F1 Fanatic

Out in Q1
The rain returned for Qualifying, making it difficult for drivers to set times amidst the traffic. In a closely fought session, Nic Morley fell out in the first round, unable to match his team mate’s fierce wet pace. The surprise was in fact Oli Peacock, who was able to once again pull his way into Q2, giving the team a much needed morale boost.

18. Haddleton (Force India)
19. Morley (Williams)
20. Frog (Marussia)
21. Sunderland (Caterham)
22. d’Hazorme (Caterham)
23. Kirkham (HRT)
24. Hofman (HRT)

Qualifying Results
Johnny Kingshark stole the show in the third and final qualifying session, taking pole position early on in the session, and then improving on it later on. Jamie Franklin was close behind, though he couldn’t quite match the Red Bull.
Alfie Widger and Will Ingram were incredibly close, as they lined up together on row 2, mere thousandths from each other. The Mercedes of Butler proved that the car had better qualifying pace than in previous races, whilst Downton and Graham finished in 6th and 7th, neither able to match their respective team mate’s.
Kaz Armos surprised by finishing the session in 8th, after Force India had claimed that they weren’t even expecting to be able to get into Q3, and saying that they wouldn’t be surprised if they had lost out in Q1, as Haddleton had done.

1. Kingshark (Red Bull)
2. Franklin (Lotus)
3. Widger (McLaren)
4. Ingram (McLaren)
5. Butler (Mercedes)
6. Downton (Lotus)
7. Graham (Red Bull)
8. Armos (Force India)
9. Bomeny (Ferrari)
10. Robson (Mercedes)

Will this be Alfie’s second win, finally?

Race Update 2
1. Kingshark (Red Bull)
2. Franklin (Lotus)
3. Butler (Mercedes)
4. Downton (Lotus)
5. Graham (Red Bull)
6. Armos (Force India)
7. Bomeny (Ferrari)
8. Mathershaw (Ferrari)
9. Chan (Sauber)
10. Cucamest (Toro Rosso)
11. Varga (Sauber)
12. Peacock (Marussia)
13. Needham (Toro Rosso)
14. Haddleton (Force India)
15. Morley (Williams)
16. Sunderland (Caterham)
17. d’Hazorme (Caterham)
18. Frog (Marussia)
19. Kirkham (HRT)
20. Hofman (HRT)
Ret. Widger (McLaren)
Ret. Robson (Mercedes)
Ret. Coolidge (Williams)

Despite slipping behind the Lotus of Franklin, and the Red Bull of Kingshark, the McLaren suffered yet another retirement, the same as had effected team mate, Ingram. Mercedes later followed, with Robson retiring too. Perhaps a fault of the Merc engine?
Kingshark was able to re-pass Franklin to take the lead of the race, with Butler and Downton very close behind. Anyone could win this race at this point, it’s looking so close at the halfway point.

I’m leading!

Let’s not get my hopes to high, as when I do, I usually end up retiring on the next update. :p

@carnivorouspope – let’s upgrade dry pace.

Race Update 3
1. Downton (Lotus)
2. Butler (Mercedes)
3. Franklin (Lotus)
4. Kingshark (Red Bull)
5. Bomeny (Ferrari)
6. Graham (Red Bull)
7. Chan (Sauber)
8. Varga (Sauber)
9. Armos (Force India)
10. Mathershaw (Ferrari)
11. Peacock (Marussia)
12. Morley (Williams)
13. Haddleton (Force India)
14. Needham (Toro Rosso)
15. Cucamest (Toro Rosso)
16. Sunderland (Caterham)
17. d’Hazorme (Caterham)
18. Kirkham (HRT)
19. Hofman (HRT)
20. Frog (Marussia)

Lots to talk about in the third quarter, as Downton charges forward, with Butler, taking the top 2 spots, as Franklin passes Kingshark once again. Bomeny in the Ferrari finds more pace and chases through into 5th place. Kaz Armos falls from his coveted 6th place, down to 9th, whilst Oli Peacock continues with some great race pace, now up into 11th place. Could we see Downton become our 12th winner? And can Marussia score their first points?

That’s my 7th retirement now..HRT have better reliability!