Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Sunday, 25th of March 2012

Weather: Rainy – Air 26ºC, Track 28ºC
Race: 56 laps
Track distance: 5.543 km

Pedro de la RosaF112-02 #2221st
Narain KarthikeyanF112-01 #2322nd

Mission accomplished for HRT Formula 1 Team today as Pedro de la Rosa and Narain Karthikeyan crossed the finish line in the 56-lap race that took place at the Sepang International Circuit. It was an eventful race from the beginning with De la Rosa’s car having to start from the pit lane, but a correct tyre strategy gave its rewards when it started raining heavily and the HRT’s were two of a few cars who were running on extreme wet tyres. The event came to a halt only 9 laps in with Karthikeyan and De la Rosa in 10th and 17th place respectively .The cars were on the grid for almost an hour before the restart and Pedro was penalized with a drive-through penalty but, despite all of this, both drivers put in a fantastic shift at the wheel of the F112 that needs as much running time as possible to be at the level it should be. The team also did a good job with the strategy and the mechanics completed their first pit stops.

Overall it was a satisfying result for the team who now has two weeks ahead to prepare for the Chinese Grand Prix in better conditions.

Pedro de la Rosa: “I must say I really enjoyed myself in that race. It really was the best race to make my debut with HRT. I don’t think anyone could imagine we would finish after starting from the pit lane due to an issue with the fuel pressure that we were dragging over from yesterday, I was penalized with a drive-through penalty, we completed our first real pitstop… to sum up, a lot of things happened but, in the end, the car held out really well given where we were at the beginning. We have to improve many things but this was a perfect test. My teammate also finished so that’s doubly satisfying. I’m very happy for the team, we accomplished our objective. Now we have to go a little bit further”.

Narain Karthikeyan: “It was a very interesting race in really wet conditions. We were running in 10th at one point, which I think is the best position we’ve ever been in but unfortunately the rain stopped and the track dried out and it was impossible to keep ahead of the rest. I made a mistake, locking up the front, and went off on turn 9 but apart from that it all went pretty well. We finished the race, did some mileage and made up two positions from 23rd so that’s something to smile about. Everyone did a great job and we’re all really happy with the result, now we have to go on from here and try to progress in China”.

Luis Pérez-Sala, Team Principal: “Yesterday after qualifying we were satisfied and today, thankfully, we are again. We met another target which was to finish the race with both cars. There are aspects that need improving, without a doubt, such as reliability and the speed of the car, but by completing the race we have accumulated a lot of data which will be of great use to continue progressing. We also need to improve pit stops and team coordination but it was the first time they did it and from the first stop to the second you could already tell the difference. Today I want to highlight the work everyone did and thank them for their effort these past weeks and today’s result is a small reward for that enormous amount of work that is taking place”.

A deal to see Barcelona and Valencia alternate a single annual Spanish grand prix is not quite across the finish line.
F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone announced last week that a deal has been struck in principle between the sport’s two current Spanish hosts.

But Vicenc Aguilera, the Circuit de Catalunya president, told Mundo Deportivo newspaper: “We (Barcelona and Valencia) have two completely different business models, making the negotiations quite complex.

“We need to find the balance between the interests of Mr Ecclestone, Valencia and ourselves,” he added.

He said that in the absence of a deal, Barcelona has the annual Spanish grand prix hosting rights through 2016.

But he acknowledged that alternating would be a “good solution” for all parties, “so I hope that in a couple of months we can make an announcement”.

Rubens Barrichello will test for KV Racing again next week as he closes in on an IndyCar seat with the squad.

The 39-year-old Brazilian, who lost his Williams F1 seat to Bruno Senna for the coming season after a grand prix career that spanned a record 322 races, is scheduled to spend two days with the team at Sears Point on February 25-26.

This follows the three days of testing that he completed at Sebring earlier this month.

KV Racing co-owner Jimmy Vasser said that a race deal for the Brazilian is close to being signed off.

“It’s no secret all parties are working incredibly hard to make this thing come together,” KV Racing General Manager Mark Johnson told SPEED.com. “Rubens is working hard in Brazil and we’re working hard in the States. We get closer on a daily basis. We talk to Rubens three to five times a day to push this thing forward and we all believe this is going to happen.”

Johnson, along with KV Racing’s ownership, spent Monday at IndyCar’s State of the Series meetings and came away with more positive momentum in their quest to hire the 39-year-old Brazilian.

“It was good today,” Johnson continued. “We had everybody in the same place at the same time, excluding Rubens, and I think we’re just a whisker away from making it happen. It’s not there yet; we can see the finish line and now we just need a few final things to take place.”

Unlike the other races so far in 2011, Monaco will not be an overtaking-fest, according to Ross Brawn.

The combination of the new ‘DRS’ rear wing system and Pirelli’s high-degrading tyres has caused an abundance of passing this year, even in Barcelona last weekend, the scene of usually processional grands prix.

But Monte Carlo will be a track too far for F1′s new formula, Brawn suspects.

“The finish line straight is too short,” said the Briton, alluding to the 380 metre ‘DRS’ zone that can be used by chasing drivers in the race.

“With our strategic planning we do not think overtaking will be much easier than before,” Brawn told Auto Motor und Sport.

“Even a driver two or three seconds faster struggles to overtake,” he said.

Brawn therefore thinks qualifying will, as ever, be arguably the most important day in Monaco this weekend.

“Track position is probably the decisive factor,” he agreed. “So grid position will be more important than at any other track.”

There are, however, some unknown factors — including the possibly extreme degradation of Pirelli’s so far unraced super-soft tyres, and the influence on a barrier-lined street circuit of the rubber ‘marbles’ seen so far in 2011.

“I’m not worried at all,” insisted the tyre supplier’s Paul Hembery to Auto Motor und Sport.

Ferrari’s 2011 car will be launched officially in the week proceeding the first group winter test at the end of January.

That was one of the revelations made by Luca di Montezemolo on Tuesday as he met with the Italian press at Fiorano for a traditional pre-Christmas media event.

The Ferrari president said the F10′s successor will be launched on January 25-31 — before the first test of the pre-season at Valencia.

Asked to sum up the season, he told reporters: “We were disappointed, there’s no point denying it.

“But, realistically, it was more bitter in 2008, when Felipe Massa crossed the finish line as world champion.

“From 1997 onwards, except 2005 and 2009, we have either won or lost at the last race. The opponents – Williams, McLaren, Renault, Red Bull – always change, only Ferrari is there,” said Montezemolo.

Asked to give a report card for the 2010 drivers Massa and Fernando Alonso, he answered: “9 and a half to Alonso. He did not win, but (the score is) from the point of view of results, character and relationship with the team.

“Less than a 7 for Felipe Massa. For some reason with have a problem with the brothers of our drivers arriving during the season,” he smiled.

“It happened with Schumacher, Raikkonen and now Massa. I think Felipe got a bit tired mid-season and went home, sending his brother to drive,” joked the Italian.

“He gets a minus-7 but he has promised to come back next year.”

As for Ferrari: “8. You do not get full marks when you don’t win, but it was an exceptional year for commitment and determination,” he said.

On formula one, Montezemolo vowed to “fight for common sense, for races on circuits (not streets) and to have not more than 19 races, preferably 18″, he revealed.

“And to have three cars. Better to have a third car with a competitive team than a team that cannot even do GP2,” the 63-year-old charged.

“I think it’s common sense and Bernie Ecclestone agrees. Who (would run the third Ferrari)? A small but competitive team.”

Montezemolo hailed 2010 as Mark Webber’s “best season with a competitive car”.

But he played down the possibility of shock personnel changes for 2011, hinting only that “some adjustments” to the team will be announced before the new season.

As for the possibility of his near future being in politics, Montezemolo insisted: “The confidence vote (of the Italian parliament)? No comment.

“Let me do my job,” he added when pressed. “I’m so glad we have many, many things to do here at Ferrari.”

Sebastian Vettel cried into his radio under the Abu Dhabi lights on Sunday as he crossed the finish line and became F1′s youngest ever world champion.

The 23-year-old German, now leading the standings for the very first time in his career, had entered the race as the underdog, behind Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber in points and dogged all weekend with suggestions he should move over and let his teammate past.

But Vettel won commandingly from pole position, while a crucial strategy mistake triggered by an early safety car, and an unmoveable Vitaly Petrov in a Renault, left Ferrari’s Alonso stranded in seventh place.

Spaniard Alonso let his emotions spill over as he gesticulated angrily at Russian Petrov after the chequered flag, but he later congratulated the new champion and said Petrov “drove very well” in defence.

Former long-time championship leader Webber, meanwhile, finished the race just eighth and the championship just third, and was emotional in his post-race interviews with the media.

Asked by the BBC if he will be back in 2011, he answered simply: “Yeah.”

The MotoGP race at Phillip Island was closed, in fact, the first corner. Duty correction: it is never started. On the home circuit Casey Stoner wins by an absolute ruler, complete with the “poker” of success on the island of Victoria in the past four years with Ducati (2007-2010) scaring people and wildlife in the archipelago at the confluence of three ocean currents, impressed the pace set by 2007 World Champion. In a few laps his lead has increased dramatically: 1 “5 at the first crossing the finish line, raised in 2″, 2 “3, 2″ 7 3 “1, 3″ 5 out of Jorge Lorenzo, the only sections not deface lap in comparison with the red missile.

When in a “mixed” can give to everyone in 2 seconds Warm Up, there’s really no story. Stoner Thus was the third win of the season (and in 4 games), saluting the best possible experience “Australian” with the Ducati. To see him jump to the last bend is already showing a bit of nostalgia in 2011, when it will try to do the same with the Honda and the Desmosedici will be expertly guided by Valentino Rossi, always on the podium today (3 rd), confirmation of a new-found form physics that can postpone the surgery on the shoulder for the first half of November, Valencia test with Ducati permitting.

With the top two positions largely stabilized, as two distinguished absent Dani Pedrosa (coming in second place just behind Stoner in the championship) and Loris Capirossi, the fight was behind them. Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden gave a good show for the third place: 3 laps from the checkered flag to overtake the Ducatista the last lap the replica of the “Doctor”, without giving any chance to reply by winning the sprint for 38 thousandths of a meager benefit.

Good race Ben Spies, fifth and officially “Rookie of the Year” 2010 by beating his opponent the only hypothetical Marco Simoncelli, sixth in growth as well as the first Honda rider in the race. KO with Pedrosa, Marco Melandri and De Puniet 9 ° 10 ° off the track after the Repsol Honda box lowered their shutters after 3 laps for the withdrawal of Andrea Dovizioso caused by a technical failure to the RC212V. It should not be the best that historically suffers Suzuki at Phillip Island, 12 ° with Alvaro Bautista behind Mika Kallio at his last MotoGP race (at Estoril in two weeks with the # 71 will be Carlos Checa), honoring the commitment before leave behind a season to forget for a sporting point of view and human.

Chronicle of Race

Casey Stoner reaches its final position on the grid, but is the first to take the “Doohan” to Lorenzo comes in contact with Spies thus opening the door to Simoncelli, Dovizioso and Hayden, Melandri is 7 °, 9 ° Rossi . Already on the first lap Stoner earns a “503 on Lorenzo, Simoncelli follows passing Hayden for the third position while Rossi comes in contact with Melandri for the 8th position in the” Southern Loop “: # 27 is behind dell’imprendibile a nice brawl.

The demonstration comes on the third lap with Dovizioso who has a striking problem, starts 13th and staccatissimo from the leading group where Hayden is back in third position with Rossi already in contact with Spies. The Superbike World Championship is a furious charge in the fourth passage leads to the third place, leaving behind his compatriot with Hayden and Rossi Simoncelli wheel, fighting quartet compared to the last valid position for the podium.

Forced to surrender Andrea Dovizioso, stopped by an obvious technical problem with wing’s Honda RC212V after just five laps on the box that HRC can lower their shutters and prepare the material in view of Estoril. Aim for the podium Valentino Rossi and Hayden with a lap passes first contact at the hairpin after the “MG”, shortly after the sacrificial victim is even Ben Spies at the curve “Doohan” with the result of opening the doors to Simoncelli and Hayden that give the show with Edwards in great comeback.

Filed the first third of the race, the situation is well defined: Stoner not see anyone, following Lorenzo 4 “with Rossi and Hayden now tussle for the final podium spot to fifth place instead of Ben Spies and Marco Simoncelli . Meanwhile, Randy De Puniet, the focus of many rumors, is leading a “straight” to “Honda Corner by spreading last contact with Barbera and Aoyama in visible distress. We arrive at the final rush following the double-battle for 3rd and 5th place: behind Stoner and Lorenzo have the better of Rossi Hayden (great last lap overtaking) and Spies on Simoncelli. Followed by Edwards and Melandri Espargaro in ninth place, 14 riders at the finish line, all waiting Estoril points in two weeks.

MotoGP World Championship 2010
Phillip Island Race Standings

01 – Casey Stoner – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 27 laps in 41’09 .128
02 – Jorge Lorenzo – Fiat Yamaha Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 8598 +
03 – Valentino Rossi – Fiat Yamaha Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 17,997 +
04 – Nicky Hayden – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 18,035 +
05 – Ben Spies – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – 22,211 +
06 – Marco Simoncelli – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 22,211 +
07 – Colin Edwards – Tech 3 Yamaha Monster – Yamaha YZR M1 – 35,168 +
08 – Aleix Espargaro – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 46,194 +
09 – Marco Melandri – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 46,294 +
10 – Randy De Puniet – LCR Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – 59,635 +
11 – Mika Kallio – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 59,664 +
12 – Alvaro Bautista – Rizla Suzuki MotoGP – Suzuki GSV-R – 59,732 +
13 – Hiroshi Aoyama – Interwetten Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – 1’05 .029 +
14 – Hector Barbera – Paginas Amarillas Aspar – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – + 1’05 .053

HRT on Tuesday did not reveal the identity of its race drivers for this weekend’s Japanese grand prix.

Sakon Yamamoto, who earlier this year replaced team regular Karun Chandhok, sat out the recent Singapore round with what the struggling Spanish outfit said was food poisoning.

Reserve driver Christian Klien stepped into the cockpit, impressing with his pace despite admitting the Singapore outing was a “one-off”.

The Austrian’s Singapore GP teammate Bruno Senna has also sat out a race this year – July’s British grand prix – amid speculation HRT is selecting its drivers based on their current financial endowments.

The uncertainty about HRT’s Suzuka lineup was triggered on Tuesday, when the team’s traditional pre-event press release did not mention any of the team’s contracted drivers Yamamoto, Klien, Senna or Chandhok.

“The Spanish team is eager to keep on improving and showing another positive performance,” read the statement.

The statement’s only quote was attributed to boss Colin Kolles.

“After our unfortunate race in Singapore, we look ahead and want to bring both cars to the finish line again,” he said.

After the pole position Andrea Dovizioso was expected to challenge for victory at Motegi. In fact, the pilot had to Forli compares with Casey Stoner in form, the fast race pace so as to close with a good lead at the finish line. For the pilot of the HRC is still a good race and a second place is important that the 250th podium of the Repsol Honda team in MotoGP.

“Today I gave 100% all race and my time and Stoner were very consistent and competitive. At first Casey was faster when the tires were not warm and right there I knew it would be difficult to fight with him. I do not know what has been invented, but today was really fast, incredibly, there were two or three points of the track where he had always something more than me.

At the end I almost fall, so I preferred not to risk taking the second position. It ‘was a bit disappointing because I wanted to win and I thought it was possible, but I am happy to be back on the podium in more along Stoner I figured out how to make changes to the electronics to be faster in the last phase of the race.

I still want to thank the team for this achievement is the fruit of their work and the HRC. Get this podium in the home of the Honda is definitely a reason to be happy. “

Heikki Kovalainen made the Grand Prix of Singapore at the end once more exciting and put out his blazing Lotus itself
The air seemed to be already out of the Grand Prix of Singapore, as Heikki Kovalainen in the penultimate round again caused a drama. Because after a light touch with the Toro Rosso of Sebastien Buemi, he was suddenly slow – and in the last sector ignited the back of his Lotus!

Kovalainen not turned off the box, but drove over the finish line. However, he was not here for an additional round for the final result was as suspected at first: “I wanted to with such a car will not go into the pit lane, because that would put many people Instead, I saw a fireman at the start and finish and stayed. there are, “he describes the exciting incident.
Curious: Kovalainen rose calmly from the car that was burning brightly in the rear, and still had the overview, to make themselves rich on the pit wall by a Williams mechanic with a fire extinguisher so that it could even lend a hand! “Something always looks dramatic,” he grins. “The car is a bit damaged, but at least no one was injured. That’s the main thing.”
Given that reasoning, it is unlikely that the race stewards will issue a penalty against him. Usually, it is well known, not allowed to drive on with an obviously badly damaged car – especially not when the pit exit would be located on the road. But Kovalainen reasoning makes sense, because it was so actually less risky.

By the way: through the smoke on the finish line and the yellow flags came Sebastian Vettel in the last round again threatening close to leader Fernando Alonso. Alonso, however, kept a cool head and saved his second victory in Singapore over the distance.

With five races to go, Sebastian Vettel is not giving up on winning the 2010 world championship.

His teammate Mark Webber is 24 points further ahead and narrowly leading the drivers’ standings over Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button.

Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko hinted recently that the team should sit down after Monza to assess its championship chances, amid light pressure from Webber to be appointed number 1.

But Vettel told Bild am Sonntag newspaper: “We are not panicking. We are quietly doing our work.

“I believe in the title — that is the most important thing. It will be very close in the finale, but I’m optimistic,” said the German.

He dismissed the argument that his 24 point deficit to Webber is insurmountable.

“Whether it’s 24, 25 or 30, it doesn’t matter,” said Vettel, 23.

“The new points system worries people more than it should. Now there are 25 points for a win, so under the familiar (old) system, I’d only be 8 or 9 points behind.

“Then it would seem much less dramatic,” he insisted.

Australian Webber, however, is open to having Vettel relegated to a supporting role for the final run to the 2010 finish-line.

“It would be a nice problem for me to have and then it’s up to the team as to what’s the best way for them to win the championships,” he said in an interview with BBC Sport.

“It’s definitely not for me to answer that one,” said the 34-year-old.

McLaren’s Hamilton, however – just 5 points behind Webber’s lead and 17 in front of his teammate Jenson Button – is not expecting to be favoured by McLaren.

“The best driver will win the day,” said the 2008 world champion.

Only a “very, very lucky” situation will see Mercedes win a race this year, according to Michael Schumacher.

But after his podium at Silverstone, his teammate Nico Rosberg has a different view.

“We have made a giant step forwards,” the younger German is quoted by Bild newspaper. “I can promise more.”

Seven time world champion Schumacher, 54 points behind his younger teammate and ninth across the finish line in Britain, is less optimistic.

“We will have to be very, very lucky to get a victory,” he added.

Jun.16 (GMM)  Mark Webber is not promoting any of the conspiracy theories after losing his championship lead in Canada last week.

After their infamous Turkey crash, the Australian qualified ahead of his Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel in Montreal.

But he had to move back five grid places after a precautionary gearbox change.

Some pundits joked that Dr Helmut Marko, who allegedly favours Vettel, must have taken a crowbar to Webber’s transmission.

“I would also have changed the gearbox,” the 33-year-old is quoted as saying by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

“It’s better to lose a few places but still get to the finish line.  In my situation, I need every point,” said Webber.

Webber’s problem was not the only one for Red Bull on Sunday; Vettel was also asked to slow down with what team boss Christian Horner confirms was a “gearbox-related issue”.

At least the Istanbul saga seems now to be in the past.  On Wednesday evening in Canada, Webber and Vettel jointly shouted the entire race team to dinner.

“I ordered the most expensive meal on the menu, because I know how hard it is to separate drivers from their money,” laughed Horner.

Note from the Editor: There were two titles for this piece, “Schumacher’s Karma catches up with him” or “Have FIA bungled with Schumacher penalty?” Either would have been appropriate, we chose the one we did because in the end it is perhaps more apt…

Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix was overshadowed by an incident involving old sparring partners Michael Schumacher, and Fernando Alonso.

Due to the spectacular crash between Karun Chandhok and Jarno Trulli at Rascasse corner, the Safety Car was called upon 3 laps from the end. The flash point came when the German veteran slid up the inside of Alonso at the final Anthony Noghes corner after the Safety Car had peeled into the pitlane for the last time.

The Formula One paddock now finds itself in the situation where Schumacher has been given a retrospective 20 second penalty and dropped to 12th position in the final classification. Fernando Alonso was reinstated to his 6th position, and we head to Turkey with the Spaniard still in touch with the seemingly untouchable Red Bull duo of Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel.

However, the justification for this penalisation is hard to distinguish. It is true that Article 40.13 states: “If the race ends while the Safety Car is deployed, it will enter the pitlane at the end of the last lap and the cars will take the chequered flag as normal without overtaking”. The clarity of this rule is not in question.

There have been previous examples of this rule being enforced. The Australian Grand Prix of 2009 being one such example, where the Brawn cars of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello led the field across the line after the Safety Car had pitted following an accident between Sebastian Vettel and Robert Kubica. In this case, the job of the trackside marshals was to signal to the drivers that there was to be no overtaking and that they were to stay in formation. This was signified by the continued use of yellow flags and Safety Car boards at each marshal post until the Start/Finish line.

Fast forward a year and five races, and we find ourselves in a similar situation. What seems incomprehensible is that following the end of the Safety Car period, green flags were waved and a green light was shown on the overhead light gantry of the last corner. Such a contradiction in actions seems confusing to say the least.

Under FIA Sporting Regulations, a green flag signifies “that any previous danger has been attended to. The track is now clear, and drivers may proceed at racing speed and may again overtake”. Why was this signal given? The green flag completely contradicted Article 40.13, and Schumacher acted accordingly.

Based on principle alone, a driver that sees a green flag or a green light is perfectly entitled to proceed at racing speed and make an attempt at an overtaking manoevre. It is worth noting that the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg also attempted an overtake after Alonso slid on the kerbs of the final corner, but was unable to.

Such a baffling decision decreases the credibility of the FIA stewarding panel, which had proved itself to be more than capable with a string of sound decisions so far in 2010. The accusation that Damon Hill was central to the decision-making procedure does not work, as his responsibility was to ensure a fair conclusion to any racing incidents. This was a decision based on the law of the FIA.

Neither is the common misconception that the stewards could have put Schumacher back into 7th position, as under Article 16.3 of the Sporting Regulations, only three possible sanctions are legally allowed; a drive-through penalty, a grid drop for the following race, or a ten-second stop and go penalty.

It appears that Schumacher has been penalised for a communication mix-up, which is why Mercedes have attempted to appeal the decision.
Based on the precedent set by the Lewis Hamilton decision at Spa in 2008, time penalties cannot be appealed. The only conceivable outcome for Mercedes is that they can lodge a protest of the result to the FIA. A 2,000 Euro fee is attached to this and is the only option that resembles an appeal procedure in this instance.

The two underlying themes are that the large reaction to this incident reflects more on the bland nature of the race itself, and that the nonsensical decisions taken by those working in this arm of the FIA are still commonplace. Perhaps if there was no need to interpret so widely the rules that are put forth by the FIA, decisions like this would not cause such debate. With the spectacle provided by the racing being put on the backburner, the spectacle of events off track have reared their ugly head once again.

Those who believe in Karma, your time has come.

(James Rossi)

Michael Schumacher’s Mercedes teammates have sided with the seven time world champion over his controversial last-corner pass on Fernando Alonso.

After deliberating for four hours in Monaco, the stewards on Sunday evening decided to drop the German out of the points, even though team boss Ross Brawn insists the safety car period had officially ended.

Nico Rosberg thought Schumacher’s pass had been a good one.

“From my perspective it was a really cool manoeuvre,” he told German television RTL, “but apparently it’s not allowed.”

Interestingly, Rosberg revealed that he was also told by the Mercedes pitwall that overtaking between the safety car line and the chequered flag was allowed.

And Mercedes reserve driver Nick Heidfeld told Sky television: “The move was very clean.

“The rules are different this year.  In the past you could only overtake from the start/finish line, now it is from the safety car line.  Alonso was a little bit asleep,” added the German.

(GMM)