Nov.1 (GMM) Dust and tyres — that is why Sunday’s Indian grand prix was not a thriller.
Overall, formula one enjoyed its inaugural visit to the chaos and culture of New Delhi and the likeable new Buddh circuit, but the race itself was not a classic.
Italy’s Autosprint counted only 22 overtaking moves; way down on the 2011 average that has been powered by DRS and heavily-degrading Pirelli tyres.
The fact the Buddh tarmac was brand new and therefore ‘green’ did not help, nor did the tonnes of dust.
Another factor was what Pirelli chief Paul Hembery referred to as the “deliberately conservative” decision to bring hard tyres to the mainly unknown venue.
In short, they didn’t wear out quick enough.
“What was the reason for the show taking a backwards step in India? Simple: the tyres behaved normally, predictably,” wrote Brazilian journalist Livio Oricchio in O Estado de S.Paulo.
Agreed Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport: “The only one entertained was Vettel, who is dominating as Michael Schumacher once did.”
