Indian Grand Prix – race
With 3 penalties to be applied after Qualifying, it was hard to calculate the grid positions … and then 2 more penalties were added: NK for impeding MS in Q1 (5 grid spots) and DR
So, the grid is: SV, MW, FA, JB, LH*, FM, NR, AS, SB, JA, MS, PD, PM, BS, RB, VP*, KK, HK, JT, SP*, JD, TG, DR*, NK*. (*indicates penalty applied)
SV leads everyone away off the dusty grid
Pit-car radio telling PD that the 3 cars in front of him are starting on soft tyres; he’s on the hard compound
Long wait as the grid forms up
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Indian Grand Prix – qualifying
Many of the drivers have added Dan Wheldon’s number to their helmet design; the McLaren drivers are wearing black armbands.
There are penalties waiting for 3 drivers already: VP (5 grid spots for the incident with MS in the Korean Grand Prix); SP & LH (both drop 3 grid spots for speeding under yellow flags in practice).
Qualifying 1:
Pit lane lights turn green and qualifying starts for the first Indian GP
Looks like everyone going out on the hard compound tyres (white band)
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Indian Grand Prix – practice
It’s the inaugural Grand Prix of India, so the track is very green but it looks like a good circuit.
Pirelli have brought the soft and hard tyres, but unusually the soft (yellow band) tyre is the prime, making the hard compound the option.
Free Practice 1
Karun Chandhok set the first lap time on his home circuit, but he won’t be racing
(Karthikeyan is, however, racing this weekend, replacing Liuzzi)
A dog wandered on to the track and brought out the red flags
Lots of cars struggled for grip
Alonso’s Ferrari engine gave up on him after just 4 laps
Chandhok tried to light up the Renault’s tyres and instead almost spun in the pit lane, just in front of Maldonado
Alguersuari lost the tail of his Toro Rosso and ended up hitting the tyre wall backwards
Hamilton set the fastest lap but there were double waved yellow flags covering Maldonado’s Williams, which had stopped with engine problems
Fastest: LH (1:26.836), SV, MW, JB, MS, NR, FM, AS
LH has been given a 3 grid-spot penalty for ignoring yellow flags; in his interview with BBC he sounds very down
Free Practice 2
Track is still dusty
VP gesticulates at his Renault teammate – presumably he thought BS was going to let him past
PM loses the tail and beaches his Williams in the gravel; FP2 is over for him
LH 1:26.618, beating his FP1 time
SV 1:26.492
30mins gone; 60mins left
PM’s car is returned to the Williams garage
SV 1:26.320
JD runs wide, spins the Virgin into the wall and rips off the rear wing and rear-right wheel – he’s OK
Red flag – session suspended
JD’s car removed from the corner; green flags
SV 1:25.794
FM 1:25.706
Turns 6 & 7 continues to catch people out
VP runs wide and spins
3mins left; the two Mercedes drivers are down in P19 (NR) and P21 (MS)
SV exits the pit lane and almost collects AS
Fastest: FM (1:25.706), SV, FA, LH, MW, JB, AS, BS
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