It was another quiet race bringing up the rear for HRT.
While their closest rivals were able to get away with two stops, both HRTs had to make three due to high tyre wear.
“We struggled the whole weekend with the tyres, especially on the rear end of the car” said team principal Colin Kolles.
“We had to go for a three stop strategy since the wear of the tyres was too high; our main competitors were on two stops. The pace overall was good but due to the additional stop we could not gain positions.”
| Narain Karthikeyan | Vitantonio Liuzzi | |
| Qualifying position | 24 | 22 |
| Qualifying time comparison (Q1) | 1’44.363 (+0.779) | 1’43.584 |
| Race position | 24 | 23 |
| Laps | 54/57 | 54/57 |
| Pit stops | 3 | 3 |
HRT drivers’ lap times throughout the race (in seconds):
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | |
| Narain Karthikeyan | 126.285 | 112.023 | 111.358 | 110.914 | 110.867 | 110.403 | 110.463 | 111.417 | 111.003 | 110.465 | 110.76 | 111.867 | 111.771 | 133.032 | 121.052 | 113.392 | 109.846 | 111.429 | 110.533 | 110.16 | 109.793 | 117.067 | 111.561 | 110.329 | 114.414 | 113.7 | 112.257 | 113.907 | 131.371 | 118.03 | 111.002 | 107.708 | 110.766 | 108.377 | 107.977 | 109.603 | 107.761 | 110.192 | 109.019 | 109.921 | 110.055 | 111.237 | 114.079 | 132.152 | 117.118 | 108.379 | 110.901 | 108.081 | 108.521 | 108.586 | 108.871 | 108 | 109.022 | 109.548 | |||
| Vitantonio Liuzzi | 124.831 | 111.879 | 111.122 | 111.23 | 110.754 | 110.324 | 109.879 | 110.031 | 109.871 | 109.661 | 109.617 | 109.721 | 110.128 | 111.008 | 129.69 | 115.455 | 109.008 | 110.965 | 110.478 | 110.933 | 108.952 | 110.113 | 109.057 | 110.131 | 108.885 | 108.947 | 109.194 | 125.709 | 116.369 | 108.418 | 108.011 | 107.775 | 107.678 | 110.184 | 108.491 | 109.514 | 107.418 | 108.697 | 108.143 | 107.475 | 108.409 | 108.341 | 123.604 | 115.641 | 108.294 | 108.106 | 107.861 | 107.418 | 107.649 | 107.852 | 107.743 | 108.745 | 108.928 | 108.296 |
Narain Karthikeyan
Finished in his customary last position after dropping back with a flat-spotted tyre early in the race: “At the beginning I was trying to keep with the pack, with Liuzzi and [Jerome] d’Ambrosio, but after seven laps I locked the front and after that I had a lonely race.”
Karthikeyan became the first driver to finish a race in 24th place.
Narain Karthikeyan 2011 form guide
Vitantonio Liuzzi
Out-qualified D’Ambrosio again and kept him beind until his first pit stop. Thereafter fell back from the two Virgins.
Vitantonio Liuzzi 2011 form guide
2011 European Grand Prix
Image © Motioncompany
BasCB (@bascb)
27th June 2011, 10:43
Keep battling HRT! They actually had quite a lot of TV time yesterday.
With Liuzzi not being all that quick to let Vettel by 2 times and Narain being shown lapped by at least 10 cars as well. I hope that brings someone in to the cool spot or thinking it could be them on the car.
Huron (@huron)
27th June 2011, 11:05
I hope not, because that it would only give them more incentive to ignore blue flags.
James Hunt would have had some very choice words about HRT’s usual blue flag antics.
Enigma (@enigma)
27th June 2011, 10:48
Interesting tweet from Adam Cooper: “#F1 I asked @narainracing if he’d seen @AussieGrit waving at him, he said ‘No, but they all do it…’ Poor guy!”
Another quite race behind everyone, but at least they had a solid qualy – good job by Liuzzi to out-qualify D’Ambrosio. I think he’s the best driver HRT’s had, experience really is more important than talent there.
M.M.C (@mmc)
27th June 2011, 11:42
Are you implying that Liuzzi isn’t talented? |:
Mike
27th June 2011, 14:39
I agree, He isn’t going to set the world alight but he isn’t exactly a slouch either.
Fixy (@)
27th June 2011, 15:30
He won he F3000! In a more emphatic way than many others! Sadly in F1 he hasn’t shown, the odds were in his favour more than with other drivers.
AdrianMorse
27th June 2011, 11:42
In the first stint, Karthikeyan does not manage to breach the 1m50s. What lap times are the GP2 guys doing around here in race trim?
puquak (@puquak)
27th June 2011, 19:51
Looks like only 3 cards broke into the 49s
puquak (@puquak)
27th June 2011, 19:52
cars that is
Shimks
27th June 2011, 12:50
Get rid of blue flags!
MVEilenstein (@mveilenstein)
27th June 2011, 16:15
+1
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
27th June 2011, 13:35
Back to Earth with a bang it seems after Canada. At least they managed to stay in 107%.
Todfod (@todfod)
27th June 2011, 15:26
Yep. All that confidence flushed down the toilet. Gotta hand it to HRT though, they made the most of every opportunity in Canada to finish in fron of the Virgins and Lotus cars. But in a straight forward race, they dont stand a chance. I do not think Karthikeyan can compete with the pace of GP2 cars.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
27th June 2011, 21:49
A couple of races ago he was lapping slowing than them for qualifying I think.
James
27th June 2011, 23:08
They were lapped by every team. The fact they were lapped by Virgin must have hurt a bit. A team that they’ve shown to be better than through a fair portion of the season. If it was for the high sponsership he brings, Karthikeyan would not be in that car. He’s painfully slow. Liuzzi is probably getting about 90% out of the car, but I’m sure other drivers could get more out of it.
James Williams
29th June 2011, 3:33
Crap car, even crapper drivers. Hopeless Racing Team strikes again.