Part 3 finds us at the wrong end of the grid with the new teams and Force India.

The image that defined a season? credit: Sutton Images/Autosport

Force India

• Qualifying: Sutil (19^th – including a five place grid penalty) Liuzzi (21^st)
• Race: Liuzzi (16^th) Sutil (17^th)

This weekend was not what you’d call ideal. In fact, it was probably one of the worst race weekends Force India have ever had to endue. Just to give you a picture of their strife, here’s a brief breakdown of their problems.

Sutil was forced to sit out practice 3 on Saturday morning due to problems with his drivetrain, which then led to a gearbox change. This meant that even before qualifying he knew he was going to be docked five places. Then, during qualifying, Liuzzi managed to smash up his car fairly comprehensively, so qualified 21^st. Sadly, it was only going to get worse (and considerably more embarrassing).

Come the race, the two team mates touched into the first corner, meaning Sutil didn’t make up any places and Liuzzi thought he’d damaged his front wing. They both then headed to the pits – Sutil for a change of tyres to get his stop out of the way and Liuzzi, unsurprisingly, for a new front wing.

Cue a mix up in the pits and one of Liuzzi’s super soft tyres was fitted to Sutils car. Cue another round of pitstops to correct the error and a referral to the stewards.

Carnage.

Badger’s best: Liuzzi

Virgin

• Qualifying: Glock (23^rd) di Grassi (24^th)
• Race: Glock (18^th) di Grassi (ret)

Another tale of woe for the Virgin team.

Glock managed to accrue a ten-place grid penalty in qualifying for changing the gear ratios. Really guys, how did you manage that? In the search for last place, he was only saved by his team mate not entering a lap in qualifying at all due to more gearbox problems.

The race was slightly more positive for young Lucas, making up four places at the start and generally being quite quick (relatively, anyway), until his suspension went. Cue yet another retirement.

Glock managed to get himself stuck behind Senna’s HRT until the pit stops and from then on maintained a steady if unspectacular pace. He made a very reasonable point after the race, saying he hopes the team “can find a way to get a smoother build-up over the weekend because it will make life a lot easier.” Never a truer word was spoken.

Badger’s best: Glock

HRT

• Qualifying: Senna (20^th) Yamamoto (22^nd)
• Race: Senna (19^th) Yamamoto (ret)

It was decided this weekend that everyone’s favourite Indian driver (sorry Narain Karthikeyan…) should take a break, to allow Yamamoto to stay and Senna to return. They’re just going crazy at HRT, aren’t they?

Not a terribly exciting weekend. Bruno thought he did well in qualifying, but presumably would have still only beaten his team mate in normal conditions. He got a slow puncture during the race, but managed to finish. Yamamoto had problems with his gearbox and retired reasonably early on.

While they keep changing their drivers, it’s going to be hard to compare their respective pace. When we’ll start to take a proper interest is if/when Klien gets put in the car.

Badger’s best: Senna

Lotus

• Qualifying: Trulli (17^th) Kovalainen (18^th)
• Race: Kovalainen (ret) Trulli (ret)

A mixed weekend for the Lotus team -  a good performance by Trulli in qualifying (nearly a second faster than Kovalainen) was followed by another gearbox failure early in the race and another retirement.

Kovalainen didn’t really have much pace throughout the weekend, with his main contribution being thwacking de la Rosa as he was being lapped.

All that said, Lotus are still the quickest of the new teams by quite a margin.

Badger’s best: Trulli

Badger’s series of team and driver analysis: The Top Dogs, the Chasing Dogs and the Sleeping Dogs…

The second part of this week’s Hot Rod or Hot Dog sees us taking a look at the midfield runners from Germany.

Still the best of friends? credit: LAT/Autosport

Mercedes

• Qualifying: Rosberg (9^th) Schumacher (11^th)
• Race: Rosberg (8^th) Schumacher (9^th)

A team now going backwards at quite a lick, it seems clear Mercedes have begun to focus on next year’s car to the detriment of this year’s model. From talking of the “big four” teams at the beginning of the year, we’re now down to the “big three”, with Mercedes not even certain of having the fourth quickest car on the grid any more.

At the home race for both Schumacher and Rosberg, both drivers were fairly evenly matched again, but it’s the younger of the two who continues to get more out of the car. What was Schumacher’s rustiness has now developed into his lack of testing time, rather than perhaps the more obvious answer that Rosberg is quicker.

On a completely different note, Rosberg will be hoping that they get it right next year. If he was going to trundling around in the midfield, he may as well have stayed at Williams.

Badger’s best: Rosberg

Sauber

• Qualifying: Kobayashi (12^th) de la Rosa (14^th)
• Race: Kobayashi (11^th) de la Rosa (14^th)

A frustrating race for Kamui Kobayashi by his own account. However, we at Badger see this as a positive sign for both him and the team. Frustration implies a hope of better things; something in very short supply earlier in the season.

Both drivers complained about the tyres after the race, remarking on the lack of grip offered when the car was fully fueled. However, both then had quite separate moans. Kamui was left to bemoan the car’s lack of top speed while fighting with Schumacher and Petrov, while Pedro was looking good for a very racy end to the Grand Prix after coming in for soft tyres close to the end. However, it all fell apart a bit when he was lapping Heikki Kovalainen, who closed the door on him while being lapped, leaving Pedro to come into the pits for a change of front wing with the knowledge his afternoon was thoroughly wrecked.

Overall, Kobayashi was quicker again, as expected. He’s cementing his place for next season (if sponsorship money hadn’t already done that) and putting Pedro under pressure. Just how cheap can he be?

Badger’s best: Kobayashi

Williams

• Qualifying: Barrichello (8^th) Hulkenberg (10^th)
• Race: Barrichello (12^th) Hulkenberg (13^th)

Another team who’ve made a large leap forward in recent races, but who slipped into bad old habits in Germany. It’s all very well starting in the top 10, but if you can’t stay there it rather defeats the point of being there in the first place.

Let’s start with the good. Two cars in the top ten is a result, if not a massive result in fact. Even Hulkenberg got himself in there.

Now, the not so good. Both drivers’ races were spoiled by their starts and, having lost track position, the car was quick enough to keep up but not to pass. That said, you’d have to have been driving a rocket ship to pass at Hockenheim, so we at Badger wouldn’t feel too sorry for yourselves, chaps. On another note, Hulkenberg described the race as “uneventful”. You’re telling us, Nico.

Badger’s best: Barrichello

Toro Rosso

• Qualifying: Alguersuari (15^th) Buemi (16^th)
• Race: Alguersuari (15^th) Buemi (ret.)

Quite an interesting race for the Toro Rosso team, all things considered.

Having seen some of the bigger teams get involved with scraps between the drivers, Alguersuari and Buemi obviously wanted some of the action. It’s probably best we let the drivers tell it in their own words:

JA: “I was on the inside going into Turn 6 and I braked well leaving enough space, but there seemed to be some problems in front of me, as the cars ahead all slowed much more than is normal. I braked again, but it was not enough and I drove into him [Buemi]. Naturally, I am sorry for that.”

SB: “I made a really good start and was able to pass three or four cars and then when we came to the hairpin, I was braking in the middle of the corner and my team-mate came from a long way back and ended up driving onto the top of my car.”

As you can see, a slight difference of interpretation. What they really needed to do was both go out and have some fisticuffs – that would have made it a lot more interesting. They’re both in helmets after all, so we at Badger think it would have been fine. A tip for next time, lads.

After all of that nonsense, Jaime trailed round to finish fifteenth. Needless to say he’s now “looking forward” to Hungary and doubtless having someone taste his food.

Badger’s best: Alguersuari

Badger’s series of team and driver analysis: The Top Dogs, the Chasing Dogs and the Sleeping Dogs.  First of all, here’s the Top Dogs after Germany

So, Hockenheim – to be honest, the racing wasn’t that interesting and your correspondent actually dozed off at one point (don’t worry, the wonders of modern technology allowed for rewinding). However, thankfully for this article and the wider F1 press, Ferrari managed to generate reams of copy by trying to play God yet again. When will they learn?

A picture is worth a thousand words... credit: Autosport/Sutton Images

Ferrari

• Qualifying: Alonso (2^nd) Massa (3^rd)
• Race: Alonso (1^st) Massa (2^nd)

Okay. Deep breath. The story of the race up to that incident is quickly told. Both Massa and Alonso beat Vettel off the line to take first and second respectively. They then trundled round until their pit stops, pitted and returned to the same positions.

Then on lap 49 Massa deliberately slowed to allow Alonso through after an instruction from the pit wall and sparked the incident that’s got F1 in the papers for all the wrong reasons.

The story’s genesis can really be traced back to Felipe Massa’s signing of a new two-year contract earlier this year. “That’s a bit odd” we thought, “he’s been no great shakes this season.” Now the reasons for that have become abundantly clear. Massa is a number two driver to Alonso, presumably only kept on to please the moody Spaniard who, after his season at McLaren, clearly doesn’t relish having a competitive team mate. Quick enough to be World Champion again, certainly, but willing to race for it? Not a chance.

The issue itself is different to Ferrari’s Austrian switch in 2002. For a start, it’s clear to anyone watching F1 this season that Alonso is quicker than Massa and that he needs the points, which Schumacher simply didn’t in 2002. Nevertheless, at only just over half way through the season, and with Massa clearly able to hold off Alonso for the race victory, the whole thing is decidedly murky. So you’re faster than him, Fernando? Well then, get into gear and pass him. Don’t go whining to the team to make him move over. Just as an aside, it’s against the rules. What price fixing a race? $100,000 you say? We’ll take four.

Then, to top it all off, came Ferrari’s insistence that it was purely Felipe’s decision. Come. Off. It. If you’re going to do it, don’t insult the intelligence of everyone watching. It’s not nice. Rob Smedley was presumably saying sorry for something in no way connected to making a not-terribly-well-coded radio message.

Grubby.

Badger’s best: Massa

Red Bull

• Qualifying: Vettel (1^st) Webber (4^th)
• Race: Vettel (3^rd) Webber (6^th)

Another race in which Red Bull managed to spoil their qualifying performance and come home lower than they started.

Vettel’s qualifying lap was brilliant, no doubt about it. However, there’s really no point in it if you then can’t sustain it. Then it becomes only a stat, a record to be cited in forthcoming seasons that no one will remember. Vettel said after the race that he got the maximum out of the car, but when Webber is finishing sixth and if he really wants to press home his advantage, he should have done better.

Webber, for his part, wasn’t really on form all weekend. Jumped by Hamilton and Button and then suffering from an oil consumption problem, he’ll just be glad Vettel could only manage third. A quieter weekend for the Red Bull drivers, but you get the feeling that their own personal battle isn’t finished. Expect more fireworks. Hopefully big ones.

Badger’s best: Vettel

McLaren

• Qualifying: Button (5^th) Hamilton (6^th)
• Race: Hamilton (4^th) Button (5^th)

When you don’t have the car, you don’t have the car.

A weekend in which the McLarens were never really anywhere near the ultimate pace and struggled to compete with the Ferraris and Red Bulls. Perhaps the upgrades on the car, perhaps the set up they’d gone for (surely no one needs that much of a straight-line speed advantage…), they’ll be looking for a big step in Hungary, lest their grip on the two titles loosens.

Button did well to out qualify Hamilton and was unlucky to be blocked by Vettel around the outside of turn one at the start of the race. After losing a few places and making one back almost immediately, he then ran a long first stint to jump Mark Webber and settled into a groove behind Lewis for a spot of formation flying.

Nothing too much of interest and nothing that tells us anything about the relationship between the two drivers. That’s your lot, folks.

Badger’s best: Hamilton

Renault

• Qualifying: Kubica (7^th) Petrov (13^th)
• Race: Kubica (7^th) Petrov (10^th)

Not bad for the Renault team, again finishing as the best of the rest.

A good scrap with Hamilton at the start led to Kubica losing a couple of places followed by holding off Schumacher. Realistically, barring retirements, seventh was the best he could have hoped for. Seeing as he achieved that, he’s done well. The question beginning to form in our minds is whether he could be going even faster if he had a good team mate to push him. Does it matter that much his team mate, even in a world of flying pigs and fairies, simply is never going to challenge him properly?

Speaking of whom, Petrov managed to score his first point in dry conditions. We’re pretty sure he didn’t enjoy being harangued by his engineer over the radio though. It almost sounded like he was directing the village idiot. Oh for the days of closed radio communications. He wasn’t helped by the fact he thought he was eleventh when he was, in fact, tenth. We suppose that’s a way to increase your happiness when you exit the car…

We still don’t think he’s doing enough to merit a seat next year, so he’s almost in the position of an American politician, having to raise enough money to even have a shot at being selected. It’s all about the roubles.

Badger’s best: Kubica

2000

“I had been told that when you are leading a race the last lap is the longest- it really felt like it.

Rubens Barrichello

© LAT/Autosport

The German GP of 2000 was memorable for two reasons. Firstly, it ended with the first F1 win for one of the paddock’s most popular characters. Secondly, it saw a disgruntled (and probably deranged) ex-Mercedes employee wander on to the track to vent his anger at his former employers.

In a rain hit qualifying session David Coulthard put his McLaren on pole ahead of the Ferrari of Michael Schumacher, with Giancarlo Fisichella (Benetton) and Mika Hakkinen behind them on the second row. Rubens Barrichello meanwhile could only manage 18th, having made a mistake on his final run.

A stunning getaway from 4th starter Hakkinen saw the Finn lead in to turn one, where Schumacher and Fisichella’s races would end. Coulthard veered in front of Fisi, who was left with nowhere to go but in to Schumacher’s car. Both were done for the day.

So the McLarens were one-two and looking comfortable, whilst Rubens was charging through from the back. By lap 13 the Brazilian had climbed to 3rd, but found himself over 12 seconds behind the leading pair. He’d been running light on fuel to make up positions, and soon stopped.

Then, on lap 25, the aforementioned madman appeared on the side of the track heading to the first chicane. It later transpired that he was protesting his dismissal by Mercedes, and he did give them a real headache by forcing the Merc-powered team to compromise one of their drivers by leaving them out for an extra lap behind the ensuing safety car. Not for the first time, Coulthard got the thin end of the wedge.

The race restarted with Hakkinen leading from Trulli’s Jordan and Barichello. Another safety car appeared after Pedro Diniz ran in to Jean Alesi’s Prost, resulting in a spectacular shunt that the Frenchman was lucky to walk away from. Soon after that pulled in heavy rain began to fall in the stadium section of the circuit.

This prompted many, including Hakkinen and Trulli, to pit for wet tyres- wrong choice. Barichello meanwhile stuck it out on his dries- right choice. With much of the track dry Rubens only had to play it safe in the wet stadium section, and did so skillfully. He began to edge away from Hakkienn, and despite the rain intensifying the Finn couldn’t peg the gap- Rubens had won his first grand prix.

And it was emotional. He half climbed out of his car on the in lap, visor up, tears streaming from his eyes. And this is part of why we love old Rubinho- he wears his heart on his sleeve. Be it weeping at his first victory or Blah-Blah-gate last season he doesn’t hide his emotions.

So with a combination of luck and brilliant car control Barrichello had won his first grand prix. It had been a real classic, and one that, for a number of reasons, is definitely one to remember.

1997

“I really felt I had some very special powers here this weekend”

Gerhard Berger

© Rainer Nyberg/FORIX

What can we say about Gerhard Berger? During his F1 career he developed a reputation for practical jokes (he once threw Ayrton Senna’s briefcase out of a helicopter), shrewd contract negotiation and being willing number two to Senna at McLaren. But he was also two other things. Firstly, he was a man who suffered from sinus problems; and secondly, on his day, he was a also a world class racing driver.

We mention the sinus woes because they’d kept him out of three grand prix in 1997, his swansong season.  Upon his return to the Benetton Gerhard was grieving the recent loss of his father. With personal issues still in his head (but thankfully no sinuses) he would surely be out of sorts at Hockenheim.

Not a bit of it. He was refreshed from his break and determined to make his late father proud, and stunned the paddock but putting his car on pole, ahead of impressive rookie Giancarlo Fisichella in the gloriously liveried Jordan-Peugeot. At the start these two held position, with Michael Schumacher third and Mika Hakkinen fourth.

By lap 14 Berger held a 10 second lead over Fischella, before making his first stop. He rejoined 4th, behind Hakkinen, but wasted no time in passing the McLaren driver. He then cruised up on the back of Fischella and Schumacher, who pitted before he could make a move.

With Fisichella one stopping Berger needed to increase his lead. By lap 23 it was 18 seconds, but he’d need to extend that by another 7 to get in and out ahead of the Italian. So Gerhard got his head down and reeled of some blistering laps, but following his stop on lap 33 he found himself just behind the Jordan. Could he make the pass?

Could he ever! With surprising ease Berger making the move exiting the Ostcurve and immediately set about building a lead, and the race seemed his.

So the day looked set to finish with the old fighter edging out the young pretender- but there was heartbreak in store for Fisi. He suffered a puncture just a few laps from home, and despite getting back to the pits for a fresh set, would soon pull out for good with an oil pipe failure.

But that was a mere sideline to the main event- Gerhard Berger’s winning return to Formula One. People had said he was no longer motivated by the racing, that he was just cashing a final cheque before bowing out of the sport. How wrong Gerhard proved them to be that day at Hockenheim.

1982

“I was very sensible to keep my helmet of after the crash!”

Eliseo Salazar

© FORIX

What was so memorable about the 1982 German Grand Prix? Why, a spot of kickboxing of course! And who else would we expect to have indulged in such activities but a rather angry Nelson Piquet, who directed his fists (and feet) of fury towards former buddy Eliseo Salazar. The Chilean driver was lucky he was wearing his crash helmet at the time- old Nelson was pretty ticked off.

Driving the tailend ATS car Salazar was about to be lapped by Piquet. Entering the chicane Nelson made his move, but moved a tad to early. Salazar clipped his rear, and both spun out of the race. A furious Piquet jumped from his car, briefly remonstrated with Eliseo before launching several kicks and punches at the Chilean.

The event has gone down in racing folklore. Compilations of F1 action from the eighties always find space for this one, and it’s at its best with the original Murray Walker commentary: “take that, and that- oh my word!” Murray chimes, briefly imagining he were Piquet dolling out retribution for Eliseo’s foolishness. Still, the Chilean isn’t too bitter that this embarrassing moment is the best remembered of his F1 career. “I actually had a lot of respect for Nelson. He was instrumental in helping me in my early career,” Salazar recounted many years later. “He took me to my very first McDonalds”. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

But the race wasn’t all crazy South American kickboxing bouts. It was also tinged with tragedy, what with Ferrari star Gilles Villeneuve having lost his life at the Belgian Grand Prix just 12 weeks earlier. His teammate (and since the San Marino race arch-enemy) Didier Pironi would suffer a crash in practice that ended his Formula One career, which in turn set him on powerboat racing. The Frenchman would eventually lose his life in this pursuit.

Oh, and by the way, the race was won by Patrick Tambay, replacing Villeneuve in the number 27 Ferrari. It was a glimmer of light for the Italian squad in what was one of the darker times in their history. Still, 1982 is best remembered for Piquet vs Salazar,

Back in May Badger picked out Pastor Maldonado as the strong title favourite, and the Venezeulan has spared our blushes by dominating the first half of the season. Three straight feature race wins in Istanbul, Valencia and last time out at Silverstone leave him with a healthy 19 point lead entering the second half of the championship.

© GP2 Media Service

After developing a reputation for being rapid-but-reckless in previous years Pastor’s shown a new maturity in 2010, biding his time and staying calm when the situation demands it. He’s been consistent in qualifying and clever in the races- it seems he’s grown up.

His lead is commanding, and with the competition looking a little inconsistent this one is now his to lose. The signs are that he won’t do that, that he’s got his act together enough to keep the good ship Maldonado on a course for victory. If he does we’d expect to see him in F1 next year, likely for a team looking for the magic combo of cash (he’s got hefty backing from his homeland) and success in GP2. Think of him as the new Vitaly Petrov.

So Pastor’s been the man this season, but who else has impressed? Well, a few people- but no one consistently. We’ve seen flashes of brilliance from a few but none have done it regularly enough to keep up with Maldonado in the championship. The fact that he’s a few years older than his competitors partly explains that.

But arguably Pastor’s biggest rival in speed terms is Mexico’s Sergio Perez, who only turned 20 at the start of the year. At times he’s shown a stunning pace in the Barwa Addax car, but bad luck has prevented him turning this into title challenging points. He set out his stall with a brilliant victory at Monaco, dominating a race in which he looked untouchable. We all know Mark Webber was the most impressive man on the Monte Carlo streets that weekend, but Sergio was without doubt a close second.

Perez was dominant in the Monaco feature race, and also took sprint race honours at Silverstone. © Autosport

His bad luck has been telling, not least in Valencia- a race for which he’d taken pole- where he was taken out of both races by overambitious moves from drivers behind him.

Still, Perez is lightning quick, very young and supported to the hilt by Mexican telecom giants Telmex. He’s making a very strong case to become his country’s first F1 driver in three decades, and a strong run to the end of the season could well see him do it sooner rather than later. And, with his obvious talents, he’s not out of the title race just yet.

Though not the quickest man in the field, Spaniard Dani Clos has done a great job this season, and sits second in the championship despite not yet showing the ultimate pace of his rivals. But then success in F1 isn’t all about banzai laps and blinding speed- consistency is key, and Dani’s shown that in GP2 this year. He’s taken just the one win- and that came in the Turkish sprint race- but he’s racked up four additional podium finishes (including two at Silverstone), leaving him 19 shy of runaway leader Maldonado.

Clos (in the red and yellow Racing Engineering machine) took pole at Monaco but was beaten to victory by Sergio Perez. © Autosport

At just 21 Dani is a good few years younger than Pastor, and already has F1 testing experience with Williams under his belt. To top it all off he’s Spanish, which is pretty handy at the moment, what with the country having two grand prix and one team team (with the likely addition of a second for 2011). It’s the nationality to be in F1 at the moment, so Clos may be arriving at just the right time. Can he win the title? It’ll take some doing, but with his consistency could keep him in the hunt for a while yet.

Rookie-wise it’s the ART pairing of Jules Bianchi and Sam Bird who’ve shone brightest in 2010. No surprise considering the team’s superb record in the series.

One of the pre-season title favourites, Bianchi is almost living up to billing, sitting third in the standings at half distance. He’s had poles and podiums but no wins yet, which is a little less than would have been expected pre-season.

Bianchi lead Bird at Monaco, a race in which Sam suffered more technical woes. © Autosport

There have been mistakes, but Jules is a rookie, and there’s no question that he’s a very talented lad- so much so that Ferrari already have him on a long-term contract. There are wins in him yet,  and be warned: 2009 champ Nico Hulkenburg, driving for ART, only hit full tilt at the halfway point in the season. Jules could well make a run at the title if it all falls in to place.

Teammate Bird meanwhile has been beset by more bad luck than any GP2 driver this season. He’s had technical problems in qualifying, on the gird and in the race, hurting his chances of scoring points on several occasions.

But setbacks have also given him a chance to shine. After dropping to the back following a first lap collision he was superb at the opening race in Barcelona, driving like a man possessed to regain lost time. That alone told us that he’s got the ability, and that he possesses a Mansell-esque determination.

Had it not been for the failures he’d likely be on terms with his teammate in the points standings, but his form so far has been good. He may need another season in GP2 to earn an F1 drive, but the signs are he does have the ability.

Other drivers to single out for a bit of credit are rookies Marcus Ericsson and Fabio Leimer, both of whom have taken sprint race wins, and fellow new-boy Charles Pic, who won the opening feature race in Barcelona. Pic in particular looks a very capable young man. Giedo van der Garde has been solid alongside Perez at Addax, Virgin Racing test driver Luis Razia has been an able teammate to Maldonado, whilst Michael Herck has come on leaps and bounds in the family-owned DPR car.

But right now Maldonado looks a shoe-in for the title. One of the drivers below him needs to find some winning consistency if they’re to challenge him for the crown. If not- if they keep sharing the wins out- then the Venezuelan should be able to bring home the title come November. He’s finally starting to look the business, and F1 would seem to be within his grasp.

Classification

What’s more they gave Badger a rare treat, the sort of thing money can’t buy – a few hours hanging out backstage in the paddock and the pit lane on the Thursday afternoon.  We were collected in one of the oh so funky F1 golf carts and escorted to the paddock complete with fancy paddock passes.  It’s a somewhat surreal experience being free to roam around the paddock, having a chat with Peter Sauber who was enjoying a fat cigar, bumping into Liuzzi, Heidfeld and Virgin’s own, Timo Glock as well many other of F1’s unsung heroes (that’s the engineers folks!) before having a tour of Virgin’s hospitality area and enjoying the view.

We even had the chance to have good look around an F1 team’s pit garage, which resembles more of a laboratory than a garage with it being squeaky clean and organised with loads of odd but complicated looking gadgets neatly aligned.  The engineers were hard at work on the cars, ensuring they’re ready for Friday practice.  Seeing such activity close up really brings home how intricate and perfect F1 engineering is, check out the photos:

Car in progress

The F1 engineers tool box

Under the covers

We explored every nook and cranny of the VR garage and have compiled some facts that you may not have known already (we didn’t!)

• Smoke alarms – well things that look like one above the cars are there to monitor whether any work is being done during Parc Ferme (and no, putting a bag over it won’t work)
• While Virgin Racing is pretty much Manor GP, with Branson turning up only to selected GPs, the Virgin brand definitely helps with getting sponsors (have you seen Sauber’s blank canvas this season!?)
• Geoff, the wonderful Technical PR chap at VR often tweets direct from the pit wall
• The team’s CEO Graeme Lowden is a thoroughly nice gent and one of few (if any?) CEOs present in the paddock throughout the GP weekend
• How hot is F1 fuel – very, around 80 degrees – so hot that it begins to vapourise, so very special pumps are needed to pick up the fuel to feed the engine.
• The team’s new front wing for Silverstone had a camera mount that wasn’t machined, but ‘grown’ – a method formally known as sintering
• Under no circumstances must anyone (Badger or otherwise) photograph the floor pan of an F1 car
• Each car has over 300 sensors on it, which send data back to garage – a seriously bonkers amount (see one of the screens below)
• There actually is a bloke that says ‘gentlemen start your engines’ – he’s the one who’s monitoring all the data on the car before it leaves the garage.
• The front wishbones on an F1 car can’t support the weight of the car alone, without the suspension, dampers and what not – i.e. if one thing goes then it’s game over – there really is nothing extra in F1 car design, it’s playing at the limits of every single component.

Timo's controls

Datatastic

Geoff assured us that engineers aren't usually head-scratching

The 'smoke' alarm FIA Parc Ferme monitoring gizmo

The Cosworth engine with oil tank mounted on

Your editor with Badger's senior member, Uncle Badger

So there you have it, that’s Badger’s exploration of the Virgin Racing pit garage, if you have any other questions or comments, use the comments box below.

Here at Badger we wish VR all the best for the rest of the season and will be keeping a close eye on their progress during the 2nd half of the 2010 season.

• Follow the team on Twitter here: @VirginRacing
• Follow the Badger on Twitter too: @f1Badger
• Buy VR team merchandise here: VR Shop
• And read their reports and features: VR Online

To be honest, he may as well have lined up like this... credit: Sutton Images/Autosport

Ferrari

• Qualifying: Alonso (3^rd) Massa (7^th)
• Race: Alonso (14^th) Massa (15^th)

Another dog of a weekend for the boys in red.

Alonso, after qualifying very well, got off the line so slowly (a problem with the clutch apparently, not his fault…) that he was passed by any number of cars. Then, after passing Kubica while off the track, he was instructed to let Kubica back through, but Kubica was in the process of retiring from the race. He was then given a drive-through penalty instead which coincided with a safety car, equalling a very unhappy Spaniard. In this instance, we at Badger feel sorry for him. It feels wrong. Let’s never speak of this again.

A puncture at the beginning of the race ruined Massa’s efforts and he also spent the afternoon trailing round towards the back. They just can’t quite get it together can they?

Badger thought for the day: If Alonso didn’t clearly want an inferior driver alongside him, would Massa have signed a two year contract recently?

Badger’s best: Alonso

Lotus

• Qualifying: Kovalainen (18^th) Trulli (21^st)
• Race: Trulli (16^th) Kovalainen (17^th)

Fastest of the new teams yet again, the Lotus team will certainly be looking to make inroads next season, especially if a rumoured engine deal with Renault comes off.

Trulli endured a nightmare before qualifying, with his car spending most of the time in the garage being tended to by loving mechanics. We’ll leave it to the man himself to explain what happened: “my pace felt very good, especially when you consider that I didn’t have a chance to work on any set up changes, and I had to get used to the new section of the track in qualifying and during the first part of the race, so I think we all did a pretty good job!” We at Badger agree Jarno.

Kovalainen bemoaned that he wasn’t able to push flat out again because of the traffic (we assume he means people passing him, although we’re not sure, he could mean Glock), although fastest of the new team in qualifying isn’t to be sniffed at.

Badger’s best: Trulli

Virgin

• Qualifying: Glock (19^th) di Grassi (22^nd)
• Race: Glock (18^th) di Grassi (ret)

Another race, another retirement and more disappointment.

Glock did a fairly good job in the race to mix it with the Lotuses, but di Grassi continues to disappoint. If we’d had to bet on a driver being kicked out of the new teams, we’d have gone with him rather than Senna, but then what do we know? Quite.

Not really much more to say; di Grassi thinks the car’s improving, which is nice we suppose.

Badger’s best: Glock (but really the mechanics)

HRT

• Qualifying: Chandhok (23^rd) Yamamoto (24^th)
• Race: Chandhok (19^th) Yamamoto (20^th)

We don’t really know what’s going on here. Senna’s out, but then he’s back for the next race? Is it cash flow problems? Has he said something? What’s going on?

Anyway, his replacement, Yamamoto, he of a not terribly notable F1 career thus far, stepped into the breach and was, as expected, slow. Both he and Chandhok trailed round at the back, Chandhok was slightly faster, and there’s nothing much more to say.

Badger’s best: Chandhok

Read Part One here and check out Part Two as well.  Our Driver of the day to follow to follow shortly…

credit: Sutton Images/Autosport

Sauber

• Qualifying: de la Rosa (9^th) Kobayashi (12^th)
• Race: Kobayashi (6^th) de la Rosa (ret)

After being really quite nasty about Sauber earlier in the season, we have to confess their recent showings have much better, no, scrap that, very impressive. Both cars in and around the top 10 in qualifying and a strong race showing – whatever James Key’s done since taking over, it’s really worked. Hopefully the sponsors will now get on board for next season.

Kobayashi, after his great performance in Valencia and, most importantly, his Hot Rod prize, really performed well again to take a richly deserved sixth place, helped by the safety car and Alonso’s penalty. He’s really come into his own in recent weeks, displaying both speed and calmness in equal measure. It turns out he likes playing it cool as well, saying after the race that he “didn’t find it especially hard, [and] didn’t even sweat.” Alright for some, eh?

Unfortunately for de la Rosa, especially after his ninth place in qualifying, his race rather fell apart (quite literally in fact) when he was hit by Adrian Sutil and proceeded to drop bits of his car all over the circuit. Not ideal and led to the end of his Silverstone adventure.

Badger’s best: Kobayashi

Force India

• Qualifying: Sutil (11^th) Liuzzi (20^th – including a five place grid drop)
• Race: Sutil (8^th) Liuzzi (11^th)

This is another interesting team mate battle that, half way through the season, has swung back and forth. Sutil’s got the upper hand at the moment but Liuzzi’s shown enough promise to make him think twice. We at Badger just aren’t sure whether it’ll be enough to keep him in his race seat next season, especially if Paul di Resta is able to bring some sponsorship money into the team.

A good weekend for Sutil, even though his strategy had to be changed. After starting on the hard tyres with the intention of doing a long stint, he found that they didn’t hold up very well, so he came in for softs and really struggled for the last ten laps of the race or so. He managed to demonstrate yet again that he’s difficult to get past – even Vettel in the far quicker Red Bull wasn’t able to find a way through till the last lap.

Liuzzi’s race was spoilt on Saturday after his penalty for blocking Hulkenberg, although he seemed manically happy after the race, saying how much the enjoyed it and felt like he could have got into the points.

Badger’s best: Sutil

Toro Rosso

• Qualifying: Buemi (16^th) Alguersuari (17^th)
• Race: Buemi (12^th) Alguersuari (ret)

Another race in which Alguersuari qualified between 15^th and 18^th (that’s eight now, in case you were wondering). Going out with the new cars in Q1 isn’t cool. Just say no, Jaime, just say no. He’s very much a race day driver, whose 100% finishing record was brought to an abrupt halt at Silverstone after his brakes went. Not an ideal circuit for that to happen at either.

Buemi enjoyed a miserable time of it, coming out behind Liuzzi after the pit stops, getting stuck and graining his tyres. He was remarkably honest after the race, saying he thought a point would have been possible, but they just didn’t do a very good job. More of this honestly please. We like it.

Another interesting team mate battle here, and one which will be especially interesting as the season progresses. Look out for Alguersuari’s performances after Hungary – it’s where started last season.

Badger’s best: Buemi

Renault

• Qualifying: Kubica (6^th) Petrov (15^th)
• Race: Petrov (13^th) Kubica (ret)

The first time Robert Kubica hasn’t finished a race this season and, therefore, the first time he’s been beaten by Petrov. It’s a bit of a hollow victory, but you know what, Vitaly will take what he’s given. Result.

He’s still treading, much to our chagrin, the well worn comment boards with things like “it’s good to have finished the race because it gives us lots of data and gives me more experience of the track”. Data Vitaly, yes, that’s why you’re there. Data. You’re really like one of those Google streetview cars, just trundling round collecting lots of nice data. Honestly. Unless he a) picks up in the second half of the season or b) finds another massive wedge of cash, he might find himself out of a seat next season.

Kubica, fresh from signing a new contract, retired after 19 laps with a driveshaft problem. Before he departed though, he was involved with Alonso in the main stewards’ controversy of the day, being passed by the Spaniard off the track, resulting in a penalty for the Ferrari man. Apart from that, there wasn’t much else of note. One small thing though Robert. Cheer up, you miserable bastard.

Badger’s best: Kubica

Part One

Part three and Driver of the Day to follow…

Let us know what you think of this innovative and sparkling new method…

Super at Silverstone... credit: Red Bull, Malcolm Griffiths/Getty Images

Red Bull

• Qualifying: Vettel (1^st) Webber (2^nd)
• Race: Webber (1^st) Vettel (7^th)

The racing had to take a back seat this weekend, as Red Bull’s two drivers and the team managed to cause a huge scene by being, quite frankly, idiots.

Dominant in qualifying and the race, the real story of the weekend was the Tale of Two Front Wings. Practice 3 saw Vettel’s front wing decide it didn’t really fancy being stuck to the front of his car (after all, that’s what all the other front wings were doing…how dull) and partly fall off.

Now, seeing as this was one of only two new front wings Red Bull had available and the only other one was on Webber’s car, some bright spark thought it would be a good idea to move the wing from Webber to Vettel. Cue deep and profound anger from Webber and a lot of pointless self-justification from Red Bull. If there were two front wings prior to the weekend and one broke, then having to choose between the drivers would be difficult enough. However, to take the wing off one driver’s car and move it over to the others is ridiculous.

All of that just made Webber’s burst off the line, past Vettel, into the lead and waltz to victory more satisfying. The fact Vettel then got a puncture and had his race ruined was a not too unpleasant side effect. Is Vettel as bad as Red Bull? Did he actively encourage the switch? We’re not sure – let us know what you think below.

Badger’s best: Webber

McLaren

• Qualifying: Hamilton (4^th) Button (14^th)
• Race: Hamilton (2^nd) Button (4^th)

Not the perfect home GP for the McLaren team, but what’re you supposed to do when another team are simply so much faster?

Hamilton had the upper hand on Button all weekend, something that’s no longer a growing trend, but rather is a fully grown fact. Over the last few races Hamilton has looked, and been, faster than the current World Champion.

Another problem for Button, although a nice one to have we concede, is that he’s got very good at salvaging races expertly, which tends to paper over the rather large qualifying cracks. Another poor performance meant that he was always facing a hard task in the race, but it was one he performed, as ever, with aplomb. Is it that he can’t set up the car as well or as quickly as Hamilton, or simply that he’s being outraced? Answers on a postcard…

Well done to Hamilton for staying with Webber for as long as possible and for being the divine instrument responsible for puncturing Vettel’s tyre, but until McLaren find a bit more pace on a Saturday he’s going to find it hard to win without more Red Bull mistakes.

Badger’s best: Hamilton

Mercedes

• Qualifying: Rosberg (5^th) Schumacher (10^th)
• Race: Rosberg (3^rd) Schumacher (9^th)

The worm has turned. Rosberg is back on top, merely cementing that fact over the course of the race. Schumacher, by contrast, still looks off the pace both in terms of raw speed and race craft.

A podium finish for Rosberg (albeit helped by Vettel’s puncture and Alonso’s poor getaway) has to be counted as a great result, especially in terms of how fast their car actually looks. There wasn’t really that much to report for Nico from the race or qualifying – he’s done well, simple as that.

We don’t really want to spend any more time than is absolutely necessary going over old ground, but Schumacher’s looking off the pace. The manner in which he reacted to Jake Humphrey’s question during their “drive-in” interview on the BBC coverage suggested that, not only is he sick of the questions about his performance and future, but that he’s also acquiring quite a defensive posture on it all. Given that a racing seat with a) big manufacturer backing and b) Ross Brawn in charge is at stake, he must be feeling the pressure. Seeing him mugged towards the end for a couple of positions just wasn’t right – it’s like watching your Dad dance like he did thirty years ago.

Badger’s best: Rosberg

Williams

• Qualifying: Barrichello (8^th) Hulkenberg (13^th)
• Race: Barrichello (5^th) Hulkenberg (10^th)

Barrichello’s on a roll. Not only is he beating his young team mate handsomely, he’s also managed a fourth and a fifth place in two consecutive races. Not bad. Not bad at all.

The team really seem to have improved the car massively. From being on the outskirts of the top 10 on a good day, they’ve managed to force themselves upwards into the “take advantage of any of the big three/four teams making a mistake” slot. Let’s just hope they can keep the pace of development up, as to see a Williams on the podium would be a Job Well Done.

Hulkenberg, if we’re honest, continues to disappoint. Perhaps it was the hype, perhaps it’s the fact Willi Weber is his agent but, whatever it was, he’s not living up to it. We imagine he’ll stay at the team next season as he’s not yet proven himself good enough to progress to a top team and Williams kept a similarly young Rosberg around for a while when he wasn’t exactly convincing.

Badger’s best: Barrichello

Parts two, three and Driver of the Day to follow…

You’ve been away for a while Baby Badger, what have you been up to?

Been chilling out with my brother Teeny Badger!

Does he watch F1 yet?

No, but he likes playing with his F1 car toys.

Great stuff, so who was your driver of the day?

Alonso because he was so bad.

Why would you pick him then?

Because it’s just funny!

Did you think it was fair that he got the drive through penalty?

Yes because I think he did it on purpose just to overtake Kubica.

Who would be in the Baby Badger F1 team?

Because Webber can, like, drive really fast and has got good skills, and Jenson Button is just a really skilful and careful driver and can look after his tyres really well.

What did you think of the stewards at the race today?

[laughs] Yeah one fell over!

Which team did the best job at the race?

Probably Force India because they were driving faster than usual, because usually they’re quite slow. Sutil was stopping Vettel for nearly the whole of the race, even if he let him go in the end.

Did you like your signed autograph book by Jenson Button?

Yes because it was written to me! All my friends are really jealous. Not many people get Jenson Button’s autograph.

Were there any parts of the race you liked best?

When Vettel went off into the grass lots – he learnt his lesson about not staying in front for the whole race!

What is your championship prediction after today?

I think it’s going to be Mark Webber because he’s done really well in the past few races and should be for the whole year.

Do you think Ferrari are going to complain lots about the race today?

Yeah especially they’re going to shout at Alonso because he’s been like shouting at them and saying mean and rude stuff. So I think they’re going to have a go at him.

If you rename any team, what would you call them?

Probably McLaren. Something like Piquet?

I don’t think they’d like that very much!

Ah, who cares!

Who is your favourite commentator?

Definitely Martin Brundle as he’s not boring like Jonathan Legard.

Favourite Legardism?

“Up the hill!”