542 replies to this topic

[PoleMan]

Hey folks, I know we're all tired after 18 grands prix but there's just about 2 hours to go and still no race thread? SERIOUSLY?!!

 

I know the last several races have been...erm...predictable, but the possibility of changeable weather at Interlagos might give us a chance at an interesting race to close the season! 

 

Can anyone stop the Vettel steam roller?

 

Can Seb win his 9th in a row and 13th in his record-shattering season?

 

Our last chance to hear the screaming V8 motors. 

 

Will Mark, Sergio or Felipe do anything special in their last F1 races for their respective teams?

 

The off-season is going to seem really long in a couple weeks from now, so let's get excited and enjoy this final race of the year! 

[Farhannn15]

I was wondering why anybody hadn't made a race thread too! For me as a Mercedes fan I've enjoyed this season as both drivers have done well but today I see a VET/ALO/WEB podium although the other way round would be nicer

[Seanspeed]

Oh hey, forgot all about this!  Who's racing?

Edited by Seanspeed, 24 November 2013 - 14:08.

[george1981]

Perez has had to replace his gear box and take a penalty. He'll now start from 19th. I assume it was damaged in his off.

[Nonesuch]

Can Seb win his 9th in a row and 13th in his record-shattering season?

 

Thirteen wins isn't really record-shattering so much as it is record-equalling, but fair enough.

 

Too bad the FIA have dumped DRS zones on the two straights. Especially the long run up to Turn 1 was usually a good place to see some action. Today the cars will probably be long past before getting to the braking zone.

 

Unfortunately I suspect another Vettel-Red Bull-Renault win. The rest of the field has been pitiably bad at mounting even a half-decent challenge in recent months.

Edited by Nonesuch, 24 November 2013 - 14:15.

[andyF1]

What's happening with the weather in Sao Paulo at the moment?

[noikeee]

Very unexcited. Okay there might be rain and this pretty much doesn't count for anything, so could be fun, but it really does feel like "let's just get this one out of the way" doesn't it?

 

Can't wait for '14.

[PoleMan]

I was wondering why anybody hadn't made a race thread too! For me as a Mercedes fan I've enjoyed this season as both drivers have done well but today I see a VET/ALO/WEB podium although the other way round would be nicer

I don't know. Rosberg has been quick all weekend, Grosjean has been fast, too, and Lewis is always a threat. I think these guys all want to go into the off-season wit a great result.Just hope they remember to engage their brains...especially if it's wet!

[HuddersfieldTerrier1986]

Agree about DRS. Maybe a very slight need for it down to turn 4, but no need for it on the pit straight

[Nonesuch]

What's happening with the weather in Sao Paulo at the moment?

 

Let's hope it stays dry. I don't look forward to seeing a sole Mercedes driving laps while Charlie Whiting plays with his Red Flag button.

 

Edited by Nonesuch, 24 November 2013 - 14:22.

[SophieB]

Very unexcited. Okay there might be rain and this pretty much doesn't count for anything, so could be fun, but it really does feel like "let's just get this one out of the way" doesn't it?

 

Can't wait for '14.

 

It does feel like everyone wants to get it all over with today, and in some ways that's a shame as there's quite a few farewells to be had today. It's the last time for now that Interlagos will be the final race for the season, for instance. Shame. I think playing out the last race in what would have been Ayrton Senna's home race always had a nice little tribute feel about it. It just felt right, somehow. I would also accept Australia as the final race but no others.

 

So goodbye from your prime slot, Interlagos - you have provided some astonishing season finales: 2007 where you broke McLaren hearts, 2008 where you made amends at the expense of Ferrari hearts and last year where Sebastian Vettel was crowned world champion in a chaotic race even by your impressively high standards. Abu Dhabi has a lot to live up to.

 

We will also wave goodbye to the old V8s, Mark Webber and presumably be watching a couple of drivers racing for their team for the last time without knowing it.

[ATM]

Well wet-towards-dry conditions seem to make the most spectacular races in recent times...so I wouldn't mind some drops of rain, the same way Q1 went yesterday, just to make the track a teensy-weensy harder to drive on...

 

Oh yes, goodbye V8 (it was about time honestly, all this engine freeze was getting boring as hell), goodbye Webber - sad to see you go  - and goodbye Cossworth - -likewise, sat to see the last link with some great Ford racing heritage going away. Even if it was only by name or history in recent times, I liked to see something that remembered me of the DFVs. 

Edited by ATM, 24 November 2013 - 14:26.

[LewDaMan]

It has been a fairly dire season so let's hope the season can end with a bit of a flourish. In reality that requires lots of rain showers, please!

 

Great to see Alonso qualifying further up the grid for the first time in a while, so let's hope today isn't one of those rare occasions where Alonso makes an underwhelming start.

 

What would be great would be seeing a damp racetrack to start with and both Rosberg and Alonso jumping Vettel by the first corner. Plus plenty of further heavy rain throughout the race!

 

And it would be really nice to see Webber get the better of Vettel in Webber's last GP because let's face it, it has been nearly a season and a half since Webber has been able to do that to Vettel to any great extent.

[Richard T]

Dry start and after one lap the sky's open would be ideal :smoke:

[ANF]

http://youtu.be/MSM5wT9H6kU?t=4m3s
http://youtu.be/JCqxI64DdaY?t=10m35s

Logic tells us that the 2013 World Champion will spin out at the entry to turn 5.

[Asterion]

I think I know who is going to win. But I am not allowed to tell...

[HoldenRT]

Looks like it's gonna be dry.

[HuddersfieldTerrier1986]

Looks like it's gonna be dry.

 

Nearly 90mins to the start, then about another 90mins for the race itself. Plenty of time for it to rain.

[LewDaMan]

Looks like it's gonna be dry.

 

Argh! Really?

 

Suddenly doing the weekly hoovering looks like a more attractive way to spend my afternoon.

 

There hasn't been enough wet races this season. I wonder if Bernie brought those sprinklers with him...

Edited by LewDaMan, 24 November 2013 - 14:39.

[P123]

Nobody has done any dry running though, so dry may not be so bad as how the tyres will fare will be relatively unknown.  Preferably a dry start then wet after a few laps, otherwise we will be sitting watching them plod behind a SC.

[Disgrace]

I wonder how many drivers will actually finish on the lead lap, given that it's only a 1:15ish lap.

Edited by Disgrace, 24 November 2013 - 14:41.

[SamH123]

If the rumour is true Perez & Hulk is such a solid midfield team, arguably stronger line up than Mclaren   

[Seanspeed]

Looks like it's gonna be dry.

Don't do this to us, racing gods!

[JeePee]

If it starts raining and the SC comes out I'll turn the TV off and start watching this for 71 laps.

 

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=XEFDfctC_6M

Edited by JeePee, 24 November 2013 - 15:04.

[Schumster]

I see clouds, I feel rain, I predict mayhem.

[Fastcake]

Hoping for a great send off for a fairly mediocre season. I would love to see Webber win, and even Massa get a decent result in his last race for Ferrari. Nothing too good of course.

Oh and farewell V8s, I shall savour your final 300kms.

[krapmeister]

Red Bull playing 'Waltzing Matilda' to Mark in the garage - probably could've done without it being the Rolf Harris version though...

Edited by krapmeister, 24 November 2013 - 15:24.

[SealTheDiffuser]

Don't do this to us, racing gods!

 

better a dry start  than an overly wet start, SC starts suck! it will rain during the race hopefully

[paweu]

Argh! Really?

 

Suddenly doing the weekly hoovering looks like a more attractive way to spend my afternoon.

 

There hasn't been enough wet races this season. I wonder if Bernie brought those sprinklers with him...

 

We haven't got a single wet race this season. That's why everyone's hoping for the first.

[Longtimefan]

Can't wait for it to be over tbh, then good riddance to this awful season.

I'm only watching it because it's one of my most favourite tracks.

Really need rain to stop another Seb borefest, do a raindance everyone!

[ATM]

 

 

Red Bull playing 'Waltzing Matilda' to Mark in the garage - probably could've done without it being the Rolf Harris version though... 

 

 

 

...so they brought also the cobalt A-bomb with them? or at least a photo of Gregory Peck? at least he resembles Mark, whilst Ava Gardner is far far away...

 

Come on with the rain already, even a mild shower will do. The way the track's sewer system is, we don't really need more than a few drops for mayhem. 

Edited by ATM, 24 November 2013 - 15:29.

[TheF1BOB]

Eddie Jordan is an complete and utter pleb. "Rumors in Italy..."

[Lights]

Free Practice 4 is in progress.

[topical]

Will be glad to see the back of the worst F1 season I can remember, and just hope for a half decent final race. But I'm sure it'll be bone dry and we'll get another Vettel yawn-fest.

[PoleMan]

Eddie Jordan is an complete and utter pleb. "Rumors in Italy..."

For those who can't see Beeb coverage, please finish the sentence. Which rumors about which driver (s)?

 

Thanks.

[Disgrace]

I have an uneasy feeling Webber will retire from this one - FOM have equipped his car with the weekend's unusual camera angle.

Edited by Disgrace, 24 November 2013 - 15:40.

[TomNokoe]

First dry running of the whole weekend, when was the last time that happened?

[fisssssi]

Watching the replay of the start of last year's race on the BBC when Vettel spun on the first lap and hit/was hit by multiple cars. Yet he continued and finished 6th. Still can't believe it. Unbelievable.

 

I thought I'd be over it 365 days later but no, I still can't believe it.

Edited by fisssssi, 24 November 2013 - 15:42.

[Kobasmashi]

What the **** is EJ talking about, "Alonso should not have let Vettel win the title last year"?!??! He was only anywhere near it because Hamilton and Hulk bumped his points up by dropping out. If anything should have granted Alonso the title it should have been Bruno Senna's suspension but somehow the Red Bull is bombproof as well as lightning quick

Edited by Kobasmashi, 24 November 2013 - 16:03.

[topical]

Watching the replay of the start of last year's race on the BBC when Vettel spun on the first lap and hit/was hit by multiple cars. Yet he continued and finished 6th. Still can't believe it. Unbelievable.

 

I thought I'd be over it 365 days later but no, I still can't believe it.

 I can't watch it, it still makes me feel sick that he didn't retire on the spot. Luckiest b*stard who ever sat in an F1 car.

[DutchQuicksilver]

What a surprise, no rain on Sunday.

[TheF1BOB]

What the hell?! "Alonso shouldn't have let Vettle back in last year, he should of won the title".

 

Eddie Jordan is a bloody idiot. BBC btw.

 

For those who can't see Beeb coverage, please finish the sentence. Which rumors about which driver (s)?

 

Thanks.

 

Yes, sorry. Oh he's bringing up tabloid nonsense you know, about rumors that Alonso said no to Vettle coming in 2014 (to Ferrari that is) and acting like it's a fact.

 

The Sun should hire Edddie Jordan, his way of thinking belongs at a place like that.

Edited by TheF1BOB, 24 November 2013 - 15:46.

[Lights]

Bernie: "I'm going to auction my position". 

 

What else did we really expect. 

[SamH123]

Emlyn Hughes ‏@radarguruf152s

#F1 radar update 13:45 BRST: Shower development now beginning across southern Sao Paulo. Not definitive, but rain looking likely mid-race.

[alpinesmuggler]

I'm actually pretty excited about the GP, mostly to see if Merc can keep 2nd in the WCC. That would be a tremendous achievement for a team that was supposed to share the midfield with the likes of Toro Rosso.

 

Now, we'll have to wait for a few months until the next season starts, and I usually start getting withdrawal symptoms well before the end of December.

 

Enjoy! Good luck to your teams and drivers!

[SamH123]

What the hell?! "Alonso shouldn't have let Vettle back in last year, he should of won the title".

 

 

 

I'm British and somewhat a HAM fan but I do see quite a lot of subtle anti-Alonso bias on the UK channels 

[Tenmantaylor]

What the hell?! "Alonso shouldn't have let Vettle back in last year, he should of won the title".
 
Eddie Jordan is a bloody idiot. BBC btw.
 

 
Yes, sorry. Oh he's bringing up tabloid nonsense you know, about rumors that Alonso said no to Vettle coming in 2014 (to Ferrari that is) and acting like it's a fact.
 
The Sun should hire Edddie Jordan, his way of thinking belongs at a place like that.

The man with more scoops than the rest of the F1 media put together? His style may grate but he is a true F1 insider.

[aray]

so when it comes to race,it is dry..

 

[PoleMan]

What the hell?! "Alonso shouldn't have let Vettle back in last year, he should of won the title".

 

Eddie Jordan is a bloody idiot. BBC btw.

 

 

Yes, sorry. Oh he's bringing up tabloid nonsense you know, about rumors that Alonso said no to Vettle coming in 2014 (to Ferrari that is) and acting like it's a fact.

 

The Sun should hire Edddie Jordan, his way of thinking belongs at a place like that.

Thanks. Eddie just being himself.

 

Race Control saying 60% chance of rain during the race. Let's hope.

[Fastcake]

I have an uneasy feeling Webber will retire from this one - FOM have equipped his car with the weekend's unusual camera angle.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's spotted the camera of death. Lewis, Kimi, di Resta, Webber half a hundred times, they've all gone out to FOM's curse.