FORCDA 2010 Season

[the Masked Lapwing]

2002 Hungarian Grand Prix
Pre-race:
It seems that Alex Yoong has missed a few sponsor payments, as he’s been turfed out of his Minardi seat in favour of Anthony Davidson. It is unknown how long he has the seat for, although it is confirmed he’ll be there for Hungary and Belgium.

Qualifying:
Davies strikes again on Saturday, putting his Renault on pole by more than 2 seconds.

1st: R. Davies (Renault): 1:08.716
2nd: R. Schumacher (Williams): +2.484
3rd: K. Raikkonen (McLaren): +2.546
4th: J. Montoya (Williams): +2.636
5th: M. Schumacher (Ferrari): +3.048
6th: D. Coulthard (McLaren): +3.265
7th: L. Badoer (Ferrari): +3.286
8th: N. Heidfeld (Sauber): +3.428
9th: F. Massa (Sauber): +3.587
10th: T. Sato (Jordan): +3.856
11th: J. Courtney (Jaguar): +4.083
12th: O. Panis (BAR): +4.169
13th: J. Trulli (Renault): +4.206
14th: J. Villeneuve (BAR): +4.223
15th: G. Fisichella (Jordan): +4.252
16th: P. De la Rosa (Jaguar): +4.373
17th: S. Jones (Toyota): +5.943
18th: R. Briscoe (Toyota): +6.086
19th: M. Webber (Minardi): +6.653
20th: A. Davidson (Minardi): +6.885

Race:
Davies held off Ralf into turn 1, and from there, nothing happened. The top half of the field maintained steady gaps of around a second, with minimal change from lap to lap until someone pitted. Of the leaders, Montoya and Raikkonen pitted on lap 2, while Davies and Coulthard pitted on lap 4, letting the Schumachers go by into the lead (well, maybe not Ralf, who pulled off at turn 1). Davies came out 6th, behind Anthony Davidson, but easily passed the Minardi at the chicane. Importantly, he was still ahead of Montoya and Raikkonen, who got into a three way battle with Coulthard (which I’m sure was very entertaining). Michael Schumacher pitted on lap 6 from the lead, and managed to stay ahead of Davies. Despite a late charge, he held off his old teammate to take his second win of the year, ahead of Davies and Raikkonen.

1st: M. Schumacher (Ferrari): 9:47.612
2nd: R. Davies (Renault): +3.847
3rd: K. Raikkonen (McLaren): +9.317
4th: L. Badoer (Ferrari): +17.093
5th: F. Massa (Sauber): +26.197
6th: D. Coulthard (McLaren): +26.864
7th: J. Courtney (Jaguar): +28.259
8th: J. Villeneuve (BAR): +29.300
9th: N. Heidfeld (Sauber): +30.043
10th: P. De la Rosa (Jaguar): +31.225
11th: J. Montoya (Williams): +31.673
12th: G. Fisichella (Jordan): +33.673
13th: J. Trulli (Renault): +34.610
14th: O. Panis (BAR): +36.045
15th: R. Briscoe (Toyota): +39.043
16th: M. Webber (Minardi): +45.519
17th: S. Jones (Toyota): +46.207
18th: A. Davidson (Minardi): +49.809
19th: T. Sato (Jordan): +1 LAP
DNF: R. Schumacher (Williams): Engine

ROTR: Ralf Schumacher - Only DNF, and has given Davies (in a Renault!) the championship lead.
IIDOTR: Rhys Davies - See above (and no one else did anything!)

Driver’s Championship:
1st: R. Davies - 49
2nd: R. Schumacher - 46
3rd: K. Raikkonen - 44 (3 wins)
4th: D. Coulthard - 44 (2 wins)
5th: M. Schumacher - 34
6th: L. Badoer - 24
7th: N. Heidfeld - 20
8th: J. Montoya - 18
9th: F. Massa - 13
10th: J. Trulli - 12
11th: J. Courtney - 8 (1 2nd)
12th: T. Sato - 8 (1 3rd)
13th: G. Fisichella - 7
14th: P. De la Rosa - 3 (1 4th, 3 8ths)
15th: S. Jones - 3 (1 4th, 1 10th)
16th: H. Frentzen - 2 (1 5th, 1 7th)
17th: J. Button - 2 (1 5th, 1 8th)
18th: J. Villeneuve - 1

Constructors’ Standings:
1st: McLaren - 88
2nd: Ferrari - 87
3rd: Williams - 64
4th: Renault - 34
5th: Sauber - 33
6th: Jordan - 15
7th: Jaguar - 11
8th: Toyota - 3
9th: Arrows - 2
10th: BAR - 1

[the Masked Lapwing]

2002 Belgian Grand Prix

Qualifying:
It’s that time of year again - the time where Davies closes his eyes and hopes Spa goes away.

1st: L. Badoer (Ferrari): 1:37.916
2nd: M. Schumacher (Ferrari): +0.024
3rd: D. Coulthard (McLaren): +0.165
4th: K. Raikkonen (McLaren): +0.167
5th: R. Schumacher (Williams): +0.200
6th: F. Massa (Sauber): +0.772
7th: J. Trulli (Renault) +1.596
8th: R. Davies (Renault): +1.736
9th: J. Montoya (Williams): +1.834
10th: P. De la Rosa (Jaguar): +1.916
11th: J. Villeneuve (BAR): +2.144
12th: G. Fisichella (Jordan): +2.658
13th: J. Courtney (Jaguar): +2.856
14th: O. Panis (BAR): +2.928
15th: N. Heidfeld (Sauber): +3.113
16th: T. Sato (Jordan): +4.109
17th: S. Jones (Toyota): +4.462
18th: M. Webber (Minardi): +4.986
19th: A. Davidson (Minardi): +5.029
20th: R. Briscoe (Toyota): +6.173

Race:
Davies managed to get to 6th off the start, but that involved collisions with Trulli, Montoya and de la Rosa before he got to Les Combes. The path of destruction opened up some room behind him, but he quickly lost 6 seconds to the top 5. Badoer and Ralf Schumacher pitted on lap 1, leaving him 4th. On lap 2, Davies had to pit earlier than was scheduled because of a gearbox drama that left him stuck in 6th gear (not that bad of a problem as it struck just as he exited Stavelot). He came out in 9th place, and for the second race in a row right behind Davidson. Badoer’s quest for win #3 came to an end when his suspension gave out. Coulthard’s engine blew on lap 3, and Davies used his stricken McLaren to get past Davidson as well. Courtney pitted on lap 3, giving Davies 6th place, although he lost out to Montoya. He gained another spot when Sato pitted, but had both BARs right behind trying to score some more points. Panis spun at Les Combes trying to get past, while Villeneuve hung back, not quite able to get close enough. However, it worked well for him when Davies buggered up at Stavelot on the last lap (again). They raced each other side by side from there to the finish line, where Davies got ahead by 0.3 seconds. Up front, Raikkonen won the race, ahead of the Schumachers, with Ralf second and Michael third.

1st: K. Raikkonen (McLaren): +10:08.683
2nd: R. Schumacher (Williams): +4.158
3rd: M. Schumacher (Ferrari): +5.183
4th: J. Montoya (Williams): +17.018
5th: R. Davies (Renault): +29.482
6th: J. Villeneuve (BAR): +29.789
7th: T. Sato (Jordan): +33.796
8th: L. Badoer (Ferrari): +36.611
9th: M. Webber (Minardi): +46.101
10th: R. Briscoe (Toyota): +47.148
11th: J. Trulli (Renault): +47.496
12th: O. Panis (BAR): +48.294
13th: J. Courtney (Jaguar): +50.446
14th: A. Davidson (Minardi): +1:00.524
15th: P. De la Rosa (Jaguar): +1:02.506
16th: N. Heidfeld (Sauber): +1:17.985
17th: G. Fisichella (Jordan): +1 LAP
18th: S. Jones (Toyota): +1 LAP
DNF: D. Coulthard (McLaren): Engine
DNF: F. Massa (Sauber): Engine

ROTR: Mercedes - Coulthard’s blowup left the track covered in oil at Pouhon, with quite a few midfielders spinning while trying to pass each other.
IIDOTR: Takuma Sato - From nowhere to 7th is a pretty good effort.

Driver’s Championship:
1st: K. Raikkonen - 54
2nd: R. Schumacher - 52
3rd: R. Davies - 51
4th: D. Coulthard - 44
5th: M. Schumacher - 38
6th: L. Badoer - 24
7th: J. Montoya - 21
8th: N. Heidfeld - 20
9th: F. Massa - 13
10th: J. Trulli - 12
11th: J. Courtney - 8 (1 2nd)
12th: T. Sato - 8 (1 3rd)
13th: G. Fisichella - 7
14th: P. De la Rosa - 3 (1 4th, 3 8ths)
15th: S. Jones - 3 (1 4th, 1 10th)
16th: H. Frentzen - 2 (1 5th, 1 7th)
17th: J. Button - 2 (1 5th, 1 8th)
18th: J. Villeneuve - 2 (2 6ths)

Constructors’ Standings:
1st: McLaren - 98
2nd: Ferrari - 91
3rd: Williams - 73
4th: Renault - 36
5th: Sauber - 33
6th: Jordan - 15
7th: Jaguar - 11
8th: Toyota - 3
9th: Arrows - 2 (1 5th)
10th: BAR - 2 (2 6ths)

[the Masked Lapwing]

2002 Italian Grand Prix
Pre-race:
Alex Yoong will return to his Minardi for the rest of the season after he finally paid up.

Qualifying:
Ever get the feeling that qualifying is wildly inaccurate?

1st: R. Davies (Renault): 1:13.508
2nd: R. Schumacher (Williams): +4.939
3rd: M. Schumacher (Ferrari): +5.414
4th: L. Badoer (Ferrari): +5.491
5th: J. Montoya (Williams): +5.501
6th: K. Raikkonen (McLaren): +5.505
7th: D. Coulthard (McLaren): +5.653
8th: N. Heidfeld (Sauber): +5.699
9th: J. Trulli (Renault): +5.872
10th: F. Massa (Sauber): +6.012
11th: P. De la Rosa (Jaguar): +6.471
12th: T. Sato (Jordan): +6.501
13th: J. Courtney (Jaguar): +6.507
14th: J. Villeneuve (BAR): +6.773
15th: G. Fisichella (Jordan): +6.789
16th: O. Panis (BAR): +6.950
17th: M. Webber (Minardi): +8.453
18th: A. Yoong (Minardi): +8.855
19th: S. Jones (Toyota): +8.953
20th: R. Briscoe (Toyota): +9.448

Race:
The tifosi were quite angry when the guy who had abandoned Ferrari took pole, but that became outright rage when Davies and Ralf Schumacher boxed them in at turn 1 and they hit each other. But it was forgiven when the former Williams teammates stopped co-operating at the Ascari chicane, putting Ralf into the dirt and Michael to second. Davies then found the bunker at the Parabolica, putting Michael into the lead, but only until lap 2, when he pitted, along with Davies, who came out ahead. He came out 11th, passing Trulli into the first chicane, and dispatching Webber on the run to the Parabolica. More stops ahead meant he moved to fourth, still ahead of Ralf. Ahead of him and yet to pit was Montoya, Raikkonen and Sato, who all stopped on lap 4. This gave him a 5 second lead over Ralf with two laps to go. Over those two laps, he extended it to 9 seconds, to take his third win of the season, and his first with Renault. In second was Ralf, with Jarno Trulli completing a brilliant day for Renault in third.

1st: R. Davies (Renault): 7:56.871
2nd: R. Schumacher (Williams): +9.961
3rd: J. Trulli (Renault): +14.587
4th: J. Montoya (Williams): +16.314
5th: K. Raikkonen (McLaren): +17.161
6th: N. Heidfeld (Sauber): +23.634
7th: T. Sato (Jordan): +34.877
8th: P. De la Rosa (Jaguar): +36.143
9th: M. Schumacher (Ferrari): +37.322
10th: F. Massa (Sauber): +38.332
11th: O. Panis (BAR): +38.606
12th: A. Yoong (Minardi): +43.251
13th: R. Briscoe (Toyota): +44.049
14th: J. Courtney (Jaguar): +44.943
15th: J. Villeneuve (BAR): +45.278
16th: M. Webber (Minardi): +51.496
17th: S. Jones (Toyota): +1 LAP
18th: L. Badoer (Ferrari): +1 LAP
19th: D. Coulthard (McLaren): +1 LAP
DNF: G. Fisichella (Jordan): Engine

ROTR: Ferrari - Home race and completely non-existent all weekend.
IIDOTR: Renault - 1st and 3rd. Says it all, really.

Bold indicates who can still win the championship.

Driver’s Championship:
1st: R. Davies - 61
2nd: R. Schumacher - 58
3rd: K. Raikkonen - 56
4th: D. Coulthard - 44
5th: M. Schumacher - 38
6th: L. Badoer - 24 (2 wins)
7th: J. Montoya - 24 (2 2nds)
8th: N. Heidfeld - 21
9th: J. Trulli - 16
10th: F. Massa - 13
11th: J. Courtney - 8 (1 2nd)
12th: T. Sato - 8 (1 3rd)
13th: G. Fisichella - 7
14th: P. De la Rosa - 3 (1 4th, 3 8ths)
15th: S. Jones - 3 (1 4th, 1 10th)
16th: H. Frentzen - 2 (1 5th, 1 7th)
17th: J. Button - 2 (1 5th, 1 8th)
18th: J. Villeneuve - 2 (2 6ths)

Constructors’ Standings:
1st: McLaren - 100
2nd: Ferrari - 91
3rd: Williams - 82
4th: Renault - 50
5th: Sauber - 34
6th: Jordan - 15
7th: Jaguar - 11
8th: Toyota - 3
9th: Arrows - 2 (1 5th)
10th: BAR - 2 (2 6ths)

[the Masked Lapwing]

2002 United States Grand Prix

Qualifying:
“The track will dry up.”
My engineer is so fired. On the plus side, the fans got an interesting battle for pole, with Michael Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya setting the exact same time within 30 seconds of each other. Raikkonen and Davies also set equal times.

1st: M. Schumacher (Ferrari): 1:12.847
2nd: J. Montoya (Williams): +0.000
3rd: L. Badoer (Ferrari): +0.041
4th: R. Schumacher (Williams): +0.201
5th: D. Coulthard (McLaren): +0.587
6th: K. Raikkonen (McLaren): +0.669
7th: R. Davies (Renault): +0.669
8th: F. Massa (Sauber): +1.126
9th: J. Trulli (Renault): +1.305
10th: T. Sato (Jordan): +1.516
11th: J. Courtney (Jaguar): +1.557
12th: O. Panis (BAR): +1.713
13th: P. De la Rosa (Jaguar): +1.716
14th: G. Fisichella (Jordan): +1.786
15th: N. Heidfeld (Sauber): +2.071
16th: J. Villeneuve (BAR): +2.206
17th: A. Yoong (Minardi): +3.451
18th: R. Briscoe (Toyota): +3.562
19th: S. Jones (Toyota): +3.586
20th: M. Webber (Minardi): +3.698

Race:
Yet another brilliant start saw Davies get to third in no time at all, then outbreak Montoya and Michael Schumacher into turn 1. He was aided by Luca Badoer though, who took all of three seconds to find a wall. At turn 4, Schumacher tried a desperate dive that sent Davies into the sand, and he hit Sato as he rejoined. It dropped him back to 14th, where he set about getting back up the field. Pedro de la Rosa though was having none of it, taking about three different lines at once through all the slow corners. He only got passed on lap 3 when he punted the Jag off the road. Thanks to some pit stops, he was 6th on lap 4, when he stopped as well. He came out 13th, and only because Villeneuve had caused a massive stack at turn 1. From there, it was only the last few stops that elevated any further. He would only manage to finish 10th. On the plus side, Renault took their second straight victory, with Jarno Trulli beating Montoya by a little over a second.

1st: J. Trulli (Renault): 10:10.162
2nd: J. Montoya (Williams): +1.480
3rd: M. Schumacher (Ferrari): +2.059
4th: R. Schumacher (Williams): +4.223
5th: F. Massa (Sauber): +21.775
6th: O. Panis (BAR): +22.643
7th: K. Raikkonen (McLaren): +25.707
8th: J. Villeneuve (BAR): +34.402
9th: J. Courtney (Jaguar): +39.711
10th: R. Davies (Renault): +46.658
11th: S. Jones (Toyota): +53.767
12th: R. Briscoe (Toyota): +55.176
13th: M. Webber (Minardi): +57.717
14th: L. Badoer (Ferrari): +1:14.191
15th: A. Yoong (Minardi): +1 LAP
16th: D. Coulthatd (McLaren): +1 LAP
17th: T. Sato (Jordan): +1 LAP
18th: G. Fisichella (Jordan): +1 LAP
DNF: N. Heidfeld (Sauber): Collision
DNF: P. De la Rosa (Jaguar): Collision

ROTR: Jordan - Two engines drama for both drivers puts well and truly last.
IIDOTR: Jarno Trulli - First career victory and second for Renault.

Bold indicates who can still win the championship.

Driver’s Championship:
1st: R. Davies - 61 (3 wins)
2nd: R. Schumacher - 61 (1 win)
3rd: K. Raikkonen - 56
4th: D. Coulthard - 44
5th: M. Schumacher - 42
6th: J. Montoya - 30
7th: J. Trulli - 26
8th: L. Badoer - 24
9th: N. Heidfeld - 21
10th: F. Massa - 15
11th: J. Courtney - 8 (1 2nd)
12th: T. Sato - 8 (1 3rd)
13th: G. Fisichella - 7
14th: P. De la Rosa - 3 (1 4th, 3 8ths)
15th: S. Jones - 3 (1 4th, 1 10th)
16th: H. Frentzen - 2 (1 5th, 1 7th)
17th: J. Button - 2 (1 5th, 1 8th)
18th: J. Villeneuve - 2 (2 6ths)
19th: O. Panis - 1

Constructors’ Standings:
1st: McLaren - 100
2nd: Ferrari - 95
3rd: Williams - 91
4th: Renault - 60
5th: Sauber - 36
6th: Jordan - 15
7th: Jaguar - 11
8th: Toyota - 3 (1 4th)
9th: BAR - 3 (3 6ths)
10th: Arrows - 2

So, with one race to go, there’s a 3-way battle in both championships. By rights, Davies should not be in there, let alone in the lead, but there you go. Ralf has been denied by Davies twice, and definitely looks like the favourite, but Kimi Raikkonen could certainly spring a surprise. In the WCC, even Montoya’s poor season hasn’t slowed Williams down, but you’d have to say that it would be McLaren who’re the favourites, because of Raikkonen in the hunt, but Ferrari will want to win something.

[the Masked Lapwing]

2002 Japanese Grand Prix

Qualifying:
It rained, and it played havoc with everyone’s laps. Davies once again took pole by a massive margin, in what could possibly be he his final race. His championship rivals were on the fourth row.

1st: R. Davies (Renault): +1:33.685
2nd: J. Montoya (Williams): +3.710
3rd: L. Badoer (Ferrari): +3.799
4th: M. Schumacher (Ferrari): +3.920
5th: F. Massa (Sauber): +4.653
6th: D. Coulthard (McLaren): +4.982
7th: K. Raikkonen (McLaren): +5.128
8th: R. Schumacher (Williams): +5.139
9th: J. Villeneuve (BAR): +5.605
10th: P. De la Rosa (Jaguar): +5.645
11th: O. Panis (BAR): +5.696
12th: J. Trulli (Renault): +5.715
13th: N. Heidfeld (Sauber): +5.831
14th: G. Fisichella (Jordan): +5.839
15th: J. Courtney (Jaguar): +6.077
16th: T. Sato (Jordan): +7.283
17th: S. Jones (Toyota): +8.218
18th: A. Yoong (Minardi): +8.233
19th: R. Briscoe (Toyota): +8.758
20th: M. Webber (Minardi): +9.090

Race:
It didn’t take long for Davies to bugger up, as lost the lead to Montoya at turn 1, then promptly hit him as he tried to pass into the first Degner (in my defence, he was going quite slowly…). The incident handed the lead to Luca Badoer, with Michael Schumacher behind him and Massa third. Davies was now 4th, with Ralf right behind, and Raikkonen held up behind Villeneuve. Badoer and Ralf pitted, while Davies passed Massa for second at the chicane. In the midfield on lap 2, Webber did his countryman a favour by punting off Schumacher, while Coulthard let Raikkonen through after their stops. Badoer’s engine started to give up on lap 3, which would give Michael Schumacher a fairly easy win, if nothing went wrong, considering his lead over Davies. Both pitted, as well as Massa, on lap 3, while Heidfeld started to give Ralf a bad time. Raikkonen was also having a hard time getting in front of Villeneuve, and ruined his championship battle when he made an overambitious move at the Spoon, losing his front wing. Davies came out third, but spun on Badoer’s oil at turn 1, giving Massa the spot back. As he rejoined, Villenueve tried to make for putting Raikkonen out of the hunt by knocking Davies back into the dirt, dropping him to 9th. He quickly passed Webber and Heidfeld for 7th, and Fisichella lost it at the Casio Triangle, giving him 6th. However, he lost the spot to Heidfeld when he again went off at turn 1, only to get back to 6th when they passed Trulli, who was in fence at the second Degner! Two more spots came their way when Panis and Villeneuve got together (ahahah!), and he got third back from Heidfeld. Unfortunately, the other Sauber was 7 seconds ahead by now, so third place would be the most he could get. But considering that Ralf was 6th, and Raikkonen was in no-man’s land, it would still win him a championship! Heidfeld’s engine went on the last lap, giving fourth to Sato. Which them became third, as Davies got stuck in second gear! He managed to fix the problem before Villeneuve and Ralf got past him. It would be a battle for the championship over the last half lap - if Villeneuve hadn’t tried to get the complete set and knock Ralf off the road! Up ahead, Michael crossed the line well clear of Massa, but then the game showed its lack of justice - Sato’s suspension broke just as he entered 130R! He managed to get the car into the pits, but he’d backed up enough traffic to ensure he wound up 10th. This gave the podium back to Davies, who for the third year running denied Ralf Schumacher a championship!

1st: M. Schumacher (Ferrari): 9:58.412
2nd: F. Massa (Sauber): +30.528
3rd: R. Davies (Renault): +43.293
4th: J. Villeneuve (BAR): +47.827
5th: R. Schumacher (Williams): +49.004
6th: O. Panis (BAR): +50.966
7th: J. Trulli (Renault): +52.366
8th: P. De la Rosa (Jaguar): +54.299
9th: D. Coulthard (McLaren): +54.595
10th: T. Sato (Jordan): +56.168
11th: S. Jones (Toyota): +57.575
12th: J. Montoya (Williams): +58.004
13th: K. Raikkonen (McLaren): +59.106
14th: M. Webber (Minardi): +1:14.432
15th: L. Badoer (Ferrari): +1:34.453
16th: A. Yoong (Minardi): +1:47.417
17th: G. Fisichella (Jordan): +1:48.445
18th: N. Heidfeld (Sauber): +2:00.639
19th: R. Briscoe (Toyota): +1 LAP
DNF: J. Courtney (Jaguar): Accident

ROTR: Jacques Villeneuve - Who hits every title contender in one race?
IIDOTR: Takuma Sato - There is no justice in this world…

Driver’s Championship Final Standings:
1st: R. Davies - 65
2nd: R. Schumacher - 63
3rd: K. Raikkonen - 56
4th: M. Schumacher - 52
5th: D. Coulthard - 44
6th: J. Montoya - 30
7th: J. Trulli - 26
8th: L. Badoer - 24
9th: N. Heidfeld - 21 (1 win)
10th: F. Massa - 21 (2 2nds)
11th: J. Courtney - 8 (1 2nd)
12th: T. Sato - 8 (1 3rd)
13th: G. Fisichella - 7
14th: J. Villeneuve - 5
15th: P. De la Rosa - 3 (1 4th, 3 8ths)
16th: S. Jones - 3 (1 4th, 1 10th)
17th: H. Frentzen - 2 (1 5th, 1 7th)
18th: J. Button - 2 (1 5th, 1 8th)
19th: O. Panis - 2 (2 6ths)
20th: M. Webber - 0 (1 7th)
21st: R. Briscoe - 0 (1 9th, 2 10ths)
22nd: A. Yoong - 0 (1 9th, 2 12ths)
23rd: E. Bernoldi - 0 (1 11th)
24th: A. Davidson - 0 (1 14th)

Constructors’ Standings:
1st: Ferrari - 105
2nd: McLaren - 100
3rd: Williams - 93
4th: Renault - 64
5th: Sauber - 42
6th: Jordan - 15
7th: Jaguar - 11
8th: BAR - 7
9th: Toyota - 3
10th: Arrows - 2
11th: Minardi - 0

4 years, 3 championships, 1 in a Renault. At least I didn’t win in a BMW

[Wizzie]

4 years, 3 championships, 1 in a Renault. At least I didn’t win in a BMW

You won in a freaking Renault

[the Masked Lapwing]

4 years, 3 championships, 1 in a Renault. At least I didn’t win in a BMW

You won in a freaking Renault

The one BMW you could have legitimately won in, you finished fifth. You are alsocurrently third in a Minardi. I wouldn't talk if I were you

[Wizzie]

4 years, 3 championships, 1 in a Renault. At least I didn’t win in a BMW

You won in a freaking Renault

The one BMW you could have legitimately won in, you finished fifth. You are alsocurrently third in a Minardi. I wouldn't talk if I were you

Just be thankful your Renault was never as crap as it was here at Silverstone

[Wizzie]

2004: Round 12 - Germany

Qualifying:

Over the course of the weekend, Daniel Melrose was given the task of trying to make an uncooperative PS04B work for him around the new Hockenheim circuit. Over the space of the practice sessions he turned the car from something that wasn't working anywhere to a car that only didn't work in the stadium section. Not that it mattered much as he only ended up 12th on the grid. Michael Schumacher was on pole again from the much-improved Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya. Jenson Button will also join Melrose in the depths of the midfield as he only ended up a disappointing 14th.

Grid:

1. M. Schumacher (Ferrari)
2. K. Raikkonen (McLaren-Mercedes)
3. J. Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW)
4. D. Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes)
5. F. Alonso (Renault)
6. J. Trulli (Renault)
7. R. Barrichello (Ferrari)
8. T. Sato (BAR-Honda)
9. O. Panis (Toyota)
10. S. Jones (Williams-BMW)
11. M. Webber (Jaguar-Cosworth)
12. D. Melrose (Minardi-Cosworth)
13. C. Klien (Jaguar-Cosworth)
14. J. Button (BAR-Honda)
15. G. Fisichella (Sauber-Petronas)
16. C. Da Matta (Toyota)
17. F. Massa (Sauber-Petronas)
18. G. Pantano (Jordan-Ford)
19. N. Heidfeld (Jordan-Ford)
20. Z. Baumgartner (Minardi-Cosworth)

Race:

If Daniel Melrose's qualifying lap was considered a touch conservative, then his start was anything but as within the first 3 laps he went from 12th to 3rd, mostly thanks to Kimi Raikkonen and Rubens Barrichello holding up the field at almost 3 seconds a lap. Eventually, the only thing that stopped Melrose finishing 2nd yet again behind the rampant Michael Schumacher was a late race puncture when meant he ended up 4th behind Juan Pablo Montoya and David Coulthard who, along with Fernando Alonso, were the main beneficiaries of the roadblocks in Raikkonen and Barrichello. Sammy Jones scored his first points since joining Williams in 6th place ahead of Jenson Button while Christian Klien took the final point. Barrichello eventually finished a disappointing 14th which was almost respectable compared to the horror run Raikkonen had as he went from winning in Silverstone to finishing dead last. Nick Heidfeld had a rather scary accident as his car flipped over and caught fire on his way to scoring another DNF.

Results:
1. M. Schumacher (Ferrari): 1h 26m 38.914
2. J. Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW): +55.879
3. D. Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes): +59.279
4. D. Melrose (Minardi-Cosworth): +1:07.486
5. F. Alonso (Renault): +1:12.488
6. S. Jones (Williams-BMW): +1 LAP
7. J. Button (BAR-Honda): +1 LAP
8. C. Klien (Jaguar-Cosworth): +1 LAP
9. J. Trulli (Renault): +1 LAP
10. O. Panis (Toyota): +1 LAP
11. T. Sato (BAR-Honda): +1 LAP
12. M. Webber (Jaguar-Cosworth): +2 LAPS
13. F. Massa (Sauber-Petronas): +2 LAPS
14. R. Barrichello (Ferrari): +2 LAPS
15. G. Fisichella (Sauber-Petronas): +2 LAPS
16. G. Pantano (Jordan-Ford): +3 LAPS
17. C. Da Matta (Toyota): +3 LAPS
18. K. Raikkonen (McLaren-Mercedes): +3 LAPS
DNF. N. Heidfeld (Jordan-Ford)
DNF. Z. Baumgartner (Minardi-Cosworth)

Pole: M. Schumacher (Ferrari): 1.14.694
Fastest Lap: D. Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes): 1:16.120
Leaders: M. Schumacher: 1-67 (Total: 67)

Championship Standings (Half points for Bahrain):
Drivers:
1. M. Schumacher (Ferrari): 86 points (6 wins, 2 2nds, 2 3rds)
2. D. Melrose (Minardi-Cosworth): 72 points (1 win, 5 2nds, 3 3rds)
3. R. Barrichello (Ferrari): 63.5 points (1 win, 4 2nds, 1 3rd)
4. J. Button (BAR-Honda): 42 points (2 wins, 1 3rd)
5. J. Trulli (Renault): 36 points (1 win, 1 3rd)
6. J. Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW): 29 points (1 2nd, 1 3rd)
7. F. Alonso (Renault): 29 points (1 3rd)
8. D. Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes): 21 points (1 3rd)
9. K. Raikkonen (McLaren-Mercedes): 15 points (1 win)
10. G. Fisichella (Sauber-Petronas): 12 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
11. T. Sato (BAR-Honda): 10.5 points (1 3rd)
12. C. Da Matta (Toyota): 6 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
13. O. Panis (Toyota): 6 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
14. M. Webber (Jaguar-Cosworth): 5.5 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
15. R. Schumacher (Williams-BMW): 5 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
16. N. Heidfeld (Jordan-Ford): 4 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
17. S. Jones (Jordan-Ford/WIlliams-BMW): 4 points (Best Result: 1 6th)
18. C. Klien (Jaguar-Cosworth): 2 points (Best Result: 2 8ths)

Constructors:
1. Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro: 149.5 points (7 wins, 6 2nds, 3 3rds)
2. Wilux Minardi Cosworth: 72 points (1 win, 5 2nds, 3 3rds)
3. Mild Seven Renault F1 Team: 65 points (1 win, 2 3rds)
4. Lucky Strike BAR Honda: 52.5 points (2 wins, 2 3rds)
5. BMW WilliamsF1 Team: 37 points (1 2nd, 1 3rd)
6. West McLaren Mercedes: 36 points (1 win, 1 3rd)
7. Panasonic Toyota Racing: 12 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
8. Sauber Petronas: 12 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
9. Jaguar Racing Cosworth: 7.5 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
10. Jordan Ford: 5 points (Best Result: 1 5th)

Next up is the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring

[Wizzie]

Pre-Hungary

It was "Out with the old, in with the new" at Toyota with the sacking of Cristiano Da Matta whilst simultaneously signing on Jarno Trulli for 2005. With Jones filling in for Ralf Schumacher at Williams, it was Toyota's other tester Ryan Briscoe getting his first ever F1 start, getting the nod over Riccardo Zonta. Williams were also in the news as they ditched the radical but ultimately unsucessful "Walrus" wing concept and reverted to a more conventional front wing. Finally, it has been confirmed that Daniel Melrose is going to Sauber next year but in what capacity remains to be seen.

Round 13 - Hungary

Qualifying:

Ferrari were back on qualifying form at the Hungaroring but, surprisingly, it was Barrichello leading the way after several big name drivers fluffed up their qualifying laps on the dusty circuit including Michael Schumacher who could have easily gone half a second quicker than he did. Takuma Sato and Daniel Melrose were the main beneficiaries as a result of all the minor errors as they ended up 5th and 3rd respectively after both had dismal practice sessions. McLaren were on the other end of the coin with Kimi Raikkonen 11th and DC only a disappointing 14th after qualifying.

Grid:

1. R. Barrichello (Ferrari)
2. M. Schumacher (Ferrari)
3. D. Melrose (Minardi-Cosworth)
4. J. Button (BAR-Honda)
5. T. Sato (BAR-Honda)
6. F. Alonso (Renault)
7. J. Trulli (Renault)
8. S. Jones (Williams-BMW)
9. J. Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW)
10. G. Fisichella (Sauber-Petronas)
11. K. Raikkonen (McLaren-Mercedes)
12. M. Webber (Jaguar-Cosworth)
13. O. Panis (Toyota)
14. D. Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes)
15. C. Klien (Jaguar-Cosworth)
16. R. Briscoe (Toyota)
17. N. Heidfeld (Jordan-Ford)
18. G. Pantano (Jordan-Ford)
19. Z. Baumgartner (Minardi-Cosworth)
20. F. Massa (Sauber-Petronas)

Race

As Michael Schumacher skipped away from the field at a second a lap, despite making one more stop than his immediate rivals, to yet another win and marched ever closer to his 5th world title, Minardi's Daniel Melrose cemented his position as the best young talent in many years with another podium finish behind the second Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello. Melrose got the position when he stayed out longer than Jenson Button, Juan Pablo Montoya and Fernando Alonso when all 3 got stuck behind Sammy Jones when they made their first pitstop. During that time Melrose's laptimes were good enough that he stayed ahead of Jones when he came in for his stop and that was as far as the battle for the podium was concerned. McLaren had another torrid day with Coulthard finishing a lapped 10th and Raikkonen's Mercedes engine exploding after he and Jarno Trulli fell down the order faster than bricks.

Results:
1. M. Schumacher (Ferrari): 1h 28m 23.666
2. R. Barrichello (Ferrari): +28.073
3. D. Melrose (Minardi-Cosworth): +57.908
4. F. Alonso (Renault): +1 LAP
5. J. Button (BAR-Honda): +1 LAP
6. J. Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW): +1 LAP
7. S. Jones (Williams-BMW): +1 LAP
8. T. Sato (BAR-Honda): +1 LAP
9. G. Fisichella (Sauber-Petronas): +1 LAP
10. D. Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes): +1 LAP
11. M. Webber (Jaguar-Cosworth): +2 LAPS
12. O. Panis (Toyota): +2 LAPS
13. C. Klien (Jaguar-Cosworth): +3 LAPS
14. N. Heidfeld (Jordan-Ford): +3 LAPS
15. Z. Baumgartner (Minardi-Cosworth): +3 LAPS
16. R. Briscoe (Toyota): +4 LAPS
17. J. Trulli (Renault): +4 LAPS
18. G. Pantano (Jordan-Ford): +4 LAPS
DNF. F. Massa (Sauber-Petronas)
DNF. K. Raikkonen (McLaren-Mercedes)

Pole: R. Barrichello (Ferrari): 1.13.348
Fastest Lap: M. Schumacher (Ferrari): 1:13.617
Leaders: R. Barrichello: 1, 16-26 (Total: 12)
M. Schumacher: 2-15, 27-70 (Total: 58)

Championship Standings (Half points for Bahrain):
Drivers:
1. M. Schumacher (Ferrari): 96 points (7 wins, 2 2nds, 2 3rds)
2. D. Melrose (Minardi-Cosworth): 78 points (1 win, 5 2nds, 4 3rds)
3. R. Barrichello (Ferrari): 71.5 points (1 win, 5 2nds, 1 3rd)
4. J. Button (BAR-Honda): 46 points (2 wins, 1 3rd)
5. J. Trulli (Renault): 36 points (1 win, 1 3rd)
6. F. Alonso (Renault): 34 points (1 3rd)
7. J. Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW): 32 points (1 2nd, 1 3rd)
8. D. Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes): 21 points (1 3rd)
9. K. Raikkonen (McLaren-Mercedes): 15 points (1 win)
10. G. Fisichella (Sauber-Petronas): 12 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
11. T. Sato (BAR-Honda): 11.5 points (1 3rd)
12. C. Da Matta (Toyota): 6 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
13. O. Panis (Toyota): 6 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
14. S. Jones (Jordan-Ford/WIlliams-BMW): 6 points (Best Result: 1 6th)
15. M. Webber (Jaguar-Cosworth): 5.5 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
16. R. Schumacher (Williams-BMW): 5 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
17. N. Heidfeld (Jordan-Ford): 4 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
18. C. Klien (Jaguar-Cosworth): 2 points (Best Result: 2 8ths)

Constructors:
1. Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro: 167.5 points (8 wins, 7 2nds, 3 3rds)
2. Wilux Minardi Cosworth: 78 points (1 win, 5 2nds, 4 3rds)
3. Mild Seven Renault F1 Team: 70 points (1 win, 2 3rds)
4. Lucky Strike BAR Honda: 57.5 points (2 wins, 2 3rds)
5. BMW WilliamsF1 Team: 42 points (1 2nd, 1 3rd)
6. West McLaren Mercedes: 36 points (1 win, 1 3rd)
7. Panasonic Toyota Racing: 12 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
8. Sauber Petronas: 12 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
9. Jaguar Racing Cosworth: 7.5 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
10. Jordan Ford: 5 points (Best Result: 1 5th)

Next up is the return of the Belgian Grand Prix at the famous Spa Francorchamps Circuit

[Wizzie]

Pre-Belgium

The on-again, off-again saga of Jenson Button and Williams continued with the Williams team announcing that they signed on the Briton. Button on the other hand claims he wants to stay at BAR and the episode is set to continue until it reaches the contract recognition tribunal in November. What's more certain however is that Eddie Jordan is considering selling up at the end of the year but not before he tries head-hunting in F3000 with British teenage sensation and runaway champion Jake Sanson the probable candidate. Sanson will have third driver duties during the Monza weekend and may even be in contention for Pantano's seat as early as Japan, which will make him the youngest ever driver in an F1 car, taking the record from fellow teenager Daniel Melrose.

Round 14 - Belgium

Qualifying:

Knowing that his medium-term future is confirmed, Jarno Trulli delivered the lap of his career to score pole from Michael Schumacher and teammate Fernando Alonso. Daniel Melrose kept his stellar form up to plonk his Minardi 4th on the grid ahead of Giancarlo Fisichella who put in a simply astounding lap to qualify 5th. Felipe Massa in the second Sauber was also in the top 10 on what was a good day for the Hinwil crew at the expense of Williams and Kimi Raikkonen who all have a lot of work to do on Sunday.

Grid:

1. J. Trulli (Renault)
2. M. Schumacher (Ferrari)
3. F. Alonso (Renault)
4. D. Melrose (Minardi-Cosworth)
5. G. Fisichella (Sauber-Petronas)
6. R. Barrichello (Ferrari)
7. D. Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes)
8. M. Webber (Jaguar-Cosworth)
9. F. Massa (Sauber-Petronas)
10. O. Panis (Toyota)
11. J. Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW)
12. K. Raikkonen (McLaren-Mercedes)
13. J. Button (BAR-Honda)
14. S. Jones (Williams-BMW)
15. C. Klien (Jaguar-Cosworth)
16. T. Sato (BAR-Honda)
17. N. Heidfeld (Jordan-Ford)
18. Z. Baumgartner (Minardi-Cosworth)
19. G. Pantano (Jordan-Ford)
20. R. Briscoe (Toyota)

Race:

If Enzo Ferrari was still alive he would have been overjoyed near the end to see 5 of the 6 cars he has a direct association with running 1-2-3-4-5 in the pouring rain in the Ardennes forest. He then would have been fuming to see Daniel Melrose, Rubens Barrichello and Giancarlo Fisichella squabbling over the final podium position with Fernando Alonso, Sammy Jones and Ryan Briscoe almost taking the three of them out of the race on several occasions (The trio later got 25 second penalties for their troubles for taking well over 3 laps to get out of the way of the leaders. Enzo then would have had a heart attack when Barrichello stuffed up at the busstop, punted Melrose out of that third position and nearly lost a top 5 spot to David Coulthard. Michael Schumacher had no such problems however as he won the race from the absolute ecstatic Sauber pair of Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella, Daniel Melrose and Rubens Barrichello. The exit of the second part of Stavelot proved to be a slippery little sucker in the rain ending the races of Kimi Raikkonen, Jarno Trulli and HWNSNBM.

Results:
1. M. Schumacher (Ferrari): 1h 32m 51.354
2. F. Massa (Sauber-Petronas): +35.310
3. G. Fisichella (Sauber-Petronas): +42.509
4. D. Melrose (Minardi-Cosworth): +56.048
5. R. Barrichello (Ferrari): +1:18.547
6. D. Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes): +1:22.134
7. C. Klien (Jaguar-Cosworth): +1:34.126
8. O. Panis (Toyota): +2:02.233
9. J. Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW): +1 LAP
10. N. Heidfeld (Jordan-Ford): +1 LAP
11. S. Jones (Williams-BMW): +1 LAP#
12. F. Alonso (Renault): +1 LAP#
13. R. Briscoe (Toyota): +1 LAP#
14. G. Pantano (Jordan-Ford): +1 LAP
15. T. Sato (BAR-Honda): +2 LAPS
DNF. Z. Baumgartner (Minardi-Cosworth)
DNF. J. Button (BAR-Honda)
DNF. J. Trulli (Renault)
DNF. M. Webber (Jaguar-Cosworth)
DNF. K. Raikkonen (McLaren-Mercedes)

#25 second penalty for failing to adhere to blue flags.

Pole: J. Trulli (Renault): 1.46.807
Fastest Lap: K. Raikkonen (McLaren-Mercedes): 2:00.107
Leaders M. Schumacher: 1-11, 13-44 (Total: 43)
R. Barrichello: 12 (Total: 1)

Championship Standings (Half points for Bahrain):
Drivers:
1. M. Schumacher (Ferrari): 106 points (8 wins, 2 2nds, 2 3rds)
2. D. Melrose (Minardi-Cosworth): 83 points (1 win, 5 2nds, 4 3rds)
3. R. Barrichello (Ferrari): 75.5 points (1 win, 5 2nds, 1 3rd)
4. J. Button (BAR-Honda): 46 points (2 wins, 1 3rd)
5. J. Trulli (Renault): 36 points (1 win, 1 3rd)
6. F. Alonso (Renault): 34 points (1 3rd)
7. J. Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW): 32 points (1 2nd, 1 3rd)
8. D. Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes): 24 points (1 3rd)
9. G. Fisichella (Sauber-Petronas): 18 points (1 3rd)
10. K. Raikkonen (McLaren-Mercedes): 15 points (1 win)
11. T. Sato (BAR-Honda): 11.5 points (1 3rd)
12. F. Massa (Sauber-Petronas): 8 points (1 2nd)
13. O. Panis (Toyota): 7 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
14. C. Da Matta (Toyota): 6 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
15. S. Jones (Jordan-Ford/WIlliams-BMW): 6 points (Best Result: 1 6th)
16. M. Webber (Jaguar-Cosworth): 5.5 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
17. R. Schumacher (Williams-BMW): 5 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
18. N. Heidfeld (Jordan-Ford): 4 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
19. C. Klien (Jaguar-Cosworth): 4 points (Best Result: 1 7th)

Constructors:
1. Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro: 181.5 points (9 wins, 7 2nds, 3 3rds) (World Champions)
2. Wilux Minardi Cosworth: 83 points (1 win, 5 2nds, 4 3rds)
3. Mild Seven Renault F1 Team: 70 points (1 win, 2 3rds)
4. Lucky Strike BAR Honda: 57.5 points (2 wins, 2 3rds)
5. BMW WilliamsF1 Team: 42 points (1 2nd, 1 3rd)
6. West McLaren Mercedes: 39 points (1 win, 1 3rd)
7. Sauber Petronas: 26 points (1 2nd, 1 3rd)
8. Panasonic Toyota Racing: 13 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
9. Jaguar Racing Cosworth: 9.5 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
10. Jordan Ford: 5 points (Best Result: 1 5th)

With the Constructor's Championship won and the Driver's Championship looking increasingly like a formality, it's time to head to Monza, home of the Tifosi, for the last European round of the season.

[Wizzie]

Back to 2009 for a minute and I have some BREAKING NEWS:

DAVIES TO RETURN TO FORMULA ONE

Three time F1 World Champion Rhys Davies is to return to Formula One for the 2010 season. The Williams F1 team had been in the doldrums since Davies won his first championship for them back in 2000 and Sir Frank has decided to rely on his efforts to try and get his team back on track. Despite being out of Formula 1 for almost a decade, Williams has no concerns about the ability of the 2007 Bathurst 1000 winner and 2 time Le Mans champion. "Rhys is quite possibly one of the most talented drivers ever to grace the wheel of a Formula 1 car." said Sir Frank. "He's won many times before so I have no doubts that he can do it again." Davies was unavailable for comment.

[Wizzie]

Pre-Europe

With Rhys Davies' shock announcement that he's coming back to Formula One, another shock announcement was made on the eve of the European Grand Prix with BMW Sauber annoucning that they are pulling out of the sport at the end of the year. The reasons behind this decision were that the team has achieved virtually everything they've wanted to achieve and that they're also disappointed with the political mind-games in the sport. This leaves their drivers Daniel Melrose and Robert Kubica on the lurch which is a big problem for Kubica in particular as he has nothing lined up for next year.

Round 11 - Europe

Qualifying:

If it was any conciliation for Jenson Button, this was the closest he's been to Melrose all year as it took the Australian 40 minutes to make his way to pole position as he tried to get to grips with the Valencia circuit. Frank Zimmer put the second Brawn car in third from Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber. For two drivers that were under pressure to perform, Nico Rosberg and Heikki Kovalainen were both incredibly quiet in 12th and 14th but not as quiet as Robert Kubica in 15th.

Grid:
1. D. Melrose (BMW)
2. J. Button (Brawn-Mercedes)
3. F. Zimmer (Brawn-Mercedes)
4. S. Vettel (RBR-Renault)
5. L. Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes)
6. M. Webber (RBR-Renault)
7. S. Jones (McLaren-Mercedes)
8. K. Raikkonen (Ferrari)
9. F. Alonso (Renault)
10. J. Trulli (Toyota)
11. T. Glock (Toyota)
12. N. Rosberg (Williams-Toyota)
13. G. Fisichella (Ferrari)
14. H. Kovalainen (Williams-Toyota)
15. R. Kubica (BMW)
16. A. Sutil (Force India-Mercedes)
17. P. McAllister (Force India-Mercedes)
18. R. Grosjean (Renault)
19. S. Buemi (STR-Ferrari)
20. J. Alguersuari (STR-Ferrari)
21. C. Klien (USF1-Cosworth)
22. S. Speed (USF1-Cosworth)

Race:

Put yourselves in the shoes of Jenson Button for a minute. Imagine the sheer jubilation when, on lap 7, you inherits the lead of the race after a rare puncture for Daniel Melrose which ends up putting him 19th and almost a minute behind the leader after pitting for a replacement. Fast-forward to lap 20 and imagine the desolation when you shove your Brawn quite heavily into the turn 5 wall and eliminate yourself from what would have been an easy win. Then, imagine the sheer disgust when, with less than 5 laps to go, Lewis Hamilton, running third, fires into the wall at turn 14 when he collects debris from the remains of Phoenix McAllister's left front tyre. Finally, imagine the disbelief less than 20 seconds later when Sammy Jones, running 4th in the sister McLaren, hits debris from the Hamilton accident forcing him for a new front wing, promoting Melrose from 5th, which he worked his way to through strategy and another one of his textbook burn from the stern effort, into third in one foul swoop.

Now imagine you're the other Brawn car of Frank Zimmer. You've just been offered the chance of your first ever victory on a golden platter but the only thing standing between you and your first victory is Sebastian Vettel, also hungry for his first win. Imagine closing him down at almost a second a lap and getting within 3 seconds of the win except for lapped traffic.

To put it simply, it wasn't a good day for the Brawn team, or Mercedes for that matter, with Sebastian Vettel picking up his first career win from Frank Zimmer and Daniel Melrose who, through dint of sheer dumb luck alone, still extended his championship lead. Sammy Jones salvaged 4th with Fernando Alonso pleasing the home crowd to be 5th by race end. The Iceman scored 3 more vital points in 6th with the two Toyotas rounding out the points paying positions.

Results:
1. S. Vettel (RBR-Renault): 1h 34m 00.399
2. F. Zimmer (Brawn-Mercedes): +5.095
3. D. Melrose (BMW): +49.629
4. S. Jones (McLaren-Mercedes): +50.801
5. F. Alonso (Renault): +55.443
6. K. Raikkonen (Ferrari): +1:01.234
7. J. Trulli (Toyota): +1:02.807
8. T. Glock (Toyota): +1:14.122
9. H. Kovalainen (Williams-Toyota): +1 LAP
10. G. Fisichella (Ferrari): +1 LAP
11. R. Kubica (BMW): +1 LAP
12. N. Rosberg (Williams-Toyota): +1 LAP
13. C. Klien (USF1-Cosworth): +3 LAPS
14. L. Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes): +4 LAPS*
15. P. McAllister (Force India-Ferrari): +6 LAPS*
16. A. Sutil (Force India-Ferrari): +6 LAPS*
DNF. S. Speed (USF1-Cosworth)
DNF. R. Grosjean (Renault)
DNF. J. Button (Brawn-Mercedes)
DNF. J. Alguersuari (STR-Ferrari)
DNF. S. Buemi (STR-Ferrari)
DNF. M. Webber (RBR-Renault)

Pole: D. Melrose (BMW): 1:35.779
Fastest Lap: F. Zimmer (Brawn-Mercedes): 1.36.652
Leaders: D. Melrose: 1-6 (Total: 6)
J. Button: 7-19 (Total: 13)
S. Vettel: 20-24, 29-42, 48-57 (Total: 29)
L. Hamilton: 25-28 (Total: 4)
F. Zimmer: 43-47 (Total: 5)

Championship Standings:
Drivers:

1. D. Melrose (BMW): 106 points (10 wins, 1 3rd)
2. J. Button (Brawn-Mercedes): 78 points (9 2nds, 1 3rd)
3. F. Zimmer (Brawn-Mercedes): 50 points (2 2nds, 2 3rds)
4. S. Vettel (RBR-Renault): 41 points (1 win, 3 3rds)
5. L. Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes): 35 points (3 3rds)
6. K. Raikkonen (Ferrari): 26 points (Best Result: 2 4ths)
7. S. Jones (McLaren-Mercedes): 24 points (Best Result: 2 4ths)
8. F. Alonso (Renault): 22 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
9. M. Webber (RBR-Renault): 21 points (1 3rd)
10. J. Trulli (Toyota): 13 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
11. T. Glock (Toyota): 9 points (Best Result: 1 6th)
12. R. Kubica (BMW): 3 points (Best Result: 1 6th)
13. P. McAllister (Force India-Mercedes): 1 point (Best Result: 1 8th)

Constructors:

1. Virgin Brawn GP F1 Team Mercedes: 128 points (11 2nds, 3 3rds)
2. BMW Sauber F1 Team: 109 points (10 wins, 1 3rd)
3. Vodafone McLaren Mercedes: 59 points (3 3rds)
4. Red Bull Racing Renault: 62 points (1 win, 4 3rds)
5. Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro: 26 points (Best Result: 2 4ths)
6. ING Renault F1 Team: 22 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
7. Panasonic Toyota Racing: 22 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
8. Force India F1 Team Mercedes: 1 point (Best Result: 1 8th)

Next up is the Belgian Grand Prix at the world renowned Spa Francorchamps Circuit

[Wizzie]

Pre-Italy

There's trouble brewing in Maranello over the Barrichello/Melrose incident at Spa. Ferrari are absolutely furious with Barrichello that he nearly took himself, Melrose and Giancarlo Fisichella out of the race. Barrichello is incensed with Melrose that he allegedly slammed the door on the Brazilian causing the incident. Melrose is adamant that he held his normal racing line and that Barrichello was never going to make the corner in a month of Sundays. Wherever the truth is, the fact of the matter is Barrichello may not even make it to the end of his contract which is scheduled to expire at the end of next season. The Williams - Button saga rolled into Monza with someone leaking Williams' shortlist for 2005 should Button end up wiggling his way out of his contract. That shortlist includes Sammy Jones, Antonio Pizzonia, Nick Heidfeld and Jake Sanson. Jones is the favourite for the seat as he's done a solid enough job as a fill in for Ralf Schumacher. Finally, F3000 champ Jake Sanson has been given the nod for a Jordan drive for the last 3 races of 2004 and he may even get a full time contract for 2005.

Round 15 - Italy

Qualifying:

Rain has always made things interesting. Here at Italy, not only did it make it interesting, but it make qualifying incredibly controversial as well. Rubens Barrichello got pole which was fair enough. Who SHOULD have been second was Daniel Melrose if it wasn't for him running wide on the exit of the first chicane and losing a second but instead that went to Juan Pablo Montoya. The fact that Melrose even ended up 4th after that error was a miracle which he had to thank the rain gods for that as about 5 minutes later a shower hit the circuit which ruined the laps of many drivers. Jaguar were the big winners out of it as Mark Webber and Christian Klien got their laps in just before the rain hit while Sauber and Toyota locked out the final 4 spots on the grid.

Grid:

1. R. Barrichello (Ferrari)
2. J. Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW)
3. K. Raikkonen (McLaren-Mercedes)
4. D. Melrose (Minardi-Cosworth)
5. M. Webber (Jaguar-Cosworth)
6. M. Schumacher (Ferrari)
7. S. Jones (Williams-BMW)
8. C. Klien (Jaguar-Cosworth)
9. D. Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes)
10. J. Button (BAR-Honda)
11. G. Pantano (Jordan-Ford)
12. J. Trulli (Renault)
13. Z. Baumgartner (Minardi-Cosworth)
14. F. Alonso (Renault)
15. T. Sato (BAR-Honda)
16. N. Heidfeld (Jordan-Ford)
17. F. Massa (Sauber-Petronas)
18. R. Briscoe (Toyota)
19. G. Fisichella (Sauber-Petronas)
20. O. Panis (Toyota)

Race:

Nobody could have scripted a more dramatic Italian Grand Prix than what took place at the historic Monza circuit. With rain on the forecast at around the hour mark, Rubens Barrichello lost the start quite badly as in a heartbeat he was behind Juan Pablo Montoya and Daniel Melrose, who was gambling on the race staying dry throughout. While this meant he was slower in the corners, it did give him a 10mph speed advantage down the straights which eventually got him ahead of Montoya, taking Barrichello with him. Michael Schumacher meanwhile had a horror start amongst all the frantic midfield action thanks to the jumbled up grid. By lap 10 his race, and any chances of wrapping up the title in Italy, evaporated when he tried a late braking move on Felipe Massa for 10th into the Ascari chicane, went too deep and got himself beached in the gravel trap.

Melrose then started eking out a lead over Barrichello which eventually got to 5 seconds before the entire game changed when Barrichello found a new level in performance and within 6 laps he had gone from 5 seconds behind Melrose to 3 seconds ahead after the first pitstop phase. Mind you, this pitstop phase was around the midway point so it was expected that virtually everyone would make it to the end on just one pitstop. Except that, thanks to the shorter than normal gear ratios the field was using and the frantic pace of the race meant that fuel consumption was much higher than expected. This left the teams with a dilema as to whether to slightly overfill the cars so they'll make it to the end but not so much as to be too much of a burden pace wise or to switch to a sort of "half-three quarter" strategy. Melrose, Sammy Jones, Jenson Button and Jarno Trulli all stuck with the one stopper whilst Barrichello, like the majority of the field, went with the half-three quarter strategy.

Once Barrichello got ahead of Melrose, he started going over a second a lap faster than the Australian. And he had to if he was to make his extra stop and still remain ahead of Melrose. Eventually when he came in for his second stop he didn't emerge ahead of Melrose but he came pretty damn close to it. And then with 8 laps to go, slightly behind schedule, the rain arrived. At first it was relatively light but it was enough to make the track slippery and cause headaches. Immediately it became clear that Melrose was losing grip much faster than Barrichello as the Australian had much older tyres and a bone dry setup verses' Barrichello's more intermediate setup. Here the ironies of the situation revealed themselves as while Barrichello's setup meant he got much better cornering and exit speeds, Melrose's superior straight line speed meant Rubens couldn't do anything with his grip advantage unless he was right up the gearbox of Melrose. It was ironic that, for the second week in a row, in the rain that Barrichello was trying to find his way around Melrose, the anointed heir at Ferrari. At this point Jones was running an incredible third in the Williams but he had to stop with a few laps to go, along with the lapped Ryan Briscoe, for a splash-n-dash. Both put on inters at this point and were the two fastest cars on track till the end of the race.

And then, on the final lap, the race really went off. On the previous lap Melrose and Barrichello had lapped Fernando Alonso for the second time that afternoon which gave Melrose a bit of breathing room. This time around however Barrichello had closed right up to Melrose and the Australian finally cracked under the pressure in the braking zone for the first chicane which meant that he had a very slow exit at the other end. However Barrichello simply misjudged the closing speed and tapping the back of Melrose. It was the irony to end all ironies as not only did he simply stuff up for the second week in a row, it also gave Melrose just enough of a buffer to win his second Grand Prix from Barrichello, David Coulthard, Jones and Montoya. Further back and Button was on track for 6th place before his car ran out of fuel on the final lap at the Lesmos leaving the BAR driver stranded. Thanks to the sheer pace Melrose and Barrichello were running at however, Button only lost one place to Giancarlo Fisichella who was doing his best to get himself a good seat for next year. Mark Webber scored a crucial point for Jaguar in 8th while Jarno Trulli was lucky to finish 9th as he also ran out of fuel just as he crossed the finish line.

Results:
1. D. Melrose (Minardi-Cosworth): 1h 15m 41.965
2. R. Barrichello (Ferrari): +0.176
3. D. Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes): +36.973
4. S. Jones (Williams-BMW): +46.946
5. J. Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW): +48.757
6. G. Fisichella (Sauber-Petronas): +1:25.964
7. J. Button (BAR-Honda): +1 LAP*
8. M. Webber (Jaguar-Cosworth): +1 LAP
9. J. Trulli (Renault): +1 LAP
10. F. Massa (Sauber-Petronas): +1 LAP
11. T. Sato (BAR-Honda): +1 LAP
12. R. Briscoe (Toyota): +1 LAP
13. N. Heidfeld (Jordan-Ford): +1 LAP
14. C. Klien (Jaguar-Cosworth): +1 LAP
15. K. Raikkonen (McLaren-Mercedes): +1 LAP
16. F. Alonso (Renault): +2 LAPS
17. O. Panis (Toyota): +2 LAPS
18. Z. Baumgartner (Minardi-Cosworth): +2 LAPS
DNF. G. Pantano (Jordan-Ford)
DNF. M. Schumacher (Ferrari)

*Didn't finish but completed over 90% race distance

Pole: R. Barrichello (Ferrari): 1.22.032
Fastest Lap: R. Barrichello (Ferrari): 1:22.950
Leaders J. Pablo Montoya: 1-6 (Total: 6)
D. Melrose: 7-26, 44-53 (Total: 30)
R. Barrichello: 27-43 (Total: 17)

Championship Standings (Half points for Bahrain):
Drivers:
1. M. Schumacher (Ferrari): 106 points (8 wins, 2 2nds, 2 3rds)
2. D. Melrose (Minardi-Cosworth): 93 points (2 wins, 5 2nds, 4 3rds)
3. R. Barrichello (Ferrari): 83.5 points (1 win, 6 2nds, 1 3rd)
4. J. Button (BAR-Honda): 48 points (2 wins, 1 3rd)
5. J. Trulli (Renault): 36 points (1 win, 1 3rd)
6. J. Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW): 36 points (1 2nd, 1 3rd)
7. F. Alonso (Renault): 34 points (1 3rd)
8. D. Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes): 30 points (2 3rds)
9. G. Fisichella (Sauber-Petronas): 21 points (1 3rd)
10. K. Raikkonen (McLaren-Mercedes): 15 points (1 win)
11. T. Sato (BAR-Honda): 11.5 points (1 3rd)
12. S. Jones (Jordan-Ford/WIlliams-BMW): 11 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
13. F. Massa (Sauber-Petronas): 8 points (1 2nd)
14. O. Panis (Toyota): 7 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
15. M. Webber (Jaguar-Cosworth): 6.5 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
16. C. Da Matta (Toyota): 6 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
17. R. Schumacher (Williams-BMW): 5 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
18. N. Heidfeld (Jordan-Ford): 4 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
19. C. Klien (Jaguar-Cosworth): 4 points (Best Result: 1 7th)

Constructors:
1. Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro: 189.5 points (9 wins, 8 2nds, 3 3rds) (World Champions)
2. Wilux Minardi Cosworth: 93 points (2 wins, 5 2nds, 4 3rds)
3. Mild Seven Renault F1 Team: 70 points (1 win, 2 3rds)
4. Lucky Strike BAR Honda: 59.5 points (2 wins, 2 3rds)
5. BMW WilliamsF1 Team: 51 points (1 2nd, 1 3rd)
6. West McLaren Mercedes: 45 points (1 win, 2 3rds)
7. Sauber Petronas: 29 points (1 2nd, 1 3rd)
8. Panasonic Toyota Racing: 13 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
9. Jaguar Racing Cosworth: 10.5 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
10. Jordan Ford: 5 points (Best Result: 1 5th)

Next up is the first of the final flyaways of the season at the brand new Shanghai International Circuit for the first ever Chinese Grand Prix.

[Phoenix]

Sammy Jones losing a podium because of the debris of an accident caused by one of McAllister's tyres

[jakesanson]

Finally, F3000 champ Jake Sanson has been given the nod for a Jordan drive for the last 3 races of 2004 and he may even get a full time contract for 2005.

Jake Sanson has expressed his excitement in preparation for his Grand Prix debut in the last three races of 2004 with Jordan:

"I'm very excited. This is the pinnacle of motorsport and no matter how well I do or where I finish I can always look back and say I was good enough to get here. Jordan is very much a British team, with passion, energy and spirit so it suits me well. Maybe I can dig out the guitar and sing with EJ's band more often now!!"

Thoughts turned to 2005, but Jake is keeping his options open:

"Of course Williams would be the perfect team for next year, but I have to show in these three races that I've earnt my place, and I know there's a lot at stake but rest assured I'm giving it everything I have. In life, you only get one shot at this, so I'm well aware it's now or never for me."

[Wizzie]

Pre-China:

With one driver returning in the form of Ralf Schumacher, another was given the boot in the form of Jarno Trulli. Not only that, but a clause in his Renault contract meant that he couldn't race for Toyota for the final 3 races of the year. Of course, the big winner out of all of this was Sammy Jones as suddenly he found himself in that Renault seat as a super-sub for the final 3 races and an opportunity to knock on the door for a potential Renault drive for 2005. Giancarlo Fisichella is still considered the favourite for that seat, especially after his great run of form as of late including a podium at Spa as part of that Sauber 2-3. Another person with an outside shot of that seat was Jake Sanson, who became the youngest ever person to participate in a F1 weekend two weeks ago in Italy and now was poised to take the record for the youngest ever driver to start an F1 race away from Daniel Melrose, who allegedly became good friends very quickly with the British teenager.

Round 16 - China

Qualifying:

That was probably the only bright spot in the last fortnight for Melrose as he simply had 2 weeks from hell after his brilliant Italian GP win. Here, he qualified 10th but a mammoth 3 seconds behind the blistering pace Michael Schumacher put in to score pole position for the first ever Chinese Grand Prix. So blistering in fact, brother and returnee Ralf was the only man to get within a second of Michael who needed to win and have Melrose finish 6th or lower to clinch the world championship in Shanghai. Ryan Briscoe put in a similarly incredible performance to qualify 5th with the likes of Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya stranded well in the midfield yet again.

Grid:

1. M. Schumacher (Ferrari)
2. R. Schumacher (Williams-BMW)
3. T. Sato (BAR-Honda)
4. M. Webber (Jaguar-Cosworth)
5. R. Briscoe (Toyota)
6. J. Button (BAR-Honda)
7. D. Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes)
8. G. Fisichella (Sauber-Petronas)
9. S. Jones (Renault)
10. D. Melrose (Minardi-Cosworth)
11. O. Panis (Toyota)
12. F. Alonso (Renault)
13. K. Raikkonen (McLaren-Mercedes)
14. J. Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW)
15. C. Klien (Jaguar-Cosworth)
16. R. Barrichello (Ferrari)
17. N. Heidfeld (Jordan-Ford)
18. J. Sanson (Jordan-Ford)
19. Z. Baumgartner (Minardi-Cosworth)
20. F. Massa (Sauber-Petronas)

Race:

Lap 51 of the Chinese Grand Prix finally brought to an end what chances Daniel Melrose had at claiming the championship. The Australian was running 6th at the time, while still not enough to keep him in with a shot mathematically, left him in a position to benefit if something happened up ahead. Something did happen, it ended up being Melrose's Cosworth engine developing a problem and forcing him into the pits while the mechanics looked into the problem. The fact he'ld even made it up to 6th to begin with was a minor miracle as a horrifically bad start meant he went from 10th to 17th in two corners but by the end of lap 1 he was back to 11th. From there, it was a case of pushing as hard as he can to make his one stop strategy work as he yo-yoed up and down the field. After the unscheduled stop, he drove like a madman from 13th to pass both Briscoe and Montoya, who were both struggling massively with tyre wear having converted to a one stop strategy at their first pitstops on lap 18 and 19 respectively, to finish 11th.

Up front and Michael Schumacher did enough to secure his fourth world title, his second for Ferrari with brother Ralf finishing second. BAR took home a nice haul of points with Button third and Sato fourth to make the battle for third in the constructors a whole lot mote interesting. Kimi Raikkonen scored his first points since that win in Great Britain back in July in 5th with Giancarlo Fisichella being the main beneficiary of Melrose's problem to finish 6th. Sammy Jones and Christian Klien rounded out the final points but the big story at the back was that Rubens Barrichello may have just driven himself out of the Ferrari seat as he finished last on the round and a mammoth 3 laps down on his teammate.

Results:
1. M. Schumacher (Ferrari): 1h 29m 39.364
2. R. Schumacher (Williams-BMW): +17.281
3. J. Button (BAR-Honda): +30.892
4. T. Sato (BAR-Honda): +36.789
5. K. Raikkonen (McLaren-Mercedes): +1:24.111
6. G. Fisichella (Sauber-Petronas): +1 LAP
7. S. Jones (Renault): +1 LAP
8. C. Klien (Jaguar-Cosworth): +1 LAP
9. F. Massa (Sauber-Petronas): +1 LAP
10. F. Alonso (Renault): +1 LAP
11. D. Melrose (Minardi-Cosworth): +1 LAP
12. R. Briscoe (Toyota): +1 LAP
13. J. Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW): +1 LAP
14. N. Heidfeld (Jordan-Ford): +1 LAP
15. O. Panis (Toyota): +2 LAPS
16. J. Sanson (Jordan-Ford): +2 LAPS
17. Z. Baumgartner (Minardi-Cosworth): +2 LAPS
18. D. Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes): +2 LAPS
19. M. Webber (Jaguar-Cosworth): +3 LAPS
20. R. Barrichello (Ferrari): +3 LAPS

Pole: M. Schumacher (Ferrari): 1.33.033
Fastest Lap: M. Schumacher (Ferrari): 1:32.883
Leaders M. Schumacher: 1-18, 21-31, 37-56 (Total: 49)
R. Schumacher: 19, 32-36 (Total: 6)
J. Button: 20 (Total: 1)

Championship Standings (Half points for Bahrain):
Drivers:
1. M. Schumacher (Ferrari): 116 points (9 wins, 2 2nds, 2 3rds) World Champion
2. D. Melrose (Minardi-Cosworth): 93 points (2 wins, 5 2nds, 4 3rds)
3. R. Barrichello (Ferrari): 83.5 points (1 win, 6 2nds, 1 3rd)
4. J. Button (BAR-Honda): 54 points (2 wins, 2 3rds)
5. J. Trulli (Renault): 36 points (1 win, 1 3rd)
6. J. Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW): 36 points (1 2nd, 1 3rd)
7. F. Alonso (Renault): 34 points (1 3rd)
8. D. Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes): 30 points (2 3rds)
9. G. Fisichella (Sauber-Petronas): 24 points (1 3rd)
10. K. Raikkonen (McLaren-Mercedes): 19 points (1 win)
11. T. Sato (BAR-Honda): 16.5 points (1 3rd)
12. R. Schumacher (Williams-BMW): 13 points (1 2nd)
13. S. Jones (Jordan-Ford/WIlliams-BMW/Renault): 13 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
14. F. Massa (Sauber-Petronas): 8 points (1 2nd)
15. O. Panis (Toyota): 7 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
16. M. Webber (Jaguar-Cosworth): 6.5 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
17. C. Da Matta (Toyota): 6 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
18. C. Klien (Jaguar-Cosworth): 5 points (Best Result: 1 7th)
19. N. Heidfeld (Jordan-Ford): 4 points (Best Result: 1 5th)

Constructors:
1. Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro: 199.5 points (10 wins, 8 2nds, 3 3rds) World Champions
2. Wilux Minardi Cosworth: 93 points (2 wins, 5 2nds, 4 3rds)
3. Mild Seven Renault F1 Team: 72 points (1 win, 2 3rds)
4. Lucky Strike BAR Honda: 70.5 points (2 wins, 3 3rds)
5. BMW WilliamsF1 Team: 59 points (2 2nds, 1 3rd)
6. West McLaren Mercedes: 49 points (1 win, 2 3rds)
7. Sauber Petronas: 32 points (1 2nd, 1 3rd)
8. Panasonic Toyota Racing: 13 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
9. Jaguar Racing Cosworth: 11.5 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
10. Jordan Ford: 5 points (Best Result: 1 5th)

Next up is the Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka circuit.

[Wizzie]

Pre-Japan:

An incredible announcement came out of Ford head office in Detroit just days before the Japanese GP when they announced that they were selling both Jaguar and Cosworth at the end of the year, just months after announcing that they were stepping up involvement in the team. This isn't such a problem for Mark Webber as he already has a Williams contract in his back pocket for next year. Christian Klien on the other hand, whilst also impressing this year, isn't being linked to anywhere for 2005 and is running the risk of having is career hitting a roadblock for the time being. Someone else who was also linked to that Jaguar drive was David Coulthard who looks like being the man who's making way for Juan Pablo Montoya next season, despite having a much better season than his teammate Kimi Raikkonen.

Round 17 - Japan

Qualifying:

With the championship sealed in Schumacher's favour, all eyes turned to the battle for second in the championship between Daniel Melrose and Rubens Barrichello. Barrichello put one-up on the Australian in qualifying by scoring pole position with Melrose only 9th for the race. Even bigger than that however was who will start alongside Rubens on the front row, one Felipe Massa who simply put in an astounding lap to put his Sauber on the front row and in with a real shot of taking Sauber's first Grand Prix victory. And the biggest story of all was what befell Michael Schumacher as for whatever reason he was a shocking 20th and last on the grid.

Grid:

1. R. Barrichello (Ferrari)
2. F. Massa (Sauber-Petronas)
3. K. Raikkonen (McLaren-Mercedes)
4. J. Button (BAR-Honda)
5. T. Sato (BAR-Honda)
6. F. Alonso (Renault)
7. J. Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW)
8. R. Briscoe (Toyota)
9. D. Melrose (Minardi-Cosworth)
10. G. Fisichella (Sauber-Petronas)
11. R. Schumacher (Williams-BMW)
12. S. Jones (Renault)
13. D. Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes)
14. O. Panis (Toyota)
15. M. Webber (Jaguar-Cosworth)
16. C. Klien (Jaguar-Cosworth)
17. N. Heidfeld (Jordan-Ford)
18. J. Sanson (Jordan-Ford)
19. Z. Baumgartner (Minardi-Cosworth)
20. M. Schumacher (Ferrari)

Race:

Every once in a while, Formula One likes to throw up the occasional race where the weird and wonderful always seems to happen. Lo and behold, the Japanese Grand Prix was one of them as the front runners kept imploding left, right and center, within the first 10 laps, Rubens Barrichello, Kimi Raikkonen, Michael Schumacher, Juan Pablo Montoya and Jenson Button all hit trouble. Barrichello was the first to go when he disappeared into the scenery at the Degners on lap 2 before rejoining in last place. He would retire a few laps later when he got himself beached in the gravel trap at the first corner.

While Barrichello was having his own problems, Montoya was the next to go when he and Daniel Melrose, losing a front wing in the process. Button collected the errant front wing and the Brit showed absolutely no pace from that point on. Montoya eventually made his way back into the points before he too became a victim of the turn 1 gravel trap. Raikkonen inherited the lead before he himself found the Degner gravel trap and, like Barrichello, his day ended in the turn 1 kitty litter. Coupled with Schumacher beaching his Ferrari at turn 1 and the Jaguars being mobile chicanes before Christian Klien found the wall in the S-Curves, suddenly Melrose found himself in the lead by a considerable margin, the hapless Toyotas found themselves in the points and the equally hapless Jordans just outside them.

Behind Melrose, a train was starting to form behind the one-stopping Felipe Massa and, with the rate Melrose was skipping away at the front, was as far as the race was concerned for the win. Ralf Schumacher soon found his way past the Brazilian and was duly rewarded with his second podium in a row.

Behind him however the battle for third was really heating up between the two Saubers, Takuma Sato and the two Renaults of Sammy Jones and Fernando Alonso. Alonso soon removed himself from contention by becoming yet another victim of the Turn 1 gravel trap with Ryan Briscoe following suit whilst on course for his first world championship points. In the end it was Sato who won out in the battle for third when he got by Massa at the Spoon curve on the final lap with Fisichella following suit by diving down the inside of his teammate heading into 130R. Behind them, Sammy Jones scored 3 more points for Renault in 6th with David Coulthard driving a quiet race to 7th and Olivier Panis stealing the final point in 8th ahead of rookie Jake Sanson and HWNSNBM.

Results:
1. D. Melrose (Minardi-Cosworth): 1h 23m 46.362
2. R. Schumacher (Williams-BMW): +51.263
3. T. Sato (BAR-Honda): +1 LAP
4. G. Fisichella (Sauber-Petronas): +1 LAP
5. F. Massa (Sauber-Petronas): +1 LAP
6. S. Jones (Renault): +1 LAP
7. D. Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes): +1 LAP
8. O. Panis (Toyota): +1 LAP
9. J. Sanson (Jordan-Ford): +2 LAPS
10. Z. Baumgartner (Minardi-Cosworth): +2 LAPS
11. M. Webber (Jaguar-Cosworth): +2 LAPS
12. N. Heidfeld (Jordan-Ford): +2 LAPS
13. J. Button (BAR-Honda): +3 LAPS
14. J. Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW): +5 LAPS*
DNF. R. Briscoe (Toyota)
DNF. F. Alonso (Renault)
DNF. M. Schumacher (Ferrari)
DNF. K. Raikkonen (McLaren-Mercedes)
DNF. C. Klien (Jaguar-Cosworth)
DNF. R. Barrichello (Ferrari)

*Didn't finish but completed over 90% race distance

Pole: R. Barrichello (Ferrari): 1.30.505
Fastest Lap: D. Melrose (Minardi-Cosworth): 1:32.789
Leaders: R. Barrichello: 1 (Total: 1)
K. Raikkonen: 2-5 (Total: 4)
D. Melrose: 6-53 (Total: 48)

Championship Standings (Half points for Bahrain):
Drivers:
1. M. Schumacher (Ferrari): 116 points (9 wins, 2 2nds, 2 3rds) World Champion
2. D. Melrose (Minardi-Cosworth): 103 points (3 wins, 5 2nds, 4 3rds)
3. R. Barrichello (Ferrari): 83.5 points (1 win, 6 2nds, 1 3rd)
4. J. Button (BAR-Honda): 54 points (2 wins, 2 3rds)
5. J. Trulli (Renault): 36 points (1 win, 1 3rd)
6. J. Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW): 36 points (1 2nd, 1 3rd)
7. F. Alonso (Renault): 34 points (1 3rd)
8. D. Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes): 32 points (2 3rds)
9. G. Fisichella (Sauber-Petronas): 29 points (1 3rd)
10. T. Sato (BAR-Honda): 22.5 points (2 3rds)
11. R. Schumacher (Williams-BMW): 21 points (2 2nds)
12. K. Raikkonen (McLaren-Mercedes): 19 points (1 win)
13. S. Jones (Jordan-Ford/WIlliams-BMW/Renault): 16 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
14. F. Massa (Sauber-Petronas): 12 points (1 2nd)
15. O. Panis (Toyota): 8 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
16. M. Webber (Jaguar-Cosworth): 6.5 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
17. C. Da Matta (Toyota): 6 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
18. C. Klien (Jaguar-Cosworth): 5 points (Best Result: 1 7th)
19. N. Heidfeld (Jordan-Ford): 4 points (Best Result: 1 5th)

Constructors:
1. Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro: 199.5 points (10 wins, 8 2nds, 3 3rds) World Champions
2. Wilux Minardi Cosworth: 103 points (3 wins, 5 2nds, 4 3rds)
3. Lucky Strike BAR Honda: 76.5 points (2 wins, 4 3rds)
4. Mild Seven Renault F1 Team: 75 points (1 win, 2 3rds)
5. BMW WilliamsF1 Team: 67 points (3 2nds, 1 3rd)
6. West McLaren Mercedes: 51 points (1 win, 2 3rds)
7. Sauber Petronas: 41 points (1 2nd, 1 3rd)
8. Panasonic Toyota Racing: 14 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
9. Jaguar Racing Cosworth: 11.5 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
10. Jordan Ford: 5 points (Best Result: 1 5th)

Next up is the season finale at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

[Wizzie]

Pre-Brazil

There's trouble brewing at Maranello as Rubens Barrichello has opened his mouth yet again and complained to the media about his treatment at the Ferrari team. While Ferrari are yet to respond, Giancarlo Fisichella and Daniel Melrose are both reportedly fancying their chances of getting that second Ferrari drive in 2005. Fisichella is also well in the running of the second Renault seat but Sammy Jones is also in a prime position to take that seat or the second Williams seat as there are still many hands yet to be played in this game of musical chairs.

Round 18: Brazil

Qualifying:

If Daniel Melrose had repeated the times he was doing in practice, he would have been 10th on the grid. Instead, he was nowhere and with a whole lot of work to do in the race. He wasn't too concerned about it however as he and the Minardi team secured an incredible 2nd in both championships in 2004. Up front and the two Ferraris locked out the front row with Michael Schumacher on pole. BAR locked out the second row which gave them an important advantage over Williams and Renault for the battle for third in the constructors championship. Fisichella did do some harm to his Ferrari and Renault chances by only qualifying a relatively mediocre 14th on the grid for the race.

Grid:

1. M. Schumacher (Ferrari)
2. R. Barrichello (Ferrari)
3. J. Button (BAR-Honda)
4. T. Sato (BAR-Honda)
5. J. Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW)
6. F. Alonso (Renault)
7. K. Raikkonen (McLaren-Mercedes)
8. R. Schumacher (Williams-BMW)
9. S. Jones (Renault)
10. F. Massa (Sauber-Petronas)
11. R. Briscoe (Toyota)
12. M. Webber (Jaguar-Cosworth)
13. D. Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes)
14. G. Fisichella (Sauber-Petronas)
15. D. Melrose (Minardi-Cosworth)
16. N. Heidfeld (Jordan-Ford)
17. J. Sanson (Jordan-Ford)
18. O. Panis (Toyota)
19. Z. Baumgartner (Minardi-Cosworth)
20. C. Klien (Jaguar-Cosworth)

Race:

The race started off bone dry but by midway through the race the drivers were navigating an biblically wet track minus the chaos of last year. The track did dry out sufficiently for inters at the end but too late for anybody who made the decision to switch to inters to really make it worthwhile. Michael Schumacher had no problems winning the Grand Prix but it took teammate Rubens Barrichello an age to drop Fernando Alonso for second and third. Jenson Button finished 4th but it wasn't enough to stop Renault sneaking into third in the championship with Sammy Jones in 7th and Takuma Sato only 10th after losing out to Daniel Melrose and David Coulthard in 8th and 9th. Williams tried their best to be in the reckoning with Juan Pablo Montoya 5th and Ralf Schumacher 6th but with Alonso and Button where they were, it was never going to be enough from the Grove Squad. Kimi Raikkonen had an absolute shocker as he spent most of the race being miles off the pace and running the risk of not being classified but, thankfully, a wheel decided to make a bid for freedom ending his miserable afternoon early. Olivier Panis drove a quiet race in 11th in what was quite possibly the end of a career that should have been so much more than it was if it wasn't for his accident in Canada in 1997.

Results:
1. M. Schumacher (Ferrari): 1h 41m 29.426
2. R. Barrichello (Ferrari): +27.532
3. F. Alonso (Renault): +37.982
4. J. Button (BAR-Honda): +1 LAP
5. J. Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW): +1 LAP
6. R. Schumacher (Williams-BMW): +1 LAP
7. S. Jones (Renault): +1 LAP
8. D. Melrose (Minardi-Cosworth): +1 LAP
9. D. Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes): +2 LAPS
10. T. Sato (BAR-Honda): +2 LAPS
11. O. Panis (Toyota): +4 LAPS
12. R. Briscoe (Toyota): +4 LAPS
13. N. Heidfeld (Jordan-Ford): +4 LAPS
14. F. Massa (Sauber-Petronas): +5 LAPS
15. M. Webber (Jaguar-Cosworth): +6 LAPS
16. Z. Baumgartner (Minardi-Cosworth): +7 LAPS
DNF. K. Raikkonen (McLaren-Mercedes)
DNF. C. Klien (Jaguar-Cosworth)
DNF. G. Fisichella (Sauber-Petronas)
DNF. J. Sanson (Jordan-Ford)

*Didn't finish but completed over 90% race distance

Pole: M. Schumacher (Ferrari): 1.12.456
Fastest Lap: M. Schumacher (Ferrari): 1:13.150
Leaders: M. Schumacher: 1-30, 32-71 (Total: 70)
R. Barrichello: 31 (Total: 1)

Championship Standings (Half points for Bahrain):
Drivers:
1. M. Schumacher (Ferrari): 126 points (10 wins, 2 2nds, 2 3rds) World Champion
2. D. Melrose (Minardi-Cosworth): 104 points (3 wins, 5 2nds, 4 3rds)
3. R. Barrichello (Ferrari): 91.5 points (1 win, 7 2nds, 1 3rd)
4. J. Button (BAR-Honda): 59 points (2 wins, 2 3rds)
5. J. Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW): 40 points (1 2nd, 1 3rd)
6. F. Alonso (Renault): 40 points (2 3rds)
7. J. Trulli (Renault): 36 points (1 win, 1 3rd)
8. D. Coulthard (McLaren-Mercedes): 32 points (2 3rds)
9. G. Fisichella (Sauber-Petronas): 29 points (1 3rd)
10. R. Schumacher (Williams-BMW): 24 points (2 2nds)
11. T. Sato (BAR-Honda): 22.5 points (2 3rds)
12. K. Raikkonen (McLaren-Mercedes): 19 points (1 win)
13. S. Jones (Jordan-Ford/WIlliams-BMW/Renault): 18 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
14. F. Massa (Sauber-Petronas): 12 points (1 2nd)
15. O. Panis (Toyota): 8 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
16. M. Webber (Jaguar-Cosworth): 6.5 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
17. C. Da Matta (Toyota): 6 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
18. C. Klien (Jaguar-Cosworth): 5 points (Best Result: 1 7th)
19. N. Heidfeld (Jordan-Ford): 4 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
20. Z. Baumgartner (Minardi-Cosworth): 0 points (Best Results: 1 9th, 2 10ths)
21. G. Pantano (Jordan-Ford): 0 points (Best Results: 1 9th, 1 12th)
22. J. Sanson (Jordan-Ford): 0 points (Best Results: 1 9th, 1 16th)
23. R. Briscoe (Toyota): 0 points (Best Result: 3 12ths)

Constructors:
1. Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro: 217.5 points (11 wins, 9 2nds, 3 3rds) World Champions
2. Wilux Minardi Cosworth: 104 points (3 wins, 5 2nds, 4 3rds)
3. Mild Seven Renault F1 Team: 83 points (1 win, 3 3rds)
4. Lucky Strike BAR Honda: 81.5 points (2 wins, 4 3rds)
5. BMW WilliamsF1 Team: 74 points (3 2nds, 1 3rd)
6. West McLaren Mercedes: 51 points (1 win, 2 3rds)
7. Sauber Petronas: 41 points (1 2nd, 1 3rd)
8. Panasonic Toyota Racing: 14 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
9. Jaguar Racing Cosworth: 11.5 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
10. Jordan Ford: 5 points (Best Result: 1 5th)

[Wizzie]

Pre-Belgium:

Robert Kubica's career was saved by Flavio Briatore and co and got a Renault contract for the next two years. However Briatore himself may be on the way out as the head honchos back at the Renault factory are looking for heads to roll. Fernando Alonso is jumping before then though as it has been confirmed that he's signed a deal with Ferrari for 2010 and beyond. Finally, rumours are abound that Bruno Senna might get a seat in the Brawn car for the Brazilian GP as Frank Zimmer has officially been banned from entering the country.

Round 12 - Belgium:

Qualifying:

Daniel Melrose scored pole yet again but that was not the big story of the session. The big story was the simply unbelievable pace of the two Force Indias with Phoenix McAllister 2nd and Adrian Sutil 3rd on the grid for the race. Jenson Button and Frank Zimmer were 4th and 5th while the two Ferraris were nowhere with both drivers under pressure as Fernando Alonso's got the contract in his back pocket and Felipe Massa is looking for a way back in to the team despite his dismal races in 2009. Robert Kubica was also nowhere with his worst qualifying performance all year in 17th.

Grid:
1. D. Melrose (BMW)
2. P. McAllister (Force India-Mercedes)
3. A. Sutil (Force India-Mercedes)
4. J. Button (Brawn-Mercedes)
5. F. Zimmer (Brawn-Mercedes)
6. L. Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes)
7. S. Vettel (RBR-Renault)
8. M. Webber (RBR-Renault)
9. S. Jones (McLaren-Mercedes)
10. N. Rosberg (Williams-Toyota)
11. T. Glock (Toyota)
12. K. Raikkonen (Ferrari)
13. J. Trulli (Toyota)
14. H. Kovalainen (Williams-Toyota)
15. F. Alonso (Renault)
16. G. Fisichella (Ferrari)
17. R. Kubica (BMW)
18. S. Buemi (STR-Ferrari)
19. R. Grosjean (Renault)
20. J. Alguersuari (STR-Ferrari)
21. S. Speed (USF1-Cosworth)
22. C. Klien (USF1-Cosworth)

Race:

Phoenix McAllister certainly gave it his all as he and Daniel Melrose swapped positions an incredible 8 times over the course of the Grand Prix throughout the race, including the shower that hit the track about halfway through the race, but in the end the championship leader was simply too good as he took a narrow victory from the Spaniad. Jenson Button cleared teammate Frank Zimmer early in the race and with Adrian Sutil's engine developing an oil leak, he did his best to keep up with the dueling duo ahead to finish third and limit the damage Melrose continues to inflict on him in the standings. Sebastian Vettel was a relatively quiet 4th after his big win a few weeks ago while the McLarens of Sammy Jones and Lewis Hamilton took home 7 points between them in 5th and 6th. The final points positions were filled out by a disappointing Zimmer and the increasingly anonymous and under pressure Kimi Raikkonen.

Results:
1. D. Melrose (BMW): 1h 21m 15.121
2. P. McAllister (Force India-Mercedes): +2.159
3. J. Button (Brawn-Mercedes): +5.338
4. S. Vettel (RBR-Renault): +38.589
5. S. Jones (McLaren-Mercedes): +54.209
6. L. Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes): +54.592
7. F. Zimmer (Brawn-Mercedes): +59.684
8. K. Raikkonen (Ferrari): +1:29.044
9. N. Rosberg (Williams-Toyota): +1:30.430
10. T. Glock (Toyota): +1:35.679
11. F. Alonso (Renault): +1 LAP
12. G. Fisichella (Ferrari): +1 LAP
13. R. Kubica (BMW): +1 LAP
14. S. Buemi (STR-Ferrari): +1 LAP
15. R. Grosjean (Renault): +1 LAPS
16. C. Klien (USF1-Cosworth): +2 LAPS
17. S. Speed (USF1-Cosworth): +2 LAPS
18. H. Kovalainen (Williams-Toyota): +3 LAPS*
DNF. M. Webber (RBR-Renault)
DNF. J. Trulli (Toyota)
DNF. J. Alguersuari (STR-Ferrari)
DNF. A. Sutil (Force India-Mercedes)

*Didn't finish but completed over 90% race distance

Pole: D. Melrose (BMW): 1:44.751
Fastest Lap: P. McAllister (Force India-Mercedes): 1.46.111
Leaders: D. Melrose: 1-9, 12-13, 16-25, 27-30, 35-44 (Total: 34)
P. McAllister: 10-11, 14-15, 26, 31-34 (Total: 10)

Championship Standings:
Drivers:

1. D. Melrose (BMW): 116 points (11 wins, 1 3rd)
2. J. Button (Brawn-Mercedes): 84 points (9 2nds, 2 3rds)
3. F. Zimmer (Brawn-Mercedes): 52 points (2 2nds, 2 3rds)
4. S. Vettel (RBR-Renault): 46 points (1 win, 3 3rds)
5. L. Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes): 38 points (3 3rds)
6. S. Jones (McLaren-Mercedes): 28 points (Best Result: 2 4ths)
7. K. Raikkonen (Ferrari): 27 points (Best Result: 2 4ths)
8. F. Alonso (Renault): 22 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
9. M. Webber (RBR-Renault): 21 points (1 3rd)
10. J. Trulli (Toyota): 13 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
11. P. McAllister (Force India-Mercedes): 9 points (1 2nd)
12. T. Glock (Toyota): 9 points (Best Result: 1 6th)
13. R. Kubica (BMW): 3 points (Best Result: 1 6th)

Constructors:

1. Virgin Brawn GP F1 Team Mercedes: 136 points (11 2nds, 4 3rds)
2. BMW Sauber F1 Team: 119 points (11 wins, 1 3rd)
3. Red Bull Racing Renault: 67 points (1 win, 4 3rds)
4. Vodafone McLaren Mercedes: 66 points (3 3rds)
5. Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro: 27 points (Best Result: 2 4ths)
6. ING Renault F1 Team: 22 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
7. Panasonic Toyota Racing: 22 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
8. Force India F1 Team Mercedes: 9 points (1 2nd)

Next up is the final race of the European season at the Italian Grand Prix.

[JeremyMcClean]

Please explain how you jumped from Round 18 in Brazil to Round 12 in Belgium. Are we time-traveling here?

[Phoenix]

Please explain how you jumped from Round 18 in Brazil to Round 12 in Belgium. Are we time-traveling here?

He's running two separate seasons, in 2004 and 2009 respectively.

I honestly don't know where did that speed come from. The entire team is well and truly astonished. A win tomorrow? I'll certainly try hard, if I make a good start and jump Melrose, who knows? I'll make the most out of this race.

[JeremyMcClean]

Please explain how you jumped from Round 18 in Brazil to Round 12 in Belgium. Are we time-traveling here?

He's running two separate seasons, in 2004 and 2009 respectively.

Whoops...

[Wizzie]

I honestly don't know where did that speed come from. The entire team is well and truly astonished. A win tomorrow? I'll certainly try hard, if I make a good start and jump Melrose, who knows? I'll make the most out of this race.

Sadly, thanks to some Australian in a BMW, it wasn't meant to be. However, there's still Italy to go as well.

[eurobrun]

Two Questions

1. Shouldn't the title of this thread be updated
2. If I want to create my own carrer should I post it in here or create my own thread.

[Wizzie]

Two Questions

1. Shouldn't the title of this thread be updated
2. If I want to create my own carrer should I post it in here or create my own thread.

1. Probably
2. That is up to you. Mr Davies and myself both use this thread while people like Nathan McKane and Chris Dagnall have their own thread.

[Wizzie]

Pre-Italy:

USF1 were back in the news in the lead-up to Italy with Danica Patrick returning after her relatively successful IndyCar campaign including a third place at the Indy 500 amidst speculation that the team could be bought out by a consortium led by former F1 driver Adrian Campos. Another team in a load of trouble is Renault as they seemingly cannot find anyone willing to take up the second seat. Finally, Nico Rosberg officially announced that he was leaving the Williams team in 2010 but whether he'll go to Brawn or McLaren, as rumours he may be going to the Woking squad as a possible replacement for the outgoing Sammy Jones, remains to be seen.

Round 13 - Italy

Qualifying:

Daniel Melrose was celebrating what he calls his 100th Grand Prix weekend (It's actually his 101st weekend but will only be his 100th race start as he was injured during the 2005 German GP race weekend) and he started off on the right foot with yet another pole position as he set off after Nigel Mansell's pole record. Force India were again incredibly competitive with Adrian Sutil and Phoenix McAllister again getting closest to the championship elect with the only man who can beat him behind them in 4th. Ferrari were again frankly rubbish with Kimi Raikkonen and Giancarlo Fisichella well down the order but that was nothing compared to Robert Kubica as while his teammate was on pole, he was over 3 seconds behind and a dismal 19th on the grid.

Grid:
1. D. Melrose (BMW)
2. A. Sutil (Force India-Mercedes)
3. P. McAllister (Force India-Mercedes)
4. J. Button (Brawn-Mercedes)
5. F. Zimmer (Brawn-Mercedes)
6. L. Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes)
7. S. Jones (McLaren-Mercedes)
8. S. Vettel (RBR-Renault)
9. M. Webber (RBR-Renault)
10. N. Rosberg (Williams-Toyota)
11. H. Kovalainen (Williams-Toyota)
12. J. Trulli (Toyota)
13. K. Raikkonen (Ferrari)
14. T. Glock (Toyota)
15. F. Alonso (Renault)
16. G. Fisichella (Ferrari)
17. S. Buemi (STR-Ferrari)
18 R. Grosjean (Renault)
19. R. Kubica (BMW)
20. J. Alguersuari (STR-Ferrari)
21. D. Patrick (USF1-Cosworth)
22. S. Speed (USF1-Cosworth)

Race:

If you took a look at Daniel Melrose's career in numbers, one would be simply amazed. At the Monza Circuit, he took his third Italian Grand Prix victory, 50th career win, 51st pole position, 41st fastest lap, 700th point and 100th race start. And the amazing thing is he's only 24 years old which makes one wonder, if he has so many years left in his career, why is he going to the F1RWRS in 2010 alongside a full F1 season. Maybe it's a favour for one of his friends Frank Zimmer, who is helping set up the series. Maybe he's hedging his bets about where the future of Open Wheelers would be or, maybe, he's simply fed up about with the politics in F1. Either way, he's simply at the top of his game right now and when the mid-race monsoon hit and he started pulling away at a vast rate of knots from the Force India pair, that was as far as the race was concerned. Adrian Sutil finished second while a rain-related electrical problem cost Phoenix McAllister a possible third place which went to Jenson Button. Red Bull had a torrid time in the rain as Sebastian Vettel finished out of the points and Mark Webber had an absolute shocker to be many laps down in last after getting beached at the first chicane.

Results:
1. D. Melrose (BMW): 1h 21m 54.437
2. A. Sutil (Force India-Mercedes): +33.631
3. J. Button (Brawn-Mercedes): +1:04.279
4. L. Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes): +1:09.622
5. F. Zimmer (Brawn-Mercedes): +1:16.680
6. S. Jones (McLaren-Mercedes): +1:18.508
7. P. McAllister (Force India-Mercedes): +1:23.700
8. J. Trulli (Toyota): +1 LAP
9. S. Vettel (RBR-Renault): +1 LAP
10. N. Rosberg (Williams-Toyota): +1 LAP
11. K. Raikkonen (Ferrari): +1 LAP
12. F. Alonso (Renault): +1 LAP
13. G. Fisichella (Ferrari): +1 LAP
14. R. Grosjean (Renault): +2 LAPS
15. M. Webber (RBR-Renault): +4 LAPS
DNF. S. Buemi (STR-Ferrari)
DNF. R. Kubica (BMW)
DNF. J. Alguersuari (STR-Ferrari)
DNF. T. Glock (Toyota)
DNF. H. Kovalainen (Williams-Toyota)
DNF. D. Patrick (USF1-Cosworth)
DNF. S. Speed (USF1-Cosworth)

Pole: D. Melrose (BMW): 1:20.955
Fastest Lap: D. Melrose (BMW): 1.22.878
Leaders: D. Melrose: 1-53 (Total: 53)

Championship Standings:
Drivers:

1. D. Melrose (BMW): 126 points (12 wins, 1 3rd)
2. J. Button (Brawn-Mercedes): 90 points (9 2nds, 3 3rds)
3. F. Zimmer (Brawn-Mercedes): 56 points (2 2nds, 2 3rds)
4. S. Vettel (RBR-Renault): 46 points (1 win, 3 3rds)
5. L. Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes): 43 points (3 3rds)
6. S. Jones (McLaren-Mercedes): 31 points (Best Result: 2 4ths)
7. K. Raikkonen (Ferrari): 27 points (Best Result: 2 4ths)
8. F. Alonso (Renault): 22 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
9. M. Webber (RBR-Renault): 21 points (1 3rd)
10. J. Trulli (Toyota): 14 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
11. P. McAllister (Force India-Mercedes): 11 points (1 2nd)
12. T. Glock (Toyota): 9 points (Best Result: 1 6th)
13. A. Sutil (Force India-Mercedes): 8 points (1 2nd)
14. R. Kubica (BMW): 3 points (Best Result: 1 6th)

Constructors:

1. Virgin Brawn GP F1 Team Mercedes: 146 points (11 2nds, 5 3rds)
2. BMW Sauber F1 Team: 129 points (12 wins, 1 3rd)
3. Vodafone McLaren Mercedes: 74 points (3 3rds)
4. Red Bull Racing Renault: 67 points (1 win, 4 3rds)
5. Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro: 27 points (Best Result: 2 4ths)
6. Panasonic Toyota Racing: 23 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
7. ING Renault F1 Team: 22 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
8. Force India F1 Team Mercedes: 19 points (2 2nds)

Next up is the first of the flyaways which mark the end of the season at the night race in Singapore.

[JeremyMcClean]

Please explain why Robert Kubica is a kajillion times slower than Melrose...

[Wizzie]

Please explain why Robert Kubica is a kajillion times slower than Melrose...

Your guess is as good as mine. Seriously, I give him better stats than Raikkonen, Alonso and Webber and he STILL does sod all.

[Wizzie]

And before I forget, I can announce that in their bid to try and win the constructors championship, BMW have put Robert Kubica on "gardening leave" and he'll be replaced by Dave Simpson, partially as a gift for helping to develop the F1.09 into the beast that it is plus he can make the car work as he has an incredibly similar driving style to Melrose.

[Phoenix]

The car is seriously fast on fast circuits, it really produces very little drag, and it has showed on our recent performances. It's a shame I suffered an electrical problem towards the end of the race since I was on course for a 3rd place. But we're very much looking forward towards the remaining races. Here's hoping for a great showing, provided Daniel Melrose runs into trouble! Seriously, the guy is amazing. It's as if he had a system in his steering wheel to regulate the difficulty rating for races, hahaha, isn't he?

BTW, if Sammy Jones leaves McLaren can I have his seat? Please? PLEASE? Think about it, McAllister in a McLaren! It would be an absolute joy for commentators worldwide

[Wizzie]

Pre-Singapore:

As announced earlier, Dave Simpson was given the nod for the last few races as part of BMW's bid to take home the constructors championship as the driver's title is looking increasingly like a formality in teammate Daniel Melrose's favour. Phoenix McAllister's career meanwhile has been given a massive boost on the back of his performances at Spa and Monza which means he's vaulted into near-favourite status for the McLaren drive alongside Lewis Hamilton for 2010. The only thing that isn't going with him however is that he's also participating in the F1RWRS next year but that isn't stopping Melrose doing both categories in 2010.

Round 14 - Singapore:

Qualifying:

With rain hitting the start of qualifying and the track drying up the way it did, one would only have to look at 18th, 19th and 20th to get the big story of qualifying with Mark Webber, Frank Zimmer and Dave Simpson (who dominated much of free-practice) having the worst luck out of the field. What was their loss however was Williams' big gain with Nico Rosberg 6th and Heikki Kovalainen 9th, both seemingly well in contention for points.

Grid:
1. D. Melrose (BMW)
2. L. Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes)
3. J. Button (Brawn-Mercedes)
4. S. Jones (McLaren-Mercedes)
5. S. Vettel (RBR-Renault)
6. N. Rosberg (Williams-Toyota)
7. J. Trulli (Toyota)
8. F. Alonso (Renault)
9. H. Kovalainen (Williams-Toyota)
10. K. Raikkonen (Ferrari)
11. T. Glock (Toyota)
12. S. Buemi (STR-Ferrari)
13. G. Fisichella (Ferrari)
14. P. McAllister (Force India-Mercedes)
15. J. Alguersuari (STR-Ferrari)
16. A. Sutil (Force India-Mercedes)
17. R. Grosjean (Renault)
18. M. Webber (RBR-Renault)
19. F. Zimmer (Brawn-Mercedes)
20. D. Simpson (BMW)
21. D. Patrick (USF1-Cosworth)
22. S. Speed (USF1-Cosworth)

Race:

The fact that, in order, the top 10 on the grid finished 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 15th, 7th, 8th and 9th summed up the Singapore GP. Daniel Melrose could have simply settled for points but instead, on a one-stop strategy, he bolted from the start, broke Sammy Jones' lap record from last season to smithereens and proceeded to win the race by over a minute to take a historic fourth World Championship Crown in emphatic style, less than 12 months after he was knocked off his throne by Lewis Hamilton, who ironically finished second in his best race all year. Williams finally scored their first points all year with Nico Rosberg 6th and Heikki Kovalainen 8th but they'll need a miracle to even think about catching Force India and their engine suppliers Toyota in the standings. Finally, spare a thought for the luckless Dave Simpson who, despite being the fastest or second fastest man on track virtually all weekend, spent his entire race stuck behind Mark Webber and Frank Zimmer before his BMW engine decided it couldn't be bothered to work any longer in such a spectacular fashion that it caught out Phoenix McAllister, forcing the Spaniard in for a new nosecone.

Results:
1. D. Melrose (BMW): 1h 39m 12.157
2. L. Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes): +1:00.813
3. J. Button (Brawn-Mercedes): +1:25.279
4. S. Jones (McLaren-Mercedes): +1:32.550
5. S. Vettel (RBR-Renault): +1 LAP
6. N. Rosberg (Williams-Toyota): +1 LAP
7. F. Alonso (Renault): +1 LAP
8. H. Kovalainen (Williams-Toyota): +1 LAP
9. K. Raikkonen (Ferrari): +1 LAP
10. T. Glock (Toyota): +1 LAP
11. M. Webber (RBR-Renault): +1 LAP
12. F. Zimmer (Brawn-Mercedes): +1 LAP
13. G. Fisichella (Ferrari): +2 LAPS
14. J. Alguersuari (STR-Ferrari): +2 LAPS
15. J. Trulli (Toyota): +2 LAPS
16. P. McAllister (Force India-Mercedes): +2 LAPS
17. D. Patrick (USF1-Cosworth): +4 LAPS
DNF. D. Simpson (BMW)
DNF. S. Buemi (STR-Ferrari)
DNF. R. Grosjean (Renault)
DNF. A. Sutil (Force India-Mercedes)
DNF. S. Speed (USF1-Cosworth)

Pole: D. Melrose (BMW): 1:35.585
Fastest Lap: D. Melrose (BMW): 1.35.987
Leaders: D. Melrose: 1-61 (Total: 61)

Championship Standings:
Drivers:

1. D. Melrose (BMW): 136 points (13 wins, 1 3rd) (World Champion)
2. J. Button (Brawn-Mercedes): 96 points (9 2nds, 4 3rds)
3. F. Zimmer (Brawn-Mercedes): 56 points (2 2nds, 2 3rds)
4. L. Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes): 51 points (1 2nd, 3 3rds)
5. S. Vettel (RBR-Renault): 50 points (1 win, 3 3rds)
6. S. Jones (McLaren-Mercedes): 36 points (Best Result: 3 4ths)
7. K. Raikkonen (Ferrari): 27 points (Best Result: 2 4ths)
8. F. Alonso (Renault): 24 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
9. M. Webber (RBR-Renault): 21 points (1 3rd)
10. J. Trulli (Toyota): 14 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
11. P. McAllister (Force India-Mercedes): 11 points (1 2nd)
12. T. Glock (Toyota): 9 points (Best Result: 1 6th)
13. A. Sutil (Force India-Mercedes): 8 points (1 2nd)
14. N. Rosberg (Williams-Toyota): 3 points (Best Result: 1 6th)
15. R. Kubica (BMW): 3 points (Best Result: 1 6th)
16. H. Kovalainen (Williams-Toyota): 1 point (Best Result: 1 8th)

Constructors:

1. Virgin Brawn GP F1 Team Mercedes: 152 points (11 2nds, 6 3rds)
2. BMW Sauber F1 Team: 139 points (13 wins, 1 3rd)
3. Vodafone McLaren Mercedes: 87 points (1 2nd, 3 3rds)
4. Red Bull Racing Renault: 71 points (1 win, 4 3rds)
5. Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro: 27 points (Best Result: 2 4ths)
6. ING Renault F1 Team: 24 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
7. Panasonic Toyota Racing: 23 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
8. Force India F1 Team Mercedes: 19 points (2 2nds)
9. AT&T Williams Toyota: 4 points (Best Result: 1 6th)

With the constructors battle heating up, the next race heralds the return of the ever-popular Suzuka Circuit as the host of the Japanese Grand Prix

[Wizzie]

Before I continue I'ld just like to point out that this is the version of the Singapore track I use and not only is it much tighter and more difficult than the real thing, it's also much faster (10 seconds a lap in some cases) which is simply incredible to drive (And simply impossible when wet which was why I basically avoiding doing anything but a banker lap in qualifying until the last 10 minutes )

[Wizzie]

Sorry to disappoint you all but the man has done it again

[Wizzie]

Pre-Japan:

The excrement hit the fan in the week between Singapore and Japan as Frank Zimmer headed off to Bathurst to make his well-publicised return to the Mountain, where the weather was predicted to be as wild as ever on race day. Ross Brawn responded by simultaneously terminating the Australian's contract, putting Bruno Senna in the car for the rest of the season and announcing that he's signed on Nico Rosberg for 2010. Rumour has it that Mercedes are also interested in buying a stake in the team as the German manufacturer sold their stake in McLaren some months ago as part of the Breakaway series saga back in July. Speaking of the Woking squad, they were also in the news with the shock announcement that they're in talks with newly crowned World Champ Daniel Melrose for a possible one year contract for 2010. And then, the biggest bombshell of them all, which sent Spain into a frenzy, was that Phoenix McAllister had done a deal with Ferrari afterall and will be Fernando Alonso's teammate for next year.

Round 15 - Japan

Qualifying:

Melrose may have ended the session in the turn 2 wall but he'ld already done more than enough to break Nigel Mansell's 17 year old pole record with his 15th pole of the year ahead of Jenson Button and teammate Dave Simpson. Bruno Senna acquitted himself well in his first qualifying session with 7th on the grid while Toro Rosso were surprisingly competitive with Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastian Buemi 9th and 11th respectively. On the other end of the scale were the hapless Ferraris and the equally hapless Romain Grosjean being absolutely nowhere yet again.

Grid:
1. D. Melrose (BMW)
2. J. Button (Brawn-Mercedes)
3. D. Simpson (BMW)
4. L. Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes)
5. S. Vettel (RBR-Renault)
6. M. Webber (RBR-Renault)
7. B. Senna (Brawn-Mercedes)
8. S. Jones (McLaren-Mercedes)
9. J. Alguersuari (STR-Ferrari)
10. H. Kovalainen (Williams-Toyota)
11. S. Buemi (STR-Ferrari)
12. N. Rosberg (Williams-Toyota)
13. F. Alonso (Renault)
14. J. Trulli (Toyota)
15. T. Glock (Toyota)
16. K. Raikkonen (Ferrari)
17. G. Fisichella (Ferrari)
18. A. Sutil (Force India-Mercedes)
19. P. McAllister (Force India-Mercedes)
20. R. Grosjean (Renault)
21. S. Speed (USF1-Cosworth)
22. D. Patrick (USF1-Cosworth)

Race:

You knew all bets were off when Daniel Melrose put one of the most vicious chops on Jenson Button off the start which put the Brit out of the race and forced the fast-starting but eternally unlucky Sammy Jones in for a new front wing after getting collected in the melee. And then all bets were firmly back on when it turned out the entire field were on incredibly strange early two-stoppers which meant by lap 10, everyone bar Melrose was trying to make it home and as a result, people who had mechanical problems later in the race like Lewis Hamilton and Jaime Alguersuari were able to benefit massively on fresher rubber which eventually got Hamilton his 2nd place finish. By all rights, that second place should have gone to Melrose's teammate Dave Simpson as the champ did everything in his power to help his teammate out which came to naught when Simpson got held up at the first stops and spent the rest of his race trying to look for a way past Senna. It then got worst for Simpson as his suspension collapsed with less than 10 laps to go just after Melrose had lapped the pair of them and Sebastian Vettel. Heikki Kovalainen scored William's best result in two years with 5th place while the Toro Rosso pair effectively ended Mark Webber's F1 career by finishing 7th (Alguersuari) and 8th (Buemi) respectively.

Results:
1. D. Melrose (BMW): 1h 23m 16.974
2. L. Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes): +1 LAP
3. B. Senna (Brawn-Mercedes): +1 LAP
4. S. Vettel (RBR-Renault): +1 LAP
5. H. Kovalainen (Williams-Toyota): +1 LAP
6. J. Trulli (Toyota): +1 LAP
7. J. Alguersuari (STR-Ferrari): +1 LAP
8. S. Buemi (STR-Ferrari): +1 LAP
9. M. Webber (RBR-Renault): +1 LAP
10. K. Raikkonen (Ferrari): +2 LAPS
11. P. McAllister (Force India-Mercedes): +2 LAPS
12. G. Fisichella (Ferrari): +2 LAPS
13. D. Patrick (USF1-Cosworth): +3 LAPS
14. A. Sutil (Force India-Mercedes): +4 LAPS*
DNF. D. Simpson (BMW)
DNF. N. Rosberg (Williams-Toyota)
DNF. S. Jones (McLaren-Mercedes)
DNF. F. Alonso (Renault)
DNF. S. Speed (USF1-Cosworth)
DNF. T. Glock (Toyota)
DNF. R. Grosjean (Renault)
DNF. J. Button (Brawn-Mercedes)

Pole: D. Melrose (BMW): 1:30.706
Fastest Lap: D. Simpson (BMW): 1.31.713
Leaders: D. Simpson: 1-4 (Total: 4)
D. Melrose: 5-53 (Total: 49)

Championship Standings:
Drivers:

1. D. Melrose (BMW): 146 points (14 wins, 1 3rd) (World Champion)
2. J. Button (Brawn-Mercedes): 96 points (9 2nds, 4 3rds)
3. L. Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes): 59 points (2 2nds, 3 3rds)
4. F. Zimmer (Brawn-Mercedes): 56 points (2 2nds, 2 3rds)
5. S. Vettel (RBR-Renault): 55 points (1 win, 3 3rds)
6. S. Jones (McLaren-Mercedes): 36 points (Best Result: 3 4ths)
7. K. Raikkonen (Ferrari): 27 points (Best Result: 2 4ths)
8. F. Alonso (Renault): 24 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
9. M. Webber (RBR-Renault): 21 points (1 3rd)
10. J. Trulli (Toyota): 17 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
11. P. McAllister (Force India-Mercedes): 11 points (1 2nd)
12. T. Glock (Toyota): 9 points (Best Result: 1 6th)
13. A. Sutil (Force India-Mercedes): 8 points (1 2nd)
14. B. Senna (Brawn-Mercedes): 6 points (1 3rd)
15. H. Kovalainen (Williams-Toyota): 5 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
16. N. Rosberg (Williams-Toyota): 3 points (Best Result: 1 6th)
17. R. Kubica (BMW): 3 points (Best Result: 1 6th)
18. J. Alguersuari (STR-Ferrari): 2 points (Best Result: 1 7th)
19. S. Buemi (STR-Ferrari): 1 point (Best Result: 1 8th)

Constructors:

1. Virgin Brawn GP F1 Team Mercedes: 158 points (11 2nds, 7 3rds)
2. BMW Sauber F1 Team: 149 points (14 wins, 1 3rd)
3. Vodafone McLaren Mercedes: 95 points (2 2nds, 3 3rds)
4. Red Bull Racing Renault: 76 points (1 win, 4 3rds)
5. Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro: 27 points (Best Result: 2 4ths)
6. Panasonic Toyota Racing: 26 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
7. ING Renault F1 Team: 24 points (Best Result: 1 4th)
8. Force India F1 Team Mercedes: 19 points (2 2nds)
9. AT&T Williams Toyota: 8 points (Best Result: 1 5th)
10. Scuderia Toro Rosso: 3 points (Best Result: 1 7th)

Next up is one of the fan favourites of the season, the Brazilian Grand Prix at the Interlagos Circuit in Sao Paulo.

[Phoenix]

I am totally delighted to know Ferrari has chosen me to drive for them in 2010 with Fernando. I can't wait for 2010, I'm excited to no end since I'm also making my debut at the F1RWRS. It's going to be a truly amazing year and I'll give it all on both series.

[spam_v5_1_1]

This member is also affected by F1 Deprivation. Infact, he got it so bad, he sported a Lewis Hamilton-esque chinstrap for a few days.





I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me. My creator hasn't quite ironed out the kinks from v5.1.0 yet...

[Phoenix]

This member is also affected by F1 Deprivation. Infact, he got it so bad, he sported a Lewis Hamilton-esque chinstrap for a few days.





I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me. My creator hasn't quite ironed out the kinks from v5.1.0 yet...

Who, me? Because I haven't shaved in a couple weeks and I'm very close to sporting something of that sort. I'll shave myself tomorrow, I guess, I'm not this kind of guy.

[the Masked Lapwing]

I think somyagaru has returned... Sort of.

[Wizzie]

This member is also affected by F1 Deprivation. Infact, he got it so bad, he sported a Lewis Hamilton-esque chinstrap for a few days.





I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me. My creator hasn't quite ironed out the kinks from v5.1.0 yet...

Who, me? Because I haven't shaved in a couple weeks and I'm very close to sporting something of that sort. I'll shave myself tomorrow, I guess, I'm not this kind of guy.

That was me until I shaved it off last night