I think that Vettle will win again, but I think Mark will be on his game a bit more this year. I don't think the other teams will pose too much of a threat for another year or so.

i just want to get in early and declare my hate for new STR driver Jean Eric Vergne. I have no doubt that he will give further evidence of his being a massive cock over the next 12 months.

also - Ford should have stayed with that black livery they ran for the French (?) rally this year. it looked much better than their current blue/green.

Rarr!

That was fantastic. Team Kiwi!

i give it 4 races before hamilton is back with that pussycat dolls bird again.

i reckon he will announce that he and ian thorpe are dating.

Well it's official, the worst kept secret of Hulkenberg and Di Resta is confirmed for Force India. Interesting to see if Sutil ends up at Williams..

Nico Hulkenberg & Paul di Resta confirmed at Force India. Poor Sutil. Like a Toro Rosso driver he'd shown glimpses of speed, but at this level the occassional good performance just ain't good enough. Unless your name's Massa. Am I right? Hey?

Arr! Too slow. My teams going to drop me just before Christmas, I know it.

This thread needs something to attract the laydeez. You know what to do, tinyman!

Sutil's run was a little too late I reckon... poor start to the season + he has had 5 years to prove himself, so I'm not necessarily sorry for him... Alguersuari on the other hand was a bit stiff, started to get his act together after Valencia and started to show something even though his poor qualy record vs Buemi.. Would have stayed if the Ricciardo deal to Caterham stuck.. But Algiersuari is only 21, so he can easily go do a season in GP2 and win the championship and come back to F1 like Glock and Grosjean.

Seeing that contracts mean nothing now (with the Petrov situation) Massa is very lucky to keep his seat..Probably Ferrari still feel a bit sorry for him with his accident couple of seasons back

Button's cute, yeah?

Ricciardo in a Torro Rosso is great news.

Button's cute, yeah?

I wouldn't say ''cute''. I would say absolutely, unequivocally, smoking fucking hot!

I must admit I watch the GP mainly to see how cute Jenson Button is on the podium, spraying the champagne.

Vettel's not that bad either.

http://twitpic.com/5i0swz

Look at that jawbone.

This is one of three teams to run the Honda/ HPD/ Wirth Research LMP1 in 2012.

Last year right out of the block HPD manage to beat Audi and Peugeot factory teams at the 12hr of Sebring, coming second to one privateer Peugeot. Then they said the team couldn't get the finances to take the challenge to Le Mans. A very sad turn of events. One race, and then shelved.

This year HPD are in Le Mans for sure. But with the way the rules are, they still need a bit of luck to challenge up front.

Lada World Touring Car!

Bruno Senna to drive for Williams Renault

Man that HPD is nice. Who's at Lotus then?

the Senna news is interesting. it's going to be a little eerie to see the Senna name alongside Williams-Renault next season.

Haven't been able to post much lately. Off to Milan tomorrow, and Monza on Sunday. Going to go and worship at the temple of speed. Also will be going to explore the banking before settling in for the race.

I don't often say this - but I'm hoping a Ferrari wins, for purely selfish reasons. I want to be here and experience it.

Starting to suspect Vettel could come good for the championship. I don't see Mark getting another spurt on with the remaining tracks, though he is handy around Interlagos. Think Mclaren is a bit far back.

Oh no, I didn't see it! Gotta youtube that shit now...

GOLD MEDAL FOR ALEX ZANARDI, YOU MOTHERFUCKERS!!!!

Unstoppable spirit.

Zanardi 1999.

San Luis

Speaking of awesome older race tracks, I loved seeing this one when it was on the GT1 calendar, racing in the mountains around a lake in Argentina, with old Nurburgring levels of twists and elevation changes. Amazing.

Rumour doing the 'net is that Hamilton is off to Mercedes next year. And good riddance, ya spoilt little brat!

He's very tight-lipped about it too - from yesterday's press conference:

Q: Lewis, I’m sure you’re aware the paddock is full of comment about the rumours that came out yesterday. Do you have a comment to make yourself?
*Lewis Hamilton:* Not really.

Q: So, do you know where you’re driving next year?
*LH:* No.

Doesn't make much sense, Lewis moving. I tried to write up my explanation of how it COULD work, but before I knew it my explanation involved half the field getting shuffled around. Schumacher stays, Rosberg to Lotus, paid out of a long term Mercedes contract, would McLaren want Raikkonen or a Force India driver... plus background murmuring about Sergio Perez, Heikki Kovalainen, hell, even Pastor Maldonado needing faster rides next year. Well, wackier things have happened. Plus any lower category graduates, there's so much skill playing musical chairs with really only 10 good seats in the whole world. (Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, Lotus.)

Anyway, I came in here for this:

HOLY SHIT FUCK!!! SECOND OF TWO INDIVIDUAL GOLD MEDALS FOR ALEX ZANARDI!!!!!

His next and final challenge in these Paralympics will be a group relay.

Doesn't make much sense, Lewis moving. I tried to write up my explanation of how it COULD work, but before I knew it my explanation involved half the field getting shuffled around. Schumacher stays, Rosberg to Lotus, paid out of a long term Mercedes contract, would McLaren want Raikkonen or a Force India driver... plus background murmuring about Sergio Perez, Heikki Kovalainen, hell, even Pastor Maldonado needing faster rides next year. Well, wackier things have happened. Plus any lower category graduates, there's so much skill playing musical chairs with really only 10 good seats in the whole world. (Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, Lotus.)

You don't think you're intellectualising this a little too much?

I sure as hell wouldn't want to go anywhere if I drove with McLaren, but I think Lewis is a guy that thinks more with his heart than his head, and he's had a couple of good reasons to be upset with the team this year (those disastrous pitstops!). He's also been taken out of a couple of races when he stood a great chance of finishing first or second... definitely not his team's fault, but his current position belies the skill he's shown as a driver this season. I could see how all of this could culminate in his just feeling like he wants a new start with a different team. And Michael Schumacher hasn't exactly set the world on fire this year... I can imagine him wanting to stay, but I just don't think Mercedes would keep him if they had a shot at another big name.

I'm not saying it's definitely going to happening... but there are compelling arguments as to why it could.

I could watch Perez all day long. The guy is a monster.

The moody little brat is all happy with the team now after his win at Monza:

Q: What does that win mean in terms of your future beyond 2012?
LH: I don’t focus on next year - I fully concentrate on 2012. I am taking it one race at a time and I want to take this team to the top and try to help them - as they are trying to help me - win both championships. This is an incredible team and I have a fantastic relationship with them.

Just read that Prof Sid Watkins has died. Very sad day for all F1 fans. Hope they honour him in Singapore, and then find some way to permanently remember him.

back from my OS jaunt. and in more important news:

Hamilton to Mercedes is GO GO GO. next year is gonna be feisty!

I'm a bit bummed out for Schumacher. I really wanted his second stint to be more successful than this. If he slots in to a Sauber next year, it could be quite fitting. Though latest rumours suggests some totally new kids are already lined up for both seats there.

Last time he raced a Sauber it turned out quite well, didn't it?
Maybe his final trick can be to give Sauber a Grand Prix win. (They never had one outside of BMW control.)

is it schadenfreude to say I'd be so happy if Perez can beat the Ferraris to submission next season? I'd be as happy for McLaren and Perez as I am for Ferrari's misfortunes.

the prevailing theory is that they wouldn't let him go unless they'd definitely signed Vettel for 2014. so that adds further weight to that rumour/open secret.

but yes, it will be funny to watch Perez and Button cruising around ahead of Hamilton's Merc. how many times is Hamilton going to ask to retire the car next year? can't see Ross Brawn being very happy hearing that from a driver.

re Schumi - it's great. adds a bit of reality to his record. this is what he was like when he wasn't given an unfair advantage over everyone else. mortal. touchable.

bonkers race last night. can't wait to see what Mark had to say. and I bet there is some Kimi gold as well.

what a fucking race. gutted for Hulk - to have built up a lead like that, and then have it snatched away is awful. but to then get a drive-through for the accident he was in, when other people got away with much worse is really fucked. it's doubtful he would've had the accident if it wasn't for the stupid safety car call.

that ugliness aside, it was fantastic entertainment. Massa and Button both had blinders, and Mark really dug in to help Seb out. i hope finger boy remember how much he was helped this season. Mark sacrificed quite a few points to make him WDC.

also, on the whole, i think this is the best F1 season i've ever watched. sure, i have some memories of Mansell's tyre exploding in 86, but that was just the one race. and 1994 was dramatic. i've seen people win who i was wanting to win (Button in 09, Hill in 96, JV in 97), and i'm not exactly Seb's biggest fan. but i can appreciate the talent he has for carrying corner speed and car control, even if he stumbles a little moving through the field.

but as far as excitement, entertainment, and great racing, i don't think i've seen a better year. no idea what i am going to do for the next three months now.

oh - and wanted to say - Seb Loeb is the best driver i've ever seen, in any category. his record will stand unmatched for a long, long time.

Yeah that was a great race and excellent season. I'm paying for staying up late to watch it though.