European GP - Valencia Street Circuit - Lap by Lap Highlights

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European Grand Prix - Valencia Street Circuit, Spain - Race Highlights

All the cars lined up on starting grid, order on track:

Vettel, Webber, Hamilton, Alonso, Massa, Button, Rosberg, Schumacher, Heidfeld, Sutil, Petrov, Di Resta, Barrichello, Kobayashi, Maldonado, Perez, Buemi, Alguersuari, Kovalainen, Trulli, Glock, Liuzzi, Ambrosio, Karthikeyan.

As the five red light illuminates, and European Grand Prix, 2011 is go go go!!!

Lap 1:

Hamilton made a very slow start. Massa just pushing his teammate, Alonso. Massa made a move on Hamilton. He is wheel to wheel with Hamilton in first corner. But Alonso take advantage and moves ahead of both. Vettel is pulling away from teammate Webber. Order is Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Massa, Hamilton, Rosberg, Button.

Rosberg had overtaken Button for 6th. Biggest losers were Petrov and Maldonado.

Petrov with hard compound tyres could not maintain the position and was dropped to 15th in the starting.

Force India Sutil got ahead of Heidfeld for P9. Excellent start for Force India.

Lap 2:

Buemi made a very good start. Homeboy Alonso already in 3rd. Pushing hard for 2nd.

Lap 3:

Vettel is charging his way up the field, he is just pulling away from everybody else. DRS Enabled.

Lap 4:

Button trying his way past Rosberg. But could not get it quite easily. As DRS is enabled, it would be in few moments that he would make his move.

Lap 5:

Order on Track:

Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Massa, Hamilton, Rosberg, Button, Schumacher, Sutil, Heidfeld, Di Resta, Barrichello, Kobayashi, Buemi, Alguersuari, Petrov, Perez, Kovalainen, Trulli, Maldonado, Glock, Liuzzi, Ambrosio, Karthikeyan.

Petrov is losing more positions at the back. His car is struggling for pace.

Lap 6:

Button passes Rosberg for P6 using DRS. There are two DRS zone on this circuit. It was an impressive overtaking maneuver, Rosberg equivalently did not made the pass easy for Button. Webber set the fastest lap on Lap 5.

Lap 7:

Force Indian are in strong position currently lapping in P9 and P11.

Lap 8:

Alonso runs wide as he try harder on Webber. Fastest Lap by race leader Vettel: Lap 7: 1min 44.712sec.

Lap 9:

Di Resta is advised to look after his rear tyres as it started to degrade and he could not manage to pass Nick Heidfeld due to the tyre degradation. Alonso trying very hard to get past Webber for P2. Whole crowd is cheering for Alonso.

Lap 10:

Sauber is struggling for pace. As both the Toro Rosso are coming closer to Kobayashi who is currently running in P13.

Lap 11:

Felipe Massa slides wide on turn 17 but retain his 4th position from Hamilton in 5th.

Alonso in pursuit of Webber. Pitstop strategy and DRS both will be required to retain or gain position.

Lap 12:

Alguersuari trying to pass his own teammate fighting for P14. They are wheel to wheel but given away the fight with respect.

Heidfeld, Barrichello, Kobayashi, Maldonado pits in for their first routine pitstop. From softer tyres to softer again. Buemi just held himself to nearly touching the rear end of slower Kobayashi in front.

Lap 13:

Hamilton pits in. First of the front runner to pit. Rosberg, Sutil also pits in. Hamilton dropped to 6th position. Vettel slides on as he try harder in turn 1. webber in pits too. Drops to P5. 3.2sec of pitstop for Webber.

Lap 14:

Hamilton chasing Michael Schumacher for P6. Schumacher still to stop. Hamilton charge and overtakes Schumacher as he opens his DRS wing. Fresh tyres allowing him to gain momentum on front runners.

Lap 15:

Vettel and Alonso pits in from P1 and P2. Drops to P3 and P5. Hamilton set the fastest lap (Lap 14) 1min 44.401sec. Masssa lead the pack as Vettel pitted for 1st stop.

Michael Schumacher hits the back of Petrov. Front wing is damaged on Schumacher car. He could not able to stop as Petrov was running on the driving line. He is not limping with a broken front wing. He just came out of pits and requires another pitstop now. Despite of broken front wing, he passes Force India Di Resta.

Lap 16:

Front Wing went underneath the Schumacher Mercedes. It will be difficult for the mechanics. They have to lift the car. Michael enters the pitlane. Lost 30sec. It dropped him to 22nd position. Points chances lost with that incident.

Lap 17:

Order on track:

Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Hamilton, Massa, Button, Rosberg, Alguersuari, Perez, Sutil, Heidfeld, Barrichello, Di Resta, Buemi, Trulli, Kobayashi, Petrov, Maldonado, Glock, Kovalainen, Schumacher, Ambrosio, Liuzzi, Karthikeyan.

Alguersuari and Perez still to pit. They are currently in P8 and P9.

Heidfeld is wheel to wheel with Barrichello.

Lap 18:

Alonso again trying his way past Webber for P2.

Lap 19:

Fastest Lap by Alonso on Lap 18 as 1min 43.803sec. Alonso within 1sec from Webber. DRS enabled on Alonso car, he is closing in on Webber. Wait for 2nd DRS zone. Just miss the Webber car this time around.

Only Alguersuari and Perez are left to pit. They seem to be on 2stop strategy.

Lap 20:

Alguersuari pits in too. Drops to P15 from 10th. Sutil in P8.

Lap 21:

Not close enought to try an overtaking maneuver on Webber. Only 0.4sec behind Webber. This lap could see Alonso passing Webber as they reach DRS Zone.

Schumacher up in 18th. Alonso goes wheel to wheel with Webber. Get past Webber on first DRS zone. Webber locking up. Fantabulous piece of work by Alonso out there.

Lap 22:

Alonso in hunt of Vettel now. Perez is on a one stop strategy. Can he do it.

Alguersuari passes Perez for P13. As his tyres seems to give away.

Lap 23:

Track temp. rose to 46deg Celsius. It is very hot out there.

Mark Webber set the fastest lap on Lap 23 as 1min 43.583sec.

Lap 24:

Petrov passes Kobayashi for P15. It seems Petrov is now charging his way up the field. Force India are currently holding strong P8 and P11. Mclaren are ready for pit stop.

That is Hamilton for his 2nd routine stop.

Lap 25:

4.4sec pitstop for him, that cost him additional 2sec. He drops to P6. There was some problem in his rear tyre that cost him some additional time. Petrov is now chasing Perez for P14. Just fumbled behind him as Perez is way to slow in comparison to Renault at the moment.

Fastest Lap set by Vettel on Lap 24 i.e 1min 43.399sec.

Lap 26:

Petrov get past Perez. Kobayashi also on tail of Perez. He overtakes his teammate with ease as tyres continue to degrade on Perez car.

Michael is up in 17th now. He overtakes Maldonado, now in hunt of Perez up ahead. Perez in pits.

Schumacher was wheel to wheel with Maldonado before getting the position.

Lap 27:

Order on track:

Vettel, Alonso, Webber, Hamilton, Massa, Button, Rosberg, Alguersuari, Perez, Sutil, Heidfeld, Barrichello, Di Resta, Buemi, Trulli, Kobayashi, Petrov, Maldonado, Glock, Kovalainen, Schumacher, Ambrosio, Liuzzi, Karthikeyan.

Kovalainen and Buemi pits in. 2nd stop coming up for drivers.

Lap 28:

Heidfeld and Di Resta pits in. Petrov pits behind his teammate. Webber also pits from P3 as he was locked behind Alonso. Perfect pitstop for Webber. Drops him to P4. Another soft tyres coming up.

Lap 29:

Hamilton set another fastest lap on Lap 28 as 1min 43:077sec. Those fresh soft tyres are really warming up. Sutil pits from P8. Comes out in P9.

Lap 30:

Alonso in pits. Again a perfect stop but Webber takes his position back. Red Bull strategy comes handy. Maldonado shoots the first corner.

Hamilton rear tyres are heating up, he is advised to slow down. Vettel in pits.

Lap 31:

Vettel rejoins in 1st. Superb driving from world champion. Webber set the fastest lap on Lap 30 as 1min 42:993sec. Rosberg and Button in pits. Great overtaking maneuver by Webber as he overtakes Massa who locked the inside line and did not give room to Webber. As Massa laps lapped down Jarno Trulli, Trulli just inches close to hit Alonso. He did not see Alonso was just behind Massa.

Lap 32:

Massa pits and puts used option tyres. Drops to 5th. Michael Schumacher pits from P15. Drops him to P17. Its not the brightest of day for Schumi.

Lap 33:

Button locks his front tyre. Vettel set the fastest lap on lap 32 as 1min 42:491sec.

Order on track:

Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Hamilton, Massa, Button, Alguersuari, Rosberg, Sutil, Heidfeld, Di Resta, Barrichello, Buemi, Kobayashi, Petrov, Perez, Schumacher, Trulli, Maldonado, Kovalainen, Glock, Ambrosio, Liuzzi, Karthikeyan.

Vettel laps Michael Schumacher. Button KERS not working.

Lap 34:

Alguersuari in P7. Still to make his 2nd stop.

Lap 35:

Alonso closing in on Webber. Webber catches Vettel. Massa is told that he is a second faster than Hamilton. He is pushing hard to catch him.

Lap 37:

Vettel set the fastest lap on Lap 38 as 1min 42:273sec. Alonso catching Webber quickly. Alguersuari to stay 6more laps on these tyres.

Lap 39:

As Alguersuari tyres are warming up and worned down, he will be overtaken by drivers at back but still his two stop strategy could land him in between 7th to 9th position. Rosberg in DRS Zone to overtake Alguersuari.

Lap 40:

Rosberg is attacking Alguersuari for P7, overtakes him with ease.

Vettel set the fastest lap on Lap 39 as 1min 41:926sec. Massa is on the tail of Hamilton.

Lap 41:

Petrov pits in for 3rd and probably final stop. Heidfeld and Barrichello both pits in.

Lap 42:

Button is advised to stay on these tyres as his KERS is not working. It seem that Red Bull are not the only car that have KERS problem.

Lap 43:

Webber pits in from P2. Drop to P3. Webber slides wide at the pitlane entry. Cost him few second. Hamilton pits in. Unusual to see Webber pitting ahead of Hamilton as Hamilton was the only front runner to pit so early. Hamilton drops to P6.

Force India is currently on P9 and P10. Alguersuari pits in for 2nd and final stop from P8. Rejoins in P11. Great driving by Alguersuari.

Lap 44:

Petrov in P15 catching Kobayashi ahead of him. Sutil pits in.

Lap 45:

Ferrari getting ready for pits. Only 8 drivers on lead lap. Petrov finding it difficult to pass Kobayashi.

Lap 46:

Alonso in pits. Will he get ahead of Webber?....

He gets ahead of Webber, splendid strategy and back markers allowed Alonso to remain ahead of Webber as they complete their final pitstop.

Whole crowd cheers for homeboy Spaniard Alonso. This could be his best result on this track.

Di Resta is lapping very slowly. Webber try to catch Alonso. All the drivers work on their final stop.

Di Resta fights his way as Alonso, Webber lap him.

Lap 47:

Order on track:

Vettel, Alonso, Webber, Massa, Button, Hamilton, Rosberg, Alguersuari, Sutil, Heidfeld, Perez, Buemi, Barrichello, Di Resta, Kobayashi, Petrov, Schumacher, Maldonado, Kovalainen, Trulli, Glock, Ambrosio, Liuzzi, Karthikeyan.

If Perez could hold on, this could earn him a 10th or 11th finish.

Lap 48:

Vettel in pits for his final stop. He will be out in front easily.

Webber closing in on Alonso. Vettel opened a gap of 10sec on Alonso who is running in 2nd position.

Di Resta lost a lot of places due to that pitlane poker.

Lap 49:

Webber made a mistake as he shoots the corner. Gap opened between Alonso and Webber. Massa and Button also pits in Only 8drivers on the lead lap.

Lap 50:

Petrov chasing and working hard to pass Kobayashi.

There is a three way battle goin on for P14 between Di Resta, Kobayashi and Petrov.

Lap 51:

Petrov overtakes Kobayashi but could not manage to maintain the position as he overshoots the corner.

Alonso complaining about the backmarkers not giving him space.

Lap 52:

6laps remaining:

Will Webber be able to pass Alonso for P2?

Di Resta bucked up by team to pass Buemi and Barrichello up ahead.

Sutil is 4sec away from Alguersuari and closing him fastly. Fighting for P8. Sutil is just 2sec away from Alguersuari. Need another sec to get into DRS activation zone.

Lap 53:

5 laps remaining:

Order on Track:

Vettel, Alonso, Webber, Hamilton, Massa, Button, Rosberg, Alguersuari, Sutil, Heidfeld, Perez, Barrichello, Buemi, Di Resta, Kobayashi, Petrov, Schumacher, Maldonado, Kovalainen, Trulli, Glock, Ambrosio, Liuzzi, Karthikeyan.

Lap 54:

4 Laps Remaining:

Vettel set the fastest lap on Lap 53 as 1min 41:852sec.

Webber is told that he is facing gearbox problems, he has to slow down. He will not be able to compete with Alonso now. He is currently 30sec ahead of Hamilton.

Sutil is chasing Alguersuari for P8. Only 0.5sec behind him. Di Resta is chasing Buemi. Both Force India are chasing Toro Rosso.

Lap 55:

3 Laps Remaining:

Webber is slowing down. Hamilton is going 3sec a lap faster.

Lap 56:

Penultimate Lap:

Sutil is trying very hard as Alguersuari making it difficult for him to pass. He could not pass him this time. 2nd DRS Zone coming up. Both the drivers slide wide a little in final corner.

Lap 57:

Final Lap:

Splendid driver from Sebastian Vettel. He is heading for his 6th victory out of 8 races this season.

Vettel won the race. 16th win of his career.

He won the race in style. He was untouchable and unbeatable in the whole race. From pole to podium, it was Vettel day out.

Crowds cheer for home hero Fernando Alonso who finished the race 2nd ahead of Mark Webber. This is the best result for Alonso on this circuit.

Red Bull smashing FIA engine mapping rule. Both the cars finished on podium.

Final Classification:

Vettel, Alonso, Webber, Hamilton, Massa, Button, Rosberg, Alguersuari, Sutil, Heidfeld, Perez, Barrichello, Buemi, Di Resta, Petrov, Kobayashi, Schumacher, Maldonado, Kovalainen, Trulli, Glock, Ambrosio, Liuzzi, Karthikeyan.

It was one of those exceptional races in which all drivers who started finished the race with no major incidents.

Only 7drivers were on the lead lap in the end.

Total Race time: 1hr 39min 36:169sec.