Japanese Grand Prix 2010, Suzuka - Race 16/19
- Thread starter Glaucus
- Start date
Will actually be quite cool watching qually and then not having the downer of having to wait a day for the race
Yeah usually to do that you have to dodge all forms of media and basically warn anyone you meet not to tell you the quali results.
4hrs+ of formula 1 tomorrow morning, awesome
You can hardly write his chances off yet....there are thee races, and 75 points up for grabs after this one. It's still a bit tight to call anyone out of the title race. Yes, he'd be looking better for it if he hadn't crashed out two race weekends in a row. But he's third in the championship, 20 points off the lead right now....how anyone can say he's out of it is just a bit beyond me.
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If quali is wet/mixed though the grid could be mixed up - and if someone bins the car in quali they will likely be out of the race.
So a five place drop may not be that bad.
Could be very interesting.
Another possibility is that if the second attempt at qualification is called off on account of weather we could have either:
Numerical Order
1.Button
2.Schumacher
3.Rosberg
4.Vettel
5.Webber
6.Massa
7.Hamilton (5 place drop)
8.Alonso
9.Barrichello
10.Hulkenburg
That would be an interesting race, with the Red Bulls fighting past the Mercedes and then Button, and the Hamilton/Ferrari battle.
Or
Championship order
1.Webber
2.Alonso
3.Vettel
4.Button
5.Massa
6.Rosberg
7.Kubica
8.Hamilton (5 place penalty)
9.Sutil
10.Schumacher
A possibly less interesting race with The Red Bulls and Alonso surging ahead, then everyone else backing up behind Button - most of action would likely come from Kubica/Hamilton.
So a five place drop may not be that bad.
Could be very interesting.
Another possibility is that if the second attempt at qualification is called off on account of weather we could have either:
Numerical Order
1.Button
2.Schumacher
3.Rosberg
4.Vettel
5.Webber
6.Massa
7.Hamilton (5 place drop)
8.Alonso
9.Barrichello
10.Hulkenburg
That would be an interesting race, with the Red Bulls fighting past the Mercedes and then Button, and the Hamilton/Ferrari battle.
Or
Championship order
1.Webber
2.Alonso
3.Vettel
4.Button
5.Massa
6.Rosberg
7.Kubica
8.Hamilton (5 place penalty)
9.Sutil
10.Schumacher
A possibly less interesting race with The Red Bulls and Alonso surging ahead, then everyone else backing up behind Button - most of action would likely come from Kubica/Hamilton.
See I would agree with this usually... had Hamilton not suffered DNF's in the last 4-5 races.
But psychologically this will unquestionably impact him severely since he will be further down the field with the main title runners upfront with buffer cars like Massa/Button/Kubica inbetween him and the front guys.
Whats more, it will add further pressure to him since qualifying ironically will coincide on the same day! So he wont have time to sleep over the dissapointment of being down the grid, he will have to carry it throughout the race.
Not to mention hes already wrecked the car at Suzuka already in practice.
All these factors will result in one of two things
1. Hamilton being more cautious than before (since everytime - recenty- he tried to be aggressive hes ended up with a broken car).
2. He doesnt change his attitude and run the risk "again" of banzai-ing (no pun intended) his car. He will be feeling even more desperate since each point will undoubtedly count from now on.
I'll tell you one thing. This seasons crown is probably more valuable than any of those in the past decade or so. A quarter of the grid filled with ex-WDCs, 3 or more teams being competitive.... one helluva season.
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Agreed 100%.
IMO Webber has had unbelievably good luck this year. How many DNFs has he had? If memory serves me correct, he has had numerous crashes, but has failed to finish only once and that was when his car was launched into the air.
Webber is due to have some bad luck soon and when he does, it will allow all his rivals to close down the lead.
Also JRS, there are 4 races left with 100 points up for grabs. If it rains tomorrow then Hamilton still has the ability to get a podium. Similarly, if there is a safety car incident, Hamilton can make big gains.
Do not count Hamilton out yet.
Perhaps, but so has Hamilton tbh.
As I said to JRS, I would agree with this... but see my above post.
When things go wrong for Hamilton, he crumbles. Ok the gearbox is not his fault, but it will be an ingredient to his potential demise. We have seen Hamilton underperform when the tide is against him. And thusfar, Hamilton seems to be heading in that direction as he did in 2007 and in 2008.
Also out of interest, say if tomorrow it rains as it did today. Would they cancel the race?
Nope.
Webber has crashed into people and continued driving. Hamilton's rear wheels have collided with another car's front wheels, yet his car breaks...how is this even possible?
Hamilton has had his fair share of bad luck this season (as has Alonso and Vettel). Webber in comparisons has had great luck.
yeah but it's not going to rain, it will be a very dull race. Hammi will be lucky to get into the top 10 after practise.
Hammi will be kicking himself come the end of the year, the championship was his for the taking.
I think Fred will win and be in a bit of a daze, I don't think even he has been believing his own hype.
Hammi will be kicking himself come the end of the year, the championship was his for the taking.
I think Fred will win and be in a bit of a daze, I don't think even he has been believing his own hype.
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The forecast shows the rain stopping prior to the second attempt at quali so there shouldn't be an issue regarding the race proper - but if the track is not suitable for qualification at the scheduled time they'll have to cancel quali and do one of the other options to make up the grid.
So it all depends on how long the track has to dry and how quickly the standing water drains on whether qualification goes ahead.
So it all depends on how long the track has to dry and how quickly the standing water drains on whether qualification goes ahead.
Wrong.
Alonso believes absolutely in his ability. He believes he is the best F1 driver in existence. It also helps when he is voted by his peers as the best driver in F1. When Senna was on top, he also had this unshakable belief in his own ability. The same goes for MSc.
Alonso also knows that the only reason why Webber is leading is because he is in the best car and not because he is a particularly great driver.
What this means is that he will feel confident in his current 2nd placed position in the title race.
Now, if it was a top line driver, in an RBR, who was leading the title race, you can bet that Alonso would not be so confident. Luckily for Alonso, it is Webber leading and not Vettel.
We've discussed this already bud. Hamilton has towed a fine line this year with the rules and gotten away with some easy points (e.g. the penalty for passing the SC - which took 20 laps to decide by which time he built himself a buffer - penalty by the rules, but lucky by circumstances). The incidents in China etc.
(In reference to Singapore) You cant say that just as much as I cant say Hamilton turned in on Webber during the overtake. Its a racing incident further reinforced by no penalty given out.
(In reference to Australia) Webber caused the accident but I think they both drove off relatively unharmed.
And good luck. As I said early, now its his turn. But then so may Webber too.
Gearbox oil pressure problems from FP3 - firing the car up in 'qualifying' showed that the problem wasn't fixed and was worse than they thought.
My favourite press release of the day.
Lotus Racing said:
RBR wings still flexing - http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87329