2011 Japanese Grand Prix Discussion Thread

Post by **Londoner** » 05 Oct 2011, 15:28

Looks like Alan Jones will be the guest steward for this one. The DRS zone is the pit straight, with the detection point just after 130R.

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 05 Oct 2011, 16:20

Can't wait for this one.

Love the sig BTW, 1990s FTW

AdrianSutil · Post by **AdrianSutil** » 05 Oct 2011, 17:53

Thanks to those sweeping Turns in the first two sectors, total Red Bull domination this weekend. But should still be a cracking weekend.

nome66 · Post by **nome66** » 05 Oct 2011, 21:24

well it may not seem as such, but the championship has come down to japan, just like '89, '90, and '91.
why can't the FIA say Vettel has the title? i mean "missed it by 1 point"? seriously? stop trying to make it seem fair. to be realistic, no one has had a chance against him in the title chase since Belgium. vettel's got this in the bag. vettel has two titles. vettel will win the Driver's championship.

(if you hadn't noticed, i'm trying my hardest to jinx the crap out of this.)

Post by **mario** » 06 Oct 2011, 07:27

nome66 wrote:well it may not seem as such, but the championship has come down to japan, just like '89, '90, and '91.
why can't the FIA say Vettel has the title? i mean "missed it by 1 point"? seriously? stop trying to make it seem fair. to be realistic, no one has had a chance against him in the title chase since Belgium. vettel's got this in the bag. vettel has two titles. vettel will win the Driver's championship.

(if you hadn't noticed, i'm trying my hardest to jinx the crap out of this.)

Somehow I doubt that will work - asides from the fact that mathematically Button is still in contention, and cannot formally be ruled out, by tradition the WDC is not recognised as such until the post season gala event when the awards are given out, so technically he wouldn't be the WDC until after the end of the season (Rindt being the one tragic exception to that rule).

Ferrim · Post by **Ferrim** » 06 Oct 2011, 12:35

It seems that in today's press conference, Vettel has been talking about the time he was a teammate to Kobayashi, in the 2006 F3 Euro Series. He's apparently said that Kamui was as much as 10Km/h faster than all of them (Vettel, Di Resta and Van der Garde) in some corners.

God save the great Kamui Kobayashi! Although I wonder where all that speed went, because he finished the season in 8th place while Di Resta won, Vettel was 2nd and Van der Garde 6th. Maybe he was a bit too much Kobacrashi back then.

Post by **mario** » 06 Oct 2011, 12:46

Ferrim wrote:It seems that in today's press conference, Vettel has been talking about the time he was a teammate to Kobayashi, in the 2006 F3 Euro Series. He's apparently said that Kamui was as much as 10Km/h faster than all of them (Vettel, Di Resta and Van der Garde) in some corners.

God save the great Kamui Kobayashi! Although I wonder where all that speed went, because he finished the season in 8th place while Di Resta won, Vettel was 2nd and Van der Garde 6th. Maybe he was a bit too much Kobacrashi back then.

It would also be quite useful if he could find that sort of performance in his current car too, particularly in qualifying, given that Perez has overshadowed Kobayashi in that area recently.

Also, on another note it seems that Trulli will be forced to revert back to an older specification power steering system on his car, since it seems that the higher cornering forces at Suzuka would be too much for the new system to cope with. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/95065

Furthermore, it looks like the chatter about a "special meeting" over Hamilton's driving standards was unfounded - Barrichello, who is head of the GPDA, says that no such motion has been raised with him in advance of the drivers meeting, and dismisses the idea as "just talk". Massa, meanwhile, says that he has no intention of raising the issue either, basically saying that it is up to the FIA to judge the driving standards of the drivers. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/95060

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 06 Oct 2011, 17:57

Jarno Trulli = Marcus Gronholm?

Different sport but same problem. I've heard it all before back in 2004 with the shitebox that was the Peugeot 307 WRC. It never ended that year either...
At least he's funnier when he complains about it though.

tristan1117 · Post by **tristan1117** » 07 Oct 2011, 03:28

Vettel crashes in FP1. Auspicious?

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 07 Oct 2011, 05:47

Barry's just thrown it into the wall.

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 07 Oct 2011, 06:01

Williams are making a great case for ROTR right now :lol:

AdrianSutil · Post by **AdrianSutil** » 07 Oct 2011, 06:02

The Kobayashi stand has sold 10'000 tickets! I'd like to know where the stand is on the track. My guess is by the hairpin.

Both Williams' are behind Kovalainen as we speak.

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 07 Oct 2011, 06:07

AdrianSutil wrote:The Kobayashi stand has sold 10'000 tickets! I'd like to know where the stand is on the track. My guess is by the hairpin.

After THAT moment I'm guessing it's at 130R :lol:

QuickYoda41 · Post by **QuickYoda41** » 07 Oct 2011, 08:40

Kobayashi is THE MAN. 8-)

I hope his result will show it, as well.

Maldonado behind both Virgins?

AdrianSutil · Post by **AdrianSutil** » 07 Oct 2011, 09:14

Wizzie wrote:
AdrianSutil wrote:The Kobayashi stand has sold 10'000 tickets! I'd like to know where the stand is on the track. My guess is by the hairpin.

After THAT moment I'm guessing it's at 130R

I've obviously missed something. What moment?

Ferrim · Post by **Ferrim** » 07 Oct 2011, 09:32

Williams are looking really pitiful these days, aren't they? I hope it's because they've given up development of their current car to focus in the FW34, but I'm going to say something... I guess not very realistic, because they haven't scored a point yet, but I don't think that a Lotus finishing 7th is completely out of the realms of possibility. Ridiculous starts that wipe out half the field do happen from time to time, and if that half of the field happen to be the ones qualifying from 7th to 18th...

Jeroen Krautmeir · Post by **Jeroen Krautmeir** » 07 Oct 2011, 09:42

Feeling very sorry for Williams, but now all they can do is look ahead to 2012.

Unlike the majority of you, I do have faith in Mike Coughlan. He along with John Barnard were responsible for that sexy and aerodynamically fantastic A19 of 1998, and Coughlan was responsible for the MP4-22, which, while all of you still scream 'Spygate', is still based fundamentally on Coughlan's ideas. He's designed the McLaren cars of 2003 to 2007, which have all been front running cars and championship contenders with the exception of 2004 (Mercedes being their downfall, I think) and 2006. For the record, I do not want to see Williams die. They were for one reason or another, the first team I ever supported, and it would be rather terrible if one of the 'traditional' teams get taken away from us.

Onto the Grand Prix, and I personally think RBR are sandbagging somewhat. Vettel's crash may have whacked some sense into him that he's not almighty, not that I ever think he had that in mind, but Suzuka's layout definitely suits the RB7, if it's previous form has any meaning here. I will be extremely surprised if they don't snap up the hat trick of pole, fastest lap and the win. Of course I don't want it to happen, but the odds don't really favour anything else. If it's a Vettel victory (likely) I'll skip the post race again. If it's a Webber win, then I'll be celebrating with Enoch, Jamie and you guys for as long as possible!

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 07 Oct 2011, 10:19

AdrianSutil wrote:
Wizzie wrote:
AdrianSutil wrote:The Kobayashi stand has sold 10'000 tickets! I'd like to know where the stand is on the track. My guess is by the hairpin.

After THAT moment I'm guessing it's at 130R

I've obviously missed something. What moment?

He exited the corner completely perpendicular to the track and almost fired it into the inside wall Alguersuari style (Basically it was what I did on the final lap when I won my first GP4 championship :lol:

)

Post by **mario** » 07 Oct 2011, 12:57

Ferrim wrote:Williams are looking really pitiful these days, aren't they? I hope it's because they've given up development of their current car to focus in the FW34, but I'm going to say something... I guess not very realistic, because they haven't scored a point yet, but I don't think that a Lotus finishing 7th is completely out of the realms of possibility. Ridiculous starts that wipe out half the field do happen from time to time, and if that half of the field happen to be the ones qualifying from 7th to 18th...

A bit like last year, for example, which was a fairly high attrition race? Multiple car pile ups at the start are fairly common, after all, especially in the midfield pack, though 7th seems very optimistic. On top of that, this year the reliability of the top teams has improved a fair bit compared to 2010 (especially at Red Bull) - with luck, something around 13-14th might be possible (which would help cement 10th place in the WCC for them), but I doubt that they'll be able to make their way much further up the grid.
True, at the very least it seems that they are beginning to unlock an increasing amount of potential and pace in their car, and although they are still realistically a bit off the pace it looks like the gap between themselves and the lower midfield teams has narrowed. However, that would also depend on their car making it to the finish, and their reliability hasn't been great this season (better compared to last year at least, but still a fair bit behind their rivals), so a highly atritional race might play into the hands of MVR or HRT more than Lotus since they are much more likely to still be running at the end of the race.

On another note, there is still some discontent amongst the teams over Red Bull, yet again revolving around the design of their car and in particular the floor, according to a report in Auto Motor Und Sport. There were some interesting pictures taken by a far in Monza (when Webber's car was lifted off the track, somebody in the crowd was able to get underneath and take some photos) which suggest that the floor of the RB7 might be flexing, allowing the front of the floor to ride much closer to the ground than the regulations should allow it to (though it is designed to avoid flexing around the point where the FIA load test is performed).
Even though it does still pass the tests, though, it's also lead Ross Brawn to question whether Red Bull really is respecting the Resource Restriction Agreement when Red Bull could afford to bring so many new components (including a entirely new floor just for Monza) - he puts the cost of just the manufacturing work in excess of €800,000.

Mind you, it seems that Newey was also happy to work the rumour mill himself (especially given how sensitive Red Bull seem to be about their design, and accusations of cheating) - reputedly, he was complaining that a large chunk of Mark Webber's broken front wing in Monza appears to have gone "missing" and is probably sitting on a bench in Maranello right now...

Ferrim · Post by **Ferrim** » 07 Oct 2011, 15:04

mario wrote:
Ferrim wrote:Williams are looking really pitiful these days, aren't they? I hope it's because they've given up development of their current car to focus in the FW34, but I'm going to say something... I guess not very realistic, because they haven't scored a point yet, but I don't think that a Lotus finishing 7th is completely out of the realms of possibility. Ridiculous starts that wipe out half the field do happen from time to time, and if that half of the field happen to be the ones qualifying from 7th to 18th...

A bit like last year, for example, which was a fairly high attrition race? Multiple car pile ups at the start are fairly common, after all, especially in the midfield pack, though 7th seems very optimistic. On top of that, this year the reliability of the top teams has improved a fair bit compared to 2010 (especially at Red Bull) - with luck, something around 13-14th might be possible (which would help cement 10th place in the WCC for them), but I doubt that they'll be able to make their way much further up the grid.

I was thinking more in a Indy 2006 kind of race... with a big accident at the start. Of course I think that's unlikely to happen, either here or in any of the remaining races, but it's conceivable.

IdeFan · Post by **IdeFan** » 07 Oct 2011, 17:18

I'm getting increasingly concerned about Kobayashi, I was hoping that a home GP would help him find his flare again, but it hasn't happened yet.

S951 · Post by **S951** » 07 Oct 2011, 20:03

I don't think its a problem Kamui has I think it is more of how the team runs his strategy always ultra conservative careful on tyres no attacking which doesn't exactly play into kamuis best traits

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 07 Oct 2011, 20:53

Please Vettel, do what Di Grassi did last year, just so Button can keep his hopes alive.

sswishbone · Post by **sswishbone** » 08 Oct 2011, 05:02

Jenson topped all three practice sessions, anyone else done that this season?

Rosberg is out of Q1, the mid-field teams must be angry at using soft tyres for no reason

Shizuka · Post by **Shizuka** » 08 Oct 2011, 05:18

Vettel in China.

Post by **DemocalypseNow** » 08 Oct 2011, 05:19

KOBAYASHI KAMUI GOES FIRSTAAA!!!!!! :mrgreen:

Jeroen Krautmeir · Post by **Jeroen Krautmeir** » 08 Oct 2011, 05:19

KAMUIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!

Shizuka · Post by **Shizuka** » 08 Oct 2011, 05:19

Rosberg quits with a technical problem... in Q1.

sswishbone · Post by **sswishbone** » 08 Oct 2011, 05:20

@Shizuka: - Thanks dude, thought someone may have and it had the single-fingered wonder

Rosberg could be dangerous tomorrow if he avoids binning it early, all tyres fresh. Don't write him off for solid points

Shizuka · Post by **Shizuka** » 08 Oct 2011, 05:23

And not has his wheel falling off *cough*2010*cough*

The two Virgins got a nice empty track at the end as well as Ricciardo. The Williams got into Q2. The Lotus cars weren't far off the midfield but clearly ahead of the other two teams...

sswishbone · Post by **sswishbone** » 08 Oct 2011, 05:31

Anyone else find it odd that Vettel has been doing 130R with DRS open and barely ahead of Button?

Will LIuzzi be able to race? I can't say he's had the pace to this weekend

Shizuka · Post by **Shizuka** » 08 Oct 2011, 05:41

And now Perez quits Q2 with no time? What is it with all these technical failures?

Shizuka · Post by **Shizuka** » 08 Oct 2011, 05:44

Look at that! The Renaults in Q3! And I was thinking about Petrov showing Senna who's boss...
And Kamui-san in Q3. Decent job so far.

sswishbone · Post by **sswishbone** » 08 Oct 2011, 05:45

Maybe it's the radiation? :lol:

Seriously no clue whatsoever, bizarre

I've heard of scrubbed tyres, but the sight of the dude washing the soft tyres gives it whole new meaning!

the Masked Lapwing · Post by **the Masked Lapwing** » 08 Oct 2011, 06:02

Bugger...

Where's the mute button?

sswishbone · Post by **sswishbone** » 08 Oct 2011, 06:03

I really do hate these rules for those who don't set a lap in Q3, it really riles me to see nearly half of the top 10 not run, it short-changes the fans, and that is why, in my view, everyone who doesn't set a lap without a genuine reason should get a five place grid penalty

Shizuka · Post by **Shizuka** » 08 Oct 2011, 06:04

Oh come on, this qualifying is ridiculous.

Rosberg & Perez has mechanical problems, and then in Q3 you saw like what, six cars only out? JOKE.

sswishbone · Post by **sswishbone** » 08 Oct 2011, 06:06

Exactly, and you saw the reaction Kobayashi got, only to not set a time, total nonsense

Schumacher appears to have possibly impeded hamilton, wonder if a penalty will happen for that three in a bed taking of the final chicane?

Is Liuzzi going to qualify, he doesn't seem to have been inside 107% time

GwilymJJames · Post by **GwilymJJames** » 08 Oct 2011, 06:33

sswishbone wrote:Is Liuzzi going to qualify, he doesn't seem to have been inside 107% time

Not set a time inside 107% this weekend, but HRT will probably argue that the technical problems he's suffered, combined with Ricciardo's qualification and the fact that he usually has been inside this season, constitute exceptional circumstances.

James1978 · Post by **James1978** » 08 Oct 2011, 06:45

Oh GOD. Stop shooting yourselves in the foot, everyone but Vettel!!!

And I woke up early for THAT????