Just like Canada 2011, this was a race defined by mixed weather conditions, which played into Button’s super-sensitive hands.
Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber had locked out the front row, but Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari rocketed ahead at the start. Race director Charlie Whiting immediately pointed at Alonso from his starter’s stand, and a penalty soon followed for a jump start.
Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F10 leads at the start
Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F10 leads at the start
Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
The race was quickly neutralised, however, for a three-car pileup at Turn 6 that was triggered as Vitantonio Liuzzi lost control of his Force India in the slippery conditions and spun into Kamui Kobayashi’s Sauber and Sebastien Buemi.
The latter had ‘gone viral’ in practice, when both front wheels parted company with his Toro Rosso under braking for the hairpin (below)!
Sébastien Buemi, Scuderia Toro Rosso STR5 crashed in the first practice session
Photo by: Sutton Images
Several cars opted to stop under the safety car, switching to intermediate tyres as the rain intensified. The race restarted with Nico Rosberg leading for Mercedes, ahead of Button, and the rain then relented, causing those who’d switched tyres to head back into the pits for slicks again.
During the pitstops, Lewis Hamilton and Vettel battled wheel-to-wheel – both on the pit entrance and then banging wheels as they left their boxes. Vettel complained: “At the stop I was ahead, I don’t know why he pulled to the left and was keen to touch me.”
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing RB6, Lewis Hamilton, McLaren MP4-25 Mercedes during the pitstop
Photo by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing RB6, Lewis Hamilton, McLaren MP4-25 Mercedes during the pitstop
Photo by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing RB6, Lewis Hamilton, McLaren MP4-25 Mercedes during the pitstop
Photo by: Charles Coates / Motorsport Images
Hamilton had the last laugh, however, passing Vettel as he attempted to outbrake Force India’s Adrian Sutil at the hairpin – the McLaren ace moving ahead of both cars.
At the front, Button (who had started fifth) grabbed the lead from Rosberg at the end of Lap 19, just before the rain returned.
This time, Button did pit for intermediates, but his advantage from the long first…
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