The 2011 season saw some spectacular races and introduced a new event in the shape of the Indian Grand Prix.
Look back on this year’s racing with a collection of 100 of the best pictures of the year – including dozens not published here before.
The season gets started in Melbourne Jamie Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi cross swords on lap one Vettel got the season off to a winning start Vitaly Petrov takes a rare podium for Renault Podium celebration at Melbourne Vettel leads as the Malaysian Grand Prix starts Heidfeld had a strong run at Sepang Kovalainen and Maldonado do battle in Malaysia Heidfeld joins Vettel and Button on the podium Frantic work in the McLaren garage before the Chinese Grand Prix Start, Shanghai, 2011 Vettel was passed by the two McLarens and had to fight Rosberg off Schumacher races hard with Alonso Hamilton caught and passed Vettel to win Hamilton celebrates his first win of 2011 Practice in Turkey gets off to a wet start Williams keep their car dry Vettel leading at the start in Turkey The McLaren drivers scrapped furiously around the Istanbul circuit It was a busy pit lane in Istanbul – here Massa pits Kobayashi and Kovalainen in Turkey Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, Istanbul, 2011 Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, Circuit de Catalunya, 2011 Buemi fends off Button Petrov makes a smoky departure Trulli had a poor season at Lotus Vettel celebrates a narrow win over Hamilton Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, Monte-Carlo, 2011 Glock was in fine form in qualifying Schumacher pushes Hamilton into Sainte Devote Kobayashi threads his Sauber between the barrier Massa out after the first of many controversial collisions with Hamilton Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, Monte-Carlo, 2011 Schumacher squeezes past his team mate at the hairpin Vettel triumphs again Hamilton and Webber tangle at the start Schumacher edges Hamilton wide Many laps spent behind the safety car in Montreal Heavy rain forced a lengthy suspension Kobayashi tries to keep Massa at bay Canada gave HRT their best finish Button stole Vettel’s win – and his celebration An unusual new look for Adrian Sutil Maldonado prepares for the European Grand Prix Vettel gets to the first corner first in Valencia and the race is as good as over Rosberg under pressure from Button An unfamiliar starting location at a familiar venue Button dives past Massa at Club Hamilton had to keep Massa behind at the end Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, Silverstone, 2011 Alonso shares the spoils of victory The field threads through the slow first corners at the Nurburgring A three-way battle for victory between Hamilton, Webber and Alonso Sutil claimed a strong sixth Hamilton won in Germany Robert Kubica was absent but not forgotten in 2011 A slippery start to the Hungarian Grand Prix Vettel puts Hamilton on the grass as they fight for the lead The McLaren drivers were at it again in Hungary Vettel and winner Button take a well-earned drink Rosberg took the lead from Vettel on the first lap at Spa Nico Rosberg, Fernando Alonso, Spa-Francorchamps, 2011 Massa and Button go wheel-to-wheel The Red Bull drivers were concerned by tyre wear Vettel jumps for joy Start, Monza, 2011 Webber’s damage caused him to crash out Fernando Alonso, Michael Schumacher, Monza, 2011 Podium, Monza, 2011 Webber keeps Hamilton back at the start in Singapore Sparks fly as the race begins Massa pits after another mauling by Hamilton Button gave chase of Vettel but couldn’t catch the Red Bull Di Resta scored his best result of the season with sixth Vettel’s Singapore win put him within a point of the title Rosberg drove a race of recovery after starting at the back at Suzuka Button had Alonso and Vettel within two seconds of him at the end Button took his third win in Suzuka Sebastian Vettel was also celebrating having clinched his second championship Vettel attacked Hamilton at the start and took the lead in Korea Bruno Senna in the pits The other Renault was in the wars Hamilton resisted intense pressure from Webber Vettel celebrates his tenth race win of 2011 Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, Buddh International Circuit, 2011 The first Indian Grand Prix gets started Karthikeyan was India’s only representative on the grid Paul di Resta and Sergio Perez do battle Button finished second behind Vettel Vettel and Red Bull celebrate again in India Williams started at the back in Abu Dhabi Unusually, Vettel retired on the first lap Hamilton won for the third time in 2011 A relieved Hamilton back on top of the podium Bruno Senna waves to the home crowd The last race begins in familiar fashion with Vettel leading Jerome D’Ambrosio bows out at Virgin Mark Webber took his only win of 2011 in the final race Massa performs a few doughnuts for the Brazilian fans The end-of-season drivers’ photo F1 pictures
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Images ?é?® Ferrari spa/Ercole Colombo, Renault/LAT, Williams/LAT, McLaren, Getty Images/Red Bull, Force India/Sutton, Sauber F1 Team, Team Lotus, Virgin Racing, Motioncompany, Pirelli, Korean GP/Sutton, Yas Marina
Magnificent Geoffrey (@magnificent-geoffrey)
21st December 2011, 9:59
Not a very accurate depiction of the season I’m afraid.
At least 2/3rds of them should be of Vettel’s Finger.
Franton
21st December 2011, 10:05
Ahh rats! Beaten to that joke! You win teh internets! :p
Eggry (@eggry)
21st December 2011, 14:00
Oh please!!
SiY (@siy)
21st December 2011, 12:00
This compilation is devalued by the lack of Rowan Atkinson!
d3v0 (@d3v0)
21st December 2011, 21:45
Here you go
Enigma (@enigma)
21st December 2011, 12:51
Would love to see Webber giving Alonso a ride at Nurburgring on this list :)
Though it’s a great selection, love it. Sums up the season nicely.
GeeMac (@geemac)
21st December 2011, 13:57
Kobayashi at Monaco…best picture of the year!
Liam Stroud (@comabvbsixx)
21st December 2011, 14:04
I have two fantastic shots from Abu Dhabi which I’ve edited, they’re not really like.. Season summaries though, they just look awesome. :P
callum (@095cal)
21st December 2011, 15:38
My favourite has to be the two McLarens side by side at Istanbul. Just quality!
Fixy (@)
21st December 2011, 15:44
I knew the podium in Interlagos was different – the F1 logo is partly red, whilst it had been white up to then.
west (@west)
21st December 2011, 17:30
Alonso fending off schumacher that was classic professional driving.
west (@west)
21st December 2011, 17:33
There was no maginetic contact between the two cars.
sato113 (@sato113)
21st December 2011, 19:07
LOL keith. those car nets aren’t used to keep the cars dry! haha. they’re parc-ferme nets.
brombillaf1 (@brombillaf1)
21st December 2011, 19:33
Great pics.
I just read that Bruno Senna will drive for Williams next year.
The news come from a important radio station of São Paulo.
guido (@guidof1)
21st December 2011, 23:44
those first laps at hungary were amazing. very tight both seb and lewis on the edge. i think seb was starting to feel the pressure. then lewis span, his own fault and his chances went out the window. had he kept cool and won it would have been a different story.
after the summer break vettel smashed them all categorically and i thought: wow this guy truly deserves this wdc
Tiago Carvalho (@tiagocomodoro)
22nd December 2011, 8:22
For me the best picture was Heidfeld’s car on Fire, of course nothing bad happening to him, but the picture is amazing.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
22nd December 2011, 23:04
@tiagocomodoro Doesn’t beat Kovalainen in Singapore last year. That was something special!
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
22nd December 2011, 23:05
It’s amazing. All that drama and those wonderful pictures boils down to a rather placid picture of all the drivers looking very relaxed and professional at the end!