Japanese Grand Prix 2012, Suzuka - Race 15/20

I had a thought while watching quali. Is anyone other than Vettel or Alonso going to win the title in 2013? Bar some sort of miracle Hamilton isn't going to. Button wont be able to beat an on form Vettel or Alonso, and Perez might get up top a bit, but he isn't consistent enough to win a title yet.

So if RBR produce a good car, Vettel will beat Webber and everyone else, and if they don't produce a good car it will have to be a complete howler from Ferrari for Alonso not to just walk away with it.

I know there are a lot of if's and but's and maybe's, around people like Kimi and Lotus and a few other teams and drivers, but looking at it realistically, its Vettel or Alonso for 2013 surely?

That means either 2 triple WDC's or Alonso with 4 come the big 2014 shake up.
 
drunkenmaster said:
I wish people wouldn't make such grand statements, there is entirely no reason Alonso can't DNF two races. especially as with limited engines its ever more likely that Alonso has to use a more used engine and more used parts which can fail.
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Same chance as Lewis having more DNF's I guess, how does Alonso have to use a more used engine when the others don't? Not sure how you work that one out, plus Alonso and Lewis also never had to run Spa so there is more engine saving.

Alonso has only lost 1 engine I am sure which was at the end of it's lifespan they know pretty much to the mile how long the engines will last.
 
Skeeter said:
A 2011 special with Vettel running off into the distance and everyone else just having their own fight.
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The tyres could be an issue here (with the new surface), they were graining a lot on Friday for some teams.
 
Duke said:
The tyres could be an issue here (with the new surface), they were graining a lot on Friday for some teams.
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arknor said:
mercedes said they recorded the highest tyre tempratures all year
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Indeed. The BBC reported severe blistering on the RBR and Ferrari cars.

They couldn't confirm the state of the McLaren tyres though.

If the pitstops from Singapore were anything to go by, the McLaren might be easier on its tyres for a lap or two more than the other top teams, but I expect Seb to be out of reach by the first pit stop anyway. :p
 
From what I can tell from the headlines, Kobayashi hasn't got a penalty, Vergne has one for blocking Senna, Vettel got a reprimand for blocking Alonso, and Hamilton says they got the setup wrong, again :rolleyes:
 
Skeeter said:
I had a thought while watching quali. Is anyone other than Vettel or Alonso going to win the title in 2013? Bar some sort of miracle Hamilton isn't going to. Button wont be able to beat an on form Vettel or Alonso, and Perez might get up top a bit, but he isn't consistent enough to win a title yet.
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For all we know the McLaren could start life even better than this season (which apart from freak weather / tyre compound issues could easily have won the first 3 or 4 races)

Remember McLaren lost some development time this season due to those early tyre issues after the change in the Pirelli compounds (is this likely to happen again this winter coming?) - In the sense they had to back track to sort those issues rather than "true" performance increase dev work if you see what I mean.

It really depends on how good RBR are compared ot McLaren, Alonso will definitely hide any defficencies in the Ferrari, but it might not have the ultimate pace (to start with).

Bit of a guessing game at the moment but I think its crazy to write off Button /McLaren before we even know how they finish this season (relative performance wise to the other cars /teams
 
Mr Men said:
Same chance as Lewis having more DNF's I guess, how does Alonso have to use a more used engine when the others don't? Not sure how you work that one out, plus Alonso and Lewis also never had to run Spa so there is more engine saving.

Alonso has only lost 1 engine I am sure which was at the end of it's lifespan they know pretty much to the mile how long the engines will last.
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I don't remember saying Alonso had to have used more engines, because, I didn't.

However as i said there IS a limited number of engines, but its as simple as this, Alonso hasn't had many serious problems, most drivers get some throughout a season, sometimes that is in the 3rd race, the 5th race or the last race.

Chances are that every team uses their engines slightly differently, some use a new engine every time then start cycling used ones, some use them new for every race they think they'll be competitive and risk a older one in a race they think they'll suck in anyway, etc, etc. I have no idea what the situation is with Alonso, but going on luck, it tends to come and go, Alonso has had almost all the luck all year long, Hamilton has had crap luck, Schumi has had none.

Hamilton could DNF every race left and Alonso wins them all, or the exact opposite, I'd say based on the law of averages Alonso is due a little bad luck and Hamilton is due a bit of good luck, that is all.
 
drunkenmaster said:
I don't remember saying Alonso had to have used more engines, because, I didn't.
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They all have the same number of engines to manage, what other used parts do you refer to then? It's not good luck that Ferrari has given him a reliable car, it's part of the sport really. Massa is not DNF all the time while Alonso is not which would suggest luck if that was the case, but both Ferrari's are reliable suggesting it's not luck but good work by the team.
 
Not bad, pleased to see lotus doing OK and RG out qualifying KR, fingers crossed they can take third still over ferrari

Vettels to loose
 
Mr Men said:
They all have the same number of engines to manage, what other used parts do you refer to then? It's not good luck that Ferrari has given him a reliable car, it's part of the sport really. Massa is not DNF all the time while Alonso is not which would suggest luck if that was the case, but both Ferrari's are reliable suggesting it's not luck but good work by the team.
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I think the point DM is trying to make is; because Alonso's engines have gone the full race distance in all but one race, whereas other driver's have had more DNFs, his engines have the potential to be more prone to failure come the end of the season.

On the other hand, Ferrari may have built an absolute rock of an engine, we just don't know.
 
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