India: Figures and Technical Data

This weekend, F1 is going to India and if the race takes place, it will only be the third edition of the Indian Grand Prix, held at the Buddh International Circuit near New Delhi in the north of the country. Once again, the man to beat will be Sebastian Vettel this weekend.

The German driver secured pole position and won both Indian Grand Prix held in 2011 and 2012, also leading every lap of these two races. Last season, he also finished at the top of each practice session. Besides Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull as a whole should be watched closely since the Austrian team has always started from the front row, with Vettel ahead of Webber in 2011 and 2012.

The only driver who seems capable of rivaling Vettel is Fernando Alonso – the only one who can deprive him of the title this weekend. Aside from Vettel, the Spanish driver is the only one to have been on the podium in both races held, finishing 3rd in 2011 and 2nd last year.

For the first time, there will be no Indian driver on the starting grid, as Narain Karthikeyan (HRT) raced in the previous two editions, while Karun Chandhok drove with Team Lotus (now Caterham) during the first free practice in 2011.

On the tire front, Pirelli has modified its compounds compared to last year. The Italian manufacturer has brought back the softs – making their return for the first time since Hungary at the end of July – and the mediums. This is the first time this season that these two compounds are being paired together.

On the side of the track officials, it’s Tom Kristensen – nine-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans – who will be present as the driver steward. Regarding DRS, the FIA has decided to implement two zones, the first on the main straight and the second on the following straight, with two detection points.

Budd Chassis Side

Tom McCullough, Head of Track Engineering for the Sauber F1 Team:

The Buddh International Circuit has similar characteristics to the South Korean circuit. The first sector is dominated by long straights and slow corners, the second sector features medium and high-speed corners, and there is a short and slow final sector. There are significant elevation changes throughout the lap, which contribute to making the circuit challenging and rewarding for drivers. Pirelli will bring the soft and medium tires. With the mediums being the hardest compound, it is one step softer than last year.

Buddh on the engine side

Rémi Taffin, Track Operations Director of Renault Sport F1:

The Buddh circuit is one of the most interesting for drivers because it combines several distinct challenges within the same layout. There are long periods of full throttle, such as on the back straight, which require significant maximum power. But we also face more technical sections, like turn 1 or the final sector. Additionally, we have several long corners that require delivering a lot of torque at mid-range speeds. It is always challenging to find the right balance between the need for power and flexibility at low and medium revs.

There are also external factors that we need to consider: the track surface is generally very slippery at the beginning of the weekend. The racing line gets cleaned up after a session, but it is covered by dust from the surrounding fields overnight. We can help provide a bit more grip with less aggressive torque mapping. With a smoother curve, however, the car loses a bit of its edge when exiting corners. By doing this, we also manage to limit tire wear.

We look forward to going to India after an incredible series of successes in the last two races. We secured our 209th pole position – a record for F1 engine manufacturers – and two Renault-powered 100% podiums for the first time since 1996. However, we are focused on the present and the future, with two titles to win over the last four Grand Prix. We will do everything we can to help our partners achieve their goals in both championships.

Buddh on the tyre front

The tires available for the drivers in India are as follows:

• Soft (yellow sides) ;
• Hard (orange sides) ;
• Intermediate (green sides) ;
• Rain (blue sides).

The opinion of Paul Hembery, director of Pirelli Motorsport:

« We decided to bring the medium P Zero White and soft P Zero Yellow to India this year because we believe it is the best combination for the Buddh circuit and will allow for a close race. In the past two years, we brought the hard and soft tires, which may have seemed a little conservative.

This year, we have therefore chosen a slightly more aggressive and softer approach. Consequently, as in the last Japanese race, we do not expect to see large lap time differences between the two compounds. Strategy made a very big difference in Japan and it should be the same again in India. We only saw one pit stop in India last year, but two stops are expected this year, which also provides drivers and teams with more opportunities to gain positions.

With the elevation changes and the wide variety of curves, the Indian track is demanding on the tires because forces come from all directions. Tire management will therefore once again be important. As usual, it should be hot in India, which increases thermal degradation. This race should be decisive for the championship, and we hope that our tire choice will contribute to a memorable battle with a high-quality race.

The opinion of Jean Alesi, Pirelli ambassador:

« Before talking about India, I would just like to go back to the Japanese Grand Prix, which was really a race I enjoyed watching. In my opinion, it has been proven that a strategy adopted over another can make all the difference, and it’s incredible to see how you can have a tight result with the use of diametrically opposite strategies. The tension and the spectacle created for those watching the race are fantastic. Regarding India, it’s not a circuit I’ve raced on, but I’ve heard positive feedback from the drivers.

More broadly, I believe that having races in territories like India is extremely important due to the enormous sporting and commercial potential. Besides driving, the drivers play the role of ambassadors for the sport by raising public awareness of Formula 1 and all the stakeholders involved. This ambassador role is much more important in places like India than at Monza, for example, where F1 has been hosted for years. We see the incredible enthusiasm generated by the sport in general in India. It would be fantastic if Formula 1 could be followed with the same energy!

Buddha in Numbers

The 2012 Indian Grand Prix

Pole position:

Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing) in 1:25.283

Podium:

1 – Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)

2 – Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)

3 – Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)

Fastest lap in the race:

Jenson Button (McLaren) in 1:28.203

[From the press releases published by the FIA, Pirelli, Renault Sport F1, and Sauber F1]