Greetings, Chaps!I'm going way out on a limb with me picks for China (and loving how unpredictable the season promises to be!). I know the teams have been frantically tweaking their chassis and the drivers are thinking hard about how to get to the front as soon as possible in Shanghai, but the only thing that appears, to me at least, to be fairly certain is that the front row will again be locked out by McLaren --and probably the race as well. Not being a fan of McLaren, though I am fond of Jense and Louis, this is something I hope will change at Barcelona, but, I fear, China is simply too soon for the rest to catch up, especially since both drivers are such good qualifiers and their recent history (Hamilton last year, even though the Red Bulls were faster and Jense the year before that) suggests they have this race in their pockets.
So. Here's me picks:
1. Hamilton will repeat last year's win, tho' this could be reversed if Jenson gets the jump on him at the start
2. Button: (see above)
3. Raikkonen: (assuming something else doesn't turn up to hobble him like having to change another gearbox or engine) he's fast; he's hungry and he has a car that can do it
4. Vettel: he's the defending World Champion and he has a decent, if not unbeatable) car. If anyone screws up in the pits or on the course, he may make the podium, or, like Fernando last time, steal a win
5. Rosberg: I'd love to see the lad win his first and, if it rains, it could happen this time
6. Massa: This may be his last chance to stay with Ferrari; I expect him to make the second or third row of the grid & startle everyone with his qualy run
7. Webber: he finished (3rd) on the podium after starting 18th; he must have a key to Shanghai in his pocket!
8. Grosjean: the lad should be more relaxed by now; if he keeps his head down and minds his own business he should score points
9. Perez: a Sauber in the points again! God is smiling down on F1!!
10. Schumacher: if Michael doesn't beat his partner this race, the men at Mercedes need to have a meeting
pole: Hamilton
Here's to a Race that should wake the Chinese up
Jim Watt
Well, since they've changed Lewis's gearbox, I'll have to revise me picks, won't I (I had him taking the race and the pole)
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