2011 season review
It’s over. It’s been over for a while. And now that the suitcase is unpacked, the laundry has been washed and put away, and the sleep caught up on, the time has come to look back on the crazy year we’ve had.
The girlracer 2011 Formula 1 season review is an all-positive, all-best round-up of the year we’ve had. There’s no point being all negative about stuff when it’s much more fun viewing the past with rose-tinted spectacles.
The racing…
Best driver
How could you possibly pick anyone other than Sebastian Vettel? The German racer barely put a foot wrong all season, to the extent that even his reliability issues were kind enough to wait until after both titles had been sewn up. Sure, he lost the Canadian Grand Prix to Button on the last lap, but that’s the only mistake he made all season. Well, that and not coming up with a new catchphrase.
Best win
Lewis Hamilton, China. By rights, this should probably go to one of Vettel’s lights-to-flag drives. But they’ve all blended together into a seemingly endless season of victories, and it’s become hard to separate them. While I’ve also nominated it for best race, below, I’ve got to give this one to Hamilton. Moments before the race started, the McLaren man was at risk of starting from the pitlane – there was a 35-second margin to spare following a fuel problem. But the British driver put the trouble behind him, joined his teammate in passing Vettel on the opening lap, and eventually turned a three-stop strategy into a clean win.
Best drive
Jenson Button, Canada. In China, we talked of Mark Webber’s drive to the podium from the back of the pack as being worthy of John Watson. But in Montreal Button did McLaren proud with a drive from the back of the grid – following a crash and a penalty – that led to a heart-in-the-mouth win when he overtook race leader Vettel on the last lap of a rain-soaked race that broke Formula 1 records.
Best race
The Chinese Grand Prix. Cast your mind back to early in the season, when Pirelli’s rapidly-decaying rubber was still causing chaos on the track and Vettel seemed strong, but not unstoppable. The Red Bull may have had the march on the competition in qualifying, but Hamilton’s stellar performance at the Chinese Grand Prix gave us all the hope that the season would be a competitive one, replete with numerous winners and a fight for the championship. The race itself was a blinder. There was a period when it looked as though Nico Rosberg was on course to win his first race, Lotus overtook an established team on pure pace for the first time, and tyre strategy ruled the roost.
Best battle
Mark Webber vs Lewis Hamilton, Korea. Is there a better example of two expert racers delivering a masterclass in clean defensive driving? Yes, there is. It’s called the 1979 French Grand Prix, and it’s the final laps battle between Gilles Villeneuve and Rene Arnoux. But the Webber-Hamilton battle is the finest example we’ve seen in recent years, and for that we should be grateful.
Best car
RB7, no question. How could any other car even come close? The only possible challenger is this buggy, spotted in the Abu Dhabi paddock.
The girlracer 2011 Formula 1 season review is an all-positive, all-best round-up of the year we’ve had. There’s no point being all negative about stuff when it’s much more fun viewing the past with rose-tinted spectacles.
The racing…
Best driver
How could you possibly pick anyone other than Sebastian Vettel? The German racer barely put a foot wrong all season, to the extent that even his reliability issues were kind enough to wait until after both titles had been sewn up. Sure, he lost the Canadian Grand Prix to Button on the last lap, but that’s the only mistake he made all season. Well, that and not coming up with a new catchphrase.
Best win
Lewis Hamilton, China. By rights, this should probably go to one of Vettel’s lights-to-flag drives. But they’ve all blended together into a seemingly endless season of victories, and it’s become hard to separate them. While I’ve also nominated it for best race, below, I’ve got to give this one to Hamilton. Moments before the race started, the McLaren man was at risk of starting from the pitlane – there was a 35-second margin to spare following a fuel problem. But the British driver put the trouble behind him, joined his teammate in passing Vettel on the opening lap, and eventually turned a three-stop strategy into a clean win.
Best drive
Jenson Button, Canada. In China, we talked of Mark Webber’s drive to the podium from the back of the pack as being worthy of John Watson. But in Montreal Button did McLaren proud with a drive from the back of the grid – following a crash and a penalty – that led to a heart-in-the-mouth win when he overtook race leader Vettel on the last lap of a rain-soaked race that broke Formula 1 records.
Best race
The Chinese Grand Prix. Cast your mind back to early in the season, when Pirelli’s rapidly-decaying rubber was still causing chaos on the track and Vettel seemed strong, but not unstoppable. The Red Bull may have had the march on the competition in qualifying, but Hamilton’s stellar performance at the Chinese Grand Prix gave us all the hope that the season would be a competitive one, replete with numerous winners and a fight for the championship. The race itself was a blinder. There was a period when it looked as though Nico Rosberg was on course to win his first race, Lotus overtook an established team on pure pace for the first time, and tyre strategy ruled the roost.
Best battle
Mark Webber vs Lewis Hamilton, Korea. Is there a better example of two expert racers delivering a masterclass in clean defensive driving? Yes, there is. It’s called the 1979 French Grand Prix, and it’s the final laps battle between Gilles Villeneuve and Rene Arnoux. But the Webber-Hamilton battle is the finest example we’ve seen in recent years, and for that we should be grateful.
Best car
RB7, no question. How could any other car even come close? The only possible challenger is this buggy, spotted in the Abu Dhabi paddock.
The media experience…
Best media centre
This is a tough one. Do I pick Japan, for the Bento boxes, or Singapore, where everything’s perfect? Abu Dhabi have massive cinema screens, free internet, a roof terrace, and a fabulous welcome party with delicious canapés and amazing desserts, and while you can’t see the track from the press room you can go up on the roof to watch the action. But Singapore just gets it right. Not only do they get added bonus points for the fact that we’re racing at night, but the enormous Nespresso machine, fridge filled with Haagen Dazs, free internet, and views of the track just can’t be beat.
Best hotel room
Dubai. When I couldn’t afford to stay in Abu Dhabi for the grand prix, I booked myself into the Crowne Plaza in Dubai. I went for the cheapest room option, which looked to be a pretty standard business room. But when I got chatting to the concierge on check-in, and he discovered that I was an F1 journalist in town for the race, he asked if I minded being upgraded to the Captain’s Suite. Mind? Of course I didn’t mind! It was the most luxurious point of my season, a weekend in which I discovered the delight that is Molton Brown’s mouthwash, whiled away the hours in my whirlpool bath, and slept on aromatherapy pillows covered in a bazillion threadcount pillow cases. It was the kind of race weekend people seem to assume F1 journos have all the time, and it was a total treat.
Best airline
Emirates. Until I flew with them, I didn’t get the paddock’s Emirates love-fest. But they are the best. More legroom, comfier seats, better entertainment, nicer food, and – often – cheaper prices. My one shot in the airport lounge was a fabulous experience, and it’s totally worth all that time spent waiting for connections in Dubai to earn the kind of airmiles needed for permanent access and semi-regular upgrades to business. Not that I’ve had one of those yet. Hint, hint…
Best media centre
This is a tough one. Do I pick Japan, for the Bento boxes, or Singapore, where everything’s perfect? Abu Dhabi have massive cinema screens, free internet, a roof terrace, and a fabulous welcome party with delicious canapés and amazing desserts, and while you can’t see the track from the press room you can go up on the roof to watch the action. But Singapore just gets it right. Not only do they get added bonus points for the fact that we’re racing at night, but the enormous Nespresso machine, fridge filled with Haagen Dazs, free internet, and views of the track just can’t be beat.
Best hotel room
Dubai. When I couldn’t afford to stay in Abu Dhabi for the grand prix, I booked myself into the Crowne Plaza in Dubai. I went for the cheapest room option, which looked to be a pretty standard business room. But when I got chatting to the concierge on check-in, and he discovered that I was an F1 journalist in town for the race, he asked if I minded being upgraded to the Captain’s Suite. Mind? Of course I didn’t mind! It was the most luxurious point of my season, a weekend in which I discovered the delight that is Molton Brown’s mouthwash, whiled away the hours in my whirlpool bath, and slept on aromatherapy pillows covered in a bazillion threadcount pillow cases. It was the kind of race weekend people seem to assume F1 journos have all the time, and it was a total treat.
Best airline
Emirates. Until I flew with them, I didn’t get the paddock’s Emirates love-fest. But they are the best. More legroom, comfier seats, better entertainment, nicer food, and – often – cheaper prices. My one shot in the airport lounge was a fabulous experience, and it’s totally worth all that time spent waiting for connections in Dubai to earn the kind of airmiles needed for permanent access and semi-regular upgrades to business. Not that I’ve had one of those yet. Hint, hint…
Best view
Interlagos. It’s the only circuit where you can see the whole track from the media centre, and it really doesn’t get much better. At night, the lights of Sao Paulo twinkle in the distance. During the day, the city’s towerblocks form a defensive perimeter. The undulating hills, sweeping track, and seemingly permanent sunshine added to the charmingly cluttered paddock and extraordinary atmosphere make the Brazilian Grand Prix something truly special.
Interlagos. It’s the only circuit where you can see the whole track from the media centre, and it really doesn’t get much better. At night, the lights of Sao Paulo twinkle in the distance. During the day, the city’s towerblocks form a defensive perimeter. The undulating hills, sweeping track, and seemingly permanent sunshine added to the charmingly cluttered paddock and extraordinary atmosphere make the Brazilian Grand Prix something truly special.