From the depths of 2011, Williams is now ‘not far’ from the pace of F1′s strongest teams.
That is the claim of Pastor Maldonado, who in the newly Renault-powered and Mike Coughlan-designed FW34 qualified eighth and was pushing Fernando Alonso for fifth in the race when he crashed out of Sunday’s season opener in Melbourne on the last lap.

It indicated a major turnaround for the formerly championship-winning team that collapsed to a dismal ninth place in last year’s points standings.

Venezuelan Maldonado hopes last Sunday was indeed the start of a Williams resurgence.

He said this weekend in Malaysia “should be interesting”.

“McLaren and Red Bull look strong, but we are not far away,” he is quoted by Finland’s Turun Sanomat.

“We were very close to (Red Bull’s) Mark Webber in the first and second stints,” said Maldonado.

“I think we are faster than Ferrari, Sauber and Force India,” he added.

Maldonado’s last-lap crash in Australia cost Williams a full ten points — double the team’s tally of the entire 2011 season.

“We need points in the future,” he acknowledged, “but we are also now more relaxed now.”

Pastor Maldonado attracted praise and scorn from high places after his performance in Melbourne.
As far as Lotus team boss Eric Boullier is concerned, the Williams driver cost Romain Grosjean a place on the podium after their clash during the season opening grand prix.

Asked when the promising black and gold E20 will make its first drive to the rostrum in 2012, Frenchman Boullier told Helsingin Sanomat newspaper: “When Maldonado doesn’t crash into us.”

Venezuelan Maldonado, often criticised for being Williams’ lead pay-driver, had another crash at Albert Park – on the very last lap – which ended his stirring push for a solid fifth place.

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who initially admitted to being relieved when Maldonado was no longer hounding him in his mirrors, also said he felt sorry for the 27-year-old.

“He was much faster than me and in the end I might have had problems to defend my position,” he told AS newspaper.

“I think he did a good drive and I felt some sadness when I saw that he had gone from my mirrors because he was about to earn the fifth, sixth, whatever (position),” added the Spaniard.

 Despite not collecting a single point in Melbourne, the Williams team will travel from Australia to Malaysia in upbeat mood.
The famous British outfit’s slide from its race and title-winning days hit rock bottom in 2011, scoring just five points all season and only finishing ahead of the three struggling new teams in the constructors’ championship.

But Oxfordshire based Williams has restructured for the 2012 season and is now led technically by former McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan, and in Australia the newly Renault-powered FW34 qualified comfortably in Q3.

In the race, Pastor Maldonado was pushing Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso for fifth place when he crashed heavily on the very last lap.

If he had made it round to the chequered flag, Williams would have scored more points in one hit than it managed all last season.

“The car was considerably better than anything I have seen in recent years,” said team chairman Adam Parr.

Referring to Maldonado’s crash, the team’s new driver mentor Alex Wurz told Austrian ORF television: “Of course nobody is happy.

“The bad news is that we have to leave with no points, but the team has made a huge leap forwards.”

Jaime Alguersuari, the former Toro Rosso driver turned radio co-commentator, called Williams’ step compared to 2011 “giant”.

“No doubt about it, Williams are the big surprise,” the Spaniard told Mundo Deportivo when asked about the new field of 2012.

“Last year their car was really, really, really bad, and so they have taken an exceptional leap.”

 With his second consecutive title now wrapped up, Sebastian Vettel is continuing to impress the international media.
The Red Bull driver secured his crown recently in Japan with a third place but quickly returned to the top step of the podium in Korea last Sunday.

“He is now chasing after Schumacher’s record of 13 wins in a season,” said Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“The celebrations at Suzuka did not rob Vettel of his determination,” added the report.

Other publications were also impressed with Vettel’s determination to win even without the goal of a championship.

“He is hungry for more success and never satisfied,” praised Corriere dello Sport.

Agreed Tuttosport: “Vettel is a cannibal, like his hero Schumacher.”

The German’s will to keep his foot on the throttle even with the title wrapped up was demonstrated by his unprecedented pace on the last lap in Korea.

“I think they (the team) will kill me now,” joked Vettel afterwards. “They came on the radio and said ‘idiot, you got it (the fastest race lap)’.

“It’s a small thing; it’s probably more to do with the ego because there are no points (for it) so it’s really stupid from my side but now I’ve got it, I’m happy.”

Despite making mistakes, being slightly off the pace and beaten by three of his championship leaders, Sebastian Vettel’s huge championship lead dimished by just 3 points at the Nurburgring.
The German finished a distant fourth in his home grand prix, but because his closest challenger, teammate and pole sitter Mark Webber was just third at the flag, the massive 80-point gap shrinks to just 77 after the tenth round of the season.

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, fourth in the championship prior to the Nurburgring and now third, brilliantly won the German race, mere seconds ahead of his old nemesis Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari.

Briton Hamilton called it “one of the best races I think I’ve ever done”, after travelling to the country downbeat following what he described as a “crap” performance on his own home turf two weeks ago at Silverstone.

For Vettel, it ended with successful yet “unsatisfying” damage limitation, following unforced errors and a bizarre last-lap pitstop to relegate Felipe Massa to fifth place.

“I didn’t feel too good all weekend,” said the world champion. “I never got to the pace Mark had in his car.”

Meanwhile, the day at the Nurburgring ended with two technical rules breaches; Webber giving his friend Alonso a lift back to the pits after the Ferrari ran out of fuel, and Hamilton hurdling the parc ferme barriers to greet his mechanics.

In a bit of good humour or championship finale-needle, or both, Fernando Alonso’s title rivals could not hide their grins in Abu Dhabi.

Lewis Hamilton admitted that he and Mark Webber noticed on Thursday that the Ferrari driver was sporting smooth and shiny legs in the Yas Marina paddock.

“I’m surprised how Fernando was able to take the pain of having his legs waxed,” smiled Hamilton, who at McLaren in 2007 clashed memorably with his former teammate.

“Mark pointed it out and was asking how far it goes up,” he added.

“I was like, ‘Wow, they’re shiny’,” said Hamilton.

He admitted that Alonso, who is a keen cyclist, took the jibes in good humour.

“He has shown over the years how solid he is mentally. He just doesn’t care. You ask him questions about (the team orders in) Germany and he isn’t bothered,” said Hamilton.

Indeed, Alonso confirmed that he is not bothered that some colleagues and commentators are suggesting that he needs to win the title by more than 7 points if the achievement is not to be tarnished by his controversial victory at Hockenheim.

“I think winning by 7, or one or 25 points is the least important thing in my mind right now,” the Spaniard said on Thursday.

“Our only picture at the moment is winning the race or finishing second, that is the target and I think that is what we can achieve,” added Alonso.

And the Ferrari driver also insisted he is not worrying about whether Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber will be swapping places on the last lap to prevent him from winning the title.

“I don’t think I will lose even one second of my energy thinking about what is going to happen on Sunday afternoon,” he insisted.

Felipe Massa thinks Red Bull’s drivers are open about swapping positions during the Abu Dhabi grand prix on Sunday.

The Ferrari driver, who was controversially ordered aside for his teammate Fernando Alonso at Hockenheim, was commenting on the main topic of conversation at the 2010 finale — whether Sebastian Vettel will move over for Mark Webber in order to prevent Fernando Alonso from winning the drivers’ title.

“My personal opinion is that the Red Bull drivers will fight to the end, because they both have a chance to become champion,” the Brazilian is quoted in Italian by Tuttosport.

“But if at the end Sebastian is first and Mark is second, I’m sure they will swap places. If not, they would give the title to another team.

“But you should ask them, not me.”

Even Rubens Barrichello, who like Massa was also the victim of Ferrari’s blatant imposition of team orders, agrees.

“I have always been against team orders,” he is quoted by Globo.

“But if someone has no more mathematical chances in the last moment but the other one (the teammate) does, then it is definitely better for the team.

“So I see nothing wrong if that happens in the last lap.”

Officially at Red Bull, the position is that team orders will not be imposed, but team management is hoping Vettel will be “magnanimous” should he find himself able to deliver the drivers’ title to Webber rather than Alonso.

“Logic tells me that Sebastian will do it (give up the win) if Alonso is right behind them,” Niki Lauda told RTL television.

“For me it would be a great gesture from Vettel; gentlemanly and fair,” said the triple world champion.

Even from Vettel’s perspective, that scenario appears a no-brainer.

“It would not take a genius to know what to do,” the 23-year-old is quoted by the Spanish media.

Helmut Marko, however, admitted that not seeing Vettel crowned world champion on Sunday would have a bitter taste.

“Without the technical problems this year, Sebastian would already be champion,” Red Bull’s motor sport consultant is quoted by Bild newspaper.

Sections of the international media have questioned Red Bull’s strategic approach to the 2010 drivers’ world championship.

After Sebastian Vettel won the Brazilian grand prix from the team’s points leader Mark Webber at Interlagos, Der Spiegel noted: “Red Bull gives (Fernando) Alonso wings”.

Not switching the places means that Spaniard Alonso can take his Ferrari to just second place this weekend in Abu Dhabi and be champion, whereas the alternative strategy would have set up Webber for a straight fight.

“It is not easy for Webber to drive in a team that considers him a burden to be up against Vettel,” said La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Tuttosport noted that it seems “the Austrian team would be happier to lose than to see Webber beat Vettel”.

“No team orders at Red Bull. Another own goal,” headlined La Repubblica.

Joan Villadelprat wrote in his El Pais column: “Had Red Bull opted for Webber a few races ago, the Australian would probably now be champion.”

Red Bull, however, is unrepentant. Team owner Dietrich Mateschitz told Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper that “second under proper conditions can often be more valuable than a first”.

But there is a feeling that the team is not simply giving up the fight for the drivers’ title.

One columnist in Brazil’s Globo wondered if Vettel’s radio message in Abu Dhabi might sound something like ‘So … Mark is faster than you’.

“I’m always in favour of leaving the fight on the track with equal chances for both sides,” said Rubens Barrichello. “But I wonder if they would do that if the situation was in reverse.”

The Brazilian obviously suspects that, if Vettel was the points leader, Webber would unquestionably be playing a subordinate role by now.

“Mark has done a great job this year and he has been told by his team what position he is in,” said Lewis Hamilton. “Against adversity he has kept at it. I want to see Mark win.”

Webber believes that, if a strategy is deployed, it will only be on the “last lap” of the season this weekend.

“Sebastian is part of a team,” said Niki Lauda, who believes Webber should be backed fully by Red Bull. “If he does anything it should be helping Webber and not just on the last lap.”

Webber is quoted by Bild newspaper: “It makes sense. Otherwise it would mean that Ferrari’s team orders would have paid off for Fernando.”

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner hints that sense will ultimately prevail.

“We have already given too many presents to Fernando this year,” he is quoted by Autosprint.

On the track where he began winning the World Superbike Superpole victory in Race 2, Ben Spies was also the protagonist of the official MotoGP qualifying at Phillip Island. Third time for a front row a little surprise, made-race condition in the future so as to render official Yamaha rider very confident and satisfied with this result. For tomorrow there will be an opportunity if the target is the podium, but with only two races to win the title of best rookie season of 2010.

“I am very happy to be back in the front row, although I am a little surprised, “said Ben Spies. “My race pace at the beginning of session made me happy, although every time I tried to go faster in the latter part of the track appeared to me a few drops of rain on the visor of my helmet. Each time was like this: warm up the tires, but when I arrived at the first corner to start a fast lap I realized that there was no possibility of a clean lap.

Of course I did not want to take big risks knowing they are already close to the front row, but eventually I managed to get the third best time, in fact, was obtained in race trim. I am confident because overall it was a good session, so if we can put everything together, we can point to a good result, perhaps to fight for the podium.

Here, the bike is really good, I have a good pace, I just try to render the best the whole package in anticipation of the last laps of the race. The goal for tomorrow is to make sure in advance the title of Rookie of the Year, was another box ticked in this successful season, “said Spies that just before Simoncelli stars to reach this goal.

Even if only for a few minutes, the time to walk the last 3 laps at Twin Ring Motegi, MotoGP is back to living a good show, with so many aspects to make the race more interesting than usual although there has been little (or anything) to win. Casey Stoner, on the track where he won his first world title, rose again on the top step of the podium after Alcaniz, author of a perfect race just where he relegated to second place Andrea Dovizioso. The escape last part of the race allowed him to stay away from any “tussle” with the driver who will replace next year, HRC, the exact opposite of the duel that saw both players bishops Fiat Yamaha.

Between Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo an intense duel where you are left out of the walls inside a box, data telemetry, new engines and old, recent or past injuries. Found themselves against each other and were not spared, with the right competitive nastiness that has forced everyone to live in the Valley the last two laps at Motegi. Rossi, by his own admission without injured shoulder problems, it seemed “to a time” (quotation marks), responding tit for tat attack each sample of the now top of the 2010 class. For its part, Lorenzo, who could easily make do with the 13 points that allow between 7 days to win in Sepang ahead of the world, was not spared, risking the impossible to pass a condition in Valentino.

The result was a tremendous duel with 6 passes and controsorpassi and Valentino Rossi to have, cunning, the better, passing the entrance of Turn 8 on the last lap leaving no room for reply. Back on the podium as the champion of the world, Jorge Lorenzo will be content to earn 6 points out of Pedrosa in Sepang (if there is …) to become mathematically World Champion. Casey Stoner dutifully celebrated the 22nd career win, the 2nd row with the only Ducati in the top 10 (the others are in the last 4 positions …), beating Andrea Dovizioso who loses their points against Australia for the third league position. The Forli, author of the pole position, it can still be pleased with the weekend where he held high the colors of the HRC on his home circuit after the KO of Pedrosa.

Out of the fight for the podium concluded Colin Edwards, 5 the best result of the season ahead of Marco Simoncelli, “down” at the end, with Suzuki’s Ben Spies Alvaro Bautista seventh and eighth comeback after being found at the penultimate lap for a ‘excursion into the escape routes. Marco Melandri is instead 12 °, Loris Capirossi out of action for a problem to his right in the end when the Suzuki MotoGP has found at last the show. And maybe even Valentino Rossi.

Chronicle of Race

There Pedrosa, but it’s a Honda to have the best starting point, the # 4 Andrea Dovizioso but was immediately marched to the curve 2 by passing behind Stoner with Lorenzo Rossi for third place. So Stoner, Dovizioso, Lorenzo, Rossi, Edwards, Capirossi, Simoncelli and Spies in the first 8 positions at the end of lap one, not fall, all 16 drivers in the regular way in the race. On the second lap at the “tunnel” in the vicinity of the curve 5 Spies and Hayden come off the track share respectively in second and last place, trailing by 3 “and 7″ seconds from Mika Kallio 14 °.

Marco Simoncelli takes the fifth position by passing the “dean” of motorcycling Edwards and Capirossi, but Yamaha is already quite far of the official scrimmage of Lorenzo and Rossi under the watchful eye of Masao Furusawa, # 1 in the Three Diapason Motorsport pit . The attack comes and the fifth lap overtaking under braking for turn 9 where it can fit Lorenzo Rossi, already gaining valuable yards ahead of “almost” World Champion 2010: The demonstration comes from the fastest lap in 1’47 “395, are 2 “by 3 recovered from race leader Stoner.

Going Ben Spies is in eleventh place in comeback, passing four riders in the space of two turns with great regret off the track at the start. Randy De Puniet same misfortune in the 10th round in their attempt to cope with the Tech 3 Yamaha rider. If the first 4 positions appear to be stabilized by Stoner, Dovizioso, Lorenzo and Rossi, for fifth place great tussle between Simoncelli, Edwards and Capirossi Melandri 8 ° harassed by Bautista.

A seven laps from the checkered flag Lorenzo Rossi has again taken up, try switching to the curve 5, but come along in the slipstream of prejudice out a new attack in the final stages of the contest. It is not the only duel to follow: Edwards goes for 5th place Simoncelli, Bautista took Capirossi for the 7th (with Imola later forced to withdraw due to a technical problem), Spies is very fast and leaves behind him Melandri four laps from the checkered flag with rvennate off the track. If Stoner is on the run up Dovizioso centering the second consecutive victory, is open struggle with the Fiat Yamaha the final act began the penultimate lap: Lorenzo Rossi joins the two will spend six times giving a duel in its heyday. Valentino will win back on the podium with fourth place but Lorenzo is, in fact, World Champion.

MotoGP World Championship 2010
Motegi Race Standings

01 – Casey Stoner – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 27 laps in 43’12 .266
02 – Andrea Dovizioso – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 3868 +
03 – Valentino Rossi – Fiat Yamaha Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 5707 +
04 – Jorge Lorenzo – Fiat Yamaha Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 6221 +
05 – Colin Edwards – Tech 3 Yamaha Monster – Yamaha YZR M1 – 27,092 +
06 – Marco Simoncelli – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 30,021 +
07 – Alvaro Bautista – Rizla Suzuki MotoGP – Suzuki GSV-R – 31,826 +
08 – Ben Spies – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – 35,572 +
09 – Randy De Puniet – LCR Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – 47,564 +
10 – Hiroshi Aoyama – Interwetten Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – 49,598 +
11 – Marco Melandri – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 49,999 +
12 – Nicky Hayden – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 50,703 +
13 – Hector Barbera – Paginas Amarillas Aspar – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 51,422 +
14 – Aleix Espargaro – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 52,843 +
15 – Mika Kallio – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – + 1’14 .668

At Motorland Aragon Jorge Lorenzo broke the sequence of 12 consecutive podiums in the same season, finishing in fourth place, “mocked” the last lap from Nicky Hayden. No drama for the leader of the world this weekend at Motegi will try to return to the podium to win serious points for the championship, Dani Pedrosa is 56 points away, but a comeback …

“Motegi is the home race for Yamaha and I am always happy of running there, “says Jorge Lorenzo. “Last year I got my first MotoGP win at this track and was one of the most beautiful moments of my career.

I like the circuit a lot and I think we can do well. The goal for this race is back on the podium and collect as many points as possible: this will be essential to be quick in qualifying for Friday’s start to the GP and the first of three consecutive race weekends. “

Last year Lorenzo was able to win in front of Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa, who stars in a fine second phase of the race where he took off with a good pace.

For the first time this season and 13 races in this part of Jorge Lorenzo was unable to get on the podium. At Motorland Aragon finished fourth, mocked the last lap from Nicky Hayden as a surprise to the leader of the world that just do not expect to get off the podium for the first time in this extraordinary 2010.

“My start was good, then I created a tight duel with Hayden: I was always very, very close! We obviously can not be happy, I absolutely wanted to finish on the podium again, but they are happy because we got points for the championship without losing ground.

There are still five races to go and although this is a complicated time for us I am confident that we have to face some challenges, but we can to overcome them and improve ourselves for the last part of the season.

Now I think only in Motegi, will be the home race for Yamaha and point to a good result at the circuit where he won last year. ”

Jorge Lorenzo remains firmly leading the championship even though, in a few races, his lead over Dani Pedrosa fell from 72 to 56 points.

From Indianapolis 2009 Nicky Hayden did not rise to the podium. To achieve this benefit, the “Kentucky Kid” has invented an anthology, overtaken by Jorge Lorenzo on the last lap, just mocking the variant that places on the pit straight. Nice move, nice podium to complete a memorable day for Ducati and Stoner won his third Hayden.

“It ‘s wonderful to be able to return to the podium and I really enjoyed today, “says Hayden. “The bike has been strong since the first practice on Friday and the race I was able to start well and then stay with Jorge.

There was no point where I could really put the wheels in front and in the last two laps he pushed hard to leave. But I had decided today that fourth place would not be enough. I made a move that has not provided for in the chicane and then I managed to close all lines.

It ‘s a good result for the Ducati team, sponsors and fans. I am happy to have them hailed from the podium: sometimes we will do it again before the end of the season. “