[Race] 2017 FORMULA 1 JAPANESE GRAND PRIX

[Peter Mallett]

Will there be gratings? Will Vettel and Stroll avoid each other? Will there be some overtaking? Who will be the frst to hit the wall at Turn 9?

Do we care?

Over to you................................

[GORDON STREETER]

It's probably worth putting a bet on Vettel/Verstappen/Raikkonen as to whether they have a first corner (or lap) "incident" !!!

[S griffin]

I had a dream the other day that Hamilton and Vettel were on the front row in that order, then Vettel bogged down at the start and Kimi had a coming together with the other Mercedes of Rosberg(!) and ended up rolling through the first bend

[Peter Mallett]

Delusional.

[rpolinski]

Only one thing is certain, Vettel to complain about something.

[wnut]

One of the most challenging circuits of the year.

Question is, are the Mercs going to sandbag this one too, or is everyone going to come to the race?

The championship is now Lewis' to lose, steady from here will ensure the WDC for him.

The Max Vettel dynamic is a tad more complex.

[Armco Bender]

Rain...

[F1Guy]

Originally Posted by Armco Bender

Rain...

Oh dear... how did the Ferrari drivers go in the rain compared to when it was dry?

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

Oh dear... how did the Ferrari drivers go in the rain compared to when it was dry?

Far too cryptic for me! Especially as Ferrari, like most other teams, didn't even attempt to set any times as the weather was so atrocious. I suppose that next you will be saying that Bottas was slow as well because he didn't even bother to get in the car, let alone venture out on track.

[F1Guy]

Bottas was slow.

[S griffin]

I see Sainz has crashed and has immediately held his hands up. Glad that car was repaired in time for FP2

[F1Guy]

Dear Mr Fernando Alonso,

I have not been too pleased with your comments in regards to our engine in the recent history of our partnership. Your comments have done much damage to Honda's reputation around the world, and especially, here in Honda's home country of Japan.

So, in light of this, I took it upon myself many months ago to reserve a special spot for you on the grid when you were in Japan. Say hello to the very back of the grid Mr Alonso. Enjoy your race!

Best regards,

Masashi Yamamoto.
General Manager, Honda motorsport

[F1Guy]

*Tin hat on*

Hmmm.. so Raikkonen needs a new gearbox because of his brush with the padded barrier in FP3, but Vettel doesn't need a new gearbox after ripping off his left rear wheel and suspension off his car in Malaysia??

Interesting.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

*Tin hat on*

Hmmm.. so Raikkonen needs a new gearbox because of his brush with the padded barrier in FP3, but Vettel doesn't need a new gearbox after ripping off his left rear wheel and suspension off his car in Malaysia??

Interesting.

Quite simple really.
Vettel's axle was pulled out of the box - causing no internal damage.
Raikkonen's axle was pushed in to the box - causing internal damage.

Not sure what the tin hat would be needed for???

[Kempi]

For getting the right background to one‘s alternative facts. Remember, Mercedes also has nothing on Ferrari (except maybe the faster car, as shown by a 1—2 in quali). .

[wnut]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

Dear Mr Fernando Alonso,

I have not been too pleased with your comments in regards to our engine in the recent history of our partnership. Your comments have done much damage to Honda's reputation around the world, and especially, here in Honda's home country of Japan.

So, in light of this, I took it upon myself many months ago to reserve a special spot for you on the grid when you were in Japan. Say hello to the very back of the grid Mr Alonso. Enjoy your race!

Best regards,

Masashi Yamamoto.
General Manager, Honda motorsport

Dear Mr. Yamamoto

I am disappointed that your promised upgrade for Japan will not arrive in time for the race. Sadly I am all too familiar with the back of the grid since Honda joined McLaren as an engine partner.

Business as usual!

Yours cordially

F. Alonso

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Kempi

For getting the right background to one‘s alternative facts. Remember, Mercedes also has nothing on Ferrari (except maybe the faster car, as shown by a 1—2 in quali). .

Mercedes didn't qualify 1-2, they were 1 and 6 because of Bottas' gear box penalty, with Ferrari 2 and 10.

The actual GP is at 6am tomorrow morning. I'd like to watch it but that's earlier than I get up during the working week. I will have to think about it.

[Kempi]

I am aware of that. Nevertheless they set the two fastest times.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Kempi

I am aware of that. Nevertheless they set the two fastest times.

That they did.

[peebee2]

Actually they did qualify 1-2. The grid isn’t just set by qualifying though.

[TF110]

Looks like their upgrades worked... or was it track temps? In the cooler weather, the Mercedes comes alive. In the heat, the Ferrari (and RB sometimes) seem to be a lot better.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Missed the start. Lulu's leading but Vettel is out, so it looks like his bid for the championship is well and truly over.

[Articus]

have also missed the start, what happened to Vettel?

edit: spark plug failure for Vettel?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Articus

have also missed the start, what happened to Vettel?

edit: spark plug failure for Vettel?

According to BBC Radio 5 Live, Vettel started dropping back through the field on lap 2 and they thought it was due to no hybrid power, so Ferrari told him to pit on lap 5.

[Articus]

Well then! Hoping Red Bull can stir up some trouble. Keep it from becoming a procession...