So, Who's gonna lose the F1 Chqampionship?

Platinum90 wrote: Webber is past it

I've agreed with nearly everything you've said except this.

Not really sure what would indicate this to you.

Platinum90 wrote: Say what you will, Fernando is the all around BEST driver on the grid

Agree

Platinum90 wrote: with Kubica or Hamilton on a close second. Webber is past it, and Vettel is too immature, both are making up for it with a SUPER quick car. Put any of the other three I mentioned in the car, and they would have had the WDC wrapped weeks ago.

Disagree. Hamilton is the best overtaker of the rest but has made the same dufus mistakes as Vettel and has cost himself a championship in the past with pure "Massa" chokes. Who could forget him stuffing it onto the beach at pit in? Vettel is the quicker of the two and has proven himself as probably the best qualifier in the field. These two are wild cards. No guarantees they won't end in ruins.

Webber is a saavy old man who knows this is his best, last shot at the gold. He has proven that when he is on - he can go toe to toe with Vettel on the timesheet and has also proven he can complete a pass without wrecking many times in the last decade. He is in take-no-prisoners mode. Nothing to lose - everything to gain. His car is good. If he can keep his E36 M3 together (big if) he will be fine and he will be able to put his fate in the best possible position. If the red car is 2nd... there won't be anything he can do about it. Fred never chokes and rarely makes a mistake.

z31maniac wrote:

Platinum90 wrote: Webber is past it

I've agreed with nearly everything you've said except this. Not really sure what would indicate this to you.

The fact that he has BY FAR the best car on the grid. Newey built a Gem, and it is in the hands of two incompetent drivers that have managed to turn 14 pole positions into a mere 8 wins, and a massive 6 non-points finishes.

Do you really believe that Webber deserves the seat more than almost anyone else on the grid? I would venture that Rosberg or even Sutil would be better suited in the RB6. Webber is impatient, and doesn't know when to settle down and points race.

GPS said: Disagree. Hamilton is the best overtaker of the rest but has made the same dufus mistakes as Vettel and has cost himself a championship in the past with pure "Massa" chokes. Who could forget him stuffing it onto the beach at pit in? Vettel is the quicker of the two and has proven himself as probably the best qualifier in the field. These two are wild cards. No guarantees they won't end in ruins. Webber is a saavy old man who knows this is his best, last shot at the gold. He has proven that when he is on - he can go toe to toe with Vettel on the timesheet and has also proven he can complete a pass without wrecking many times in the last decade. He is in take-no-prisoners mode. Nothing to lose - everything to gain. His car is good. If he can keep his E36 M3 together (big if) he will be fine and he will be able to put his fate in the best possible position. If the red car is 2nd... there won't be anything he can do about it. Fred never chokes and rarely makes a mistake.

Platinum90 wrote:

GPS said: Disagree. Hamilton is the best overtaker of the rest but has made the same dufus mistakes as Vettel and has cost himself a championship in the past with pure "Massa" chokes. Who could forget him stuffing it onto the beach at pit in? Vettel is the quicker of the two and has proven himself as probably the best qualifier in the field. These two are wild cards. No guarantees they won't end in ruins. Webber is a saavy old man who knows this is his best, last shot at the gold. He has proven that when he is on - he can go toe to toe with Vettel on the timesheet and has also proven he can complete a pass without wrecking many times in the last decade. He is in take-no-prisoners mode. Nothing to lose - everything to gain. His car is good. If he can keep his E36 M3 together (big if) he will be fine and he will be able to put his fate in the best possible position. If the red car is 2nd... there won't be anything he can do about it. Fred never chokes and rarely makes a mistake.

I agree that Hamilton has made some really stupid mistakes, and yes China 2007 is one of the biggest. That being said, he has more maturity than Vettel does, and I think, given the same car, he is quicker. I am not defending Hamilton, I can't stand the kid, but I do think he would at least be quicker than Webber in the RB. The comment about Webber keeping his E36 M3 together is a HUGE IF!

In reply to Platinum90:

No matter how you slice it up - I will be riveted to the TiVo for every second from Q1 thru to the podium. It starts in 23.4 hrs!

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:

Free Practice is occuring right now - a bit of a preview for Qualies and the Race.

Early on, Alonso and Hamilton are at the top with Webber in fourth. Vettel sits in eighth.

I suspect this will change before the end of the session.

I can't agree that Alonso is head and shoulders better than the rest. I see Alonso, Vettel, Hammy as all very close in ability with any one of them a winner on any weekend. No doubt the RedBull is the best car with Ferrari a close second. McLaren is not on the past of the front too, but that seems to be more engineering issues than set up issues. Also Alonso has 158 starts (same as Webber) that's more than HAmmy and Vettel combined. They're still learning, Alonso is at his peak and and Webber is over the hill.

Top 10 from F.P.1.
Free practice 1 Driver Teams Time
1 S Vettel (GER) Red Bull 1'42.760
2 LC Hamilton (GBR) McLaren 1'43.369
3 J Button (GBR) McLaren 1'43.785
4 M Webber (AUS) Red Bull 1'43.840
5 R Kubica (POL) Renault 1'44.080
6 F Alonso (ESP) Ferrari 1'44.121
7 M Schumacher (GER) Mercedes 1'44.199
8 K Kobayashi (JPN) BMW Sauber 1'44.604
9 N Rosberg (GER) Mercedes 1'44.718
10 N Heidfeld (GER) BMW Sauber 1'44.737

FP2 results for the top four:

Hamilton

Vettel

Alonso

Webber

Tomorrow's qualifying will probably see these same usual suspects in the top four, but not in the same order.

Yeah, I am going to be RIVETED to qualifying.

(I don't mean to sound argumentative with this thread, but I don't get fired up about anything like I do F1. I am a super huge fan, and I wouldn't miss a race for the world. I enjoy the back and forth, and the banter is great. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, even if the opinion is wrong.)

And GP2 is great for watching the young and the desperate. With bits of brilliance thrown in now and then. Sunday at 6 am, last race of the season.

The most relaxed guy in the paddock has to be Lewis. All he has to do is go out and run. If the other three champ contenders blow up or crash, what are the odds of anybody beating him?

In reply to Streetwiseguy:

Speed's pit reporter interviewed the four contender's and came away feeling Vettel had the most cavalier attitude.

Hamilton HAS to win while the other three fall out of the race - possible, but very unlikely. Hamilton's car won't be fast enough or he'll commit an error by pushing too hard.

The battle is between Alonso and Webber with Vettel as a possible spoiler. My money is on Alonso.

This will be a very interesting weekend for F1 fans!

anyone watching Quali? seems like the McLaren and the Ferrari are quicker at this track.

The pressure is already getting to Hamilton! He severely cocked up the braking zone coming off the back straight.

Can Red Bull respond?

HA HA! The mind games begin!

triumph5 wrote: I'd love to see Vettel take out Alonso is a truly memorable spectacular fashion--that they both walk away from--and Webber get the championship he's chased for so long.

This!

Great drivers? Yes, but Hamilton and Vettel are both snotty kids and thus more likely to make a bad decision. The Championship will be won by one of the two "experienced" drivers. The one that doesn't berkeley up will be the winner. Not that he will but Webber is way more likely to make a mistake than Alonso. I'm a happy camper if either win.

Platinum90 wrote: I just REALLY don't want Vettel to win. He is an incompetent douche. He needs a couple more years to mature. (similar to how I felt about Hamilton) I would rather see Webbo win it than Vettel. Hell, I would rather see Hamilton win it than Vettel.

I lol'ed when I read this. You and my wife would get along. She hates Vettel with a passion that's entertaining to say the least.

Too bad he's on pole.

Four guys wth a shot at the Driver's Champioship; a bunch of others driving for their jobs-or at other teams--what aren't the odds the race WON'T see a safety car.

Anti-red mist pills for everyone! But that would take some of the excitement out of the race That reminds me, wear the helmet during the GP2 race. Oh the carnage.....

Matt B wrote:

Platinum90 wrote: I just REALLY don't want Vettel to win. He is an incompetent douche. He needs a couple more years to mature. (similar to how I felt about Hamilton) I would rather see Webbo win it than Vettel. Hell, I would rather see Hamilton win it than Vettel.

I lol'ed when I read this. You and my wife would get along. She hates Vettel with a passion that's entertaining to say the least. Too bad he's on pole.

The funny thing is, my SO decided on a whim that she was going to be a Vettel fan this season. (logical since we witnessed him score his first world championship point in Indianapolis in 2007). I think she roots for people I hate just to spite me. (in 2007, she was a Hamilton fan...talk about a house divided).

Platinum90 wrote:

Matt B wrote:

Platinum90 wrote: I just REALLY don't want Vettel to win. He is an incompetent douche. He needs a couple more years to mature. (similar to how I felt about Hamilton) I would rather see Webbo win it than Vettel. Hell, I would rather see Hamilton win it than Vettel.

I lol'ed when I read this. You and my wife would get along. She hates Vettel with a passion that's entertaining to say the least. Too bad he's on pole.

The funny thing is, my SO decided on a whim that she was going to be a Vettel fan this season. (logical since we witnessed him score his first world championship point in Indianapolis in 2007). I think she roots for people I hate just to spite me. (in 2007, she was a Hamilton fan...talk about a house divided).

Pole schmole. Vettel will NOT be winning the WDC. With Webbo's poor showing in quali, I don't think he will either.

All Alonso has to do now is finish ahead of Webber, and it's all locked up!

Errr, much to my chagrin, it's looking like Vettel on lap 51 out of 55.

Worst case scenario has happened. Our arch nemesis is WDC. I'll pour one out for my homies tonight.

That said, kudos to RBR for letting their drivers sort it out amongst themselves all season (not that they had a choice today).

BEAUTIFUL aba (ANYONE BUT Alonso)

Platinum90 wrote: Pole schmole. Vettel will NOT be winning the WDC. With Webbo's poor showing in quali, I don't think he will either. All Alonso has to do now is finish ahead of Webber, and it's all locked up!

Quoted for posterity...