USA Japan 10.10.2010, Sun 08:00

Arthur Doyle70 said:So, a different driver pairing every single race🤷...Based on how their cars actually look, you’d think they’d be a lock for the win😁

Not really. Honestly, I’d probably put my money on Robert Kubica over Alonso any day🤷

Ferrari didn't look great during practice, and I think they mentioned wanting to tweak everything and throw some extra parts on during the third session—which obviously didn't happen.😳

All in all, I'm not feeling particularly confident about Ferrari this weekend.🤷

Michael Lee4 said:I’ve found him unappealing from the first moment I saw him, and I guess I started grouping him in with the likes of Robert Kubica and Australia back then.☕

It feels that way to me too... everyone else seems to be moving forward, even Ferrari, while they just can't seem to find any more pace. When you factor in all the sheer stupidity and the constant bad luck, you end up with what they have now. But hey, this is Formula One, anything can happen, so I suppose we'll just sit tight until we get a final diagnosis. Who knows, maybe they'll actually surprise us for once.😁

At this point, the only things standing in the way of Newey's beast taking both titles are pure idiocy, an incompetent team principal, and driver errors.☕
The Italians do the best they can, copying everything until they're blue in the face😁 and honestly, it's fine; even
they mentioned designing this season's car based on Red Bull Racing, specifically looking at the nose area... It's pretty obvious the McLaren design has hit its limit; there just isn't enough time, and trying to pull off a radical redesign without testing is impossible. Toss in the mistakes and the bad luck you mentioned, and that's basically the whole story.☕

Arthur Doyle70 said:Honestly, nothing short of pure stupidity, an incompetent team boss, and driver errors could stop Newey’s beast from sweeping both titles.☕

Thank God it was just that, and nothing more. 🤣 🤣 🤣

Michael Lee4 said:It’s a relief it stopped there, because if things had gone any further, we'd be in real trouble. 🤣

😁 I didn't even factor in Newey's glass design 😉 though I have to admit, he's actually gotten better at that lately...

neonfalcon16 said:is there even anyone who would actually sit through qualifying at 3 AM?😁

That is such a stupid question, honestly.🙄

Of course I'm watching. I don't know what on earth could possibly stop me.😳

Sean Bishop34 said:What a stupid question.🙄

Obviously I'm watching. I don't know what could possibly stop me.😳

Maybe if local news cut your signal because you won't pay for a subscription, then we'd talk.🤷

stormybadger8 said:I mean, it's like how Comcast just cuts your digital signal the second you stop paying your subscription.🤷

Well, since I'm already paying for the subscription, I guess I don't really have anything to worry about.☕☕☕☕🙂🙂😉I probably won't even bother watching it at home since my buddy's got a massive hangover, and honestly, I don't think I'll make it back before 3 AM.😁

I have a strong feeling that McLaren—specifically their drivers—is going to absolutely shine this season.

Man... just imagine if Jessica Gumbek actually pulled off a win.🙂

Arthur Doyle70 said:😁 I didn't account for Newey's fragile design 😉 though I gotta admit he's improved in that department lately...

Fair point, but you can't really call Webber's car "fragile" when it's busy shoving rivals off the track before cruising to the finish line... 😁

Anyway, I'm heading to a buddy's birthday party later. Back in the day, that would have been my excuse to skip qualifying and the race entirely, but now my wife's tagging along, so there's no way I'm staying up late or dealing with a hangover tomorrow morning. 😳 Getting old...

James Smith50 said:Another episode of the F1 daycare center, featuring Bernie’s tantrums and a bunch of crying toddlers. 🙄

If these guys were actually top-tier drivers, they wouldn't be hiding out in their motorhomes clinging to their sponsors; they'd be out on the track while everyone else is cruising at 50, just to prove who can hit 60. Honestly, my heart goes out to the fans who traveled all that way to watch these crybabies. I’d lose my mind if I had flown all the way to Japan for THIS.

I completely agree with this sentiment and stand by it, regardless of what anyone else thinks. It seems they're just playing it safe.

Adam Chase41 said:that five-place penalty might not even matter when you consider there's probably going to be rain tomorrow. If things get messy out there, Lewis Hamilton will likely end up in the gravel at some point anyway😁 so whether he gets the penalty or not, the outcome remains the same.

The Chance of a wet race is about 0.1%. Just look here:

http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/277

However, we might see some small puddles and mud off the racing line, which is definitely a factor worth considering.😁

P.S. I regret not getting up at 4:00 AM, but I'm honestly too exhausted to allow myself another morning without sleep (after catching the second practice session, there wasn't much else to watch). Qualifying should be interesting, but I'm pacing myself for the main race.

Arthur Doyle70 said:Lewis Hamilton is getting a new gearbox... a five-place penalty 🤦 man, things just keep getting worse😲

It hasn't been officially confirmed on Autosport yet, but there’s a lot of chatter going around on the BBC...

Oh boy... 🙂

it's been confirmed 😉
and honestly, it's a pretty smart move on their part. It wouldn't be a bad idea for Alonso to swap out his engine too, especially if they're calling for rain during the race.
A ten-place penalty is almost negligible if you're dealing with a wet race; everything just gets turned upside down anyway. The only real concern is the increased risk at Turn 1—someone might lose grip and slide right in, much like Rubens did in Belgium 🤣🤣

mistybear87 said:it’s been confirmed 😉
and honestly, it’s a brilliant move on their part, though it wouldn't hurt if Alonso swapped out the engine too, especially since the forecast is calling for rain during the race.
A ten-place penalty is practically meaningless when you're dealing with a wet race, where everything just becomes a complete toss-up. The only real danger is at Turn 1, where someone might slide right into the wall like Rubens did back in Belgium 🤣🤣

Thinking back to Cvjetković...🙏

Michael Lee4 said:Jenson Button is a decent guy, pretty polite with Jessica Gumbek

Gumbek is the best, everything is better with her 😍

Did you guys catch this? 😁

"I had an American come up to me at the airport, JFK Airport, a few months back and she said 'Me and my family are big fans of yours'," the Briton told Reuters in a light-hearted moment AT The rain-hit Japanese Grand Prix.

"I said 'Wicked, thank you so much. I didn't think Formula One was that Big in America'.

"And she said 'Yeah, we've got all your records, all your albums.' I was, like 'Fantastic. you think I'm Chris Martin don't you?' and she went 'Are you not?'"

"I said 'No, I race in Formula One cars'. So she said 'What's your name?' and I said 'Jenson Button'. Then she said. 'Ah, my family are big fans of yours'. And I'm like, 'Yeah, of course they are.'"

🤣 🤣 🤣

just a bit of light rain falling here at Suzuka right now 😉

I’m really crossing my fingers for some rain during the race. Not like a total washout where it's just pouring non-stop, but more of that unpredictable, tricky weather where it switches between wet and dry tracks. That kind of chaos makes for such an incredible spectacle to watch.
Personally, this has always been one of my absolute favorite circuits on the calendar. 🙂

I think Suzuka is an incredible track, too (really hope they don't scrap it from the calendar)

Does anyone know if qualifying has finished yet? If not, when is it happening? I'm totally lost here🤣

What was the result?

The official site says:

''Qualifying postponed until Sunday AT Suzuka''

Could someone please clarify if the race takes place immediately following qualifying, or is there a delay?...

Honestly, nobody knows anything for sure. Word is qualifying might be pushed to 1:00 AM our time, but I haven't confirmed that yet. According to NASCAR hr, Sebastian Vettel grabbed pole position 😕

Anyway, that’s exactly why I’m staying in 🤣
just to catch this race..