Formula One: The Great Half-time analysis

Half of the race this year are over and it is worth a look at the teams and was like to throw their season so far.

11 races are over, 8 more will follow, where there will be only two in Europe (Spa and Monza). The remaining races are held mainly in Asia (Singapore, Japan, Korea, India) which will be a particular challenge for the teams. For because of the longer arrival and departure, it is difficult to bring updates to the car. The time spend in the factory racing chassis is shorter, besides that, you will have ready several new aero parts because of the very different routes. Another reason that will make updates, is quite simply the money. If you want to update the 2011 model more or maybe more the 12er model? You see - who makes mistakes in the preparation and in the first half of the season, the punishment is bitter. Error and have made many teams.

1 Red Bull
At first glance, Red Bull has done everything right. It has the chassis with the best output that comes with all the tires cope, you have a flawless Sebastian Vettel and the technology also makes no limp. But the success of the RB7 is also based on the weakness of the other teams. So Red Bull has more problems with the KERS, at times you could not use it. Luck you had with the mapping rules. The idea of ​​the FIA ​​to reduce the overrun of 10% would have the Renault engine is not well done. It ran a lot this year for Red Bull, who have worked hard to keep the lead last year and improve. Vettel is also relaxed this year on the road, but is more able to be aggressive on the road, if need be. Mark Webber, however, is a disappointment this year. About the reasons why he is so far behind Vettel fell back, there are two rumors. One side calls the Pirelli tires. Others the characteristics of the RB7, which should not be the Australian But - despite all Red Bull and Vettel the title can enter a second time this year.

2 McLaren
When they introduced the McLaren MP4-26, I already thought that there are only two variants with such a fancy concept flops with start or develop after the first teething a real winner. McLaren has met with a lot this year. During winter testing, the car was virtually undrivable, such as Button and Hamilton confirmed clear. Only the reconstruction of the floor, the exhaust system, the cooling of the diffuser and then led to the desired results. Nevertheless, the McLaren, as well as the Ferrari, a grab bag. In addition, the car handles too hard on the rear tires, which makes not easy for the team's strategy. The world title might be gone, but the interesting thing here is still the question of whether McLaren will maintain over the winter to the L-shaped sidepods.
Hamilton has had a mixed season this year. His frustration with the poor start to the season you could tell him clearly and he disgraced himself clearly on the line. Since it goes up, even Hamilton is again satisfied. Jenson Button fared no better, but he delivered perfectly brilliant race. Unfortunately, he had two "noughties", which made its slim chances of winning the world title naught.

3 Ferrari
The third consecutive year Ferrari has started the season miserably. Last year you could still win the first race at least, this year you had to wait until the race in England. The problems at Ferrari are varied. Since the strange problem was with the wind tunnel that had been improved to 60% models, but the values ​​supplied did not fit well with the CFD models. On the other hand, the fundamental problem is that it is too conservative, addressed the matter. Have responded and development department rebuilt. The unsuccessful Aldo Costa had to go, Pat Fry took over complete control in terms of chassis and aerodynamics. The Ferrari, despite the redeployment could be successful, then quite a surprise for the team and speaks. But the season of course you can check off.
Alonso has shown several times this year, he can. Even with a bad F150 was often a risk since the European GP and he has always been on the podium. Massa, however, is not a good mood, he has not been run this year, only 70 points, while Alonso has 145 points. The Ferrari 2012 does not exchange it, probably has something to do with the fact that you can not find a useful substitute.

4 Mercedes
As you might have expected more. So you can simply summarize the season of Mercedes. Ross Brawn is the MGP02 again a rather middling draft only succeeded besides that, obviously narrow the budget allows little improvement. At least from the outside makes the Mercedes the impression that he would hardly change. You can perform a long list of reasons why the car is not running (long wheelbase, poor cooling, poor diffuser, a lack of grip front), but in the end agrees not stop the entire package. As a glimmer of hope but one must also say that it is the team managed to reduce the gap to the front during the season significantly. There were times 2 seconds in the last races were still around 1.3 seconds. When you consider that the other have also become faster, which is a good result.
The drivers were both pale. Schumacher had bright spots but still more low points, Nico Rosberg could not really convince me so far, but that may be due to the chassis. Overall, the team unfortunately does not make the impression that one could make 2011 a decisive step forward.

5 Renault
Renault also has what pretty thought out with the forward exhaust, but the season was actually the crash of Kubica over. They had the Poland tailored to R27 on the body and when he was gone, they had the salad. In addition to that the idea to blow the entire underbody, in reality does not really sufficient. It has experimented with a "normal" exhaust, but the design does not fit in the car. Internally, there was also a lot of trouble, because many employees from the development have gone in the last 12 months. Eric Boullier has an unconventional management style, as you can hear that. The obligation of Nick Heidfeld was the right decision, but the German could not really convince. Its quality is weakness in today's F1 is not nicely a serious disadvantage and the defeats against Petrov. The Russians in turn drives a surprisingly strong season, but I'm sure - Kubica would sit in the car, saw the matter differently. Renault will spend the second half of the season trying out lots of new parts for 2012 and driver. Grosjean is one that could even replace Heidfeld this year.

6 Clean
The sixth place in the Constructors' Championship is probably the best that the Swiss can achieve. The Top 3 are not going to get one step better Mercedes and Renault quite achievable in some races. And yet I'm a little disappointed. After all drives Sauber Ferrari with the complete drive train (engine, transmission, KERS) and James Key you got one of those designers who is among the best of his generation. This one has with Kamui Kobayashi and the amazingly fast Perez a good team of drivers. But this year's Clean not going so well, he lacks especially the hot-blown diffuser, which you did not build, after the FIA ​​wanted to ban it first. So will you try to bring to an end and the sixth place is inside the season in style, were it not for the aspiring Force India team.
Kamui Kobayashi was a lot of fun again this year and I would have liked to see him in 2012 in a top team, but there's no space. 2013 could look different if he was still somewhat reduced its error rate. Sergio Perez is one of the surprises this year. Even though he can not always keep up with Kobayashi as an interesting talent could ripen.

7 Force India
The Indians supply from a mixed season, but one must not forget that they are not just equipped with a lush budget. Vijay Mallya has also in the past 18 months, the entire development team must rebuild, hence the good and easier to becoming a slight surprise. But this has to do with the drivers, pointing to some weaknesses at the beginning of the year, a strong performance. Sutil has arrived finally back on its normal level after an ugly start, Paul di Resta returns for his first season very good results from and is probably on the long list of some team bosses. The problem with Force India's just that they run out of resources at the end of the year, because it works on the new car. But still they do have a chance to intercept and clean, but that is really very narrow.

8 Toro Rosso
The B-team of Red Bull is indeed in terms of design on its own, but depends more on the drip of Red Bull And really good it really does not work this year. The first own design of an F1 chassis has promising approaches, but more they do not. Normally you should be traveling at the level of Force India, which he succeeds in the race. But in the qualification but it is back a good bit. The points you have been able to bring about the strategy and clean driving style of the pilot.
Where neither Sebastian Buemi nor Alguersuari Jamie could really convince me so far. Buemi is the better man in qualifying and in the race often looks better. But the differences are rather marginal in the race. Should be clear that one will have to go in winter. Maybe both, if, in addition Daniel Ricciardo is another man finds.

9 Williams
Certainly, the disappointment of the year. The FW33, the concept looks interesting on paper, is a total flop. And a flop of such proportions that one wonders why no one noticed before. Patrick Head, Adam Parr and Frank Williams have made the only right and then quickly pulled consequences. Sam Michael and large parts of the development had to go, one has brought with Mike Coughlin is a quite interesting man who is able to build a very fast and reliable car. Also, the deal with Renault, Williams brings in the right direction, even if the Cosworth is apparently not as bad as its reputation. Among the drivers can say little. Barrichello makes his job, but looks listless, Maldonado surprised every now and again with a good, but then sags in the race. The four points that Williams (last year at the time it was 40), actually say it all.

10th Lotus
For me, the second disappointment of the year. It was clear that no trees would be able to pull out in the second year, but basically, the distance is even though the front has become smaller, but not so far that you could at least keep up with Williams. This Lotus has taken a lot of money in hand, including the Renault engines. It is striking that both cars fail with very technical issues that may Kovalainen, the failures were at least 5 and that he is the frontrunner in this year on this list. Since there is obviously quality problems in our own factory, because the Renault engine is indeed stable in other teams. However - Lotus lacks the "hot blown diffuser" KERS and when that comes, you may be able to reach Q2.
To Trulli and Kovalainen, one can say little. The Finn made a better impression this year, but the better race results has Trulli. Tony Fernandes has indicated that it could possibly retain Trulli. If I had to give him some advice, I would look at someone like me to get into the team Hülkenberg.

11th HRT
Yes, the score is again before HRT Virgin because Liuzzi once had retracted a good result. What can I say - the miracle is actually that the team is still moving, what one has to thank Colin Kolles, who prepared the car in his company near Ingolstadt. Spanish was the only owner who has changed on the team but. The investment company is money, but in the current difficult economic situation because you have to be careful. That HRT does not come forward is also the old, barely modified Dallara chassis, which next year will probably be permanently replaced. In terms of drivers - Luizzi does its job, Karthikeyan was not on and his successor, Daniel Ricciardo failed to impress so far, but the one must certainly be some time.

12th Virgin
The British are at the end of the special, which probably does not correspond to their actual performance throughout. Virgin has also revamped the technical department. Nick Wirth is out (even if you bought the F1 Division of Wirth) and from 2012 to work closely with McLaren, the team which will certainly bring something. But this year you can check off. It is interesting that you have Timo Glock extended for another three years, but speaks openly about that D'Ambrosio will probably not continue in 2012. You obviously looking for a driver from the midfield. This could be an ex-Toro Rosso man be, but also the various replacement driver is one to view.

Half of the race this year are over and it is worth a look at the teams and was like to throw their season so far. 11 races are ...