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Alternate Title Finales


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#1 Afterburner

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Posted 26 December 2015 - 20:46

So in a spate of racing withdrawals this morning, I decided to watch an old tape (yes, tape--remember those?) of the SPEED Channel broadcast of the 2003 United States Grand Prix, the first F1 race I ever attended. Aside from being stunned by how beautiful the cars were back then and how great they sounded--and how it was actually fun to just watch them drive around the track even if they weren't racing anybody--I was listening to the commentary team talk about the championship battle the whole race and I finally remembered just why it was everyone (myself included) was so nervous for Schumi's chances going into that race. He qualified seventh after a mysteriously off-form qualifying, and looked as if he was going to lose the lead going into the final round of the championship.

 

Then he and Ferrari put in one of those miraculous performances for which we now remember them, and ended up snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. He would go to Suzuka nine points ahead of Kimi Raikkonen, his nearest rival, with a really great shot at the championship. He would of course get the single point he needed to clinch the title at Suzuka, but only after Kimi scored enough points to come within two of winning the title.

 

It then occurred to me while watching the race, that if Suzuka had instead occurred exactly as it did before hand, Indy 2003 would have made a really epic championship finale; Webber, Button, and Frentzen all taking turns leading the race, each getting the first laps led for their respective teams, with the rain going in and out the whole way, strategy totally incomprehensible, and Schumi and Raikkonen headed into the race even on points following Suzuka instead.

 

And herein lies the premise of this thread--move any race of any year to become that year's finale, recalculate the points going into the race accordingly, and try to find which race would've made the most epic finish to each season. If that's too simple for you, rearrange the order of multiple races in a season to see what kind of narrative you can build in the lead-up to the shoot-out or the title-clinching race. The only rule is that the results from every race have to remain unchanged.

 

Let's see what you guys can come up with. Not an F1-exclusive thread, by the way. :)


Edited by Afterburner, 26 December 2015 - 20:48.


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#2 Dolph

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Posted 26 December 2015 - 21:34

Maybe 1982:

 

The last race would be the German GP. Standings before the last race with 5 drivers able to win the title:

 

1) Rosberg 40p

2) Pironi 39p

3) Watson 39p

4) Prost 34p

5) Lauda 30p

 

Race results:

 

Pironi DNS - qualified on pole, but career ending crash in qualifying rules him out

Lauda - withdrew

Watson - spins off and retires

Prost - retires with car trouble

Rosberg - takes third place in the race but really does not need it in the end



#3 Marklar

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Posted 26 December 2015 - 21:40

You can also create something interesting for 2010: Assume Barcelona was the title final, the championship before this race would be

1. Vettel 241
2. Hamilton 240
3. Alonso 234
4. Webber 217

Before the last lap of the race Webber is leading ahead of Hamilton, Alonso and Vettel. The championship standings just over one lap before the end of the race...

1. Hamilton 258
2. Vettel 253
3. Alonso 249
4. Webber 242

And then...

_47807681_crash_512.jpg

Edited by Marklar, 26 December 2015 - 21:41.


#4 Victor_RO

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Posted 26 December 2015 - 21:49

A slight subversion on the topic, because I'm feeling depressed tonight: CART 1999. Swapping the last two races. Fontana - penultimate race. Standings before the race - Montoya 200, Franchitti 187.

 

Then lap 10 happens. A shadow falls over the paddock. JPM takes 4th place and Dario 10th after a botched pitstop. But it doesn't seem to matter to anyone. They leave the track at 212-190. JPM is assured of the title, but the whole paddock is grieving. They all try to regroup over in Australia. Dario produces the drive of his life on the streets to take the full points on offer, a drive of a champion, in honor of a lost comrade and friend; and with JPM crashing out they end the season tied on points, but with Montoya winning on win countback.

 

 

(only change in the results would be removing Moore from the Surfers' results, but since he was listed as behind both the title contenders in that race, 17th and DNF with mechanical issues, we can discount that)



#5 Dolph

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Posted 26 December 2015 - 21:50

You can also create something interesting for 2010: Assume Barcelona was the title final, the championship before this race would be

1. Vettel 241
2. Hamilton 240
3. Alonso 234
4. Webber 217

Before the last lap of the race Webber is leading ahead of Hamilton, Alonso and Vettel. The championship standings just over one lap before the end of the race...

1. Hamilton 258
2. Vettel 253
3. Alonso 249
4. Webber 242

And then...

_47807681_crash_512.jpg

 

Nice one



#6 SpaceHorseParty

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Posted 26 December 2015 - 21:58

1999 could have had many races as the season finale.

 

For example, European Grand Prix. Standings before the race:

 
Hakkinen 74 (5 wins)

Irvine 74 (4 wins)

 

Hakkinen qualifies 3rd, while Irvine is only 9th. Hakkinen changes to the wet tyres early in the race, which proves to be a wrong decision. It seems like Irvine is on track to become the first Ferrari WDC since Scheckter in 1979, but he has a disastrous pitstop. Both of the contenders are far from points, but then several frontrunners either retire or run into problems of their own. Irvine finds himself in 7th place just ahead of Hakkinen, just one spot away from title. Ahead of them in the final pointscoring position is Marc Gene, driving for Minardi. A few laps before the end, Irvine makes a mistake, giving the title to Hakkinen.



#7 Anderis

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Posted 26 December 2015 - 22:16

I imagine in most of the cases the most interesting possibilities are given by seasons which had interesting season-ending races anyway.

 

I've found another interesting one in 2010:

 

Let's imagine British GP is the last race of the season. Standings before the race:

Alonso 252

Vettel 250

 

Vettel puntcures on lap1 and is dead last more than a minute behind race leader while Alonso drives safely within top5. It seemed that title would safely go to Alonso's hands. But then Alonso decides to cut the track fighting with Kubica on lap 15. It gets announced he needs to serve DT penalty on lap 26 just as Sutil colides with de la Rosa, SC is deployed and Alonso is forced to serve his penalty behind SC and it pushes him down to 16th. Meanwhile, Vettel is 13th with 20 laps to go and he needs to finish no lower than 9th to claim the title. Thanks to SC his time gap to drivers from lower end of top10 is drastically reduced. He overtakes his rivals one by another, ends up 7th and celebrates his first WDC.



#8 OvDrone

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Posted 26 December 2015 - 22:44

2010, last two races: Korea, Valencia.

 

Just so that my Webber dismay, disillusionment, destitution, woe, grief and heartache would be that much hurtful.



#9 Anderis

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Posted 26 December 2015 - 22:51

Another one in 2010.

 

Let's imagine Bahrain is the last race of the season. Standings before the race:

Vettel 244

Webber 238

Alonso 227

Hamilton 225

 

Situation on lap 32 of this rather steady and boring race:

1. Vettel

2. Alonso

3. Massa

4. Hamilton

8. Webber

It seems Vettel has this in the bag. But on lap 34 he starts complaining about lack of power. He geats overtaken easily by Alonso, then by Massa, then by Hamilton. He gets informed by radio that he is being hit by exhaust problems and team can do nothing about that. By the 38th lap, the situation looks this way:

1. Alonso

2. Massa

3. Hamilton

4. Vettel

So the virtual championship looks like this:

Vettel 256

Alonso 252

11 laps to the end and Vettel can afford to lose no more than 2 places. His drop of pace is significant and everybody wonders if he is even going to finish the race. Luckily for him, he manages to find some pace later in the race and even defend 4th from Rosberg for a few laps. He gets his first WDC after veeery nervous 15 final laps of the season.



#10 OvDrone

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Posted 26 December 2015 - 22:54

I think you can make a tone of those scenarios with 2010. It just goes to show how good of a year it really was.

 

Still my favorite F1 season since watching the sport for 20 years now.



#11 Anderis

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Posted 26 December 2015 - 23:03

2012 would be interesting with Abu Dhabi as a final race of the season.

Standings before the race:

Vettel 266

Alonso 260

but...

Vettel starts from pit lane. On lap 28 Alonso is still virtual champion running 2nd with Vettel 7th at the moment. But as soon as Alonso makes his first and the only one pit stop, the situation reverts for the favour of Vettel and remains like this to the end of the race



#12 Anderis

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Posted 26 December 2015 - 23:21

2014 can give some weird possibilities because of double points for the final race of the season. For the benefit of this thread, it would be better to have double points in the final race each year. :p

 

Let's imagine Hungarian GP is the last race of the season. Standings before the race:

Hamilton 344 (he gets 25 points less for Abu Dhabi if double points are awarded for other race)

Rosberg 305

 

But due to double points, since Rosberg starts 1st and Hamilton from pit lane, situation on lap 1 looks like this:

Rosberg 355

Hamilton 344

 

Moreover, Hamilton spins on lap 1 and many of the fans think it's no longer under his control if he becomes WDC or not. Luckily for him, weird SC behaviour on lap 8 causes that Rosberg is a race leader no more. It also enables Hamilton to reduce all of the time loss he got due to the 1st lap spin and makes it possible for him to fight for big points later in the race so he doesn't even have to rely on Rosberg not winning the race. By the 15th lap it's pretty much clear that Hamilton will be a WDC unless it's race-ending mistake/car failure for him.


Edited by Anderis, 26 December 2015 - 23:22.


#13 PlatenGlass

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 00:15

Nice thread, but I'm going to turn it on its head with a massive troll post.

1996 - I'm going to put Silverstone last and Melbourne can go somewhere in the middle. So now what happens? Damon Hill dominates a largely uneventful championship. His rookie team-mate Jacques Villeneuve is generally outclassed but manages three poles and four wins - reasonable but nothing like a championship challenge. Hill leads by 29 points going into the last race, but the season is then made to look closer than it really was by Hill's retirement after a wheel nut problem at Silverstone. Villeneuve wins to close the gap to 19 points.

#14 Jimisgod

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 09:36

2014 Australian GP moved to the final race, Rosberg wins title and forum explodes. :p



#15 asdf24

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 09:59

Imagine if the European GP was the final race of the 2007 season.



#16 Marklar

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 10:01

2014 Australian GP moved to the final race, Rosberg wins title and forum explodes. :p

doesnt work. Hamilton would have 25 less points (double points in Abu Dhabi) going into the last race, but so is Rosberg (25 less points for Melbourne). So the gap before Australia would be 67 points. Rosberg can only cut the gap down to 17 points...

Imagine if the European GP was the final race of the 2007 season.

Or China. Would have made the gravel trap even more legendary...

Edited by Marklar, 27 December 2015 - 10:06.


#17 4Wheeldrift

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 10:55

Brilliant topic!

 

1999 - the Malaysian Grand Prix as finale (swapping with Japan).

Going into the race (I must admit it gets a bit "if, but" because we'd have to assume that Ferrari would have swapped  MSC and Irvine around in the Japanese GP which didn't happen in reality.) :-

 

Hakkinen  72

Irvine        66

 

Then the crunch would come in the final race.  MSC blitzing the field and gifting the race to Irvine, Hakkinen racing in third. 

 

This would tie the championship at 76 points each. Since count back would give the title to Hakkinen, would :-

  • MSC back Mika into Johnny Herbert's Stewart?
  • Would Herbert attack Mika knowing this would give the first Ferrari title to Irvine, over MSC (after his Benetton experience), but since Irvine was going to Stewart / Jaguar to partner Herbert would Herbert want to be teammate to a world champ again?
  • Would Barrichello want to get involved - as he was going to Ferrari next year and might quite fancy being a hero to the Tifosi to help in his uphill struggle against MSC?


#18 SonJR

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 11:11

Bahrain 2014 would've been a good finale.

Suzuka 2005 maybe as well, but ALO was already champ by then.

Canada 2011, although there's no way Vettel wouldn't still be champ.

This years race in Austin actually was a great finale, and they could've wrapped the season up after that one (though it was nice Rosberg got those wins going into 2016.)

Monaco 96 :drunk:


Edited by SonJR, 27 December 2015 - 11:12.


#19 Silverstone96

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 11:57

Those last races only happened the way they did because of everything that came before them

Pointless thread

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#20 PayasYouRace

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 12:02

Those last races only happened the way they did because of everything that came before them

Pointless thread

 

It's fun to pretend.

 

Pointless post.



#21 PlatenGlass

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 12:22

Monaco 1984 would be an interesting one. Prost is 5 points behind Lauda, and with Lauda out, he needs a first or second. He's leading but then inexplicably calls for the race to be stopped, which then happens and he's only awarded 4.5 points for his efforts. He's then certified insane and lives out his days in an asylum, destined never to be world champion.

But other than that particular scenario, that would be quite an interesting one. Would they have still stopped the race? Arguably not.

Edited by PlatenGlass, 27 December 2015 - 12:24.


#22 encircled

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 14:57

2010 Italian GP as finale

 

WDC standings would be

 

Vettel - 244

Hamilton - 240

Webber - 234

Alonso - 227

Button - 196

Massa - 129

 

WCC standings would be

 

Red Bull Racing - 478

McLaren-Mercedes - 436

Ferrari - 356

 

Technically speaking, a McLaren 1-2 and a RBR DNF will give McLaren the WCC. And a closer 4-way title fight between Vettel, Hamilton, Webber and Alonso.

 

Alonso has pole in front of the tifosi, with Championship leader Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton struggling during qualifying, starting from 6th and 5th respectively behind their teammates, making this a supreme opportunity for Alonso to win the title in front of the tifosi.

 

But then Jenson Button started to play joker and gets P1 at the start of the race, starting a long intense battle with Alonso's Ferrari for the victory. And then Hamilton decides to attack Massa at the Variante Roggia and gets his front wheel caught with Massa's rear-wheel, taking him out of the race and the championship from P4. Meanwhile, both Red Bulls lost positions from the start, Vettel losing one place from 6th to 7th and Webber, with his trademark start performance, lost various positions to Rosberg, Kubica, Hulkenberg and Schumacher and ended up in 9th after lap 1.

 

And then on lap 19, Vettel started to suffer from an "engine problem" and had to give position to Webber. His engine started to perform properly after that however but Webber and Vettel are down in 7th and 8th respectively, meaning if Alonso, who is chasing Button for the win, could get the WDC in front of the ferocious tifosi crowd.

 

At the end of lap 35, Button pits from the lead, and Alonso, crucially, now has a clear track ahead of him. Button had an average pit stop and the tifosi are nervously delighted to see their man at the front! Alonso decides to pit at the next lap. Ferrari had a faster pit stop vs the McLaren pit crew, leading to a nerve-wracking dash to turn 1 for the lead. Alonso just gets by Button and takes the lead of the race!

 

Positions after lap 38 are: Alonso-Button-Massa-Vettel-Rosberg-Hulkenberg-Webber-Kubica-Schumacher-Petrov

 

Vettel still hasn't made his mandatory pit stop, and has to secure at least 6th to seal the championship. There was a 17s gap to the group of Rosberg, Hulkenberg, Kubica and Webber after they made their pit stops. Will his tires still perform as good as these group who now has fresh tires? Webber crucially takes Kubica too for 7th and is now hunting Hulkenberg for 6th. While Alonso is starting to build a gap to Button, with Massa in a lonely 3rd position.

 

Webber is complaining about Hulkenberg cutting the chicanes at various times to defend his position, and they are losing time while they are battling for 6th place, which is starting to favor Vettel's strategy. Webber was finally able to get by Hulkenberg at lap 49, but his championship hopes are starting to look unlikely.

 

At the end of lap 52, Vettel makes his mandatory pit stop for the race. Ferrari and the tifosi crowd are waiting if the Red Bull pit crew will crumble to the pressure of the final pit stop of the year. Crucially for Vettel and Red Bull, they were able to build a gap, despite the soft tires practically lasting the whole race, going out ahead of the Rosberg-Webber-Hulkenberg-Kubica group and Vettel and Red Bull were finally able to secure the WDC, breaking the hearts of the tifosi at their home turf, and giving them mixed emotions of winning the race, but losing the championship by a few points.

 

Had Hamilton been more patient for this race, he could have fought for third place given the pace of both Ferrari and McLaren for this race, and if Hamilton had finished 3rd in this race, ahead of Massa and Vettel, the WDC standings would have been:

 

Hamilton - 255

Vettel - 254

Alonso - 252



#23 Silverstone96

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 15:46

If is F1 backwards - Murray Walker

Coulda, woulda, shoulda...you can't change history folks

#24 Dolph

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 15:59

Those last races only happened the way they did because of everything that came before them

Pointless thread

 

I recommend closing this thread because Silverstone96 doesn't like it.
 



#25 Dolph

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 16:01

If is F1 backwards - Murray Walker

Coulda, woulda, shoulda...you can't change history folks

 

Oh we can't change history? Gee... we didn't know that. Thanks for the info. Please give some more of your great advice.



#26 George Costanza

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 16:14

2000 season with DC and Rubens driving better than Mika and Michael that summer would have been fun.

#27 PayasYouRace

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 16:31

Monaco 1984 would be an interesting one. Prost is 5 points behind Lauda, and with Lauda out, he needs a first or second. He's leading but then inexplicably calls for the race to be stopped, which then happens and he's only awarded 4.5 points for his efforts. He's then certified insane and lives out his days in an asylum, destined never to be world champion.

But other than that particular scenario, that would be quite an interesting one. Would they have still stopped the race? Arguably not.

 

I'd say it's a given that Alain would know the points situation, so he wouldn't be calling for the race to be stopped. So it could have resulted in both Ayrton's first win and Alain's first championship. Bellof wouldn't have been there, as Tyrrell had already been banned.



#28 PlatenGlass

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 17:20

If is F1 backwards - Murray Walker

Coulda, woulda, shoulda...you can't change history folks

I even picked an example in honour of your username.

#29 Victor_RO

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 19:50

I'd say it's a given that Alain would know the points situation, so he wouldn't be calling for the race to be stopped. So it could have resulted in both Ayrton's first win and Alain's first championship. Bellof wouldn't have been there, as Tyrrell had already been banned.

 

Didn't Senna have near-terminal suspension damage at the time already? Which would have maybe still meant Prost's first title, but also Rene Arnoux's last win for Ferrari had he passed the McLaren in the remaining time.



#30 4Wheeldrift

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 20:08

If is F1 backwards - Murray Walker

Coulda, woulda, shoulda...you can't change history folks

 

But no on is trying to change history, posts are about playing out the same season, just differently.  The result will always be as history intended, this is not a reboot of F1.

 

But whilst an engine failure in Melbourne is as important as an engine failure in Abu Dhabi, it is nowhere near as dramatic.



#31 Zava

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 21:12

Didn't Senna have near-terminal suspension damage at the time already? Which would have maybe still meant Prost's first title, but also Rene Arnoux's last win for Ferrari had he passed the McLaren in the remaining time.

yes, I read that toleman engineers said that the suspension would've failed in the next one or two laps, had the race gone on.

 

just from the top of my head: 2007, barcelona as the last round. Raikkönen with a hefty lead over the mclaren boys, (110 vs 103 Hamilton, 101 Alonso), however he retires from the race, making it possible for them to overtake him in the standings. both mclaren drivers just need to finish one position higher, but both fails to do so. Kimi is a happy chap (and a happy champ as well) and thanks Massa for his heroics against Alonso at the start.



#32 ensign14

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 23:30

Dutch Grand Prix 1983.  Piquet has been on a roll and has just taken the championship lead from Prost, by 2 points.  A win for Prost gets him the title.

 

Alain however did not have a good qualifying.  Nelson was on pole.  Prost only just on the second row.  And on race morning one of the Renault mechanics is concerned by his tired appearance.  "You look shagged out."  Prost gives a Gallic shrug and a little smile.  And perhaps it gees him up; he rises to 3rd by the first corner and soon takes 2nd.  With only Piquet ahead of him.  Seven seconds ahead.  The chase is on.

 

Alain gets closer.  And closer.  And closer.  By lap 37 Prost is up Piquet's chuff.  It is only just over half-distance.  Surely Nelson cannot hold on?  But maybe he can.  Prost is right with the Brazilian but cannot get past.  Piquet's driving is metronomic and laser precise.  The Renault cannot get the Brabham.

 

And then it happens.  Prost dives for a gap that is no longer there.  Piquet turns into the corner as normal.  And that's it.  He is off.  And out.  Prost is ahead and in the lead.  The title is his.  In the most controversial circumstances.

 

Perhaps it is because of that that Prost, the gentleman on track, loses it a few corners later.  He does not want the title in such circumstances.  Perhaps the hit was too hard.  Whatever, the before Piquet is even out of his car, he is the world champion.

 

Somewhere, a younger Brazilian and a schoolboy German are taking notes.  You can only try that manoeuvre, they muse, if you are ahead in points...



#33 karl100589

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 23:35

I'd say it's a given that Alain would know the points situation, so he wouldn't be calling for the race to be stopped. So it could have resulted in both Ayrton's first win and Alain's first championship. Bellof wouldn't have been there, as Tyrrell had already been banned.


Imagine if The ban took place at the end of the season. Senna retires from Monaco with his suspension failure, Bellof passes Prost to win and cost the Frenchman the title, only for Tyrrell to then be disqualified.

The uproar would be massive.

#34 byrkus

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Posted 27 December 2015 - 23:57

Barcelona 2012.

 

Vettel - 273

Alonso - 260

 

Vettel shows uncharacteristically mediocre racing weekend, and is (after hamilotn's penalty to last place) only 7th on the grid, while Alonso is in front row. Vettel has somehow forgettable race and finishes on 6th; Alonso therefore needs a win to clinch his third title.

 

But Alonso only gets second - behind Pastor Maldonado... :drunk: :p  

 

 

(It's also fun to notice, that Vettel and Alonso scored same amount of points at Spanish, as well as at final Brazilian GP - Vettel 8, and Alonso 18; they actually entered final race with 273 and 260 points. But how much more fun it would be, if Barcelona was actually last, with Maldonado's win causing unprecendented uproar) :D :D :D



#35 Jejking

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Posted 28 December 2015 - 10:05

Brazil 2006 if Suzuka 2006 had panned out differently without a certain engine blowup. Alonso would have done everything and more to keep Schumacher behind him, and Renault would have probably switched to their latest spec engine to keep up with Ferrari on the straights (instead they brought the RS26C/D which had 10/20BHP less, but was more reliable. I think it was D which let go spectacularly at Monza)



#36 Silverstone96

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Posted 28 December 2015 - 10:10

My point is it is one thing swapping races around but many of these finales the drivers drove a certain way according to the points

If interlagos 08 wasn't the last race would Hamilton have driven such a conservative race for 5th or if Suzuka 03 had not been last would Schumi have driven one of his most clumsy ever races to 8th?

#37 Marklar

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Posted 28 December 2015 - 10:13

God damn. It is just for fun.

#38 4Wheeldrift

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Posted 28 December 2015 - 10:40

My point is it is one thing swapping races around but many of these finales the drivers drove a certain way according to the points
 

 

Your point it that you have missed the point!  Frankly why bother reading a thread such as this?  Why not try https://en.wikipedia...ula_One_seasons instead?  You can nod your head approvingly for hours there!



#39 Dolph

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Posted 28 December 2015 - 11:32


Somewhere, a younger Brazilian and a schoolboy German are taking notes.  You can only try that manoeuvre, they muse, if you are ahead in points...

 

Pure gold :p
 



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#40 SophieB

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Posted 28 December 2015 - 11:36

My point is it is one thing swapping races around but many of these finales the drivers drove a certain way according to the points
If interlagos 08 wasn't the last race would Hamilton have driven such a conservative race for 5th or if Suzuka 03 had not been last would Schumi have driven one of his most clumsy ever races to 8th?


You have more than made your point, now please let people discuss the topic in peace, if they want to.

#41 djonas79

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Posted 28 December 2015 - 11:47

Canada 2012

 

Vettel leads by 1 point... it's Alonso who leads him most of the race with Hami thrown into the mix. Then comes the tyre mysery and Vettel last minute pitstop. It would make a 2008-esque finale. Also throw in the aftermath of the race with the Red Bull's allegedly illegal wings. It would add some 2007 feel to it too!



#42 djonas79

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Posted 28 December 2015 - 11:53

Also Belgium 2012 wouldn't be that bad:

 

Alonso leads by 15 points, almost has the WDC in the bag, but Grosjean thinks a different way in the start. Vettel falls back to P12 and it's up to him, if he can grab the podium before the chequered flag drops.



#43 Victor_RO

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Posted 28 December 2015 - 12:19

Okay, here's a doozy. Indycar 1992, with... Indianapolis as the finale.

 

Pre-season in the States, there is uproar from the faithful. Indy has been moved from Memorial Day due to a series of factors beyond anyone's control. A tornado causing severe damage to the grandstands and the pitlane buildings before the cars could even hit the track. The race cannot be held at its regular slot. However, the crowds are appeased, reconstruction work begins as soon as possible and all the tickets sold for May are valid for the rescheduled event at the end of the season, while everything is shifted around and the Month of May becomes the Month of October for one single year.

 

The rest of the season pans out as being quite exciting. It's a knock-down fight between Michael Andretti and Bobby Rahal, Rahal taking charge early in the season but Michael pulling it all back mid-way through the championship. They arrive at Laguna Seca. Michael takes the full points on offer while Bobby has to settle for a 3rd place. They leave Laguna Seca 192-188 in Andretti's favour and head to the hallowed grounds of Indianapolis, sparkling new after a herculean task by the construction crew to get the repaired facility ready in time.

 

Cold weather means crashes in practice. A lot of them. Nelson Piquet leaves the track with his legs mangled. Jovy Marcelo is killed in practice. The great champion Rick Mears has a second crash at the Speedway after his wreck in practice the year before, and the decision he had taken earlier in the season after settling on a part-time program is solidified in his mind; he would make this his last race at the Speedway. Qualifying is an interesting affair between the championship contenders, both of them qualify on the first day's run, but Andretti only 6th and Rahal 10th. The surprise package of Roberto Guerrero and the Lola-Buick shocks the paddock with an astonishing track record run to take the pole. Meanwhile, at the back of the field, a team makes a driver swap under the radar, sending the car to 33rd. The incoming driver being Scott Goodyear.

 

Race day dawns chilly and windy. Too chilly for the tires. On the second pace lap, the surprise pole sitter surprises everyone by crashing out exiting turn 2... behind the pace car! The damage is too great to continue, so the field loses its pole sitter before the green flag.

 

Right at the green, the Andrettis charge to the front at a furious pace. Then the first yellow falls due to a broken car. Mario pits with engine issues and leaves Michael at the front of the field. Then a crash for Tom Sneva starts to set the tone for the day: yellows breed yellows. 60 laps in, Michael has lapped everyone up to 4th place, but then... in the next 60 laps, only 9 of them were to be under green. Including two crashes for the other Andrettis in the race; Mario wrecks in turn 4 coming to a restart and suffers broken toes, while Jeff loses a wheel a few laps into a green-flag run and demolishes both his legs, while Michael has to circulate around and watch his family members being loaded into ambulances, injured. Meanwhile, another crash for Mears, as well as his teammate Fittipaldi at the same time, ends the champion's career at the Speedway on a sour note, but with no major injuries apart from a broken wrist.

 

Rahal keeps running around the fringes of the top 6, but after the long period of yellows he has to pit under green due to a puncture. With Andretti bossing the field at the front, leading lap after lap after lap after lap and seeming unstoppable, the championship seems to fall from Bobby's reach. Meanwhile, still in the top 3 but far behind the leaders, are two members of another racing family: the Unsers (both Al Sr and Al Jr). With about 15 laps to go, Rahal is sitting 7th, a lap down, with Al Sr having stopped and dropped back from his son who now sits in 2nd. Scott Goodyear has charged from 33rd to 3rd and is hunting down Al Jr for the lead.

 

Suddenly, with 12 laps to go, Paul Page starts screaming on the TV feed...

 

AND MICHAEL IS SLOWING! MICHAEL IS SLOWING DOWN!

 

A fuel pump fails on Andretti's car within sight of the flag! The Andretti curse strikes again, and this time there's more than an Indy 500 win that goes missing: the championship turns on its head too! From a safe lead and a pending championship win for Michael, Rahal is now 6th with Andretti out of the race, and this would give him the championship by 4 points!

 

But at the restart this is all left in the background. Goodyear is chasing Al Jr for all he's worth for the last 10 laps. The ABC and IMS Radio Network commentators are fully aware of the magnitude of what they are watching in terms of the Indy 500. Goodyear tries everything in the book, but Al Jr resists the pressure all the way.

 

And out of turn 4 they come for the 200th time, and Goodyear has a run, but it's too late. Al Jr wins the Indy 500 for the first time! And the margin of victory - 0.043 seconds. Closest finish in the history of the 500. Ever.

 

Yet on this day, the championship falls into the grasp of Bobby Rahal, who finishes 6th to overhaul Michael Andretti at the death. In the last 25 miles of the season.



#44 sopa

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Posted 29 December 2015 - 09:54

Great fun thread.:)

 

Would throw in a random example from a season, which is not here yet...

 

2009...

Before Australian GP.

Button - 85 pts, Vettel - 84 pts.

 

Button leads all race, while Vettel tries to hunt him down not too far behind. Until in the last few laps Kubica on fresh tyres has caught Vettel and there is a crash as Seb is already desperate and has nothing to lose.

 

 

As for 2010, most of the races would produce an interesting finale. :p

 

Here are some others...

2010 Malaysian Grand Prix...

 

Alo - 252

Vet - 231

 

A wet qualifying, and Ferrari has cocked it up massively with both cars starting from the back (together with McLarens).

 

Vettel passes Webber at the start. Needs to win and Webber duly stays behind him all race. While Alonso is busy trying to move forward. He needs 7th. Seems possible until gearbox/engine problems start troubling Alonso. He retires from P9 late in the race with a blown engine, while he was battling with Button (??). Ahead was team-mate Massa, who was in that crucial P7...

 

---

 

Australian GP

Vet - 256

Alo - 240.

 

Vettel leads comfortably, but retires with a wheelnut problem. Alonso needs a P2. It is close, but is held up in a train of cars behind Kubica till the chequered flag. For some reason Massa refuses to let Alonso past him to attack Kubica. Ferrari pitwall is furious.



#45 Marklar

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Posted 29 November 2016 - 03:48

This year is is good

Malaysia as the final
Hamilton 380
Rosberg 370

After winning 4 races in a row title defender Hamilton was set to clich his 4th title. He just needed to finish 3rd in Malaysia in order to win the championship. After the start it looked all wrapped up. Rosberg was falling back to last while he comfortably lead the race. While Rosberg managed to recover to 4th it seemed all over after he also got 10 seconds penalty for an move on Raikkonen. Then with 15 laps to go this happened

https://youtu.be/I_OVokWfsIc

-----------

Spain as the final

Rosberg 385
Hamilton 380

Hamilton came twice from an large points deficit back during the season to bring it down to an winner takes it all. Whoever wins is world champion. And given the nature of the track you could also say whoever leads after T1 wins the championship. Hamilton got the pole, but at the start Rosberg outbrakes him into T1, but suddenly Hamilton comes closer. Rosberg moves too late, Hamilton goes into the grass, spins and boom: Rosberg is WDC.

-----

Spielberg as the final (a bit negative)

Rosberg 373
Hamilton 355

All Rosberg needs to win is to finish at least 6th, but after his crash in practice his gearbox got damaged on so it got a tad more difficult as he had to start 6th. However, he quickly recovered and thanks to strategy even took the lead of the race. It all looked like he would seal the title with a win, then Hamilton attacks him! Collision! Hamilton gets away with it while Rosberg limps through the field in order to secure the so needed points. He managed it, but then the FIA announced to investigate him. Hours are passing and we stil have no champion...then after two hours Rosberg is finally anounced as the new world champion.

Edited by Marklar, 29 November 2016 - 04:04.


#46 Atreiu

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Posted 29 November 2016 - 04:15

Indy 2007 as the last race of the season.

Suzuka as the last race in 1994.



#47 DerFlugplatz

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Posted 22 December 2016 - 22:10

With Bottas looking set to be Hamiltons teammate next year. It would have been ironic if Bahrain was this years final, then Hamilton would have

had to face the prospect of being teammate to the driver who ruined his shot at victory in the final title deciding race of the season.


Edited by DerFlugplatz, 22 December 2016 - 22:11.


#48 RECKLESS

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Posted 22 December 2016 - 22:28

With Bottas looking set to be Hamiltons teammate next year. It would have been ironic if Bahrain was this years final, then Hamilton would have
had to face the prospect of being teammate to the driver who ruined his shot at victory in the final title deciding race of the season.

Haha I like this parallel universe.
Or.... is it even that parallel?? :D

#49 scheivlak

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Posted 22 December 2016 - 22:32

Indy 2007 as the last race of the season.

Suzuka as the last race in 1994.

2007 would be completely incomprehensible in quite a number of cases. Starting with Australia as the last race: Alonso just has to let Hamilton by to give him the championship. Same thing for Malaysia. And Monaco (!). And Monza.

 

And what about Montreal 2007 as a final race with Raikkonen scoring crucial points after a seemingly sub par race while championship leader (by 1 point) Alonso even gets passed by Sato in a Super Aguri in the final stages..... and all that after two long SC car periods, drivers red flagged and that hefty Kubica crash :drunk:  



#50 Laura23

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Posted 23 December 2016 - 04:07

Oh boy, I didn't read the OP properly...

 

 

...schoolgirl error!


Edited by Laura23, 23 December 2016 - 04:09.