F1 2015: Round 14 Japanese GP

smellslikeshoes

No thread yet and FP2 is on now.
Fp1 was absolutely soaking, FP2 is still wet but its starting to dry up now.

Anyone else watching/awake? :pac:

Frank Bullitt

Not much to learn from todays running.

Jordan 199

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Watched bits of it, not really much to see. Had to switch off as the Sky Sports commentating was really starting to get on my wick.

Simon Lazenby :mad:

lycan238

Quick question what time does the race start at on Sunday morning? I know programme starts at half five.

mickdw

lycan238 wrote: »

Quick question what time does the race start at on Sunday morning? I know programme starts at half five.

If it's the usual pre race shows, it will be a 7 am start

Edit
Sky starts at 4.30 so im thinking 6 am start.
BBC on from about 5.

lycan238

mickdw wrote: »

If it's the usual pre race shows, it will be a 7 am start

grand thanks. will get up at half six so.

mickdw

lycan238 wrote: »

grand thanks. will get up at half six so.

See edited post

Looks like a 6 am start.

Andrew76

Jordan 191 wrote: »

Simon Lazenby :mad:

He's the very reason I avoid much of the pre and post race coverage. Cannot stand the man.

lycan238

mickdw wrote: »

See edited post

Looks like a 6 am start.

seen it. for a few minutes there I thought I had an extra hour in bed. ah well.

smellslikeshoes

Ferrari didn't look too good in Fp3 and the two Mercs were on top looks like normal service has resumed.

CFlat

Big shunt for Kyvat but thankfullly he's ok. And normal service has been resumed up front, more or less.

Driver error there by Kyvat,

Ghost Train

Big enough crash there to rip the two wheels off tethers, rear wing survived roll
Good pole for Rosberg helped by the crash I guess

Joeseph Balls

On a bus, full of kids here, what happened?

CFlat

Joeseph Balls wrote: »

On a bus, full of kids here, what happened?

Only saw the last half hour but Rosberg pipped Ham to pole. Session came to a premature end, albeit only by a few seconds, as Kyvat had a big shunt when he ran a wheel onto some wet grass and has left his team with a massive overnight rebuild job. Bottas in third place. The Mcs are 14th and 16th or something like that.

It appears that the Mercs performance in Singapore was just a blip on their radar and all is 'good' again.

LEIN

The Japanese director had more interest in giving air time to the fans in the stands than the actual qualifying session.

Jordan 199

Kvyat crash:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWSzylvRoLw

LIGHTNING

LIGHTNING wrote: »

In my opinion he isn't the only offender. Brundle and Davidson are the only redeeming part of the entire program.

Crofty has gone to **** as well. It was painful last week with the camera pointed directly at the guy on circuit and he didn't spot it.

lycan238

Oh that looked bad hope all is well with him and his team for tomorrow. Any update on weather for race tomorrow morning?

Charlie-Bravo

Pirelli mandating minimuim true pressures for the race:

In a bid to guarantee safety, Pirelli has imposed a minimum pressure of 21.5 PSI for the front tyres and 20.5 PSI for the rear tyres at Suzuka.

Linky: http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/tyre-pressures-could-cause-unpredictable-japanese-gp-645676/

Ghost Train

maybe showers in morning before race but afternoon looks dry for race

Ghost Train

Jensen thinks 2 stop but maybe some might try 3 stop but lots of unknowns could mix things up for the race

Rosberg not feeling so well with bit of a headache according to Ted

CFlat

3 stop for Merc by the sounds of it.

Ghost Train

Hondas struggling

Rosberg engine damagingly hot

McLaren must really be wishing they had out-of-date Mercedes engines

Ghost Train

Button getting passed on both sides into turn 1 looked scary

Good few early stops

Ghost Train

Wonder will Rosberg stay ahead (get ahead) of Bottas

Mercedes pushing the tyres quite far

CFlat

Nice move by Nico.

Ghost Train

Rosberg closing in on Vettel

Not too bad a race so far

risteard7

Alonso not happy!

Ghost Train

Very vocal criticism of the engine over the radio from Alonso (GP2 Engine)

risteard7

Ghost Train wrote: »

Very vocal criticism of the engine over the radio from Alonso (GP2 Engine)

Mcclaren are in complete turmoil.

Ghost Train

Does make you wonder will they keep Alonso on board for next year, let alone Button

Good strategy from Mercedes to get by Vettel

CFlat

Ghost Train wrote: »

Does make you wonder will they keep Alonso on board for next year, let alone Button

Good strategy from Mercedes to get by Vettel

I wouldn't say he'll stay with Mc next year. Hard to see him being there for the rest of this season with the way relations have clearly broken down.

Ghost Train

Lots of traffic with cars 1 lap down as well as 2 laps down coming together

Ghost Train

Verstappen up behind Sainz now, reverse of last race

Last few laps could be very interesting with tyres being pushed to limit

Charlie-Bravo

this race was not worth getting out of bed for

smellslikeshoes

astrofluff wrote: »

this race was not worth getting out of bed for

Not up front anyway, at least there has been some scrapping down the field.

Ghost Train

Redbull 13th & 15th

CFlat

Awful race. I'm starting to lose faith in a sport I've been watching for nearly 20 years.

Heading back to bed.

Without reverse grids what do people want/expect from a dry race?

Charlie-Bravo

Brilliant interview with Ron Dennis on the beeb. Susie really getting the most out of him. Looks like Jenson is driving next year with them...

Worth staying up for!

Ghost Train

Ron talking to sky guys now, did mention that McLaren had option to terminate Buttons contact up to last week but has said they've told him they want to continue next year, does make you wonder would Button decide to leave himself

seamusk84

Whatever about Rons interview, the fact is he had to come out with a strong message at Hondas home race. But what Alonso said over the radio was something else entirely....He wants out and made that noise so the other big teams know he is looking for another drive.

No amount of him saying "we are all working together" after the race can take it back.

CFlat

seamusk84 wrote: »

Whatever about Rons interview, the fact is he had to come out with a strong message at Hondas home race. But what Alonso said over the radio was something else entirely....He wants out and made that noise so the other big teams know he is looking for another drive.

No amount of him saying "we are all working together" after the race can take it back.

I agree with that but where would he go? I don't think it will be a seat in F1 'cause all the good ones are gone AFAIK. I'd say it will be a different racing series if he does leg it. I'm a fan but he's burnt a lot of bridges. RB with a Ferrari engine next year might be an option, if they pony up the money. Maybe Ric and Kyv have their seats confirned? I'd say he'd do a great job in the Williams but same RB scenario.

smellslikeshoes

CFlat wrote: »

I agree with that but where would he go? I don't think it will be a seat in F1 'cause all the good ones are gone AFAIK. I'd say it will be a different racing series if he does leg it. I'm a fan but he's burnt a lot of bridges. RB with a Ferrari engine next year might be an option, if they pony up the money. Maybe Ric and Kyv have their seats confirned? I'd say he'd do a great job in the Williams but same RB scenario.

There really isn't a decent seat for him anywhere even if he was able to get out of contract for next year, Maybe a shock return to a Renault owned Enstone :pac:? Would likely be in the same position there that he is in Mclaren though, waiting on a ****ty engine improving.

HighLine

It's such a shame to watch such a borefest at one of the best tracks of the year. Anyway... was very surprised at Alonso's radio message... in fairness though... he knows his career is coming close to to an end and he needs to give himself a chance with a team that has the potential to win races. Unfortunately it doesn't look likely.

pyramuid man

Just finished watching the race and I think it is fair to say Nico has no interest in winning a race and seems to be happy to slow the race down behind Lewis Hamilton.

Very dissappointing race go be honest. Mid field scraps were only alright. Looks like Alonso is looking for his p45 too.

Frank Bullitt

Every race I hope it will be more exciting or at least entertaining than the last borefest.

Nope.