Japanese Grand Prix 2014, Suzuka - Race 15/19

Millwall.FC · 5 Oct 2014 at 14:36

DaveyD said:
Christ.

Looking back at the TV pics, you can see the rear right tyre on the JCB is flat, he must have hit it hard and partially spun the JCB around.

The amount of energy required to spin that thing round and rip off an F1 roll hoop really doesn't bode well for him. He's probably had his head pushed down in the impact by the way he's sitting.

Not looking good

judging by the pictures I'm assuming he it with his rear he may have been decapitated if he hit it front on. Its one of those things though no one questions the safety of the auxiliary vehicles until an accident happens.

Housey · 5 Oct 2014 at 14:37

It is perhaps more like Vendlinger at Monaco?

Pigeon_Killer · 5 Oct 2014 at 14:43

Millwall.FC said:
judging by the pictures I'm assuming he it with his rear he may have been decapitated if he hit it front on. Its one of those things though no one questions the safety of the auxiliary vehicles until an accident happens.

I'm thinking he hit the tractor front on, the entire left of the car went under, the engine cover of the tractor flipped open and that's what ripped the top/rear of the car off.

To do that much damage he must've been going very fast yet it got stuck almost immediately so the deceleration must've been instant.

DaveyD · 5 Oct 2014 at 14:43

Millwall.FC said:
judging by the pictures I'm assuming he it with his rear he may have been decapitated if he hit it front on. Its one of those things though no one questions the safety of the auxiliary vehicles until an accident happens.

I'm almost thinking it's the new ugly nose design that's at least partially caused the issue here.

The low nose probably went under the JCB, pushing the car under, with the car continuing under, ripping off the roll hoop and dropping back down to help the rear suspension fail. You can see the damage at the front of the nose, which can't have been cause if he's hit side on.

Overlag · 5 Oct 2014 at 14:46

m4rk84 said:
Are you completely ignoring the severity of the weather? This isn't death racing...

it wasnt THAT bad, we've raced in far worse conditions before.

Slam62 · 5 Oct 2014 at 14:51

Surgery complete and breathing on his own, hopefully true

Flibster · 5 Oct 2014 at 14:52

Just learnt that one of McLarens long time sponsors has jumped ship. Hugo Boss has moved it's support across to Mercedes.

How many more can McLaren afford to lose?

Jokester · 5 Oct 2014 at 14:53

Just showed the immediate aftermath of the crash there.

Lakeland · 5 Oct 2014 at 14:59

Can't help but think his spine must have taken a huge impact

smr · 5 Oct 2014 at 15:01

Slam62 said:
Surgery complete and breathing on his own, hopefully true

Great news if true. Link?

drunkenmaster · 5 Oct 2014 at 15:02

I'm relatively surprised from that picture that his head is on and the helmet doesn't looked frankly crushed, as horrible a thought as that is. I was half expecting him to be dead and they just didn't want to announce it or make it clear before family was notified so take him to a hospital and give them privacy so actually having surgery, particularly having seen that picture, is positive.

is there any chance he saw it coming and pushed himself down further into the cockpit and possibly protected himself a little?

englishpremier · 5 Oct 2014 at 15:02

drunkenmaster said:
Hamilton wins and full points, once again despite pole Rosberg was owned on track. Not only did Hamilton gain on him at will and was being held up, he made the tires last, pulled out a what 6-7 second gap in 3-4 laps before Rosberg pitted, came out about 3.5seconds ahead and red flag with him what 12-13 seconds ahead. He raced to about a 8 second gap then started to cruise and still extended the lead. Working cars, Hamilton has destroyed him in pace.

Rosberg can put in one epic lap, but I suspect largely due to setting up his car for pure speed rather than race. Race pace, no contest, race craft, overtaking, defending, no contest.

Yep once they got onto inters Hamilton destroyed Rosberg. On wets they were relatively even. The title is Hamilton's to lose.

drunkenmaster · 5 Oct 2014 at 15:04

englishpremier said:
Yep once they got onto inters Hamilton destroyed Rosberg. On wets they were relatively even. The title is Hamilton's to lose.

Hamilton gained initially then backed off, then gained before the pitstops. I think he had him on pace then too but it was earlier and the spray was worse and it was the first full pace laps so I think he just backed off to let brakes warm up and spray die down a bit to make it safer to attack.

Lakeland · 5 Oct 2014 at 15:07

drunkenmaster said:
I'm relatively surprised from that picture that his head is on and the helmet doesn't looked frankly crushed, as horrible a thought as that is. I was half expecting him to be dead and they just didn't want to announce it or make it clear before family was notified so take him to a hospital and give them privacy so actually having surgery, particularly having seen that picture, is positive.

is there any chance he saw it coming and pushed himself down further into the cockpit and possibly protected himself a little?

He probably saw it coming but I doubt he had much if any ability to move his body as they're basically stuck in their seat, even their head is limited in forward/backwards movement by the hans device

Kenai · 5 Oct 2014 at 15:10

I can't place why but I have the gut feeling Rosberg might take the title.

As dominant as Hamilton is when on form in a working car, part of me still fears him doing something rash in a race just because he's under a bit of a pressure and costing himself a win somewhere. In reality, there isn't much pressure on Rosberg from a public perspective, no one expects him to win it but the world expects Hamilton to take it.

this_is_gav · 5 Oct 2014 at 15:10

Those are scary images.

Pigeon_Killer said:
I'm thinking he hit the tractor front on, the entire left of the car went under, the engine cover of the tractor flipped open and that's what ripped the top/rear of the car off.

It doesn't look like anything hit the engine cover of the tractor. It's fully intact and shows no signs of scratches or crumpling. Probably just opened as a consequence of the impact.

Greboth · 5 Oct 2014 at 15:12

englishpremier said:
Yep once they got onto inters Hamilton destroyed Rosberg. On wets they were relatively even. The title is Hamilton's to lose.

I agree, outside of an outside factor like reliability I think this is Hamilton's championship.

englishpremier · 5 Oct 2014 at 15:15

Skeeter said:
There is no medical helicopter, and it sounds like it never arrived. The regulations say they can't race without it. So someone is in deep trouble.

They can race without a medial helicopter provided any ambulances get a police escort. It was covered in Ted's Notebook. About the only useful thing in it.

Edit: this has already been posted.

englishpremier · 5 Oct 2014 at 15:20

Psycho Ned said:
Was a bizarre decision really when you consider the conditions Charlie waited for till he brought the safety car in at the start.

The conditions at the end were worse and they were on the wrong tyres for the job as well.

They were still lapping in the 1:53-1:55 range so conditions at the end weren't that bad. The problem was the teams chose not to pit and put the cars on wets.

smr · 5 Oct 2014 at 15:23

My thoughts and prayers are with Jules Bianchi at this horrible time but on the race...

Does anyone else feel as though Button demonstrated 100 percent why Mclaren should retain him and not k mag next year....

K mag pirouhetting around turn 1 not once but twice and and generally racing at the back whilst button again for the thousandth time showed great tactical decisions, great driving and didnt put a foot wrong.

Mclaren need to wake up if they are thinking of keeping k mag instead. I like him but they have to keep button, even if i am biased.