2014 Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka

[ScottB]

Did Lewis make a mistake in quali that I missed? .3s slower is quite a lot between those two.

DC commentated over a split screen of them both, Lewis seemed to be ahead until he lost speed before the run down to 130R, which pretty much cost him the pole.

I think neither of them seeming all that 'bothered' might be part of their agreement with the team - be civil and respectful in public etc. plus the obvious desire to be somber after the race today because of Bianchi.

[Moose]

Did Lewis make a mistake in quali that I missed? .3s slower is quite a lot between those two.

DC commentated over a split screen of them both, Lewis seemed to be ahead until he lost speed before the run down to 130R, which pretty much cost him the pole.

I think neither of them seeming all that 'bothered' might be part of their agreement with the team - be civil and respectful in public etc. plus the obvious desire to be somber after the race today because of Bianchi.

Do you have a link to the qually split screen?

[MOWOG]

I believe starting from 2nd is actually an advantage at Suzuka. Perhaps Lewis was more than a little pleased to be 2nd?

Just idle speculation on my part.

[Waywardism]

Yeah. Too early to say anything.

Maybe get back to the actual race. Impressive performance from Lewis Jenson and Seb today. Anyone thinking if Nico doesnt win in Russia, he's going to be in some trouble. The track should suit lewis, its like singapore in my opinion, so should suit lewis more than Nico

With a 10 point lead, IF we had another 1-2 in Hamilton's favour, the lead is 17 points. If my maths are right, a lead of 14 or more going to Abu Dhabi would be unbeatable? Assuming they finished 1-2 there anyway.

Personally I'd quite like the title resolved one way or the other before the final race, would hate the double points nonsense to be the deciding factor...

Imagine if Lewis lead a 1-2 at the next 3 races, taking a 31 point lead into Abu Dhabi only to suffer a mechanical DNF, whilst Nico finishes 1st or 2nd to take the title. He would have possibly the most hollow championship of all time.

In all likelyhood the only way for the title to be decided before Abu Dhabi is 2 DNFs for Rosberg or 3 for Hamilton. I don't really want to see that either.

I'm hoping that either A) they are within 7 points of each other after Brazil, or B) whoever is leading by more than 7 finishes ahead in Abu Dhabi.

[notsofast]

I'm hoping that either A) they are within 7 points of each other after Brazil, or B) whoever is leading by more than 7 finishes ahead in Abu Dhabi.

This.

[markn93]

Or c) if one is ahead by more than 14 they at least finish second so the double points does not affect the overall championship standings.

[Sevach]

He locked up at the hairpin, and said he "wasn't feeling it".

That wasn't a mistake that was his "normal" way to take that corner, he took the same line and had a small lockup every lap, the front of the car was still where he wanted.

[djos]

Agreed, e.g. give the driver 10 seconds to engage it himself, that would be very safe.

Wouldn't the driver then carry on at full pelt even through the yellow flag zone if it were less than ten seconds away, then only engage at the final moment?

Could always make it 5 seconds if 10 is too much time or even before entering a double yellow flag zone as a backup.

[Moose]

So, in the above scenario – Lewis wins 3 more races, and then retires from the final race with Nico winning, Lewis would have won the second most races in any season (11 races, Vettel and Schumacher have both won 13 in a season), while not winning the championship.

He would also smash the record for most races won in a season without winning the championship, at 11 (58%), the previous "best" being 7 (39% by Schumacher in 2006)

[SectorOne]

They had the same exact setup, this was confirmed by Nico.
Hamilton was just more adaptable to the conditions.

This, for a team is just incredible. To have two drivers able to run the same exact setup is a pretty solid advantage over teams with drivers that have vastly different preferences.

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A 1-2 in Russia and the WCC is in the bag, regardless of where Red Bull finishes.

[ScottB]

Sky reporting Bianchi is not breathing unaided, but there has been no second surgery.

[adrianjordan]

I believe starting from 2nd is actually an advantage at Suzuka. Perhaps Lewis was more than a little pleased to be 2nd?

Just idle speculation on my part.

You been watching Senna??

Was the first or second grid spot on the racing line side of the track?

[maestro272]

I'm sad to say this but Biachi's injuries and situation resembles the situation of Michael Schumacher. I really hope good news will appear. Something like he starts breathing unaided or so...

[aral]

They had the same exact setup, this was confirmed by Nico.
Hamilton was just more adaptable to the conditions.

This, for a team is just incredible. To have two drivers able to run the same exact setup is a pretty solid advantage over teams with drivers that have vastly different preferences.

-

A 1-2 in Russia and the WCC is in the bag, regardless of where Red Bull finishes.

thats odd! after quali, nico was asked if he had a wet set-up, and he said YES. hamilton was also asked the same question, and he said NO. so who was telling porkies? and then in the race, nico was suffering understeer, hamilton wasnt.

[Jolle]

For the Bianchi accident, I think we should separate the two big things that happened:
1. there was a big ass JCB in a place where a car could hit it
2. in a zone where there was double yellow long enough for the team to warn him, Bianchi slided off with quite a bit of speed.

with 1, maybe even lucky, if they had a big crane, he might have hit 2-3 marshals...
with 2, in my understanding, and what is the number one rule when you're a driver: respect the flags. If there was double yellow, did he slow down enough? did the other drivers slow down enough? did the team miss it? (maybe because it's a relative small team, I imagine that, for instance McLaren is right on the radio: Jenson, double yellow is sector 2)