damnit, can I take my vote back? I want Sato....

 

Excellent decision

 

Alonso for the Trifecta.

On Friday he'll win the DE

On Saturday he'll sit on pole

On Sunday he hoists a cup

 

Hamilton
Vettel
Schumacher

Rain would make this circuit interesting.

 

Brawn to miss Spanish Grand Prix weekend

10 May 2012





Mercedes has announced that team boss Ross Brawn will not travel to Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix this weekend, with the 57-year-old feeling unwell.

The esteemed Team Principal was given the advice after visiting a doctor last week, meaning Technical Director Bob Bell will temporarily take over the role.

"Just to confirm that Ross will not be in Spain this weekend due to illness and Bob Bell will look after his responsibilities," Mercedes explained via Twitter.

When in charge of his own team back in 2009, Brawn enjoyed a 1-2 finish at the Circuit de Catalunya, with Jenson Button leading home Brazil's Rubens Barrichello.

UPDATE: A team spokesperson has since confirmed to GPUpdate.net that Brawn will be returning to the paddock for the Monaco Grand Prix in three weeks' time.

 

I agree, just don't tell him he's not in F1 anymore.

 

Yes. Of the CF destruction derby. Events coming to an oval near you.

 

I like hammy, kimi, n Vettel on the podium

 

That's odd that Brawn will be gone for a few weeks after the break they just had. Was he at testing? I hope it's nothing serious.

 

Strike 1

Button seemed to do very well this morning. Alonso will be racing for his future sponsorship this weekend. If he does not do well I predict the Prancing ****pile will drop both Massa and Fredicia at the end of the year.

 

Whoa! I didn't see that coming! :-)

Seriously guys, have you ever thought of actually thinking who has the best chances/is most likely to win rather than just punching in your boy Alondo FTW button automatically?

 

You're beating a dead horse, Petu. It's a rubber stamp every race. DV would be the selection if he were walking.

 

Guys Alonso was fastest in the first practice today... I don't think he is anticipating a clean sweep this weekend, but Ferrari and Alonso are generally upbeat this weekend.



Alonso fastest in opening Spanish practice

11 May 2012


Fernando Alonso has topped the timesheets in Friday morning’s first practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix. On a beautiful morning at the Circuit de Catalunya, the Ferrari driver led Sebastian Vettel and Kamui Kobayashi as no less than four reserve drivers took part over the course of 90 minutes.





Weather conditions were ideal, with the Montmeló track situated 40 minutes’ drive from Barcelona city centre and approximately two hours from the French boarder. This weekend is set to be the venue’s hottest of 2012 so far, with ambient temperatures expected to reach 32°C (90°F) on Saturday afternoon.

As Valtteri Bottas followed his usual programme of driving Bruno Senna’s Williams, Jules Bianchi was in Paul di Resta’s Force India. Further down the pit lane, American Alex Rossi substituted for Heikki Kovalainen at Caterham as Barcelona-born Dani Clos temporarily took Narain Karthikeyan’s HRT place. The race drivers will be back in action from this afternoon onwards, testing a selection of updated car parts.




Alonso in the paddock

Despite the Mugello test session last week, all teams are still rolling out an assortment of upgrades this weekend; not least Ferrari, who are striving to close the gap to the leaders, although the true pace remains disguised by varying car setups and fuel loads. McLaren experimented with new front wings, with Lewis Hamilton running a raised section in a trial for 2013 - when that section may be raised for safety reasons.

HRT is running a significant aerodynamic update, although de la Rosa’s car bottomed out under braking for Turn 1, causing the right-hand barge board to fly off. In the closing stages, Clos ground to a halt in the top end of the pit lane.

Vettel and Alonso may have been two of the last men to post flying laps, but the German duly went quickest before the Spaniard replaced that effort with his best tour of 1:24.754. Driving a Sauber now carrying the logo of Chelsea Football Club, Kobayashi was third as Hamilton suffered with a distinct case of understeer; team-mate Button did not suffer the same fate, as Bottas made the top five for Williams.

 

Alonso FTW.
Button.
Hammy.
SV DNF.

 

You know that and 4 Euros will get you a cup of Cafe at Starbucks,

Alonso's performance dropped off in the Second Session.

When the top 10 were, what, 9/10's of a second off Button Alonso seems to be on the outside looking in.