THE OFFICIAL JAPANESE GP THREAD WITH SPOILERS UNDER CONTRACT

[kevin ritson]

Alonso says he's staying. Lewis has had enough. Jean Todt still isn't happy. And the Japanese race is at the wrong circuit.

Anyway, seeing as practice happens before most of us get up tomorrow, who's going to be fast, will the twisty infield help McLaren and will we see a decisive championship move from either of the two contending teams? Will Toyota benefit from their home circuit? Place your predictions...

[FourWheelDrift]

Not sure about the top teams but I predict a good mid field run for Sutil again in the new Spyker. He's the only driver to have raced around the Fuji circuit (F3 last year) and with a car that at last has some go in it he'll be showing up the Japanese brands.

[g4ry13]

But will Ron want him staying? If they haven't spoken in months, what sort of working relationship is that? He may be a damn good driver, but team managers still need to be able to speak with drivers.

Think Ferrari could spring another result on Mclaren this weekend.

[coetzeeh]

g4ry13 said:

But will Ron want him staying? If they haven't spoken in months, what sort of working relationship is that?

May Ron is leaving...

[andye30m3]

kevin ritson said:

Jean Todt still isn't happy. ...

Don't think Jean Todt will be happy until ferrari are the only team aloud engines, I saw in autosport that he wanted the driver points taken away as well.

Edited by andye30m3 on Thursday 27th September 16:56

[Piglet]

[lazy mode] can someone confirm when the race coverage starts on Sunday morning? [/lazy mode]

[Marc W]

4:30am . The qualifying is live on ITV3 at 5:30am on Saturday.

Edited by Marc W on Thursday 27th September 20:29

[woof]

Japanese Grand Prix on ITV

Live qualifying Saturday 29 September 0530-0720 ITV3

Qualifying re-run Saturday 29 September 1000-1120 ITV1

Live race Sunday 30 September 0430-0735 ITV1

Race re-run Sunday 30 September 1130-1330 ITV1

The track will suit Mclaren - so it's between Alonso and Hamilton and i reckon Hamilton will edge it - if he does, then I think the championship will be his

footnote - thinking about going to Madrid next week - so shall be watching it in a bar somewhere with a packed room of Alonso fans - dare i wear my Hamilton top - LOL !

[Piglet]

Thank you muchly

[FourWheelDrift]

Marc W said:

4:30am

Race starts at 5:30am. Sat qualifying starts at 6am UK times. http://www.formula1.com/ (click convert to local time)

Unusually the only race of the year IIRC that doesn't start on the hour.

[woof]

FourWheelDrift said:

Marc W said:

4:30am

Race starts at 5:30am. Sat qualifying starts at 6am UK times. http://www.formula1.com/ (click convert to local time)

Unusually the only race of the year IIRC that doesn't start on the hour.

that 5.30 start is odd - caught me out a few years ago
wonder why - time for a google !

[mmm-five]

Great, so that means an 8:30 start for me on Saturday

Now, how do I get ITV3 in Moscow?

[AlexS]

The race starting at an earlier time than the qualifying is odd as well.

[woof]

Looks like the Ferrari boys are already looking at pushing the rule limits - can't see them getting it through scrutineeing

[woof]

2007 FORMULA 1™ Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix

Pos No Driver Team Time/Retired
1 2 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:18.734
2 1 Fernando Alonso McLaren-Mercedes 1:18.948
3 5 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:19.483
4 12 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:19.711
5 6 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:19.714
6 4 Heikki Kovalainen Renault 1:19.789
7 3 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 1:19.926
8 14 David Coulthard Red Bull-Renault 1:19.949
9 11 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 1:19.969
10 10 Robert Kubica BMW 1:20.069
11 15 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:20.069
12 17 Alexander Wurz Williams-Toyota 1:20.233
13 16 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:20.270
14 7 Jenson Button Honda 1:20.336
15 9 Nick Heidfeld BMW 1:20.462
16 20 Adrian Sutil Spyker-Ferrari 1:20.736
17 8 Rubens Barrichello Honda 1:20.889
18 18 Vitantonio Liuzzi STR-Ferrari 1:20.985
19 19 Sebastian Vettel STR-Ferrari 1:20.997
20 23 Anthony Davidson Super Aguri-Honda 1:21.007
21 21 Sakon Yamamoto Spyker-Ferrari 1:21.305
22 22 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 1:21.352

Edited by woof on Friday 28th September 09:40

[BoRED S2upid]

coetzeeh said:

g4ry13 said:

But will Ron want him staying? If they haven't spoken in months, what sort of working relationship is that?

May Ron is leaving...

I would be suprised if he doesn't get pushed. How much has he cost McLaren this season!.

[zac510]

Anyone seen any TV footage yet? What does the track look like on the box?

[castrolcraig]

BoRED S2upid said:

coetzeeh said:

g4ry13 said:

But will Ron want him staying? If they haven't spoken in months, what sort of working relationship is that?

May Ron is leaving...

I would be suprised if he doesn't get pushed. How much has he cost McLaren this season!.

alonso will be lucky to stay and no one can even suggest ron leaving at the end of the season.......

ron built the team and mcmerc would not be where they are if it wasnt for rd, i for one fel that the evidence given to the fia did not even prove the ip was even used in the design of the mcmerc let alone by senior team personnel, alas i beleive as many others do that rd's integrity has only been boosted by this debacle.
Roll on LH winning the title i say and shoving the trophy down alonsos throat on his way out of the door...

[waynepixel]

If it was me, I would be handing alonso his P45.

[JonRB]

Much as I enjoy the Live Timing and our customary real-time PH thread during the race, I think I'll be watching this race time-shifted to a more godly hour like, say, 8am.