Formula 1 2016: Round 17 - Japanese Grand Prix

Harika

Round 17 of the F1 WM, can Hamilton turn around or will Rosberg get a further points advantage?

https://twitter.com/redbullracing/status/783983666871595008

After the first two training sessions it seems like the class is far closer at Mercedes than what could have been expected. While there might be a 1-2 qualifying lockout but in race pace RedBull looks stronger and Ferrari also looks good.

Quali starts at 7:00 and race at 6:00 am in fear of a repeat of the Jules Bianchi accident.

Ghost Train

Lot of fancy caps and hats in the crowd

Wonder will it stay dry for the qualy session.

Button doesn't make it passed Q3

seamusk84

Don't get it. What's happened in a week to the McLarens?

skipper_G

Ghost Train wrote: »

Lot of fancy caps and hats in the crowd

Wonder will it stay dry for the qualy session.

Button doesn't make it passed Q3

Did it rain overnight? Track looks a bit greasy

seamusk84

skipper_G wrote: »

Did it rain overnight? Track looks a bit greasy

No, that's a bone dry track. Perfect conditions. Just how it looks.

Cool_CM

New Suzuka lap record for Rosberg.

skipper_G

seamusk84 wrote: »

No, that's a bone dry track. Perfect conditions. Just how it looks.

Okay interesting, maybe that HD is making a difference after all

Cool_CM

Looked like rain on Bottas' camera?

skipper_G

That guy's hat had DRS........
That's the mist ridiculous yet amazing thing I've ever seen

Cool_CM

Excellent, Go Nico!

Cool_CM

In car interviews when they're still on the track? Ah fück off...

El_Duderino 09

Jonny Herbert interviewed Rosberg over the radio on his in-lap! I've never seen that before.

For his next trick he'll ask Hamilton a few questions whilst taking a dump!

skipper_G

Pleased with that, I just hope we get a clean start tomorrow.
Kimi looks in good form this weekend so should be a good fight for the podium with him & the Red Bulls.
Well done to Haas also

skipper_G

Cool_CM wrote: »

In car interviews when they're still on the track? Ah fück off...

I've seen it in formula e and let's say the cringe factor is high

El_Duderino 09

Great result for Ferrari to beat the red bulls. I'm not a huge Kimi fan but there's no arguing with his performances in the second half of the season. Vettel has had poor luck and made a few poor decisions too, but Kimi is at least holding his own in the second half

Cookie_Monster

Stupid gimmicky interview is stupid

Ghost Train

skipper_G wrote: »

Did it rain overnight? Track looks a bit greasy

I think it did, track was a bit wet at the start of practice 3

vectra

skipper_G wrote: »

Pleased with that, I just hope we get a clean start tomorrow.
Kimi looks in good form this weekend so should be a good fight for the podium with him & the Red Bulls.
Well done to Haas also

I hope Mad Max doesnt end that battle on the first corner.
Please god let them have a clean first lap.

El_Duderino 09

LIGHTNING wrote:

Lewis has really thrown a strop with the media He is his own worst enemy at times. I am surprised more of his teammates don't try to get in his head.

Alonso tried. Rosberg tried. He only really slips up after he's been beaten a few times in a row.

To be fair he keeps his focus really well considering his social life. He lost focus after wining the championship last year. He might be losing His focus again this year. He seems a bit bored with it.

Jayop

Hamilton is some epic bell end.

boardsuser1

Kimi is a legend

Arthur.beaker

KC161 wrote: »

Kimi is a legend

I'd put money on Vettel finishing ahead of him tomorrow.

Mental Mickey

Jayop wrote: »

Hamilton is some epic bell end.

Couldn't have put it better myself!!!

boardsuser1

Arthur.beaker wrote: »

I'd put money on Vettel finishing ahead of him tomorrow.

If Vettel has a clean race Kimi will yield to him more than likely yes.

skipper_G

KC161 wrote: »

If Vettel has a clean race Kimi will yield to him more than likely yes.

That's a big if, Vettel is not driving at his best and Kimi looks like he has the beating of him this weekend. I half expect Verstappen and Vettel to clash tomorrow.

Arthur.beaker

skipper_G wrote: »

That's a big if, Vettel is not driving at his best and Kimi looks like he has the beating of him this weekend. I half expect Verstappen and Vettel to clash tomorrow.

Vettel came from back of the grid to 5th 2 races ago and was lauded for it. Kimi only passed him on points at the last race.

boardsuser1

Arthur.beaker wrote: »

Vettel came from back of the grid to 5th 2 races ago and was lauded for it. Kimi only passed him on points at the last race.

Kimi passed him more than once on points this season and Vettel clawed it back. But if he has another weekend like Malaysia i can see Kimi beating him this year.Between his own performances and the Ferrari you'd never think he was the same guy who won 4 titles in a row with red bull.

boardsuser1

skipper_G wrote: »

That's a big if, Vettel is not driving at his best and Kimi looks like he has the beating of him this weekend. I half expect Verstappen and Vettel to clash tomorrow.

I can see someone punching Verstappen over his carry on. Like Senna did to Irvine at the same circuit in 1993.

AMKC

Great to see Ferrari have improved and getting positions ahead of the Red Bulls. Hope they can keep it like that for the last few races. Kimi done great in Qualifying and hopefully Vettel gets to finish this race he has had his share of bad luck already this year surely its time for someone else to have bad luck.
Should be a good race tomorrow hopefully.

KarlFitz01

Really enjoyed qualifying Kimi looked on top form and has done for the few races. The first turn will be interesting to see if Rosberg will let Hamilton run him off again or put up a bigger fight. With vettel starting in 7th I think he'll be all over the two Red Bulls come turn one he's great starter. Think Kimi can cause the two Mercedes a problem in the race and hopefully finish ahead of at least one of them. Great proformance from Hass. Force India have a great chance to put some good points between them and Williams but with Bottas and Massa starting 11th and 12th they can do something with tyres. All in all it has all the makings of a great race, bring it on!

Arthur.beaker

KC161 wrote: »

Kimi passed him more than once on points this season and Vettel clawed it back. But if he has another weekend like Malaysia i can see Kimi beating him this year.Between his own performances and the Ferrari you'd never think he was the same guy who won 4 titles in a row with red bull.

He has had a few bad performances over the season, also had issues that were 50 / 50 (Kvatt, Verstappen clashes, a tyre failure, poor strategy, team issues etc.). Kimi had some poor patches last season e.g. his clashes with Bottas. I think he is over compensating for a poor car, every driver has off races, he has intermittently gotten the best out of the car but it won't be remembered as a great season for Vettel, unlike last year.

Ricciardo beaten by Kvyatt last season, Hamilton had at least one crappy season while Buttons teammate, he seemed to be clashing with Massa every other race one year.

H3llR4iser

Cool_CM wrote: »

In car interviews when they're still on the track? Ah fück off...

I have seen it before...Indycar and NASCAR. Not too surprised if it's gonna go the "American Way".

Let's not shun every novelty as F1 fans normally do and then complain that F1 is "boring" and "inaccessible".

Maybe Liberty Media can start bringing in that "wow" factors that surrounds American sports - one thing that has to be said about the US media is that they generally know how to create a spectacle; They'd be able to turn a man taking a dump into a world-event if they wanted to.

As long as they don't gimmickify the racing itself (e.g. abuse of the Safety Car to "bunch the field together", sprinklers, "boost and ballast" rules etc.), I'm ok with it.

Faugheen

KarlFitz01 wrote: »

Really enjoyed qualifying Kimi looked on top form and has done for the few races. The first turn will be interesting to see if Rosberg will let Hamilton run him off again or put up a bigger fight. With vettel starting in 7th I think he'll be all over the two Red Bulls come turn one he's great starter. Think Kimi can cause the two Mercedes a problem in the race and hopefully finish ahead of at least one of them. Great proformance from Hass. Force India have a great chance to put some good points between them and Williams but with Bottas and Massa starting 11th and 12th they can do something with tyres. All in all it has all the makings of a great race, bring it on!

More chance of Rosberg running himself off.

gitzy16v

Any chance of rain tomorrow,nico can't do wet tracks can he....though in fairness he went from last to 3rd lto and people said he'd poor racecraft,could only finish from the front etc etc

Wanderer78

H3llR4iser wrote:

Maybe Liberty Media can start bringing in that "wow" factors that surrounds American sports - one thing that has to be said about the US media is that they generally know how to create a spectacle; They'd be able to turn a man taking a dump into a world-event if they wanted to.

Wow, what we 'll be saying when f1 eventually becomes ppv

skipper_G

gitzy16v wrote: »

Any chance of rain tomorrow,nico can't do wet tracks can he....though in fairness he went from last to 3rd lto and people said he'd poor racecraft,could only finish from the front etc etc

Was some mention of an incoming typhoon earlier in the week, I hope it doesn't get that bad but a sprinkling could liven things up

gitzy16v

Wanderer78 wrote: »

Wow, what we 'll be saying when f1 eventually becomes ppv

Isn't it already with sky f1...I think 2018 it's sky f1 only that's ppv

flazio

gitzy16v wrote: »

Isn't it already with sky f1...I think 2018 it's sky f1 only that's ppv

2019, as for what we'll be saying, Nothing. We won't be watching.

Ghost Train

Kimi picks up 5 place penalty after gearbox penalty, that's a pity

http://www.planetf1.com/news/raikkonen-hit-with-gearbox-penalty-2/

Gizmo55

C4's coverage is miles ahead of this crap. I've never been so bored watching a race build up. Roll on the race start.

Ghost Train

Lewis complaining about a slightly hot seat, not for the first time this weekend. Sky saying track is still slightly damp on the side Lewis starts on. Start should be good, hopefully it doesn't decide the race if somebody gets knocked off

Ghost Train

Gizmo55 wrote: »

C4's coverage is miles ahead of this crap. I've never been so bored watching a race build up. Roll on the race start.

Did they do grid walk today, maybe I tuned in a bit late and missed it

EirTV have 2minute delay on their stream which is annoying

skipper_G

Both force India's with super starts! Yes

Oh and poor Hamilton, it must be God or something

Gizmo55

skipper_G wrote: »

Both force India's with super starts! Yes

Oh and poor Hamilton, it must be God or something

His starts have gone to sh1te, and he was saying they've been working on them. That went well!

gitzy16v

1 of 2 not bad for an exciting race,rosberg is gone

Gizmo55

Ghost Train wrote: »

Did they do grid walk today, maybe I tuned in a bit late and missed it

EirTV have 2minute delay on their stream which is annoying

They talked to a few drivers in the pit lane but not the usual grid walk. Actually Brundle talked to one or two.

skipper_G

The start was pretty clean by all accounts. Everyone got through without contact

gitzy16v

Its crap this merc just sails off ,10 laps over 6 secs,whos gonna challenge

Ghost Train

skipper_G wrote: »

The start was pretty clean by all accounts. Everyone got through without contact

Ferrari lucky both cars didn't hit anyone, was all a bit tight going around Lewis.

Perez has done well to stay in fourth, not looking under pressure from Ricciardo

skipper_G

Ghost Train wrote: »

Ferrari lucky both cars didn't hit anyone, was all a bit tight going around Lewis.

Perez has done well to stay in fourth, not looking under pressure from Ricciardo

The squeeze to get around Hamilton was very tight. Ricciardo then the Ferraris and Hulkenburg forced over, he nearly hit Grosjean as well

Ghost Train

Great move by Kimi to take two places

Hamilton making good progress