The Official Japanese GP Chat + Predictions

[SgtBhaji]

Was going to vote Hamilton, but if McCheater lose their flexi-wing advantage, Ferrari might have a chance to win.


EDIT: I can't wait for that press conference!

Didn't squeaky clean Ferrari have one of those last season?

 

[Di Resta is faster than u]

squeaky clean Ferrari

 

[Nazara]

Was going to vote Hamilton, but if McCheater lose their flexi-wing advantage, Ferrari might have a chance to win.


EDIT: I can't wait for that press conference!

The irony.

 

[Samurai]

I voted for Hamilton, but just have a feeling Kimi will do it.

 

[Delete Me]

The irony.

I love it Nazara! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Di Resta is faster than u]

McLaren being investigate for flexi-wings just sounds plain weird after 2010 and 2011. especially Red-Bull copying them

 

[Delete Me]

McLaren and RBR's ace is that technically it is "rotating" not bending.

Sorry Forza but I don't think the FIA can do anything here.

 

[Delete Me]

Rumour going about that Schumacher is retiring from F1.

Tom Wilkinson ‏@TomWilkinsonF1
#F1 Breaking News: Michael Schumacher is retiring for racing in #Formula1 but will remain at Mercedes-Benz in a support role. #TWF1

https://twitter.com/IrvineF1/status/253523299697577984

 

[BrightLampShade]

Finely balanced between 2 and 3 stops in Suzuka

Here’s something you might find interesting. The strategy for this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix looks quite finely balanced, with teams forced to decide whether to do two stops or three. And it looks like a weekend where saving a set of new set of soft tyres from qualifying might be worth doing (by doing one run only in Q2 and Q3)

Three stops is actually faster, as the graph below shows, but it requires the driver to pass the two stoppers in the final stint. If there is a safety car, it will hand an advantage to the two stoppers.

The green line below is based on starting on used softs and then taking a set of new softs (if you have one left) on lap 12 and then new hard tyres on laps 26 and 39. The fastest two stop option looks like being to stop on laps 14 and 34 for new hard tyres (black line)

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However if you do not save a set of new soft tyres from qualifying and you try to do a three stopper with used softs at the first stop you end up losing out to the two stoppers (green line below)

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It could be a good race for the Saubers and Lotus cars, if they can get extended tyre life, as they have at certain races this year. Time will tell.

 

[EternalMSC]

Rumour going about that Schumacher is retiring from F1.

Tom Wilkinson ‏@TomWilkinsonF1
#F1 Breaking News: Michael Schumacher is retiring for racing in #Formula1 but will remain at Mercedes-Benz in a support role. #TWF1

https://twitter.com/IrvineF1/status/253523299697577984

I don't understand why he would go somewhere he is not wanted.

 

[Samurai]

Interesting, I think Kimi could do it if it all works out for him

 

[Di Resta is faster than u]

Heh another Perez podium then? That would be a good way for him to celebrate his McLaren seat.

 

[di Fredsta!]

Got the last 2 right, lets go for Alonso

 

[Nazara]

Why has Basil Brushzenburger been banned?
Do any mods know why?

 

[EternalMSC]

Same reason as Bergkamp?

 

[Max Whiplash]

Why has Basil Brushzenburger been banned?
Do any mods know why?

Are you surprised? He's pretty antagonistic to say the least.

Incidentally, what did happen to Bergy? He always seemed like a decent sort to me.

 

[JonnyBaws]

Heh another Perez podium then? That would be a good way for him to celebrate his McLaren seat.

Now that he's off to McLaren, what's to stop him from helping his new team and talk points off others (if in a position to do so) whilst not challenging the McLaren's?

Going for a McLaren 1-2 (Hamilton win) here with a Lotus third..

 

[Max Whiplash]

Now that he's off to McLaren, what's to stop him from helping his new team and talk points off others (if in a position to do so) whilst not challenging the McLaren's?

Going for a McLaren 1-2 (Hamilton win) here with a Lotus third..

I never do this but I wouldn't be surprised to see a Hamilton, Pérez, Raikkonen podium.

 

[EternalMSC]

Sebastian Vettel, hopes Michael keeps racing : By Supersport.

Red Bull's German champion Sebastian Vettel is backing compatriot Michael Schumacher to stay in Formula One, even though the seven-time former world titleholder is out of contract at the end of the season.
Schumacher returned to F1 in 2010 after a four-year hiatus, but his Mercedes seat was last week handed to Britain's Lewis Hamilton, who was lured away from McLaren by the appeal of a fresh challenge.
Vettel, 25, says there should always be a place for the 43-year-old legend in the sport and he hopes Schumacher is offered a place by one of the other teams.
"He is the biggest name there is in Formula One," Vettel told German daily Bild.
"It is always fun to race against him and it would be great to see him again next year.
"I would be delighted, but that's Michael's decision and he must consider things."
Since Mercedes announced their decision not to extend his contract, Schumacher has been considering his future and he is clearly not short of options.
"Of course it would be a great idea, and it is certainly worth a thought, to sign a a seven-time world champion if he is free on the market," said Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn.
"But Michael has experience with several big teams who aren't comparable with us."
But Ferrari star Fernando Alonso believes Sauber's fast car would be a good fit for Schumacher.
"Schumi would have already won three races this year with Sauber," said the Spaniard, with Schumacher having finished just once on the podium in 2012.

 

[StoneRosesRam]

Hamilton, as McLaren should be good at this circuit, having said that my predictions have been pretty poor so far so I hope I have not cursed a possible McLaren win!