F1′s season of confusion looks set to continue, with an uncertain weather forecast only adding to the uncertainty ahead of the Spanish grand prix.

The bizarre 2012 contest stepped into yet another gear on Saturday, with events unfolding to put the previously-derided pay driver Pastor Maldonado on pole, alongside the crisis-ridden Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso.

And the Pirelli tyre predicament, worsened on the challenging Circuit de Catalunya layout and under hot Spanish skies, will continue to confound teams on Sunday, with temperatures set to drop and rain clouds predicted to gather.

“I am telling you now, honestly,” said Red Bull’s Mark Webber. “We don’t have even the slightest idea who will benefit when it gets colder.”

The German magazine Auto Motor und Sport laid out the fascinating if bewildering situation as of Saturday in Spain: “Sebastian Vettel doesn’t know why his car suddenly lost grip in qualifying.

“Jenson Button has no idea why he couldn’t generate any tyre temperature on the 40 degrees track. Williams don’t know why Pastor Maldonado clocked the second fastest lap.

“Mercedes’ engineers had to admit they still don’t understand the Pirelli rubber.”

Acting team principal Bob Bell smiled tortuously: “If we did understand, we’d be on pole. But even Pirelli don’t know all the answers.”

Writing in O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, Livio Oricchio estimated there are up to 12 candidates for victory.

“A grid of madness!” said former F1 driver Patrick Tambay on France’s RMC Sport. “And it’s not over yet.”

So, is Michael Schumacher – having sat out Q3 in order to save tyres for the race – now even more critical of Pirelli?

“I’ll leave it with what has already been said,” he insisted late on Saturday.

The boss of Abu Dhabi’s F1 circuit has criticised plans to run the young driver test at Silverstone later this year.

Originally, the young driver test was scheduled to take place as usual this year at Yas Marina, the week after the Abu Dhabi grand prix.

But, due to the calendar congestion at the end of this season, the majority of teams have decided instead to go to Silverstone in July, with only the two Red Bull-owned teams sticking with the Abu Dhabi plan.

Lotus team boss Eric Boullier, however, is quoted by The National newspaper as saying the Silverstone plan is “nonsense”.

Yas Marina chief Richard Cregan agrees: “If you’re a good young driver in the middle of a season, then it’s not ideal to be testing a formula one car midway through the year.

“These guys should be focusing on whatever series it is they are racing, which is why the F1 testing in Abu Dhabi worked so well in the past because it was effectively the end of their season.”

He also warned that the earlier timing of the Silverstone test means teams could spend more time trying to develop their cars than on seriously evaluating the next generation of drivers.

“It is first and foremost a young drivers test and it must remain that,” Cregan insisted.

“It is a chance for young drivers to get maybe a first chance to drive an F1 car and it is chance for teams to run their eye over a driver and evaluate his performance.

“Developing the car and parts should be secondary,” he said.

Abu Dhabi could, however, be back on if Silverstone’s weather forecast looks poor, even though as soon as a car has left the pitlane in July, that team will no longer be allowed to change its plans.

Even though Lotus’ Boullier thinks the Silverstone decision was wrong, he has vowed to stick with the majority.

“But actually I would like it to rain, so we will go back to the original schedule,” said the Frenchman.

Cregan said Abu Dhabi’s door remains open.

“We’ll still be working to the same standards,” he said. “So in that sense nothing changes.”

A typically hot, humid and thundery weekend is forecast for the Malaysian grand prix.
New championship leader Jenson Button travels to Kuala Lumpur eyeing a weather forecast of possible rain for all three days of track action.

And as ever in tropical Malaysia, the highest chance of rain is always in the late afternoon.

“Bernie (Ecclestone) loves a late start,” smiled Red Bull’s Mark Webber, “and, once again, the race has a late kick-off.”

Indeed, qualifying and the race are not scheduled until 4pm local in Malaysia, ensuring a more civil early morning wake-up for F1′s bulk live audience in Europe.

“Late afternoon is usually when the rain comes in Malaysia, and when it comes you know about it,” said Australian Webber. “It’s something to be wary of.”

Even more nervous about the rain forecasts will be HRT.

After sitting out almost the entire winter whilst rebuilding the struggling Spanish team following Colin Kolles’ departure, Pedro de la Rosa and Narain Karthikeyan failed to qualify in Melbourne.

“In Australia we were only able to complete seven timed laps so I need to get more track time, get to know the car better and improve the setup,” said de la Rosa.

 Romain Grosjean will be happy if this week’s weather forecast for Melbourne proves right.
Although Wednesday will be warm and sunny in the Victorian capital, the clouds will begin to gather on Thursday, when the F1 circus congregates in the nearby Albert Park paddock for media and scrutineering activities.

Then, when practice signals the official start of the 2012 season on Friday afternoon, rain and isolated thunderstorms are predicted.

And isolated showers are forecast for the qualifying and race days.

Lotus driver Romain Grosjean has not tested his new E20 mount on a wet track, and the last time he saw rain from the cockpit of any F1 car was in Brazil 2009.

“It feels like a long time ago!” the Frenchman confirmed.

“I’m ready if the (Melbourne) track is more slippery, and I’ll try to make the best of it.

“I like racing in the wet, so maybe it will be a bit of an advantage for me,” added the reigning GP2 champion.

Sunday will be his eighth career grand prix, following 7 races with the Enstone based team – then known as Renault – in 2009.

As in Canada, there will be two ‘DRS’ overtaking zones on the streets of Valencia this weekend, but only one ‘detection point’.

The new-in-2011 adjustable rear wing innovation contributed to a plethora of overtaking on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, ahead of this weekend’s event at Valencia where processional races have been common.

But Canada winner Jenson Button is not sure ‘DRS’ will transform the spectacle of the European grand prix.

“It’s a hard place to pass and, even though there will once again be two DRS zones, I don’t think that’s going to make it much easier during the race,” he said.

The Spanish sports newspaper AS revealed that the DRS ‘detection point’ this weekend will be 130 metres before turn 8, with the first overtaking zone set for the run between turns 10 and 12.

The second zone, also useable by drivers who were within 1 second of their prey at the detection point, is situated between turns 14 and 17.

“Some of the purists believe DRS has made the racing artificial, but the fact is that every race is now absolutely entertaining,” Steve Robertson, 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen’s manager, told Turun Sanomat newspaper.

“Whoever invented this system deserves the most authentic of praise. The cars have kept their speed and at the same time are able to race. Full marks!” he added.

DRS will be deactivated at Valencia this weekend if it rains, but the weather forecast for the Spanish port city so far is for clear and sunny conditions.

With drivers reporting undriveable conditions and the local radar predicting even heavier rain ahead, the FIA has reserved a 10am timeslot for Sunday morning qualifying at Suzuka.

“I really don’t think there is going to be qualifying,” said Sebastien Buemi’s race engineer, just before Toro Rosso’s Swiss driver entered the circuit and spun during Saturday morning practice.

Lotus’ Mike Gascoyne confirmed that the weather forecast for qualifying is for even worse conditions than in practice, where the McLaren and Ferrari drivers were eventually grounded due to rivers of water causing aquaplaning.

“I cannot even drive on the straight,” complained Jaime Alguersuari.

Gascoyne told the BBC: “If it’s like this, they’ll have to look at postponing qualifying until tomorrow morning.”

Suzuka qualifying was run on Sunday morning in 2004 in order to avoid the typhoon Ma-on.

David Coulthard is taking a special interest in the developing events at Suzuka, having been scheduled as Red Bull’s reserve driver for the Japanese weekend.

The team’s usual reserve Daniel Ricciardo is in Europe for Formula Renault.

“Would I cope with the rigours of a race?” Coulthard wrote in the Telegraph.  “Well, I’m in semi race-trim now but physically it would be tough, I must admit.”

Friday morning’s practice session was dry, but looming clouds spell weather trouble at the scene of the Japanese grand prix.

An incredible 50mm – or more – of rain is forecast for Saturday’s running at Suzuka: “That should get the track wet!” Lotus’ technical boss Mike Gascoyne exclaimed.

Should that forecast prove accurate, “Will qualifying be called off?” wondered The Times’ correspondent Kevin Eason.

The weather forecast for Sunday is better, although early rain on race-day could mean the grand prix is started on a drying track.

As was predicted, the Red Bulls looked dominant on Friday morning’s dry circuit, but the RB6 has been less impressive in 2010 in the rain.

“The weather looks a bit strange on Saturday and that might not be that beneficial to us,” admitted Mark Webber, who along with teammate Sebastian Vettel were half a second clear of the field in first practice.

Vettel won the 2009 race at Suzuka from pole.

Fresh renewal (biennial) with Yamaha, Jorge Lorenzo took fourth time in official qualifying Grand Prix of Japan at Twin Ring Motegi and, for the first time this season, will start from the second row. The (almost) the 2010 World Champion has run into some more problems than expected in its turn from “pole”, however after having shown an enviable step over the free practice sessions.

“I am a little disappointed because this was not the result I expected, “said Jorge Lorenzo. “I would really like to get the front row in Japan in Yamaha’s home race, just after signing with them for another two years. Fortunately, the skills and appearance are just more important is that we are ready for the race, our pace was competitive and there are only two small issues still to be placed on my M1. “

Compared to yesterday Jorge Lorenzo has decided to use our engine as well as Valentino Rossi, with a view to obtaining positive impressions of a race which, according to the forecast, it should be wet from the rain.

“It is better, especially in higher gears, it’s definitely an advantage for us. In any case, scatter for the first time this year from the second row, but they are near the control and try to make the best possible start. Unfortunately the weather forecast is not the best, I hope the good weather, but must also be prepared for rain, “said the Fiat Yamaha rider.

The pecking order is unclear after three hours of practice at Spa-Francorchamps on Friday.

After a mostly wet day of running, even though the Belgian track was drying in the afternoon session, Mercedes’ Norbert Haug was asked who he thought was looking quickest so far.

“Nobody knows exactly,” he told German Sky television.

He said the timesheets threw up a few clues, with Red Bull “stronger than they seem” and also Force India’s Adrian Sutil apparently in the running.

“Ferrari and McLaren will be good,” added Haug, confirming that Mercedes is running a modified F-duct system this weekend.

“I don’t think the pecking order has really changed.  I also don’t think we are making a great leap forward.

“We think the floor is working a little better, but we’ll learn more about that on Saturday,” added Mercedes’ competition boss.

Haug gave a clearer prediction about the weekend weather forecast.

“I suspect Saturday will be wet as well,” said the German, just as the GP2 race on Friday afternoon was stopped due to heavy rain.

Added Renault’s chief engineer Alan Permane: “It’s the same (forecast) for Sunday.”

Sunday at Hockenheim should host a dry German grand prix.

There has been often heavy rain at the venue since Thursday, despite the fact that the days preceding F1′s arrival in Germany were very hot.

Some of that blue sky could peek through the predicted cloud-cover on Sunday, even though forecasters are not ruling out the possibility of rain.

“We are hoping for some warmer weather,” admitted Red Bull team boss Christian Horner on Saturday, after Sebastian Vettel pipped Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso to pole position by the merest margin of 2 thousandths.

Ferrari and Bridgestone calculated that the gap equated to 15 centimetres at the chequered flag.

Ferrari’s increased pace has the Italian camp determined to finally return to the top step of the podium, after a string of disappointing results.

Inclement weather for Sunday is therefore not on the agenda: “We hope we can finally have a normal race,” said team boss Stefano Domenicali.

Pole sitter Vettel commented: “I heard the weather forecast (for the race) is dry.”

Fernando Alonso has admitted it is unlikely his plans for a professional cycling team will be realised for 2011.

The Ferrari driver said last year he would like to set up a team involving his friend and Spanish rider Alberto Contador with the ambition of winning the Tour de France.

He said in 2009: “Contador has one year left on his (Astana) contract. There’s maybe a possibility for the year after. We’ll see.”

But Alonso, 28, said at Silverstone that his plans are currently “on standby”.

“It’s difficult for next year,” the double world champion admitted, according to AS newspaper.

Meanwhile, the Spaniard said that with Saturday dawning fine and warm, the weather forecast for Sunday is “not so clear”.

At the time of writing, morning rain is forecast for the day of the British grand prix.

Jun.11 (GMM)  The rain looks set to stay away as the clock ticks down to morning practice at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

After Thursday’s abysmal weather, the forecast for Friday is better, as formula one’s paddock residents walked across the pontoon to the paddock wearing shirt sleeves in the chilly air.

The skies above are overcast and cloudy, although F1′s official weather forecaster Meteo France is not predicting any rain on Friday or Saturday.

And the only – perhaps heavy – rain on race-day Sunday is expected to hang off until after the race that begins at 12pm local.

Jun.10 (GMM)  A cold, grey and rainy morning has dawned in Montreal, where across the bridge to the Il Notre Dame this weekend’s Canadian grand prix will be held.

After a pleasant Wednesday, a wintery and wet day is expected throughout Thursday, although some reports indicate that the first day of action on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve layout may take place under sunnier skies.

Weather forecasts say qualifying on Saturday and then Sunday’s grand prix may also be wet.

A week of bad weather could lead into a wet 2010 Monaco grand prix.

Weather forecasts said rain in the Principality is expected to persist intermittently throughout the entire race weekend.

Lewis Hamilton said on Monday that McLaren’s forecast is also for “extremely unpredictable” weather and likely “heavy rain”.

The 2008 world champion is also quoted widely as worrying about the effect slow backmarkers will have this weekend on the twisty Armco-barrier lined circuit.

One calculation has shown that if the entire field was evenly spread around the famous street layout, there would be less than 140 metres between each car.

“Even if it doesn’t rain on the Sunday, the possibility of heavily disrupted practice and qualifying sessions means that we’ll probably go into the race with a chance of one of the most exciting and unpredictable Monaco grands prix for many years,” said Hamilton.

(GMM)

May 4 (GMM)  After the processional season opener in Bahrain, assessments about the success or failure of F1′s new format have taken a back seat to the weather.

Rain either shook up the grid order or spiced up the grands prix in Australia, Malaysia and China, meaning that the question of whether the rules should be adjusted has been muted by arguably artificially-exiting races.

And the wait for clarity about the success of the 2010 formula, including the new ban on in-race refuelling, could now be extended into yet another race.

It is currently cold and wet in Barcelona, where about a half-hour north in the suburb of Montmelo round five of the world championship will be staged at the Circuit de Catalunya later this week.

The weather forecast for the city is for intermittently light and heavy rain showers throughout the week, with regular precipitation likely to remain a possibility until at least late on Sunday night when the skies could clear.

Presently, the forecast for Saturday – the day of qualifying – is for a cloudy day with a small chance of rain, while light rain in the morning is expected on race-day Sunday.