30/09/2007
NEWS STORY
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Unless someone does something very, very silly, the World Championship cannot be decided today. That said, after all the silliness of the 2007 season thus far, nothing would surprise us.
Earlier this morning, Lewis Hamilton admitted that he hopes Fernando Alonso will leave McLaren at the end of the year, hopefully heading for Ferrari, in addition to having another clear pop at the Spaniard by saying that he hopes he won't resort to the Schumacher way of doing things, whereby 'anything goes. That said, as we have seen a couple of times this season, most recently at Monza, the English rookie is not above resorting to hard aggressive driving himself.
A short while ago, Bob Constanduros advised us that conditions were "horrible", even wetter than yesterday. That was a couple of hours ago, but it has to be said that right now, just under half-an-hour before the scheduled start, conditions are pretty bad. It is raining hard, and it looks as though its set 9in for the next few hours.
Therefore the planned preamble can be binned and instead we can hope for a great race in which anything can happen. Our only hope is that we get to see a 'classic' wet Grand Prix and not the sort of shenanigans some sections of the media are clearly hoping for.
It's kind of perverse to see the cars on the grid and the engineers working on their laptops, which are shielded by little plastic covers.
Naturally, in these conditions, the 'big four' are favourites, however these races often become something of a lottery, therefore anything could happen, and should the Ferraris and McLarens run into trouble - to put it nicely - anyone of a number of drivers could step up to the plate, the most obvious being Nick Heidfeld.
As if to prove how bad conditions are, Kimi Raikkonen goes off on his out lap as he heads to the grid - bringing back memories of Prost at Imola all those years ago. And before you write in, we know that the Frenchman went off on the parade lap.
We lost several cars in the opening laps in Germany earlier this year, where a sudden downpour caught everyone on the hop. That was the race where Hamilton ticked the remaining boxes, though there are still many fans puzzled by the English driver's return to the race - having spun off - courtesy of a friendly marshal with a crane.
As the cars line up on the grid the rain stops, however, its still very wet out there, and there is plenty of rain cloud over Mount Fuji, not to mention a slight fog. Visibility is poor, and that's before the action begins and the cars begin throwing up those rooster tails. Indeed, Race Control announces that the race will get underway behind the safety car - which means one possible scenario is eliminated from the outset. Nobody wants to see anyone hurt, however, starting a Grand Prix behind the safety car is further proof of the emasculation of this sport. Sad days.
As the field prepares to head off on the parade lap - without Tonio Liuzzi, who is starting from the pitlane - the air temperature is 17 degrees C, while the track temperature is 22 degrees. Humidity is 94%.
Liuzzi qualified on a dry set-up, which has now been changed to a wet set-up (obviously), hence the pitlane start.
The field heads off behind the safety car, there is no official start, as such, the 'race' is already underway. At the start of the second lap Massa spins off, however he is able to continue. The Brazilian loses a couple of places but is able to make them up by passing the cars that overtook him.
The Ferrari driver had started on intermediates - contrary to the instructions given by Race Director Charlie Whiting - and immediately pits for full wet tyres. Therefore, having dropped back through the field his race appears to be over before it has begun.
At the end of lap 3, Raikkonen also pits. As the conditions deteriorate he switches to wets having also started on inters.
In our humble opinion, after all the bull**** we have witnessed in recent weeks/months, what the sport needed was a real race to reignite the excitement, remind us what the sport should really be about. These endless parade laps behind a silver Mercedes are not a good advertisement for the sport. If conditions are that bad, delay the start, by an hour, two hours or even a day... but give fans a race not a series of wet demo laps.
After 4 laps, other than Massa and Raikkonen, who have dropped to twentieth and twenty-first, there are no changes to the order.
A number of drivers, including Button, report that conditions are getting worse. As if to prove the point Raikkonen goes off again, and this time he's on the wets.
Schumacher complains that it's a "complete madness to continue". "You can't see your hands in front of your face," he adds. Which beggars the obvious question…
After 8 laps it is still raining. Hamilton leads Alonso, Heidfeld, Button, Webber, Vettel, Kubica, Fisichella, Kovalainen and Coulthard.
Trulli, another leading light in the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, tells his crew that he almost hit Coulthard, such are the conditions. Amazing how the GPDA is so vocal over some issues but remains silent over far more important issues. These are the guys putting their lives on the line by actually driving the cars, if conditions are that bad they should say so and do something about it.
At the end of lap 11 Liuzzi pits, as Raikkonen posts a new fastest lap (2:05.400). Elsewhere, Trulli spins, as if to prove a point.
During their stops, Massa and Raikkonen were filled up with fuel, which could lead to fun and games later on in the race, should it continue behind the safety car. Other than this, there is still concern as to whether Ferrari might face punishment for starting on intermediates.
Yamamoto pits, as does Raikkonen, who is no doubt taking on enough fuel to get him to the end of the race. Other than a fuel fill, the Maranello outfit didn't do anything else to the car.
Next time around Massa pits, though he does have new (wet) tyres fitted, along with lots of fuel.
At the end of lap 16, Wurz pits, as Race Control announce that 'Car 5' (Massa) is under investigation. It is subsequently announced that the Brazilian gets a 'drive through' for overtaking another car behind the safety car.
Liuzzi, who is allowed to overtake the entire field as he makes up for his 'lost lap', posts a new fastest lap (1:36.413), which appears to indicate that conditions are improving. Elsewhere, Barrichello, Sato and Trulli all pit.
On lap 19, Race Control announces that the safety car is to come in. Finally, we're going to have a race.
Sure enough, the safety car pulls off and Hamilton and Alonso finally go head to head, pursued by the pack.
Further back, Wurz and Massa have collided, while Heidfeld is involved in an incident with Button, who loses his front wing. The replay shows that the Brazilian was the innocent victim of the Austrian losing control of his car at Turn 1. Heidfeld has dropped to tenth.
Hamilton, Alonso, Vettel, Webber, Button, Fisichella, Kovalainen, Kubica, Coulthard and Heidfeld. Meanwhile, Massa serves his drive through. As he rejoins the race he goes off at Turn 1, but is able to continue. A frustrating day for the Ferrari driver.
Raikkonen is up to fourteenth, and closing in on Davidson. Sato pits, having been involved in an incident, he gets a new nosecone.
As Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (28.836), Yamamoto leaves the pits flames pouring out of the back of the car. Thankfully they are blown out as he rejoins the race.
Button pits on lap 24, fuel, new nose and tyres for the Honda driver.
On-board footage from the Ferrari shows Raikkonen's total commitment. Great stuff as the Finn pursues Schumacher, and then nails him, for eleventh place.
Alonso posts a new fastest lap on lap 25, as the gap to Hamilton remains around the 3s mark. Vettel is 13s behind the World Champion.
At the end of lap 27 Alonso pits, as Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (28.193). Meanwhile, Raikkonen is all over Sutil, who is running in tenth.
Next time around Hamilton pits, which means that Sebastian Vettel leads the Japanese Grand Prix in a Toro Rosso.
The pit stops have been kind for Hamilton, who rejoins in third, while a small mistake by Alonso has cost the Spaniard dear, he is now running in eighth, two places, and 6s, ahead of Raikkonen.
Massa has another off, as does Rosberg.
After 30 laps, Vettel leads Webber, Hamilton, Kovalainen, Kubica, Fisichella, Coulthard, Alonso, Heidfeld and Raikkonen.
At the end of lap 32, Vettel pits, which hands the lead to Webber. Elsewhere, Alonso is having a hard time, he loses out to Heidfeld, who makes short work of the Spaniard.
A spin from Hamilton, who has been clouted by Kubica. The Pole slips through to take third from the Englishman.
At the end of lap 35, Heidfeld pits, as Webber enjoys a 24.3s lead over Kovalainen. Meanwhile, Hamilton is passed by Vettel and then Coulthard, which indicates that the Englishman has a problem.
Therefore, with 37 laps completed, Kovalainen leads Fisichella by 7.3s, with Coulthard a further 1.3s behind. However, all three still have to pit.
In fourth is Hamilton, ahead of Webber, Vettel, Raikkonen, Alonso, Liuzzi, Rosberg, Sutil, Massa, Kubica and Heidfeld.
Race Control announces that Kubica is under investigation, obviously for the incident with Hamilton.
Kovalainen and Coulthard pit on lap 39. Back on track, Alonso is all over Raikkonen, who dives into the pits for fresh wet tyres and (surprisingly) fuel. Kubica serves his drive through.
At the end of lap 41, Fisichella pits, which hands the lead back to Hamilton, who now heads Webber by 2s. Meanwhile, it's all over for Alonso who hits the wall at the exit of Turn 5. The Spaniard is OK, but there's debris strewn across the track. The safety car is deployed. It was a big crash.
Therefore, behind the safety car, and with 42 laps completed, it's: Hamilton, Webber, Vettel, Kovalainen, Liuzzi, Massa, Coulthard, Fisichella, Sutil and Heidfeld. Raikkonen is running in eleventh. A number of drivers, including Liuzzi, Sato and Sutil take the opportunity to pit.
Disaster for Red Bull Inc, as Webber is clouted by Vettel, thereby eliminating both of them, when they seemed destined for podium places. Hard to apportion blame at this time.
Therefore, Kovalainen moves up into second, ahead of Massa, Coulthard, Fisichella, Heidfeld, Raikkonen, Barrichello, Kubica and Schumacher. In the pits, Vettel is clearly distraught, very, very upset at what has happened.
The safety car pulls off at the end of lap 47, the race is underway once again. It is still raining.
Massa attempts to make a move on Kovalainen on the main straight, but opts not to do anything silly. A wise move. Elsewhere, Rosberg is crawling slowly around the track. He heads back to the pits and subsequently rejoins the race.
Raikkonen has passed Fisichella and Heidfeld and is now in hot pursuit of Coulthard. The Finn could still end up with a podium result. He is the second fastest man on track, Hamilton - in clear air - being quickest.
Thing is, assuming Raikkonen gets past Coulthard, will Massa be told to move aside for the Finn?
At the end of lap 54, Schumacher drivers into the pits and into retirement, a miserable day for the 'home team'.
As Hamilton enjoys a 7.6s lead, Raikkonen is making hard work of Coulthard, indeed, the Finn appears to be settling for fifth place. Elsewhere, Davidson pulls off to the side of the track.
That said, Raikkonen turns up the wick, closing right up on Coulthard. With 11 laps remaining, even second place is not out of the question.
Finally, from out of nowhere, Raikkonen makes his move, and there is nothing that DC can do about it. The Finn sets off after his Ferrari teammate, who is 1.2s behind Kovalainen.
A lap later, at the same corner where he passed Coulthard (Turn 5), Raikkonen goes wide, making full use of the (over) generous run off. Massa pits for tyres and fuel, much to everyone's surprise - his fourth stop of the afternoon.
Therefore with 9 laps remaining, just over eleven minutes, Raikkonen is 3.3s behind second placed Kovalainen, who is 10.6s adrift of race leader Hamilton. Massa has rejoined in ninth.
At the end of lap 60, Barrichello pits, which means the Brazilian will not score his first point of the year here. Elsewhere, Raikkonen has another excursion. However, no harm done, and the Finn continues his pursuit of Kovalainen.
As Hamilton appears to be coasting to victory, Raikkonen closes to within 1.1s of Kovalainen.
With less than five minutes remaining, Schumacher rejoins the race. As the rain falls even harder, Ron Dennis is said to be getting very nervous. Unusual for the big man.
Raikkonen is all over his fellow-Finn, the Ferrari driver refusing to give in. Meanwhile, it's all over for Heidfeld, which promotes Liuzzi into the points.
The Finns are side by side, but the Renault driver refuses to give way, and why should he?
Hamilton takes a superb win, while Kovalainen holds off Raikkonen's challenge to give Renault its best result of the year. Meanwhile, Massa and Kubica are having the mother of all battles, the sort of thing we might expect in a Hollywood re-make of Grand Prix. The Brazilian is the ultimate winner, taking sixth, however it remains to be seen how their antics go down with the race stewards.
Hamilton's win gives him a twelve point lead with just two races remaining, and to all intents and purposes its now between him and his McLaren teammate.
A superb second place for Kovalainen, definitely a prospect for 'man of the race', and let's not forget, like Hamilton, he is in his rookie season.
Kimi Raikkonen will be one of many wondering where Ross Brawn is when you need him. The Finn had the balls today, sadly his team didn't have the strategy.
A great result for Coulthard on a day when Red Bull suffered miserably. A convincing fourth, place in such conditions, is a further perfect tribute to the late Colin McRae, who the Scot is honouring this weekend.
Fisichella may have saved his 2008 bacon with today's fifth place, then again, he might not. Felipe Massa takes sixth, despite four stops, ahead of Kubica and Liuzzi, the Italian scoring his first point of the season.
Thankfully, the action of the last few laps has gone some way to eradicating the sheer frustration of the opening section of the race.
If no other lesson has been learned, let's hope that the GPDA finally finds its voice and speaks out on behalf of the drivers it is supposed to represent. While the King is in his counting house it is the drivers who are laying their lives on the line.
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