2014 F1 season prediction

[jens]

Sauber - A team that could fade this season. After their late season comeback in 2013, I think they will return to a early 2013 sort of speed and form.

One possible problems for Sauber could be that like Lotus, they have lost also key people. James Key in 2012 and Matt Morris in mid-2013. The general depth of their engineering team seems to be pretty good though, combined with modern infrastructure from BMW days, but in this close midfield competition everything will matter.

[dj_bytedisaster]

so while we're all still emptying our stomach over the dick and bellend noses, FIA and the toad from Suffolk quitely blackmailed the teams into finally accepting the double-points finale. Ghastly cars and a fake fix at the end of it - yeah, that's really a season to look forward to.

[steveaki13]

Can or will F1 ever return to a more realistic motorsport do you think? It saddens me.

[jens]

With Boullier also leaving Lotus I am suspicious I may even have been too optimistic about predicting Lotus to finish 6th in WCC...

Can or will F1 ever return to a more realistic motorsport do you think? It saddens me.

Realistic? I think what we are witnessing is the reality of the current world/life anyway, the developments of F1 just reflect this. However, at the moment world doesn't seem to be turning back to its roots, so F1 can't be an exception.

In a few decades we will probably have all-electric F1 anyway with silent cars. I think motorsport is in the process of a fundamental change currently. Environmental and other global issues plus entertainment needs through media force all these changes.

[zako85]

Williams becomes a best of the rest team while Lotus struggles to stay in the mid-pack. Maldonado cries crocodile tears but no one can hear him.

[rjbetty]

Right, my spacebar's gone again, but here is an update on my season

Grand Prix 2 - Round 15 (of 16 available): USA
Here are the points in the closing stages!

1.Alonso-188pts
2.Hamilton-183pts
3.Vettel-166pts
4.Ricciardo-162pts
5.Raikkonen-158pts
6.Rosberg-123pts
7.Button-90pts
8.Magnussen-75pts
9.Hulkenberg-54pts
10.Bottas-51pts
11.Vergne-44pts
12.Maldonado-29pts
13.Grosjean-25pts
14.Perez-22pts
15.Sutil-21pts
16.Massa-17pts
17.Gutierrez-5pts
18.Kvyat-1pt

This is very close, too close to call. And the best thing is, there was no artificial tampering on my part. I was as realistic as possible, yet this is just the way it has turned out. The top 5 drivers are all in with a very real shout, and Nico Rosberg is still mathematically in it, due to double points. How is it going to turn out?

Ricciardo takes his 3rd pole of the season ahead of Hamilton and Alonso. Vettel is only 4th.

It's not that eventful today, but there are two major surprises: both Ricciardo and Hamilton are out from the front! This has a huge effect as Alonso leads a Ferrari 1-2 with Vettel only 4th, not a great weekend from him.

Result: 1.Alonso 2.Raikkonen 3.Rosberg 4.Vettel 5.Magnussen 6.Vergne 7.Hulkenberg 8.Button 9.Bottas 10.Kvyat


This leaves the points like this, with 50 (ugh) available in the final round: Brazil...

1.Alonso-213pts
2.Hamilton-183pts
3.Vettel-178pts
4.Raikkonen-176pts
5.Ricciardo-162pts
6.Rosberg-138pts
7.Button-94pts
8.Magnussen-85pts
9.Hulkenberg-60pts
10.Bottas-53pts
11.Vergne-52pts
12.Maldonado-29pts
13.Grosjean-25pts
14.Perez-22pts
15.Sutil-21pts
16.Massa-17pts
17.Gutierrez-5pts
18.Kvyat-2pts

Rosberg is now officially out of it, while Ricciardo's unfortunate DNF was very costly as he is now left 51 pts behind...

Tune into the next episode where the champion team and driver will be revealed.

[steveaki13]

Can I get the next episode on iplayer? As I might be out.

[rjbetty]

Grand Prix 2 2014 Simulation - Season Finale!

Here it is, the big showdown (which was a couple of days ago actually, but I've got the spacebar working again now)

If you are out, don't forget to catch it on BBC iPlayer later.

Round 16: Brazil - Interlagos
So, here we are. 4 drivers left in contention for the title
1.Alonso (Ferrari) - 213pts
2.Hamilton (Mercedes) - 183pts
3.Vettel (Red Bull) - 178pts
4.Raikkonen (Ferrari) - 176pts

Constructors
1.Ferrari - 389pts
2.Red Bull - 340pts
3.Mercedes - 321pts

How is qualifying going to go?

The title contenders take a back seat today as it's Nico Rosberg who blasts to pole ahead of Daniel Ricciardo. Ferrari's take row 2, Alonso ahead. Hamilton is only 5th, but worse for Vettel who is only 11th! Further down, Kvyat makes his first top 10 appearance. Remarkably, this is also the first time he has outqualified Jean-Eric Vergne this season, despite doing pretty well. Massa and Vergne are only 17th and 18th.

GO! Ricciardo takes the lead and holds it for much of the race. It's really between these 2 for the win today. Hamilton and Alonso fight for 3rd. Vettel is strangely subdued today, more so than the previous round. On a high fuel load, it's not really working and he is down in 17th early on. Though his pace on 1-stop fuel is at least equal to the top 2, he is a long way down: He needs o get moving fast if he's to secure this title.

It's not a classic race, and there are 4 retirements: van der Garde, Vergne, Perez, and Button.

Further on, Rosberg is able to take Ricciardo to beat him to a close win. At the end, Alonso is only about 1.5sec behind Ricciardo. He crosses the line 3rd, magnificently winning the title! Hamilton is 4th, Kimi 5th, and Vettel was not far off but could only manage to recover to 6th.

This means Alonso is champion again, ahead of Hamilton, and because it's DOUBLE points, Ricciardo judges edges ahead of Kimi, and both demote Vettel. Rosberg's bumper 50pts brings him close to the 3 in front.

Full Race Result: 1.Rosberg 2.Ricciardo 3.Alonso 4.Hamilton 5.Raikkonen 6.Vettel 7.Magnussen 8.Grosjean 9.Hulkenberg 10.Maldonado 11.Bottas 12.Kvyat 13.Sutil 14.Massa 15.Gutierrez 16.Bianchi 17.Kobayashi 18.Chilton

By the way, Caterham and Marussia didn't score a point again!


Final Championship Standings - Includes Double Points
1.Alonso - 243pts
2.Hamilton - 207pts
3.Ricciardo - 198pts
4.Raikkonen - 196pts
5.Vettel - 194pts
6.Rosberg - 188pts
7.Magnussen - 97pts
8.Button - 94pts
9.Hulkenberg - 64pts
10.Bottas - 53pts
11.Vergne - 52pts
12.Grosjean - 33pts
13.Maldonado - 31pts
14.Perez - 22pts
15.Sutil - 21pts
16.Massa - 17pts
17.Gutierrez - 5pts
18.Kvyat - 2pts
19.Kobayashi - best finish 11th
20.van der Garde - best finish 12th
21.Chilton - best finish 12th
22.Bianchi - best finish 12th

Constructors
1.Ferrari - Ferrari - 439pts
2.Mercedes - Mercedes - 395pts
3.Red Bull - Renault - 392pts
4.McLaren - Mercedes - 191pts
5.Force - India - Mercedes - 84pts
6.Williams - Mercedes - 70pts
7.Lotus - Renault - 64pts
8.Toro Rosso - Renault - 54pts
9.Sauber - Ferrari - 26pts
10.Caterham - Renault
11.Marussia - Ferrari

[rjbetty]

Gutierrez- Didn't rate him the first two thirds of 2013, but late season he picked up and I hope he can build on that. I would like to see him do well.

Oi, he helped me pip you in FGP last year, on our way to a glorious 41st overall.

btw, when is FGP 2014 starting, now all the drivers are in?

[steveaki13]

Whenever Nick "Bernie" Jones has some time to spare and set it up I guess.

Thanks rjbetty for that I really enjoyed it. Cant see Ricciardo finishing the championship ahead of Vettel though.

As for FGP, Aki Hedghog Racing Team has major dealings afoot.