The Official Japanese GP Thread 2012 ***SPOILERS***

[S0 What]

Mojocvh said:

So it had nothing to do with the brush with the wall then

B on Topic

This has all the hallmarks of a being a GREAT race!

I doubt it, if it did have something to do with the contact with the wall Button wouldn't be having the same problem would he ?

[MGJohn]

Just pulled up this list of Odds from one of the on-line bookies.

9/4 Lewis Hamilton

4/1 Sebastian Vettel

5/1 Jenson Button

11/2 Fernando Alonso

9/1 Kimi Raikkonen

14/1 Romain Grosjean

16/1 Mark Webber

33/1 Pastor Maldonado

33/1 Sergio Perez

40/1 Nico Rosberg

50/1 Felipe Massa

66/1 Nico Hulkenberg

66/1 Paul Di Resta

80/1 Kamui Kobayashi

100/1 Michael Schumacher

250/1 Bruno Senna

500/1 Daniel Ricciardo

500/1 Jean-Eric Vergne

2500/1 Heikki Kovalainen

2500/1 Vitaly Petrov

5000/1 Charles Pic

5000/1 Narain Karthikeyan

5000/1 Pedro de la Rosa

5000/1 Timo Glock

1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3

I have highlighted what I see as an anomaly ~ the differing odds for the two Mercedes drivers. In most of the last few races, at this stage before even any Practice runs, they were approximately around the same odds. Not now. No less than a 60 point difference this time... I wonder what the bookies know that I/we do not ...

I believe Button may have a five place 'gearbox' penalty. If that is true, I'd want rather more than a skinny 5-1 for a Button win....

[Sofoklis]

S0 What said:

Mojocvh said:

So it had nothing to do with the brush with the wall then

B on Topic

This has all the hallmarks of a being a GREAT race!

I doubt it, if it did have something to do with the contact with the wall Button wouldn't be having the same problem would he ?

A lot has been made with the brush with the wall. I say its a load of bollogni. Lewis simply kissed the wall on the penultimate corner during qualifying. The tyre and or rim should have absorbed that kind of impact without affecting any gearbox internals. Compare the Lewis incident with that of Mark Webber. He had a much heavier collision with the wall on turn 18. Nothing happened to Webbers car did it? Carbon gearbox casing are not as robust as the magnesium type and its very easy and common for an internal bearing to machine itself through part of the inner casing and cause a failure.

[IainT]

Sofoklis said:

S0 What said:

Mojocvh said:

So it had nothing to do with the brush with the wall then

B on Topic

This has all the hallmarks of a being a GREAT race!

I doubt it, if it did have something to do with the contact with the wall Button wouldn't be having the same problem would he ?

A lot has been made with the brush with the wall. I say its a load of bollogni.

You're missing the fundamental point - it was Lewis' car and therefore the blame must somehow be on Lewis...

[oyster]

MGJohn said:

Just pulled up this list of Odds from one of the on-line bookies.

9/4 Lewis Hamilton

4/1 Sebastian Vettel

5/1 Jenson Button

11/2 Fernando Alonso

9/1 Kimi Raikkonen

14/1 Romain Grosjean

16/1 Mark Webber

33/1 Pastor Maldonado

33/1 Sergio Perez

40/1 Nico Rosberg

50/1 Felipe Massa

66/1 Nico Hulkenberg

66/1 Paul Di Resta

80/1 Kamui Kobayashi

100/1 Michael Schumacher

250/1 Bruno Senna

500/1 Daniel Ricciardo

500/1 Jean-Eric Vergne

2500/1 Heikki Kovalainen

2500/1 Vitaly Petrov

5000/1 Charles Pic

5000/1 Narain Karthikeyan

5000/1 Pedro de la Rosa

5000/1 Timo Glock

1/5 Odds Place 1,2,3

I have highlighted what I see as an anomaly ~ the differing odds for the two Mercedes drivers. In most of the last few races, at this stage before even any Practice runs, they were approximately around the same odds. Not now. No less than a 60 point difference this time... I wonder what the bookies know that I/we do not ...

I believe Button may have a five place 'gearbox' penalty. If that is true, I'd want rather more than a skinny 5-1 for a Button win....

10 place grid penalty for MSC from the collision with Verge in Singapore.

[rupert the dog]

I'm going to stay at my daughter's this weekend (catsitting!), and she doesn't have Sky F1. Is this a live BBC race? Thanks

[TheHeretic]

rupert the dog said:

I'm going to stay at my daughter's this weekend (catsitting!), and she doesn't have Sky F1. Is this a live BBC race? Thanks

Highlights on the BBC, although there are ways to watch live. PM for details if interested.

[ewenm]

rupert the dog said:

I'm going to stay at my daughter's this weekend (catsitting!), and she doesn't have Sky F1. Is this a live BBC race? Thanks

No, highlights only on BBC TV. However, see above...

[MGJohn]

oyster said:

10 place grid penalty for MSC from the collision with Verge in Singapore.

Ahah ~ yes, thanks Oyster.

That'll teach him to go racing with his foot down and eyes closed ...

Whatever next .... some say he should have had a thirty place grid penalty...

I thought ten was sufficiently severe ... too severe spoiling things actually. Last time he had a grid penalty he stuck it on Pole.

[FloppyRaccoon]

I see there's talk that Mclaren and Red Bull are being investigated over flexible front wings. Apparently Ferrari found out and complained. I do hope nothing comes of it, if it's true.

[Mini1275]

FloppyRaccoon said:

I see there's talk that Mclaren and Red Bull are being investigated over flexible front wings. Apparently Ferrari found out couldn't get theirs to work and complained. I do hope nothing comes of it, if it's true.

[A911DOM]

The main thing for me is that Lewis plays a team game and doesn't dupe any potential for the team as a whole or for Jenson to make some progress this season - thus making next season that bit easier financially and with pit position etc.

I was surprised that Lewis decided to leave in the end, especially in light of Martin Whitmarsh's comments relating to the pay offer made...

The only thing I can think that might have tipped the balance for him was the Mercedes factory engine part of the deal (other than the personal financial package and having to do less corporate work probably) - How will Mclaren get along once the Merc engine is a customer unit???

Anyway - back to this race:

Qual:
1. Jenson (starting 6th following penalty)
2. Lewis
3. Alonso
4. Vettel (Ive included 4th as 1st could be irrelevant with penalties etc)

Result:

1. Lewis
2. Vettel
3. Button
4. Alonso

Would love to see Button storm through the pack and lead the Mclaren team to a constructors win this year, cant see anyone catching Alonso (except maybe Vettel.... or Lewis.....or Kimi......)

[Sofoklis]

IainT said:

Sofoklis said:

S0 What said:

Mojocvh said:

So it had nothing to do with the brush with the wall then

B on Topic

This has all the hallmarks of a being a GREAT race!

I doubt it, if it did have something to do with the contact with the wall Button wouldn't be having the same problem would he ?

A lot has been made with the brush with the wall. I say its a load of bollogni.

You're missing the fundamental point - it was Lewis' car and therefore the blame must somehow be on Lewis...

I think everybody is missing the point here. Yes Lewis had a minor brush with the wall but there was no impact sustained to any of the internal gearbox components. The gearbox failed for other reasons which had nothing to do with the contact with the wall.

[TheHeretic]

Hence Button's having the same issue. Sounds like a manufacturing, or stress induced issue.

Edited by TheHeretic on Wednesday 3rd October 21:57

[vonuber]

I suspect Vettel will close the gap significantly to Alonso this race. I think Vettel will be WDC.

[Steamer]

Not that I'm slightly interested in 'Celeb gossip' but I just noticed Lewis & Nicole sound like they have split again:

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/10/03/nicole-...

Did'nt Lewis go all sulky and stroppy last time? (or was that when he got really focused and started putting it on pole again?)

Either way - I'm sure it will have a knock on effect

[CiderwithCerbie]

Steamer said:

Not that I'm slightly interested in 'Celeb gossip' but I just noticed Lewis & Nicole sound like they have split again:

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/10/03/nicole-...

Did'nt Lewis go all sulky and stroppy last time? (or was that when he got really focused and started putting it on pole again?)

Either way - I'm sure it will have a knock on effect

Very glad LH took my advice I am sure it will help rather than hinder
Now just needs to find himself a nice strict fraulein...

AS for shirtslinger moving to London - the UK's capital just took another downturn in class!

[Nick1point9]

vonuber said:

I suspect Vettel will close the gap significantly to Alonso this race. I think Vettel will be WDC.

I too think he will be WDC. Which in my opinion is a shame; 3 consecutive titles is a very small club and would (statistically speaking) raise him above the likes of Senna, Prost, Stewart, Alonso in some people's eyes.

[TheHeretic]

Nick1point9 said:

I too think he will be WDC. Which in my opinion is a shame; 3 consecutive titles is a very small club and would (statistically speaking) raise him above the likes of Senna, Prost, Stewart, Alonso in some people's eyes.

If he did win it this year, would he not deserve it?

[Life Saab Itch]

TheHeretic said:

If he did win it this year, would he not deserve it?

It will be seen as his best title if he does win it.


I still reckon that Alonso will take it though.