2012 Japanese GP - Suzuka

[Kiril Varbanov]

Apart from the best wishes of who will get the points or not, I wonder whether engine situation will pay dividends to any of the drivers. I guess I'm about to find the answer quite soon.

[Gerhard Berger]

I have contracted a number of Black Magic workers to make sure that Fernando and Vettel DNF. Keep praying.

Better dig into your piggy bank and get some more money because it's going to take more than that mate...

Hence,

I have employed a sharpshooter with a dart gun to help with some punctures

In all honesty though - I think Alonso will have at least 1 reliability dnf before the end of the year. I think he's knocking on the door of "most races without reliability DNF" record right now, no? I remember the most recent such run was Lewis for something like 50 races - from Aus 07 to Abu 09

He still has a long way to go

Schumi went from Hockenheim 01 to Suzuka 06 (not inclusive) without having a mechanical DNF.

Depends how you want to model mechanical DNFs. I don't believe they are random, nor do I believe that how many DNFs you've had in the past X races effects the probablity of you having a DNF in the next race.

[raymondu999]

Of course not - but it's always very unlikely that you can run for a whole massive stretch of races without one.

[Chuckjr]

Does Ferrari have any updates coming for Japan? Crucial seems convinced FA will win. Maybe that's just being overly optimistic? I don't see how FA has a reasonable chance at winning in Japan w/o a few very good updates as he was a sec off the pace in quali.

[adam2003]

Does Ferrari have any updates coming for Japan? Crucial seems convinced FA will win. Maybe that's just being overly optimistic? I don't see how FA has a reasonable chance at winning in Japan w/o a few very good updates as he was a sec off the pace in quali.

Differnet downforce level. The ferrari should be more suited to the fast corners

[Crucial_Xtreme]

Does Ferrari have any updates coming for Japan? Crucial seems convinced FA will win. Maybe that's just being overly optimistic? I don't see how FA has a reasonable chance at winning in Japan w/o a few very good updates as he was a sec off the pace in quali.

Singapore is a much different track than Suzuka so how far the F2012 was in Singapore Quali doesn't necessarily translate over to Suzuka. Fernando didn't Quali too well in Monaco but finished the race on the podium. Conversely the F2012's race pace is always more competitive than it's Quali pace.
Obviously if Fer could Quali on the front row or 2nd row it would give him a better shot at the top step of the podium but it doesn't mean he can't win. Also Suzuka better suits the F2012 than Singapore so the F2012 should go well there as it is, but yes there will be updates next weekend. Ferrari will bring updates to every race for the rest of the season.

Will Fernando win Suzuka? Heck if I know, but I think the F2012 has a pretty decent shot. Suzuka updates have been in the pipeline for months so Singapore's package doesn't have much to do with next weekend. I think Suzuka will come down to the Ferrari & McLaren fighting for top step of the podium.

[SamH123]

Why are Sauber so widely tipped?
I know they have been fast this season but their speed has been a bit all over the place. I was surprised to hear even Hamilton mentioning Sauber as a team that may challenge Mclaren in Japan

[Nando]

SPA is similar to Suzuka, fast and flowing and needs good aero efficiency.
It when you go to tracks where you bolt on everything you got that they lack DF but these types of tracks should suit their car extremely well.

I´m going with another Perez podium here.

[Forza]

Why are Sauber so widely tipped?
I know they have been fast this season but their speed has been a bit all over the place. I was surprised to hear even Hamilton mentioning Sauber as a team that may challenge Mclaren in Japan

Matt Morris said in RCE interview that they belive Sauber has perofmance advantage comapred to others in corners with speeds arround 200kph and that they predict that Suzuka will suit the car well.

[SamH123]

Quali Prediction:

1) HAM
2) ALO
3) BUT
4) VET
5) RAI
6) KOB
7) GRO
8 ) PER

It's gonna be a surprise to me if anyone can stop the Mclaren qualifying dominance

[marcush.]

It will be a Mclaren Sauber battle at the front .Kobayashi first row with Hamilton.Button second row .Schumacher beating Rosberg and in Q3 (p5)

[Nando]

1. Button
2. Hamilton
3. Kobayashi
4. Vettel
5. Perez


1. Hamilton (Hamilton....is....faster....then....you.)
2. Button
3. Perez
4. Vettel
5. Alonso

[FLuidd]

If it rains then are very big chances that Vettel won't reach the podium. I have a feeling that the championship will be "decided" either in Suzuka or Korea and I do have a feeling it will rain... hard.

[raymondu999]

If it rains then are very big chances that Vettel won't reach the podium. I have a feeling that the championship will be "decided" either in Suzuka or Korea and I do have a feeling it will rain... hard.

It's not possible to decide the championship in Suzuka. Korea it's possible, but unlikely (Alonso practically has to win both with none of his opposition scoring)

I wouldn't count Vettel out if it rains - it would wipe a great deal of his car's high speed downforce disadvantage - and Vettel is quite fast around Suzuka.

[beelsebob]

Current forecasts say dry all 3 days, and the two either side, so it looks like there's pretty low chance of rain.