Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race - 2014 China

[Shizuka]

based on the assumption that, at any moment in time, there is a non-zero probability that even the slowest, most inexperienced and least reliable of underdogs might win the race. That under every rock, there might be a gold nugget. This is the award for that first podium that we all celebrate, for the overtake no-one was expecting, for JEV's first win. This is the award, in short, for the driver or team that makes you go "Woah! Where did THAT come from?!".

Just remember: this is a feel-good award, that will focus on nothing but track action.
Usual rules: everyone gets two votes. First vote is worth 10 points, the second 6.

Post your results until 25th April

[Salamander]

Williams for discovering the secret to perpetual motion.

1. Grosjean
2. Alonso

[sswishbone]

1) Rosberg - second with no telemetry and surviving contact

2) Kobayashi - Showing up Vettel

[apple2009]

1. Grosjean
2. Alonso

[rachel1990]

1- Alonso
2- Grosjean!

[Miguel98]

1. Grosjean
The performance in qualifying makes me hopefull that the Lotus is going to score points at some point. Sad his race ended early.

2. Alonso
First podium in that Ferrari and getting to 3rd in the WDC, while his team-mate only finished 8th. I guess it's an improvement.

[Londoner]

1. Grosjean - He was a legit points contender this weekend.

2. Alonso - That Ferrari had no business being on the podium. And he absolutely BURIED Kimi in the process.

Honourable mention to Kamui.

[Meatwad]

1. Fernando Alonso: Very fast all weekend, took a deserved third place. Before today, I wasn't sure if Ferrari would get a single podium this year.
2. Romain Grosjean: Reached Q3 in a Lotus and was fighting for points. Too bad his car broke down...

[AdrianSutil]

1. Grosjean - He was a legit points contender this weekend.

2. Alonso - That Ferrari had no business being on the podium. And he absolutely BURIED Kimi in the process.

Honourable mention to Kamui.

Seconded.

[go_Rubens]

1. Grosjean - He was a legit points contender this weekend.

2. Alonso - That Ferrari had no business being on the podium. And he absolutely BURIED Kimi in the process.

Honourable mention to Kamui.

Seconded.

Thirded.

[SgtPepper]

1. Grosjean - He was a legit points contender this weekend.

2. Alonso - That Ferrari had no business being on the podium. And he absolutely BURIED Kimi in the process.

Honourable mention to Kamui.

This.

[More_Blue_Flags]

1.Alonso
2. Grosjean.

Tough deciding the order of these two.

[sw3ishida]

It all seems pretty unanimous, doesn't it?

1. Alonso- Ending Ferrari's week in perhaps the best way they could have hoped for at this race
2. Grosjean- Bringing that Lotus up much higher than expected

[Ataxia]

Yeah, I think I've had to agree with the majority here.

1) Grosjean - Dragged that Lotus kicking and screaming into Q3, and was in the points until his gearbox decided it would go for an early bath. A shame indeed.
2) Alonso - It seemed like a straight fight between Red Bull and Mercedes. Fernando gatecrashed that party.

[wsrgo]

1. Alonso
2. Kobayashi

Hon'ble mention to Max Chilton for finishing his 23rd race in succession, in the same week he turns 23!

[SeedStriker]

1) Romain Grosjean: Showed that the Lotus isn't a lost cause, and was on the pace until the failure. Beware of the RoGro!

2)Fernando Alonso: The change in Ferrari helped him. Maybe slower than the Mercs, but he put Vettel on his place (finally) and hold DannyRicky's last charge

Honorable mentions to Sergio Pérez (battling to the points after a compromised qualy), Kamui Kobayashi (a strong race that ended with a ballsy duel with Bianchi) and Esteban Gutiérrez (he got the Sauber to the flag, and that itself it's a victory up to now)

The Clash of the Titans Award goes to Kamui Kobayashi Not only he unlapped the Caterham, he did it against Vettel!

[CoopsII]

1- Kobayashi - for unlapping himself
2 - Alonso - next to the word 'heroic' in the dictionary there's a picture of Alonso

[James1978]

1. Alonso

2. Ricciardo - not so much for his finishing position but more for completely dominating Vettel.

[Barbazza]

1) Grosjean - Not sure how he made that dreadful heap perform so well.

2) Alonso - See above.

Honourable mentions to Perez for getting some points when I didn't expect him to and I guess Kvyat for beating Vergne fair and square for the first time.

[DOSBoot]

1. Grojean: Like the others are saying. He put that Lotus where it had no business going to. He was very unlucky not to get a points finish.

2. Alonso: Put that Ferrari where it had no business going.

Honorable Mentions:

Kobayashi: Unlapped a Red Bull on merit.

Perez: Nice climb up to the points after a bad qualifying session.

Kyvat: Yet another points finish for the rookie.

[Cynon]

Grosjean -- Drove it like he stole it.

Perez -- Better than Hulkenberg.

[CaptainGetz12]

Lotus drivers, especially Grosjean: While Grosjean had an awesome drive in the points until the car's reliability reared its ugly head, I have to give some credit to Pastor. Starting from last he had the top 10 near his sights on a couple occasions during the race, so he certainly cleaned up his act. Fix the reliability issues and they will be back in the low points contention. Probably not where they wanted to be, but better then Sauber right?

Fernando Alonso: Again had to wrestle a dog of a Ferrari up to the podium. His attritional battle with the Red Bulls was certainly rewarded. He must be getting tired of this string of crappy cars though...

Honourable mentions:
Toro Rosso: While many established drivers were having a hard time (especially Button and Kimi), they took the initiative. Mixed it up in the midfield with surprising frequency today, and their new favorite rookie takes home another point for his efforts.

Daniel Ricciardo: Asserted himself over the long-time champion of a teammate and took the fight to Alonso. He'll get his first legit podium soon enough.

Kamui Kobayashi: No longer screwing around, and proving that he won't be a pushover for the lead cars to pass. May not earn many fans with the stewards, but certainly for those who watch the back of the grid.

[dr-baker]

1. Kamui - because he is getting too many honourables and not enough votes.
2. Grosjean.

[UncreativeUsername37]

1. Alonso
2. Grosjean

[takagi_for_the_win]

I'm going to go with the majority here:

1. Grosjean
2. Alonso

[Bleu]

1. Alonso
2. Grosjean

[watka]

1. Alonso - that car had no right coming home in 3rd. Yes, we are used to Alonso dragging performances out of the car but the car is even worse than last season (evident by Raikkonen's struggles).

2. Rosberg's suspension - How it survived the contact with Bottas I will never know (unless Mario explains it to me)

HM: RoGro - still got it, shame about the reliability.

[FullMetalJack]

1. Grosjean - Dragged that car into territory it had no right to be in
2. Alonso - Ditto

[tristan1117]

1. Grosjean
2. Alonso

[Shizuka]

1. Grosjean
2. Kobayashi

[dinizintheoven]

Let's see...

Kamui, Alonso and the perma-grinning Aussie. Never forget that our overlords said he was going to take "a good shellacking" at the hands of The Finger (either at the season review, or the season preview, but it was one of these)... as Murray Walker would say, it seems the boot is very much on the other Schumacher at the moment.

[Shizuka]

1. Romain Grosjean - 206
2. Fernando Alonso - 188
3. Kamui Kobayashi - 48
4. Nico Rosberg - 10
= Lotus drivers, especially Grosjean - 10
6. Daniel Ricciardo - 6
= Sergio Perez - 6
= Rosberg's suspension - 6

[Shizuka]

Bump, I've been wondering when was the last time when an IIDOTR was awarded to a driver who DNF'd. Maldonado?