Formula 1
Red Bull Spanish GP Race Report
Circuit de Catalunya
Published: May 22, 2011, 5:11 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
RED BULL REIGNS IN SPAIN AGAIN
Car 1 SEBASTIAN VETTEL, Finish Position: WINNER Start Position: 2nd
“It was pretty tough today. At the beginning of the race I thought I had a good start, I didn’t understand where Fernando came from! He started behind me, 16 metres behind, and half way down the straight he was already side-by-side. He went on the inside of Mark and I went on the outside, so he was leading after the first corner. We couldn’t get close enough to use the DRS, but we got him with the pit stop.
Custom_Caption
Photo by: xpb.cc
Fairly early, everyone was getting the options out of the way, so there was half the race left on the hard tyres. It looked like the McLarens were very strong; they stayed out longer on a different strategy, which bought them up to second behind us. From then on I knew that it would be very, very close; going into the last 10 laps felt the same as in China. My tyres were going away from me and I prayed the same was happening to Lewis, as he was catching up and they seemed so much quicker, especially on the last sector.
At the end of the straights he would be right in my mirrors, so you don’t know if you should defend or not. It was very close, but on the last two laps, I could make it stick. KERS was on and off, which meant I was playing around with brake distribution a lot. McLaren and Lewis especially gave us a hard time today. It’s quite a release when you cross the line and you know that you made it, so I’m very, very happy. It was a great result and after yesterday a good confirmation that we are strong but, as expected, McLaren and Ferrari are giving us a hard time and are pushing hard – I’m very happy today. ”
Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: xpb.cc
Car 2 MARK WEBBER, Finish Position: 4th, Start Position: 1st
“I don't think my start was hideous, but Fernando got a phenomenal one. Obviously from then on it wasn’t the start we had planned and it was a bit of a chess game. People were covering each other’s pit stops and I really didn't do much racing on track. At the end of the race I finished 40 seconds behind Lewis and Seb. It was an interesting day today and shows how fine the margins are; we were frustrated by Fernando who seemed to pit every time I did! At certain stages I was quick and at others I wasn’t – that’s the way it was today.”
CHRISTIAN HORNER, Team Principal:
“A really exciting race. I think we were all surprised to see Fernando come through at the first corner in first position and that changed the dynamics of the race. He didn’t have great pace at the front and it boxed the rest of them up behind. We managed to undercut with Sebastian, but couldn’t do it with Mark because Ferrari could see what we were doing. It was a combination of team-work and strategy. Sebastian had to make the passes on Jenson and Massa to make his strategy work, it was a real risk, but he went for it and made it happen, which is what it’s all about.
We were all surprised to see Fernando come through at the first corner in first position
Christian Horner
Unfortunately for Mark, he spent the first half looking at Fernando Alonso’s exhaust and to get him ahead in the end we did a dummy which they fell for. Otherwise it was frustrating for Mark and the complete result would be to have him right up there as well.”
CYRIL DUMONT, Renault:
“It was a really tough race – I think it was the toughest of the season so far, but for the team it was a good result again. It was a shame not to see Mark on the podium, but he did really well to finish fourth and get some good points for him and the team. Next week will be important – Mark loves Monaco, so I hope we have a good result there next week – we will see.”
Source: Red Bull
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Team Lotus Spanish GP Race Report
Next article Marussia Virgin Spanish GP Race Report
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Fernando Alonso
What Fernando Alonso is getting wrong about F1 driving standards
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
What Fernando Alonso is getting wrong about F1 driving standards
Fernando Alonso doubles down on poor F1 driving standards: "We all know who we're talking about"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
Fernando Alonso doubles down on poor F1 driving standards: "We all know who we're talking about"
More from
Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton buoyed by historic first Ferrari F1 pole: "I still love what I do"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
1 h
Lewis Hamilton buoyed by historic first Ferrari F1 pole: "I still love what I do"
Ferrari downplays expectations for F1 Mexico GP despite blistering Friday
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
10 h
Ferrari downplays expectations for F1 Mexico GP despite blistering Friday
Latest news
"I'll bombard myself with melatonin": Kimi Antonelli admits to driving "tense" and "tired" on cusp of F1 title
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
5 min
"I'll bombard myself with melatonin": Kimi Antonelli admits to driving "tense" and "tired" on cusp of F1 title
Ryo Hirakawa could have "easily" made Q2 in F1 Mexico GP without late traffic
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
40 min
Ryo Hirakawa could have "easily" made Q2 in F1 Mexico GP without late traffic
Carson Kvapil wins Martinsville as Justin Allgaier takes NASCAR O’Reilly points lead
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Martinsville II
48 min
Carson Kvapil wins Martinsville as Justin Allgaier takes NASCAR O’Reilly points lead
F1 Mexico GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
50 min
F1 Mexico GP: Sunday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe