FIA Formula 1 Championship 2012

**Retz** · July 20th, 2012 10:14 AM

Jenson Button believes McLaren's Hockenheim upgrade could be the step that brings it back into contention

Jenson Button is hopeful that McLaren's major upgrade package for the German Grand Prix will put the team back in contention near the front of the field.

The Briton, without a top-five finish since China, believes that McLaren's recent struggles are down to the team not matching the development pace of its rivals.

He expects comprehensive updates to move the team closer to Red Bull and Ferrari, insisting that extra downforce will help solve its tyre management problems.

"The more downforce you have, the fewer issues [you have] everywhere else," he said. "You can get tyre temperature, so you can take away the parts of the car we have had to put on to help, which will give us more downforce again.

more: Jenson Button believes McLaren's Hockenheim upgrade could be the step that brings it back into contention - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com

**Retz** · July 22nd, 2012 02:02 PM

2012 German GP Qualifying Results

**niky** · July 22nd, 2012 03:04 PM

Alonso was blazing in those wet conditions. Might not have the fastest car in the dry, though... All depends on his ability to conserve tires across all stints tomorrow... But if it's cold, he could definitely win it versus the Red Bulls.

**jut703** · July 22nd, 2012 05:01 PM

Alonso just kept going and going - it was as if he just willed to set a faster time every time he lapped. Smart move by Ferrari too, to change tires later than everyone else, giving Alonso a slightly fresher set.

Nonetheless, I'm still all for Seb on this one

**Retz** · July 22nd, 2012 05:46 PM

Stay tuned for this exciting German GP at 8:00pm local time.

**Retz** · July 22nd, 2012 08:49 PM

Schumi on P3 Webber down to P8. FYI.

**Retz** · July 22nd, 2012 09:06 PM

racetime baby! sunny weather today drivers opt using soft tyres.

**jut703** · July 22nd, 2012 09:17 PM

Schumi tried to overtake Seb early on, but Vettel did a good job blocking and setting record times to close up on Alonso. I'm just waiting for the overtake.

**Monseratto** · July 22nd, 2012 09:21 PM

Red Bull escapes penalty through rule loophole - GPUpdate.net

Red Bull escapes penalty through rule loophole

German Grand Prix stewards have elected not to penalise Red Bull following a technical investigation on Sunday morning. Should the Milton Keynes team have been found guilty for running illegal torque maps, it could have been thrown out of today’s race.

Tension was raised in the Hockenheim paddock earlier today, when FIA Technical Delegate Jo Bauer published a press release.

In his opinion, the cars of Mark Webber and World Champion Sebastian Vettel were breaching article 5.5.3 of the Technical Regulations, which states that a specific amount of torque must be applied to the engine when the throttle pedal is in certain positions.

"Having examined the engine torque map of cars 1 and 2 it became apparent that the maximum torque output of both engines is significantly less in the mid rpm range than previously seen for these engines at other events,” Bauer explained.

This, in effect, meant that the cars could have been running exhaust blowing-like technologies which have been outlawed since the start of the campaign. Bauer submitted his findings to the stewards, which include ex F1 racer Derek Warwick, who soon replied that no penalty has been given.

"While the stewards do not accept all the arguments of the team, they however conclude that as the regulation is written, the map presented does not break the text of article 5.5.3 of the Formula One Technical Regulations and therefore decide to take no further action," a statement reads.

This all but confirms that Red Bull is taking advantage of a loophole in the regulations; should they have been found guilty, it is possible that the cars may not have been able to start today’s race or, if they disagreed with the stewards’ decision, Webber and Vettel would have raced under appeal.

The stewards’ decision confirms that the results of qualifying do stand and that Red Bull will head into Sunday’s race in normal circumstances. In the event of no further investigations taking place, it may now be up to rival squads to come up with similar tactics.