Sebastian Vettel retired while leading the European Grand Prix but his pace in the opening laps of the race may have his rivals worried.
European Grand Prix lap times
All the lap times by the drivers (in seconds, very slow laps excluded):
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 | |
Sebastian Vettel | 110.454 | 105.759 | 105.584 | 105.602 | 105.409 | 105.168 | 105.412 | 105.341 | 105.856 | 105.415 | 105.423 | 105.602 | 105.818 | 105.95 | 106.21 | 115.623 | 115.953 | 104.555 | 104.69 | 105.008 | 104.832 | 104.988 | 104.644 | 104.611 | 104.707 | 104.998 | 105.328 | 106.162 | 139.743 | 160.201 | 159.481 | 156.334 | 148.102 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lewis Hamilton | 112.423 | 107.792 | 106.968 | 107.052 | 106.186 | 106.063 | 106.106 | 105.83 | 106.278 | 107.683 | 106.876 | 107.052 | 120.65 | 112.313 | 106.653 | 106.35 | 106.276 | 106.465 | 106.606 | 106.118 | 105.99 | 106.033 | 106.089 | 105.886 | 105.746 | 105.9 | 106.203 | 138.613 | 134.249 | 115.406 | 151.067 | 156.759 | 145.007 | 106.975 | 105.279 | 104.627 | 104.324 | 104.423 | 104.091 | 104.379 | 104.477 | 104.374 | 104.007 | 104.275 | 104.105 | 104.436 | 104.44 | 104.607 | 104.64 | 104.748 | 105.226 | 105.292 | 105.373 | 106.152 | 109.334 | ||
Pastor Maldonado | 114.989 | 107.7 | 106.786 | 106.534 | 107.035 | 106.452 | 106.295 | 106.227 | 106.257 | 106.355 | 106.987 | 107.905 | 108.776 | 123.965 | 110.753 | 105.444 | 106.381 | 109.319 | 109.782 | 108.615 | 105.305 | 104.865 | 106.424 | 105.045 | 105.123 | 105.686 | 105.632 | 132.37 | 136.033 | 114.846 | 149.095 | 156.109 | 143.021 | 107.794 | 106.1 | 106.34 | 106.348 | 104.17 | 104.148 | 104.094 | 104.459 | 104.388 | 104.064 | 104.157 | 104.399 | 104.506 | 104.417 | 104.288 | 104.275 | 104.675 | 104.614 | 104.827 | 104.735 | 105.01 | 106.35 | 120.267 | 120.743 |
Romain Grosjean | 113.198 | 107.433 | 107.167 | 106.998 | 106.217 | 106.125 | 106.14 | 105.978 | 105.891 | 106.329 | 105.923 | 106.177 | 106.958 | 106.717 | 107.045 | 121.383 | 110.71 | 106.286 | 105.883 | 105.31 | 105.767 | 105.338 | 105.018 | 104.722 | 104.451 | 104.695 | 104.148 | 129.02 | 133.403 | 130.502 | 155.02 | 155.877 | 147.525 | 107.084 | 105.493 | 104.639 | 104.163 | 103.764 | 103.873 | 104.437 | |||||||||||||||||
Kimi Raikkonen | 115.542 | 108.188 | 106.806 | 106.29 | 106.821 | 106.541 | 106.287 | 106.556 | 105.894 | 106.235 | 106.979 | 107.778 | 107.182 | 123.048 | 110.577 | 106.394 | 107.17 | 108.61 | 109.935 | 106.585 | 105.507 | 105.284 | 106.046 | 105.031 | 104.728 | 104.828 | 105.051 | 130.443 | 134.143 | 116.339 | 151.05 | 156.939 | 145.779 | 107.382 | 105.936 | 104.315 | 104.545 | 104.272 | 104.041 | 104.241 | 104.883 | 104.464 | 103.686 | 104.15 | 104.184 | 104.284 | 104.562 | 104.662 | 105.065 | 105.05 | 104.793 | 105.044 | 105.217 | 106.263 | 107.443 | 106.137 | 107.865 |
Nico Rosberg | 118.985 | 108.383 | 107.736 | 107.176 | 107.547 | 107.265 | 107.175 | 107.062 | 107.328 | 107.464 | 107.025 | 106.861 | 107.114 | 107.16 | 106.958 | 107.172 | 107.626 | 108.411 | 108.601 | 122.319 | 111.561 | 106.558 | 106.276 | 106.352 | 105.973 | 106.038 | 106.177 | 119.274 | 130.302 | 118.221 | 147.036 | 157.324 | 144.888 | 110.135 | 108.229 | 107.171 | 105.93 | 106.011 | 105.212 | 104.902 | 105.242 | 105.045 | 105.317 | 105.061 | 105.19 | 118.936 | 109.908 | 105.261 | 103.191 | 102.614 | 102.753 | 102.7 | 102.624 | 102.163 | 102.81 | 104.76 | 105.312 |
Kamui Kobayashi | 114.467 | 106.801 | 106.963 | 107.148 | 106.438 | 106.28 | 106.351 | 106.169 | 106.294 | 106.534 | 107.074 | 107.346 | 107.904 | 124.872 | 111.239 | 105.819 | 106.882 | 108.997 | 110.062 | 128.202 | 110.617 | 105.082 | 105.725 | 105.184 | 105.651 | 105.379 | 105.183 | 121.197 | 131.188 | 109.614 | 148.397 | 156.357 | 141.886 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nico Hulkenberg | 116.554 | 107.359 | 107.697 | 106.582 | 106.717 | 106.683 | 107.128 | 106.692 | 106.764 | 106.91 | 106.976 | 108.287 | 107.373 | 123.203 | 111.486 | 106.117 | 106.133 | 106.277 | 109.977 | 108.609 | 106.545 | 106.155 | 106.226 | 106.285 | 106.308 | 106.235 | 106.562 | 130.041 | 132.164 | 114.622 | 149.014 | 156.269 | 142.689 | 107.615 | 106.215 | 106.221 | 106.376 | 104.666 | 104.264 | 104.226 | 104.741 | 104.658 | 104.707 | 104.41 | 104.229 | 104.376 | 104.709 | 104.751 | 104.682 | 104.766 | 105.036 | 105.501 | 105.667 | 106.132 | 106.866 | 108.619 | 110.57 |
Jenson Button | 120.025 | 108.828 | 107.235 | 106.804 | 107.403 | 107.369 | 107.348 | 107.348 | 107.3 | 120.989 | 110.803 | 106.233 | 106.563 | 106.789 | 106.434 | 106.51 | 105.952 | 106.314 | 109.248 | 109.135 | 106.277 | 106.358 | 106.306 | 106.26 | 106.327 | 119.831 | 110.12 | 123.864 | 130.334 | 112.772 | 143.704 | 155.909 | 141.182 | 107.939 | 106.486 | 106.308 | 105.75 | 105.94 | 105.224 | 105.77 | 105.448 | 105.211 | 104.993 | 105.258 | 105.009 | 104.93 | 104.924 | 104.806 | 106.442 | 105.109 | 104.993 | 104.944 | 105.395 | 105.729 | 105.623 | 107.265 | 107.932 |
Paul di Resta | 117.713 | 108.08 | 107.519 | 107.344 | 107.242 | 107.165 | 107.253 | 106.84 | 106.82 | 106.738 | 106.763 | 107.008 | 107.21 | 107.555 | 107.333 | 107.48 | 107.8 | 107.997 | 108.761 | 109.008 | 109.427 | 110.475 | 126.019 | 111.523 | 106.016 | 105.6 | 105.375 | 120.5 | 126.855 | 113.758 | 149.215 | 156.449 | 142.354 | 107.565 | 106.428 | 106.081 | 106.168 | 105.277 | 104.963 | 104.824 | 104.731 | 104.626 | 104.417 | 104.496 | 104.101 | 104.714 | 104.502 | 104.649 | 104.7 | 105.256 | 105.318 | 105.363 | 106.118 | 107.097 | 107.374 | 108.375 | 109.177 |
Fernando Alonso | 117.156 | 107.741 | 107.268 | 106.973 | 106.925 | 106.907 | 106.726 | 106.583 | 106.492 | 106.804 | 106.954 | 106.826 | 106.202 | 106.435 | 119.822 | 110.692 | 107.037 | 107.678 | 107.301 | 105.797 | 105.573 | 106.224 | 105.669 | 105.539 | 105.313 | 105.437 | 105.176 | 128.369 | 135.221 | 117.85 | 151.89 | 156.076 | 146.8 | 106.122 | 105.764 | 104.518 | 104.141 | 103.754 | 103.921 | 103.666 | 104.018 | 104.692 | 103.808 | 104.139 | 104.308 | 104.215 | 104.102 | 104.617 | 104.689 | 105.354 | 105.333 | 105.272 | 105.14 | 105.329 | 105.259 | 106.102 | 108.93 |
Michael Schumacher | 119.626 | 108.471 | 108.651 | 107.167 | 107.616 | 107.331 | 107.285 | 107.232 | 107.522 | 107.363 | 107.37 | 107.209 | 107.458 | 107.555 | 107.676 | 108.298 | 108.423 | 108.877 | 125.247 | 111.923 | 106.005 | 105.481 | 105.398 | 105.312 | 105.414 | 105.187 | 104.871 | 118.873 | 130.614 | 117.299 | 148.709 | 156.433 | 143.447 | 107.386 | 106.578 | 106.263 | 104.823 | 104.236 | 104.273 | 104.434 | 118.497 | 109.203 | 103.099 | 104.073 | 104.096 | 103.366 | 103.307 | 103.67 | 104.065 | 103.232 | 103.34 | 103.577 | 105.022 | 104.012 | 105.87 | 107.049 | 104.474 |
Felipe Massa | 118.359 | 107.933 | 107.39 | 107.612 | 107.085 | 107.271 | 107.516 | 106.799 | 107.394 | 107.172 | 121.209 | 111.217 | 106.302 | 105.976 | 106.075 | 105.908 | 106.128 | 106.91 | 110.247 | 108.386 | 106.428 | 106.198 | 106.395 | 106.299 | 106.238 | 106.363 | 120.409 | 127.129 | 130.468 | 112.131 | 144.97 | 156.193 | 141.201 | 159.636 | 111.026 | 104.431 | 104.506 | 104.793 | 104.68 | 104.566 | 105.397 | 104.907 | 104.822 | 104.728 | 104.989 | 105.711 | 106.124 | 106.166 | 108.496 | 106.589 | 107.233 | 107.838 | 122.377 | 110.82 | 108.498 | 107.738 | |
Bruno Senna | 120.541 | 109.962 | 108.177 | 107.433 | 107.575 | 107.033 | 107.378 | 107.54 | 107.212 | 107.217 | 106.99 | 107.305 | 107.082 | 107.343 | 108.241 | 107.583 | 108.072 | 109.307 | 110.681 | 177.687 | 112.299 | 106.347 | 106.393 | 114.926 | 111.565 | 107.085 | 115.654 | 131.029 | 133.169 | 153.968 | 111.925 | 114.723 | 111.98 | 106.441 | 106.491 | 105.779 | 105.507 | 104.864 | 105.012 | 104.799 | 104.972 | 104.849 | 104.655 | 104.111 | 104.296 | 104.5 | 105.642 | 105.068 | 105.24 | 104.294 | 104.687 | 104.565 | 104.822 | 104.478 | 104.649 | 105.746 | 105.721 |
Sergio Perez | 120.803 | 110.398 | 107.769 | 107.574 | 107.546 | 107.11 | 107.23 | 107.759 | 107.072 | 122.199 | 110.155 | 104.63 | 105.458 | 106.41 | 106.192 | 106.198 | 106.163 | 106.208 | 108.994 | 109.443 | 106.3 | 106.399 | 106.516 | 107.028 | 123.01 | 110.032 | 104.604 | 121.346 | 130.432 | 113.097 | 143.377 | 155.827 | 141.302 | 107.744 | 107.558 | 105.466 | 105.196 | 106.222 | 104.945 | 106.102 | 104.513 | 104.087 | 103.526 | 103.799 | 103.914 | 104.579 | 104.481 | 104.743 | 104.63 | 104.997 | 105.541 | 105.916 | 107.582 | 106.944 | 107.33 | 108.201 | 111.829 |
Heikki Kovalainen | 122.293 | 110.46 | 108.577 | 107.721 | 107.968 | 107.781 | 107.97 | 107.848 | 109.3 | 108.288 | 108.09 | 123.763 | 112.404 | 107.669 | 106.748 | 106.889 | 106.796 | 107.129 | 107.071 | 107.773 | 107.277 | 106.964 | 108.455 | 106.918 | 106.981 | 107.574 | 168.264 | 134.473 | 138.224 | 152.022 | 114.328 | 114.737 | 110.52 | 107.605 | 108.215 | 106.94 | 106.074 | 105.911 | 105.751 | 105.294 | 105.865 | 105.798 | 105.374 | 105.686 | 105.913 | 106.358 | 106.891 | 106.688 | 107.256 | 107.372 | 107.761 | 108.359 | 109.134 | 109.342 | 111.838 | 112.48 | 114.123 |
Daniel Ricciardo | 121.419 | 110.322 | 107.891 | 107.663 | 107.501 | 107.212 | 107.104 | 107.752 | 107.282 | 107.218 | 107.101 | 107.062 | 107.211 | 123.965 | 111.867 | 105.636 | 106.408 | 105.943 | 105.91 | 106.427 | 106.127 | 105.779 | 105.821 | 105.719 | 106.346 | 106.112 | 106.007 | 118.763 | 130.441 | 115.989 | 151.3 | 156.27 | 146.587 | 107.039 | 107.621 | 106.272 | 123.202 | 111.004 | 104.499 | 104.13 | 104.399 | 103.98 | 103.933 | 103.674 | 103.992 | 104.957 | 119.218 | 104.915 | 104.403 | 104.004 | 104.495 | 104.564 | 104.281 | 104.281 | 104.472 | 104.994 | 105.206 |
Jean-Eric Vergne | 123.666 | 110.137 | 109.512 | 108.768 | 108.179 | 107.73 | 107.654 | 107.796 | 108.078 | 107.957 | 108.036 | 108.401 | 109.174 | 108.973 | 108.738 | 108.485 | 124.442 | 113.022 | 106.512 | 106.504 | 106.04 | 105.491 | 105.745 | 105.656 | 105.907 | 106.573 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mark Webber | 121.958 | 110.393 | 108.116 | 107.803 | 107.403 | 107.403 | 107.048 | 107.725 | 107.263 | 107.391 | 107.07 | 107.18 | 107.07 | 106.955 | 106.986 | 107.552 | 108.021 | 109.223 | 119.687 | 116.764 | 106.421 | 105.396 | 105.18 | 105.406 | 105.272 | 105.647 | 105.458 | 119.366 | 131.11 | 115.383 | 148.676 | 156.306 | 143.022 | 107.874 | 106.332 | 106.076 | 107.231 | 115.249 | 113.169 | 102.717 | 103.041 | 104.32 | 103.441 | 103.836 | 104.218 | 103.495 | 103.439 | 103.361 | 103.945 | 103.594 | 103.23 | 103.258 | 104.876 | 104.721 | 105.18 | 106.734 | 105.286 |
Vitaly Petrov | 123.017 | 110.162 | 108.923 | 108.019 | 108.06 | 107.482 | 107.745 | 107.894 | 108.139 | 107.81 | 107.802 | 108.386 | 123.042 | 111.532 | 106.253 | 106.501 | 106.401 | 106.623 | 106.478 | 107.72 | 108.344 | 106.961 | 106.819 | 107.626 | 123.037 | 111.203 | 107.069 | 143.11 | 120.451 | 110.181 | 116.843 | 155.723 | 140.175 | 108.298 | 106.907 | 106.7 | 106.311 | 105.889 | 105.699 | 105.729 | 105.921 | 105.654 | 105.541 | 105.772 | 107.888 | 106.524 | 140.348 | 111.449 | 109.01 | 105.849 | 107.28 | 105.851 | 104.314 | 104.253 | 104.8 | 104.936 | 106.066 |
Pedro de la Rosa | 124.395 | 110.354 | 109.39 | 109.352 | 109.233 | 109.021 | 109.126 | 109.179 | 109.442 | 109.436 | 110.129 | 109.956 | 110.542 | 129.824 | 113.433 | 107.498 | 107.447 | 107.482 | 107.962 | 108.192 | 107.864 | 107.967 | 107.924 | 108.677 | 109.205 | 110.241 | 109.986 | 149.915 | 142.93 | 151.564 | 115.266 | 114.059 | 110.491 | 107.564 | 107.201 | 106.799 | 108.223 | 107.597 | 107.323 | 106.854 | 106.998 | 106.921 | 107.036 | 107.664 | 107.182 | 107.361 | 108.267 | 108.397 | 111.283 | 110.025 | 109.748 | 109.786 | 109.763 | 110.334 | 114.562 | 114.065 | |
Narain Karthikeyan | 124.997 | 110.63 | 110.461 | 109.623 | 109.514 | 110.128 | 109.389 | 111.02 | 110.082 | 109.654 | 109.948 | 110.373 | 111.141 | 112.32 | 127.887 | 116.944 | 108.637 | 108.362 | 107.921 | 107.803 | 109.307 | 108.034 | 108.129 | 108.048 | 108.069 | 107.868 | 116.356 | 125.06 | 167.258 | 146.301 | 120.751 | 108.231 | 107.612 | 107.836 | 107.262 | 107.038 | 106.94 | 106.788 | 116.604 | 113.99 | 106.51 | 106.388 | 106.601 | 106.791 | 106.96 | 106.864 | 106.71 | 106.947 | 106.785 | 107.359 | 107.674 | 108.07 | 110.073 | 109.786 | 115.003 | 114.865 | |
Charles Pic | 125.68 | 110.767 | 110.859 | 109.612 | 109.592 | 109.56 | 109.335 | 111.361 | 109.92 | 109.664 | 135.605 | 112.986 | 107.361 | 107.807 | 107.49 | 107.861 | 107.807 | 107.798 | 107.742 | 107.847 | 107.958 | 107.801 | 107.654 | 107.655 | 109.156 | 108.185 | 108.714 | 149.794 | 143.399 | 151.981 | 114.652 | 114.932 | 110.209 | 107.55 | 107.733 | 107.434 | 107.795 | 106.717 | 106.867 | 107.074 | 107.125 | 106.894 | 106.701 | 107.45 | 107.44 | 107.263 | 108.175 | 108.173 | 109.888 | 108.343 | 107.504 | 107.662 | 107.356 | 107.731 | 108.168 | 108.26 | 109.153 |
In the opening laps of the race it seemed as though Lewis Hamilton was inadvertently aiding Sebastian Vettel’s escape by holding up Romain Grosjean and his pursuers.
But when Grosjean got past Hamilton he was only able to reduce the amount of time being lost to Vettel, not reverse or even halt it. Vettel pulled away at more than a second per lap in the opening laps and once Grosjean appeared behind him he was still able to find up to a second on occasions.
Red Bull introduced a substantial upgrade for the RB8 this weekend with reconfigured exhaust exits featuring a tunnel underneath them and changes to the diffuser and rear wing. Have these helped unlock a new level of performance from the car?
European Grand Prix fastest laps
Nico Rosberg set the fastest lap of the race after switching to a fresh set of soft tyres in the final 11 laps.
Each driver’s fastest lap:
Rank | Driver | Car | Fastest lap | Gap | On lap |
1 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 1’42.163 | 54 | |
2 | Mark Webber | Red Bull-Renault | 1’42.717 | 0.554 | 40 |
3 | Michael Schumacher | Mercedes | 1’43.099 | 0.936 | 43 |
4 | Sergio Perez | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’43.526 | 1.363 | 43 |
5 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | 1’43.666 | 1.503 | 40 |
6 | Daniel Ricciardo | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1’43.674 | 1.511 | 44 |
7 | Kimi Raikkonen | Lotus-Renault | 1’43.686 | 1.523 | 43 |
8 | Romain Grosjean | Lotus-Renault | 1’43.764 | 1.601 | 38 |
9 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’44.007 | 1.844 | 43 |
10 | Pastor Maldonado | Williams-Renault | 1’44.064 | 1.901 | 43 |
11 | Paul di Resta | Force India-Mercedes | 1’44.101 | 1.938 | 45 |
12 | Bruno Senna | Williams-Renault | 1’44.111 | 1.948 | 44 |
13 | Nico Hulkenberg | Force India-Mercedes | 1’44.226 | 2.063 | 40 |
14 | Vitaly Petrov | Caterham-Renault | 1’44.253 | 2.090 | 54 |
15 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1’44.431 | 2.268 | 36 |
16 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | 1’44.555 | 2.392 | 18 |
17 | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’44.806 | 2.643 | 48 |
18 | Kamui Kobayashi | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’45.082 | 2.919 | 22 |
19 | Heikki Kovalainen | Caterham-Renault | 1’45.294 | 3.131 | 40 |
20 | Jean-Eric Vergne | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1’45.491 | 3.328 | 22 |
21 | Narain Karthikeyan | HRT-Cosworth | 1’46.388 | 4.225 | 42 |
22 | Charles Pic | Marussia-Cosworth | 1’46.701 | 4.538 | 43 |
23 | Pedro de la Rosa | HRT-Cosworth | 1’46.799 | 4.636 | 36 |
AdrianMorse (@adrianmorse)
24th June 2012, 21:32
So quick! Not watching the football, Keith? ;-)
I’m still stunned to see how quickly Hamilton’s tyres went from not very good to completely undriveable. From around lap 43 to 53 he was more or less matching Alonso, then in lap 54 suddenly a 1m46.1 versus a 45.3 for Alonso, then the next lap a 1m49.3 (including trying to defend from Raikkonen, of course). In hindsight it would have been better, of course, to make another pit stop anywhere during the final stint, or to drive slower at some point, but with the cliff coming so suddenly, it becomes very hard for the pit wall to make the right strategy call.
I certainly don’t blame McLaren for trying to hold on to P2, but at the same time I’m surprised not more teams try a late charge on fresh tyres. Obviously, having to pass other cars can cost time, but just look at the time Rosberg takes out of Alonso since his final pit stop. Between laps 49 and 55 he wins around 2.5 seconds per lap on Alonso! Also, DiResta passes Webber on track, and then the latter pits from behind him, and catches and passes him again, including overtaking other cars on the way to DiResta.
Alfie (@alfie)
24th June 2012, 21:47
If Raikonnen had pitted, I think he could’ve won..
Mike (@mike)
27th June 2012, 4:19
Because of the tyres allowing cars that have pitted to have such a advantage in speed, which is great for F1. It means that simply put, you can try a banzai move and it can work.
F1 is so awesome.
Eggry (@eggry)
25th June 2012, 12:20
Vettel is unbelievably fast in the first part of the race. I’m really worried about it.
F1fanNL (@)
25th June 2012, 12:26
He was unbelievably fast in Bahrein too.
Hot conditions, lots of corners and Vettel liking the track determined Vettel’s pace.
smudgersmith1 (@smudgersmith1)
25th June 2012, 20:10
As a JB fan, v worried to see this pace…lets hope the rest of the European season goes better.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
25th June 2012, 23:12
Another astonishing gap from Vettel. Managing to bag yourself a free pit-stop is always good but having such supposedly tight competition by the teams makes it all the more impressive. Sticking it on pole by .3s under 2012 competitive conditions and pulling out a 20s gap makes for worrying times if you’re not driving the RB8.