Source: FIA

Due to the grid changes, apologies in advance if I have put someone in the wrong place. I've used the colours normally to distinguish who got through to Q3 and Q2, but today's a bit difference hence why the colours are all over the place!

Vettel did well to get pole. It's essential for Button and Barrichello to clear Rosberg and Kubica otherwise their race could be ruined (and incredibly essential for Button not to get tangled with Alguersuari)

i expected Hamiton and Trulli to be lighter...

Vettels gotta pray Hamilton doesn't beat him off the line now

Good job by everybody up there.BMW and Raikkonen looking very strong.

Surely Hamilton and Trulli will make it to the same lap and Vettel can go a bit longer than both

EDIT: Also isn't tire degradation high for this tack so maybe the one stoppers might not have such an advantage over the 2 stoppers

also, if Kova manages he hold position for the 1st few laps when he's driving like a moron he might well get a podium

1 more lap, at most

Should be interesting to see if the Brawns can battle past the heavier cars ahead.

1 lap is often all thats needed though...

Put Rosberg with one or two laps less as the Toyota sucker engine waste more fuel than any other

Button again lighter? He is really slow nowadays and I have otherwise nothing against him.

Anyway Williams are to slow anyway

Autosport just stated Heikki Kovalainen will get a grid penalty for changing the gearbox of his McLaren. He will therefore start from the 13th place on the grid.

Ive thought that many times, Heikki never delivered!

makes sense, the back of his car was all screwed up after his crash, it must have got a mighty punt

jusding by the new grid i think Vettel and Hamilton will dissapear into the distance,

then it'll be Heidfeld and Raikonnen stuck behind the Trulli train

and then everyone else beind the Rosberg.Kubica train..

i'm gussing #1 Vettel #2 Hamilton #3 Raikkonen

oo this race looks like Vettels if he doesn't get bogged down behind the Mclaren with KERS. Vettel for the win tomorrow!

Brawns will have race pace, but the championship will not be finished thie weekend, unless they 'push on up the hill' lol! seriously, they have to be agressive to be placed in this race.

excellent!!

Interesting weights..

I thought Lewis Hamilton would be much lighter, but it appears the McLaren really is improved massively since Silverstone. Great stuff

Rosberg

Button

I'm rooting for a McLaren and Hamilton win, but I think Kimi or Seabass will take it here.

J

Uploading a new copy of the table now based on Autosport grid.

revised grid

Pos Driver Team
1. Vettel Red Bull-Renault
2. Trulli Toyota
3. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
4. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber
5. Raikkonen Ferrari
6. Rosberg Williams-Toyota
7. Kubica BMW-Sauber
8. Sutil Force India-Mercedes *
9. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes *
10. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari
11. Button Brawn-Mercedes *
12. Fisichella Ferrari
13. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes **
14. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari *
15. Nakajima Williams-Toyota
16. Grosjean Renault
17. Alonso Renault *
18. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes **
19. Glock Toyota ***
20. Webber Red Bull-Renault ***

* Five-place grid penalty
** Five-place grid penalty for changing gearbox
*** Will use new chassis so will start from the pitlane


looking good for rosberg and Kubica if they can make their tires last.

Hamilton has to get past Vettel in the first corner to retain any remote chance of winning the race.

Vettel clear favorite

Bit of perspective needed here. We are talking hundreths of a second, so hardly "really slow".

Kimi looks good I think. The Ferrari has the best starts so I´ll say he´s at least 3rd after turn 1 tomorrow.

absolutely..

i think you'll find that Vettel is pitting a lap later than Hamilton anyway though, and even if Hamilton gets past him at the start he'll clear him in the 1st stop...

only way Vettel doesn't win this is if he makes a mistake imho

It is between the top three for the win.

looks like the makings of a classic race tmrw... expect safety car/crashes at some point too

I wonder if Vettel will try a similarly dangerous move at the start like he did to Button in Valencia.

Hamilton got nothing to lose, so...

But otherwise, RBR is superior in Suzuka. Its their race to lose this time...

Its gonna be interesting to see how long its gonna take for Brawn guys to get rid of Kubica and Rosberg supertankers ...

raikkonen may be on for a podium here.must avoid trulli train

Opening post updated!

Alguersuari for points anyone?

no chance

sorry but this doesnt make sense

Should be Vettel vs Hamilton vs Raikkonen,at least for a few laps.

And watch out for the Alguersuari train!

I love how they say they'd stop on said lap but many times they stop a lap or 3 later hahaha

I am pretty certain the predicted stop laps for Ferrari can be adjusted by -1.

We have seen all season long that the Ferrari is thirstier than other engines.

I think turn one will be very interesting with a much lighter Button and a KERS Fisi behind him.

, both made way up the grid due penalties ...

Good chance of the SC playing a big part in this race. I'm fully expecting a few more cars to end up in the barriers.

If SC's come ingame, NR could be up for a win if he doesnt lose to much places at the start.

so?
other 3 cars should not have taken part in Q3!
So they made up for that

And because of that,they're in a strong position for the race.

Yea I think the first lap will be interesting with a lot of lighter cars out of position and needing to make up some places.

BMW will drop down the grid from the start of the race, i cant imagion Nick fighting Ferrari for podium. Kimi has a shot on P3 now. But BMW ... hmmm, P5 / p6 at the end

2nd is Trulli too far form the 5th spot with the short straight of the grid. 3rd is Hamilton he has KERS no way. Only Heidfeld who has now a reputation of a strong defender. Even so Ferrari are too slow for the podium, 6-8 tenths slower from the top-3 with practically the same fuel.

I think its more than 3 tenths and being lighter at hte same time. Thats really a lot in F1. But Im like really impartial on Brawns things so I will leave it there.

What did i miss, because the chart says Vettel and Hamilton in for lap 17 ... 17 - 17 makes null in my book, but i could be wrong ...

Seriously? Didnt see the Q, thats a lot imo.

Rosberg and Kubica the biggest winners from the penalty situation. From 11th to 6th and 13th to 7th respectively and with hell a lot fuel onboard. They are looking good.

In Q1 the gap was at the lesser amount, Q2 bigger and Q3 the biggest.

Kubica looks good, he is in excellent position. And that bavarian crapwagon is quick - finally. My tip for win -definately.

Yes but Kimi didn't have any new soft rubber left so did a longer stint on the harder rubber.

Im not sure how much quicker a one stop will be than a 2 stopper at this track tho with higher tyre degradation

What is interesting is that in the first two sessions Button was comfortably quicker than Rubens in every run on light tanks. Earlier this year it was the opposite, with Button not showing an advantage until Q3 with fuel.

Of course, the craziness of Q3 makes this a less than complete sample. I can't remember such a chaotic qualifying and grid that is so hard to figure with all the penalties. Hopefully the chaos will continue tomorrow (as long as no one gets hurt), even if it takes a little rain to make that happen.