F1 Japan Qualifying Sat 12 Oct 2013 15:30 AEDT ONE HD

[gary]

Coverage of the Qualifying session at Suzuka starts at 15:30 AEDT 12 Oct 2013 on
ONE HD.

Note the time above is Daylight Saving Time for NSW, Vic, ACT, Tasmania.
This corresponds to 14:30 AEST for Queensland.

Coverage of the race itself is also on ONE HD on Sunday starting at 16:30 AEDT.

Practice 1 is underway right now and the weather in Japan is dry and sunny
and is set to stay fair for the weekend. Ambient temperature is a warm 28C.

Vettel has won Suzuka in three of the last four years. If he wins on Sunday and
Fernando Alonso finishes ninth or lower, he will become world champion.

Red Bull are playing down the chances that will happen. As Christian Horner
put it, "When does Fernando Alonso ever finish ninth?"

Vettel, Alonso, Raikkonen, Hamilton and Button have all won at Suzuka before
and for many drivers the track is amongst their favourites. As Mark Webber
said the fans are unbelievably passionate and extremely knowledgeable and treat
the drivers like "real gladiators". He said the fans want to give you gifts and photos
and even know your birthday.

Meantime, Lotus have indicated they are considering signing Nico Hulkenberg for
2014. After his performance last week in Korea, he would have got their full
attention. However, McLaren ruled him out over the weight issue. He weighs 74kg
and stands at 184cm. Lotus's team principal Eric Boullier however said
"For me he is not overweight. He is at the limit, but not overweight".
Story here -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/24446236

[gary]

Perez apparently has had a big crash in P2 a short while ago with the McLaren going
backwards into the wall at Turn 13. He lost the rear of the car at Spoon, got onto
the grass and became a passenger. Reports are he is OK and managed to get out of
the car unaided. He now has an ice pack on his elbow.

Maldonado apparently crashed at Degner during P2 and Van der Garde and Bianchi
both crashed there during P1.

Raikkonen beached himself in the gravel at Dunlop a short while ago as well.
Alonso spun there as well but unlike Raikkonen managed to keep going.

Vettel and Webber are setting the fastest times ahead of Rosberg.

[simmo]

Maybe a very interesting race ahead then Gary. Throw in a few tyre delams to make it even more so for good measure.

[Astro_Bot]

Looks like it'll be a good race.

Bathurst will also be on this Sunday, so not much work is going to get done around the house. I'll have to record and replay the F1.

These weight limits seem pretty severe: 184cm and 74kg isn't heavy!

[simmo]

Well done Webber. He's inline for a win after so many troubles. Boy wonder at turn one though and for the rest of the race no doubt.