Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race - 2012 Japan

Shizuka · Post by **Shizuka** » 07 Oct 2012, 07:33

Cannot quote the usual text here - forum too slow

DOSBoot · Post by **DOSBoot** » 07 Oct 2012, 07:41

1. Kobayashi: 3rd on his home turf! In a Sauber!

2. Massa: Great drive from 11th to 2nd to score his first podium since 2010!

Cynon · Post by **Cynon** » 07 Oct 2012, 07:43

Massa: Where the hell did that drive come from?!

Kobayashi: Capitalized on his chances for a change.

TomWazzleshaw · Post by **TomWazzleshaw** » 07 Oct 2012, 07:48

1. Felipe Massa - He may have just saved his Ferrari career with that drive
2. Kamui Kobayashi - KOBAYASHI KAMUI SCORES PODIUMA!!!!

Honourable mentions to Daniel Ricciardo for putting in a solid effort for Toro Rosso, Pastor Maldonado for actually scoring points without hitting anything and the Japanese Crowd for simply being awesome at the end.

RonDenisDeletraz · Post by **RonDenisDeletraz** » 07 Oct 2012, 07:49

Kobayashi
Massa

tkcom · Post by **tkcom** » 07 Oct 2012, 07:50

Kobayashi Tears.
Massa 1st podium since forever.

dinizintheoven · Post by **dinizintheoven** » 07 Oct 2012, 07:52

Seriously, do you need actual nominations this time round? It's a foregone conclusion.

However, I'll give an honourable mention to Jonathan Legard - for all the times he got his words and facts wrong before hastily correcting himself or Sam Bird put him right, the fact that I had his commentary in the first place means I got to know what was happening at two rather important points in the race which would have been a complete mystery otherwise...

Pamphlet · Post by **Pamphlet** » 07 Oct 2012, 07:53

3. Sebastian Vettel (honorable mention) - Is this 2011? Dominant drive, definitely deserves to be back in the championship fight.
2. Kamui Kobayashi - Mother of God...
1. Felipe Massa - Mother of God...

sswishbone · Post by **sswishbone** » 07 Oct 2012, 07:54

1) Massa - No one in their right mind would have picked him for second place on raw pace

2) Kobayashi - Unbelievable final stint to hold off Button

LellaLombardi · Post by **LellaLombardi** » 07 Oct 2012, 07:54

1. Kobayashi. If you're going to get a podium this is the race to do it. That Sauber has not been a shabby car at all this year
2. Massa. Boy did he need this. Yes it's overdue but no-one can begrudge him this podium

the Masked Lapwing · Post by **the Masked Lapwing** » 07 Oct 2012, 07:59

1. KAMUI!!!!!!!
2. Massa

14 Hundred Hours · Post by **14 Hundred Hours** » 07 Oct 2012, 08:05

1.5: Kamui and Massa. I honestly can't decide who I'm more impressed with!

Shizuka · Post by **Shizuka** » 07 Oct 2012, 08:39

I am also giving 8-8 points each to Kamui and Felipe - they both deserve the first place.

Meatwad · Post by **Meatwad** » 07 Oct 2012, 08:41

1. Kamui Kobayashi: Awesome! I had been waiting for Kamui's first podium for a long time and he ends up getting it in his home race! I would also say that this was even better than Pérez's podiums as Kamui got his on pace rather than strategy.
2. Felipe Massa: Back on podium after almost two years. He seems to be returning to his old form in races, although he needs to start qualifying better.

WaffleCat · Post by **WaffleCat** » 07 Oct 2012, 08:56

1:Kobayashi....need I explain why?

2:Nico Hulkenberg: Another solid drive.If Merc did not poach Hamilton from McLaren,I would have predicted this guy to take over.

Pointrox · Post by **Pointrox** » 07 Oct 2012, 10:13

Kamui Kobayashi - finally something we all have been waiting for

Felipe Massa - first podium since Korea 2010, and hopefully not the last of him.

Benetton · Post by **Benetton** » 07 Oct 2012, 10:23

1. Felipe Massa - Benefitted from the 1st corner shenanigans but took advantage and drove a solid race to most likely secure his seat next year.

2. Kamui Kobayashi - Strong race. Kept cool. Good performance. The crowd chanting KA-MU-I KA-MU-I KA-MU-I was epic.

HM - Nico Hulkenberg

pi314159 · Post by **pi314159** » 07 Oct 2012, 10:45

1. Felipe Massa

2. Kamui Kobayashi

Honorable Mentions: Hülkenberg, Ricciardo

tristan1117 · Post by **tristan1117** » 07 Oct 2012, 11:29

1. Kobayashi
2. Massa

FMecha · Post by **FMecha** » 07 Oct 2012, 12:09

Massa and Kobayashi, by default.

Pedestrian · Post by **Pedestrian** » 07 Oct 2012, 12:21

Let's think about this for a moment: Is Kobayashi's podium really that improbable, or was he just doing what should have been expected from him?
He had allready qualified 4-th, so he only needed to make up one more place. We allready knew Japanese drivers do well at Suzuka. We allready knew the Sauber is a good car this year. We allready knew it can score podiums if driven well, and we allready knew Kobayashi is a good driver. If he had won the race, that would have been something, but a mere 3-rd place? The only surprising thing is that it didn't come earlier.
In this light, Kobayashi's 3-rd is no more improbable than Massa's 2-nd: they both drive cars that can do even better. But at least Massa has the excuse of being an official nr. 2 driver who has just undergone a slump in performance. No such circumstances for the Japanese, however.

Meatwad · Post by **Meatwad** » 07 Oct 2012, 12:56

Pedestrian wrote:Let's think about this for a moment: Is Kobayashi's podium really that improbable, or was he just doing what should have been expected from him?
He had allready qualified 4-th, so he only needed to make up one more place.

That's a good point. However, many people also consider impressive qualifying results when voting. For example, Kamui got some votes for his performance in Spa even though his race turned into a nightmare thanks to Grosjean. And finishing where you qualified in a Sauber is not certain - Kamui already had two top three starts but only one point from those weekends (although he was very unlucky in both China and Belgium).

We allready knew Japanese drivers do well at Suzuka.

There's an exception to every rule - in this case it's Kazuki Nakajima. :lol:

Sunshine_Baby_[IT] · Post by **Sunshine_Baby_[IT]** » 07 Oct 2012, 13:15

1. Kamui Kobayashi
2. Felipe Massa

SeedStriker · Post by **SeedStriker** » 07 Oct 2012, 13:43

Is there any other answer to this one?

1.-Felipe Massa: 2nd-in-a-row collosal drive for a man that seems to have recover his former runner-up championship contender self. Fernando who?
2.-Kamui Kobayashi: Equal best result for a japanese in home turf, showing speed, mesure and coolness. He's really the japanese all-time best.

The Clash of the Titans Award goes to Kimi Räikkonnen: Little to no damage after Alonso's meltdown and then showing who's the boss to Checo Perez makes the return of the Tank-man

Post by **Ataxia** » 07 Oct 2012, 14:07

1. Kobayashi
2. Massa

That was easy...

Aerospeed · Post by **Aerospeed** » 07 Oct 2012, 14:31

SeedStriker wrote:Is there any other answer to this one?

1.-Felipe Massa: 2nd-in-a-row collosal drive for a man that seems to have recover his former runner-up championship contender self. Fernando who?
2.-Kamui Kobayashi: Equal best result for a japanese in home turf, showing speed, mesure and coolness. He's really the japanese all-time best.

This. Need I say more?

takagi_for_the_win · Post by **takagi_for_the_win** » 07 Oct 2012, 15:06

Equal points for Kobayashi and Massa. On the evidence of this race, both deserve to be in F1 next season.

HM Maldonado for not crashing and actually finishing in the points.

James1978 · Post by **James1978** » 07 Oct 2012, 15:15

1. Kobayashi
2. Massa

pablo_h · Post by **pablo_h** » 07 Oct 2012, 15:15

1. Felipe Massa. His 2nd place came from nowhere.

2. Kamui Kobayashi. Came 3rd, a great podium, and a rare thing for Japanese drivers; but everyone kind of expected him to be in the hunt as the sauber is no slouch and he had a lot of support in this race.

Honorable Mentions: Hulkenberg,steady race, understood the car and tyres, knew what to do in order to bring home the points.
Ricciardo, defended against Webber, and did very well to hold off Schumacher for a long long time to take the last point, a dangerous game but did it well...

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 07 Oct 2012, 15:18

1-Kobayashi
2-Massa

Honorable Mentions:

Kovalainen: Holds Vergne, Di Resta and Schumacher for some time. Imprevisive for a Caterhan driver.
Ricciardo: A very deserved point, holds Schumacher in last laps.
Maldonado: Finally in the points again. Great race.

QuickYoda41 · Post by **QuickYoda41** » 07 Oct 2012, 15:35

1. Massa
2. Kobayashi

The two choices were obvious, but after Saturday, this has to be the order, sorry, Kamui!

Barbazza · Post by **Barbazza** » 07 Oct 2012, 18:34

Pedestrian wrote:Let's think about this for a moment: Is Kobayashi's podium really that improbable, or was he just doing what should have been expected from him?
He had allready qualified 4-th, so he only needed to make up one more place. We allready knew Japanese drivers do well at Suzuka. We allready knew the Sauber is a good car this year. We allready knew it can score podiums if driven well, and we allready knew Kobayashi is a good driver. If he had won the race, that would have been something, but a mere 3-rd place? The only surprising thing is that it didn't come earlier.
In this light, Kobayashi's 3-rd is no more improbable than Massa's 2-nd: they both drive cars that can do even better. But at least Massa has the excuse of being an official nr. 2 driver who has just undergone a slump in performance. No such circumstances for the Japanese, however.

I agree, which is why I'm not voting for Kamui - as I had faith in him to deliver this time, given Sauber's obvious pace. So my votes go to...

1) Massa - That really WAS genuinely unexpected
2) Ricciardo - He seemed to have pace all through the race where Vergne was anonymous, it was his best race for ages AND he held off Schumi for the final point - job well done I think.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 07 Oct 2012, 18:35

1. Kamui Kobayashi - I mean, really, it kind of has to be him, right?
2. Felipe Massa - 11th to 2nd is not bad at all, but this is what he should've been doing for the last 3 years now.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 07 Oct 2012, 21:47

This is the predictable whitewash that I thought it would be.

My two votes? Massa then Kobayashi.

Phoenix · Post by **Phoenix** » 07 Oct 2012, 21:53

1.- Felipe Massa -> A second place that came out of nowhere, and his best result since the 2010 Bahrain GP (2nd as well).
2.- Kamui Kobayashi -> After awhile, he finally graces the rostrum in a F1 race. And in Japan to boot. A flawless drive.

Priceless · Post by **Priceless** » 08 Oct 2012, 00:34

Going with the trend...

1. Felipe Massa - Flawless. 2nd was the absolute best that was possible since Vettel was untouchable.
2. Kamui Kobayashi - BANZAI!!!

Honorable mention to Heikki Kovalainen for running 11th on merit for a long time until the tires dropped off, and Timo Glock for keeping up with him.

RAK · Post by **RAK** » 08 Oct 2012, 10:52

1) Felipe Massa: Made the most of the first-corner shenanigans, kept it securely on the tarmac and did everything correctly, showing great pace.

2) Kamui Kobayashi: Delivered his first podium on home turf, right at the time when all of the press was fixated on Perez's upcoming move to McLaren. Did a great job to keep Button behind him at the end.

DanielPT · Post by **DanielPT** » 09 Oct 2012, 10:31

1st Massa - Amazing drive from him. Utterly unexpected. One last hoorah?

2nd Kobayashi - He had to be here. He just had.

Aerond · Post by **Aerond** » 09 Oct 2012, 11:17

1st Massa - Impressive drive and great strategy call to get rid of Kobayashi and Button.
2nd Kobayashi - Yes, he started 4th, yes, he only gained one place, yes, he was able to take the last tiny bit of rubber in his last set of tyres to avoid Button getting into DRS zone until it was too late, plus he didn´t bin it when maybe it was what many people expected to happen.

Bleu · Post by **Bleu** » 09 Oct 2012, 15:21

1. Kobayashi
2. Massa