Pretty excited about this, as is Mr Alonso!

Looks like Hamilton and Button might actually be up there as well as they didn’t look too shabby in 1st Prac.

Early days yet – RBs look quick, but Nando didn’t seem too fussed about fast times. McLarens new wing seems to be doing the job though, but I still think the RBs will be comfortably ahead of the rest in qualifying.

Qualy:

RBs 1 and 2, Hammo to mix it up a bit by maybe sneaking a P3. Alonso 4.

Practice is practice though. I don’t doubt the Red Bulls have the pace to be at the front. Buts it s the interplay between the 4 contenders that will be most interesting.

Vettel and Hamilton have nothing to lose so will go absolutely all out. Webber needs his team mate to help out and Alonso just needs to come second regardless of what goes on round about him.

As much as I would like to see Webber win I think Alonso has more than enough psychological advantage to make up for whatever he lacks in car speed

I’ll bet Lewis (or actually, McLaren more so) would love to get ahead of Alonso and prevent him winning the WC 🙂

I’m not usually too quick to jump on the McLaren fan ultra optimist bandwagon, but I do hope they are quicker than they have been of late – the more contenders with the potential to take points away from Alonso the better.

I hasten to add that’s got nothing to do with not liking Ferando Alonso – he is undoubtedly the number one driver in the world, and probably will be for some years to come. But I really really would love to see Webber do it.

Being realistic (in relation to McLaren’s speed) though – Red Bull, Ferrari, Mclaren, Renault is the likely order of pace.

I think it will be Vettel in front and then he will slow to let Webber through to win the championship. I’m not a great Alonso fan, when its not going his way he is a big baby moaning all the time and like clubber said how gutted would he be if McLaren stop him from winning the championship….

The Bulls didn’t look like they were really trying in FP2 so I wouldn’t get carried away with Lewis’ top spot just yet. It looks like it’ll be down to the final 4 to sort the front 2 rows out though, which is just as it should be.

Anyone else a bit disappointed at the rule tinkering that’s going on for next year?

Really makes me laugh this Alonso crying thing. When has this ever been true? Just 2007, when we have no idea what was actually going on.

Well it’s down to this weekend, with 3 drivers right in there for the DWC (Hamilton’s just too far behind now tbh, and needs a miracle).

In terms of who deserves it most, can’t really split them.

Alonso; has come back from a poor early season, driven brilliantly to be in front, with a weaker car perhaps than the McLaren and Red Bulls. Shown he’s still the man to beat.

Webber; perhaps doesn’t have the absolute out and out racing speed of Vettel, but has really battled and driven beyond what a lot of people (including myself) thought he was capable of. Possibly his last shot at the DWC. Has had to deal with Red Bull slightly favouring Vettel, it seems.

Vettel; definitely a future champion anyway, has rough edges that will be smoothed over time, but a fantastic driver with amazing talent. Last couple of races he’s shown his determination to win, and not let disappointments get him down too much.

They’ve each made mistakes, and had bad luck. But they’ve each fought really well, and provided fantastic entertainment. S’bin the best season I can remember really.

Pick a winner? Pfft; I’ve backed Alonso this season because I know it annoys his haterz, but I’ll be happy whoever wins, now.

Very diplomatic there Elf, and wise words.

I’d love Webber to take it, and I think Vettel will do the honourable thing. Hammo has too much to do i think.

Alonso could ruin it for Webber, but he’s certainly earned it towards the end of the year.

Elf +1.

More than happy with a RB or Alonso victory. I think if anything Alonso probably deserves it as he’s driven/thought his way round not having the best car.

Well there’s no sense in being too partisan at this stage, as all three really deserve it.

Good clean race, no-one suffering a mechanical, no silly mistakes; let the best man win!

Trouble is, I do like Alonso, partly because the British press seem to hate him, but also because he drove like a true champion to beat Schumacher to 2 WCs. But recently, Webber has shown tremendous spirit and determination, and you really want him to do well. He and Alonso are good friends, apparently, so I’m sure Fernando will be happy for Mark if he doesn’t win it himself.

Vettel has such a good attitude; he’s really matured even during this season, and his speed is frightening. Big shame his engine went in South Korea. but he’s kept at it, and on his day is unbeatable. I look forward to seeing him and Hamilton battle in years to come.

No, picking a favourite is impossible, now, but in a good way!

There’s rumours of Massa running stupid light and putting it on pole then “accidently” running out of fuel around lap 25ish. Not sure how they’d pull that off!

massa’s rubbish though. He couldn’t hold up his own trousers even if you gave him braces.

😉

* i like him though.

I hear you, the more everyone foams at the mouth about Alonso, the more I warm to him. I think Webber lacks the absolute raw pace, but as you say he’s made up for it through grit and determination.

Bloody hell look how fast Vettel is…

very light i guess. Interesting for tomorrow!!!

Alonso’s cup.

Certainly looking that way but since Ham has to win and Web has to overtake it could be quite dramatic!

Oof. Hamilton almost got pole. Alonso compromised on his out lap, but still pulls out a fast lap; 3rd is not too bad.

Pressure’s really on Webber now. He has to drive like a bastard to win it from 5th. Vettel just seems to know how to get pole when needed. Alonso and Hamilton are always good starters though, so even more problems for Webber. Having Massa next to him could be problematic, as will having Button just in front of him. No, Webber needed better than that. Post-quali interview shows he’s not too confident.

There’s still the race though. I think it was always going to be difficult for Red Bull; when you operate a strategy that doesn’t really favour one driver over another, then having both your drivers battling can ultimately lead to failure, as McLaren know only too well. Ferrari’s favourtist philosophy looks like it might yet be the best one. How crucial will these 7 Massa points be?

Vettel will go all out to win now. I can’t see him moving over for Mark, even if Mark gets up into 2nd. I doubt Vettel will even be thinking about Webber now. Things favour Ferrari as they stand, but then I think Hamilton will really want to sign off with a bang, as will Button. They’ve nothing to lose. Alonso will be controlled and not take risks.

Bring it on….

Yah …bring it on indeed, as my prediction for last week was way off, i predict a massive upset for someone tomorrow…all possible winners would be well deserved now..but webber would be my ideal unless the predicted upset favours Hamilton…vee shall zee.

Thought that was a great last quali!

I have no idea who’s going to win, but I think one of the big 4 will suffer some kind of failure that will ruin their chances.

Everyone will be pushing like mental 8)

All set up very nicely for tomorrow!

So what if we get this scenario… Vettel is leading and Alonso is down in fourth (Ham & But 2nd/3rd) with Weber on his gearbox – do you think Weber will overtake Alonso to give Vettel the title or happen to ‘get bogged down in dirty air’ and give Alonso the title just to spite Vettel!?

And has anyone been watching the coverage on the new BBC1 HD channel? Not sure if its full HD but the picture and especially the graphics are sharper than the standard channel.

So, Jenson’s gonna ‘outbreak himself’ into turn one. Unfortunately that ‘happens’ to take out Fernando. Lewis also goes banzai into the the first corner, into the lead and pushes Vettel wide which drops him into the clutches of Webber. They battle each other until Mark makes a move and Seb overreacts, locks up and takes a wheel off both their motors, (Horner blames Webber of course!) Lewis cruises round to take the win and the championship and Jenson floats off to Monaco in a nice new boat.
Simples! 😉
Or something less exciting like Alonso pootles round in third and picks up the big prize for another year. Damn his talented and sensibly consistent driving.

I think Hamilton will win the race and Alonso will take it easy to clinch the title but I am hoping Webber to be World Champion but doubt it now, which it’s shame as he is a nice guy.

Anything but as long that brat Seb ‘Mr Finger’ Vettel doesnt win the title, cant stand that muppet 🙄

cant stand that muppet

Why not?

no point explaining it to you Elf.

Oh really? Why’s that then?

Go on, try me; you never know, even though I am quite dense, I might understand… 🙂

no you wont. 😉

First corner is apparently “easy” but a high profile coming together between one of the top 5 is on the cards if anyone over does it on the start! Obvious candidate would be Hamilton, though perhaps not from the front row.

no you wont.

There’s nowt to understand, is the truth.

I’m right, aren’t I?

It’s ok. Don’t cry.

Webber will take Button out, Senna will spin into Vetel when he’s being lapped, Alonso will have a mechanical and Hamilton will come second behind Buemi.

😀

Barring a mechanical I don’t see how Alonso can loose.

I don’t like Alonso. A friend of a friend worked in the Renault pit, before 2006, Alonso was a nice chap. After he won his first world title it all went to his head and he’s apparently too successful to bother with his mechanics.

Not even Schumacher was that arrogant.

Foe me, it would be Webber all the way, followed by Vettel and Hamilton.

A friend of a friend worked in the Renault pit

😆

A mate of mine’s sister used to babysit for former Arsenal footballer Ray Parlour, so by that score I reckon Alonso’s a nice bloke.

There’s rumours of Massa running stupid light and putting it on pole

Rumours eh?

They all run stupid light in quali this year – so unless he was driving a DeLorean, that was never going to work 😆

A good friend of mine works for lotus, williams for next year.

Also know a lad who used to be a good friend who works for ferrari. He was a top bloke until he got involved with the red team.

Its all going to end on the first corner of the first lap… If I was Hammy I would hang slightly back and watch everything unfold and then take the crown.. (if only – Hey?)