2013 "There's no Kobayashi" Japan Grand Prix

Alextrax52 · Post by **Alextrax52** » 06 Oct 2013, 18:11

Just a week on from Korea it's Japan at the old classic known as Suzuka

Vettel has won here 3 times and on current form who's to say he won't make it 4. On the other hand this isn't Lewis Hamilton's best circuit having come 5th in the last 3 races after a 3rd in 2009 so you could argue that the flowing circuit's are slightly weaker for Lewis than the stop-start ones. Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen are the only other winners at Suzuka (Hamilton won in Fuji as did Alonso) still active today and this was arguably the race that cost Fernando the title last season by throwing it away. Nico Rosberg deserves a change of luck having lost podiums in Singapore and Korea through no fault of his own. I expect some good performances off Hulkenberg and Grosjean as they to me are the 2 guys that will race for Lotus next year.

Mclaren have all but sewn up 5th but if Hulkenberg keeps up his run of form and Gutierrez continues his improvement then Force India could lose 6th in the constructors championship. I know there are only 5 races left and FI have a 30 odd point lead over Sauber and Toro Rosso you know what they say "It ain't over till it's over". Williams will have to pray to HWNSNBM and the WTSNBM in order to get some points as will the Caterham's and the Marussia's

Should be a good weekend and i'm keeping the faith.

FullMetalJack · Post by **FullMetalJack** » 06 Oct 2013, 18:26

Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen are the only other winners at Suzuka

Jenson Button won in 2011.

Alextrax52 · Post by **Alextrax52** » 06 Oct 2013, 18:30

FullMetalJack wrote:
Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen are the only other winners at Suzuka

Jenson Button won in 2011.

Of course in his first Mclaren win in the dry. That of course saw Vettel win the title and he has the chance to do so this year if he wins and Alonso doesn't finish in the top 8

rachel1990 · Post by **rachel1990** » 06 Oct 2013, 18:59

The race is live on the BBC

As for the win I think it will be a Lotus victory this time - Grosjean has been threatening to get that breakthrough for the last couple of races now and I think Japan may just give us a new winner for f1. However Kimi deserves more than 1 win.

I also think the Hulk will finally get that breakthrough podium that he deserves. It will be very interesting. Gutterriez may snatch a couple of points as well.

I don't think Vettel will win the drivers championship in Japan- My previous prediction of India will be the most likely contender.

Ferrari looked off the pace in Korea and I doubt very much they will improve in a week.

God Help Mark Webber. Lets see how fast Red Bull can work!

Mercedes could be in the mix for a win but they need to sort the front wing out!!! Maybe Rosberg rather than Hamilton

Mclaren will be the best of the rest with Button ( who usually does well here) Perez less so
Force India have big worries at the moment but I think Di Resta might finally finish!!!!
Toro Rosso will score nothing!!
With Williams I am Hoping that Bottas gets a point- But its unlikely
I predict that Caterham will FINALLY get that 12th place with Van De Garde
And Even will 10 place penalties (WTF) for Bianchi and Pic that Chilton will be CHILTONLASTLOL

And Please do not mention the weather- It will be a dry race. Guaranteed.

Alextrax52 · Post by **Alextrax52** » 06 Oct 2013, 19:05

rachel1990 wrote:The race is live on the BBC

As for the win I think it will be a Lotus victory this time - Grosjean has been threatening to get that breakthrough for the last couple of races now and I think Japan may just give us a new winner for f1. However Kimi deserves more than 1 win.

I also think the Hulk will finally get that breakthrough podium that he deserves. It will be very interesting. Gutterriez may snatch a couple of points as well.

I don't think Vettel will win the drivers championship in Japan- My previous prediction of India will be the most likely contender.

Ferrari looked off the pace in Korea and I doubt very much they will improve in a week.

God Help Mark Webber. Lets see how fast Red Bull can work!

Mercedes could be in the mix for a win but they need to sort the front wing out!!! Maybe Rosberg rather than Hamilton

Mclaren will be the best of the rest with Button ( who usually does well here) Perez less so
Force India have big worries at the moment but I think Di Resta might finally finish!!!!
Toro Rosso will score nothing!!
With Williams I am Hoping that Bottas gets a point- But its unlikely
I predict that Caterham will FINALLY get that 12th place with Van De Garde
And Even will 10 place penalties (WTF) for Bianchi and Pic that Chilton will be CHILTONLASTLOL

And Please do not mention the weather- It will be a dry race. Guaranteed.

I see i'm not the only one keeping the faith :mrgreen:

As for the weather I created "Word that shall not be mentioned" (WTSNBM) because if even a single forum member says the word "rain" then it will be dry (Not counting this post of course) Back in the old day's Webber wouldn't have to worry about not having a car for the weekend as there was the T-Car that drivers could use but that is no longer the case.

Can i just ask when were T-Cars outlawed?

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 06 Oct 2013, 19:32

Pic, Van der Garde, Bianchi and Chilton given reprimands

Caterham’s Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde and Marussia’s Jules Bianchi and Max Chilton have all been reprimanded by race stewards in Korea.

Bianchi and Pic received their reprimands for failing to respond to yellow flags, whilst Van der Garde and Chilton were punished for lapping too quickly during the safety-car period.

Bianchi and Pic now face automatic 10-place grid penalties at the next round in Japan, as both have accrued three reprimands this season.

Meanwhile, the stewards opted to take no further action against either McLaren’s Sergio Perez or Force India’s Adrian Sutil, who were also the subject of post-race investigations.

Perez had been placed under investigation on suspicion of forcing Force India’s Paul di Resta off track and for a separate tangle with Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, whilst Sutil was investigated over his collision with Mark Webber which led to the Red Bull driver retiring from the race.

good_Ralf · Post by **good_Ralf** » 06 Oct 2013, 19:33

Highlights video of easily the best Suzuka GP.

roblo97 · Post by **roblo97** » 06 Oct 2013, 20:43

I wonder if Polyphony Digital will gift all Gran Turismo 5 Players a Red Bull X2011 if Seb wins the title at Suzuka?
Back in 2011, they gave away the X2010 when Seb won the title so never say never

GwilymJJames · Post by **GwilymJJames** » 06 Oct 2013, 21:52

rachel1990 wrote:God Help Mark Webber. Lets see how fast Red Bull can work!

Shouldn't be a problem since I believe I heard someone say on the Sky coverage that Red Bull have a spare chassis (which they are allowed) and they will be getting another spare flown in for the Japan race.

rachel1990 wrote:And Please do not mention the weather- It will be a dry race. Guaranteed.

So I probably shouldn't mention that early predictions are that showers are possible for Fri/Sat, but Sunday will be bone dry, right?

Hey, it might go against the prediction again!

kowalski · Post by **kowalski** » 07 Oct 2013, 14:18

Japanese interest:

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/10/15064.html

Woo!

watka · Post by **watka** » 08 Oct 2013, 12:43

good_Ralf wrote:Highlights video of easily the best Suzuka GP.

Just watching this and there's a bit where Alonso cuts the Casio Triangle when fighting with Klien. He then gives the place up early on the straight and uses the tow to pass back into turn 1. He wasn't given a penalty, but isn't that exactly what Hamilton did to Raikkonen at Spa in 2008?

CORRECTION - He lets Klien back past a few laps later.

Post by **mario** » 08 Oct 2013, 17:48

GwilymJJames wrote:
rachel1990 wrote:God Help Mark Webber. Lets see how fast Red Bull can work!

Shouldn't be a problem since I believe I heard someone say on the Sky coverage that Red Bull have a spare chassis (which they are allowed) and they will be getting another spare flown in for the Japan race.

By the sounds of things, I think that Webber was just as worried about potentially having to write off that engine as much as the lost chassis - with engine mileage quite tight at this time of year, he could find himself either having to run sub optimal engine settings to eke the life out of an existing engine or having to take a grid penalty for an engine change.

IceG · Post by **IceG** » 08 Oct 2013, 18:41

rachel1990 wrote:
Force India have big worries at the moment but I think Di Resta might finally finish!!!!

Well, his poor recent record may well take the aggressive edge off his driving, resulting in a lacklustre, pointless finish.

go_Rubens · Post by **go_Rubens** » 08 Oct 2013, 22:53

IceG wrote:
rachel1990 wrote:
Force India have big worries at the moment but I think Di Resta might finally finish!!!!

Well, his poor recent record may well take the aggressive edge off his driving, resulting in a lacklustre, pointless finish.

Well, di Resta had to be aggressive earlier this year to make up for his poor qualifying, and even more so now. But I think he is so indulged in saving his career that he probably won't finish or will finish, but plain slow.

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 09 Oct 2013, 04:57

AxelP800 · Post by **AxelP800** » 09 Oct 2013, 05:51

Dj_bereta wrote:

Poor Webber

I just hope somehow redbull accidently switch their cars before the start, so Webber using Vettel's car and vice versa. Lol

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 09 Oct 2013, 09:41

The weather is predicted to be dry and sunny on Sunday. I hope it rains.

rachel1990 · Post by **rachel1990** » 09 Oct 2013, 10:33

CoopsII wrote:The weather is predicted to be dry and sunny on Sunday. I hope it WTSNBM.

Right 1 edit done.

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 09 Oct 2013, 10:44

rachel1990 wrote:
CoopsII wrote:The weather is predicted to be dry and sunny on Sunday. I hope it WTSNBM.

Right 1 edit done.

I have no idea what that gibberish means, is it one of R2-D2s friends?

roblo97 · Post by **roblo97** » 09 Oct 2013, 12:40

CoopsII wrote:
rachel1990 wrote:
CoopsII wrote:The weather is predicted to be dry and sunny on Sunday. I hope it WTSNBM.

Right 1 edit done.

I have no idea what that gibberish means, is it one of R2-D2s friends?

Weather That Shall Not Be Mentioned.

Shizuka · Post by **Shizuka** » 09 Oct 2013, 12:49

CoopsII wrote:
rachel1990 wrote:
CoopsII wrote:The weather is predicted to be dry and sunny on Sunday. I hope it WTSNBM.

Right 1 edit done.

I have no idea what that gibberish means, is it one of R2-D2s friends?

That shows a minor lack of punctuation.
She meant: Right, one edit (in her post) done.

Post by **Londoner** » 09 Oct 2013, 12:56

Erm, I think Coops was refering to the acronym WTSNBM. :lol:

To be fair, I don't know what it means either...

Alextrax52 · Post by **Alextrax52** » 09 Oct 2013, 16:37

East Londoner wrote:Erm, I think Coops was refering to the acronym WTSNBM.

To be fair, I don't know what it means either...

Since the last 4 races have promised rain but failed to deliver I decided that if a single person mentioned Rain then it won't happen so I created the phrase WTSNBM (Word that shall not be named) because if anyone says that word (Rain) then it won't come.

Can you understand it a bit better now?

noiceinmydrink · Post by **noiceinmydrink** » 09 Oct 2013, 18:24

CoopsII wrote:The weather is predicted to be dry and sunny on Sunday.

Good. Weather can't disappoint us then.

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 10 Oct 2013, 06:48

Freeze-O-Kimi wrote:Since the last 4 races have promised rain but failed to deliver I decided that if a single person mentioned Rain then it won't happen so I created the phrase WTSNBM (Word that shall not be named) because if anyone says that word (Rain) then it won't come.

Can you understand it a bit better now?

Oh I see.

Very clever.

No, really.

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 10 Oct 2013, 10:42

Just watched the drivers press conference.
I was this close to running down to the cellar hiding for the rest of the day, with my baseball bat ready.
Vettel mentioned Alexander Wurz! :shock:

good_Ralf · Post by **good_Ralf** » 10 Oct 2013, 10:59

Jocke1 wrote:Just watched the drivers press conference.
I was this close to running down to the cellar hiding for the rest of the day, with my baseball bat ready.
Vettel mentioned Alexander Wurz!

Well they both drove for Williams at some point.

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 10 Oct 2013, 11:57

good_Ralf wrote:
Jocke1 wrote:Just watched the drivers press conference.
I was this close to running down to the cellar hiding for the rest of the day, with my baseball bat ready.
Vettel mentioned Alexander Wurz!

Well they both drove for Williams at some point.

Vettel has driven for Williams? :shock:

Post by **kevinbotz** » 10 Oct 2013, 12:43

Mark Webber will be using the same engine and gearbox at Suzuka as they, incredibly, actually survived the inferno in Korea.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/110496

Shizuka · Post by **Shizuka** » 10 Oct 2013, 13:27

good_Ralf wrote:Well they both drove for Williams at some point.

No.

kevinbotz wrote:Mark Webber will be using the same engine and gearbox at Suzuka as they, incredibly, actually survived the inferno in Korea.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/110496

Hopefully they won't break down on him!

madmark1974 · Post by **madmark1974** » 10 Oct 2013, 13:33

good_Ralf wrote:
Jocke1 wrote:Just watched the drivers press conference.
I was this close to running down to the cellar hiding for the rest of the day, with my baseball bat ready.
Vettel mentioned Alexander Wurz!

Well they both drove for Williams at some point.

This is correct - Vettel has : http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/47290 in 2005

Code: Select all

Pos  Driver   Team               Time       Laps
 1.  Webber   Williams-BMW  (M)  1:17.917   125
 2.  Rosberg  Williams-BMW  (M)  1:19.265    37
 3.  Vettel   Williams-BMW  (M)  1:21.364    25

3.5 seconds slower than Webber ... Times have changed.

dr-baker · Post by **dr-baker** » 10 Oct 2013, 14:44

madmark1974 wrote:This is correct - Vettel has : http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/47290 in 2005
Code: Select all
Pos  Driver   Team               Time       Laps
 1.  Webber   Williams-BMW  (M)  1:17.917   125
 2.  Rosberg  Williams-BMW  (M)  1:19.265    37
 3.  Vettel   Williams-BMW  (M)  1:21.364    25
3.5 seconds slower than Webber ... Times have changed.

Although Webber did 5 times as many laps. And it was 'his' team atthe time, not Vettel's... AND Vettel had little F1 experience at the time.

takagi_for_the_win · Post by **takagi_for_the_win** » 10 Oct 2013, 18:30

It might have passed some of you by, but if Alonso gets a top six finish he'll break Schumacher's record for career points scored

PT8475 · Post by **PT8475** » 10 Oct 2013, 18:53

takagi_for_the_win wrote:It might have passed some of you by, but if Alonso gets a top six finish he'll break Schumacher's record for career points scored

Doesn't really count, though.

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 10 Oct 2013, 19:06

PT8475 wrote:
takagi_for_the_win wrote:It might have passed some of you by, but if Alonso gets a top six finish he'll break Schumacher's record for career points scored

Doesn't really count, though.

Schumacher = 1,488 points.

Alonso, post-Korea = 1,559 points.

Alextrax52 · Post by **Alextrax52** » 10 Oct 2013, 19:08

Dj_bereta wrote:

So according to this the only weekend where Mark hasn't had an obvious problem is Monaco where he got 3rd. Hamilton's blunder meant he had a rare bit of good luck this season

Yannick · Post by **Yannick** » 10 Oct 2013, 19:10

Enough said.

(Kamui-san's answer to the thread title)

Yannick · Post by **Yannick** » 10 Oct 2013, 19:12

double posting

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 10 Oct 2013, 19:16

http://youtu.be/4k0TGQQptFs

PT8475 · Post by **PT8475** » 10 Oct 2013, 22:06

Jocke1 wrote:
PT8475 wrote:
takagi_for_the_win wrote:It might have passed some of you by, but if Alonso gets a top six finish he'll break Schumacher's record for career points scored

Doesn't really count, though.

Schumacher = 1,488 points.

Alonso, post-Korea = 1,559 points.

Yeah, but post-2009 points system kind of screws that record over completely and makes it meaningless.