not winning is not frustrating, it was more frustrating to have a DNF with Romain,” Boullier told this writer. “But at the same time we had a second place with Kimi.
“We are reasonably happy, obviously. If everything was normal, Vettel would have won, because he was too far from everybody. And Romain would have finished second and Kimi fourth, which would have been a very good result for the team. Obviously with the cars breaking down at the front it was good for the team to at least have a nice podium.”
Regarding Kimi’s drive, he added: “It was good, better. He took all the opportunities that he could. If you don’t have clear laps, it’s a problem. You have to deal with the traffic.”
Boullier is hopeful that the E20 will be suited to Silverstone.
“It should be good for us normally. The car likes fast corners. The only issue is maybe the weather or the track temperature, so we will see.”
A month ago McLaren sponsor Santander invited the media to an event in London today with the premise “Ever imagined what a London Grand Prix might look like? Jenson and Lewis have.”
The company followed up with the promise of a CGI video, with the explanation: “This summer, London is undeniably the focus of the world’s attention. During the preamble to July’s British Grand Prix, Santander, the title sponsor of the UK’s legendary race at Silverstone, has prompted consideration of how this season of international events in London might be augmented by a Formula 1 race – and how a spectacular metropolitan street race past London’s iconic landmarks, might look.”
It seemed like a clever PR stunt – hook up F1 with a bit of Olympic 2012 fervour and some harmless speculation about how a race in London might look like – but on the very day of the event Bernie Ecclestone is claiming that there are serious plans in place.
Bernie’s desire for a GP in the city is no secret, and he was hugely encouraged by the interest in the Regent Street demonstration of 2004. The successful London Olympic bid and the long term deal with Silverstone appeared to put a stop to any plans, with the likelihood of the UK ever getting a second race receding as more and more countries applied for races.
However with economic problems making some current events less than viable it seems that Bernie has revived the idea of London as a second UK event, and reportedly he is prepared to promote it himself, to the tune of £35m.
He told The Times: “With the way things are, maybe we would front it and put the money up for it. If we got the OK and everything was fine, I think we could do that. Think what it would do for tourism. It would be fantastic, good for London, good for England – a lot better than the Olympics.”
The logistical problems of closing a large part of central London for several days would seem to be insurmountable, never mind any consideration of noise. Anyone who has been woken up in Melbourne by the early morning activities of the Minardi two-seater will know just how far it can travel across a city…
Bernie claims no connection with proposals for a race at the Olympic site, although that would seem to be a rather more realistic option that a route involving The Mall, Piccadilly Circus, et al. Perhaps that is Ecclestone’s end game, having drummed up some initial interest.
A similar thing happened with Valencia, where Bernie backed the street demo for the 2007 McLaren launch (backed by Santander), and we ended up with a track around the rundown old dock area.
It remains to be seen how serious he really is and whether this is really just a clever bit of PR kite flying drummed up by Bernie and Santander, a regular F1 race sponsor and thus in effect a partner of FOM.
Adam Cooper F1 