[speedmiester]

The weather is going to play a very crucial role in this championship decider.
Forecast for Friday seems clear which will be very helpful for all the teams to test the new prototype rubber for 2013.
Chances for rain is at 30% for Saturday and will coincide with the qualifying timings. This will let the cat amongst the pigeons. It will be a battle of nerves for all the top teams concerned and especially for Ferrari and Red Bull.

Here's the clincher, there is a 100% chance of Rain along with thunderstorms forecast for Sunday.

So everyone gather enough snacks and pray for your favorite team and driver.
Spare some prayer for your beloved deity and pray that there is no washout and we get to see a great race and a fitting end to a great season of racing.

[SilentEngine]

My bet is on this race being an anti climax with an Alonso DNF and Vettel running away with it.

[mayankk]

Originally Posted by SilentEngine

My bet is on this race being an anti climax with an Alonso DNF and Vettel running away with it.

Hammy Buay!!
OR/and button on podium too!
Bets are laid down.


And I am sure there's gonna be some scripted drama towards the fag end, you wait!

[Harshal.Bhosale]

I just want to see whether Felipe outperforms Alonso in his home race.

Seb for pole, Hammy for win again. As for the rest, let the weather play it out.

[KiloAlpha]

You said it right ... let the weather play it out! Check this out. Anyone who does not stay up to watch the race is surely going to regret it. I predict a repeat of 2003.

[Harshal.Bhosale]

Looks like Hamilton's ready to lead from the start! FP1 was too close with Vettel, but FP2 saw our Hammy boy increase the gap to him. Of course, all of this is useless if the weather gods decide to wreak havoc!

Hope the same weather conditions persist at least in tomorrow's FP3 and Qualifying sessions.

Originally Posted by PAVAN KADAM

I have seen that losing side in Michael and he has handled loss better than anyone in the pack right now. But Alonso ace's Vettel in showing disgust after losing.

True about 'Nando. He's the archetypal stoic-face. I've rarely seen him smile at all this season. Of course, that could very well be put down to sheer, single-minded determination to get the WDC. Regarding Schumi, well, he's the most mature of the current lot (has to be, obviously!), and more so I believe he'd come to accept the fact that winning was not possible with that car. That's why he has handled it pretty well.

Originally Posted by KiloAlpha

Anyone who does not stay up to watch the race is surely going to regret it.

Don't see why anyone would miss it, race starts at 9.30pm right?

[D33-PAC]

A little off topic, but still somewhat relevant with Shumacher's saga being seen in retrospect.

I've always wondered what it would be like to see Ayrton Senna in an HRT, being that driver skill matters more quite a bit.

But having following F1 only for 4.5ish years now, I've realized that in F1 it is literally the car or nothing.

When Shumacher declared his return to F1, many including me, assumed he would teach "the kids" a lesson... but things obviously didn't go well for the champion extraordinaire.

So basically, isn't it more or less true that if the driver sucks, the car sucks ? And the vice-versa too; that any guy getting pole after pole is not some god?

Sure driver skill can help, a second at max maybe, but beyond that, I just think it's a brute fact that the machine makes the guy and not so much the other way around?

[Harshal.Bhosale]

F1 is always competed in levels. The frontrunners have their battle, the mid field has theirs, and the struggling backmarkers have their own fights. What I mean is when one looks at the whole 24-car grid, it seems that the machine rules. But the actual 'driver battles' are fought only in their respective 'car-competency' category.

So we have the top 4 - RBR, McLaren, Lotus and Ferrari in one category, where all cars being sufficiently upto speed, it becomes then a battle of driving skills. Same for HRT and Caterham. They are in their own world, teammate vs teammate, HRT against Caterham etc. They can't obviously compete with the top guns as their class itself is different. (And that, btw, is something that could improve marginally over the years if dear old Bernie manages to restrict the big-team budgets.)

The more modern F1 is becoming, the dependence on tech-wizardry is increasing. And that's where the FIA has to strike a fine balance: keeping the sport technically advanced while at the same time having the reins in the drivers' hands. Otherwise a time may come in F1 when we'll no longer require drivers in the car; the cars will be remotely driven!

[neerajpv87]

Hamilton's helmet for the weekend.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by SilentEngine

My bet is on this race being an anti climax with an Alonso DNF and Vettel running away with it.

Favourite drivers & teams aside, I sure pray this does NOT happen.

For the sake of good racing & entertainment for us fans, I'm hoping there is absolute W-A-R between Vettel & Alonso, right up to the final lap. As much as it is unlikely, I would give anything to see these two fabulous drivers starting 1-2 or 2-3.

The last 2 exciting races kept us on our toes throughout, and it's great for the sport too. A DNF for either driver means the entertainment quotient went down by 99%.

May the best man win. Let the battle begin this evening

[rk206]

Slightly Off topic:

I don't know if one can call me an Alonso fan , I most certainly wouldn't myself. Reason: He was too whiny when he was at Mclaren and the same goes for Lewis too. He used to be a cry baby earlier.

Lewis is very sombre now and although he has always been brilliantly quick since his debut, I have always appreciated and respected that from afar ( Presently, that distance is reducing, I have wanted him to win a couple of times this season)

but I see Alonso in a different light now, I respect him now (there was never any doubt regarding his talent)

Apart from this year's championship being the best one in ages (as far as I can remember), it has already made Alonso one of the most respected drivers in everybody's eyes (his peers, race teams, fans). I'm sure he'd rather take the championship, but he's won a lot more this season.

ON The race:

Realistically, I don't see Alonso winning the championship and everybody would agree. Because even if Alonso wins, we have to look at the possibility of three other drivers beating Seb. Possible candidates : Massa, Lewis, Kimi (Webber won't be allowed to overtake Seb, I somehow can't see Button beating Seb anywhere). Somehow, can't see that happening. Kimi's car was badly balanced yesterday; Lewis will most likely beat Seb and although Massa was good yesterday, can't see him beating Seb

I see Lewis winning the race and Alonso taking second. One can obviously rely on Red Bull's alternator for deciding the championship. But I think just to be sure, Massa should take Vettel out while coming out of the round of pit stops. ( I'm kidding, don't shoot me)


Enjoy the Race, Guys ! Hopefully, it will be as good as the year


P.S. Trust an Indian to send in a question to send a question to espnstar.com asking "Kitna deti hai ?" / "What is the fuel economy of the F1 car?" ( I don't have a problem with a question, it was just so stereotypical that I couldn't stop laughing for 5 mins )

[sa_kiran]

And here is schumacher's helmet for the farewell race.

[akshay380]

Originally Posted by D33-PAC

A little off topic, but still somewhat relevant with Shumacher's saga being seen in retrospect.

I've always wondered what it would be like to see Ayrton Senna in an HRT, being that driver skill matters more quite a bit.

But having following F1 only for 4.5ish years now, I've realized that in F1 it is literally the car or nothing.

When Shumacher declared his return to F1, many including me, assumed he would teach "the kids" a lesson... but things obviously didn't go well for the champion extraordinaire.

So basically, isn't it more or less true that if the driver sucks, the car sucks ? And the vice-versa too; that any guy getting pole after pole is not some god?

Sure driver skill can help, a second at max maybe, but beyond that, I just think it's a brute fact that the machine makes the guy and not so much the other way around?

Actually in older days, it was more about driver skill then car. Manual shifting, very less aero, fragile engines and GB etc etc so driver had to manage all that. Also F1 back then was way less restricted. Now we have parc ferme rules which do not let them change setup freely and most importantly, F1 now is about conserving tires, fuel and engine. There was a very nice article about why MS couldnt succeed in 2nd career explaining rule changes in F1 which hurt aggressive drivers badly. My 2p

[speedmiester]

The third practice is underway with button and vettel leading the times and according to the weather forecast the rain might stay away during the qualifying.
This might teams change their strategy for the qualifying and the race itself.

[zenren]

Blown engine on Kimi's car; I guess he spoke a little too early about the reliability of his Lotus!

Ferrari and Alonso could be wishing its an issue with 'all' the Renault engines.

Any idea if Kimi already used 8 engines this season and when his gearbox was last changed? Would be an interesting call on getting him ready for qualifying if he is anyways looking at a 10 place grid penalty. They can try to set it up for wet conditions and start the race from the pit lane. He already has a 1:15.371 time in FP2 that would fall within the 107%.