Grand Prix 2011 Japanese Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

The championship is still alive!!!!!!!!!!! Okay that may be a bit over optomistic

Despite another crushing win by Vettel in Singapore, Buttons valiant second place ensures that the championship mathematically remains possible for the experienced Britain, but for him to take his second world title he requires Vettel to not finish in all the remain races and Button to win every race and to be honest there is as much chance of me winning the lottery.

Indeed, Button has had a strong 2011 and this would be more highlighted if it wasnt for the sheer dominance of Vettel who has taken a podium in every race apart from Germany. He has outperformed his beleagured team mate Hamilton who is under severe pressure from the media after another incident, this time with Massa who didn't take kindly to it and made his feelings clear after the race.

But at Ferrari they seem to be going through the motions after a great win at Silverstone, Alonso has strong drives without challenging and Massa is regularly in the middle of the points without ever challenging the podium, surely he'll be on the way out soon as he's not performing at a level that Ferrari require him to be if they want to be serious Constructors Champions in the future.

Big news at Mercedes as Aldo Costa and Geoff Willis have joined the team, with the team struggling (in comparison) since their return to the sport in 2010, these two signings might just get them back at the front in the near future and might convince Schumacher to extend his contract, Singapore aside, Schumacher's performances have been a lot better this season and at the very least he has matched Rosberg and perhaps there is still life in the old dog yet and the podium might not be too far away.

Japan has become famous for title deciders with Prost/Senna being the most memorable with the crashes at the final chicane and turn 1 being some of the most controversial in the sport (particularly the latter after a dispute over the start position). The track is regarded as one of the best driver tracks on the calendar, second only to Spa and returned to the calendar in 2009 after Fuji pulled out of F1 due to financial problems after holding the grand prix in 2007 and 2008 where Hamilton and Alonso won respectively.

No doubt the championship will be won in Suzuka but you never know, stranger things have happened in F1, surely the reliability of the Red Bull can't hold out forever, can we hope?

For Galahads superb circuit write up see here http://cliptheapex.com/pages/suzuka-international-racing-course/
 
Must have lost a few of them whilst running with the puncture. Lost a second to a second and a half a lap behind Rosberg. I suspect other traffic and tyre wear issues easily account for the rest.

But the puncture time was quoted as being seven seconds, that is included in the ten. The other fourteen seconds were lost elsewhere.

Hamilton was not on the podium today because he did not go fast enough today and was beaten fair and square by Button.
 
Nice double standards. Thought people were allowed opinions but not allowed to have a go at members because of theirs? If you care to read on you'll see my reasoning.

I'm sorry, I posted in a moment of frustration which was a mistake. I humbly apologise.

I did read the whole thread, though, and vehemently disagree with you. Hamilton was incidental to this race though so I won't bang on about it.
 
But the puncture time was quoted as being seven seconds, that is included in the ten. The other fourteen seconds were lost elsewhere.

Hamilton was not on the podium today because he did not go fast enough today and was beaten fair and square by Button.

Hamilton suffered understeer from the new tyres after a long stop to check for damage, his next stop was 4.1 seconds against Button's at 3.3. He also had to make overtakes which as we know can cost a bit of time plus his car had enough fuel to get him back after the race, coupled with cruising to the end as there were no more places to gain.

Ahead of Button before the puncture he pulled out a 2.5 second gap and his tyres were older.
 
I'm sorry, I posted in a moment of frustration which was a mistake. I humbly apologise.

I did read the whole thread, though, and vehemently disagree with you. Hamilton was incidental to this race though so I won't bang on about it.

Thanks G and fair enough.
 
Hamilton suffered understeer from the new tyres after a long stop to check for damage, his next stop was 4.1 seconds against Button's at 3.3. He also had to make overtakes which as we know can cost a bit of time plus his car had enough fuel to get him back after the race, coupled with cruising to the end as there were no more places to gain.

Ahead of Button before the puncture he pulled out a 2.5 second gap and his tyres were older.

According to the FIA http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/f1_media/Pages/timing.aspx Hamilton spent a total of 2.4 seconds more than Button in the pit lane. So the "lengthy" stop cannot have been that long. Button usually drops behind during the first part of any stint if there is not an immediate chance of an overtake. He saves his tyres this way and it allows him to go on the attack during the latter part of the stint.
 
According to the FIA http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/f1_media/Pages/timing.aspx Hamilton spent a total of 2.4 seconds more than Button in the pit lane. So the "lengthy" stop cannot have been that long. Button usually drops behind during the first part of any stint if there is not an immediate chance of an overtake. He saves his tyres this way and it allows him to go on the attack during the latter part of the stint.

Agree with the second point and whilst I don't agree Hamilton was slower, I think the tyre saving would have been interesting, but is 2.4 seconds in F1 terms not lengthy? It certainly qualifies as a long stop.
 
not only that, I felt they kept him out far too long on his 2nd stint, especially as he was one of the 1st to stop previously
 
Hats of to all those Japanese fans for sitting in the grandstand for a few hours after the race to cheer on their hero's. Was mightly impressed by their support, you know i think the Japanese fans have passed the British fans and are the best F1 fans in the world now. :).
 
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