The Canadian Grand Prix - Part One Formula 1

rules in. Gears, de ERS, pit-stop after pit-stop. I'm certainly no

rocket scientist. It was enough to make you go loopy. It's the most

competitive Gridwood had in years. But there's one name on everybody's

lips. Vettel... It's a battle yet again. How are you going to stop

him? And who is going to catch him? He's like an unstoppable force.

can't be human. But he is human. Blink and you miss him. You can't

take your eyes off him. It's predictably unpredictable.

wouldn't change anything. It's crazy. Crazy! I can't take it!

your mind at the moment. Good evening, thank you very much for

being so patient. For the first time in 2011 you have had to wait

until 5:00pm for a Grand Prix. Trust me, this circuit, this

weather, and the desperate need for the rest of the pack to beat

Sebastian Vettel, it will be worth the wait. This is somewhere that

both of my partners in crime have had very much success over the

years. Just making sure his hair doesn't get wet. For Eddie, this is

where it started for him, 20 years ago. He's come through, to finish

in fifth position, behind him is his team-mate. Eddie Jordan will be

overjoyed. That was way back in 1981. Your first ever points and

Formula One. A few years later, your first double podium. Here is a

Rubens Barrichello, fist pumping with delight. Happy days for you?

Canada has always been very special. It was remarkable. I think the

Canadian people liked the Jordan style of things. To get these

results here was really very special. How would you surmise the

Jordan style of things? A little bit crazy. Very serious under the

skin. But on the outside, people thought we were bit rock and roll.

That's something we've had to live with. Just like you? Not really,

very serious person, alongside David Coulthard, it makes me look

even more sensible. Talking of David, his success in Formula One

started and ended right here in Canada. David Coulthard, right

behind him. He finishes in a fine fifth position. So, those were your

first ever points in 1994. 14 years later, your final podium in the

sport. Why are you running to the podium? Unfortunately, the parc

ferme is at the beginning, the podium is at the end. I was late

getting there, I missed the shuttle bus. You don't like running,

either? Which of the memories was the fondest for you, first points

is very special, 94 was a very sad year for Formula One. Equally, to

do that, I know you were very proud? 94, I remember losing

feeling in my legs, the physical forces of Grand Prix. I was a young

tried and I wasn't well enough prepared. 2008, the last season,

special to get on the board. Eddie? I think candidates, it was a huge

loss for me when it was dropped from the calendar. You know what

has happened? If you look what is going on in the centre of town, the

crowd that at year, it has come back much stronger. I see this as

being one of the top three races in our whole calendar. I think it's a

race that can't be missed. exciting place today when it is dry.

When it's wet, it's the end incredible Grand Prix. This guy is

getting darker, but still, the crowds are turning up. -- the sky.

But it keeps on rolling in Formula One. After today, will be over a

third of the way through 2011, a season that will not include the

Bahrain Grand Prix after they decided to remove themselves from

the calendar. Well, basically, we took the calculated decision that

we didn't want to cause any more inconvenience to the teams. The

schedules have been set already towards the end of the season.

Being a long-term player, on the arena, we decided to withdraw and

stop the pursuit of our race for this year, focusing on next year's

calendar. OK, let's talk about how this whole thing has been resolved.

In the end, it is Bahrain that have made that decision. Formula One

hasn't looked particularly clever for the past month? You say that, I

think it shows that Formula One is such a global player. The sports

transcend the sports pages. You have a number of different factions,

number of different endgames in mind, so you are going to get these

uncertainties. You have to say it's down to the FIA and the teams,

ultimately, to make the final statement as to what they are doing.

In this case, they have stepped forward. That's probably the most

salient point. We are standing outside Ferrari, their team

principal said that the sport mustn't use situations like this

for personal gain. What was he talking about? Well, I think what

has happened is that sport can often be used as a mechanism,

whether it is a battering ram, a feather, it doesn't matter which

side of the spectrum you are looking at. The fact is, sport

should not be put in a position where it is influencing things that

should be politically influenced. I think that the critical thing. Also,

what he's talking about is that Formula One has to learn by these

mistakes. Communication is vital in every walk of life, whether it be

home, business, sport is no exception. We did not get it right

with regard to communication. move on to a slightly happier

things, this place. This is the Gilles Villeneuve circuit. It means

the boys have got a lot to live up is in the house. Let's go for a

walk. It's always frantic activity ahead of a race, particularly when

it is wet. The director has to decide whether to start with a

safety car, that teams need to decide whether to go with wet tyres,

intermediate tyres, or if you are brave, slick tyres. You've raised

in Monaco in the wet, what's it like when the rain starts coming

down on these temporary tracks? It's a lot more comfortable in a

racing car than our current walk. The umbrella is not big enough. Why

are we not standing under the cover of one of the garages? We are

bringing the excitement about the Spear of the rain to the people at

home. The only one staying dry is the one in the middle! Thank you

for that. It's funny that has we are walking down here, we are

walking on bits which are painted. The one thing to any team boss will

tell the drivers, stay off the kerbs. If you want to have a steady

ride into the barrier, get on to this. You must stay on the black

stuff. That's fair, but now they painted with a gripping paint. It's

like sand, tight stuff, and its... It still going to be so the

question are is not as bad as it could be, but you want to keep it

on the black stuff. To keep David happy, we will not walk around too

much. We will talk about the drivers' standings. Sebastian

Vettel, I guess he opened his curtains this morning and groaned,

the rest of the grid had a big smile on their faces closed not I

don't think so, funnily enough. Anyone who witnessed what he did a

few years ago in the Toro Rosso, they should play that DVD again. He

absolutely killed everybody in the race. He's a master, dry and wet. I

don't think he woke up to a crisis in his own mind. A fair point, but

it makes such a margin for error a little smaller? No question,

especially in a track like Montreal. Maybe not the downforce that we

have seen in the past, but none the less it is a very high-speed

circuit. In the wet, you will be down on those top speed slightly,

but still brushing 200 mph. You've got no room for margin. If you're

going to a slip and slide, you could find your way into the

barrier. We'll keep our eyes on those slipping slides. As far as

one man leading, it's not really dented the excitement. It's been an

incredible year so far. It's all because Formula One brought in new

regulations from lessons that it learned that this race 12 months

ago. I think this is brilliant for the racing. This is what we've been

looking for this year. We'd been looking for a tyre that is really

on the limit. I would say to you, don't be nervous about negative

publicity about a tyre that is graining, I would say bring it to

every Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton is away first. I'm sure Monaco would

be a crazy race. Each lap, the tyres started breaking a little bit

more. If it breaks completely, I know that I'm in trouble. The tyres,

everybody is on their limit. They are almost committee gather!

Formula One should definitely be proud of the race today. We knew it

was going to Beith a bit like that. Now we really are getting duty.

What a day. Hamilton, he seeing if he can get on the inside of Alonso.

He judged that perfectly. He's gone right across the grass. It's one of

Canada! Some drive from Lewis Hamilton. That was without a drop

of rain. You have to applaud the sport for realising and replicating

what happened in Canada last year? We have been blessed. We've had an

unbelievably good season last year. No one believed that we could

replicate that, as you talk about. But they have. There are a couple

of issues, some people saying KERS, some people saying ERS. I think the

tyres have been a significant improvement in terms of excitement

this year. Yes, we have a battle running away. But nobody is biggie

about that, so much excitement. -- nobody is thinking about that.

have got Sebastian Vettel running away, but even he is not immune to

the odd mistake. He started this weekend in a way he wouldn't have

wanted to? This is running into the last chicane. A bit too fast into

the turn. The track was still a bit green. He didn't have as much grip

as he expected. He'd lost the grip and ran out of road. He lost a very

valuable development front wing. But he was able to secure his pole

position. Two weeks ago in Monaco we saw a big accident or Sergio

Perez. This was coming out of the tunnel, down to the chicane. He was

passed fit to race. But he made the decision himself not to take part

this weekend. He did. You know, that surprised a lot of people.

David and I have discussed this. To get a driver to actually opt not to

race is something very, very unusual. For him, in his mind set,

I know he's impressed his team by wishing to pull out. He felt he

wasn't quite ready. Most drivers would have just gone for it. He's

gone up in everybody's estimation because he had the strength of will

to actually decide he wasn't ready. I'm sure he will be watching at

home. Maybe he will be that he's sitting in a warm living room,

rather than getting into a racing car in these conditions. It meant

Sauber had a big decision to make. Then it's the only decision I could,

to ask a man who drove for them last year, until they ditched him

with five races to go, Pedro de la Rosa, to step into their car. He

did exactly that. Then this happened. He hasn't driven this car,

he hasn't used the KERS button, he hasn't used the drag reduction

system. He was actually wearing McLaren overalls for the first part

of practice, such a late call-up to getting into the car. It was a

disappointment for him, but it meant they had to rebuild the car

and work hard to have a car ready for qualifying. I can tell you he

was ready for qualifying, along with 23 other cars. Everybody goes

out, drives around for an hour and seemed the drivers had figured out

how to negotiate the circuit without crashing. The most action

was from the Sauber drivers, Pedro de la Rosa's car was surprisingly

undamaged by this encounter. His team-mate, Kobayashi, entertained

with his usual style. So, while we didn't have any bent metal, we did

have broken dreams at McLaren. On paper, the track plays to their

strengths. The team does not bring a low drive career win today's race,

and that hurt them on long straights. The win that they do

have will give them more downforce and better grip in the wet. So,

Button and Hamilton could have an ace up their sleeves. I don't think

I've driven a car so bard in my life, really. I was on such a

ragged edge. I touched the wall at one edge. Using the stream of

another car, going behind it but we just got to hope it's much better

than qualifying, we are a long way off. Mercedes have the best de ERS

in the pit lane. They've used it to good effect. It's been progress

this weekend. Qualifying, it's a good place to start. I think

they're pretty confident that we can do much better in the race.

With McLaren taking themselves out of the picture, it was down to Red

Bull and Ferrari. Mark Webber's KERS hybrid system failed, which

let Ferrari into record the best qualifying of the season. Felipe

Massa and Fernando Alonso were separated by just 18 thousandth of

a second. Alonso was on the first front row since this time last year.

A genuine surprise in Formula One. Unlike Sebastian Vettel, on pole

again and making amends for his crash in practice. It's a mixed-

race, there's a bit of weather tomorrow. So, will see tomorrow.

think the car is a little bit more competitive than we saw on the

other tracks. I hope it carries on like that. If it rains, I think

saving the tyres will be a key factor. Also, the wet tyres, they

degrade a lot. We need to manage that. But it's not raining, it's a

good opportunity. We started good, will see if we can get some kind of

start which would be a good thing. The McLarens look very competitive.

Probably they had a different approach in qualifying. Setting the

car, setting up the car for the race. We'll see. What do we prefer?

We don't know. We've had experienced with the Pirelli tyres

in particular. It will be new ball Fernando Alonso and then Felipe

Massa. Jenson Button is sure he can improve on seventh today. Behind

the Renaults that ahead of his team-mate is Scotland's Paul di

Resta and Pastor Maldonado. Sauber have Pedro de la Rosa standing in

for the injured Sergio Perez. Hispania and Virgin retain their

usual positions at the back of the grid.

I have decamped to the dry. I'm standing next to Lewis Hamilton's

car. Inside here there is a fair bit of head scratching going on.

This team have been so fast in the last few years. Have a look in

there. That is the cockpit Lewis Hamilton will be sliding into.

There is no extra padding in there. There is not a lot of extra comfort

that Lewis Hamilton has always done really well here. He picked up his

first ever win here in Formula One. He was hoping for a backer --

better weekend that this. You have to decide how to change a car ahead

of the race. McLaren said they have not got a wet set-up but they are

better prepared for the race than qualify and. Talk of changing the

car at this late stage, we hear that Toro Rosso had removed Jaime

Alguersuari's car from the grid. Explain the thinking behind that.

It is a trump card. He was fairly well back. It gives him a huge

advantage to change the dampers, the setting and the wing. They will

put a lot of padding or tape on the ducks for the brakes. The brakes

will be running cooler because of the ambient temperature. Here is a

different -- difficult car on bricks. I think they have stolen a

march on most people here. I think it could be beneficial to them

because under normal conditions there were not looking quick enough

to score points. All cars are allowed to change brake tape and

put things like that on the car. Set up wise, maybe they will

unleash the wonderful set-up we saw with Sebastian Vettel in Monza a

couple of years ago and it could be the star of the show. Let's take a

walk down to Ferrari because they have done extremely well this

weekend. I suppose when you are starting a teeth on the grid and

you are under pressure and Jaime Alguersuari is under pressure

because he has not had the greatest of season so far, why not take a

gamble in these conditions. not? By the nature of wet weather,

it becomes more of a lottery. much bigger advantage. When you

start in 18th place, in weather like this, the spray is

unbelievable. You cannot see your hand in front of you. If you let

the traffic go and you are starting knowing there will be four or five

cars out in the first corner, that is generally my perception, he gets

a chance to come up, either behind the safety car or goes on without

this break in his face. I think it is a clever move. If we take a look

to our left, have you ever heard of the phrase a hiding to nothing?

This man has been here trying to get the water off but as quickly as

he picks it up, the rain comes down. They will carry on doing their bit.

At least the drivers know they are doing their best to keep it dry. A

great performance from Ferrari? it is a remarkable comeback. It

shows the strength and depth of the company. Has been a lot of

technical changes with the design team. Not harmony behind the

factory doors but nonetheless, they are within two-tenths of Sebastian

Vettel in qualifying. If you carry on watching, we will show you the

pole lap comparison between Sebastian Vettel and Fernando

Alonso. There is so little between them, it is unbelievable. But it is

Sebastian Vettel who is scaring the rest of the opposition with his

pace. And he's scared our very own Lee McKenzie as she got a close-up

look as to why he is the man leading the Formula One

championship. Sebastian, I am very excited about this. I'm not sure if

it is exciting for you for me being a passenger. It depends. It depends

on how fast you go! We see you sitting just before you go out and

do your laps, eyes closed, visualising the circuit. Please

tell me you know this circuit very well. I don't, actually. I'm not

100 % on left and right. Let's get it over with a! I am looking

forward to it. That is what worries me! I don't get scared. I say,

bravely. You seem to have got to grips with this new form of Formula

One we have this season. Do you think you are driving better, are

you handling the tyres better? Where have you got this edge?

don't know. I'm trying to do whatever I have got in my hands,

trying to do the best I can. This year with the tyres, it is a

different kind of Formula One compared to last year. I love this

new set-up. It opens a lot of possibilities for strategy, whether

to do a stop more. Be us will be a victory whether he can make his

tyres go from apps at 16 to 78. -- laps 16. Lustig, we were looking at

one at stop. That was a mistake. We put the hard tyres on. Sometimes to

win the race you have to stay out. I tried to do the best with my

tyres. Treated them better than some people probably treat their

wife. Sebastian Vettel is the master of Monaco. Sideways,

sideways! I like that. I'm not to drift champion but I like to drive.

It is looking very good for you to retain your championship, are you

starting to think of that yet? because it is still very early.

is your biggest rival? I think you cannot make them out yet. The

McLaren drivers have been very competitive since Australia and I

think being they are right behind us but also I think, looking at

Ferrari, Fernando was always there, if he has a bad weekend he manages

to get away with some points. It will be Lewis, Fernando, Jenson and

then we will see where the Mercedes is able and the next couple of

races did turn the situation around for themselves and to catch up.

watch other forms of motor sport? Yes, most impressive is the rally.

It is a bit crazy but it is very nice. I would like to try myself

one day. I think Christian would not be too happy. No, danger, wall

ahead. The East will be your F1 car, you

will jump out and do this. Tell us about this. I heard some people get

annoyed by it. He keeps doing that, doesn't he? We also normally see

you jumping on your car, Kinky One, he mentions all of his rivals

but somehow forget to mention his team-mate Mark Webber as a

challenger for the title. Very interesting. I don't think he will

be expecting Mark to be watching 10 minutes before the race. I think he

knows he has mark under control. From a team point of view, any

developments, it is reasonable it will go to the car which has the

best chance of winning the championship. But let's be very

clear. He used the word we. I think he was being very kind to his team

and he was thinking about the opposition. I hope he was thinking

about the opposition outside Red Bull. He has been a very good team

player. A quick weather update. I spoke to the guys behind us, they

said they expect this race to start without any rain falling. However,

according to Ron Meadows from Mercedes, this is wet enough for

safety car start which means the cars have to have their full wet

tyres. It could be a rather dramatic and rather exciting race

here this afternoon. It will have to go some to match Le Monde this

weekend. We are delighted that Allan McNish was able to get up and

walk away after this accident during the race. It was a bad

moment for our do. They had two big accidents. It was not all bad news.

David, you raced in 1993. We will not mention that you were

disqualified but we will talk about a high speed that this circuit.

What is it like to race there? have a raised it from my memory

because you said I was disqualified! What was it like

until then? It is a great challenge. Martin is well placed to talk about

that. He has won ultimate -- multiple times. It is a great

British following when you go to that event. Arguably, you do more

laps and more kilometres during a single event than you do during a

entire Grand Prix season. All in all, you would describe it as a

good weekend. We are getting close to race time. You can hear the

engines are starting to roar. A few moments until the cars make it out

to the great. There will be a couple of laps to ascertain how

much grip there is. The fans turn out in their droves because leave

on not, they do not -- if they do not come to this race in Canada,

the nearest race to them is Silverstone, therefore tickets are

We had better get out of the pit lane because the cars will start

coming down here. We can go to the Mercedes garage and talk about

Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg. Rosberg is yet to finish in a

higher position and he starts this season. Mercedes need to start

working on their race pace, don't they? There are a couple of teams

like that you can pull out the stops for qualifying but cannot

match it in the race. Mercedes, unfortunately for them that seems

to be the sequence. I'm sure they are working hard. It is a

transition period in some respects but we used to better performances

from Mercedes than what is happening at the moment. Nico

Rosberg is doing a good job but nobody knows how good he is because

the bent schmuck being Michael Schumacher, Nico is beating him --

the benchmark. A pretty good benchmark, the most successful guy

in the history of the sport. He is the most successful driver ever

hear. Michael has just climbed into his car gearing up for this race.

Another win might be difficult for him today. What is it like for him

coming to places where you have won time and time again. What was it

like, David, when you went to Monaco? Past performance is no

guarantee of future success. Michael was known as the rain

master when he was in his first career and he will be seeing this

as an opportunity. He did a great job in qualifying. He is right

there with his younger team-mate, separated by less than half a tenth.

He will see this as a great opportunity. He knows how to drive

in the wet. There he is, the seventh time for milk one world

champion. He took a slightly slower, slightly more leisurely tour around

the circuit with our own David Why go to Montreal, a place you

know well. I'm a bit concerned by these banners. There is a like this

to you, but it looks like your team-mate is a werewolf or

something, don't you think? Gosh! Get your feet down! I don't train

any more. OK. My God, we are almost off. Can you switch on KERS?

this flat out? I think I could run faster! Actually, I'm coming in.

Right, we have stopped down here. The apex of turn one. Could you

maybe tell us a bit about the challenge of the area of the track?

The challenge is to come through here, a key position and keep all

of the bits on your car. Whenever you take too much here, it will

have an influence over there. If you go too tight and too deep into

the corner, the radius you have to take for the second one is losing

time. Here we are, working it out turn two. It's known as a traction

corner. In particular, at the tyre is going to be... Be careful, stop!

He has a conscious, he is worried about the cameraman. Do you mind if

I drive a little bit? Yes. You will cope, I think. I'm not going to

argue with him. If I was closer to the pits, I might argue. But we are

too far away. David Coulthard, he's going to have it out with David

do it in English, we are broadcasting to the UK. We are not

broadcasting in Germany. I'm doing the trouble, he is doing the

steering, what are you doing? fantastic. Is my accent not very

good? I only learnt my German from watching DVDs when I was younger.

Can I drive? No, still not. Send me those DVDs! Turn 10, probably one

of the most famous corners in terms of the image of the crowd. You can

feel it, if you pass somebody, you see them getting up and being

excited. If you are in the right car and this right situation.

drive this last bit? Please. Hooray, I get to drive. This last

chicane, they refer to this as the wall of champions. Have you ended

up in this wall? I think I created that name. I was the first one

there. She Macca, out of the race! They call it the war of champions.

That's right. In a really good line, you would be here. That's a bit

uncomfortable? Exactly. On the exit, do you have to be brushing the

wall? Kind of, yes. How close can we get? You try, C. Is that OK?

There is a camera, what we don't have that. I'm not comfortable, can

the tyres and stuff? Don't hit them, we don't have that many of them.

did get quite close. And you for Schumacher, making his way out, we

can say Nick Heidfeld been pushed back into his garage, what would

that before? Well, they got time, they can just make sure the break

at a temperature is coming in as expected, they know exactly how to

get the cooling just right. We saw Nico Rosberg stopping his pit box

and put on extra front wings. Well, I say put one in, they may have

taken one out. They will put a setting in there, which will have

been offset when running, he had denied that and decided he wants to

do a bit of a change and go to the around me and I think the clouds

had just lifted. Who knows? The gamble that McLaren have made, at

this moment in time it looks a good gamble. I think there will be a dry

line early in this race. If you are getting a bit blasted out by the

sounds of the cars, is because they are trying to do reconnaissance

laps. There is no where else we can go, apart from stand quite close

and speak loud! We had been told the McLaren cars are heading to the

grid on intermediate tyres. What will the drivers have been doing on

their first lap, where would they be looking for gripper, what would

be the process? The guys that have been here before they know already

where to find the grip. In some corners it will be slightly off-

line. In other corners, you've got no choice. When you go through a

chicane you have to cross over the racing line at a certain point. If

you have no experience of the track, you will have to make it up as you

go along. In terms of finding the grip of the tyres, they can go

round on full wet and then go to the intermediate ones. McLaren,

intermediate tyres, we know that because of the blue writing on the

side. The drivers will be getting that information. When they get on

the grid, this is the real pressure point, when you have deep

conversation with the engineers. Presuming it's not a safety car

start, of course. We are respecting Michael Schumacher. There he is,

right on cue, the champion. There has been very little running for

any of these teams on wet tyres or intermediate tyres. We can join

Martin on the grid. We've yet to see an incident at the first corner

this season. If we are going to see one, today might be that day?

Magical mystery Tour, welcome to the grid. They are still practising

their starts. They are queuing up in the end of the pit lane. We are

not too far away from the pit lane. They are desperately trying to find

that by two point. Force India. They are still queuing up to try

and find out how they can get the line. Is it intermediate? Always at

full wet? On these conditions you usually say intermediate. But it

turns out that they can't keep a lot of temperature in those

intermediates. It's hard rubber, designed more for slick running.

There is a great concern that any one that starts on intermediates

might struggle initially. They will go out and try those tires now on

the formation laps. We're going to be as welcome as toothache on the

grid today. Macau short the Rennies. 24 cars were charged down there, 23

because Alguersuari will start from the pit lane. A short run, we can

see Barrichello going through to the track. Five minutes ago, if

that disappears, we know it will not be a safety car start. If it is,

all of the drivers have to start on a full wet tyre. Any news about

whether it is a safety car start? No, 10 minutes to decide what we

are doing. At the moment it looks better than half-an-hour ago.

let it be a safety car start, it spoils the fun. If they say it will

be, say, no, I'm not going to do that. We'd sorted that out. Here is

the finish line. Sebastian Vettel is not yet on his grid slot. We

have the driver's steward here. It can be a busy day in the Stewards

of us? It looks like today will be a very busy day. -- steward's

Office. Do we wish you were out here in these conditions, driving

again? Just wet, yes. But not aquaplaning, too much water, no.

Now, I don't think so bad. I agree with you, it doesn't look too bad

at all. We have Vettel's cruising up to the great wit the full wet

tyres he has decided to try. He's going to have to debrief with his

engineers. Apparently he said on the radio that he is going to start

on wet tyres. I think somebody has just switched me off behind here.

I'll carry on talking, but I can't hear anything any more. Yeah... OK,

I'm still broadcasting. That's fine. So, Vettel, he's got his rubber

boots that they put on to stop your fireproof boots from getting too

damp. Alas the want today is cart water into the car. They are

sitting on the top. They are worth about �5, I imagine, but they could

be critical and his Motty million pounds approach to try to win a

Grand Prix. The man that wants to win the championship puts on his

galoshes, standing up in the seat as he heads out through the dry ice.

There are still got to cool the car down. There are no fans on these

cars that run by themselves. They have Tickle the car. So, Vettel

will get out and debrief with his engineer. You have to decide what

tyre to start on. He doesn't want this misinformation, this doubt of

what to do and how to do it. He is the man that has been fastest, he

would like a very straightforward race. I will just hang around a

little bit in the hope that we can have a quick word with him. I don't

know if he... Tommy, is he up for chatting today? I think so. Tommy

is the trainer, a good lad. We'll wait for Sebastian to say what he

has got to say to his engineer and then we'll move down the grid. I'm

desperate to hear what he thinks of the track conditions. We are in

pole position here. I'm getting kicked from behind by Spanish TV,

as normal. I don't want to interrupt him, that would not be

fair. But if you don't mind waiting, I really would like to just get a

word from the pole position man and the championship leader. There's a

lot of discussion going on. I don't want to move away. I'm in pole

position to talk to him first. Let's just see. Sebastian, how is

the track feeling? It's quite slippery. Quite wet. So, do you

think there is any chance of getting the intermediates to wear?

Not with this amount of water, that is for sure. At the moment, its

extremes. Maybe later on, with less water. What is your knowledge of

these tiers Will? You've done so little running, in Istanbul you

went into the wall, the car is quite tricky? The Tarmaced doesn't

have a lot of grip, so it's quite tricky. I share this small

knowledge with all of the others. Send them a bit of spray, that will

fix them. I'm getting mugged here. Tanya, how are you? It's a long

queue. As if I can find Mark Webber. I might try and find Alonso as well.

The grid is busy, busy, busy. Alonso was just getting out of the

car. It will be taking his skid lid off any time soon. I'm going to see

their PR boss. You're kidding me, I can't even see him, let alone

Fernando Alonso. Number three? Only one question, I don't have three

minutes to wait. Will try later. Where are we? Let's move down. If

we can actually squeeze past, we are just going to... How do the

driver's focus with all of these people around them, people like me

trying to Lost Questions? Look at these tyres. They can have dry

tyres, just in case, intermediate and white tyres in the blanket.

They are heated to around 60 degrees centigrade. 60 for the

intermediate and the West. The drivers have four sets of

intermediate tyres. They do what they say, somewhere between wet and

dry. They only have three sets of the full wet tyre. If there isn't

enough standing water, they can blister. But see if we can get a

quick word with Mark Webber. I don't fancy standing in the queue

for Fernando Alonso. How is the track, in your view? Pretty good.

Tricky in places. Through 5, 6, 7, still a bit of water. Visibility is

going to be pretty poor. Yes, not too bad. I would have liked to have

done two laps, but on we go. this an afternoon to just stay on

the road or do you just have to go for it? Survival is important for

the first hour. It will probably go the different -- distance. There is

an opportunity at every corner to drop it. You just got to stay cool.

But keep the pay sensible. You must feel pretty good about these

conditions, it gives you as good a chance as any to win this race?

too bad. A few more grey hairs, but it's always nice to have a

challenge. We've got Louis's car down here. They had difficult

qualifying. This guy is not on the grid yet, Nico Rosberg. Where is

his car? It's coming now. He's on his way around? He got out of the

Pet line on time. Talk about leaving it left foot -- late.

Jenson is running through the fence. That is the full wet tyre. You can

see the deeper grooves. Obviously we are not allowed to look at the

back of that car, by the looks of it. Nico Rosberg, with no

preparation time whatsoever as he is literally just rocking up onto

the grid. We will wander a little bit further back. Let's see what

are you getting back from your drivers? No chance of intermediates

at the moment. They do not think they will be able to start on

intermediate. Do you have a clue what the crossover point is?

The only information we have is with the testing. Thank you. Ross

was saying the teams do not have an idea of what kind of lap time

roughly that you say, the track is ready for Inters, is ready for

slick tyres. I just wanted to have a quick word with somebody down

here who I heard was coming on the grid with Renault but I cannot see

him. I think we are running out of time. We have run out of time. Back

to you, Jake. Thanks to you, Martin. A good effort. I think he was

looking for Colin Farrell but Eddie held him up in the paddock. Martin

was talking about the tyres. It is difficult for the teams to know

what to do, David, because there are so little running on these. One

team principal said we do not know what the crossover point is. That

is right. If we were still using Bridgestone tyres, it would still

be down to track temperature. With the Pirellis, there is so little

wet running. There was some in Barcelona but not all the teams

took part so it will be big journey of discovery this afternoon. Ross

said they will have full wet to start blue rays. There are so much

ability to lean on a full wet tyre laterally. -- they will start with

full wet. Fitter Ali Petrov is feeling cool, his plate -- playing

it nice and safe -- Vitaly Petrov. Let's see what is happening out on

the track. We are gearing up for what could be a special Grand Prix

this weekend. The cars are out on the grid. We saw Nico Rosberg

arriving late on the grid. Yes, I'm sure they are still going through

the final discussions and strategy wise. Is an important race for the

guys on the pit wall. We can see the Williams team gearing up. There

have Rubens Barrichello and he is a man who loves driving in the wet.

He has driven for you in the rain, what is he like? He is a rain

master, no doubt about it. The problem for him is there are a lot

of people who are rain Masters. There is Vettel, we have talked

about Michael Schumacher, there are lots of really talented people. The

advantage that he may have had in years gone by has been gobbled up

and everybody else is as good as he is in the wet. Jenson Button starts

from seventh on the grid, another driver who enjoy is wet weather and

another one who said his car would be faster in the race than

qualifying. He is with Lee. Jenson, you came out onto the grid on into

is, how slippy was the track? -- intos. Very. There is a lot of

water out there. It has stopped raining. It is getting warmer. I

have not decided what I am going to run. Time is ticking. I know. I

think we will make the right course. Thank you. Just give us an idea,

Eddie, who makes the decisions? How much will the team be leaning on

Jenson Button to let them know how it will feel out there. He is the

guy on the track. Always remember that I could never be more

surprised with Ayrton Senna. He always used to take the longest way

round the corner and the reason he did that was because there was more

grip on the outside of the corner and then everyone started to follow

him. He was the master for me. He could find his way around a wet

track faster than anyone else. about Sebastien Buemi? His driving

for Toro Rosso and he starts and 15th. Sebastian, what do you think?

It is a difficult call, to be honest. It seems to be quite

slippery. At the moment, we are still looking at how the weather

will change in the next few minutes. Your team mate has the full wet

set-up on, do you? Know, I do not but they tried something with him

and we will see how it goes. Thank you. Not long to go until lights

out at the start of this Grand Prix. At, you loved situations like this.

Was it exciting more nerve-racking? I remember some of the opposition

said Jordan, you can only win in the wet conditions. The reality was,

we always tried to go the opposite to be thinking that the big teams

would go and therefore, you know you're not actually racing them

fair to fair. If the conditions happened to favour us all the

strategy, those days you could go for more fuel and get a longer run,

those aspects, a thing that was what was very good and successful.

We did have a couple of key guys. Gary Anderson was a magic man and

good at anticipating those situations. Once upon a time, Eddie

was the person making the decisions, these days it is people like

Christian Horner. This is what he had to save. What is the smart

thing to do, Christian? It is very interesting. The weather says it

will brighten up a little bit but I think you have to be on the right

tyres at the right times. When you are starting from pole, you do not

want to take that many risks. that will be full works? I have not

spoken to the drivers but it is difficult to say at the moment. It

looked like full wets but it changes quickly. Thank you. Rain or

no rain, the perfect place to be is on pole position, even if you have

only done it by two-tenths of a second over three miles on the

tarmac. This is how close it is between first and second on the

grid. Let's compare the qualifying laps

with the two men occupying the front row of the great. Sebastian

Vettel is on pole, Fernando Alonso is second on the grid. 95 mph

through the first apex, turn to follows immediately and they are

neck and neck. Ahead retraction zone as they head towards turn

three and four, the chicane. Alonso is slightly ahead. The wall on the

exit has claimed many cars this weekend. The fast turn five corner,

Alonso on the right seems slightly uncertain. Look at the steering

angle that Alonso has to put in. He has a slower steering rack on that

car. Vettel gets on the throttle early and gains an advantage

through the exit of that chicane. It is a long run down to terms 8

and 9, building up the speed. As they sweep into the apex, Vettel

maintains his advantage, the line very similar. These two drivers

absolutely on the top of their game. They change is at different times,

suggesting different gear ratios. A heavy braking zone for the turn ten

hairpin. They take absolutely identical lines, technically

perfect. A long straight up to 200 mph, heading to the end of the lap.

Vettel makes a quick brake balance adjustment ahead of turns 13 and 14.

This is all about who will be on pole position. As they grants --

glance across the kerbs, Vettel looks more comfortable. There it is.

Another pole position. His 21st. Sebastian Vettel just aces Fernando

Alonso. I love to see that. That is how close it is in Formula One. It

could be pretty close this afternoon. We are in for a magic

trick. They have on pole position, Sebastian Vettel, and then the best

starter currently, Fernando Alonso, which will be very tight into the

first corner. McLaren have decided go on a wet set-up and they will be

very fast. Who knows what will happen. We believe we will be

starting under a safety car but we will see. Time to handover to

Martin Brundle and David Coulthard. The national sport here is ice

hockey bit once the year something arrives which is equally ferocious

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

be famous for its winter sports but today seems more about watersports.

This track Essex in the St Lawrence Seaway. Be bumpy track has caused

many to shed a tear here. The should be one of the best races of

the year. This is normally an exciting race. There is the track

layout. 2.7 miles and 14 turns. The DRS, if they are allowed to use it

in the race, you're not allowed to operate the rear wing with wet

tyres on, unless a few drivers go out on slick tyres, they will

enable it and everyone can use it. It is quite a challenge for them.

We will get into that during the race. The KERS system, the extra

energy boost, it is quite hard to do in wet track conditions. It

dramatically affects the way the cars slowed down. A big crowd, as

always. They are in on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They

love for Miller won here in this part of North America. Hopefully,

we can put on a good show for them as we hope we can put on a good

show for you. Welcome to everybody around the world to tunes in to the

BBC commentary. They seek confirmation and I am saddened a

little bit, the race will start behind the safety car. David, is

that right? Given the amount of incidents we have seen here with

dry starts, the short run into the first tight corner, it is a view

which has been taken to enable every car to be able to make a

start. The chances are the cars will be strung out when they

eventually release them and that will make it a bit safer. I think

the view from the race director is we simply do not know how slippy

this track is and we do not want to risk losing a bunch of cars early

on. Yes, but these are the finest drivers in the world and I think

they are ready to cope with the conditions. Safety car starts means

everyone has to be a full wet tyres and you cannot go out there, the

FIA said, you cannot -- if you want to start behind the safety car, it

must be extremely wet, you must put the wet tyres on. Therefore, the

DRS, the opening rear wing like a little shutter and gives them

higher top speed on the long straights of this Gilles Villeneuve

circuit, that is disabled at this time. Normally it would come in at

the end of lap two. At the moment, it will not come in until the race

director deems the tracks safe enough to use it. For now, the wet

tyres on. They are pressured up to 60 degrees centigrade. The red

lights are used as a countdown to the start proceed dear. --

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

Sergio Perez who is not racing rule but the stewards decided he

did a good race over the weekend. What is the point of having a roll?

I think it is to protect at the start of the season when you have

new teams and you do not know if they are up to scratch. We have

seen cars who have taken the start of the Grand Prix you have no place

to be there but I think in this case it is a sensible decision.

Virgin have been in the 107 % will that many Grand Prix is already

busy and d'Ambrosio has shown he is more than capable. I agree with you.

If I was a steward, I would let him in. It is to stop the people who

were miles off the pace like Hispania were in Australia.

Alguersuari starts at the back of The race starts now. There is no

formation lap. That his wife Alguersuari is going to be able to

get onto the back of the field. He will be sitting there while the

tyres lose crucial temperature. It's very slow at the back of the

field. I think it's the other version, I'm lucky in the far

distance. This is working out not too bad for the Toro Rosso. He's

not allowed to leave the end of the pit lane. Extreme wet, with the

safety car, but we are not expecting rain until halfway

through the race. The first part, he knows that already. He

understands the rules with the safety car. The second part sends a

shiver down my spine. I remember being in a Grand Prix, where you

get messages from engineers, stay there, the radar tells us that the

rain will stop in two minutes. 10 minutes later... You cannot give

information like that. I think it's misleading. If you can say, we know

it is raining 100 metres away from the circuit, we have someone

standing there, that's good information. But to give radar

information, that's difficult. Confirmation that the DRS, the rear

wing, it is disabled at this point. They are all on wet tyres. As part

of the rules. How quickly would you bring the safety car in? At the end

of this lap. It's really good, the drivers have seen whether standing

water is, the track will dry out pretty quickly with all of these

cars running at speed. There will be sucking the water out of the

tarmac and putting it up into the air. I started a race at Brands

Hatch, and it was much wetter than that. We couldn't see where we were

going, but we were still going for it. Personally, I did the race

should have started properly. Viscount finish by centres on the

Toro Rosso, if they started from a normal good start, they would have

to wait until the last car got to the end of the pit lane before he

could join the race. Now he's able to run around on the pack. You can

see if the karting line, where there seems to be more grip. Where

the rubber is on the racing line, you can put some water on the top

of it and it becomes as slick as you like. Slippery as anything you

can imagine. You're looking along 100 metres osprey, they are looking

along 50 metres of spray. It does look more difficult from the

driver's position. It wasn't supposed to be easy? It I think

that's quite a good camera angle. Like the driver, it doesn't have a

window wiper. It has a little roll of film, which I am sure will move

across and clear that screen. These are one of the biggest difficulties.

Its visibility. We have all raced on formulas that probably have less

grip than a Formula One car in the wet. But not being able to see

where you're going, spotting where you are braking, that is the big

challenge when it is wet. People have the benefit of the first few

cars running. Within 10 or 15 minutes, the rain will be coming

pretty heavy. Red Bull have got two or three people out there. It was a

matter of looking at the sky, when the rain turns up it was coming in

downtown Montreal at the back side of the circuit. I cannot see

anything, but 15 minutes belonged time. -- a long time. To go through

the people we know, McLaren have got in wet style bit of rear wing.

Jaime Alguersuari... Have you finished? Le Mr Holton at once to

get finished because they have a wet set-up -- Lewis Hamilton.

think that went a long way towards a set -- a wet set-up? Yes, it's so

watch out for them when the safety card comes in at. One of the things

you are reminded of is that on this circuit, very high top speeds, not

as many fast corners. That is the same as a wet set-up. Williams are

running at the same winds they had in the Monaco Grand Prix so cannot

get more downforce and there is not enough standing water. And

softening springs are a thing of the past, downforce is still good

in the wet, so what you have to balance out any shift that you get.

It used to be the case that if you put wets on the cars, it would

increase the downforce on them because of the way the air separate

of a car, so they can clear up standing water. In raises the car

few millimetres, maybe five mm. you've got the tread depth of the

tyres. Overall, it's a significant raising. Thank goodness, we are

going to have a race. They are all in the order they lined up on the

grid. The lights are going out on the top of the safety car any time

soon. That is the signal for Sebastian Vettel, that he will,

progressively, become the pace- setter. The SLS, if you drove it on

the road, it would terrify you how fast it would go. They are trying

not to bump into the back of it, such is the grip, pace and speed of

Formula One cars. But not while they are behind the safety car.

They are saving fuel, but that doesn't really matter any more. It

means they can run high air -- higher. If you let the batteries go

cold, you can't use them for the rest of the race. KERS may not be

much of a factor today. Absolutely. You might not want to run the KERS

on wet conditions because of the effect it has on the rear axle,

when it is charging the batteries. No rain at the moment. It looks

like we are gearing up at the moment. The safety car is well out

the way. He's gone early. Alonso has gone with him. No

overtaking until they get to the first safety car line. That is why

Alonso fancied a bit of a look. Vettel has gone too deep. They

could overtake it to that final corner. Alonso goes to the right.

Vettel has the turning point of the corner. Behind, have we got a

McLaren? Webber is round. Mark Webber, and that is Lewis Hamilton.

Mark Webber keeps the engine running. Fuel for almost to the

back of the field. It was Hamilton getting right up the inside of him.

He's always in the wars, is Lewis. Go down very well. Lewis is now

behind the Mercedes of Rosberg, I think that is Rosberg in front of

him. In Jenson Button's way. Button has gone too deep into the corner.

Schumacher drives completely around the outside. Rosberg is in front.

They fancy a look at the back of Rosberg. They are struggling so

much for grip. They are all over the show, trying to slow it down.

It's not about visibility, it's about known tyre temperature.

Schumacher, where he tried to drive clean around the outside? A bit of

room to breathe. There is Mark Webber. He dropped a long way down

the field, did Webber. On board with Hamilton, as we head towards

the last chicane. Lewis Hamilton, not a lot of space on the inside.

Rosberg is ahead of Michael Schumacher. We will pick them up as

they go over the line. Vettel leads, two seconds from Alonso. Sue Macca,

Hamilton, Button. In eight place is Paul Di Resta. Still they are going

that Massa was looking more comfortable. Vettel bolted up front.

He's gone at the moment? Great start from Sebastian Vettel. It

looks like he had gone too deep in took that first chicane. At this

point he has cleaner air, good visibility and he's using it to his

advantage. Did Michael Schumacher have a bit of overs dear? You can

see that McLaren isn't able to who will be well positioned as he

comes out of their chicane. On the previous lap, he looked down the

outside of Michael. Michael goes to the inside. Michael comes across.

You can see that he's pushed Lewis wired. The Lewis will lose out to

Button. Will he lose out to anybody else? Michael squeezed him onto the

grass. Did he push him onto the grass? Will have to look at it. I

don't big there is any bad play going on there. Alonso is

struggling, Vettel has half the pitch length advantage now. They

could have overtaken in the last corner. This is the first safety

car line. There is the contact between Hamilton and Webber. Will

there be a steward's inquiry on that one? Button is back ahead.

This is a replay from on board with Lewis Hamilton. Webber gave him

space, you absolutely right. Lewis understeered into him. Incredibly

difficult conditions for the drivers. A marshal is out in the

middle of the track at the last chicane, picking up debris. He is

thankfully out of the way. A view, there, of the racing field he

didn't want to see today. This is where Michael started to take his

line. Lewis was skating down the outside. He's lost a place to

Button will stop he only lost one place. Vettel leads by 4.2 seconds.

Alonso is struggling in these conditions. You almost sense that

if Massa past him, he would be gone. The McLaren Janowska struggling

with each other. Kobayashi is just behind them. The rest have dropped

down to 13th somewhere. He's missed the chicane. Webber is in 12th

investigation for that first corner. Will Lewis Hamilton get another

drive through... Touched! Lewis Hamilton, with suspension damage,

puncture. I'll be surprised if he makes it back into the pits. The

problem with those conditions is that Jenson Button cannot see in

his mirrors. There is so much spray coming off the front axle that any

visibility you have is cancelled. This is incredible. Lewis seems to

touch with Michael. Almost touching with Michael. He's getting together

with his team-mates. Suspension broken, isn't it? No, it's more

like a wheel rim. Let's see what trends and the what? What is he

doing?! I don't think you get an answer to that. I think he was

trying to pass you! You can see nothing out of those mirrors. The

safety car is out. I imagine that's because of their debris on the pit

straight? No question about that. Why has Lewis parked the car in the

middle of turn five? He had an opportunity on the way into the

second chicane. He had an opportunity just before the barrier

to park it. This is difficult times. It's hard enough without running

into your team-mate. You had that a couple of times at McLaren, you and

Mika Hakkinen question not it's the one thing that you want to avoid.

Unfortunately, I took him out in Austria, in pole position. It was a

Jenson Button is in the pits, coming in for checks. Lewis

Hamilton comes off the last chicane at much faster. Jenson Button is

making his way on the nearest line and it was the smallest touch.

Lewis would say, he should have seen me coming, he was slowest of

the corner. Intermediate tyres going on. It looks as if Jenson

Button has gone up early. As long as he can get temperature...

can macro has gone for intermediates because McLaren feel

he is so far down the field, they should try something different. Dry

in the pit lane and no more sign of rain just now. This is another

replay of the Contact. Lewis get a better drive of the corner. Jenson

Button comes across towards the pit wall, the normal line, and he is on

sited. This is the view from behind. He has committed at that stage.

There will be an interesting debate between the drivers about he was

right. But Jenson Button, if he is not looking in his mirrors, will

not know he has pulled up alongside him. P City of McLaren are flying

up on the pit lane. Anthony Hamilton, Louis's Dad. But he is

here as manager at. No further action, for obvious reasons. Every

think looks all right to us, we can see no damage -- everything. They

always say they are the best of friends at McLaren, I always

thought it would only last a certain time and there will be

harsh words after. Lewis would say he had a better run, and he will

say, you must have seen me coming and he moved over on me. Jensen

will be thinking, up what is he doing? They will never agree on

that, but Lewis Hamilton is out of this grand prix. That contact

between Hamilton and Mark Webber is not under investigation because

Hamilton is parked outside turn five. That is Lewis, at crash

helmet off, normally if you are feeling guilty, that will stay on!

He is entitled to his point of view, the bottom line is that the

incident between team-mates, they are going to get up close and

personal. Lewis is still under investigation, but for another

incident now. And what did he say in Monaco? It always seems to be me

in the Steward's office. Do you think that is just a racing

incident or should be looked at further? I think that Jansen would

say he could not see anything in his mirrors and Lewis would say, I

came off the corner faster and I am surprised you did not give any room.

I do not think there will be a reprimand. Lewis has already got

one reprimand this year and if you take three for a racing incident,

you get a five place grid drop and so the risk could be stacking them

up! In the few laps we had, he had contact with Mark Webber and almost

Schumacher and of course his team- mate. So this situation, when the

safety card does get called in, Sebastian Vettel becomes the safety

car and the pace-setter. That white line is the first safety car line

and you can overtake after that. It is the first safety -- safety car

line and that is why Fernando Alonso, trained fully engaged, had

a run a. -- his brain fully engaged, had a run at it. I have been told

now the problem with those intermediate so is they drop out of

the temperature window -- intermediates. They are hard to

build up. If they are in the optimum Zona, 80 or 90 degrees

centigrade, they are much faster than a wet tier as rain begins to

fall. -- be wet tyre. temperature has dropped, at the

rain is coming and Jensen is on the wrong tyres. An incident involving

safety card three. The speed limit is under investigation. That is

Lewis Hamilton's third enquiry of the day. So two and since he

dropped out of the race. Safety car speed limit, he must have been on

the first safety car period at some point. You are only allowed to do a

certain speed between the sector points to make sure... Exactly. The

driver is given a target time and they drive to that, so he must have

been out of that. A Jenson Button has the same enquiry, safety car

speed limit. That is a target time you must not beat. You have to pace

yourself not to be ticked. You have an intermittent down shift problem,

it is the paddle itself. When we do a pit stop, Mark, we are thinking

of a steering wheel change. They do have a system on the back of the

steering wheel, but there is only one Activation when you pull down a

flicker away with your right hand. On a Red Bull, can you push and

pull on either side? For you can, but on a rocker so the switch to

activate down is only on one side. That is why they will say

intermittent, that is maybe because of water getting into the other

system -- getting into the system. There is no other reason. When he

comes into the pit stop, and will the car engine stop? In it will not

-- will the car engine stop? It will not. By at is a matter of fact,

the safety car speed limit, so that is a guaranteed to drive through --

that is a matter of fact. They must have seen at some data. We will

keep a close eye on Jenson Button. He might be coming through the pit

lane for a penalty soon, but we will see. The safety car lights are

still on the but it is in at the end of this lack. So many -- this

lap. Will Fernando Alonso be able to match Sebastian Vettel when he

decides to take off? The best of the pack are too far back. As soon

as Sebastian Vettel has a gap after 10 -- after turned 10, as soon as

he has a big enough gap between the safety car, he will go for it. So

they need to be as close as possible. It is hard to judge.

do you judge when you will catch the safety car? But he has got it

right. And Fernando Alonso is not as close. He needs to slow down.

And Michael Schumacher trying to come along the inside of Nico

Rosberg and he gets away with it. but he is not allowed to overtake

until the finish line. You can do that, that is what it is all about.

A red all the leads Ferrari. -- Red Bull leads Ferrari. Mark Webber is

back in 9th position. Jenson Button at his 12th and under investigation.

-- is in 12th position. And Lewis Hamilton is watching. Mark Webber

very close between -- behind Vitaly Petrov. He would be slightly

compromised. Not a lot of quick. is coming across the racing line.

Mack that his way you spin up the tyres when you have a wet tier

across the rubber. Desperately trying to keep off that safety line,

but you sometimes have no choice. The drier two penalty for car four.

-- a drive through penalty. He has passed... Jenson Button has really

made advances, but he has a drive- through penalty for this safety car

speed limit issue. And that means that that will cost him about 20

seconds. It will be less than that, at about 12 seconds is the time

through the pit lane, so that will bring him back out, probably about

a 16th place. Jenson Button is doing 62 mph, they are doing 180

down the pit straight, and it is a very unusual pit lane where you

feeding to turn two and not the first corner. He goes around the

outside and slots in nicely. Vitaly Petrov feeling the need again to

get defensive. But the Red Bull does not have the attraction of

that corner that Renault does have. And for sure, Renault has better

traction, that is unusual. They were famous for having a great

attraction in the past and he used to think that was because of the

weight distribution. But you -- but this year, everybody has within a

1%, so it has to be something else. It cannot be the engine. It is

starting to drizzle again a. Rubens Barrichello has passed Sebastien

Buemi. Jenson Button likes those intermediate tyres, and having

served his penalty straightaway, he is back in the action. They are all

desperately trying to find some grip in the spray. It is virtually

dry, that line. Be as his great information for the front runners -

- of this is. They will look at Jenson Button and there is no

stress for those out front. have got to balance that against

the weather. But looking at Jenson Button sailing past everybody, the

front runners must be thinking it is time for a set of intermediates.

Mark Webber might as well do that, down in 9th place. That is a replay.

He went round the outside of Vitaly Petrov. But Vitaly Petrov uses that

attraction and comes back up the outside. As Mark Webber slice

across the front? He does, indeed. Mark Webber takes that position.

This computer is slow updating today. Jenson Button is going past

Pastor Maldonado, absolutely flying. Time to think about intermediates.

Now we have a four second gap in front of Jenson Button. We will see

just how fast he can beat with a clear track and not having to

overtake, and I think it will be a very fast lap indeed. That contact

with the Hamilton it might have played into his hands! -- with

Hamilton might have played. Rubens Barrichello has gone for

intermediates. Fernando Alonso will be missed the last chicane, so he

would need to be careful using his lap trigger that he has not gained

advantage or he could be in for a penalty. Button has come across a

line -- across the line two seconds slower than the leaders. You just

have to look to see he has 20% more grip. The good thing for Sebastian

Vettel with a four second lead is he does not need to be first. This

form not go from damp to strike in one lap, so he does not have to

take the risk. -- damp to dry. it is raining now, so why they are

waiting until best little spell finishers, they will then come in

for intermediates. Rubens Barrichello did not put on

look at Heidfeld, into the last corner. Let's keep an eye on

Button's lap time, as he finishes the lap. But how quickly Button has

closed in on the rest of that Park. As they go over the line, Button

does a 32.9. He's four seconds quicker on the intermediate tyres.

What a difficult call, David. it's working for him at the moment.

Hour race leader, Sebastian Vettel. A normal pit-stop, as Zaw Minn --

assuming a four second stop, will cost you 16 seconds. Sebastian

doesn't want to leave it too much longer. He's past Heidfeld, making

his way past the two Renaults now. That is seventh Place now for him.

It's also how much time Jenson is going to lose in the traffic. It's

all right have a grip, but he doesn't have the clear space on the

track. Getting nicely out of shape. No traction control on these cars.

They do run a different engine maps to help them drive the cars in

these conditions. Just the torque characteristics of the engine, they

get a little bit more drivable. Fernando Alonso, the first of the

Ferrari's in the pit stop. Webber is through to seventh place. Alonso

and Rosberg in for intermediate tyres, which we are expecting to go

on that beautiful Ferrari. You can still see a bit of rain in the

foreground. The Hamilton and Button incident will be investigated after

the race. That will come up shortly. A 4.4 stop. Alonso feeds in. He's

going to be writing between the two Renaults. He's got to cut across

Petrov, no problem, he's got that covered. Button goes around the

outside of Di Resta. Let's have a look at Button's lap time that time

around. Still, 22 seconds behind Vettel. Red Bull will be watching

that closely. There will also be looking at Adrian Sutil, currently

in 19th. He's just gone purple, which means fastest in their last

sector. If Force India is delivering the fastest lap time on

intermediates, they surely have to be coming in. Is it a case of act

in haste, repent at leisure? Or get on with it, because you are losing

out? As we saw in Monaco, we never thought anyone could do 60 laps on

a set of primes. And someone did. Sebastian Vettel is going past our

commentary box. Maybe he's comfortable on those tyres? What

time is he going to do here? A couple of seconds off the fastest,

but none the less, Alonso. Alonso and Heidfeld, just out of the pits

on the intermediates. Alonso takes out the normal turning point.

Button is on the back of the two Renaults. They are still working

for Vettel and Massa, the wet tyres. It is getting busy down into turn

one, Button with a pair of Renaults to sort out before he can show us

how good... And Rosberg, he is also out there, on intermediates. Let's

confirm who has come in and put into the pits on at the moment.

Button, Michael Schumacher, further down the field to you've got

Barrichello and four or five others that have been in and changed their

tyres. But Button confide his way past the traffic. Petrov started

off in ladder racing in Russia. He will certainly know how to handle

these conditions. Jenson Button gets a must -- much better drive. A

fairly easy pass, into turn 8. how hard it is raining, David.

Surely Jenson is going to start struggling. You have heavy spray

coming up, aquaplaning. We don't know how much heavier the rain is

going to get. What do you think of the tyres? Starting to get a bit of

oversteer. It's a good idea to go into the pits. We have a safety car

rout. The safety car is deployed. I haven't seen any incidents at the

moment. Fernando Alonso, pitting under the safety car. He's the

first to blink. Back to wet? Indeed Sebastian Vettel. Massa missed the

opportunity to come in. Alonso, look at the colours on those.

Button does indeed pet. That was short-lived. By not reacting too

quickly, Vettel, Massa, Kobayashi, Heidfeld, Petrov, Di Resta, it has

worked out beautifully for them. Petrova 6, Michael Schumacher did

pit. He put the intermediate song. But why have we got a safety car?

don't see any car stopped on the track, looking at our circuit guide.

Clearly, the race director, Charlie Whiting, has pre-empted a big

incident, rather than waiting for it. In fairness, it's something

that the drivers' Association are always pushing for. Don't wait for

one of us to have a big aquaplaning crash before you stick out the

safety car. But that's not fair on those that have stayed on the full

wet tyre, anticipating heavy rain? There are three sets available for

the afternoon. On they go. Because the safety car goes out and picks

up the first car, hasn't picked up the leader yet, that the safety car

was half a lap away. Quick thinking by Red Bull. They have worked out

that Vettel, with a fresh set of wets, he comes out immediately

behind Felipe Massa. Vettel, effectively, although he has lost

track position, he's had a free Pep stop -- pit stop? He's put in

another set of forwards on, but he was very slow when he was going

into the pit. Maybe that is down change issues. We can see how this

unravels. It was the down should problem that slowed Mark Webber

race. We are only on lap 21. The safety car is out. The safety car

will now pick up. Felipe Massa leads the Grand Prix. He's coming

in, Felipe Massa has pitted. He gets his free stop. Presumably he

will lose track position to Vettel, as he comes through the last

chicane. Massa, a big board to say turn in here, everybody is waiting

for you, pleased to see you. Massa rejoins that rather curious pit

lane. Card cross the white line. They can't just nail it now. They

have to do a required speed. That so the drivers are not encouraged,

when there is an incident on track, they are not encouraged to nail it

back to the pits. That means the safety car spends a long time

picking them up. Smart thinking by Red Bull. Michael Schumacher

fancies another go on the wets. He's handed back the shallow groove

into media Hizb Ut-Tazir. I'm driving me is on the Pirelli test

cars next week, so I can give you a lot more information on exactly how

who has done what. Kobayashi is ahead of Massa. Its Vettel and

Kobayashi. Information, from third to 13 it is undrive the ball. It is

section of track. That is from Vettel, saying to the race director,

don't restart this raise any time soon. A little trip across the

grass. It was be soul-destroying when you can't even stay on the

track and the safety car speed limit? You could debate whether

it's a good thing to have that safety car out in early or not. We

still have all of the car's running. We can see Lewis Hamilton, finally

making it back to his pit. Is that did go quite early on to does

intermediates, as they are all queued up. Vettel, Kobayashi, Di

Resta is sixth. His first visit to this circuit, what a good job he's

doing. Challenging conditions in extreme. Fernando Alonso is down in

eighth, having run a strong second. De la Rosa, ninth. The man who

developed the Pirelli intermediates and wets. An update, so much water

that you cannot restart the race like this. For the first car, it is

already too dangerous. For the car behind, he doesn't see anything. He

goes blind into the water, aquaplaned and smashed the car.

Understood, we will pass on that information. His Engineer Committee

will not need to pass that reason he is so clear round

specific in describing that he thinks it is undrivable, he knows

that will be listened to. As the lead car, it's very difficult for

the race director to do anything other than leave the safety car out.

Health and safety gone mad? You have to take Vettel at face value,

on that. At the pretty, it's lap 23 of 70. There is no way he can

reasonably expect that safety car to go 70% of the distance, when

they could call the race. We can see Charlie Whiting. Maybe a bit

camera-shy. But those are the men that will make the call. They have

to rely on the drive of the safety car and information from the

drivers. The problem they have up there is that every driver in that

field, and we have 23 runners, they all have different perspectives

depending on where they are in the race, what tyres they have got on

and whether they want the race restarted or not. They have to fill

the wall of that out somehow. still chucking it down on the pit

straight. There is no sign that it's going to clear any time soon.

Just the thought of the tread blocks. I've been looking at the

tyres when they came in. They actually look OK. Plenty of tread

on the full wet tyres. That's how the likes of Kobayashi, Petrova and

Di Resta have been able to stay out on track. Those will wear down, and

they will have to go into the pits soon a. Thank you for that. So, it

worked out well for Vettel in particular. Massa has Kobayashi

between him and the race leader. So, more intensity of rain is inspected.

He said level two, whatever that is. Presumably that is double two and

it's been dropped to Level 1. Kobayashi is in second place, he

has not stopped at any time. He hasn't come in for fresh wet. He

didn't jump too early and go on to the intermediates. Button and

company were definitely showing that it was the right tyres to be

on. The weather forecast was more important than the tyre choice.

Sorry, I was try to do some research while you were in

detaining the audience. I didn't believe -- bully catches. --

entertaining the audience. We are hearing that Sutil was still the

intermediates, which is entertaining. The run-up to the

hairpin? You just can't see anything at all. OK, we understand.

We will pass that on to raise control. Jenson, we are expecting

20 more minutes of this intensity delivering a message. Jenson Button

in tenth place and if he is complaining, up like a race leader,

it is very unlikely... It is looking to be getting heavier now.

That is Jenson's engineer, and looking out of the window, when

they put the safety car out there, it looked perfectly acceptable,

didn't it? But it has spread across the entire 2.7 miles of this semi-

permanent racetrack. It is in road around the casino, some of it is

racetrack and the rest is used all the year round. Any thought they

might throw up a red and just a pit for a while? That is a possibility

with this level of rain. You could argue... Red flag! I responded to

your information! I should do the lottery, shouldn't I? I might be

able to win something. It is a red flag situation. And we will now go

through that procedure that we saw two weeks ago in Monaco where they

have to have at least a 10 minute notice of a restart. The race is

effectively suspended. They are not allowed into the pit lane or they

will get aches -- get a penalty. The cars can be worked on the grid.

They have to go to pole position and line-up in race order. Any in

the next get pulled over to the side of the grid and will be

released early to go round and joined the back of the queue when

we get the restart. Hundreds of mechanics with equipment out on to

the grid. They can change a tyre -- they can change tyres. A red flag

situation is usually bad weather, isn't it? What never fails to amaze

me in these situations is how few of them ever have a raincoat! It

comes as a big surprise you have wet weather and Formula One! They

are covered in fireproof overalls that will gather wait outside. The

safety car will bring them to the red flag blind and they have to

line up in single file. Not quite doing that. The drive has do not

always know the rules, they are quite complex -- the drivers.

Sebastian Vettel positioning himself right on it. The race is

suspended. Eddie Jordan, what do you think? There is no doubt about

the safety aspect of stopping the race because the rain was

torrential. Mike issue is that I really have an issue with the way

the race was started -- might issue. I cannot believe we started with a

safety car, it stole the excitement of a race into the first corner in

those conditions. I do not accept this race should have been started

on the safety car. It is different when you are in the car but if you

are going to have the opportunity of pulling a fast one bike we used

to do in the past, I have a concern about the way it is done -- a fast

one look like we used to do. Maybe you can put your letters of

complaint in the same envelope and save on the postage?! It looks like

different levels of carbon on the cart off Sebastian Vettel. -- car.

What they might do is put a third set on and take those off, but but

you do not want to heat them too long because the rubber will start

to cure. It does, but they will only have put those on ahead of the

race. Just down at the Red Bull garage, it seems as though they

listened to Sebastien, it was like he was giving an interview on the

radio about conditions. The it is just too dangerous, it is right to

stop the race. The drivers are passengers, at the water picks up

the car and an accident is so easy, so absolutely the right thing to

stop the race. Was it right to start the race on a safety car?

so if the cast a doubt a long time to give the driver's chance -- the

safety car started a long time in. It was the right thing to do. By do

not ask this often in the middle of the race, how is the race going --

I do not. We had an issue with Mark with the downshift, so they changed

the wheel as a precaution. Up until then, we were looking pretty

comfortable looking after the tyres and monitoring the weather. But

unfortunately, the satellite was right and the rain is heavy. What

did not say about Lewis and his move? We did not hear too much from

him, but it was obvious he was a complete passenger on the replay. I

am sure it was the right thing, but Lewis and Ben had another accident,

unfortunately. Back to Martin. We heard somebody saying they are

not in the right order on the grid. They should be in a line, I think.

Knows sign of a safety car we start -- there is no sign. They have to

start now under the safety car. is significantly better than when

they started and looking at the chicane, the apex of the last

chicane is completely submerged with water. It does not look like

there is more drainage capability. And we are on an island! It is the

first time the race has been rain- 2,000, it was last rain affected.

It is unusual to see a red flag these days. The safety car covers

just about everything, but we have seen the situation for two

consecutive races. This track is no stranger, we have had in 19 safety

car recently. People will understand, these are the best

drivers, why or are they not out there? These cars are just not

designed to drive in these conditions. And you get a

separation or no separation between them -- between the wooden plank

below the chassis and the ground. And as difficult as it is to have

safety cars without incidents, it is the right and safer decision, it

is no question. We can hardly see be on the end -- be on the edge of

the circuit, it is so great and we have to hope that this picks up

wind and takes this horrible weather away. -- grey. We are

waiting for a 10 minute warning they will go into a safety car

process. It does not look like it will happen soon. Only eight teams

are allowed down there at the moment -- the teams.

Disappointed to be talking to you at the moment, what happened?

Tricky conditions, and was doing the best I could to keep the Kop on

track and I think I had pretty good pace. -- keep the car. Fire --

Jenson and made a mistake in the last corner and I got the one on

him. I was on the outside. I have not seen the footage but it looked

like I was halfway on the outside of him and he kept moving across. I

do not know if he saw me, but I was in the wall. And it was a leave the

tyre that was damaged so I had to drive it back to the damage -- and

it was the tyre that was damaged so I had to drive it back to the

garage. Dense and did say on his radio, what is he doing? -- Jenson

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 42 seconds

Button. Explain how difficult What do you do, stay and watch the

race? I support the team and hope that we can get a good result for

Jenson and at least. Well done for getting that interview. Denser is

in tenth place -- Jenson that. It drive-through penalty for the

safety car and back on before the race.. Adrian Sutil did not change

tyres, so he cannot change them free of charge on the grid.

Originally, we expected 20 minutes of this. We will get a 10 minute

warning when this happens. That was the physiotherapist for the team.

But was Mark Webber's race engineer giving him information and

reminding him of the ten-minute countdown. Back to Lewis's

interview. You do not always remember the sequence of events. I

do not recall he was halfway alongside Jenson Button at the

point of contact, it looked like he was just alongside his wheels. I do

not know if I would want to share my chocolate with him, if that is

what he thinks! Presumably, he was coming out at a vast a rate and is

entitled to overtake. This is a replay in presumably of the start

of the race. And when it starts and the safety car begins immediately,

at the green light go on and there is no formation, you get straight

into it. This is a replay of that action. And that is the safety car.

He led the six the highest number of laps last year into a Grand Prix

race and. And when they got rid of the safety car on the start coming

here. And Mark Webber gave Lewis Hamilton a more than enough space.

Lewis said he got on the kerb, but he just slid off it. And I think he

would have taken a penalty had he not dropped out of the race. Mack

he was left in a lot of space. -- he was left a lot of space. And

Lewis Hamilton is almost onto the grass, it has no old brick.

Sebastian Vettel had an early lead in the Grand Prix and by goodness.

This is the contact. The men on the pit board having to react, and that

was hit by McLaren. That is a broken wheel, but the team saw it

as a broken suspension. Lewis got out and said it was only a quick

better run at it. Jenson Button would be the first man to come

out... This is Mark Webber taking a position from Vitaly Petrov, and

passing the second, Nick Heidfeld. Intermediates go on if Ferrari. And

that turned out to be a very bad mistake. So early on, Fernando

Alonso was flying up on those intermediates and this showed up

and we had a further safety car situation that quickly turned into

a red flag, as the track became so waterlogged it was not safe

cruising around behind the safety car. Sooner or later, if you need

lateral force to feed the fluids. They are not designed to cruise

round. And Ted has found Jonathan for a long time, two McLaren

drivers coming together, who is at fault? We are not the first team to

have drivers come together and we will not be the last. Obviously,

not good for us today, for either driver. We have looked at it and we

just think it was a racing incident. Lewis had pace. He was in attacking

move. Jenson was holding his line. The rest is history. So Jenson was

holding his line? It looked like he was coming across. We will look at

it in more detail after the race. I think the final move was the

contact they made. It makes it look worse than his. We will do all of

that after the race. What do you do with Lewis because this is two

races in a row where he has been a bit hot-headed, it seems from the

outside. To be fair, but in Monaco to one side, Lewis has driven

really well here this weekend. It is extremely difficult conditions

here. In the dry we have seen people put it in the wall. These

are world-class drivers. We have to remember that this is motor sport,

these are guys who want to race and did well and we want to put on a

show here. Sitting here going and one behind the other is not what

motor sport is about. Butter will not help his championship? That is

true. Uncomfortable. It is an open debate about whether the

championship is still alive. Tell us what you're expecting with the

rain. Charlie will want to look at the surface water. The issue is not

just how hard it is coming down but as we saw from this morning with

the Ferrari race, the surface water is an issue. The cars aquaplaning