Korean Grand Prix (Preview): Sebestian Vettel Holds the Edge

Saturday, 23 October 2010 13:37

Written by Long John Silver

And then there was South Korea, the latest addition to the global F-1 deployment brainchild of Bernie Ecclestone. This week Ecclestone shared a glass of champagne with President Putin during the approval of the first Russian grand prix in Sochi from 2014.
There are few more things more satisfying than a briskly cold, yet sunny Saturday evening with a perfect qualifying session to watch. Well, perfect for some more than others. About 370km outside Seoul, the counter-clockwise track in Yeongam is located in the sub-urban south western Korean peninsula.

Sebestian Vettel It was a tale of two different sets of strengths between Red Bull and Ferrari on Saturday. Red Bull finds the swooping fast corners to its liking, and the Ferrari like the straights (predominantly because of its engine horsepower).

It literally translates to Ferrari gaining significantly in sector one, which is more important than one might think in terms of the race start tomorrow. The Red Bull loses in sector 1, but quite meticulously picks up lost time in sector two, and more so in sector three. The race will be decided on how successfully and how consistently the Red Bull picks up lost time sector three, for the entirety of the race.

Webber had a two lap run in his final stint: meaning he had marginally more fuel in his car on his first timed lap than when compared to someone with a one lap run. It is marginal, yet existent, did that make a difference is his pace? It probably did not. There are few drivers around the world who are as ruthless as Sebestian Vettel in the one lap qualifying format. Furiously fast and one begins to wonder if he might be closer to Webber than Alonso, barring those impetuous decisions in Istanbul Park (with Webber) and in Spa Francorchamps (with Button). I guess with a young Vettel, you get the furiously fast racing driver along with the intermittent crash worthy decisions – at least at this point of time.

Since it a brand new track, with less rubber on the non-racing line, starting at even numbered positions offers a significant disadvantage in terms of grip. Hence Webber might almost secretly be wishing he starts at three, rather than two. Alonso does not take any prisoners in his start, but he does not have the option of squeezing the car following him into the wall (Monza), but he is a thoroughbred professional and as serene as one can be inside the cockpit, and he isn’t going anywhere. Red Bull should have won in Singapore but Alonso stole it right in front of their nose. He does not beat himself.

For all practical purposes, it’s a two horse race now, McLaren are making all the right noises, but they know they are just outside the Rockefeller skating ring at this point. Ferrari will expect a stronger showing from Massa to take valuable points away from Red Bull, but that seems unlikely to happen. He needs to catch Alonso first, to be able to catch those in front of him: No and No.

Ever come out of an interview or come out of a crucial bar exam? You come out and you know you are walking towards the nearest café, getting everything in order in your bag and crossing the street carefully, its all on auto-pilot but one can clearly see the engines inside your brain working overtime, wondering how it all went. Webber and Alonso looked exactly the same as they stepped into the weighing machine and while looking at the cameras. You can see they were very calm, but already strategizing on how to get the maximum out of the Sunday, given their current position.

Given the fact Ferrari is faster in sector one, the starting one minute of the race tomorrow can potentially set up the rest of the race, if Alonso can jump one of the Red Bull’s at the start, Webber’s season is only going to get longer, and longer. If however, let off the hook in the first minute of the race, it’s hard to bet against Vettel closing down within seven points to his team mate in the championship race. Alonso will pick up the pieces to live to fight another day, in Brasil and Abu Dhabi.