17-03-2013, 22:57
seria genial colgar la traduccion al castellano para que nos enterasemos tambien los que , como yo, no sabemos ingles , porque ademas los traductores q utilizas por la red tampoco es que ayuden mucho.
17-03-2013, 22:57
17-03-2013, 23:07
GP australiano: Tolerante Kimi Raikkonen podría ser un Un apasionante gran premio de Australia, repleto de acción de principio a fin y que culminó con una impresionante victoria de Kimi Raikkonen y Lotus, bajé la nueva temporada de fórmula 1 a un comienzo muy prometedores en Melbourne el domingo.
Victoria de Raikkonen, del séptimo lugar en la salida, fue muy luchado y merecido, en un coche que es rápido y capaces de cuidar de sus neumáticos. El equipo se presenta como un aspirante al título importante este año.El resultado de la carrera parecía para arriba en el aire hasta 10 vueltas del final. Raikkonen, que tomó la delantera por segunda y última vez cuando pasó Force India de Adrian Sutil con 15 vueltas para ir, vieron en ese momento bajo seria amenaza desde el vuelo Ferrari de Fernando Alonso detrás de él.Raikkonen, 33, había hecho sólo dos paradas en boxes para neumáticos frescos mientras Alonso, cuyo Ferrari paro tres veces, habían fijado una serie de vueltas rápidas tanto antes como después de su parada final.Pero una vez que el español se fue más allá de Sutil - pronto para caer al séptimo lugar como resultado de abusar de los neumáticos súper blandos que debía utilizar para la última parte de la carrera - Raikkonen apreto y Alonso no podía continuar.de la ilustre carrera de Raikkonen no fue sólo uno de los más impresionante, pero también, dijo, uno de los más fáciles."Logramos lo exactamente correcto," él dijo. "El equipo trabajó muy bien, teníamos un plan y seguimos el plan y funcionó perfectamente para nosotros. Yo pude salvar los neumáticos y pude ir rápido cuando quería. Fue una de las razas más fáciles ganar. Esperemos que tengamos más pruebas como esta."De esta forma, que parece un determinado.Raikkonen estaba dispuesto a señalar luego que era sólo la primera carrera y hay un largo camino por recorrer en este Campeonato de 19 carreras que se prolongará hasta finales de noviembre, pero era evidente su manera tanto el discurso que se siente que un desafío título sea muy bien.Famoso taciturno, Raikkonen fue casi hablador después de la carrera y es poco probable que han tenido como resultado el glug de champagne tomó - típicamente en carácter - antes de que rocía el magnum de victoria en el podio."Por supuesto estoy contento no tenemos que ir a toda velocidad todo el tiempo, que es una buena señal, pero sería una historia totalmente diferente en la próxima carrera", dijo en un momento dado.Pero también dijo que había sido confiado de hacer bien a pesar de su posición de salida relativamente pobre - el resultado de una excesiva vuelta que incluyen un error en las condiciones de secado de clasificación el domingo por la mañana - y, más sorprendentemente, estaba dispuesto a discutir la posibilidad de ganar el campeonato.Para ello, Lotus tendrá que mantener el ritmo en la carrera de desarrollo con hipercompetitivo Ferrari y Red Bull, que no ha logrado bastante en 2012.A pesar de ello, Raikkonen todavía terminó tercero en el campeonato el año pasado, y este año el coche parece estar en mejor forma en términos de rendimiento manteniendo también su punto fuerte de ser amable con los neumáticos.No es de extrañar Alonso admitieron después de la carrera que el rendimiento de Lotus era "una preocupación".Pero Alonso, también se ve en buena forma. La suya fue una unidad típicamente agresiva, luchadora como tomó ventaja de llevar su segunda parada en boxes hacia adelante para saltar a un tren de coches que le retenían, bóveda en segundo lugar.Ferrari están claramente en mucho mejor forma que estaban en esta etapa el año pasado, y dado que él fue capaz de tomar la pelea por el título a la carrera final, debe en esta etapa se consideraba un contendor de sí mismo.Uno de los coches sosteniendo a Alonso en el primer tercio de la carrera fue el Red Bull de Sebastian Vettel, el hombre que por poco lo golpearon al título el año pasado.
Rendimiento de la Red Bull en la carrera - o más precisamente la falta de ella - fue una sorpresa.A través de la práctica y calificación Vettel, comenzando su campaña para un cuarto título consecutivo, había mirado inmejorable. El viernes habían sugerido que tenía menos de medio segundo en todo el mundo y en la calificación debidamente ponga el vehículo en poste de compañero de equipo Mark Webber por 0,42 segundos - y era más rápido que el primer no - Red Bull 0.68secs.Y cuando Vettel consigue la pole
, una victoria sigue normalmente como seguramente como la noche sigue el día.Antes de la carrera, le mencioné a Jenson Button que parecía Vettel iba a huir con él. "Has obviamente no visto sus neumáticos," respondió Button . "Son knackered".
Carrera resultado Top101. Kimi Raikkonen - Lotus 1:30:03.2252. Fernando Alonso - Ferrari + 00:12.4513. Sebastian Vettel - Red Bull + 00:22.3464. Felipe Massa - Ferrari + 00:33.5775. Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes + 00:45.5616. Mark Webber - Red Bull + 00:46.8007. Adrian Sutil - Force India + 01:64.0688. Paul di Resta - Force India + 01:67.4499. Jenson Button - McLaren + 01:80.63010. Romain Grosjean - Lotus + 01:81.759
Por lo que resultó. Vettel atornillado a la línea en su habitual ventaja de dos segundos al final de la primera vuelta pero wa
Victoria de Raikkonen, del séptimo lugar en la salida, fue muy luchado y merecido, en un coche que es rápido y capaces de cuidar de sus neumáticos. El equipo se presenta como un aspirante al título importante este año.El resultado de la carrera parecía para arriba en el aire hasta 10 vueltas del final. Raikkonen, que tomó la delantera por segunda y última vez cuando pasó Force India de Adrian Sutil con 15 vueltas para ir, vieron en ese momento bajo seria amenaza desde el vuelo Ferrari de Fernando Alonso detrás de él.Raikkonen, 33, había hecho sólo dos paradas en boxes para neumáticos frescos mientras Alonso, cuyo Ferrari paro tres veces, habían fijado una serie de vueltas rápidas tanto antes como después de su parada final.Pero una vez que el español se fue más allá de Sutil - pronto para caer al séptimo lugar como resultado de abusar de los neumáticos súper blandos que debía utilizar para la última parte de la carrera - Raikkonen apreto y Alonso no podía continuar.de la ilustre carrera de Raikkonen no fue sólo uno de los más impresionante, pero también, dijo, uno de los más fáciles."Logramos lo exactamente correcto," él dijo. "El equipo trabajó muy bien, teníamos un plan y seguimos el plan y funcionó perfectamente para nosotros. Yo pude salvar los neumáticos y pude ir rápido cuando quería. Fue una de las razas más fáciles ganar. Esperemos que tengamos más pruebas como esta."De esta forma, que parece un determinado.Raikkonen estaba dispuesto a señalar luego que era sólo la primera carrera y hay un largo camino por recorrer en este Campeonato de 19 carreras que se prolongará hasta finales de noviembre, pero era evidente su manera tanto el discurso que se siente que un desafío título sea muy bien.Famoso taciturno, Raikkonen fue casi hablador después de la carrera y es poco probable que han tenido como resultado el glug de champagne tomó - típicamente en carácter - antes de que rocía el magnum de victoria en el podio."Por supuesto estoy contento no tenemos que ir a toda velocidad todo el tiempo, que es una buena señal, pero sería una historia totalmente diferente en la próxima carrera", dijo en un momento dado.Pero también dijo que había sido confiado de hacer bien a pesar de su posición de salida relativamente pobre - el resultado de una excesiva vuelta que incluyen un error en las condiciones de secado de clasificación el domingo por la mañana - y, más sorprendentemente, estaba dispuesto a discutir la posibilidad de ganar el campeonato.Para ello, Lotus tendrá que mantener el ritmo en la carrera de desarrollo con hipercompetitivo Ferrari y Red Bull, que no ha logrado bastante en 2012.A pesar de ello, Raikkonen todavía terminó tercero en el campeonato el año pasado, y este año el coche parece estar en mejor forma en términos de rendimiento manteniendo también su punto fuerte de ser amable con los neumáticos.No es de extrañar Alonso admitieron después de la carrera que el rendimiento de Lotus era "una preocupación".Pero Alonso, también se ve en buena forma. La suya fue una unidad típicamente agresiva, luchadora como tomó ventaja de llevar su segunda parada en boxes hacia adelante para saltar a un tren de coches que le retenían, bóveda en segundo lugar.Ferrari están claramente en mucho mejor forma que estaban en esta etapa el año pasado, y dado que él fue capaz de tomar la pelea por el título a la carrera final, debe en esta etapa se consideraba un contendor de sí mismo.Uno de los coches sosteniendo a Alonso en el primer tercio de la carrera fue el Red Bull de Sebastian Vettel, el hombre que por poco lo golpearon al título el año pasado.
Rendimiento de la Red Bull en la carrera - o más precisamente la falta de ella - fue una sorpresa.A través de la práctica y calificación Vettel, comenzando su campaña para un cuarto título consecutivo, había mirado inmejorable. El viernes habían sugerido que tenía menos de medio segundo en todo el mundo y en la calificación debidamente ponga el vehículo en poste de compañero de equipo Mark Webber por 0,42 segundos - y era más rápido que el primer no - Red Bull 0.68secs.Y cuando Vettel consigue la pole
, una victoria sigue normalmente como seguramente como la noche sigue el día.Antes de la carrera, le mencioné a Jenson Button que parecía Vettel iba a huir con él. "Has obviamente no visto sus neumáticos," respondió Button . "Son knackered".
Carrera resultado Top101. Kimi Raikkonen - Lotus 1:30:03.2252. Fernando Alonso - Ferrari + 00:12.4513. Sebastian Vettel - Red Bull + 00:22.3464. Felipe Massa - Ferrari + 00:33.5775. Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes + 00:45.5616. Mark Webber - Red Bull + 00:46.8007. Adrian Sutil - Force India + 01:64.0688. Paul di Resta - Force India + 01:67.4499. Jenson Button - McLaren + 01:80.63010. Romain Grosjean - Lotus + 01:81.759
Por lo que resultó. Vettel atornillado a la línea en su habitual ventaja de dos segundos al final de la primera vuelta pero wa
19-03-2013, 22:15
Se agradece el intento !! parece q no da el resultado esperado asi q igual lo mejor es continuar con el metodo anterior. Un saludo
24-03-2013, 19:58
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/21917899
No one can stop Sebastian Vettel: not even his own team
Comments (98)
The new Formula 1 season caught fire in the tropical intensity of Malaysia on Sunday as old wounds were torn open in the relationship between Red Bull drivers Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, and new ones potentially created at Mercedes.
Team orders - always a sensitive and controversial subject - were at the centre of both situations. They were resolved in starkly different ways.
While Nico Rosberg eventually acceded to his Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn's order to stay behind Lewis Hamilton, Vettel ignored a similar demand from Red Bull and passed Webber to win.
“
Seb's obviously chosen to hear what he wants to hear. He's a race driver, he's competitive, he's hungry. He hasn't achieved what he has by not pushing the limits and he has pushed that today with his team-mate and the team
”
Christian Horner
Red Bull team principal
That decision by the three-time world champion revealed a lot about Vettel himself, and - some will say - the balance of power within Red Bull.
There is steel within Vettel that is hidden by his generally sunny, easy-going and good-humoured manner in public and it was laid bare in his behaviour after the final pit stops in Sepang.
Worried about excessive tyre wear, Red Bull had discussed before the race that in such a situation the drivers would hold station. So Vettel knew full well what the call meant when it came over the radio, even if it came dressed in team code.
He got himself into quite a pickle over it after the race, even after he took it upon himself to apologise - an apology about which you don't have to try too hard to imagine Webber's feelings.
Initially, on the podium, Vettel tried to gloss over it. Webber, as clever as he is direct, was having none of it.
"After the last stop the team told me the race was over," Webber said. "We turned the engines down and we go to the end.
"I want to race as well but the team made a decision, which we always say before the race is how it's going to be. Seb made his own decisions today and will have protection and that's the way it goes."
The obvious out there, Vettel had no choice but to hold up his hands and apologise.
"I didn't ignore [the order] on purpose," he said in the post-race news conference. "I messed up in that situation and obviously took the lead. I can see now he's upset. I want to be honest and stick to the truth and apologise. I know that it doesn't really help his feelings right now."
Straight afterwards, talking to BBC F1 pit-lane reporter Lee McKenzie, Vettel added: "We talked about this many times before the race. It very rarely happens. Today it did and I should have translated the call into action.
"I just didn't get the message. I got it. I heard it. But obviously no action followed because I misunderstood."
What to make of those confusing and contradictory remarks? Team boss Christian Horner did his best to explain.
"He's obviously chosen to hear what he wants to hear," Horner said. "He's a race driver, he's competitive, he's hungry. He hasn't achieved the championships he has by not pushing the limits and he has pushed that today with his team-mate and the team."
Why, Horner was asked, did he not order Vettel to give the place back, given there were more than 10 laps to go.
"Do you honestly think if we had told him to slow down and give the place back he'd have given it back?" he said.
Did you try, the questioner countered?
"There's no point," Horner responded. "He'd made it quite clear what his intention was by making the move. He knew what the communication was. He chose to ignore it."
Although Vettel later said that if he had the chance to go back he would behave differently, the question on many lips will be why he did not do so in the first place.
The contrast with Rosberg's behaviour was striking.
Like Vettel, he too was closing on his team-mate in the final laps. Hamilton, who had had the edge on Rosberg earlier in the race, was powerless to respond because he was short on fuel.
But Brawn told Rosberg to hold station and - after questioning the call at least twice - the German did what he was told. "I wouldn't say they owe me one because I understand," Rosberg said later.
The battle between Hamilton and Rosberg may yet develop in the fashion of that between Vettel and Webber. For now, though, the focus will be on Red Bull.
In the difference between Vettel's and Rosberg's behaviour, in Horner's belief that he was powerless to intervene, and in Webber's reference to "protection", many in F1 will see what is widely regarded to be the reality at Red Bull - that it is Vettel's team, and he behaves as he pleases.
Horner was right after the race to point out that there have been times in the past when Webber has been behind and told to hold station and continued to race.
Not once, though, when Vettel has been leading and Webber second, has the Australian taken the win, either through ignoring obvious team orders or otherwise.
But there have been plenty of times when he has been behind and obeyed an order not to challenge his team-mate.
"Yeah, we've had a few," said Webber, who has often spoken of how he would never give up a win for anyone. "Even back in the days when it was probably not that acceptable to do [when team orders were banned]."
What will people make of Vettel's actions in Malaysia? Was he ruthless? Spoilt? Arrogant? Disingenuous? Insincere? People will come to all those conclusions and more besides.
Despite his apology, indeed, many will conclude that he knew exactly what he was doing - that with his likely biggest title rival, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, out of the race and a long, tough battle ahead, the extra seven points that were on offer for victory rather than second place were too tempting to resist. And that he knew he would get away with it if he went for them.
The interesting thing will be what happens in the future, both in the way he behaves if a similar situation arises, and how Red Bull handle it going forward.
As for Webber, one can only imagine what is going through his mind.
Last summer, he decided against a move to Ferrari, despite concerns about Red Bull's support for Vettel, because, in the end, he felt Red Bull would have the fastest car and were his best chance for success.
During the winter, Red Bull motorsport chief Helmut Marko made some highly disparaging remarks about Webber in the company's own magazine.
They were prompted by Marko's belief that Webber had not been properly supportive of Vettel's ultimately successful attempt to win a third world title at the season finale in Brazil last year - that, in fact, Webber had been obstructive to his team-mate out on the track that day.
In the wake of those remarks, Webber was asked at the launch of the new Red Bull in February whether he felt he would be allowed to fight with Vettel for the title.
"I do believe I can," he replied. "That is my goal. That is what I am getting up each day and thinking about. They know I need 100% support. You cannot win world championships with 90% support. We are going into 2013 with this in place. I'm comfortable with that."
On Sunday, Lee McKenzie asked him the same question again.
"This was something that was in my mind in the last part of the grand prix and it's a completely fair question, Lee, that you ask that," Webber said.
"Obviously we know Seb is no slouch but you need to have strong people all the way through the team to have everyone having the chance to get the maximum result."
No one can stop Sebastian Vettel: not even his own team
Comments (98)
The new Formula 1 season caught fire in the tropical intensity of Malaysia on Sunday as old wounds were torn open in the relationship between Red Bull drivers Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, and new ones potentially created at Mercedes.
Team orders - always a sensitive and controversial subject - were at the centre of both situations. They were resolved in starkly different ways.
While Nico Rosberg eventually acceded to his Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn's order to stay behind Lewis Hamilton, Vettel ignored a similar demand from Red Bull and passed Webber to win.
“
Seb's obviously chosen to hear what he wants to hear. He's a race driver, he's competitive, he's hungry. He hasn't achieved what he has by not pushing the limits and he has pushed that today with his team-mate and the team
”
Christian Horner
Red Bull team principal
That decision by the three-time world champion revealed a lot about Vettel himself, and - some will say - the balance of power within Red Bull.
There is steel within Vettel that is hidden by his generally sunny, easy-going and good-humoured manner in public and it was laid bare in his behaviour after the final pit stops in Sepang.
Worried about excessive tyre wear, Red Bull had discussed before the race that in such a situation the drivers would hold station. So Vettel knew full well what the call meant when it came over the radio, even if it came dressed in team code.
He got himself into quite a pickle over it after the race, even after he took it upon himself to apologise - an apology about which you don't have to try too hard to imagine Webber's feelings.
Initially, on the podium, Vettel tried to gloss over it. Webber, as clever as he is direct, was having none of it.
"After the last stop the team told me the race was over," Webber said. "We turned the engines down and we go to the end.
"I want to race as well but the team made a decision, which we always say before the race is how it's going to be. Seb made his own decisions today and will have protection and that's the way it goes."
The obvious out there, Vettel had no choice but to hold up his hands and apologise.
"I didn't ignore [the order] on purpose," he said in the post-race news conference. "I messed up in that situation and obviously took the lead. I can see now he's upset. I want to be honest and stick to the truth and apologise. I know that it doesn't really help his feelings right now."
Straight afterwards, talking to BBC F1 pit-lane reporter Lee McKenzie, Vettel added: "We talked about this many times before the race. It very rarely happens. Today it did and I should have translated the call into action.
"I just didn't get the message. I got it. I heard it. But obviously no action followed because I misunderstood."
What to make of those confusing and contradictory remarks? Team boss Christian Horner did his best to explain.
"He's obviously chosen to hear what he wants to hear," Horner said. "He's a race driver, he's competitive, he's hungry. He hasn't achieved the championships he has by not pushing the limits and he has pushed that today with his team-mate and the team."
Why, Horner was asked, did he not order Vettel to give the place back, given there were more than 10 laps to go.
"Do you honestly think if we had told him to slow down and give the place back he'd have given it back?" he said.
Did you try, the questioner countered?
"There's no point," Horner responded. "He'd made it quite clear what his intention was by making the move. He knew what the communication was. He chose to ignore it."
Although Vettel later said that if he had the chance to go back he would behave differently, the question on many lips will be why he did not do so in the first place.
The contrast with Rosberg's behaviour was striking.
Like Vettel, he too was closing on his team-mate in the final laps. Hamilton, who had had the edge on Rosberg earlier in the race, was powerless to respond because he was short on fuel.
But Brawn told Rosberg to hold station and - after questioning the call at least twice - the German did what he was told. "I wouldn't say they owe me one because I understand," Rosberg said later.
The battle between Hamilton and Rosberg may yet develop in the fashion of that between Vettel and Webber. For now, though, the focus will be on Red Bull.
In the difference between Vettel's and Rosberg's behaviour, in Horner's belief that he was powerless to intervene, and in Webber's reference to "protection", many in F1 will see what is widely regarded to be the reality at Red Bull - that it is Vettel's team, and he behaves as he pleases.
Horner was right after the race to point out that there have been times in the past when Webber has been behind and told to hold station and continued to race.
Not once, though, when Vettel has been leading and Webber second, has the Australian taken the win, either through ignoring obvious team orders or otherwise.
But there have been plenty of times when he has been behind and obeyed an order not to challenge his team-mate.
"Yeah, we've had a few," said Webber, who has often spoken of how he would never give up a win for anyone. "Even back in the days when it was probably not that acceptable to do [when team orders were banned]."
What will people make of Vettel's actions in Malaysia? Was he ruthless? Spoilt? Arrogant? Disingenuous? Insincere? People will come to all those conclusions and more besides.
Despite his apology, indeed, many will conclude that he knew exactly what he was doing - that with his likely biggest title rival, Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, out of the race and a long, tough battle ahead, the extra seven points that were on offer for victory rather than second place were too tempting to resist. And that he knew he would get away with it if he went for them.
The interesting thing will be what happens in the future, both in the way he behaves if a similar situation arises, and how Red Bull handle it going forward.
As for Webber, one can only imagine what is going through his mind.
Last summer, he decided against a move to Ferrari, despite concerns about Red Bull's support for Vettel, because, in the end, he felt Red Bull would have the fastest car and were his best chance for success.
During the winter, Red Bull motorsport chief Helmut Marko made some highly disparaging remarks about Webber in the company's own magazine.
They were prompted by Marko's belief that Webber had not been properly supportive of Vettel's ultimately successful attempt to win a third world title at the season finale in Brazil last year - that, in fact, Webber had been obstructive to his team-mate out on the track that day.
In the wake of those remarks, Webber was asked at the launch of the new Red Bull in February whether he felt he would be allowed to fight with Vettel for the title.
"I do believe I can," he replied. "That is my goal. That is what I am getting up each day and thinking about. They know I need 100% support. You cannot win world championships with 90% support. We are going into 2013 with this in place. I'm comfortable with that."
On Sunday, Lee McKenzie asked him the same question again.
"This was something that was in my mind in the last part of the grand prix and it's a completely fair question, Lee, that you ask that," Webber said.
"Obviously we know Seb is no slouch but you need to have strong people all the way through the team to have everyone having the chance to get the maximum result."
24-03-2013, 20:11
Traduccion de lo anterior
Comentarios (98)
La nueva Fórmula 1 temporada se incendió en la intensidad tropical de Malasia el domingo, mientras las viejas heridas se desgarran en la relación entre Red Bull pilotos Sebastian Vettel y Mark Webber, y los nuevos potencialmente creados en Mercedes.
Las órdenes de equipo - siempre un tema sensible y polémico - estaban en el centro de ambas situaciones. Ellos fueron resueltos de manera radicalmente diferentes.
Mientras que Nico Rosberg finalmente accedió a la orden de su jefe de equipo de Mercedes, Ross Brawn, de permanecer detrás de Lewis Hamilton, Vettel ignoró una demanda similar de Red Bull, Webber y pasó a ganar.
"
Seb está obviamente elegido para oír lo que quiere oír. Él es un piloto de carreras, que es competitivo, que tiene hambre. No ha logrado lo que él tiene por no superación de los límites y ha empujado que hoy con su compañero de equipo, y el equipo
"
Christian Horner,
director del equipo Red Bull
Esa decisión por el campeón del mundo en tres ocasiones revelado mucho sobre Vettel sí mismo, y - algunos dirán que - el equilibrio de poder dentro de Red Bull.
No es de acero dentro de Vettel que está oculto por su manera generalmente soleado, tolerante y de buen humor en público y fue puesto al descubierto en su comportamiento después del último hoyo para en Sepang.
Preocupado por el desgaste excesivo de los neumáticos, Red Bull había discutido antes de la carrera que, en tal situación, los conductores se mantenga estación. Así que Vettel sabía muy bien lo que quería decir cuando la llamada llegó por la radio, incluso si se trataba de vestidos de código del equipo.
Él se metió en un lío bastante sobre ella después de la carrera, incluso después de que él se encargó de pedir disculpas -. Excusas sobre las que usted no tiene que esforzarse mucho para imaginar los sentimientos de Webber
Inicialmente, en el podio, Vettel intentó pasar por alto eso. Webber, tan inteligente como él es directo, estaba teniendo nada de eso.
"Después de la última parada, el equipo me dijo que la carrera había terminado", dijo Webber. "Hemos convertido a los motores de abajo y vamos hasta el final.
"Quiero correr también, pero el equipo hizo una decisión, que siempre decimos antes de la carrera es cómo va a ser. Seb hizo sus propias decisiones hoy y tendrá la protección y esa es la manera que va."
Lo obvio por ahí, Vettel no tuvo más remedio que levantar las manos y pedir disculpas.
"Yo no pasó por alto [la orden] a propósito", dijo en la conferencia de prensa posterior a la carrera. "Metí la pata en esa situación y, obviamente, tomó la delantera. Ahora me doy cuenta que es molesto. Quiero ser honesto y se adhieren a la verdad y pedir disculpas. Sé que no ayuda a sus sentimientos en estos momentos."
Inmediatamente después, hablando con la BBC F1 pit-lane reportero Lee McKenzie, Vettel ha añadido: "Hemos hablado de esto muchas veces antes de la carrera es muy rara vez sucede hoy lo hice y debería haber traducido la llamada a la acción...
"Yo simplemente no entendió el mensaje. Ya lo tengo. He oído. Pero, obviamente, ninguna acción seguida porque no he entendido bien."
¿Qué hacer con esas declaraciones confusas y contradictorias? El jefe del equipo, Christian Horner, hizo lo posible por explicar.
"Obviamente elegido para oír lo que quiere oír", dijo Horner. "Él es un piloto de carreras, que es competitivo, que tiene hambre. Él no ha conseguido los campeonatos que tiene por no superación de los límites y ha empujado que hoy con su compañero de equipo y el equipo".
¿Por qué, Horner le preguntaron qué no pedir a Vettel le dan al lugar de nuevo, ya había más de 10 vueltas para el final.
"¿De verdad crees que si le había dicho a disminuir la velocidad y ceder el lugar atrás le habría dado la espalda?" dijo.
¿Has probado, el interrogador replicó?
"No tiene sentido", respondió Horner. "Había dejado muy claro cuál era su intención al hacer el movimiento. Sabía lo que la comunicación era. Él prefirió ignorarlo."
Aunque Vettel dijo más tarde que si tuviera la oportunidad de volver se comportaría de manera diferente, la pregunta en boca de muchos es por qué no lo hizo en el primer lugar.
El contraste con el comportamiento de Rosberg fue sorprendente.
Al igual que Vettel, él también se estaba cerrando sobre su compañero de equipo en las últimas vueltas. Hamilton, que había tenido la ventaja sobre Rosberg antes de la carrera, fue incapaz de responder porque él tenía poco combustible.
Sin embargo, Brawn dijo Rosberg para celebrar la estación y - después de interrogar a la convocatoria por lo menos dos veces - el alemán hizo lo que le dijeron. "Yo no diría que me debes una, porque yo entiendo", dijo Rosberg después.
La batalla entre Hamilton y Rosberg todavía se puede desarrollar de la manera de la que existe entre Vettel y Webber. Por ahora, sin embargo, la atención se centrará en Red Bull.
En la diferencia entre Vettel y el comportamiento de Rosberg, en la creencia de Horner que él no tenía poder para intervenir, y en referencia Webber a la "protección", muchos en la F1 va a ver lo que es ampliamente considerado como la realidad en Red Bull - que se trata de equipo de Vettel , y se comporta como le plazca.
Horner fue justo después de la carrera para señalar que ha habido ocasiones en el pasado, cuando ha estado detrás de Webber y dijo que esperara estación y continuó la carrera.
Ni una sola vez, sin embargo, cuando Vettel ha liderado y segundo Webber, el australiano ha llevado la victoria, ya sea por ignorar las órdenes de equipo obvios o no.
Pero ha habido muchos momentos en los que ha estado detrás y obedeció la orden de no desafiar a su compañero de equipo.
"Sí, hemos tenido unos pocos", dijo Webber, quien ha hablado a menudo de lo que nunca renunciaría a una victoria para nadie. "Incluso en los días en que era probable que no parece aceptable que hacer [cuando las órdenes de equipo se prohibieron]".
¿Qué van a hacer las acciones de Vettel en Malasia? Era despiadado? Agobiado? Arrogante? Falso? Insincere? La gente vendrá a todas esas conclusiones y además más.
A pesar de sus disculpas, de hecho, muchos concluirán que él sabía exactamente lo que estaba haciendo - que con su probable rival más grande título, Fernando Alonso de Ferrari, fuera de la carrera y una larga y dura batalla por delante, el extra de siete puntos que estaban en oferta por la victoria más que el segundo lugar era demasiado tentador para resistirse. Y que él sabía que iba a salirse con la suya si iba por ellos.
Lo interesante será lo que suceda en el futuro, tanto en la manera en que se comporta si una situación similar se presenta y cómo manejarlo Red Bull en el futuro.
En cuanto a Webber, uno sólo puede imaginar lo que pasaba por su mente.
El verano pasado, decidió en contra de un movimiento para Ferrari, a pesar de las preocupaciones sobre el apoyo de Red Bull de Vettel, porque, al final, se sintió Red Bull tendrá el coche más rápido y eran su mejor oportunidad para el éxito.
Durante el invierno, los deportes de motor de Red Bull Helmut Marko jefe hizo algunos muy despectivos comentarios sobre Webber en la revista de la propia empresa.
Ellos fueron motivadas por la creencia de Marko que Webber no había sido debidamente apoyado intento en última instancia el éxito de Vettel para ganar un tercer título mundial en la final de la temporada en Brasil el año pasado - que, de hecho, Webber había sido obstructiva a su compañero de equipo sobre la seguimiento de ese día.
A raíz de estas observaciones, Webber se le preguntó en el lanzamiento del nuevo Red Bull en febrero si sentía que se le permitiría luchar con Vettel por el título.
"Yo sí creo que puedo", respondió. "Esa es mi meta. Eso es lo que estoy levantarse cada día y pensar. Ellos saben que necesitan un apoyo del 100%. No se puede ganar campeonatos del mundo con un 90% de apoyo. Estamos entrando en 2013 con este en su lugar. Estoy cómodo con eso ".
El domingo, Lee McKenzie le hizo la misma pregunta otra vez.
"Esto era algo que estaba en mi mente en la última parte del gran premio y es una cuestión completamente justo, Lee, que le pida eso", dijo Webber.
"Obviamente sabemos Seb no se queda atrás, pero es necesario tener gente fuerte todo el camino a través del equipo que todo el mundo tenga la oportunidad de obtener el máximo resultado."
Comentarios (98)
La nueva Fórmula 1 temporada se incendió en la intensidad tropical de Malasia el domingo, mientras las viejas heridas se desgarran en la relación entre Red Bull pilotos Sebastian Vettel y Mark Webber, y los nuevos potencialmente creados en Mercedes.
Las órdenes de equipo - siempre un tema sensible y polémico - estaban en el centro de ambas situaciones. Ellos fueron resueltos de manera radicalmente diferentes.
Mientras que Nico Rosberg finalmente accedió a la orden de su jefe de equipo de Mercedes, Ross Brawn, de permanecer detrás de Lewis Hamilton, Vettel ignoró una demanda similar de Red Bull, Webber y pasó a ganar.
"
Seb está obviamente elegido para oír lo que quiere oír. Él es un piloto de carreras, que es competitivo, que tiene hambre. No ha logrado lo que él tiene por no superación de los límites y ha empujado que hoy con su compañero de equipo, y el equipo
"
Christian Horner,
director del equipo Red Bull
Esa decisión por el campeón del mundo en tres ocasiones revelado mucho sobre Vettel sí mismo, y - algunos dirán que - el equilibrio de poder dentro de Red Bull.
No es de acero dentro de Vettel que está oculto por su manera generalmente soleado, tolerante y de buen humor en público y fue puesto al descubierto en su comportamiento después del último hoyo para en Sepang.
Preocupado por el desgaste excesivo de los neumáticos, Red Bull había discutido antes de la carrera que, en tal situación, los conductores se mantenga estación. Así que Vettel sabía muy bien lo que quería decir cuando la llamada llegó por la radio, incluso si se trataba de vestidos de código del equipo.
Él se metió en un lío bastante sobre ella después de la carrera, incluso después de que él se encargó de pedir disculpas -. Excusas sobre las que usted no tiene que esforzarse mucho para imaginar los sentimientos de Webber
Inicialmente, en el podio, Vettel intentó pasar por alto eso. Webber, tan inteligente como él es directo, estaba teniendo nada de eso.
"Después de la última parada, el equipo me dijo que la carrera había terminado", dijo Webber. "Hemos convertido a los motores de abajo y vamos hasta el final.
"Quiero correr también, pero el equipo hizo una decisión, que siempre decimos antes de la carrera es cómo va a ser. Seb hizo sus propias decisiones hoy y tendrá la protección y esa es la manera que va."
Lo obvio por ahí, Vettel no tuvo más remedio que levantar las manos y pedir disculpas.
"Yo no pasó por alto [la orden] a propósito", dijo en la conferencia de prensa posterior a la carrera. "Metí la pata en esa situación y, obviamente, tomó la delantera. Ahora me doy cuenta que es molesto. Quiero ser honesto y se adhieren a la verdad y pedir disculpas. Sé que no ayuda a sus sentimientos en estos momentos."
Inmediatamente después, hablando con la BBC F1 pit-lane reportero Lee McKenzie, Vettel ha añadido: "Hemos hablado de esto muchas veces antes de la carrera es muy rara vez sucede hoy lo hice y debería haber traducido la llamada a la acción...
"Yo simplemente no entendió el mensaje. Ya lo tengo. He oído. Pero, obviamente, ninguna acción seguida porque no he entendido bien."
¿Qué hacer con esas declaraciones confusas y contradictorias? El jefe del equipo, Christian Horner, hizo lo posible por explicar.
"Obviamente elegido para oír lo que quiere oír", dijo Horner. "Él es un piloto de carreras, que es competitivo, que tiene hambre. Él no ha conseguido los campeonatos que tiene por no superación de los límites y ha empujado que hoy con su compañero de equipo y el equipo".
¿Por qué, Horner le preguntaron qué no pedir a Vettel le dan al lugar de nuevo, ya había más de 10 vueltas para el final.
"¿De verdad crees que si le había dicho a disminuir la velocidad y ceder el lugar atrás le habría dado la espalda?" dijo.
¿Has probado, el interrogador replicó?
"No tiene sentido", respondió Horner. "Había dejado muy claro cuál era su intención al hacer el movimiento. Sabía lo que la comunicación era. Él prefirió ignorarlo."
Aunque Vettel dijo más tarde que si tuviera la oportunidad de volver se comportaría de manera diferente, la pregunta en boca de muchos es por qué no lo hizo en el primer lugar.
El contraste con el comportamiento de Rosberg fue sorprendente.
Al igual que Vettel, él también se estaba cerrando sobre su compañero de equipo en las últimas vueltas. Hamilton, que había tenido la ventaja sobre Rosberg antes de la carrera, fue incapaz de responder porque él tenía poco combustible.
Sin embargo, Brawn dijo Rosberg para celebrar la estación y - después de interrogar a la convocatoria por lo menos dos veces - el alemán hizo lo que le dijeron. "Yo no diría que me debes una, porque yo entiendo", dijo Rosberg después.
La batalla entre Hamilton y Rosberg todavía se puede desarrollar de la manera de la que existe entre Vettel y Webber. Por ahora, sin embargo, la atención se centrará en Red Bull.
En la diferencia entre Vettel y el comportamiento de Rosberg, en la creencia de Horner que él no tenía poder para intervenir, y en referencia Webber a la "protección", muchos en la F1 va a ver lo que es ampliamente considerado como la realidad en Red Bull - que se trata de equipo de Vettel , y se comporta como le plazca.
Horner fue justo después de la carrera para señalar que ha habido ocasiones en el pasado, cuando ha estado detrás de Webber y dijo que esperara estación y continuó la carrera.
Ni una sola vez, sin embargo, cuando Vettel ha liderado y segundo Webber, el australiano ha llevado la victoria, ya sea por ignorar las órdenes de equipo obvios o no.
Pero ha habido muchos momentos en los que ha estado detrás y obedeció la orden de no desafiar a su compañero de equipo.
"Sí, hemos tenido unos pocos", dijo Webber, quien ha hablado a menudo de lo que nunca renunciaría a una victoria para nadie. "Incluso en los días en que era probable que no parece aceptable que hacer [cuando las órdenes de equipo se prohibieron]".
¿Qué van a hacer las acciones de Vettel en Malasia? Era despiadado? Agobiado? Arrogante? Falso? Insincere? La gente vendrá a todas esas conclusiones y además más.
A pesar de sus disculpas, de hecho, muchos concluirán que él sabía exactamente lo que estaba haciendo - que con su probable rival más grande título, Fernando Alonso de Ferrari, fuera de la carrera y una larga y dura batalla por delante, el extra de siete puntos que estaban en oferta por la victoria más que el segundo lugar era demasiado tentador para resistirse. Y que él sabía que iba a salirse con la suya si iba por ellos.
Lo interesante será lo que suceda en el futuro, tanto en la manera en que se comporta si una situación similar se presenta y cómo manejarlo Red Bull en el futuro.
En cuanto a Webber, uno sólo puede imaginar lo que pasaba por su mente.
El verano pasado, decidió en contra de un movimiento para Ferrari, a pesar de las preocupaciones sobre el apoyo de Red Bull de Vettel, porque, al final, se sintió Red Bull tendrá el coche más rápido y eran su mejor oportunidad para el éxito.
Durante el invierno, los deportes de motor de Red Bull Helmut Marko jefe hizo algunos muy despectivos comentarios sobre Webber en la revista de la propia empresa.
Ellos fueron motivadas por la creencia de Marko que Webber no había sido debidamente apoyado intento en última instancia el éxito de Vettel para ganar un tercer título mundial en la final de la temporada en Brasil el año pasado - que, de hecho, Webber había sido obstructiva a su compañero de equipo sobre la seguimiento de ese día.
A raíz de estas observaciones, Webber se le preguntó en el lanzamiento del nuevo Red Bull en febrero si sentía que se le permitiría luchar con Vettel por el título.
"Yo sí creo que puedo", respondió. "Esa es mi meta. Eso es lo que estoy levantarse cada día y pensar. Ellos saben que necesitan un apoyo del 100%. No se puede ganar campeonatos del mundo con un 90% de apoyo. Estamos entrando en 2013 con este en su lugar. Estoy cómodo con eso ".
El domingo, Lee McKenzie le hizo la misma pregunta otra vez.
"Esto era algo que estaba en mi mente en la última parte del gran premio y es una cuestión completamente justo, Lee, que le pida eso", dijo Webber.
"Obviamente sabemos Seb no se queda atrás, pero es necesario tener gente fuerte todo el camino a través del equipo que todo el mundo tenga la oportunidad de obtener el máximo resultado."
24-03-2013, 23:37
Quiero agradecer la cronica de rposep, pero el servidor me dice respuesta muy larga
07-05-2013, 21:42
Spanish GP: An indicator of how the season will pan out
After four races spent touring the far and middle east, it's back to the Formula 1 homeland of Europe, with the familiar surroundings of Barcelona hosting the Spanish Grand Prix - round five of the F1 World Championship.
The Spanish GP in numbers
1,110m - the length of the pit straight
730m - the run from the start line to the first corner, which is the longest in Formula 1
80,000 - the crowd in attendance for the Spanish Grand Prix
2,640 - Average number of gear changes needed to complete the race
£104 - the price of the cheapest race day ticket
The Circuit de Catalunya is well known to the teams as it usually hosts at least one pre-season test each year. While the event doesn't always provide the most exciting of races, it remains as a vital indicator of car performance. Run well in Barcelona and you'll likely challenge for the big points throughout the season.
Will Mercedes show they've got what it takes to challenge the Red Bulls, Ferraris and Lotuses all season long? Can Williams' Pastor Maldonado repeat his heroic victory of last year? Can Fernando Alonso win on home turf for the second time in his career?
The track
Maldonado on song
Last year, Pastor Maldonado became the 104th different driver to win a round of the Formula 1 World Championship. It was also Williams' first win in 130 races
A combination of high- and medium-speed corners make up the 4.655km circuit, with overtaking notoriously difficult.
For example, in 1999 there was just one overtaking move in the entire race, while in 2011 it was the first race in 12 years not to be won by the man who started on pole position.
However, last season we saw 57 DRS-aided overtaking moves, while the make-up of the tyres means we should see far more action both in the pits and out on track.
The first two sectors are quick with long, sweeping corners which require good downforce and a well-balanced car. The third sector is slower and more technical.
The venue
Did you know?
Fernando Alonso is the only Spaniard to have won a Formula 1 race. He has 31 wins in total and triumphed in his home event at the Circuit de Catalunya in 2006 with Renault
The circuit, located 25km north of Barcelona, has hosted a Formula 1 race since 1991 and is a popular venue for testing because of its excellent facilities and high-downforce layout.
Only five circuits - Interlagos, Silverstone, Budapest, Monza and Monte Carlo - have had a longer continuous run of hosting a Formula 1 grand prix.
The circuit has been kind to whoever the reigning world champion is each year. The driver with the number one on his car has won 11 times from 21 events. During the same period, the winning driver has gone on to clinch the title 14 times.
The race has been generally well attended courtesy of the success of Alonso, however the country now has just one race on the calendar after Valencia was dropped after last season.
What the drivers say
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton: "Barcelona should be a good test as we know the circuit so well having completed most of the pre-season test programme there. The weekend should be a good benchmark of the progress we have made since then."
The Circuit de Catalunya
First grand prix: 1991
Circuit length: 4.655km
Circuit distance: 307.104km
Laps: 66
Lap record: 1:24.125 (K Raikkonen 2008)
Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen: "I have won twice in Barcelona and I was on the podium there last year too, so I really look forward to going there again. The set-up is crucial as the track changes with the wind and temperature so there's plenty of work for the engineers too."
Sauber driver Esteban Gutierrez: "Tyre management will be crucial here, and, especially during a qualifying lap, you need to nurse your tyres in the first two sectors in order to get a clean third sector."
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg: "It will be an interesting weekend and once we see how everyone performs in Barcelona, it should give a good idea of how the rest of the season will look."
Lotus driver Romain Grosjean: "In Barcelona it will be important to qualify well as it will be much harder to overtake than in Bahrain. As a team, this is an area where we can still improve a little bit, but we have some ideas of how to do that and hopefully we'll be able to make the front row."
BBC Radio 5 live analyst Allan McNish's view
Analysis
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya was effectively the first of what might be called the modern generation of Formula 1 circuits. But while it still carries the sense of being part of a new era, it is now very much an established part of the sport's furniture.
The track does not have the historic resonance of classics such as Spa, Suzuka, Silverstone and Monaco, but the venue has its own charm and there is no questioning the challenge it presents.
The combination of medium- and high-speed, long-duration corners make it one of the tracks most demanding of a car's all-round capabilities. This is one of the reasons why it is one of the most popular test tracks - if a car goes well there, it will go well almost anywhere.
It's not the greatest place to watch a race - the layout means overtaking is at a premium, even in these days of rapidly degrading Pirelli tyres and DRS overtaking aid.
But that does not dampen the enthusiasm of the Spanish fans, who turn up in huge numbers to worship at the altar of Fernando Alonso, who has singlehandedly made F1 a big deal in Spain.
And Alonso rarely disappoints his people. You can always rely on him to produce something special at his home race.
"Ferrari have made a few mistakes this season, the first of which was in Malaysia when they didn't pull Alonso in straight away when he broke his front wing.
"The second was allowing the reactivation of Alonso's DRS in Bahrain when it had jammed open on the previous lap. That meant Alonso had to stop on successive laps which ruined his race.
"After all that, I think Ferrari will be back in Spain. Their car is generally pretty well balanced. It's like the Red Bull in that it's pretty good in most situations.
"Alonso needs to pull a performance out of the hat. He's in Spain, on home turf and when you look back at some of the legendary races over the years such as Nigel Mansell winning at Silverstone and Alonso in Valencia last year, having home support can have a positive effect.
"Ferrari need to get back on track quickly to prevent Red Bull and Kimi Raikkonen getting away. Putting all those factors together and I'm plumping for Alonso for victory.
"Massa is definitely doing a great job, too, and will be there or thereabouts. He's driving as well as he has ever done. He's got a look of confidence about him, away from the track as well as on track.
"I think that's a big thing for Ferrari, to have two guys who are pushing all the time. It keeps Alonso focused as well, not that he really needs it."
A classic Spanish GP
The 1994 Spanish Grand Prix will long live in the memory for two reasons.
Play media
Classic F1 - Spanish Grand Prix 1994 (UK users only)
Through Britain's Damon Hill, Williams secured their first victory since the death of three-time world champion Ayrton Senna in the San Marino Grand Prix a month before.
And Michael Schumacher finished second despite having spent much of the race in fifth gear, remarkably managing to pull away from pit stops without stalling.
The German seven-time world champion was fortunate in that McLaren's Mika Hakkinen, who was right with him, did not have the chance to attack as his engine failed.
Schumacher's team-mate JJ Lehto moved into third, but his engine failed, too, allowing McLaren's Martin Brundle to get promoted a place before his transmission failed. That gifted Tyrrell's Mark Blundell the third and final podium place.
After four races spent touring the far and middle east, it's back to the Formula 1 homeland of Europe, with the familiar surroundings of Barcelona hosting the Spanish Grand Prix - round five of the F1 World Championship.
The Spanish GP in numbers
1,110m - the length of the pit straight
730m - the run from the start line to the first corner, which is the longest in Formula 1
80,000 - the crowd in attendance for the Spanish Grand Prix
2,640 - Average number of gear changes needed to complete the race
£104 - the price of the cheapest race day ticket
The Circuit de Catalunya is well known to the teams as it usually hosts at least one pre-season test each year. While the event doesn't always provide the most exciting of races, it remains as a vital indicator of car performance. Run well in Barcelona and you'll likely challenge for the big points throughout the season.
Will Mercedes show they've got what it takes to challenge the Red Bulls, Ferraris and Lotuses all season long? Can Williams' Pastor Maldonado repeat his heroic victory of last year? Can Fernando Alonso win on home turf for the second time in his career?
The track
Maldonado on song
Last year, Pastor Maldonado became the 104th different driver to win a round of the Formula 1 World Championship. It was also Williams' first win in 130 races
A combination of high- and medium-speed corners make up the 4.655km circuit, with overtaking notoriously difficult.
For example, in 1999 there was just one overtaking move in the entire race, while in 2011 it was the first race in 12 years not to be won by the man who started on pole position.
However, last season we saw 57 DRS-aided overtaking moves, while the make-up of the tyres means we should see far more action both in the pits and out on track.
The first two sectors are quick with long, sweeping corners which require good downforce and a well-balanced car. The third sector is slower and more technical.
The venue
Did you know?
Fernando Alonso is the only Spaniard to have won a Formula 1 race. He has 31 wins in total and triumphed in his home event at the Circuit de Catalunya in 2006 with Renault
The circuit, located 25km north of Barcelona, has hosted a Formula 1 race since 1991 and is a popular venue for testing because of its excellent facilities and high-downforce layout.
Only five circuits - Interlagos, Silverstone, Budapest, Monza and Monte Carlo - have had a longer continuous run of hosting a Formula 1 grand prix.
The circuit has been kind to whoever the reigning world champion is each year. The driver with the number one on his car has won 11 times from 21 events. During the same period, the winning driver has gone on to clinch the title 14 times.
The race has been generally well attended courtesy of the success of Alonso, however the country now has just one race on the calendar after Valencia was dropped after last season.
What the drivers say
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton: "Barcelona should be a good test as we know the circuit so well having completed most of the pre-season test programme there. The weekend should be a good benchmark of the progress we have made since then."
The Circuit de Catalunya
First grand prix: 1991
Circuit length: 4.655km
Circuit distance: 307.104km
Laps: 66
Lap record: 1:24.125 (K Raikkonen 2008)
Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen: "I have won twice in Barcelona and I was on the podium there last year too, so I really look forward to going there again. The set-up is crucial as the track changes with the wind and temperature so there's plenty of work for the engineers too."
Sauber driver Esteban Gutierrez: "Tyre management will be crucial here, and, especially during a qualifying lap, you need to nurse your tyres in the first two sectors in order to get a clean third sector."
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg: "It will be an interesting weekend and once we see how everyone performs in Barcelona, it should give a good idea of how the rest of the season will look."
Lotus driver Romain Grosjean: "In Barcelona it will be important to qualify well as it will be much harder to overtake than in Bahrain. As a team, this is an area where we can still improve a little bit, but we have some ideas of how to do that and hopefully we'll be able to make the front row."
BBC Radio 5 live analyst Allan McNish's view
Analysis
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya was effectively the first of what might be called the modern generation of Formula 1 circuits. But while it still carries the sense of being part of a new era, it is now very much an established part of the sport's furniture.
The track does not have the historic resonance of classics such as Spa, Suzuka, Silverstone and Monaco, but the venue has its own charm and there is no questioning the challenge it presents.
The combination of medium- and high-speed, long-duration corners make it one of the tracks most demanding of a car's all-round capabilities. This is one of the reasons why it is one of the most popular test tracks - if a car goes well there, it will go well almost anywhere.
It's not the greatest place to watch a race - the layout means overtaking is at a premium, even in these days of rapidly degrading Pirelli tyres and DRS overtaking aid.
But that does not dampen the enthusiasm of the Spanish fans, who turn up in huge numbers to worship at the altar of Fernando Alonso, who has singlehandedly made F1 a big deal in Spain.
And Alonso rarely disappoints his people. You can always rely on him to produce something special at his home race.
"Ferrari have made a few mistakes this season, the first of which was in Malaysia when they didn't pull Alonso in straight away when he broke his front wing.
"The second was allowing the reactivation of Alonso's DRS in Bahrain when it had jammed open on the previous lap. That meant Alonso had to stop on successive laps which ruined his race.
"After all that, I think Ferrari will be back in Spain. Their car is generally pretty well balanced. It's like the Red Bull in that it's pretty good in most situations.
"Alonso needs to pull a performance out of the hat. He's in Spain, on home turf and when you look back at some of the legendary races over the years such as Nigel Mansell winning at Silverstone and Alonso in Valencia last year, having home support can have a positive effect.
"Ferrari need to get back on track quickly to prevent Red Bull and Kimi Raikkonen getting away. Putting all those factors together and I'm plumping for Alonso for victory.
"Massa is definitely doing a great job, too, and will be there or thereabouts. He's driving as well as he has ever done. He's got a look of confidence about him, away from the track as well as on track.
"I think that's a big thing for Ferrari, to have two guys who are pushing all the time. It keeps Alonso focused as well, not that he really needs it."
A classic Spanish GP
The 1994 Spanish Grand Prix will long live in the memory for two reasons.
Play media
Classic F1 - Spanish Grand Prix 1994 (UK users only)
Through Britain's Damon Hill, Williams secured their first victory since the death of three-time world champion Ayrton Senna in the San Marino Grand Prix a month before.
And Michael Schumacher finished second despite having spent much of the race in fifth gear, remarkably managing to pull away from pit stops without stalling.
The German seven-time world champion was fortunate in that McLaren's Mika Hakkinen, who was right with him, did not have the chance to attack as his engine failed.
Schumacher's team-mate JJ Lehto moved into third, but his engine failed, too, allowing McLaren's Martin Brundle to get promoted a place before his transmission failed. That gifted Tyrrell's Mark Blundell the third and final podium place.
09-05-2013, 15:49
Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber interview each other
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
Genuine friendships between Formula 1 drivers are rare. The competition tends to be too intense, the pressure too high, the demands on their time too great for close personal relationships to develop. And the more successful they become, the more that applies.
But occasionally one bucks the trend, and in the modern era the rapport between Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and Red Bull's Mark Webber is probably as close as any gets.
Continue reading the main story
“
We've had some really good times on the track...
”
Mark Webber on Fernando Alonso
They are not best friends by any measure, but there is genuine affection and mutual esteem there, and they do sometimes spend time together away from races - as was demonstrated by the picture of the two having dinner together that Alonso posted on his Twitter account ahead of last month's Bahrain Grand Prix.
The two have been in F1 for exactly the same length of time - each celebrated their 200th race in Bahrain. They marked the occasion by getting together with BBC Sport for a dual interview - each asking questions of the other - which will be broadcast ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend.
The result was a rare and fascinating insight into their relationship, the way two top F1 drivers view each other, and the respect that can develop when world-class sportsmen compete for such a long time.
Webber and Alonso are famous for their hard but fair on-track battles, trusting their rival to such a degree that they are prepared to put their lives in each other's hands on a regular basis.
On numerous occasions in the past each has left the other just enough room - but not a centimetre more - to pull off an audacious overtaking move.
Alonso v Webber
Alonso Webber
200
Races
200
2005, 2006 (2)
Championships
0
31
Race wins
9
88
Podium finishes
35
22
Pole Positions
11
19
Fastest Laps
14
The most breathtaking example in recent years was during the 2011 Belgian Grand Prix, when Webber overtook Alonso through the daunting Eau Rouge flat-out swerves, each knowing the other would not to do anything that would put them at more risk than was necessary. Hearing them discuss it is enthralling.
"We've had some really good times on the track," Webber said.
"The one I remember," replied Alonso, "is Eau Rouge."
Webber: "There's a few guys out there - you, Jenson Button - the racing can be really hard and fair and looking a bit more at the bigger picture. There was one you were not happy with. In Bahrain in the Jaguar in 2005, I had zero grip and no traction and the Renault was completely the opposite. I was basically cutting you off everywhere, blocking you. Now I would probably get a 10-race ban."
"I don't remember," Alonso said. "It was not so bad. We met in many races."
"I've been lucky to get some moves on him," said Webber. "The one you did on Romain Grosjean at the restart in Valencia last year was an incredible passing move - very, very special move. And there was another one on me in that same race that I thought: 'Yeah, fair play.'"
Alonso: "It's good to battle with someone you respect and the battle can be fair. Some of the rookies that arrive in F1 with a GP2 mentality, it's very risky."
Webber's remarks in that exchange reveal another striking aspect of their conversation - while each clearly holds the other in very high regard, Webber does not trouble to hide the fact that he thinks Alonso is just that bit extra special.
The Australian asked Alonso what he felt his best race was, and answered the question himself before his rival had the chance to reply, picking out the Spaniard's outsanding victory at the 2005 San Marino Grand Prix, when Alonso held off Michael Schumacher's charging Ferrari in the closing laps.
In recalling the race Alonso revealed a remarkable fact - he completed the entire grand prix with a crippled engine, as a change would have meant a 10-place grid penalty.
"I had an engine problem after qualifying," he said. "They discovered one piston had a hole in it. They discussed changing the engine, which was 10 places demotion on the grid.
"In the end the Renault people decided they could do it, treat this cylinder in a different way, get the power down in that cylinder and said: 'You can finish the race better than starting 11th.' Because we were on pole. In the last laps, Michael was very quick. It was a lot of risk."
Even in recalling his own favourite race, Webber is modest enough to mention the helping hand he inadvertently received from Alonso on the way.
"Probably one of the Monaco wins - the 2010 race, I think," Webber said. "I was very fortunate that you crashed in practice there, which helped me a bit, because you were quick all weekend, along with Robert Kubica and Seb Vettel.
"It was the four of us going for the win. Robert was very quick on the prime tyre but I got myself in a good position in qualifying - both laps were good enough for pole. The race was…"
"Control," Alonso interrupted.
"Yeah, I could manipulate the gap quite easily. Yours?"
"I think it was Malaysia 2012. It was completely unexpected. I started ninth and then the red flag stopping the race. When you stop for an hour and a half it's really challenging for the drivers, to see how the grip has changed. The car felt good, I felt good that day, starting on extreme wet tyres then inters and dry. Very challenging."
The conversation moved on to their biggest accidents in F1, and inevitably they brought up Brazil 2003, when in damp conditions Webber lost control of his Jaguar while flat out coming up the hill towards the pits. Alonso ploughed into the wreckage and needed medical attention.
Fernando Alonso on Mark Webber
"I was on heavy fuel on inters trying to go to the end of the race," Webber recalled. "Going up the hill, I made the really bad mistake of going on to the wet part of the track to cool the tyres. I didn't realise how slick the tyres were. Gone. In the wall. Fernando was being encouraged by his team to pit quite quickly. People don't understand how steep it is."
"Blind," Alonso agreed.
"And you had a huge shunt. We stopped the race together," Webber said. "Your biggest crash in F1?"
"Yeah without any doubt," Alonso replied. "You?"
"I think Valencia (2010, when his Red Bull flipped after hitting the back of Heikki Kovalainen's Lotus). It was spectacular and also the hit into the wall was more impressive. I snapped the brake pedal in half with the adrenaline or the pressure or whatever. The pedal shouldn't snap. But the force of going into the wall and what I used broke it."
"Me too in Brazil," Alonso said. "Both pedals."
Alonso then asked Webber which was worse - his flip in Valencia or the two he experienced in a Mercedes sportscar at Le Mans in 1999?
Webber has previously said that when his car took off for the second time at Le Mans he felt he was unlikely to survive, so his reply to Alonso's question is revealing.
Play media
Alonso sails to victory in Malaysia 2012
"Probably F1," he said, "because more people are watching, especially my mum. In Le Mans, no-one was watching. If I get my helicopter licence you can come with me."
"No way," Alonso laughed.
But perhaps the most revealing answer of all was Alonso's reaction to being asked whether their relationship had changed as a result of all the pressure in F1.
He said not - even when both were involved in one of F1's greatest ever championship fights, a five-way tussle involving themselves, Vettel and McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Button.
Alonso said: "I wanted to win; second choice was Mark. Nothing changed in our relationship. It was even better, I think. I think at the end we were even closer than at the beginning."
See more of Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber's memories in the build-up to the Spanish Grand Prix starting on BBC One at 1210 BST.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/22427945
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
Genuine friendships between Formula 1 drivers are rare. The competition tends to be too intense, the pressure too high, the demands on their time too great for close personal relationships to develop. And the more successful they become, the more that applies.
But occasionally one bucks the trend, and in the modern era the rapport between Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and Red Bull's Mark Webber is probably as close as any gets.
Continue reading the main story
“
We've had some really good times on the track...
”
Mark Webber on Fernando Alonso
They are not best friends by any measure, but there is genuine affection and mutual esteem there, and they do sometimes spend time together away from races - as was demonstrated by the picture of the two having dinner together that Alonso posted on his Twitter account ahead of last month's Bahrain Grand Prix.
The two have been in F1 for exactly the same length of time - each celebrated their 200th race in Bahrain. They marked the occasion by getting together with BBC Sport for a dual interview - each asking questions of the other - which will be broadcast ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend.
The result was a rare and fascinating insight into their relationship, the way two top F1 drivers view each other, and the respect that can develop when world-class sportsmen compete for such a long time.
Webber and Alonso are famous for their hard but fair on-track battles, trusting their rival to such a degree that they are prepared to put their lives in each other's hands on a regular basis.
On numerous occasions in the past each has left the other just enough room - but not a centimetre more - to pull off an audacious overtaking move.
Alonso v Webber
Alonso Webber
200
Races
200
2005, 2006 (2)
Championships
0
31
Race wins
9
88
Podium finishes
35
22
Pole Positions
11
19
Fastest Laps
14
The most breathtaking example in recent years was during the 2011 Belgian Grand Prix, when Webber overtook Alonso through the daunting Eau Rouge flat-out swerves, each knowing the other would not to do anything that would put them at more risk than was necessary. Hearing them discuss it is enthralling.
"We've had some really good times on the track," Webber said.
"The one I remember," replied Alonso, "is Eau Rouge."
Webber: "There's a few guys out there - you, Jenson Button - the racing can be really hard and fair and looking a bit more at the bigger picture. There was one you were not happy with. In Bahrain in the Jaguar in 2005, I had zero grip and no traction and the Renault was completely the opposite. I was basically cutting you off everywhere, blocking you. Now I would probably get a 10-race ban."
"I don't remember," Alonso said. "It was not so bad. We met in many races."
"I've been lucky to get some moves on him," said Webber. "The one you did on Romain Grosjean at the restart in Valencia last year was an incredible passing move - very, very special move. And there was another one on me in that same race that I thought: 'Yeah, fair play.'"
Alonso: "It's good to battle with someone you respect and the battle can be fair. Some of the rookies that arrive in F1 with a GP2 mentality, it's very risky."
Webber's remarks in that exchange reveal another striking aspect of their conversation - while each clearly holds the other in very high regard, Webber does not trouble to hide the fact that he thinks Alonso is just that bit extra special.
The Australian asked Alonso what he felt his best race was, and answered the question himself before his rival had the chance to reply, picking out the Spaniard's outsanding victory at the 2005 San Marino Grand Prix, when Alonso held off Michael Schumacher's charging Ferrari in the closing laps.
In recalling the race Alonso revealed a remarkable fact - he completed the entire grand prix with a crippled engine, as a change would have meant a 10-place grid penalty.
"I had an engine problem after qualifying," he said. "They discovered one piston had a hole in it. They discussed changing the engine, which was 10 places demotion on the grid.
"In the end the Renault people decided they could do it, treat this cylinder in a different way, get the power down in that cylinder and said: 'You can finish the race better than starting 11th.' Because we were on pole. In the last laps, Michael was very quick. It was a lot of risk."
Even in recalling his own favourite race, Webber is modest enough to mention the helping hand he inadvertently received from Alonso on the way.
"Probably one of the Monaco wins - the 2010 race, I think," Webber said. "I was very fortunate that you crashed in practice there, which helped me a bit, because you were quick all weekend, along with Robert Kubica and Seb Vettel.
"It was the four of us going for the win. Robert was very quick on the prime tyre but I got myself in a good position in qualifying - both laps were good enough for pole. The race was…"
"Control," Alonso interrupted.
"Yeah, I could manipulate the gap quite easily. Yours?"
"I think it was Malaysia 2012. It was completely unexpected. I started ninth and then the red flag stopping the race. When you stop for an hour and a half it's really challenging for the drivers, to see how the grip has changed. The car felt good, I felt good that day, starting on extreme wet tyres then inters and dry. Very challenging."
The conversation moved on to their biggest accidents in F1, and inevitably they brought up Brazil 2003, when in damp conditions Webber lost control of his Jaguar while flat out coming up the hill towards the pits. Alonso ploughed into the wreckage and needed medical attention.
Fernando Alonso on Mark Webber
"I was on heavy fuel on inters trying to go to the end of the race," Webber recalled. "Going up the hill, I made the really bad mistake of going on to the wet part of the track to cool the tyres. I didn't realise how slick the tyres were. Gone. In the wall. Fernando was being encouraged by his team to pit quite quickly. People don't understand how steep it is."
"Blind," Alonso agreed.
"And you had a huge shunt. We stopped the race together," Webber said. "Your biggest crash in F1?"
"Yeah without any doubt," Alonso replied. "You?"
"I think Valencia (2010, when his Red Bull flipped after hitting the back of Heikki Kovalainen's Lotus). It was spectacular and also the hit into the wall was more impressive. I snapped the brake pedal in half with the adrenaline or the pressure or whatever. The pedal shouldn't snap. But the force of going into the wall and what I used broke it."
"Me too in Brazil," Alonso said. "Both pedals."
Alonso then asked Webber which was worse - his flip in Valencia or the two he experienced in a Mercedes sportscar at Le Mans in 1999?
Webber has previously said that when his car took off for the second time at Le Mans he felt he was unlikely to survive, so his reply to Alonso's question is revealing.
Play media
Alonso sails to victory in Malaysia 2012
"Probably F1," he said, "because more people are watching, especially my mum. In Le Mans, no-one was watching. If I get my helicopter licence you can come with me."
"No way," Alonso laughed.
But perhaps the most revealing answer of all was Alonso's reaction to being asked whether their relationship had changed as a result of all the pressure in F1.
He said not - even when both were involved in one of F1's greatest ever championship fights, a five-way tussle involving themselves, Vettel and McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Button.
Alonso said: "I wanted to win; second choice was Mark. Nothing changed in our relationship. It was even better, I think. I think at the end we were even closer than at the beginning."
See more of Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber's memories in the build-up to the Spanish Grand Prix starting on BBC One at 1210 BST.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/22427945
05-06-2013, 15:53
Fernando Alonso: Ferrari driver must answer awkward questions
Fernando Alonso has spent the days since the Monaco Grand Prix doing "hard training" on his bike.
If the Ferrari driver was using his usual physical preparation as a form of catharsis, it would be understandable.
Monaco was an unusually poor race for Alonso and Ferrari and it has left awkward questions hanging over their title campaign heading into this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.
Seventh place around the streets of the principality was a continuation of Alonso's up-and-down season.
“
Of course Alonso is still phenomenal. But there are just the odd signs, little things here and there, perhaps a slight dimming of commitment, stuff like that
”
A former F1 driver on Alonso's recent form
Two wins in China and Spain and a strong second in the season opener in Australia have been interspersed with a retirement in Malaysia and an eighth place in Bahrain caused by a failure of his DRS overtaking aid - and subsequent mix-up between team and driver.
Alonso may have scored only four points over two races in Malaysia and Bahrain, but it was obvious he could easily have finished on the podium in both without his problems.
In Monaco, though, Alonso and Ferrari were flat uncompetitive for the first time this season - and that on a circuit where the Spanish two-time world champion has usually excelled.
Barring accidents, mechanical problems or strategy errors, it was the first race in which Alonso has gone backwards from his starting position since last year's British Grand Prix - and that was only from pole to finish second. And even then it was arguably caused by a team error in tyre strategy, leaving him helpless to fend off Mark Webber's Red Bull on faster tyres in the final stint of the race.
Before Silverstone in July last year, you have to go right back to the 2011 Spanish Grand Prix - more than two years ago - to find a race in which, on pure pace alone, Alonso has finished lower than he started.
The inconsistency of Alonso's season is reflected in the championship standings. Heading to Montreal this weekend, he is 29 points adrift of leader Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull. That's more than a clear race victory, after just six races.
Alonso facts
F1 drivers' titles: 2005, 2006
Without the errors of Malaysia and Bahrain, he would probably be leading by a small margin. Which, in the aftermath of the struggles of Monaco, begs the question of whether Ferrari might have blown this one already.
Little wonder, then, that Alonso has been engaging in a bit of positive affirmation.
Alonso is partial to a bit of Eastern warrior philosophy, and on Sunday night after the Monaco race he wrote on his Twitter account: "The rain only becomes a problem if you do not want to get wet. #Samurai."
The following day he added: "It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop."
Alonso resorted to similar use of Twitter after last year's Japanese Grand Prix, another disastrous race for him, when a crash at the first corner allowed Vettel to close to within four points of the Spaniard. It was one of two incidents it was possible to say cost Alonso the title last year.
Back then, the warrior philosophy failed to come off - but only just. After falling further behind Vettel after the German's wins in the two subsequent races in Korea and India, Alonso actually outscored him over the final three grands prix of the season. And although he lost the title, it was by only four points, when after India the margin had been out to 13.
The irony is that while Ferrari's car is more competitive this year than it was in 2012, they have lost their ability to maximise its potential. Red Bull, by contrast, are not as quick as they were last year - although the car is still out-and-out faster than the Ferrari - but Vettel is so far showing Alonso-like levels of consistency.
That is why the Monaco performance was so concerning for Ferrari. Before that race, they had the reassuring notion that they had the pace to get back in the game. After Monaco, that does not seem so certain.
"We didn't have the pace and we have to understand why," said Ferrari's team boss Stefano Domenicali, "but we are used to reacting very quickly after a difficult weekend."
With the pressure of the 2013 title race mounting, this was not an ideal time for Ferrari to get caught up in a political row, but that is what has happened.
Play media
Formula 1: Monaco Grand Prix highlights
After lodging, with Red Bull, an official protest against Mercedes' 'secret' Pirelli tyre test before Monaco, Ferrari have found themselves embroiled in the scandal too - as a result of their own tyre test between Bahrain and Spain, the existence of which also emerged on race morning in Monaco.
The crucial difference - in Ferrari's eyes - was that they ran their tyre test with a 2011 car, operated by their Corsa Cliente show-car division.
Although the rules are not completely clear, most teams had understood that using a two-year-old car was acceptable. Mercedes used a 2013 race car, which seems to be specifically outlawed, at least by the sporting regulations.
Either way, both teams have been asked for an explanation by governing body the FIA and the controversy is clearly not going away in a hurry.
Ferrari's challenge is not to allow the tyre row to be a distraction to their work at the tracks.
For a driver as single-minded as Alonso that is unlikely to be a problem, but still he will have things preying on his thoughts.
This is the seventh season since he won the second of his two world titles with Renault. No driver has had longer than that between two world championship victories. In fact, in the entire 63-year history of F1, only Niki Lauda has a gap as big, between 1977 and 1984 - and that included two years in 'retirement'.
An ex-F1 driver I know believes he can see the beginnings of decline in Alonso.
"Of course he is still phenomenal," this driver says. "But there are just the odd signs, little things here and there, perhaps a slight dimming of commitment, stuff like that."
The conversation took place some time before Monaco, but was the cautious Alonso in that race, who was mugged by McLaren's Jenson Button and Force India's Adrian Sutil, evidence that the ex-driver might have a point?
Alonso's F1 season finishes
2012: 2nd (Ferrari)
2011: 4th (Ferrari)
2010: 2nd (Ferrari)
2009: 9th (Renault)
2008: 5th (Renault)
2007: 3rd (McLaren)
2006: 1st (Renault)
2005: 1st (Renault)
2004: 4th (Renault)
2003: 6th (Renault)
2001: 23rd (Minardi)
To be fair, Alonso was driving a Ferrari whose performance had been affected by a piece of another car trapped under his floor, and he had one eye on the championship while racing other drivers for whom that was not a concern. And fellow title contender Kimi Raikkonen's failure to apply similar caution when he tangled with McLaren's Sergio Perez cost him more points than Alonso lost from slipping back a couple of places.
Nevertheless, Alonso looked a different driver in Monaco from the one who produced the perfectly judged, crushing win in China, or the spectacular pass of Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton in one go around the outside of Barcelona's daunting Turn Three on the first lap of another in Spain.
Alonso - who at 32 next month should be at his peak, and has arguably been the sport's best driver since mid-way through 2010 - will hope Canada marks an immediate return to competitiveness and points-scoring, on a track where he has been strong in recent years.
Just as importantly, for the sake of his title challenge, he needs to start beating Vettel again, and consistently.
There is no doubt he and Ferrari cannot afford too many more bad weekends if that title drought is not to stretch into territory from which, historically speaking at least, there has been no coming back.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/22762678
Fernando Alonso has spent the days since the Monaco Grand Prix doing "hard training" on his bike.
If the Ferrari driver was using his usual physical preparation as a form of catharsis, it would be understandable.
Monaco was an unusually poor race for Alonso and Ferrari and it has left awkward questions hanging over their title campaign heading into this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.
Seventh place around the streets of the principality was a continuation of Alonso's up-and-down season.
“
Of course Alonso is still phenomenal. But there are just the odd signs, little things here and there, perhaps a slight dimming of commitment, stuff like that
”
A former F1 driver on Alonso's recent form
Two wins in China and Spain and a strong second in the season opener in Australia have been interspersed with a retirement in Malaysia and an eighth place in Bahrain caused by a failure of his DRS overtaking aid - and subsequent mix-up between team and driver.
Alonso may have scored only four points over two races in Malaysia and Bahrain, but it was obvious he could easily have finished on the podium in both without his problems.
In Monaco, though, Alonso and Ferrari were flat uncompetitive for the first time this season - and that on a circuit where the Spanish two-time world champion has usually excelled.
Barring accidents, mechanical problems or strategy errors, it was the first race in which Alonso has gone backwards from his starting position since last year's British Grand Prix - and that was only from pole to finish second. And even then it was arguably caused by a team error in tyre strategy, leaving him helpless to fend off Mark Webber's Red Bull on faster tyres in the final stint of the race.
Before Silverstone in July last year, you have to go right back to the 2011 Spanish Grand Prix - more than two years ago - to find a race in which, on pure pace alone, Alonso has finished lower than he started.
The inconsistency of Alonso's season is reflected in the championship standings. Heading to Montreal this weekend, he is 29 points adrift of leader Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull. That's more than a clear race victory, after just six races.
Alonso facts
F1 drivers' titles: 2005, 2006
Without the errors of Malaysia and Bahrain, he would probably be leading by a small margin. Which, in the aftermath of the struggles of Monaco, begs the question of whether Ferrari might have blown this one already.
Little wonder, then, that Alonso has been engaging in a bit of positive affirmation.
Alonso is partial to a bit of Eastern warrior philosophy, and on Sunday night after the Monaco race he wrote on his Twitter account: "The rain only becomes a problem if you do not want to get wet. #Samurai."
The following day he added: "It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop."
Alonso resorted to similar use of Twitter after last year's Japanese Grand Prix, another disastrous race for him, when a crash at the first corner allowed Vettel to close to within four points of the Spaniard. It was one of two incidents it was possible to say cost Alonso the title last year.
Back then, the warrior philosophy failed to come off - but only just. After falling further behind Vettel after the German's wins in the two subsequent races in Korea and India, Alonso actually outscored him over the final three grands prix of the season. And although he lost the title, it was by only four points, when after India the margin had been out to 13.
The irony is that while Ferrari's car is more competitive this year than it was in 2012, they have lost their ability to maximise its potential. Red Bull, by contrast, are not as quick as they were last year - although the car is still out-and-out faster than the Ferrari - but Vettel is so far showing Alonso-like levels of consistency.
That is why the Monaco performance was so concerning for Ferrari. Before that race, they had the reassuring notion that they had the pace to get back in the game. After Monaco, that does not seem so certain.
"We didn't have the pace and we have to understand why," said Ferrari's team boss Stefano Domenicali, "but we are used to reacting very quickly after a difficult weekend."
With the pressure of the 2013 title race mounting, this was not an ideal time for Ferrari to get caught up in a political row, but that is what has happened.
Play media
Formula 1: Monaco Grand Prix highlights
After lodging, with Red Bull, an official protest against Mercedes' 'secret' Pirelli tyre test before Monaco, Ferrari have found themselves embroiled in the scandal too - as a result of their own tyre test between Bahrain and Spain, the existence of which also emerged on race morning in Monaco.
The crucial difference - in Ferrari's eyes - was that they ran their tyre test with a 2011 car, operated by their Corsa Cliente show-car division.
Although the rules are not completely clear, most teams had understood that using a two-year-old car was acceptable. Mercedes used a 2013 race car, which seems to be specifically outlawed, at least by the sporting regulations.
Either way, both teams have been asked for an explanation by governing body the FIA and the controversy is clearly not going away in a hurry.
Ferrari's challenge is not to allow the tyre row to be a distraction to their work at the tracks.
For a driver as single-minded as Alonso that is unlikely to be a problem, but still he will have things preying on his thoughts.
This is the seventh season since he won the second of his two world titles with Renault. No driver has had longer than that between two world championship victories. In fact, in the entire 63-year history of F1, only Niki Lauda has a gap as big, between 1977 and 1984 - and that included two years in 'retirement'.
An ex-F1 driver I know believes he can see the beginnings of decline in Alonso.
"Of course he is still phenomenal," this driver says. "But there are just the odd signs, little things here and there, perhaps a slight dimming of commitment, stuff like that."
The conversation took place some time before Monaco, but was the cautious Alonso in that race, who was mugged by McLaren's Jenson Button and Force India's Adrian Sutil, evidence that the ex-driver might have a point?
Alonso's F1 season finishes
2012: 2nd (Ferrari)
2011: 4th (Ferrari)
2010: 2nd (Ferrari)
2009: 9th (Renault)
2008: 5th (Renault)
2007: 3rd (McLaren)
2006: 1st (Renault)
2005: 1st (Renault)
2004: 4th (Renault)
2003: 6th (Renault)
2001: 23rd (Minardi)
To be fair, Alonso was driving a Ferrari whose performance had been affected by a piece of another car trapped under his floor, and he had one eye on the championship while racing other drivers for whom that was not a concern. And fellow title contender Kimi Raikkonen's failure to apply similar caution when he tangled with McLaren's Sergio Perez cost him more points than Alonso lost from slipping back a couple of places.
Nevertheless, Alonso looked a different driver in Monaco from the one who produced the perfectly judged, crushing win in China, or the spectacular pass of Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton in one go around the outside of Barcelona's daunting Turn Three on the first lap of another in Spain.
Alonso - who at 32 next month should be at his peak, and has arguably been the sport's best driver since mid-way through 2010 - will hope Canada marks an immediate return to competitiveness and points-scoring, on a track where he has been strong in recent years.
Just as importantly, for the sake of his title challenge, he needs to start beating Vettel again, and consistently.
There is no doubt he and Ferrari cannot afford too many more bad weekends if that title drought is not to stretch into territory from which, historically speaking at least, there has been no coming back.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/22762678
05-06-2013, 21:23
Estoy totalmente en desacuerdo con Andrew benson en este articulo, y pienso que una mala carrera no justifica este ataque a Fernando