This year’s Japanese Grand Prix looks set to be dry, potentially giving us a very different race to the dramatic, rain-soaked encounter won by Lewis Hamilton last year.
As I wrote earlier in the week I think Fuji Speedway in the dry will play to Ferrari’s strengths but John Beamer disagrees and McLaren seemed to have an advantage in practice this morning. Who do you think will win in Fuji?
I expected Ferrari to set the pace at Fuji and despite McLaren’s slight edge so far, I’m sticking with that prediction. Although the weather will be on the cool side, which has worked against them earlier this year, they claim to have gotten on top of those problems.
Ferrari will be smarting after their humiliation in Shanghai, and in Fuji I think they will claim the one-two they were on course for before that fateful botched pit stop two weeks ago.
When I wrote about the retirement rates for the different drivers yesterday it struck me that Lewis Hamilton might have mixed feelings about his McLaren’s reliability. As Oliver wrote yesterday:
It would appear the McLaren of Hamilton is long overdue some mechanical failure. I just hope McLaren are not saving their reliability problems for the last few races.
Hamilton is yet to retire from a Grand Prix with a mechanical failure in his 32-race F1 career. Will he feel encouraged that his car is statistically unlikely to fail him, or concerned that the inevitable mechanical DNF must happen sooner or later?
Assuming his car goes the distance, it’s hard to see a rival machine getting between him and the Ferraris, so I’d pick him to finish third:
1. Felipe Massa
2. Kimi Raikkonen
3. Lewis Hamilton
Did anyone pick the surprise winner of the Singapore Grand Prix? Yes – in fact five of you did so congratulations to Santiago, DMW, Sainaa, Senna and AussieLeb.
But will anyone get the entire top three right this time? Make your predictions for the Japanese Grand Prix podium below?���?�
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mattclinch
10th October 2008, 12:04
Hamilton
Massa
Alonso
beneboy
10th October 2008, 12:06
1. Kimi Raikkonen
2. Lewis Hamilton
3. Felipe Massa
Vlad the Inhaler
10th October 2008, 12:08
1st Hamilton
2nd Vettel
3rd Massa
9th Raikkonen (if he can be bothered to turn up)
Skova
10th October 2008, 12:09
don’t know but would like:
1.Ham
2.Kov
3.Rai
4.Massa
Raj
10th October 2008, 12:10
1.RAIKKONEN
2.ALONSO
3.MASSA
Lewis to finish 5th
Stevil
10th October 2008, 12:12
1. Raikonnen
2. Alonso
3. Glock
Marko
10th October 2008, 12:13
1.MAS
2.HAM
3.RAI
graham228221
10th October 2008, 12:16
1. Massa
2. Hamilton
3. Glock
…
4. Kovi
5. Raikkonen
6. Alonso
7. Trulli
8. Vettel
John Beamer
10th October 2008, 12:17
Appreciate the mention Keith – I have a few more words on it here: http://www.f1-pitlane.com/content/japanese-grand-prix , including a short technical preview I managed to knock-up.
It is almost too close to call. I doubt it will be a Ferrari one-two. I’ll plump for:
HAM
MAS
RAI
El Gordo
10th October 2008, 12:24
I reckon it’ll be…
Massa
Hamilton
Alonso (buoyed by last weeks win)
Bolo
10th October 2008, 12:33
1.Massa
2.Kubica
3.Raikkonen
…
Ret: Hamilton
Warren
10th October 2008, 12:33
DRY
Raikonnen
Hamilton
Massa
WET
Hamilton
Alonso
Raikonnen
Orange
10th October 2008, 12:40
Massa
Raikkonen
Hamilton
Patrickl
10th October 2008, 12:42
I’ll vote for:
DRY:
Hamilton
Massa
Alonso
WET
Hamilton
Alonso
Vettel
John Beamer
10th October 2008, 12:50
Interestingly on Betfair the odds of a Lewis win has lengthened slightly i.e. Massa and Hamilton are closer. Probably because rain was priced in before …
kavana
10th October 2008, 13:06
1. Ham
2. Kimi
3. Kubica
Mbuyi
10th October 2008, 13:10
Dry
1.Massa
2.Raikkonen
3.Hamilton/Alonso
I think 3 will bw tough
WET
Hamilton
Vettel
Heikki ,that,s if he can keep up
Elli
10th October 2008, 13:20
1.Massa
2.Alonso
3.Kimi
4.Kubica
5.
6.
7.
8.Hamilton
Rob Bloor
10th October 2008, 13:24
1. Mas
2. Alo
3. Kov
DNF Ham – puncture/pit lane incident
DNF Rai – turned up on Sunday an hour late and hungover
Its Hammer time
10th October 2008, 13:38
I am a Hamilton Fan.
The race is going to be dry.
Grid will be Mas, Ham, Kov, Rai, Alo, Kub, Glo, Vet…
Race – Mas will scamper off and win, Ham will fail to keep up, Kov will go backwards AGAIN and finish out of points and RAI will come on strong, pass Ham in the pits and come home one-two.
Result
Mas
Rai
Ham
It hurts me to say it, but i predict a Red 1-2.
If it rains in qual, Bourdais on pole and maiden victory :-)
Note to Keith. Ferrari embarassed themselves in Singapore, not Shanghai, although i hope your mistake turns out to be true next weekend :-)
staatskanzla
10th October 2008, 13:39
1.Hamilton
2.Massa
3.Kovalainen
Cameron aka. SkinBintin
10th October 2008, 13:55
As a diehard McLaren fan, I have to vote Hamilton to win. With that said, here’s my semi confident prediction.
1.Hamilton
2.Massa
3.Alonso
4.Heidfeld
5.Raikkonen
6.Kovalinen
7.Trulli
8.Kubica
IDR
10th October 2008, 13:57
Weather forecast for Shizuoka is rain for tomorrow, so, McLaren will be stronger in qualifying.
Then,
Hamilton
Massa
Raikkonen
Nick
10th October 2008, 13:57
1. Raikkonen
2. Vettel
3. Heidfeld
9: Massa – botches another pitstop
10: Hamilton – after a drivethru for cutting chicane
Apostolos
10th October 2008, 14:00
Pole by Hamilton or Massa.
If Ferrari like always take advantage with their strategy then Massa wins with Hamilton just behind following by Raikkonen in third.
If it rains(would love to see that :D)
Hamilton First Place, Massa straggling and finishing fifth or sixth and Raikkonen out.
Vlad
10th October 2008, 14:42
1. Massa
2. Raikkonen
3. Glock
4. Alonso
5. Hamilton
6. Vettel
7. Trulli
8. Piquet
David5
10th October 2008, 14:51
I think (maybe wishfull)
1. Hamilton
2. Kovalinen
3. Massa
David - BR
10th October 2008, 15:05
Ham pole, race:
1. HAM
2. MAS
3. KOV
sumedh
10th October 2008, 15:12
1. Massa
2. Kubika
3. Kimi
Hamilton will be on pole; But I think; he is going to have tyre trouble again. Turn 4-5 seem similar to turn 8 at Turkey.. plus..drivers lift off the accelerator in order to achieve a better turn in for turn 6. This will further increase tyre wear; especially for Hamilton.
shery
10th October 2008, 15:29
kimi
alonso
heiki
dmw
10th October 2008, 16:01
MAS
HAM
KOV
Massa-Ferrari is the best combo now, slightly. If Massa takes pole, Hamilton will not force the issue at turn 1 and that will be it. Its cool, so Kimi will again qualify several rows back. Kov with go into q3 light as a feather to get ahead of Kimi. Alonso, who will qualify 4th will finish there.
donwatters
10th October 2008, 16:13
Hamilton
Massa
Kimi (only because he’ll follow orders. Otherwise, he’d be 2nd.)
ch.pl
10th October 2008, 16:16
Nice one Vlad No Bemers on top 8?
Hell no!
I see both on points
First 3/frankly i don’t have a … idea :)
Mass
Kub
Fonso
Kimi will take revenge for (i hate You Bernie) Montreal heh
highoctane
10th October 2008, 16:19
Wet
Hamstring
Massa
Vettel
Dry
Massa
Kimi
Hamstring
Alex-Ctba
10th October 2008, 16:22
Massa
Raikkonen
Hamilton
AussieLeb
10th October 2008, 16:32
Based on today I get this empty feeling that Lewis is going to seal the deal this weekend. Kimi chased Lewis down last year through his steelie resolve. This is what Massa lacks. Kimi will try to help Massa but to no avail. I think Lewis will snatch pole in the final flyer with Massa on the second row in 4th. Alonso will snatch 3rd with Kimi 2nd. As well as Kimi I think Alonso will try and help Massa but at the end of the day Lewis will scamper away leaving Massa to falter in an attempt to push and hence Kimi and Alonso battle for 2nd. If it does rain then either Glock or Vettel will have a crack at a podium.
After all that for now I’ll say:
HAM
RAI
ALO
cyanide
10th October 2008, 16:37
Massa
Raikkonen
Kubica
John Spencer
10th October 2008, 16:41
I’ll say…
1. Hamilton
2. Massa
3. Raikkonen
… but I my judgment is pretty poor. I once put money on David Coulthard.
Tengil
10th October 2008, 17:00
1. Hamilton
2. Räikkönen
3. Massa
So the controversy after the race will of course be how Kimi could fail to realize what his team wanted him to do.
GeorgeK
10th October 2008, 17:03
Massa
Hamilton
Kubica
Jack
10th October 2008, 17:06
Raikkonen
Massa
Alonso
F14EVA
10th October 2008, 17:15
1) HAMILTON
2) MASSA
3) KOVI
GDalcin
10th October 2008, 17:30
1-massa
2-lewis
3-kimi
Apostolos
10th October 2008, 17:31
Hey Jack, noway Raikkonen will finish infront of Massa.
_Ben_
10th October 2008, 17:53
WET
Hamilton
Webber
Massa
DRY
Massa
Hamilton
Raikkonen
Juan
10th October 2008, 18:41
Judging by the way the Ferrari was going through it’s rears in todays practice, I think Massa will do a flying lap to snatch pole, but this battle will be one of strategy and one largely fought in the pits. Oddly enough the McLaren is using their tires much better than the Ferrari is, who I suspect will have to change tires more often, and the more times you put a Ferrari in the pit, the more chances of “a circus”.
For qualifying:
Massa
Hamilton
One of the Toyota’s
For race:
Ham
Mas
Alo
PS: Found the site after the British Grand Prix, and it’s among the best for being an actual F1 fan site, not a Massa/Hamilton/Alonso/[insert name of favorite driver here] love fest. Well done Keith.
rahim.raikkonen
10th October 2008, 18:53
i think qualifyings:lewis,alonso/massa,kimi,timo,vettel
cant say for the race but i’d love to have race:
1.kimi(RAIKKONEN ROCKS)
2.alonso
3.vettel
4.massa
5.timo
6.heikki
7.nick/sutil
8.fisichela/kazuki(most probably it will be like this)
DNF:LEWIS,….?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
10th October 2008, 19:00
Thanks Juan and welcome to the site – hope you enjoy it :-)
Jupiter
10th October 2008, 19:24
I’ll go for….
1st Massa
2nd Raikonen
3rd Hamilton
Santiago
10th October 2008, 19:45
I will go again for the surprise. As the Ferrari-Alonso rumour has been at the scene again, and as we say in Spain when the river sounds, is because it brings water, I think the Alonso´s Renault is going to play a red team´s role.
Massa
Alonso
Hamilton.
If Kimmi does not performe, I can imagine him going away next season. F1 swallows their own heroes.
Of course the surprise is Alonso second……….:-))
Smitty
10th October 2008, 20:28
Do you mean Singapore?
I predict:
1. Massa
2. Hamilton
3. Raikkonen
EGC
10th October 2008, 20:43
I go…
Dry:
1- Massa
2- Alonso
3- Kimi
Wet:
1- Alonso
2- Kimi
3- Massa
Ham: Both situations DNF
To dream is free :-)
Yosu
10th October 2008, 21:48
Alonso
Hamilton
Vettel
gaz
10th October 2008, 21:48
1. massa
2. hamilton
3. kubica
massa just needs it more and the red car is slighty better/faster. I can see massa passing hamilton on the long stright, now that would be great tv……..can t wait for the adverts
gaz
Wesley
10th October 2008, 22:38
1 -Raikkonen
2 -Massa
3 -Alonso
Kimi is (over)due, and Fred is still on a podium high and needs another fix!
Toby
10th October 2008, 22:53
1. Raikkonen
2. Hamilton
3. Glock
Watch out for the real return of the Trulli-train, now that Toyota can set decent quali laps – and we all know how they love to grandstand on light fuel in Japan (Ralf ’05). If Massa doesn’t start on the front row, he’ll fall back and snatch it. Hamilton’ll win the Championship in Shanghai.
F1Fan
10th October 2008, 23:21
OK, to all those who have picked Kimi to win it: He can, but really can’t (team orders say ‘help Massa’). So forget about Kimi winning it. Hamilton once again set the pace in practice, as in Singapore, but I think once again the reds are not showing their true speed. I think by now they (Massa) are quicker even in Q, even in colder temperatures (as long as it’s dry). I expect more or less a repeat of Singapore but w/ the outcome we should have seen in Singapore. Massa wins, Kimi 2nd, Lewis (assuming no car problems) 3rd. The reds are both on new engines. Even if Lewis wins Q, he will have to be light and will be overtaken at the 1st (Massa) and 2nd (Kimi) stops. And chaulk up another FL for Kimi, prob. shorlty before his 2nd stop.
SoLiD
10th October 2008, 23:41
1. Massa
2. Hamilton
3. Raikkonen
wet: ham alo raik
TisoyJrIII
11th October 2008, 1:57
This will be toyota’s home win
Qualifying:
1. Trulli
2. Raikonen
3. Massa
Race:
1. Trulli
2. Raikonen
3. Glock
Dorian
11th October 2008, 10:26
1. Raikkonen
2. Hamilton
3. Massa
Michiel
11th October 2008, 11:26
i think after seeing the qualification
1. Hamilton
2. kovalainnen
3. massa
because of the bad row of raikkonen at he moment another DNF
i think that massa can’t pass kovalainnen so he can be af buffer for hamilton
antoine
11th October 2008, 12:20
1.Raiko
2.Hamilton
3.Massa
DWM
11th October 2008, 13:55
Kimi
Lewis
Alonso
Gusto
12th October 2008, 2:46
Ham
Kov
Rai