2008 Japanese Grand Prix predictions
Massa looked set to lead a Ferrari 1-2 at Singapore - I think he will in Fuji
This year’s Japanese Grand Prix looks set to be dry, potentially giving us a very different race to the dramatic, rain-soaked encounter won by Lewis Hamilton last year.
As I wrote earlier in the week I think Fuji Speedway in the dry will play to Ferrari’s strengths but John Beamer disagrees and McLaren seemed to have an advantage in practice this morning. Who do you think will win in Fuji?
I expected Ferrari to set the pace at Fuji and despite McLaren’s slight edge so far, I’m sticking with that prediction. Although the weather will be on the cool side, which has worked against them earlier this year, they claim to have gotten on top of those problems.
Ferrari will be smarting after their humiliation in Shanghai, and in Fuji I think they will claim the one-two they were on course for before that fateful botched pit stop two weeks ago.
When I wrote about the retirement rates for the different drivers yesterday it struck me that Lewis Hamilton might have mixed feelings about his McLaren’s reliability. As Oliver wrote yesterday:
It would appear the McLaren of Hamilton is long overdue some mechanical failure. I just hope McLaren are not saving their reliability problems for the last few races.
Hamilton is yet to retire from a Grand Prix with a mechanical failure in his 32-race F1 career. Will he feel encouraged that his car is statistically unlikely to fail him, or concerned that the inevitable mechanical DNF must happen sooner or later?
Assuming his car goes the distance, it’s hard to see a rival machine getting between him and the Ferraris, so I’d pick him to finish third:
1. Felipe Massa
2. Kimi Raikkonen
3. Lewis Hamilton
Did anyone pick the surprise winner of the Singapore Grand Prix? Yes – in fact five of you did so congratulations to Santiago, DMW, Sainaa, Senna and AussieLeb.
But will anyone get the entire top three right this time? Make your predictions for the Japanese Grand Prix podium below…
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mattclinch said on 10th October 2008, 12:04
Hamilton
Massa
Alonso
beneboy said on 10th October 2008, 12:06
1. Kimi Raikkonen
2. Lewis Hamilton
3. Felipe Massa
Vlad the Inhaler said on 10th October 2008, 12:08
1st Hamilton
2nd Vettel
3rd Massa
9th Raikkonen (if he can be bothered to turn up)
Skova said on 10th October 2008, 12:09
don’t know but would like:
1.Ham
2.Kov
3.Rai
4.Massa
Raj said on 10th October 2008, 12:10
1.RAIKKONEN
2.ALONSO
3.MASSA
Lewis to finish 5th
Stevil said on 10th October 2008, 12:12
1. Raikonnen
2. Alonso
3. Glock
Marko said on 10th October 2008, 12:13
1.MAS
2.HAM
3.RAI
graham228221 said on 10th October 2008, 12:16
1. Massa
2. Hamilton
3. Glock
…
4. Kovi
5. Raikkonen
6. Alonso
7. Trulli
8. Vettel
John Beamer said on 10th October 2008, 12:17
Appreciate the mention Keith – I have a few more words on it here: http://www.f1-pitlane.com/content/japanese-grand-prix , including a short technical preview I managed to knock-up.
It is almost too close to call. I doubt it will be a Ferrari one-two. I’ll plump for:
HAM
MAS
RAI
El Gordo said on 10th October 2008, 12:24
I reckon it’ll be…
Massa
Hamilton
Alonso (buoyed by last weeks win)
Bolo said on 10th October 2008, 12:33
1.Massa
2.Kubica
3.Raikkonen
…
Ret: Hamilton
Warren said on 10th October 2008, 12:33
DRY
Raikonnen
Hamilton
Massa
WET
Hamilton
Alonso
Raikonnen
Orange said on 10th October 2008, 12:40
Massa
Raikkonen
Hamilton
Patrickl said on 10th October 2008, 12:42
I’ll vote for:
DRY:
Hamilton
Massa
Alonso
WET
Hamilton
Alonso
Vettel
John Beamer said on 10th October 2008, 12:50
Interestingly on Betfair the odds of a Lewis win has lengthened slightly i.e. Massa and Hamilton are closer. Probably because rain was priced in before …