Classified advertising: 0208 267 5355

motorsport-news.co.uk MAY 23 2012 3

HEADLINE NEWS

extra spice to thrilling F1 season

IS GREAT FOR F1 ACTION

Photos: LAT

3: RACE 3: RACE

4: RACE 4: RACE

5: RACE 5: RACE

Hembery backed unpredictable F1

leading the way in the points and that goes to show what it is all about. It is not completely random. It is not like Arrows leading a grand prix, for example – although, of course, it did have a good driver at the time…

“I can understand it is difficult but the drivers’ job with the engineers is to work out how the car works best as much as it is to just drive a car.”

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner says the teams are struggling to understand the characteristics of the rubber, but banking early points while everyone tries to get over the problems created by the softer compounds would be the key to the title.

“These tyres are obviously the key to performance,” he said. “I think there is a great deal of head-scratching going on up and down the paddock, and whoever understands these tyre characteristics andmanages to broaden the window of performance from track to track will ultimately prevail. I think where we have done a good job is that on the days where we have not been able to win, we have managed to stage a respectable recovery. Consistency over the year is ultimately going to be critical.”

HOW MIXED UP IS F1 2012?

* AFTER FIVE OF 20 ROUNDS

Just a quarter of the way through the 2012 season, and F1 has already featured more drivers and teams on the podium than in the whole of last year

8

7

INNERS

NUMBER OF RACE W

6

5

4

3

2

1

7

RACE WINNERS

6

5

5

5 *

0

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012*

YEAR

NUMBER OF DRIVERS

15 14 13 12 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

14

13

DRIVERS ON PODIUM

8

9 *

7

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012*

YEAR

6

NUMBER OF MANUFAC TURERS

5

4

3

2

1

CONSTRUCTOR RACEWINNERS

5 *

4

3

3

3

0

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012*

YEAR

8

NUMBER OF MANUFAC TURERS

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

CONSTRUCTORS ON PODIUM

7 *

6

5

5

4

0

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012*

YEAR

Schumacher’s Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg, whowonhis first grand prix in China last month, said that he was a fan of the tougher tyres. “I find it a big challenge for us drivers and an interesting challenge. It’s different but very interesting.

“This tyre management, getting the most out of it, understanding when to push, when to take it easy is so on a knife edge that it’s good and it’s great for racing. It’s mixed everything up, lots of overtaking, lots of things happening, fantastic for everybody.”

Pirelli happy with 2012 Despite attacks from drivers, Pirelli says it is pleased with the way the 2012 tyres are performing.

The firm’s motorsport boss Paul Hembery told Motorsport News’ sister publication F1 Racing that he dismissed

Schumacher’s claims and said that the sport was proving a hit with the public.

“If you are involved in motorsport you know that at any race, there is only one happy driver. You understand that drivers say things in frustration because they want to be winning, so you have to be slightly pragmatic,” said Hembery. “But we are only doing what the sport asked us to do – and the vast majority of the public seem to be enjoying it.

“By Silverstone, teams will have worked out how to maximise their package and won’t be talking about the tyres like they are now.”

Some of the drivers are reacting sarcastically to the situation. Ahead of this weekend’s GP in Monaco, reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel said: “Maybe wewill see anHRTor a Marussia on pole in Monaco.” His team-mate MarkWebber added: “I

don’t know if they [the fans] will get sick of seeing so many different winners.” Hill said he agreed that F1 needed to be careful not to go too far in terms of surprising results and he said that too little predictability could damage the credibility of the sport and undermine the winners. Hill explained: “I do understand the concern if nothing seems to make much sense in terms of results. You have got teams with a lot of experience not understanding what is happening. The tendency is to put a question mark over every victory and that is something that you don’t want to do. You want to think that victories are well-earned and perfect, rather than just down to a fluky temperature change in someone’s favour. I understand that might be what people are worried about, but I still prefer it the way it is.”

Pir elli tyr es ha ve spiced up F1

TV TIMES FOR THE MONACO GRAND PRIX PAGE 37