Formula 1 2016: Round 19 - Mexico Grand Prix

Harika

Round 19 of the F1 WM, can Hamilton nibble further on Rosbergs point advantage or will Rosberg get a further ahread? Rosberg can win the WDC already here if he wins and Hamilton doesn't score more than one point.

https://twitter.com/HaasF1Team/status/791248289224134656

TV times for Sky and Channel 4

Friday October 28

3.45pm - Mexico GP Practice One
7.45pm - Mexico GP Practice Two

Saturday October 29

3.45pm - Mexico GP Practice Three
7pm - THE Mexico GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING


Sunday October 30

6pm - Mexico GP Pitlane
7pm - THE Mexico GRAND PRIX* Daylight saving time

Talking points:
Usually the Suzuka Grand Prix was falling on the Daylight saving time switch day, what caused happy guessing time when to set the alarm for Sunday. 5am 6am?
Who will win 4th in the Driver Championship? Vettel, Raikönnen or Verstappen

ScumLord

The way red bull and Hamilton are performing lately Rosberg may have a fight on his hands for second, nevermind first. If Hamilton can avoid more terrible starts he should win every race, which would give Rosberg the championship.

Rosberg could do with another win, he's lead is on tenterhooks, even a bad start should give him second place by the end of the GP, but a technical problem could ruin everything.

Frank Bullitt

I dont care about the title race anymore, I'll be happy with Alonso battling for 5th like he was last weekend. That's entertainment.

Jordan 199

I read on F1 Fanatic that if Rosberg wins this weekend and Lewis finishes outside the top nine, Rosberg will be crowned champion.

I can't see that happening.

Cookie_Monster

Jordan 199 wrote: »

I read on F1 Fanatic that if Rosberg wins this weekend and Lewis finishes outside the top nine, Rosberg will be crowned champion.

I can't see that happening.

could very easily happen

flazio

Let's hope not, I'd like to see it go down to the wire in Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile the Thursday media interviews were a little interesting, a wrestling ring has been placed in the middle of the media pen and the 2 Red Bull drivers had interesting faces for Halloween.
http://f1.channel4.com/video/gene-simmons-the-new-red-bull-driver/

recyclebin

Jordan 199 wrote: »

I read on F1 Fanatic that if Rosberg wins this weekend and Lewis finishes outside the top nine, Rosberg will be crowned champion.

I can't see that happening.

That is depressing news. Hope it doesn't come to pass. The Merc domination has been boring enough. The Hamilton Rosberg battle is the only thing keeping it interesting.

Aaronh86

I can't see rosberg taking the title this weekend, unless a certain toto wolf has an itchy finger to ground Lewis car! Merc want a German champion in a German car because next year with the rule changes Merc know they will never have as good Aero package as redbull and could be the last of the Merc dominating!

rock22

Aaronh86 wrote: »

I can't see rosberg taking the title this weekend, unless a certain toto wolf has an itchy finger to ground Lewis car! Merc want a German champion in a German car because next year with the rule changes Merc know they will never have as good Aero package as redbull and could be the last of the Merc dominating!

rubbish.

skipper_G

Looking forward to this, it falls on the Day of the Dead as well so I imagine that will be factored into the coverage, glad C4 has it live

ScumLord

Aaronh86 wrote: »

I can't see rosberg taking the title this weekend, unless a certain toto wolf has an itchy finger to ground Lewis car! Merc want a German champion in a German car because next year with the rule changes Merc know they will never have as good Aero package as redbull and could be the last of the Merc dominating!

I'd say Hamilton is a much bigger money spinner than Rosberg. Mercedes is a big international brand, having a German F1 champion on their payroll doesn't really do anything for their brand. Having someone who hangs around with other celebrities and get's in the papers a lot is more beneficial.

I just don't think any team on the grid would be willing to throw parts worth a few million in the bin, along with their engineering reputation. Mercedes want both cars crossing the line 1/2, it probably doesn't matter to much to them which driver is in 1st.

Harika

Additionally, Hamilton would be a four time WDC, with only Schumacher and Vettel above him. That is also absolutely valuable, and in all fairness to Rosberg, he is a nice quick chap but boring.

Jordan 199

AMKC

Harika wrote: »

Additionally, Hamilton would be a four time WDC, with only Schumacher and Vettel above him. That is also absolutely valuable, and in all fairness to Rosberg, he is a nice quick chap but boring.

Actually it would only be Schumacher above him and he would be equal with Vettel.

Anyone watch FP1 that was on earlier. A big part of one of the Saubers wings come off and under the front wheel with bits going everywhere. It was Felipe Nasrs car.

skipper_G

AMKC wrote: »

Actually it would only be Schumacher above him and he would be equal with Vettel.

Anyone watch FP1 that was on earlier. A big part of one of the Saubers wings come off and under the front wheel with bits going everywhere. It was Felipe Nasrs car.

Saw FP1 alright. Nasr had ran across the kerb at speed right before his wing failed. It didn't hit but looked like the vibration may have contributed to the failure. Did they confirm the cause?

AMKC

skipper_G wrote: »

Saw FP1 alright. Nasr had ran across the kerb at speed right before his wing failed. It didn't hit but looked like the vibration may have contributed to the failure. Did they confirm the cause?

No nothing about why it happened has been confirmed yet. Some of the other cars went over the same kerb quite hard too and there wings were ok so maybe it was just a faulty wing.

skipper_G

AMKC wrote: »

No nothing about why it happened has been confirmed yet. Some of the other cars went over the same kerb quite hard too and there wings were ok so maybe it was just a faulty wing.

That's what I suspected when I saw it first but I missed FP2 so wasn't sure if more was confirmed afterwards. Speaking of FP2 does anybody think the Ferrari pace is genuine? My gut instinct is that Mercedes were holding something back but they've had problems with tyre temp in cooler than expected conditions in the past.

Harika

I think Mercedes are nursing their engines, just to be safe that no other instance of Hamilton/Malaysia decides the title race.

Ghost Train

Some of the kerbs looked pretty severe. One replay of Ricciardo showed the rear wheel getting a good shake going over it. Reminded me a but of Austria... Although not as bad

mattser

Harika wrote: »

Additionally, Hamilton would be a four time WDC, with only Schumacher and Vettel above him. That is also absolutely valuable, and in all fairness to Rosberg, he is a nice quick chap but boring.

Boring crap since Michael's time.

jjll

Hamilton can't take another engine be end of championship id imagine Mercedes engine on 75,% would out do all at top of grid

jjll

OSI wrote: »

You reckon the majority British staff in British factories would be happy to oblige?

It won't make a difference rosberg can cruise to championship with 2nd places all the way he wont push car up to Hamilton if he leads

Cyril T Squirrel

Fangio... 5

Prost... 4

Mike Litoris

Looks like Rosberg is struggling big time this weekend. Even if Ham dnfed I cant see him taking the championship. Hopefully it will be an interesting race tomorrow. It's not a great circuit for action.


Looks like Red Bull are right back in the game after 3rd practise. It's been a weird weekend so far for predictions.

skipper_G

Palmer won't take part in qualy due to a cracked chassis

Mike Litoris

skipper_G wrote: »

Palmer won't take part in qualy due to a cracked chassis

C4 discussion on this was funny! I wanna see that crack.

Itssoeasy

49 degree track temp. Jaysus

skipper_G

Mike Litoris wrote: »

C4 discussion on this was funny! I wanna see that crack.

Had to laugh at EJ, slap a bit of poly bond on it and send him out

skipper_G

The McLaren looks like a handful through the twisty bits from watching Button's onboard

Ghost Train

Traffic going to be an issue for a few drivers today I think

Wonder will Ferrari have a tyre advantage, sometime they cope a bit better with these sort of conditions

blackdog2

What did Vettel do wrong there?!

Itssoeasy

I don't know seb can you go ?

Ghost Train

blackdog2 wrote: »

What did Vettel do wrong there?!

He stayed on the racing line while cruising around and got in Hamiltons way

Did Vettel want to go in the car or to pit and go

blackdog2

Ghost Train wrote: »

He stayed on the racing line while cruising around and got in Hamiltons way

Did Vettel want to go in the car or to pit and go

On the line for 100m if that, and then leapt off when Hamilton got close. It can hardly be called blocking when the car behind didn't even see it coming?

Ghost Train

Rosberg needs a good lap here

CFlat

Should be an interesting start tomorrow. The two RBs will be pushing the Mercs at the start. expect carnage!

Kimi really is coming back into form this year. Reminds me of when he was in the Lotus a few years ago.

AMKC

Well its another Mercedes 1,2. Not really the most exciting of qualifying seasons. I think fp 3 was more exciting. A pity that neither of the Red Bulls or Ferrari,s could get pole. Would have been nice to see someone else on pole.

Ghost Train

Good to see a close top 10, wonder if it's the altitude that's taken away a bit of the Mercedes advanatage

Hulkenberg with an impressive 5th

Ghost Train

Ricciardo C4 interview... funny. Worst car he's had all year but closest they've been to pole.

AMKC

Ghost Train wrote: »

Ricciardo C4 interview... funny. Worst car he's had all year but closest they've been to pole.

He should get the award for the best interview all year. Is Lee Mckenzie married because I the Ricciardo quite likes her. Who would not?

CFlat

Ghost Train wrote: »

Ricciardo C4 interview... funny. Worst car he's had all year but closest they've been to pole.

You have to hand it to Ricky, even when he's moaning about being behind his teammate he does it with a smile on his face. Other drivers should take note.

skipper_G

Ghost Train wrote: »

Good to see a close top 10, wonder if it's the altitude that's taken away a bit of the Mercedes advanatage

Hulkenberg with an impressive 5th

Hugely impressive lap from Hulk. Disappointed that Checo couldn't get into Q3 when I see that lap time. But still a Force India outqualifying both Ferrari's!!!

Charlie-Bravo

You gotta like C4's coverage. Hulk getting a massive lap in on Q2 and then C4 coming back from the ads break with the #IncredibleHulk tag.

Great after-session coverage on C4. It's a nice break from Sky drib drab.

skipper_G

astrofluff wrote: »

You gotta like C4's coverage. Hulk getting a massive lap in on Q2 and then C4 coming back from the ads break with the #IncredibleHulk tag.

Great after-session coverage on C4. It's a nice break from Sky drib drab.

Plus C4 have EJ tonight and he's on form! Everyone is a target and nobody is safe from his crazy speculation and comments. Myself I was happy to choose C4 over Sky as well. With each passing race weekend I hate Ted a little bit more

Jordan 199

skipper_G wrote: »

Plus C4 have EJ tonight and he's on form! Everyone is a target and nobody is safe from his crazy speculation and comments. Myself I was happy to choose C4 over Sky as well. With each passing race weekend I hate Ted a little bit more

I think he might end up conducting the podium interviews again today.

flazio

Jordan 199 wrote: »

I think he might end up conducting the podium interviews again today.

Presumably you mean Eddie, not Ted.

CFlat

Beers in the fridge, dinners on the way and 3 hours of LIVE Formula 1 on C4..bring it on boys:)

17larsson

Heating is on, beer is cold, no work tomorrow and race on Channel 4. A bit of wheelspin from car 44 at the start would be the icing on the bank holiday cake

Edit: CFlat has the same idea!

Joeseph Balls

CFlat wrote: »

Beers in the fridge, dinners on the way and 3 hours of LIVE Formula 1 on C4..bring it on boys:)

Ditto .
Might have to watch on plus one though:(

CFlat

17larsson wrote: »

Heating is on, beer is cold, no work tomorrow and race on Channel 4. A bit of wheelspin from car 44 at the start would be the icing on the bank holiday cake

Edit: CFlat has the same idea!

I hope the first 10 cars wheel spin..ahem...

Jordan 199

Joeseph Balls wrote: »

Ditto .
Might have to watch on plus one though:(

Why's that?