Grand Prix of Japan (Indianapolis) 10/09/2011

wanderingbison9 said:It seems like you might have missed a few things while watching the race.🙄

🤣🤣🤣, perhaps if you examined the start with a bit more scrutiny, you would realize that had Jenson Button been the one responsible for that maneuver against Sebastian Vettel, he would have climbed out of his car immediately to lodge a direct protest with the Race Director.

Congrats to Sebastian Vettel on his second title 🙏

Kudos to Michael Schumacher for an incredible race 🙏

Chris Ortiz said:Honestly, the man is just insufferable, truly awful.

Plus, he's a mediocre driver who only won titles because of the car.

And Bernie Ecclestone basically handed them to him through the officials.

Unknown! 😁👋🙏

Bradley Nelson2 said:Yeah, right. Between me, the officials, and the commentators, nobody saw it. But you? You’re an expert. Congrats.👍

The officials definitely saw what happened, but since there wasn't any direct contact—and considering how often they seem to give Sebastian Vettel a free pass whenever possible, along with a few other questionable factors—it's all a bit murky. Did he actually force him off into the grass, or did he leave enough room? By the time Jenson Button was already "inside" the line, had the space already been surrendered? Come on, let's be real here.

nimblesurfer17 As I have previously observed, there remains a profound necessity to scrutinize the underlying logic presented here. One must wonder, does anyone truly believe that such a superficial analysis holds any weight in a serious discussion? It seems we are once again drifting into the realm of baseless speculation rather than engaging with the actual data at hand. Is it not our responsibility to demand more rigor from those who claim to understand the intricacies of the sport?
What can truly be said about a figure like Sebastian Vettel? Is he merely a driver, or is he something more complex that defies simple categorization?🤣
How does one subtly elevate themselves? Observe this particular maneuver: "You see, this race merely proved that we were all essentially neck and neck; it demonstrated that our strength has remained consistent throughout the entire year, even if the results haven't yet reflected that reality..." 🤣 Yes, we are all perfectly aware that you are nothing more than an exaggeration.🙏

Should we not consider erecting a monument in honor of Adrian Newey?

He is undeniably a talented driver, but let’s be honest: this man has been handed a car so dominant that he's spent the last two seasons essentially racing against himself rather than the rest of the field.

Kimberly Cruz said:Congrats to Sebastian Vettel on his second title 🙏

Kudos to Michael Schumacher for an incredible race 🙏

And let us not overlook Fernando Alonso, who managed to leave both Red Bull Racing cars and even a McLaren driver trailing in his wake. 😉

Chris Ortiz said:Honestly, the man is just insufferable, truly awful.

Jason Campbell70 said:Plus, he's a mediocre driver who only won titles because of the car.

And Bernie Ecclestone basically handed them to him through the officials.

Unknown! 😁👋🙏

Sebastian Vettel is an exceptional driver and a major champion. 🙏 🙏

However, is he really as charming as people claim? I certainly don't find him so. He might be a talented actor, but this interview—combined with the way he just ignored Jenson Button in the waiting room earlier, not to mention that finger-wagging incident last year after he collided with Mark Webber—suggests his manners aren't exactly those of a gentleman. Perhaps he is simply too young to have learned better...

And yes, for years now, I've felt that Jenson Button’s incredibly smooth and refined driving style is the closest thing on the grid to the style of Professor Alain Prost. 🙏 🙏

wanderingbison9 said:The officials definitely saw what happened, but since there wasn't any direct contact—and considering how often they seem to give Sebastian Vettel a free pass whenever possible, along with a few other questionable factors—it's all a bit murky. Did he actually force him off into the grass, or did he leave enough room? By the time Jenson Button was already "inside" the line, had the space already been surrendered? Come on, let's be real here.

They have no choice; they've been penalizing him for every minor infraction, much like how they've handled Lewis Hamilton this season.
He was even slapped with a penalty previously just for failing to maintain the required gap behind the safety car.
I can only hope the FIA doesn't decide to overhaul the regulations again for 2012, because such shifts rarely favor Ferrari.

Jason Campbell70 said:First headline—the youngest champion in history.
Next season—securing a second title in a row.

And damn, he’ll probably be the youngest two-time world champion in history too.

You don't even need consecutive wins to be a two-time or multi-time champ.

Jason Campbell70 said:Plus, he's a mediocre driver who only won titles because of the car.

And Bernie Ecclestone basically handed them to him through the officials.

Unknown! 😁👋🙏

The regulations are made transparent to everyone at the start of the season.
For instance, why should anyone hold Ferrari accountable when they perform catastrophically on the hardest compound tires?
I fail to see where the grievance lies; McLaren Racing and Red Bull Racing are more than happy whenever Ferrari opts for that specific tire specification.
I was actually quite surprised today; I had fully expected Fernando Alonso to suffer a setback due to the persistent issues Ferrari has faced all season, yet somehow, this outcome feels entirely unexpected.😕

Then there is the matter of the aerodynamics at the beginning of the year—what an endless string of complications. One can only hope that Ferrari finally engineers a truly competitive car for next season, rather than relying on nothing but optimistic rhetoric.
I just pray that Adrian Newey doesn't design a powerhouse that leaves the entire field in the dust.

stormybadger8 Asks:
So, where exactly did they land on that penalty for Fernando Alonso at Monza?🙄

It wasn't there because it shouldn't have been there in the first place.
Look, Alonso actually gave Vettel some breathing room there. If he hadn't moved, Vettel would've ended up spinning out into the grass. Instead, he tucked into his right side to clear a path and let him through.
That was Vettel, and he said it right there at the press conference.
By the way, this comment isn't related to today's start, and I'm not trying to draw any parallels here.

The vibes at the end were just weird😢

Stoked about the title win 👋🙂😍

but honestly, that 3rd place finish was a bit of a letdown.

Really feel for Kimi Räikkönen😢😢😢
Glad for Sergio Perez 🙏

I wonder how Edie Irvin is feeling right now. Right before the race started, he was busy lecturing everyone on the Formula 1 elite, practically preaching about how legendary Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton are. He even tossed Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber into that "top tier" group, while claiming Jenson Button and Felipe Massa were nowhere near the level of those four. What an absolute embarrassment—especially regarding Button. Or does he actually have some reason to be that jealous?

William Bennett53 said:Sebastian Vettel is an exceptional driver and a major champion. 🙏 🙏

However, is he really as charming as people claim? I certainly don't find him so. He might be a talented actor, but this interview—combined with the way he just ignored Jenson Button in the waiting room earlier, not to mention that finger-wagging incident last year after he collided with Mark Webber—suggests his manners aren't exactly those of a gentleman. Perhaps he is simply too young to have learned better...

And yes, for years now, I've felt that Jenson Button’s incredibly smooth and refined driving style is the closest thing on the grid to the style of Professor Alain Prost. 🙏 🙏

A few years?

Let me guess, since 2009.?

Well, the real Professor did it his entire career, winning in all sorts of machinery and fighting for titles in just about everything.

If you ask me who the greatest driver ever was, my heart would say Michael Schumacher, but my head would say "definitely Prost."

And let's be honest, even Sebastian Vettel can't be put in the same conversation as the most successful Formula 1 drivers of all time.

Brian Campbell36 said:

nimblesurfer17 As I have previously observed, there remains a profound necessity to scrutinize the underlying logic presented here. One must wonder, does anyone truly believe that such a superficial analysis holds any weight in a serious discussion? It seems we are once again drifting into the realm of baseless speculation rather than engaging with the actual data at hand. Is it not our responsibility to demand more rigor from those who claim to understand the intricacies of the sport?
What can truly be said about a figure like Sebastian Vettel? Is he merely a driver, or is he something more complex that defies simple categorization?🤣
How does one subtly elevate themselves? Observe this particular maneuver: "You see, this race merely proved that we were all essentially neck and neck; it demonstrated that our strength has remained consistent throughout the entire year, even if the results haven't yet reflected that reality..." 🤣 Yes, we are all perfectly aware that you are nothing more than an exaggeration.🙏

Should we not consider erecting a monument in honor of Adrian Newey?

He is undeniably a talented driver, but let’s be honest: this man has been handed a car so dominant that he's spent the last two seasons essentially racing against himself rather than the rest of the field.

Oh, absolutely. Because clearly, being a great driver doesn't matter when you're sitting in a rocket ship. Bless your heart, Adrian.

Brian Campbell36 said:And let us not overlook Fernando Alonso, who managed to leave both Red Bull Racing cars and even a McLaren driver trailing in his wake. 😉

👍

wanderingbison9 said:The officials definitely saw what happened, but since there wasn't any direct contact—and considering how often they seem to give Sebastian Vettel a free pass whenever possible, along with a few other questionable factors—it's all a bit murky. Did he actually force him off into the grass, or did he leave enough room? By the time Jenson Button was already "inside" the line, had the space already been surrendered? Come on, let's be real here.

Seriously, where was the penalty for Alonso at Monza?🙄

When even Martin Brundle and Coulthard—who usually can't stand McLaren or Jenson Button—are saying it WASN'T a penalty, then it’s obvious they’re actually just Red Bull and Sebastian's fan club.🤣

The BBC is basically just Red Bull's personal TV station at this point.😂

Jason Campbell70 said:A few years?

Let me guess, since 2009.?

Well, the real Professor did it his entire career, winning in all sorts of machinery and fighting for titles in just about everything.

If you ask me who the greatest driver ever was, my heart would say Michael Schumacher, but my head would say "definitely Prost."

And let's be honest, even Sebastian Vettel can't be put in the same conversation as the most successful Formula 1 drivers of all time.

Prost is my favorite driver of all time, and I don't think Jenson Button is quite at that level, though I suppose his driving style does remind me of him. 🙏

Even Vettel isn't Schumacher yet (and maybe he never will be), but yes, he does remind me of him with that dominant style and that often feigned friendliness. Again, I'm saying this from my perspective. You might find yourself reminded of Felipe Massa, but that's your prerogative. 😁

Chris Ortiz said:I was wondering if any of the logic experts here could walk me through how it's possible for someone to hold two consecutive titles without necessarily being the youngest person to achieve two titles?

It doesn't even have to.🤣

Look, let’s say some new kid comes along and sweeps the 2018 title as the youngest ever, then goes and grabs 2019 too. Technically, Vettel would still hold the record as the youngest two-time F1 Champion—assuming this imaginary newcomer somehow stumbles into that second title during the very last race of the season.

Raymond Anderson4 said:

stormybadger8 Asks:
So, where exactly did they land on that penalty for Fernando Alonso at Monza?🙄

It wasn't there because it shouldn't have been there in the first place.
Look, Alonso actually gave Vettel some breathing room there. If he hadn't moved, Vettel would've ended up spinning out into the grass. Instead, he tucked into his right side to clear a path and let him through.
That was Vettel, and he said it right there at the press conference.
By the way, this comment isn't related to today's start, and I'm not trying to draw any parallels here.

Obviously there shouldn't have been a penalty, neither for Alonso in that race nor for Vettel in this one. They shouldn't have happened then either.☕

I actually watched the replay on ESPN from a few different angles, and it’s crystal clear that Vettel is just mirroring whatever Hamilton does. He's following Hamilton's movements in both directions immediately after him, which makes total sense. Today, winning wasn't his priority; just finishing the race without wrecking everything was. And if you don't want to crash, you watch where Hamilton is—especially when he's right in front of you.🧐

Even a toddler could figure that out.🙂