Japan GP Race Report

The first shock discovery of the Japanese race was that Button has abandoned Williams to be an ambassador for Aston Martin.  Everything to do with Lawrence Stroll's team is started to feel grubbier and grubbier.

It was an exciting line-up on the grid, just for this year, normal for any other season: all twenty-two drivers and cars started.  There was also Honda on the grid which the Japanese like and occasional shots of Tsunoda in the Red Bull garage looking sad but trying to look purposeful.

The drivers wernt for a very wide variety of start strategies, at least by the level of success achieved.  Some had to pop out from behind the cars in front to avoid a sudden collision.  Piastri went into the lead and LeClerc got up to second.  By the first corner, Norris was in third.  Antonelli started sixth but got past Hamilton at the start of the second lap.  That quick, back-and-forth stage is really a feature of the opening laps this season.

Less successful were Bortoleto, Bottas and Hulkenberg but behind those quick changes were starting to happen.  On lap three, Russell got past Norris.  On lap four, Russell got past LeClerc.  On lap eight, Russell got past Piastri for the lead.  Then there was the big switch around.  Over the following laps, Antonelli was quick to come back through the pack and up to Russell.

A lot of drivers, those behind the Mercedes in the lead anyway, pitted around lap 20 and Russell voiced concerns.  Obviously as soon as he did get fresh new tyres, Bearman crashed into the wall and a Safety Car was called which meant his team mate Antonelli would get a cheap stop.  It was his decision though!  

It would also benefit Hamilton and Gasly.  Antonelli got out ahead which left Russell in third between Piastri and Hamilton.

Bearman limped away and fell down at the side of the track, which probably should not have been shown.  He had completely misjudged an overtake on Colapinto and went off on the grass then back across the track, in a scary moment.

At the race start, Hamilton was able to get past his former team mate Russell but Verstappen was not stuck behind one of his, Gasly.  We watched a long train of cars when we would all have rather been watching Pierre beat Max.

LeClerc was able to get past Russell when the Mercedes had some slight mechanical problem.  Antonelli looked cleanly in the lead with Piastri safe behind him.  The Ferraris would be allowed to fight each other.  LeClerc did get past and Hamilton was left to Russell, who took full advantage.

With three laps to go, Russell went to overtake LeClerc but he fought back and it was thrilling racing.  With one lap to go, Norris made a move on Hamilton that finally stuck for fifth place.

Saved from his awful start by Safety Car luck, Antonelli took an easy win.  Piastri never looked like he could challenge him from second place.  A third different team took the third podium place in LeClerc and Ferrari.  Behind them was Russell, Norris, Hamilton, Gasly, Verstappen, Lawson and Ocon.  The Frenchman will be glad to get points in his Haas and the other Frenchman will be looking over his shoulder with glee at his former team mate Verstappen.  Antonelli has promised to do his homework and practice his clutch starts with the month off over April.

As the youngest person to lead the Driver's Championship, Kimi looked young and wasn't allowed champagne on the podium.  Hamilton wasn't happy that he was third at one point and ended sixth, perhaps it is the end of an era for older drivers.

A lot of people predicted five or more cars would DNF.  Only Stroll and Bearman did retire; with Albon semi-retiring and then doing a bit of a test drive.

With a month off a lot of drivers will have things to think about.  Bearman sparked concerns about the closing distances.  Russell will be wondering how he is losing out to his baby team mate now his big chance has at last arrived.  Hamilton will be wondering if he could get back Mercedes, ever be able to get changes to happen at Ferrari or if he should retire.  Aston Martin need to figure what staffing line up will work for them.  Antonelli will consider which flavour ice-cream he should have for his special treat for leading the championship.

Japan GP Qualifying Report

Had silly season begun already?  Two races in?  Jonathan Wheatley has left Audi (because Switzerland was too much.  I would have thought Switzerland was easier than Christian Horner.) and is strongly rumoured to be heading to Aston Martin.  Aston Martin had made no progress in getting their cars to be racable but Fernando has become a father.  In a surprising twist we are not speculating who is going to be imminently brought in to replace Hadjar in the second Red Bull seat, which usually has a revolving door policy.

There was absolutely no drama at all in the first Qualifying session.  Stroll was last and three seconds behind his team mate.  The Cadillacs of Perez and Bottas were ahead of the Aston Martins.  Bearman was the shock exit in 18th place; he just didn't string a lap together.  Albon was in 17th.  Colapinto nearly went out but got through, which would have meant both Williams were through to Q2.  Unusually, Albon made a strong complaint about the condition of his car compared to Sainz' over the radio.  A few drivers were vocal that it was their car and not them, including Russell and Verstappen.

The drama came in the second Qualifying session.  Linblad in his Racing Bull knocked out Verstappen in his Red Bull.  Antonelli had been fastest in both sessions so far.  The six out were Verstappen, Ocon, Hulkenberg, Lawson, Colapinto and Sainz.  All the drivers (apart from Ocon and Sainz) had team mates in the top ten.

At last, in the final session, it looked as though Russell might catch Antonelli.  He was nearly three tenths of a second off but was still second.  Piastri was third, LeClerc fourth; then Piastri, LeClerc, Norris, Hamilton, Gasly, Hadjar, Bortoleto and Linblad.

Antonelli was pleased but not surprised.  Russell was disappointed but not surprised.  Piastri was surprised.

We will have to see what sort of starts the drivers and cars can manage on race day as I suspect it might dictate some of the finishing result.  If you're not enjoying the racing on track because it's Japan, you can enjoy the outfits trackside; the spectators have really outdone themselves this year.

Japan GP Race Report

The drivers were full of talk about how much fun driving at Suzuka is, the media commitments felt less of a burden and they were enjoying being on track.

Sainz had been given a three place grid penalty for impeding Hamilton, it had rained overnight and was cold for the start of the race: that was the pre-race news.  There would be no race news.

It was a clean start with Norris defending well from Piastri.  The top ten remained as they were but behind them there were overtakes a plenty.  Alonso got Gasly, Tsunoda took Lawson, Hulkenberg passed Sainz and Bortoleto, the great prodigy, fell back three places to last.

Stroll was the first to pit in the slow Aston Martin.  He went to the hard tyres and came out in last place.  Of the main runners, on the one stop race, Piastri came in first, followed by what was the top three.  Ferrari made very slow stop for LeClerc.  Norris and Verstappen nearly came together as they exited the pits, the McLaren going on to the grass.  They both blamed each other.  This meant that Antonelli was leading, followed by Hamilton, Hadjar and Albon.

There was so little to watch that we were given a shot of Gasly's mum watching the race.  She would have been disappointed to see the team orders which asked him to move over for Doohan.  It never happened though.

The top three pretty much held stations once all the pit stops had happened.  Behind them Antonelli put in a series of Fastest Laps.  Tsunoda was the Driver of the Day.  It was an easy win for Verstappen and an easily held second and third place for McLaren, Norris holding off Piastri.  Hadjar did well for 8th in his Racing Bull, followed by Albon and Bearman,  The rookies were doing well.  Alonso was just outside the points in 11th but his team mate was last.  Is this finally the year he gets sacked?  Tsunoda was 12th ahead of Lawson in 17th.

It was a very disappointing race, with little to no action.  At least we will be swiftly moving on to two more races in the next fortnight.

Japan GP Qualifying Report

Obviously all the talk at the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, home of Honda, was Tsunoda's move to Red Bull and Lawson's demotion to his seat at Racing Bulls after only two races.  Despite heavy online support from drivers current and old, this must have felt like an awful setback to the Kiwi.

As they went into the Qualifying sessions, grass fires had plagued the practice sessions.  Rain was forecast overnight though.  Doohan didn't shut his DRS during one practice session and had a 300kph crash.  He was winded but did not have concussion.  Villeneuve was very critical of this.

In the first Qualifying session, Antonelli was having problems getting his tyres up to temperature and Hadjar was in pain with the positioning of his seat belt.  It was tight at the bottom.  Out went Hulkenberg, Bortoleto, Ocon, Doohan and Stroll.  A poor showing for the Aston Martin driver.  Antonelli got it together and proceeded in 8th.  Both Racing Bulls were through, which meant Lawson was able to get his Racing Bull out of the bottom five, when he couldn't do the same with his Red Bull.

With 8 minutes to go the second session was stopped because of a grass fire.  It was nip and tuck in the middle.  Out went Gasly, Sainz (with an investigation for impeding pending), Alonso, Lawson and the Tsunoda.  That will certainly put a smile on the faces of his supporters.

The final session was a battle between the two McLaren drivers and Verstappen, behind them it didn't seem to matter so much.  Verstappen snatched pole from Norris at the last second, behind them was Piastri who drove an awful first sector and couldn't make it up with two subsequent purple sectors.  To finish the top ten was LeClerc, Russell, Antonelli, Hadjar, Hamilton, Albon and Bearman.

I only noticed that the Red Bulls were in their white Honda livery for this race, so I had spent the whole time confusing them with their sister team.

Japan GP Race Report

It didn't look like a traditionally wet race in Suzuka so it was then a question of whether Red Flags or Safety Cars would make the race more interesting.  We all knew the answer to this, it was more when than if Sargeant brought out either.  He was already starting from the pit lane with a 10 second penalty as the team had to get extra parts during Parc Ferme to rebuild his car after he smashed it up during Qualifying.

Piastri and Verstappen both aimed for the same piece of track and gave Norris a pass into second place off the start.  There was some kind of coming together behind them, which meant that a Safety Car came out so some debris could be collected from the track.  Bottas hits Albon, giving himself a puncture.  Zhou was also somehow involved.  Hamilton was hit by Perez.  There were new noses all round.  Sargeant came back into the pits for reason unknown, perhaps to run the hard tyres to the end?

Unlike the olden days, there were no team orders with Russell battling with the damaged Hamilton.  The greatest battles of the race were between team mates.

It was Lap 6, that Sargeant fulfilled his promise and ran into Bottas.  Bottas went off the track, into the pits and was sent out 30 seconds later to trundle around before retiring.  Sargeant got a 5 second penalty.  Perez got 5 seconds for a Safety Car infringement.  It was unclear what he was supposed to do exiting the pits.  Things went from bad to worse, as Perez then drove into the Haas of Magnussen and damaged his front wing.

Piastri came in for his pit stop just as a Virtual Safety Car was called and got a very lucky stop.  This was to get him back past his team mate, Norris.

Perez was told to retire the car.

The  Mercedes continued to fight each other.  Russell held second for a long time as he ran a one stop strategy.

Alonso is clearly still keen to stick up 2 fingers to his old team, Alpine, as he fought to get past Ocon, imploring his team to: "think of something".  The McLarens had a bit of a fight but then the team got tired of Norris's whinging and asked Piastri to move over.  He did look quicker.

Sargeant was seen walking back through the pits.  Clearly he was retired.  Then I noticed that Stroll had retired; I've no idea why.  Then Albon pitted and retired.

The Ferraris quietly drove around in 4th and 5th.

Alonso was given some helpful advice from his pit that Stroll had suffered a rear wing failure, so could he avoid the bumpy bits?

Perez was unretired so that he could serve his penalty and not carry it over to the next race.

Mercedes made the call for Russell and Hamilton to swap places but then needed Hamilton to give Russell DRS to defend from Sainz, who did manage to get past.  If they had waited until the last lap, as Russell suggested, they would have kept both places.  Could Hamilton both give Russell DRS and chase after LeClerc?  No

Verstappen took the victory and scored enough points for Red Bull to claim the Constructor's Championship.  Norris was very happy with the team for them to take the final two spots on the podium.  Piastri drove an excellent rookie drive and was awarded Driver of the Day.  

Lawson finished ahead of Tsunoda but neither of them were in the points.

The next race is at Qatar, where there is a Sprint, so Verstappan can win his Drivers Championship without scoring in a race.  I doubt the FIA thought of that when they introduced the format.

Whilst I don't have much to write about it was a great race and there are lots of battles brewing between currently happy team mates.

Japan GP Qualifying Report

The headlines in Suzuka was that Japanese driver Tsunoda along with Red Bull returnee Ricciardo have been confirmed as Alpha Tauri drivers for 2024.  None of the contenders are taking Perez' Red Bull seat and Lawson will continue as reserve and test driver.

Sargeant stopped the first Qualifying session, bringing out a Red Flag, crashing at the end of his (good?) lap.  This only increases his margin at the top of the damages cost table, bringing his total to probably over the $3 million mark.  His position seems to be becoming increasingly untenable, even though Red Bull boss Christian Horner believes Williams won't take Lawson as they'll want a driver for more than a year.  At the end, out went Zhou, Hulkenberg, Stroll and Bottas with Albon just pulling out a good lap in time to go through.  Lawson, rejected by Alpha Tauri went fourth.  You wonder what metrics the team(s) can see that justify their choice of driver for next season.

The second session passed with no incident.  The McLarens put in a strong showing and Verstappen too.  Out went Lawson, Gasly, Albon, Ocon and Magnussen.  Home track hero, Tsunoda made it through; Honda having given him a special engine probably.

The third session was no more exciting than the second.  Verstappen predictably took pole.  The McLarens continued to show great pace, with Piastri out qualifying his team mate in 2nd and 3rd.  LeClerc was 4th, a much-needed two places in front of his team mate who won the last race.  Perez was 5th, again causing everyone to question why he is keeping his seat at Red Bull.  The Mercedes qualified 7th and 8th with Hamilton in front.  The top 10 is rounded off by Tsunoda and Alonso.  

Suzuka can be a big challenge, especially if it's wet but it also feels like it is Verstappen's to lose.  I suspect the McLarens will make it interesting for the first lap or two.  The interest will be whether they can hold Perez up and whether Mercedes can make it forwards with more tyres saved for the race.  Norris looked miffed to be behind his team mate and I expect he will want to get passed him as soon as possible.  Will they come together?  Same for the Ferrari drivers, when are things going to implode there?  Poor, tiny, Yuki is always treated like a small boy so it would be great for him to prove his worth.

 

Japan GP Race Report

The race was supposed to be dry at the start and then rain later during the event but the rain came down quite heavily as the drivers took to the track to drive round to their start positions.

LeClerc made a better start than Verstappen (who couldn't go diagonally quick enough to cover off the Ferrari) and clearly thought that in the wet, his rival wouldn't push too hard.  He was wrong and he did.  Verstappen took a risky pass and made it stick.  He was clearly out to race and not play it safe for the mathematically-possible championship.

The rain was coming down hard and the on-board shots showed how little the drivers could see.  One world champion, Alonso, hit another, Vettel.  This was not the biggest event of the first lap, as we were watching Alonso try and take Hamilton, we saw a flash of scarlet at the side...was LeClerc out of the race?  No, it was his team mate Sainz.  The Safety Car was out and we saw Albon pull to the side of the track with car failure and Gasly push a huge piece of hoarding around the track like a snow plough.

The race was then Red Flagged and we fast-forwarded through a lot of the coverage.  The drivers got back in the car and then the restart was suspended and I went  back to fast-forwarding.  I think the FIA needs to consider how racing can happen in wet weather conditions.  Eventually, the cars set off for a rolling start and the rain started to get heavier.  Drivers were asked on the radio what the visibility was like.

Despite the plumes of water behind the drivers, Latifi and Vettel came in for Intermediate tyres.  After a very brief period of analysis most of the rest of the pack came in too.  Russell decried the choice immediately and Schumacher was told that they would change to Inters when there was a Safety Car.  Schumacher led the race for a few metres and can now retire having fulfilled his father's legacy.

The race continued a little damp, with Hamilton and Ocon being the biggest battle on track.  Latifi, miraculously stayed in the points.

The clock counted down to the end of the race.  When it went red and the last lap occurred, Verstappen was in the lead and LeClerc in second and defending fiercely from Perez. To win the championship, Verstappen had to win and have the point for fastest lap if LeClerc was in second.  Zho though, held that prize.  Alpine finished a sterling 4th for Ocon and 7th for Alonso.  Latifi scored points for Williams and the McLarens finished exactly where they started.  Gasly, finishing last, will be glad with his new job at Alpine.

However, the eagle-eyed spotted that LeClerc went off the track and came back on holding his place against Perez.  Race Control also saw this and investigated and put the championship contender back a place, giving Verstappen the World Champion title.  So that's that.  At least someone told Johnny Herbert so he could tell Verstappen.  Probably not how Max dreamed it would be.

Japan GP Qualifying Report

With talk of budget cut fouls and a little driver reshuffle between the Alpine, Mercedes and Red Bull stables, this was going to be an interesting weekend.

Gasley massively struggled with his brakes and was out in Q1 along with the predictables: Stroll, Magnussen and both Williams.  Latifi was both last and 5 places behind last, having "Latified" someone last weekend.

The second Qualifying session was very tight.  Ricciardo had an amazing qualifying, up until the point Russell knocked him out by three milliseconds and put him in 11th place.  Vettel was through to Q3 and home boy Tsunoda was out.  The big news was Perez claiming the fastest time and Alonso (who was fastest in the wet practice session) second fastest time.

To finish it was all very predictable, with Verstappen taking pole despite have an awful final lap, ahead of LeClerc.  Charles was hoping for a little bit of rain on race day.  Vettel was very emotional to have driven his last Suzuka Qualifying.

There was some discussion whether Verstappen would receive a penalty for turning close to Norris.  He got a reprimand and many would say the stewards continue to favour the Dutchman.

Mexico GP - Results (including revised Japan GP)

1. Evel Marque - 974*
2. Je suis Charlie - 967*
3. PickedInAHurry - 922*
4. BottHaas - 888*
5. The Hope Fulls - 859*
6. Jack the Lad - 774*
7. The Pitstop Princess - 706*
8. Hippy F1 - 639*
9. Ferrari Rocher - 573
10. Francesco Bernoulli - 487*

*Home track played

Japan GP - "You are the man"

With the hurricane postponing qualifying until race day, the pressure was on the drivers.  It seemed like it would be shoo in for the more experienced drivers like Vettel and Hamilton.   Indeed Vettel scooped pole position.  Inexperience showed up when LeClerc hit Verstappen on the opening lap, with the debris hitting Hamilton.  He refused to come back to the pits to be fixed which ultimately cost him points and Max a race finish at all.

Old dog Bottas made a fantastic start off the grid: "all his Christmases at once", as Webber said.  This move gave him the win.

Rookies Albon and Norris had a come together on Lap 4.  Old school team orders came into play on Lap 45 when Renault gave Ricciardo the chance to overtake his team mate Hulkenberg and get on with the race.  The closing laps showed us some getting closer and closer battles, with LeClerc taking fresh tyres to try for fastest lap (and failed) and Hamilton catching Vettel.

We didn't see much of the winner Bottas at all.  This was a race I watched the highlights of and I could really see that editorial decisions had been made about the stories shown in the race.  I was surprised more wasn't shown of Bottas or LeClerc or more made of Mercedes securing their sixth consecutive constructors championship.  The hurricane hit both broadcasters hard with most of the star pundits not making it to Japan.  Wasn't Lee McKenzie good though?

After the race LeClerc was given a couple of penalties and the race was classified at Lap 23 due to problems with the chequered flag. 

There are plenty of drivers who could win the final races this season and plenty who could win the championship next year.  Bodes well.

Japan GP - Results

1. Evel Marque - 923*
2. PickedInAHurry - 871*
3. Je suis Charlie - 846
4. BottHaas - 840*
5. The Hope Fulls - 830*
6. Jack the Lad - 685*
7. The Pitstop Princess - 670*
8. Hippy F1 - 604*
9. Ferrari Rocher - 522
10. Francesco Bernoulli - 463*

* Home track played

Japan GP - "Absolutely perfect"

Japan always delivers and this year it delivered overtaking in the midfield.  Leclerc featured in lots of this despite a run in with Ericcson: "He's stupid.  It's a fact"

A five second penalty was handed out to Verstappen and it began to feel like Liberty really want Mercedes (and Hamilton) to win at any cost.  The five second penalties came thick and fast after that; ruthless Japanese efficiency.

It was so busy midfield that if Hamilton and Bottas hadn't pitted, we wouldn't have seen them all race.  Vettel we did see as he lost it completely and seems to be desperate and under a lot of pressure; although he did post the fastest lap.

Will Hamilton clinch the championship at the next race?  Yes.

Japan GP - "Lovely managed race"

Well, lap 1 was quite exciting.  Ocon got to third!  Raikkonen lost places...hopefully to produce some exciting racing later on....Sainz went rallying (for his last Toro Rosso race).  We learnt twenty year olds have no fear.  And Vettel had spark plug problems...ending the hopes for any exciting racing later.

On lap 11, Ricciardo produced a great overtake.  Horner coached him: "brave it out...good boy".  That was the radio catchphrase, all the engineers were praising their "good boys" or prize whippets.

It wasn't long after that that Bottas and Hamilton swapped places.  Where do you stand?  And does it matter anymore?  Perez and Ocon geared up for a fight but were held back too.

Stroll "brought out" the third Virtual Safety Car on lap 47.  Did they do much to spice up the race?

There was some worry on lap 51 of 53 when Hamilton complained about vibrations.  I'm not sure why the team didn't message back telling him to suck it up.

At the very end, Alonso ignored blue flags to hold up Verstappen's change against Hamilton.  Now he's 59 points clear with four races left to go.  I'm really looking forward to all the "if Hamilton finishes...and if Vettel finishes..."

Finally, I think Mo Farah might have been at the race.

Japan GP - Results

1. No Vices Now - 999*
2. Moneyball - 985*
3. Two World Champions, two future World Champions and, um, two other guys - 959*
4. Torque of the Devil - 903*
5. Hoping for an Indian Summer - 893*
6. Evil Marque - 887*
7. Bernie is a hobbit - 862*
8. Jenson's Whinging Legacy - 854*
9. The Pitstop Princess - 838
10. Even more hopeful - 837*
11. Burn After Racing - 761*
12. Beauty & the F1 Geek - 703*
13. BOT-RAI-PER - 592*
14. Hippy F1 - 545*
15. Slightly Slower Racing - 518

*Home track played

Japan GP - "one in the land of the rising sun"

Well, that was a cracking race.  The best of the season in my humble opinion.

I started off feeling chipper about it as Raikkonen overtook Vettel in the championship points in Malaysia, which feels like justice.  I really enjoyed Sky's focus on the Japanese fans and all their costumes and accessories.  Could it get any better?  Hamilton's poor start!

However, it all went out the window when I realised that Williams were running 13th and 14th.

There were so many twists and turns: Hulkenberg's "see you later", Ricciardo's long stop, all the whinging about blue flags and no retirements!  Mercedes won the constructors championship but that was a given.

What followed the race was awkward.  No one spoke in the cool down room.  It would be easy to poke fun at Kai Ebel but we give the world Eddie Jordan.  Hamilton swerved the question about his start - did he think we would forget?

Rosberg has now won 9 races, no one who has won this many has not gone on to win the championship...

Japan GP - Results

1. Weak End of Bernie - 969*
2. The Pitstop Princess - 937
3. Merc-redible Hulk - 882*
4. Halo, it's me - 876*
5. Hippy F1 - 832*
6. Claire has to type out this sentence each time as my team name - 820*
7. No Vices Now - 709*
8. The Hopefuls - 701*
9. The Maranello  Marvels - 658*
10. Marian's Marvels - 606*
11. British Racing Green - 505*
12. Indiana Walker and the Tyres of Doom - 437
13. Put out to Pastor - 320*

* Home track played

Japan GP - "Absolutely flawless all weekend"

As good as cardboard car hats

Rosberg on pole - hooray
Franz Tost - first time we've seen him.  Extra points if you know who he is!

As slow as a Honda engine

G1 or G3 - McLaren fail to set up a car for qualifying.  New lows.
Massa - just can't catch a break
Rosberg - just can't get the start right
Lap 1 punctures - should spice up a race but really don't
Criticism - Alonso calls his car "embarrassing" (as he was overtaken by a Sauber) and a "GP2 engine" (as he was overtaken by Verstappen)
Hitting the cones - it was a late call into the pits for Sainz Jr. apparently
Battles that aren't for points - what we watched for most of the race.  Something must be wrong in Formula 1.
No hospitality for Lotus - let them eat cake
Japanese tech - lets down the podium interviews
Kai Ebel - dressed like a clown for the podium interviews (click here for a laugh)
Being "happy with the fightback" - all Rosberg could take from the race

Japan GP - Results

1. Teutonic Titans, Titanic Twits - 1,130
2. DC's Tighty Whiteys - 1,123
3. HamBerg from McCedes drive through please - 1,122
4. Sharks have no bones :) - 1,115
5. Double Mercedes is boring! - 909
6. The F1 Flumps - 890
7. Mike and the Mechanics - 879
8. Baby on Board - 851
9. Lots of Trouble Usually Serious - 829*
10. Muppet Racing - 820
11. Go Fast and Prosper - 812
12. Hippy F1 - 738
13. The Hopefuls - 644
14. The Pitstop Princess - 620
15. I blame Clarkson - 615
16. I Monza Brink of Insanity - 614
17. No Vices Now - 587
18. Baby Pitstop's Change Crew - 586
19. Beauty & the F1 Geek - 581
20. The Very Good Value - 553
21. Juan Angus Fangio C.I. - 460
22. 10CC - 423

*Home track

Japan GP

Kawaii

Breaking news - Vettel to leave Red Bull.  Marussia's gain?
Rise of the teenagers - Kvyat to Red Bull and Verstappen lives out a 17 year old's dream
BFF - Seb and Kimi, who knew? Apparently they hang out in Zurich and travel in the same plane
The return of the gazebos
Moving to inters - inspired move by Button
Suitcases - loving the "Congratulations to 1st place" suitcases in the pre-podium room

No thank you

BBC's video game intro - even the PS addict in the hoose didn't like it
Cagoules - who travels to Japan without a waterproof?  Nige.
DC's grid walk - poor
Needy - Hamilton's calls to get the safety car in
Hair - still Hamilton
Uncertainty - with Bianchi's crash, what is the future of wet races?

Japan GP

1. Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes - 1,313
2. The Hopefuls - 982
3. Mercrari Hulkenassa - 967
4. The Pitstop Princess - 936
5. No Vices Now - 912
6. The Mercs - 886
7. Hippy F1 - 832
8. The View from the Back of the Grid - 783
9. League of extraordinary pay drivers - 736
10. Red Bull goes Brazil Nuts!! - 733
11. The Baldy Biker - 657
12. Magnussen Benz over Button - 432
13. Beauty & the F1 Geek - 397
14. Hopefully Prancing Horses not Donkeys - 313