2011 Indian Grand Prix grid

2011 Indian Grand Prix

Posted on

| Written by

Row 11. Sebastian Vettel 1’24.178
Red Bull
2. Mark Webber 1’24.508
Red Bull
Row 23. Fernando Alonso 1’24.519
Ferrari
4. Jenson Button 1’24.95
McLaren
Row 35. Lewis Hamilton 1’24.474*
McLaren
6. Felipe Massa 1’25.122
Ferrari
Row 47. Nico Rosberg 1’25.451
Mercedes
8. Adrian Sutil
Force India
Row 59. Sebastien Buemi
Toro Rosso
10. Jaime Alguersuari
Toro Rosso
Row 611. Michael Schumacher 1’26.337
Mercedes
12. Paul di Resta 1’26.503
Force India
Row 713. Pastor Maldonado 1’26.537
Williams
14. Bruno Senna 1’26.651
Renault
Row 815. Rubens Barrichello 1’27.247
Williams
16. Vitaly Petrov 1’26.319**
Renault
Row 917. Kamui Kobayashi 1’27.876
Sauber
18. Heikki Kovalainen 1’28.565
Lotus
Row 1019. Jarno Trulli 1’28.752
Lotus
20. Sergio Perez 1’27.562*
Sauber
Row 1121. Jerome D’Ambrosio 1’30.866
Virgin
22. Timo Glock 1’34.046***
Virgin
Row 1223. Daniel Ricciardo 1’30.216****
HRT
24. Narain Karthikeyan 1’30.238*****
HRT

*Three-place penalty (speeding under double-waved yellow flags)
**Five-place penalty (caused an avoidable accident in the Korean Grand Prix)
***Outside 107% time, given dispensation from the stewards to start
****Five-place penalty (gearbox change)
*****Five-place penalty (impeding another driver in qualifying)

2011 Indian Grand Prix

    Browse all 2011 Indian Grand Prix articles

    Author information

    Keith Collantine
    Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

    Got a potential story, tip or enquiry? Find out more about RaceFans and contact us here.

    43 comments on “2011 Indian Grand Prix grid”

    1. Will Massa get any penalty for the repair work needed for the damage to his front suspension?

      1. I don’t think so. I believe that you’re allowed to change any broken/failed components on a strictly like-for-like basis. Except tyres.

        1. Tyres can be changed if they’re damaged, and the damage is the result of an accident. Robert Kubica did it in Melbourne last year. Although Red Bull damaged their tyres at Spa this year, that was ruled to be a result of the car set-up and the team ignoring Pirelli’s set-up guidelines.

          1. I didn’t realise that because I don’t think Hamilton could change his puncture a few races ago?

            1. I don’t recall Hamilton having a puncture in qualifying. If he did – probably around Belgium or Italy – then the FIA probably decided that the puncture was a result of the car setup being outside Pirelli’s guidlines (which are now mandatory).

          2. Tyres aren’t really an issue for Massa as he didn’t set his fastest lap on them, he did that on his previous run if I remember correctly.

            Hamiliton had a puncture in Q2 in Suzuka.

            1. No, it was Singapore.

      2. Why would he? Teams are allowed to do repair work after qualifying if it is necessary. Otherwise, how else would the driver enter the race? The only way Ferrari will get a penalty will be if they are forced to work through the night to repair the car, having previously used up all their “wildcard” curfew violations, in which case both Ferraris would start from pit lane. However, I believe Ferrari have only used up one or two wildcards, and the damage on Massa’s car can be fixed before the curfew begins.

      3. Thanks for clearing that up. :)

    2. At least he starts on the clean side

    3. The S/F straight is pretty similar to that of Sepang and Shanghai in that the racing line pretty much crosses it.

      At the back of the grid, it’s the even numbered slots which are cleaner, while at the front it’s less of an advantage – a lot of cars sweep through that part between the lines. Generally the even numbered slots are still better there with the pole probably the only expection.

      I expect Webber to do his usual sluggish getaway though, so I bet on a rocket start from Button to catapult himself into the lead. I’d really like it if Alonso could convert his precious 3rd spot to a platform from which he could fight for victory, not just podium, but he is kind of badly placed from his slots’ grip level point of view.

      1. I noticed this as well, it seems that the only properly clean grid slots are about 8th to 14th(ish). These are roughly the only slots that the drivers go over, a few of them have run over the pole slot but not all of them do.. I must admit though, the main driver who ran over the pole slot was Vettel… aha

    4. Surely Button will get penalised

      1. I dont know,I think it would be harsh to penalise JB for that.He was committed before he had any knowledge of the Yellows & Massa Incident,Besides he said he backed off.

        1. all depends on telematry

        2. Absolute nonsense.

          He had tons of time to recognise it and slow down, he could see the smoke from Massa going off 2 corners before he even saw the Yellows.

          I’m ashtonished Button hasnt already been penalised for this after what Hamilton got in Free practice (and he got a green light)

      2. It was a pity for Massa, he would’ve started 4th had Button not improved, but I personally think he slowed down enough.

    5. James Allen enjoying Hamilton’s penalty? Lewes needs to not rise to it.

      1. How is he enjoying the penalty?

      2. I wondered if that comment by Lewis to JA would be picked up on. Another sign that mentally he’s not at all stettled yet – he’s looking for bias against him where there is none. He’s not going to recover his form unless he shakes off that persecution complex and concentrates on the job, imho.

        1. Sorry, settled

        2. What comment is this?

          1. @keithcollantine – During the press conference when JA spoke to Hamilton he said something slong the lines of ‘With your penalty you end up 5th’, to which Hamilton responded with ‘Why do you smile when you say that?’

            1. I think it was actually a bit of a joke, doesn’t he say “i see you smiling when you say that”.

              As in yes me again with a penalty, I think he was just sorta laughing at the situation rather than complaining.

    6. Karthikeyan becomes the lastest driver to get a penalty, given a five-place drop for impeding Schumacher.

      If Timo Glock is allowed onto the grid he will strat in 24th place because he will have been given permission after all grid penalties have been applied.

      1. @Prisoner-Monkeys Find that a little harsh on Karthikeyan to be honest. He certainly did hold Schumacher up but I wouldn’t say he impeded him. Schumacher managed to stick it in a very comfortable 11th. Plus, I can’t imagine it’s too easy to move aside on that corner.

    7. Karthikeyan is now expected to get a five-place penalty for holding up Schumacher. Once this is confirmed along with the timings of his and Ricciardo’s expected penalties, I’ll update the grid accordingly.

      1. I think the HRT team already confirmed they would get on twitter (Glock tweeted he will not be starting last as well).

      2. HRT included information about the penlties in their qualification report @keithcollantine :

        Ricciardo and Karthikeyan received a 5 place penalty each, the first one because of the change to the gearbox and the second for impeding Schumacher in qualifying.

      3. HRT outqualify Virgin, then this happens! :)

    8. The FIA has now confirmed the time of Karthikeyan’s penalty plus that Glock will start the race. The grid has been updated accordingly.

      Still waiting for a official confirmation and time of Ricciardo’s penalty, without which it can’t be determined where he’ll start. If his penalty was given after Karthikeyan’s, he will move to 23rd behind his team mate.

      1. I don’t think Karthikeyan’s penalty is fair, yes he held up Schumacher, but Schumacher made it to Q2 anyway, so Karthikeyan’s block had no effect in the end.

        Last year in South Korea, Schumacher held up Barrichello in Q2, Barrichello then failed to get through. But the stewards decided that because Barrichello didn’t improve in sector one, he wouldn’t have got through anyway, so Schumacher avoided a penalty. So by this reasoning, because Karthikeyan’s block had no effect on Schumacher in the end, Karthikeyan does not deserve a penalty.

        1. Barrichello did get through to Q3 that time.

          1. Well I either got the drivers wrong, the track wrong, or I just dreamt about it.

    9. OK the FIA has now confirmed the grid. Ricciardo must’ve had his penalty before Karthikeyan as he starts in front of him.

      1. Makes sense as it became clear before Q1 that HRT had changed the gearbox on Ricciardo’s car and that’s when they officially get the penalty, when breaking that seal, isn’t it?

    10. Alonso has a good opportunity to put Vettel under pressure in the first laps but he needs to overtake Webber, which usually is quite easy due to his poor stars.

      Michael has a good chance of overtaking both Toro Rossos, something he reallly needs because his performance today has been poor.

      I suppose that the difference betwen the clean and the dirty parts of the track must be enormous taking a look to the tremendous amount of dust. Isnt it?

    11. 30 % of the top ten made no attempt to qualify in Q3. This needs to be addressed. Sure they earned the position based results from Q1 and Q2 but to not even try, reflects something is wrong in F1. My guess is that it pertains to the tire situation and again not having enough of them for race day. I accept that this could happen once in a while but now this appears to becoming a regular event. The idea of “I did good enough, I’m not even gonna try to” makes me boil. Formula One prides itself in the type of show they present and this nonsense isn’t acceptable.

      With so many qualifying positions affected by so many rule infractions at this particular race I suggest that adopting a new rule that if a team that makes it into Q3 but decides to make no further attempt qualify and isn’t compromised by mechanical issues shoulld forfit it place to the next highest qualified team below it.

      If Sutil, Buemi and Alguersuari sat out Q3 because of Pirelli and F1 rules then we the fans have a right to cry foul.

      Three things need to happen…(1)Change the tire allocation rule and (2)change what the construction of the Pirelli tire compounds and (3)introduce a rule that penalizes teams who won’t attempt to qualify. If F1 won’t do (1) and can’t do (2) then they should get number (3).

      1. I’m surprised more people haven’t complained about that to be honest. One thing’s for sure, they shouldn’t be changing the compound of the tyres, that’s not how to deal with the issue (if you believe there is one).

        Personally, I don’t have a problem with the teams neglecting to set a Q3 time. You only get the points on Sunday and they do right to exploit that rule. It’s not like F1 isn’t full of exploitation of rules and regulations anyway!

        That said, I do think Pirelli, FOTA and the FIA should get their heads together and discuss how the tyre rules pre-dating the Pirelli’s might not suit the way qualifying and the races are conducted these days.

        Basically, i’m saying that I don’t blame the teams for not setting a Q3 time, but it should be looked into for next season.

        It’s all part of the strategy.

        1. Your absoluetly right that the purpose of Formula One is the race on Sunday. The results of what happens on Sunday is why teams race and qualifying is just a prelude to to the race.

          The problem for me is that over the years we have come to expect that on Saturday the team with the complete package has their moment in the sun and to be fastest is the test to be the best. This has always been an important part of the weekend. Sure there aren’t any points to collect for being fastest but to do so becomes a point of admiration, the team or driver to beat, to become the best of the best. There are many factors which are starting to erode the status of becoming the fastest.

          This acceptance of a team who won’t even attempt to have a go in Q3 isn’t good for the sport. Sponsors pay big bucks to get their names on gthe sides of the cars, teams have budgets that are beyond what most of can imagine, drivers earn millions of dollars being able to race the best cars in the world.

          We the fans who live , eat, and breath Formula One somehow get short changed when we pay the high price for a ticket and don’t get to see our heros race due to rules that are both good and bad when considering what is happening with Pirelli tires.

      2. it is true that its an odd and uneasy moment for everybody i think, teams and fans, when the cameras and tv feeds focus on the garages and cars that have not set a time yet and its like “not much is happening”…i agree something is not quite right.
        but in the other hand i think people are happy about the new tyres and how they degrade. it certainly has made races a little more exciting and tricky(unlike the drs nonsense if you ask me).
        so its not an easy thing to fix. more sets of tyres isnt a good idea i think. perhaps the Q1 Q2 Q3 structure should be revised…

    12. The whole Indian GP thing seems like a complete waste of time & money, not to mention crass! most of the nation can’t afford to watch even if they even cared – which they clearly don’t…. Hope this is one of the races the BBC can’t be bothered to pay for next year.

      1. On the contrary
        30th October 2011, 1:09

        UncleBob, like it or not Star Sports have been broadcasting F1 in India since 90s and as per latest figure there are around 25-27 million Indians watch F1 races every racing Sunday…..

    Comments are closed.