Grand Prix Rejects

based on the assumption that, at any moment in time, there is a non-zero probability that even the slowest, most inexperienced and least reliable of underdogs might win the race. That under every rock, there might be a gold nugget. This is the award for that first podium that we all celebrate, for the overtake no-one was expecting, for Charles Pic's first win. This is the award, in short, for the driver or team that makes you go "Woah! Where did THAT come from?!".

Just remember: this is a feel-good award, that will focus on nothing but track action.
Usual rules: everyone gets two votes. First vote is worth 10 points, the second 6.

Post your results until 1st November

Nominations:
1. The fly
2. Grosjean (seriously, THAT was a nice scythe through the field)

1. Grosjean
2. Vettel

1. Grosjean (3rd from 17th. Not bad at all...)
2. Perez (Made the most of his strategy, did what Button couldn't.)

1 Grosjean nuff said
2 Vettel Doing donuts is a magical moment. I wanted to see something like this

1. Grosjean (What a drive, what a drive! He'll be fighting for the championship next season, if he gets a good car)

2. Perez (Finally the Perez of last season is back)

1) Grosjean
2) Massa

1. Grosjean
2. Massa

1. The Fly
2. Grosjean

1. Grosjean
2. The fly. Never forget.

1. Grosjean
2. Perez

Honourable mention to Massa as well

1) Grosjean
2) Vettel

Massa: Finally a good drive
Grosjean: 14 places up
SEBASTIAN VETTELLLLLLLLLLLLL - Nuff said

good_Ralf wrote:1) Grosjean
2) Vettel

I wouldn't exactly call Vettel's performance improbable given the pace advantage that Red Bull have had this weekend - the fact that Webber was 4th in qualifying whilst using a compound about a second slower over a single lap than the soft tyre indicates that they both had it fairly easy this weekend.

Grosjean's performance, to my mind, is more remarkable, especially given the length of the stint that he ran on those tyres towards the end of the race (longer, incidentally, than Pirelli was recommending that the teams should use a single set of tyres for). The fact that he was able to continue putting in good lap times and hold off Massa in the closing stages despite being on older tyres - and taking the third podium in a row to boot - looks like it will validate Boullier's decision to retain Grosjean for 2014 and hopefully boost his confidence in the closing races.
As an aside, I can imagine that there might be some very choice words used by the team bosses when talking with Kimi about that defensive move against Grosjean though - they were already telling him to "get out of the ******* way" (according to Kravitz) because they were worried about Massa passing Grosjean.

Speaking of Massa, I feel that he deserves some recognition for his race too - he was continually under pressure from both Mercedes drivers, and whilst Rosberg eventually got past on strategy (having tried, and failed, to pass him on track) he managed to keep Hamilton behind him. If ever there was a time when putting in a decent drive like that would count, now is the time - it might give him that little more leverage in his negotiations for 2014.

Perez also had a very respectable race too (Ataxia, from what I have seen the reason why Button couldn't pull off the same move was because he was forced into an early extra stop because of a puncture) - it might take some of the heat out of the criticism of him and there were some nice passing moves by him in the later stages. If he can keep up that sort of measured and judicious performance for the next few races, that too might see his negotiating position with McLaren strengthening.

1. Grosjean
2. Perez

Have I missed something about The Fly?

Another easy task this weekend

1)Romain Grosjean: Screwed by the team on QF, but pulling an impressive drive that wins a well deserved podium. What a change from the First Lap Nut of last year!

2)Sergio Perez: Checo made the people who asked for the tire managment Sauber driver of last year eat humble pie with a great run to help a lesser Mclaren to win that 5th place in the WCC, and made senior colegue and former WDC Jenson Button look really ordinary.

Honorable mentions to Sebastian Vettel (finally a champion that celebrates like a champion!) and Force India (silent run to the points and back to the fight against Sauber)

The Clash of the Titans Award goes to Sergio Perez, for the double wham against Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton

1) Perez - For once he didn't crash into people during wheel to wheel racing. And had an actually great race
2) Massa - Great start. Good pace. And did manage to finish in a position better than the one he started. Can't recall the last time that happened!

Massa
Grosjean

1. Sergio Pérez: After a few disappointing races, getting his (and McLaren's) best result of the season was a great answer to all the criticism. Too bad he didn't get a podium.
2. Romain Grosjean: Impressive drive from 17th to 3rd.

1. Sergio Perez
2. Nico Rosberg

1. Obviously Sergio Perez. Slightly disappointed he didn't get on the podium but fifth place is quite good as well.

2. Felipe Massa - led after a few laps and did much better than Alonso!! Great drive from him.

Sebastian Vettel gets an honourary mention - anyone who gets six (!!!!) straight victories and wins four straight titles gets gold stars in my book.

HML Massa; Vettel
2. Pérez
1. ROMAIN GROSJEAN

1: Grosjean
2: Vettel's Celebration

1) Grosjean
2) Perez

1 Grosjean- What a drive what more can I say- The man in form
2 Perez- May have just saved his seat

1) Romain Grosjean
2) Sergio Perez
Honorable mention) Felipe Massa

1. Pérez. Seriously, 5th in this year's McLaren.
2. Grosjean. Seriously, 17th to 3rd.

2. Romain Grosjean. 17th to 3rd very impressive on a circuit like Buddh.

1. The New Delhi crowd. No booing, and supportive of the burnout! Impressed!

Grosjean - drove so well even Raikkonen was rattled enough to force him off track.
Vettel - for not cruising, for not doing just enough to pick up some points, but for attacking the race weekend as if anything less than first would've cost him the championship.

1. Grosjean - for the length of the stint and the sheer number of places made up.
2. Perez - for fighting (not cruising) up to 5th

Forgot to count it Still on time before the Aba Dabby GP ends

1. Romain Grosjean - 232 pts
2. Sergio Perez - 110 pts
3. Felipe Massa - 40 pts
4. Sebastian Vettel - 34 pts
5. The fly - 26 pts
6. The New Delhi Crowd - 10 pts
7. Nico Rosberg - 6 pts
= Vettel's celebration - 6 pts