Posts by cosmicridge5

Keith Rodriguez27 said:I don't really feel like digging through the rulebooks right now, so I figured I'd just ask someone here who might actually know. It’s probably not going to happen given the forecast and what our dynamic duo told us, but what happens if qualifying gets called off tomorrow?

I guess they’d just line up based on their usual standings...

Gumbek first, Hemoš second, forest third, and so on. 😬

stormybadger8 said:pretty😍 perfectly

🤣🤣🤣

Yeah, they couldn't have timed that better if they tried 🤣 Right alongside your first morning coffee 🤣

I think qualifying starts around 4 AM our time 😁

Beautifully fine 🤦 😁

fadedwalker18 said:He didn't spin out once, nor anything like that... so I guess he can actually drive... 😁

Oops, looks like he parked... which means... 😢

Another delay, apparently. 😁 Maybe another thirty minutes. 😁

Here’s the SC on track 😁

It looks more like a speedboat than an actual car 🤣

stormybadger8 said:so what happens with this 🤣
12. Vitaly Petrov
14. Adrian Sutil

if someone actually starts at 13😬

God, what a question! 😁 It’s pretty obvious those two will just be fighting for scraps🤷

🤣

I don't see any chance of qualifying happening; the forecast says the weather is only going to get worse over the next two hours 😁 Plus, there's some kind of typhoon lurking near the track 🤣

Nicole Reyes97 said:Wait, what? Seriously? 😳 🤣 Idiots. It just doesn't work that way. 😬

And just like that—Martin was being all cheerful while explaining that rule. 🤣

They just showed Vettel, and honestly, I think I'm actually dying of laughter. 😁 I guess he probably doesn't even know that rule exists himself. 🤣

mistybear87 said:I honestly wonder how Max would interpret qualifying "results" like these. Common sense suggests they shouldn't even be considered, but common sense hasn't really been the rule in these circles for a long time now.😬

So, I just asked him during the tournament what the deadline is for changing our predictions.🤣 If this rain keeps coming down like crazy, maybe I can just list them all out in order, nail all 24 trophy exact positions, and lock in that win right away.👋 😬 🤣

stormybadger8 said:I guess there's some weird logic where they both end up starting first and second🤣

Well, since they're basically the number one and number two drivers, 😁 why not just check CNN online? 😁

Though I doubt it'll actually come to that 🤣

Nicole Reyes97 said:based on what rules? 😠 😁
Well, whatever... I don't really get how they handle things on ESPN anyway (and honestly, I have zero desire to watch Ralf S. on TV this early in the morning 🤣 )

If there aren't any qualifying sessions, then they just line up by their assigned numbers 😁 Since Gumbek is number one, and Lewis is 2 😬

Michael is 3 🤣

Nando is only 8 🤦 😬

Nicole Reyes97 said:I guess reading this forum is how I stay awake 🤣 if I try to engage now, I might end up wide awake when I actually need to sleep later 😬 but honestly, this looks a little too wet for a decent start 🤷

On CNN they're saying Charlie thinks we've got half an hour 😁

Whitmarsh is suggesting there might not even be qualifying at all, which would mean his guys (per the rules) take the front row 🤣 though he did mention to Gumbek and Lewis that they shouldn't get their hopes up just yet, since the odds of that happening seem pretty slim 🤣

What is this even supposed to be? I drag myself out of bed at the crack of dawn for qualifying, only to be met with total chaos 🤣

Do you guys think I can just head back to sleep, or is this mess going to kick off any second now? 😳 🤣

ruggedfox28 said:Oh yeah... forgot to mention the other thing: "thank you, thank you guys..." 🤮

EDIT: ...actually, maybe it’s just because he’s German... you know how a lot of us here feel about Germans... 😉

Assholes! 🥳 😁😁😁

ruggedfox28 said:All I need to hear is him celebrating over the radio with that "yess yess yess" thing

...it seriously gets on my nerves...🤮

Even Fernando Alonso isn't any better when it comes to that stuff🤣

😕 I mean, it’s just that pure, boyish excitement, really!😍

I guess you don't know him all that well.😳 😁 😁

stormybadger8 said:I honestly don't get what people have against Sebastian Vettel.

He rolled up to McLaren in a car that was basically a rolling trash can, yet he still pulled off a masterclass season in 2008. Honestly, I can't remember anyone else looking that damn good in a mid-field—if not bottom-tier—car. And the guy never once trashed his team, even though he had every reason to. Between the mechanical failures and the sheer stupidity from the crew over the last three seasons, he’s dealt with more headaches than Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, and Fernando Alonso combined during that same stretch. Yet, not once did he run his mouth about them. Not even a word.

Honestly, I don't think anyone else—not even Fernando Alonso—has ever made such a massive impact while driving for a mid-tier team.

Mark Webber never actually showed what he was capable of until he finally got a fast car under him. Before that, all he really had to offer was his massive ego, a stubborn streak a mile wide, and an absurd amount of luck whenever he decided to force things.🤷

Honestly, him winning the title would be just like when Rubens took it last year—or maybe more like Jenson Button’s run. It’s almost cute because we're watching an average driver at the tail end of his career finally show some life. After years of grinding just to scrap for a single point here or there, he’s suddenly in the hunt for a championship. I get it. It’s nice to see a mid-tier guy suddenly become the big shot. I guess people just need to inflate their own expectations, hoping that one day they might stumble into something huge out of nowhere too.🤷

People love to claim Sebastian Vettel is washed up, spoiled, or just plain desperate this season. Honestly? Give me a break. The guy’s made maybe two or three driving mistakes all year. That's about it.😕

If we’re really going to try and compare his nonsense to Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso, then he’s basically a preschooler compared to those guys.☕

The only ones I can't stand are:
Jenson Button? Honestly, I think he’s a total pushover. He can’t put on any pressure, can't even attempt an overtake—nothing. Then you’ve got Mark Webber, who's driving two seconds slower than the leaders while running on tires that are basically disintegrating. He’s such a soft target that they let the other guys bully him just so their golden boy can stay the Number One star.🙄
I honestly don't get how you can just let this slide without a single word of protest. You're letting Mr. Perfect delete stuff immediately without even putting up a fight. Honestly, even Felipe Massa seems like he'd be more likely to stand his ground and say, "Hey, hold on, I'm not some puppet you can just push around," than Jenson Button is.🤦

Lewis Hamilton? Please. He’s such a spoiled brat. He shows up whenever he feels like it, then acts all innocent with that smug little grin, claiming he never meant any harm. Oh, and let's not forget how he suddenly got handed a top-tier car and total, undivided support from the entire team. Despite all that, he barely scraped by to win a title—literally at the very last second. When the pressure is actually on, he crumbles like a cheap cookie. Look, I get it, the kid has style and occasionally drives like an absolute beast, but seriously? What kind of idiot pulls stunts like that when the championship is on the line? It’s just not normal. If he had a 100-point lead with five races left, would that even be enough for him?🤣
I’m not even joking—I saw those two retirements coming a mile away. I was 100% sure everything would go sideways. Honestly, I don't see him pulling off more than maybe two decent races before the season ends; everything else is just going to be a disaster. It wouldn't even surprise me if he finishes ahead of Jenson Button in the standings by the end of the year.

As for Fernando Alonso—sure, he’s on a massive run right now, but I can't stand this whole "everyone in the team has to be his servant" thing just so he can actually drive a decent car.🙄 This season has been pathetic for him. To be blunt, he only looks competent once the entire team sides with him and turns Felipe Massa into a complete joke. Before that, Alonso was nowhere to be found, and I honestly can't wrap my head around it.🤷
Either he's got some major inferiority complex and needs that "ultimate No. 1" status to pump up his ego, or he's just acting like a child. I seriously don't get it.🤷

Mark Webber is honestly more likable than the three guys mentioned above, but I can't bring myself to root for him. Sebastian Vettel is just my guy.

I don't know about that. I can't say I agree. 😁 I think you're exaggerating a bit and losing your objectivity here. Where exactly did he go to "bully" the team? If you're referring to what happened at the Turkish Grand Prix when they were told to save fuel—well, even then, Jenson Button went after Denis Hemić and actually managed to overtake him. 😁 If he was actually being "picked on" or treated like some soft amateur, there’s just no way that would have happened. I mean, he only gave up the fight after they literally started screaming over the team radio to save fuel—and they told both drivers to do it. That makes total sense to me. Plus, just a few minutes before that, the Red Bull drivers collided in a similar battle and threw away a massive haul of points. That played right into McLaren's hands, and honestly, I bet the Red Bull crew was sweating bullets, terrified their own guys might pull a similar stunt. 🤣 Of course, in a situation like that, it would have been incredibly stupid to allow a direct fight with Lewis and risk a total disaster. To me, how that played out was more a sign of McLaren's maturity—and Jenson Button's professionalism—rather than him just playing some submissive role.

Regarding that whole thing about Jenson Button "avoiding" Lewis Hamilton—you have to keep in mind that's just how Jenson is as a person, not just when he's dealing with Lewis. In my opinion, he's one of... Probably the most fair and decent way to look at it. To call that driver anything other than what he is would be a mistake—it’s probably wrong to try and lump him in with those bottom-feeders.

He’s the kind of driver who isn't going to slam anyone into a wall or squeeze people out of their racing lines. In my book, that’s actually a massive strength, not a weakness. And it's not just when he's going wheel-to-wheel with Lewis Hamilton, either.

Besides that, what exactly should it look like? Some stubborn mule like Mark Webber? Someone who just drives headfirst into a wall without a single thought for who might get hurt or what the fallout actually is? I guess you have to wonder what kind of world considers that a positive trait. 😬

What should Jenson Button be doing differently? Let's be real, he’s just not faster than Lewis Hamilton, and that's a plain fact. When it comes to raw pace, Lewis is clearly superior to Button, but I guess Ivan Gumbek makes up for it brilliantly with his other strengths—those specific qualities that a lightning-fast guy like Hemoš lacks, which are probably tucked away somewhere in his head. 😁It’s honestly impressive how they managed that—he’s trailing Lewis Hamilton by less than 10 points now. That’s three aces for Jenson Button. 😉

And my personal wish list? Well, if we’re being honest—and I'll admit I'm biased here—it would be if Fernando Alonso... 😬 If he doesn't take the win, I guess I’d rather see Sebastian Vettel finish first, followed by Jenson Button. Even though I personally find Red Bull much more appealing than McLaren, I’d still much rather see Ivan Gumbek clinch the title for McLaren than have Mark Webber do it for Red Bull. That is, regardless of my own criticisms of Webber—I suppose I'm also a little soft on the guy because he's such an underdog, and this might literally be his last shot at ever grabbing a championship.

Look, it’s obvious that McLaren favors Lewis; he's clearly their golden boy... but I think they still manage to balance things reasonably well between being "close" to him and actually showing blatant favoritism (like what we see over at Ferrari). At least for now. So, as far as I can tell, Jenson doesn't really have much reason to be "mad" at McLaren. 🤷

He's aware that raw pace isn't exactly his strongest suit—especially since his teammate is one of the absolute fastest guys on the grid—and he knows that leaning on pure speed won't help Lewis much. He has to find his edge elsewhere, and honestly, I think it's brilliant that he not only realizes this but possesses the self-control to execute it properly. He avoids cracking under the pressure of trying to prove something pointless, like in head-to-head battles with Lewis on track, where he'd likely struggle and just end up messing things up for himself and the team.

That’s basically the only thing Ivan Gumbek needs to do, and he's doing it perfectly.

My respect for him has grown immensely. Less than a year ago, most people were convinced Jenson would be embarrassed at McLaren and that Lewis would just eat him alive. And yet, look at those points! 🙏

So yeah—three cheers for Gumbek. :-)

stormybadger8 said:I honestly don't get what people have against Sebastian Vettel.

He rolled up to McLaren in a car that was basically a rolling trash can, yet he still pulled off a masterclass season in 2008. Honestly, I can't remember anyone else looking that damn good in a mid-field—if not bottom-tier—car. And the guy never once trashed his team, even though he had every reason to. Between the mechanical failures and the sheer stupidity from the crew over the last three seasons, he’s dealt with more headaches than Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, and Fernando Alonso combined during that same stretch. Yet, not once did he run his mouth about them. Not even a word.

Honestly, I don't think anyone else—not even Fernando Alonso—has ever made such a massive impact while driving for a mid-tier team.

Mark Webber never actually showed what he was capable of until he finally got a fast car under him. Before that, all he really had to offer was his massive ego, a stubborn streak a mile wide, and an absurd amount of luck whenever he decided to force things.🤷

Honestly, him winning the title would be just like when Rubens took it last year—or maybe more like Jenson Button’s run. It’s almost cute because we're watching an average driver at the tail end of his career finally show some life. After years of grinding just to scrap for a single point here or there, he’s suddenly in the hunt for a championship. I get it. It’s nice to see a mid-tier guy suddenly become the big shot. I guess people just need to inflate their own expectations, hoping that one day they might stumble into something huge out of nowhere too.🤷

People love to claim Sebastian Vettel is washed up, spoiled, or just plain desperate this season. Honestly? Give me a break. The guy’s made maybe two or three driving mistakes all year. That's about it.😕

If we’re really going to try and compare his nonsense to Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso, then he’s basically a preschooler compared to those guys.☕

The only ones I can't stand are:
Jenson Button? Honestly, I think he’s a total pushover. He can’t put on any pressure, can't even attempt an overtake—nothing. Then you’ve got Mark Webber, who's driving two seconds slower than the leaders while running on tires that are basically disintegrating. He’s such a soft target that they let the other guys bully him just so their golden boy can stay the Number One star.🙄
I honestly don't get how you can just let this slide without a single word of protest. You're letting Mr. Perfect delete stuff immediately without even putting up a fight. Honestly, even Felipe Massa seems like he'd be more likely to stand his ground and say, "Hey, hold on, I'm not some puppet you can just push around," than Jenson Button is.🤦

Lewis Hamilton? Please. He’s such a spoiled brat. He shows up whenever he feels like it, then acts all innocent with that smug little grin, claiming he never meant any harm. Oh, and let's not forget how he suddenly got handed a top-tier car and total, undivided support from the entire team. Despite all that, he barely scraped by to win a title—literally at the very last second. When the pressure is actually on, he crumbles like a cheap cookie. Look, I get it, the kid has style and occasionally drives like an absolute beast, but seriously? What kind of idiot pulls stunts like that when the championship is on the line? It’s just not normal. If he had a 100-point lead with five races left, would that even be enough for him?🤣
I’m not even joking—I saw those two retirements coming a mile away. I was 100% sure everything would go sideways. Honestly, I don't see him pulling off more than maybe two decent races before the season ends; everything else is just going to be a disaster. It wouldn't even surprise me if he finishes ahead of Jenson Button in the standings by the end of the year.

As for Fernando Alonso—sure, he’s on a massive run right now, but I can't stand this whole "everyone in the team has to be his servant" thing just so he can actually drive a decent car.🙄 This season has been pathetic for him. To be blunt, he only looks competent once the entire team sides with him and turns Felipe Massa into a complete joke. Before that, Alonso was nowhere to be found, and I honestly can't wrap my head around it.🤷
Either he's got some major inferiority complex and needs that "ultimate No. 1" status to pump up his ego, or he's just acting like a child. I seriously don't get it.🤷

Mark Webber is honestly more likable than the three guys mentioned above, but I can't bring myself to root for him. Sebastian Vettel is just my guy.

👍

I'm also pretty confused by the Vettel haters.🤷

As a driver, he’s undeniably talented. As for the mistakes? Well, I suppose even much more experienced drivers make just as many errors and silly blunders.

As a person, though, I actually find him to be one of the most likable guys out there. He seems like a genuinely sweet person (I've watched quite a few of his interviews everywhere)—a little charming, energetic,😁 and just a total optimist, if you ask me.🙏

Actually, especially considering how young he is, the amount of humility he shows after everything he's been through is surprising. All those "unfortunate coincidences" or the mess caused by his team's immaturity... I imagine someone like Denis Hemić or Fernando Alonso would have reacted differently in that situation.🤣

Christian Williams61 said:😂 you crazy thing 🤣 I mean, I was thinking the exact same thing just a second ago—but then I figured... yeah, better not say it out loud 😳 😉

😁 😁

Just kidding, Chris Chase5 😘 😬

Though I guess I still have my doubts 😁

Chris Chase5 said:I have to admit, there’s something about this route that really draws me in; I actually found myself quite fond of it from that perspective. I'll likely find myself heading out that way in a few years...

Yeah, I was thinking about that today too 🙏 It seems a bit wild 🙏

Maybe just pair it with a ten-day trip to Singapore 😍

She's claiming she's a woman ☕ 😁