2012 Japanese Grand Prix (Oct 5-7)

The big news ahead of the race is Michael Schumacher's second and now believed to be final retirement from the sport. Meanwhile racing continued with Red Bull and McLaren looking strong once again:

[QUOTE=Practice 1]Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m34.507s 20
2. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m34.740s + 0.233 26
3. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m34.856s + 0.349 24
4. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m35.059s + 0.552 18
5. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m35.112s + 0.615 20
6. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m35.199s + 0.692 27
7. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m35.283s + 0.776 24
8. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m35.299s + 0.792 18
9. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m35.474s + 0.967 22
10. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m35.478s + 0.971 24
11. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m35.484s + 0.977 26
12. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m35.584s + 1.077 24
13. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1m35.691s + 1.184 22
14. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m35.724s + 1.217 21
15. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m36.123s + 1.616 19
16. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m36.222s + 1.715 25
17. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m36.366s + 1.859 23
18. Valterri Bottas Williams-Renault 1m36.389s + 1.882 24
19. Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 1m37.716s + 3.209 17
20. Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 1m38.295s + 3.788 23
21. Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 1m38.616s + 4.109 25
22. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1m39.043s + 4.536 25
23. Giedo van der Garde Caterham-Renault 1m39.374s + 4.867 22
24. Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 1m39.688s + 5.181 19

[url="http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/103072"]Japanese GP: Jenson Button fastest in first practice at Suzuka - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com[/url][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Practice 2]Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m32.493s 34
2. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m32.707s + 0.214 32
3. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m32.836s + 0.343 37
4. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m32.987s + 0.494 30
5. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m33.093s + 0.600 28
6. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m33.107s + 0.614 35
7. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m33.349s + 0.856 22
8. Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 1m33.499s + 1.006 35
9. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m33.614s + 1.121 32
10. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m33.750s + 1.257 13
11. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m33.866s + 1.373 19
12. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m33.903s + 1.410 36
13. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m33.983s + 1.490 33
14. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1m34.291s + 1.798 12
15. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m34.300s + 1.807 33
16. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m34.863s + 2.370 32
17. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m35.080s + 2.587 34
18. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 1m35.711s + 3.218 41
19. Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 1m35.870s + 3.377 37
20. Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 1m36.194s + 3.701 32
21. Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 1m36.636s + 4.143 28
22. Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 1m37.342s + 4.849 30
23. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1m37.701s + 5.208 35
24. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes No time 2

[url="http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/103075"]Japanese Grand Prix: Mark Webber goes quickest in second practice - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com[/url][/QUOTE]

Kimi lost it at Spoon, Kobayashi took it to fourth but might be demoted for a speeding violation, Senna spent more time gesturing than driving, and Mr. Schumacher almost didn't make it into Q2.

Kimi duffed it. I was heartened to see him P3 in Q2 after some poor showings throughout the weekend and then his error likely screwed a bunch of people.

Vergne dropped 3 places for the block on Senna, Schumi complaining about being blocked by Hamilton to miss Q3, and Vettel is being investigated for blocking Alonso.

I would love to see Kamui win at home, but with those 2 Red Bulls out front and the quality of cars behind him, I would say that is unlikely.

Shame. We all know what often happens when Seb is on pole.

Alonso has very possibly lost the title today.

It's curious that whenever Alonso retires, Massa puts up a good performance...

Good race by Kobayashi.

As far as I understood, Massa found out about Alonso's retirement in that 'water-and-hat' room after the race. Still, very happy for him to have a first podium since 2010.

Vettel was boring as always, Perez did something strange after having a great race before the mistake. Kobayashi spoke up today showing a better stability. And honestly, I doubt Checo could have held Button there if the latter would be pushing him like Kamui.

McLarens were fast in times, but just not quite there, and pit stop mistakes were there again. Kovalainen in 9th was also a nice moment, even though he had no chance to stick there. And Lotus guys had a so-so day (OK, that was a disgusting day for Romain again).

It was really cool to see a crowd so enthusiastic at an F1 race. I can't remember something like that for ages.

[quote=Kitdy;989278]It was really cool to see a crowd so enthusiastic at an F1 race. I can't remember something like that for ages.[/quote]

This....its nice they actually race at some place where people actually gives a sh*t...

Our presenter told about some shots which Webber tweeted when a grandstand was full of people on Friday, I guess, sitting and staring at the pitlane in darkness when the boxes were already closed. That's some spirit.

[quote=RacingManiac;989283]This....its nice they actually race at some place where people actually gives a sh*t...[/quote]

Wouldn't it be fun to be at the CGP if there was a Canadian driver who had the chance to podium or win?

You may have a chance... Does Villeneuve have children?

[quote=Kitdy;989338]Wouldn't it be fun to be at the CGP if there was a Canadian driver who had the chance to podium or win?[/quote]
There is a North American driver for whom we should all root! (Continental pride, baby!)

From casual observation, though, people seem to root for drivers who share their mother tongue, so that is unlikely. At least Perez should receive a warm welcome in Texas.

[quote=faksta;989344]You may have a chance... Does Villeneuve have children?[/quote]

Very young ones. We had some noise kicking about recently. Wickens is decent, though he has not done well in DTM this year. He won WSR in 2011, and was a reserve driver for Virgin/Marussia last year. I am hoping that when the Hulk/di Resta move on Haug will push for him to get a seat at FI. Lewis going into Schumacher's seat instead of those two may have hampered this a bit.

Spengler is Canadian and may win DTM this year (he was so close last year), but he's near 30.

Off hand, I don't know any other young Canadian talent that could break into F1.

[quote=f6fhellcat13;989346]There is a North American driver for whom we should all root! (Continental pride, baby!)

From casual observation, though, people seem to root for drivers who share their mother tongue, so that is unlikely. At least Perez should receive a warm welcome in Texas.[/quote]

Perez said he got the best reception in Canada. That is a long way to come to cheer him on!

I feel dirty about this, but I supported Scott Speed in F1 because he was American. I can't even fully place why. I suppose because America is no good at F1 and I was kinda having a go for the underdog... Also if an American did well it would do wonders for the sport in the US and Canada too.

If somehow there was a Canadian and an American duking it out for wins.. That's asking too much I think.