2015 United States Grand Prix Discussion Thread

Post by **mario** » 22 Oct 2015, 18:36

So, it has now been confirmed that Ferrari will be introducing a 5th power unit for both drivers this weekend, as had been suspected earlier in the season.

The decision has been taken to try and maximise their performance in the final four races by introducing their final upgrade package for 2015, which should feed into their 2016 development package. However, it could also be said that such a decision increased the chances of Hamilton taking the title this weekend, given that it makes it even more likely that Vettel will finish behind both Rosberg and Hamilton. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/121451

Fetzie · Post by **Fetzie** » 22 Oct 2015, 20:44

So if it ends up
1 Hamilton
2 Rosberg
3 Vettel
then Hamilton wins the Championship?

Post by **mario** » 22 Oct 2015, 21:03

Fetzie wrote:So if it ends up
1 Hamilton
2 Rosberg
3 Vettel
then Hamilton wins the Championship?

That is correct - if they were to finish in that order, Hamilton would have a 76 point lead over Vettel and a 79 point lead over Rosberg.

The decision to take an engine penalty means that, barring reliability issues or freak weather events (with a possibility of the latter, it must be said), you would assume that Vettel will finish behind the two Mercedes drivers. The only way Rosberg can stay in the title battle, barring a breakdown, would be by beating Hamilton - and although Rosberg has been stronger in the past few races in qualifying trim, Hamilton has generally been pretty strong here (especially in race trim, given he's twice come from behind to win here).

novitopoli · Post by **novitopoli** » 22 Oct 2015, 22:39

Further back on the grid, Marciello will take part in FP1 instead of Nasr.

good_Ralf · Post by **good_Ralf** » 22 Oct 2015, 22:40

mario wrote:So, it has now been confirmed that Ferrari will be introducing a 5th power unit for both drivers this weekend, as had been suspected earlier in the season.

The decision has been taken to try and maximise their performance in the final four races by introducing their final upgrade package for 2015, which should feed into their 2016 development package. However, it could also be said that such a decision increased the chances of Hamilton taking the title this weekend, given that it makes it even more likely that Vettel will finish behind both Rosberg and Hamilton. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/121451

Since a Mercedes 1-2 is the status quo whenever the mice aren't getting at their machinery, I'd say Raikkonen (unless he has the same penalty) or the Williams will take the 3rd step, if not then they will have stuffed up big time. Still, that's not to say a podium for a midfield team of the likes of FI or Lotus would be dull.

AdrianSutil · Post by **AdrianSutil** » 23 Oct 2015, 01:59

good_Ralf wrote:
mario wrote:So, it has now been confirmed that Ferrari will be introducing a 5th power unit for both drivers this weekend, as had been suspected earlier in the season.

The decision has been taken to try and maximise their performance in the final four races by introducing their final upgrade package for 2015, which should feed into their 2016 development package. However, it could also be said that such a decision increased the chances of Hamilton taking the title this weekend, given that it makes it even more likely that Vettel will finish behind both Rosberg and Hamilton. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/121451

Since a Mercedes 1-2 is the status quo whenever the mice aren't getting at their machinery, I'd say Raikkonen (unless he has the same penalty) or the Williams will take the 3rd step, if not then they will have stuffed up big time. Still, that's not to say a podium for a midfield team of the likes of FI or Lotus would be dull.

Any reason you left RedBull out of your prediction?

SuzukiSwift · Post by **SuzukiSwift** » 23 Oct 2015, 03:14

I could see a Redbull on the podium maybe. Assuming that some catastrophic failure doesn't happen to one of their cars.

good_Ralf · Post by **good_Ralf** » 23 Oct 2015, 13:18

AdrianSutil wrote:
good_Ralf wrote:
mario wrote:So, it has now been confirmed that Ferrari will be introducing a 5th power unit for both drivers this weekend, as had been suspected earlier in the season.

The decision has been taken to try and maximise their performance in the final four races by introducing their final upgrade package for 2015, which should feed into their 2016 development package. However, it could also be said that such a decision increased the chances of Hamilton taking the title this weekend, given that it makes it even more likely that Vettel will finish behind both Rosberg and Hamilton. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/121451

Since a Mercedes 1-2 is the status quo whenever the mice aren't getting at their machinery, I'd say Raikkonen (unless he has the same penalty) or the Williams will take the 3rd step, if not then they will have stuffed up big time. Still, that's not to say a podium for a midfield team of the likes of FI or Lotus would be dull.

Any reason you left RedBull out of your prediction?

I guess Red Bull will factor, but I didn't include them because personally I don't consider them a threat. No shame in being proven wrong, of course.

UncreativeUsername37 · Post by **UncreativeUsername37** » 23 Oct 2015, 18:59

So with this indefinite delay, we may or may not be facing the third race in a row with severely reduced practice.

Post by **Miguel98** » 23 Oct 2015, 19:21

It's like the Ocean has decided to give a helping hand in CoTA... That hurricane is surelly making things wet

Post by **mario** » 23 Oct 2015, 19:24

UgncreativeUsergname wrote:So with this indefinite delay, we may or may not be facing the third race in a row with severely reduced practice.

Not only that, there is now talk that the third practise session and qualifying might be postponed if this weather front persists into tomorrow.

WeirdKerr · Post by **WeirdKerr** » 23 Oct 2015, 19:59

Fetzie · Post by **Fetzie** » 23 Oct 2015, 20:46

McLaren-Honda may win a race this season after all...

Or maybe not, given the AMG Mercedes speed-boat that came as a reply :/

This afternoon has made FP2 somewhat interesting...

https://storify.com/LotusF1Team/2015-un ... d-prix-fp2

GwilymJJames · Post by **GwilymJJames** » 23 Oct 2015, 22:32

If they can't do qualifying the regulations suggest that FP3 times get used. No word on whether or not they then go back to FP2 and FP1.

Presumably, if they can't do FP3 or qualifying, Nasr won't be allowed to start because he hasn't done a practice lap. This is Marciello's best opportunity yet.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 23 Oct 2015, 22:36

Please sort it by car number. Not that I have any reason to want it done that way or anything...

Fetzie · Post by **Fetzie** » 23 Oct 2015, 23:00

They've had qualifying on Sunday morning in the past when weather conditions made it impossible to hold on the Saturday.

Post by **mario** » 24 Oct 2015, 14:31

Fetzie wrote:They've had qualifying on Sunday morning in the past when weather conditions made it impossible to hold on the Saturday.

I would assume that the FIA has made plans to do just that if the conditions are just as bad today as they were yesterday. You would have to assume that, if the weather conditions were bad enough to make it impossible for qualifying to be held on Sunday, the conditions would probably be bad enough for them to be unable to hold the race itself - in which instance, the issue of who would be placed where on the grid would be entirely moot anyway.

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 24 Oct 2015, 14:36

We had none of these problems at Indianapolis

good_Ralf · Post by **good_Ralf** » 24 Oct 2015, 14:56

So FP3 is pretty much happening, but if qualifying doesn't this would be the first time ever there would be no qualifying session to decide the grid?! I mean, safety first, but this is taking it to a whole new level.

At this rate, they'll cancel the Mexican GP!

Fetzie · Post by **Fetzie** » 24 Oct 2015, 15:16

good_Ralf wrote:So FP3 is pretty much happening, but if qualifying doesn't this would be the first time ever there would be no qualifying session to decide the grid?! I mean, safety first, but this is taking it to a whole new level.

At this rate, they'll cancel the Mexican GP!

They'll hold it at 10am tomorrow morning if quali doesn't happen today.

AxelP800 · Post by **AxelP800** » 24 Oct 2015, 15:57

Fetzie wrote:
good_Ralf wrote:So FP3 is pretty much happening, but if qualifying doesn't this would be the first time ever there would be no qualifying session to decide the grid?! I mean, safety first, but this is taking it to a whole new level.

At this rate, they'll cancel the Mexican GP!

They'll hold it at 10am tomorrow morning if quali doesn't happen today.

If the quali doesn't get any chance to run at all, then by FP3? Hulk starting 2nd? I approve thissss

Fetzie · Post by **Fetzie** » 24 Oct 2015, 16:33

AxelP800 wrote:
Fetzie wrote:
good_Ralf wrote:So FP3 is pretty much happening, but if qualifying doesn't this would be the first time ever there would be no qualifying session to decide the grid?! I mean, safety first, but this is taking it to a whole new level.

At this rate, they'll cancel the Mexican GP!

They'll hold it at 10am tomorrow morning if quali doesn't happen today.

If the quali doesn't get any chance to run at all, then by FP3? Hulk starting 2nd? I approve thissss

Yeah, if Quali doesn't happen then FP3 times are taken (which is why everybody set a time in FP3).

In which case (before penalties are applied), the grid would look like this:

Code: Select all

01    Lewis Hamilton
02    Sebastian Vettel
03    Nico Hülkenberg
04    Valtteri Bottas
05    Carlos Sainz Jr
06    Daniil Kvyat
07    Kimi Raikönnen
08    Daniel Ricciardo
09    Nico Rosberg
10    Felipe Massa
11    Sergio Perez
12    Romain Grosjean
13    Pastor Maldonado
14    Fernando Alonso
15    Marcus Ericsson
16    Jenson Button   
17    Will Stevens
18    Alexander Rossi
19    Felipe Nasr
20    Max Verstappen

Also, Hamilton's lap was nearly a second faster than Vettel's.

WeirdKerr · Post by **WeirdKerr** » 24 Oct 2015, 18:31

strap on some outboard motors....

UncreativeUsername37 · Post by **UncreativeUsername37** » 24 Oct 2015, 18:39

I woke up late for qualifying. At first I was really annoyed, but apparently I knew what I was doing.

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 24 Oct 2015, 18:46

What was the last time that a race was cancelled in F1?

Post by **Bobby Doorknobs** » 24 Oct 2015, 18:52

Dj_bereta wrote:What was the last time that a race was cancelled in F1?

This year's German Grand Prix

Though I'm assuming you mean during a weekend, in which case you're looking at the 1985 Belgian Grand Prix, which was abandoned after practice due to the track surface breaking up. It was rescheduled to September from its original June date.

WeirdKerr · Post by **WeirdKerr** » 24 Oct 2015, 20:24

this is now worse than Canada 2011 or Korea 2010 for delays..... lets draw straws or something lol

Fetzie · Post by **Fetzie** » 24 Oct 2015, 21:02

Qualifying postponed to 09:00 local time tomorrow morning.

Aguaman · Post by **Aguaman** » 25 Oct 2015, 01:41

WeirdKerr wrote:this is now worse than Canada 2011 or Korea 2010 for delays..... lets draw straws or something lol

I loved those races.

Post by **Miguel98** » 25 Oct 2015, 13:51

Qualifying is going ahead it seems.

Post by **Bobby Doorknobs** » 25 Oct 2015, 14:06

Miguel98 wrote:Qualifying is going ahead it seems.

aaaannnndddd it's been red flagged.

Fetzie · Post by **Fetzie** » 25 Oct 2015, 14:07

But not before Hamilton goes 2.5 seconds faster than anybody else.

Ricciardo slipped in a time 800ms behind Hamilton.

Post by **Bobby Doorknobs** » 25 Oct 2015, 14:09

Fetzie wrote:But not before Hamilton goes 2.5 seconds faster than anybody else.

Ricciardo got within a second of him, at least.

Salamander · Post by **Salamander** » 25 Oct 2015, 14:33

I think we're done here. We don't need a Q2 or Q3.

Aguaman · Post by **Aguaman** » 25 Oct 2015, 14:58

Can't fault the drivers and the use of SC that will happen in the race. Fans will be hating but safety is important.

TUrn 10 in the rain brings back 2003 Interlagos memories.

Post by **Bobby Doorknobs** » 25 Oct 2015, 15:03

Q3 won't go ahead. Rosberg is on pole.

UncreativeUsername37 · Post by **UncreativeUsername37** » 25 Oct 2015, 15:04

Who needs reduced practice when you have reduced qualifying?

Fetzie · Post by **Fetzie** » 25 Oct 2015, 15:04

Q3 cancelled, grid positions are decided by the Q2 timings.

Aguaman · Post by **Aguaman** » 25 Oct 2015, 15:06

So Seb will start from 15th. Ooft

Post by **Londoner** » 25 Oct 2015, 15:13

Correct call to not hold Q3, the track was pretty much undriveable by the end of Q2. With that being said, I hope we get a race in the next few hours.