FINALSECTOR KOREAN GP PREVIEW
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Welcome to the Korean Grand Prix preview, In this issue we have loads of great content on the Japanese GP which takes place this weekend in Korea. We have team by team analysis and a review of the Japanese Grand Prix. We have a driver profile on Felipe Massa and the Top 5 new venue Grand Prix’s, We have a review of the new senna movie and a prize giveaway of the film. We have added a team and driver mini info pack, along with the current driver and constructor standings. If you have any views on this mag then be sure to let us know via twitter.com/finalsector or via our facebook.com/finalsector we love hearing from you, Hope you enjoy Matt Bacon
THE EDITORIAL TEAM
THE EDITOR & DESIGNER MATTHEW BACON
GUEST WRITER
CHRISTINA EADES
WRITER / PROMO DANIEL J MORSE
GUEST WRITER
BETHANY ANDREWS
LEAD WRITER ROBYN BLAKE
CONTENT EDITOR / WRITER
GUEST WRITER JACK LESLIE
FINALSECTORMAG.COM
GARY MARSHALL
GUEST WRITER HOLLY CRAIG
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DRIVER STANDINGS 1ST PLACE
RED BULL RACING
SEBASTIAN VETTEL
324
3RD PLACE
202
178
210
4TH
RED BULL RACING
MARK WEBBER
194
6TH
FERRARI
FELIPE MASSA
90
MERCEDES GP
NICO ROSBERG
63
9TH
JENSON BUTTON
MCLAREN
LEWIS HAMILTON
7TH
MCLAREN
FERRARI
FERNANDO ALONSO
5TH
2ND PLACE
8TH
MERCEDES GP
M. SCHUMACHER
60
LOTUS RENAULT
VITALY PETROV
36
10TH
NO CONTRACT
NICK HEIDFELD
34
11TH
FORCE INDIA
ADRIAN SUTIL
28
13TH
FORCE INDIA
PAUL DI RESTA
20
15TH
SAUBER
SERGIO PEREZ
13
17TH
WILLIAMS
RUBENS BARRICHELLO
4
19TH
WILLIAMS
PASTOR MALDONADO
1
21ST
TEAM LOTUS
JARNO TRULLI
0
HRT F1
23RD
VITANTONIO LIUZZI
0
25TH
VIRGIN RACING
TIMO GLOCK 27TH
0 HRT F1
DANIEL RICCIARDO
0
12TH
SAUBER
KAMUI KOBAYASHI
27
14TH
TORO ROSSO
JAIME ALGUERSUARI
16
16TH
TORO ROSSO
SEBASTIEN BUEMI
13
18TH
LOTUS RENAULT
BRUNO SENNA 20TH
2 N/A
PEDRO DE LA ROSA
0
22ND
TEAM LOTUS
HEIKKI KOVALAINEN
0
24TH
VIRGIN RACING
JEROME D’AMBROSIO
0
26TH
HRT F1
NAHRAIN KARTHIKEYAN
0
28TH
TEAM LOTUS
KARUN CHANDHOK
0
CONSTRUCTORS STANDINGS 1ST PLACE
2ND PLACE
3RD PLACE
4TH PLACE
RED BULL MCLAREN 518 388 FERRARI 292
5TH PLACE
RENAULT 72
MERCEDES
123
6TH PLACE
FORCE INDIA
48
7TH PLACE
SAUBER 40
9TH PLACE
WILLIAMS 5
11TH PLACE
8TH PLACE
TORO ROSSO
29
10TH PLACE
TEAM LOTUS
0
12TH PLACE
HRT F1 TEAM
0
VIRGIN RACING
0
TEAM BY TEAM
UPDATES BY ROBYN BLAKE
FERRARI FORCE INDIA HRT F1 TEAM LOTUS RENAULT MCLAREN MERCEDES GP RED BULL SAUBER TEAM LOTUS TORO ROSSO VIRGIN RACING WILLIAMS F1 © MCLAREN.COM
FERRARI
Finding pace that put them alongside McLaren and ahead of Red Bull in Japan has lifted the possibility of a strong finish to their sometimes troubled 2011 campaign. Alonso is their only hope for taking the second place to save face as they have not done enough to stay in contention for the constructors, and by revealing they are to be testing 2012 components in the remaining races he'll have his work cut out..
FORCE INDIA
Di Resta may not have had the easiest of weekends in Japan as he battled a cold and a tricky final stint, but he goes to Korea having to take everything out of the practice sessions. Sutil was one of the many to finish early at this track last year, and where di Resta believe the tyre choices will help them, the German pinpoints the track itself as giving them a good result.
HRT F1 TEAM
Acknowledging the characteristics of the circuit does not suit their car, the long straight and slow corners, the team are still determined to get the most out of Korea. Ricciardo is embarking on another new circuit and will be intent on continuing his improving form. Liuzzi on the other hand will be putting Japan behind him, but not before handing his car over to Karthikeyan on Friday morning.
LOTUS RENAULT
Both Petrov (accident) and Senna (+ 2 laps) failed to finish in Korea last year, and so with the determination to finish 2011 in a strong position they are hoping their general set up can be exploited. Allison sees the innate strength of their exhaust package being a bonus with the smooth surface of the circuit aiding them. Renault's technical director also envisions DRS being of more use and thus has contributed to their wing angle considerations.
MCLAREN
Despite a strong performance throughout practice in Japan, Red Bull were the favourites, so a commanding win from Button last weekend has given the team a huge boost as they enter the last remaining races. Where Button is aiming for a repeat performance, Hamilton is searching for a return to the excellent form we all know he is capable of. And a cause for further celebration is the Korean GP will be McLaren's 700th race.
MERCEDES GP
Both drivers are looking forward to the challenge, but with different aims in mind. Schumacher is aiming to continue his form from Japan and go one better than his P4 result from last year. Rosberg however is hoping to make it to the chequered flag for the first time, and avoid a repeat of last year with Webber. Brawn is focusing on getting the best out of the current technical package..
RED BULL
With one title wrapped up in muted fashion last weekend, Vettel has had little time to enjoy his second championship. However there is still the constructor's title to fight for, and with their closest rivals McLaren gathering steam it's all to play for. Where Vettel has little to worry about, Webber will arrive in Korea determined to exorcise his demons from last year..
SAUBER
Force India have their sights set on catching Renault, and now Sauber are focusing on bridging the 8 point gap to the Indian team. To do that they are are bringing a small development to add to the aerodynamic package they introduced in Japan, which should further their cause in the midfield battle..
TEAM LOTUS
Trulli, like other drivers, will be aiming to meet the chequered flag this weekend having ducked out early with a hydraulic issue. The team also travel to Korea with the knowledge they finished on the lead lap in Japan, so look set to consolidate their position as the best of the new 2010 teams for the second season. Despite the lack of dry running last year the team have been making preparations to cover the unknown with simulations.
TORO ROSSO
Alguersuari just finished outside the points last year where his team mate Buemi left the race early, so with their contracts still up in the air there is still an intense fight to prove their worth for a 2012 seat. And with a loose wheel after a pit stop in Suzuka, the team also have something to prove to their drivers.
VIRGIN RACING
Booth is right in that the championship has been decided, however Virgin has reason to feel proud as their Canadian test driver Robert Wickens won the WSR FR 3.5 title last weekend. Glock was another to fall foul of the treacherous conditions last year, and with d'Ambrosio venturing out for the first time he's hoping to build on the momentum he's found in the last few races.
WILLIAMS The difficulties of Suzuka are barely behind them as they touch down in Korea, and again Maldonado will be on a steep learning curve to learn a new circuit. But to push past the disappointment last week the team have reacted quickly according to Gillan, the new chief operations engineer, as well as preparing themselves for the uncertain conditions.
TEAMS AND DRIVERS RED BULL MCLAREN FERRARI MERCEDES RENAULT GP WILLIAMS FORCE INDIA SAUBER TORO ROSSO TEAM LOTUS HRT F1 VIRGIN RACING
Schumacher retired at the end of 2006 which secured Massa’s seat. Kimi Raikkonen moved from McLaren to Ferrari and created yet another perfect partnership. Like that of the previous year, Felipe’s start to the season was not great. The reliability issues from the first two races vanished with three wins and seven more podium positions. Yielding the position to Raikkonen in the final race ensured that his team-mate completed the season world champion. Massa almost became a world champion in 2008 but it was not meant to be when the championship slipped through his fingers in the final lap when Lewis Hamilton gained that vital fifth place to walk away world champion. But he finished second overall and is his best championship finish to date. Six wins, two second places and two third places put Massa on the “who to watch list”. After three successful years, 2009 went from bad to extremely awful. Two retirements and only one third place finish lost Massa some confidence in the car he was driving and struggled to find the pace. Then came the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend. During qualifying, Felipe suffered a fatal head injury from a suspension spring that came from Rubens Barrichello’s Brawn. But the Brazilian fought hard and the life-threatening injury turned into a fast recovery. Felipe returned the following season but many were concerned it was too soon. Not just in terms of recovery but also the confidence to drive an F1 car in race conditions again. He still graced the podium five times, retired once and was only out of the points four times. Discounting 2009, Massa finished the season in sixth, his worst championship standing since starting with Ferrari. Then we come to the current season. Massa is having his worst season with the Italian team not making the podium once and playing number two driver to Fernando Alonso who is outperforming him majorly. The lacklustre performances have jeopardised his future with the team. For someone with so much potential and growing experience, it would be a shame to lose one of the most humble drivers to ever make Formula One.
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TOP 5
NEW VENUE GP’S WORDS: JACK LESLIE IMAGE: GETTY IMAGES
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The Chinese Grand Prix debuted in the 2004 season, and was one of the only races not to be dominated by Michael Schumacher. After spinning in Qualifying, leading to him starting 20th, and a race which saw a puncture, loss of a nose cone and a spin, he could only recover to 12th. It was left to team mate Rubens Barrichello to win, but not by much. The top 3 were separated by the end of the 56 lap race by just 1.5 seconds, with ever improving Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen taking the remaining podium positions. Next came Alonso some 30 seconds back, with Montoya 5th and Sato 6th after an impressive drive from 18th on the grid. The Saubers's of Fisichella and Massa rounded out the points. David Coulthard finished 9th, contracting to his team mates strong 3rd, after a collision with Ralf Schumacher. This caused the later to retire, and he was furious.
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Jenson Button took his 3rd win out of 4 at the 2009 Bahrain Grand Prix from 4th on the grid. He had to get by Lewis Hamilton, Timo Glock and Jarno Trulli and outraced them like a true pro. After some stunning laps, he emerged from his stop in 1st place but had already passed Hamilton at the first corner, despite the KERS power of the Mclaren. It was a perfectly executed move and he soon put in the laps, as the two Toyota's pitted. With Vettel getting past Hamilton, he then came to the back of the Toyota's and could not pass them until the 2nd stops. Both Toyota's faded at the end with Glock finishing 7th, after a long, dramatic battle with Raikkonen, and Trulli finishing 3rd ahead of Hamilton, and Barrichello; who had a quiet race. Raikkonen finished 6th giving Ferrari their first points of the season.
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The inaugural Turkish Grand Prix saw Kimi Raikkonen dominate the weekend, with a start to finish win. It also saw Montoya in the Mclaren lose his 2nd place with just 2 laps left, to Alonso, after the Colombian being hit by Tiago Monteiro's Jordan while being lapped. Fisichella finished 4th after briefly leading on lap 1, and he finished just ahead of a fired up Jenson Button who qualified down in 13th due to running wide at the courageous turn 8. He leaped up to 3rd by the second pit stops, after overtaking half of the field. Then finished Trulli, clear of the Red Bulls of Coulthard and Klien. Takuma Sato started 20th and recovered to 9th after being penalised for blocking Webber in qualifying. Michael Schumacher retired after a crash with Webber. After the race, drivers such as Barrichello and Button praised the circuit, calling it "challenging" and "interesting" while also giving the fans an up to date experience.
i ighg ' ' %' 1 The Korean Grand Prix, held at the Yeongam circuit was the first in the history of the sport, but before the event had even started there were problems. Construction of the circuit was delayed numerous times, and the event was in jeopardy but the FIA's Charlie Whiting deemed it ok. The Practice and Qualifying sessions were held on an extremely dirty track, but the race began in torrential rain; not helping the track after a botched construction to get the event going. The race began behind the Safety Car, but it was red flagged on lap 3. After a 40 minute wait the race restarted and the Safety Car came in on lap 17. Rosberg overtook Hamilton after a sleepy restart, but would be thankful after due to an incident involving Webber and Rosberg. It occurred on lap 18, when Webber spun at turn 12, he hit the wall and came across the track; collecting Rosberg. Other incidents were Buemi colliding with Glock, and Vitaly Petrov spun his car at the last turn, destroying his Renault. Vettel retired from the lead leaving Alonso to win ahead of Hamilton, while Button fell down to 12th.
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The 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be remembered for a title race which went down to the wire. With Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber all within contention to take the crown. With it being the last of 19 rounds, it was all to race for. Vettel ended up winning the race, and the title due to Alonso and Webber finishing down in 7th and 8th. Hamilton was the one with the least likely chance, but finished a strong 2nd ahead of team mate Button. The race saw a potentially dangerous crash on the first lap, after Rosberg turned his team mate round; before being collected by Liuzzi's Force India. Vettel became the youngest championchampion ship winner in history, and was left speechless after a faultless weekend.
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