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 JEV'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 the 17th October

1. Nico Rosberg
2. Vladimir Putin

1. Esteban Gutierrez
Wasn't a stooge for once.

2. Marcus Ericsson
Did something.

1. Takagi_for_the_win: I went for a night on the pull last night. I drank A LOT of alcohol. I got into bed at half 4 and fell asleep at half 5. My little brother promptly woke me at 8 in the morning. As such, staying awake through that race under my circumstances deserves some recognition.

2. Ummm... Vergne: Too good to be left without an F1 future.

1. Marcus Ericsson - Managed to make things happen with that Caterham for a while.
2. Vladimir Putin - For a lack of other options for this award really...

1st: Nico Rosberg in his burn from the stern
2nd: Marcus Lelricsson in his anonymity

1. Nico Rosberg. One (admittedly large) mistake, then a perfect drive from there.
2. Esteban Gutiérrez. I wanted to see what would happen if he went to the end, just to see him get the banhammer from the FIA.
HM. Marcus Ericsson. Brilliant qualifying session and solid pace early on.

1. Putin
2. ...Rosberg?

1. Rosberg
2. Putin? I guess first ever head of state I can remember to present the trophy and also seemed less awkward than Bernie.

1. Kevin Magnussen - Negated his grid penalty by the end of lap 1.
2. Sergio Perez - Held off Massa while saving fuel... how does that even?

1)Marcus Ericsson: 3 races in a row he has beaten the Stooge 4 (for the cars)

2)Esteban Gutiérrez: Closer than ever to score, and the fact that he's pulling that dog of a car speak lots for him

Honorable mention to Valteri Bottas: Seems like the only one that wanted to push today

This weekend will be no Clash of the Titans Award since we got no battles at all

Salamander wrote:1. Kevin Magnussen - Negated his grid penalty by the end of lap 1.
2. Sergio Perez - Held off Massa while saving fuel... how does that even?

Have to go with these two.
1. Magnussen because it was a good effort for the team all around, and Magnussen because he came from a grid penalty into the points for a good drive.
2. Perez because a good clean race, did much better than the higher qualifying Toro Rossos.

1) McLaren: Magnussen was a bit more impressive thanks to rising from 11th to 5th but the whole team did well and more importantly, they got a bit of a cap to Force India with this race.

2) I can´t really think anyone else who did really well but I give this to Nico Rosberg because of his great recovery even if he was put into that situation because of his own mistake.

Honorable mention:
Marcus Ericsson: Good qualifying was followed with good race even if he ended up last anyway. Too bad that Chilton and Kobayashi were out so early as that makes it hard for me to compare his performance to anyone else and that´s why I eventually decided to nominate Rosberg over Eriksson.

1 Rosberg
2 Ericsson

1. Ericsson
2. Putin

McLaren - For once they looked genuinely competitive
Ericsson - Steadily improving, and it's showing

Magnussen: Great job after the grid penalty.
Ericsson: For putting a more decent race than usual.

1. Marcus Ericsson. He's just puzzling me - did he suddenly find his talent box he's been searching for throughout his career?
2. Valtteri Bottas

1. Kevin Magnussen: Impressive recovery from an undeservedly weak grid position.
2. Nico Rosberg: Never expected him to get a podium in those circumstances. Easily his best drive this year.

1. McLaren (the team overall)
2. Perez for holding off Massa with low fuel.

1) Rosberg, for the recovery drive.
2) Perez, for getting another point even though that car was rubbish and he was seemingly in fuel saving mode. He's outshining Hulk every week now.

1. Kevin Magnussen
- good pace all weekend long, had a penalty but recovered that too
2. Nico Rosberg
- Second place after that first-lap mistake was good result.

1) Rosberg - tyres might have been bullet proof but he still had to make such a strategy work, not seen that since 2010

2) Magnussen - Did really well off the start to recover from the grid and stay there whilst Alonso, Vettel and Ricciardo all failed

1st Putin
2nd Takagi_for_the_win

nothing else of note really

solarcold wrote:1. Marcus Ericsson. He's just puzzling me - did he suddenly find his talent box he's been searching for throughout his career?
2. Valtteri Bottas

Ditto this for me.

JEV for that early overtake.

Kvyat - That fifth place on the grid, ahead of both Red Bulls, was the most improbable thing I have seen in a long while.

Putin

.....and perhaps there might be a connection?

CGI Messages, the FIA actually managed to use it appropriately for once.

1. Rosberg, although after Hamilton's drive in Germany I shouldn't be surprised by a Mercedes coming from nowhere to the podium.
2. McLaren

takagi_for_the_win wrote:1. Takagi_for_the_win: I went for a night on the pull last night. I drank A LOT of alcohol. I got into bed at half 4 and fell asleep at half 5. My little brother promptly woke me at 8 in the morning. As such, staying awake through that race under my circumstances deserves some recognition.

Did you just get hammered or did you actually pull? If the latter, then I'm afraid that McLaren are going to have to step back and let you claim your rightful place on the podium.

EDIT - the stewards decision is in, takagi_for_the_win is now second, McLaren just not quite good enough on the day (or night before, as it were).

CoopsII - For watching all of it and almost convincing Mrs CoopsII that I was enjoying it.

Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin - For pulling his troops back from Rostov near the border of Ukraine.

See? The healing powers of F1.

Let's start with saying that I won't vote for Rosberg as his 'amazing' recovery was originated in another blunder from him.

My first nomination is for Sergio Perez for snatching the final point position while having to save fuel.

My second nomination goes to McLaren as they were back into podium contention following some lower points finishes.

My only nomination goes to Adrian Sutil for describing the Sochi track as a combination of Valencia, Singapore, Korea and Abu Dhabi - and thus successfully predicting how the race would turn out.

More_Blue_Flags wrote:

takagi_for_the_win wrote:1. Takagi_for_the_win: I went for a night on the pull last night. I drank A LOT of alcohol. I got into bed at half 4 and fell asleep at half 5. My little brother promptly woke me at 8 in the morning. As such, staying awake through that race under my circumstances deserves some recognition.

Did you just get hammered or did you actually pull? If the latter, then I'm afraid that McLaren are going to have to step back and let you claim your rightful place on the podium.

Nope, I pulled. Admittedly she was too drunk to function but it still counts

1. Rosberg: I thought he threw away the championship on the first lap, but his recovery drive kept him in contention.

2. McLaren: Solid run after their mid season shenanigans.

To me, it sounds pretty awkward to nominate Vladimir Putin to IIDOTR.

Why? Because it's Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race.

Putin didn't drive.

solarcold wrote:To me, it sounds pretty awkward to nominate Vladimir Putin to IIDOTR.

Why? Because it's Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race.

Putin didn't drive.

He didn't? Wasn't he the one of the yellow helmet in the Mercedes? I was pretty sure he was bound to take over from Hamilton in the race. Did you see Hamilton's face when the race was going on? I did not.

DanielPT wrote:

solarcold wrote:To me, it sounds pretty awkward to nominate Vladimir Putin to IIDOTR.

Why? Because it's Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race.

Putin didn't drive.

He didn't? Wasn't he the one of the yellow helmet in the Mercedes? I was pretty sure he was bound to take over from Hamilton in the race. Did you see Hamilton's face when the race was going on? I did not.

Oh man?
Okay I change my second nomination from Bottas to Putin.

Putin still doesn't beat Ericsson for me.

/// I'm afraid this is my last post on this forum. ///

solarcold wrote:/// I'm afraid this is my last post on this forum. ///

Why?

Oh, hang on, you won't answer that now.....

solarcold wrote:Oh man?
Okay I change my second nomination from Bottas to Putin.

Putin still doesn't beat Ericsson for me.

/// I'm afraid this is my last post on this forum. ///

Look mate, this award is never meant to be nor serious, neither offensive. There was a Korean GP when most of us went and voted the Jeep for the IIDOTR - it didn't win, but we had fun.

Shizuka wrote:

solarcold wrote:Oh man?
Okay I change my second nomination from Bottas to Putin.

Putin still doesn't beat Ericsson for me.

/// I'm afraid this is my last post on this forum. ///

Look mate, this award is never meant to be nor serious, neither offensive. There was a Korean GP when most of us went and voted the Jeep for the IIDOTR - it didn't win, but we had fun.

Ooh, THAT Jeep... Good old times! I remember that.