.:: Chinese GP Discussion Thread ::.

Discuss the Chinese GP here.

PRACTICE 1

Pos  Driver        Team                    Time              Laps
 1.  Raikkonen     Ferrari            (B)  1:37.024           24
 2.  Alonso        McLaren-Mercedes   (B)  1:37.108 + 0.084   18
 3.  Massa         Ferrari            (B)  1:37.128 + 0.104   21
 4.  Hamilton      McLaren-Mercedes   (B)  1:37.210 + 0.186   20
 5.  Rosberg       Williams-Toyota    (B)  1:37.707 + 0.683   23
 6.  Kubica        BMW Sauber         (B)  1:38.055 + 1.031   23
 7.  Trulli        Toyota             (B)  1:38.208 + 1.184   30
 8.  Fisichella    Renault            (B)  1:38.217 + 1.193   16
 9.  Nakajima      Williams-Toyota    (B)  1:38.270 + 1.246   30
10.  Heidfeld      BMW Sauber         (B)  1:38.445 + 1.421   13

PRACTICE 2 

Pos  Driver        Team                    Time              Laps
 1.  Raikkonen     Ferrari            (B)  1:36.607           31
 2.  Alonso        McLaren-Mercedes   (B)  1:36.613 + 0.006   28
 3.  Massa         Ferrari            (B)  1:36.630 + 0.023   29
 4.  Hamilton      McLaren-Mercedes   (B)  1:36.876 + 0.269   33
 5.  Trulli        Toyota             (B)  1:37.151 + 0.544   36
 6.  Webber        Red Bull-Renault   (B)  1:37.450 + 0.843   34
 7.  R.Schumacher  Toyota             (B)  1:37.524 + 0.917   32
 8.  Coulthard     Red Bull-Renault   (B)  1:37.617 + 1.010   27
 9.  Rosberg       Williams-Toyota    (B)  1:37.646 + 1.039   36
10.  Fisichella    Renault            (B)  1:37.970 + 1.363   32

Another late weekend State-side. Qualifying and the race are on at 2:00am ET.

Anyways, it appears as if a lot more rain is on the way. A typhoon is supposed to hit this weekend, hoorah!

This is obviously the deciding race, if Hamilton wins then he's probably going to be the champion. Last chance for Alonso to save his chances, and we can rule out Raikkonen from the equation.

I'm gonna miss this race, I have an exam at the same time as the race! :evil:

SATURDAY PRACTICE

Pos  Driver        Team                    Time              Laps
 1.  Raikkonen     Ferrari            (B)  1:36.100 +         15
 2.  Alonso        McLaren-Mercedes   (B)  1:36.126 + 0.026   13
 3.  Hamilton      McLaren-Mercedes   (B)  1:36.227 + 0.127   14
 4.  Massa         Ferrari            (B)  1:36.405 + 0.305   14
 5.  R.Schumacher  Toyota             (B)  1:36.959 + 0.859   18
 6.  Coulthard     Red Bull-Renault   (B)  1:36.964 + 0.864   13
 7.  Kubica        BMW Sauber         (B)  1:37.024 + 0.924   23
 8.  Kovalainen    Renault            (B)  1:37.106 + 1.006   14
 9.  Heidfeld      BMW Sauber         (B)  1:37.176 + 1.076   18
10.  Webber        Red Bull-Renault   (B)  1:37.315 + 1.215   13

A very close qualifying session, and some very surprising positions. Notably Hamilton being on pole, both Red Bulls and Ralf Schumacher above the BMW's, and the Williams' having a terrible day.

Toro Rosso's German rookie Sebastian Vettel was demoted five places on the Chinese Grand Prix starting grid on Saturday, a day after stewards overturned a 10-place penalty given to him last weekend.

Stewards ruled that the 20-year-old had impeded another driver during qualifying for the penultimate round of the season.

Vettel had qualified 12th after stewards lifted a 10-place penalty imposed for causing a collision during the Japanese Grand Prix.

source: autosport

A reminder of the maths:

HAMILTON: Needs to beat Alonso, or finish 1 point position behind. Beat Raikkonen or finish 6 points behind.

ALONSO: Outscore Lewis by 2 points.

RAIKKONEN: Outscore Lewis by 7 points.

All other drivers are mathematically out of contention.

(P.S.: Should Lew win, expect to hear me singing tomorrow morning XD)

A very interesting result then.. Hamilton retired after yet another tyre problem, Alonso managed to beat Massa, and Raikkonen stormed ahead to win the race.

It means that there are now three drivers in contention for the title.

Right now they stand like this:

1. Hamilton - 107pts

2. Alonso - 103pts

3 Raikkonen - 100pts

Some example results for Brazil, and their championship outcomes:

1. Raikkonen 2. Alonso 3. Hamilton - Hamilton wins by 2pts

1. Alonso 2. Raikkonen 3. Hamilton - Hamilton and Alonso equal on points.. Alonso wins by having more race wins

1. Raikkonen 2. Massa 3. Alonso 4. Hamilton - Hamilton wins by 2pts, but Raikkonen comes second in the championship

1. Raikkonen 2. Alonso, Hamilton DNF - Alonso wins by a single point, Raikkonen becomes second

1. Raikkonen 2. Massa 3. Alonso.. 6. Hamilton - Hamilton and Raikkonen equal on points, Raikkonen wins by having more race wins

So Hamilton obviously has the biggest chance, but just as we saw today, anything can happen

haha...everybody was convinced hamilton was going to win the title this race, counting alonso and raikkonen out...

then the arrogant little rookie dumps it in the gravel trap....beautiful! kinda like japan 2006 when schumis engine blew, except this time, the ferrari fans got to cheer 8)

yeh ok he probably still is going to win it, but was great seeing him go off and getting a good laugh outta it :P

All in all, a truely amazing race. Bunched the field up for a showdown in Brazil. Vettel finishing fourth... A little sweet revenge, if you will. Button, fifth and trading fast laps with Wurz and Fisichella. Liuzzi scoring points... Toro Roso seems to have done something right as of late.

It was interesting to see everyone running on slicks, basically, towards the middle of the race. And then little spurt of rain in the middle to make things just a little more interesting.

It was worth is staying up until 4:30 in the morning, I do say.

Although it would have been cool for Alonso to spin off or somehow get eliminated from the championship battle, even though Alonso is cool now, in my book, at least. Ron would certainly have kicked him out for the final race creating a domino effect of sorts, causing Renault to boot Fisi and so on.

Oh yeah, and the little prick DNF'ed!

Eh, I guess that'll teach me to be quiet next time :P

Stupid to wait that long though, he should've come in as soon as it was giving him troubles. Hopefully it's looking good for Brazil, but Alonso win means Lew has to finish 2nd... hmm... I can only hope! :lol:

I bet a certain Mr. Alonso is feeling a tad embarrassed at the moment. All the screaming, all the throwing helmets around, all the breaking toilet doors down for what... him to end up 4 points behind.

Shows it wasn't really worth it, eh?

Alonso was veeeeery lucky to have Hamilton retire.

As for Toro Rosso, you don't see them performing like that very much, impressive race from them, even if it was just a fluke.
aloushi87

alonso was veeeeerrry lucky to have schumi's engine blow up last year in japan as well.... looks like luck is a huge requirement for winning wdc :wink:

[QUOTE="aloushi87"]Alonso was veeeeery lucky to have Hamilton retire.

As for Toro Rosso, you don't see them performing like that very much, impressive race from them, even if it was just a fluke.
comp_atkins

alonso was veeeeerrry lucky to have schumi's engine blow up last year in japan as well.... looks like luck is a huge requirement for winning wdc :wink: