2017 Chinese Grand Prix - IIDOTR

[Ataxia]

You know the drill! Feel free to select your nominees for the Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race, based on the most surprisingly good performances from any driver/team/thing across the weekend. As the old copypasta states...

...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 Ericsson's first win. This is the award, in short, for the driver or team that makes you go "Woah! Where did THAT come from?!".

Remember, your first choice receives 10 points and your second choice receives 6 points, helping determine the forum's ultimate IIDOTR. Vote now!

1. Magnussen - Went from zero to hero, and did in two races what Gutierrez failed to do in 20 for Haas.
2. Verstappen - Even though it's not exactly unexpected, it was what I'm gonna call a Sega performance...it was a mega drive.

[good_Ralf]

1) Magnussen - Recovers from his miserable Australia race in the best possible way
2) Sainz - At one point, he effectively had an outside chance of a podium

[Meatwad]

1. Kevin Magnussen: Just what he needed after the disaster two weeks ago.
2. Max Verstappen: He has already had so many impressive recovery drives that I wasn't even sure if he's eligible anymore. Beating Ricciardo (and a couple of other frontrunners) after starting so far behind is surprising, though, which gets him the nomination.

[Aislabie]

1/ Max Verstappen - When I woke up this morning he was running in second place. This confused me.
2/ Carlos Sainz - Starting on dry tyres on a wet track and making it work just goes to prove yet again that he should be driving for a big team.

[SeedStriker]

1)Fernando Alonso: You got to give credit to a man that can haul that pice of crap called McLaren Honda into heights that it doesn't deserve.

2)Max Verstappen: Once again, Mad Max shows the way an F1 car should be driven.

The Clash of the Titans Award goes to Seb Vettel: Side by side, touching wheels, but full respect with Ricciardo. This is the F1 that we were waiting.

[Normal32]

1. Ocon - did good I guess?
2. n/a

[DemocalypseNow]

1. Fernando Alonso
We know he's a good driver, but, running sixth at one point, and then retiring from what was still a points position in that awful excuse for a car...he still amazes me sometimes.

2. Carlos Sainz
He made that brave gamble to start on supersofts, and it worked. What surprised me further still is how he was actually catching the leaders at one point while on said set of tyres.

[This Could Be You]

1. Magnussen; improved exponentially from Melbourne, and scored points when his teammate didn't; essentially, he made a concerted effort to improve.
2. Sainz; worked around an iffy strategy on tyres ill-suited to damp conditions to a points finish

HM:
Overtaking; there was loads of it, surprisingly
Alonso: in the points until the McHonda self-destructed

[UncreativeUsername37]

1. Alonso
2. Sainz

[watka]

Like everyone else, for the same reasons as everyone else

1. Magnussen
2. Verstappen

A close joint 3rd: Sainz and Alonso

[BigG80]

Tough to pick really but yes I've got to go wit

1. Sainz
2. Verstappen

That first lap from Verstappen was just insane how quickly he went through the field and Sainz to get points after his early spin and clouting the wall was phenomenonal.

HM to Alonso for driving the wheels off it, Magnussen for reminding us that he is a good driver and the field in general for giving us what Brundle called "organic" overtakes. They were fun to watch.

[RedEyes504]

[b]Carlos Sainz[/b] - had the balls to start on slicks and drove a great race to back up his decision.

Kevin Magnussen - A good race, much needed after Australia

[WaffleCat]

KMag--Wasn't this guy a shoe-in for ROTR at Melbourne?? And then he starts overtaking everyone in sight this weekend? What??

Carlos Sauna Jr.-- Dude. Before Gio's crash, he looked like a podium finisher. And even then, he KEPT PACE with the front runners in that Toro Rossi. This guy deserves a drive in upcoming seasons.

[CoopsII]

1 - Magnussen - When reading about him on here I've often thought he was living off three year old hype but his race yesterday was superb. More please.
2 - Alonso - McLaren should throw everything they have at keeping him. Money, women, class A drugs, first edition Marvel comics, whatever it takes. They should let him have Jenson Button as his naked gardener if he demanded it

[novitopoli]

1 - Carlos Sainz Jr: As so often, best of the rest. This guy should get a seat in a top team.
2 - Max Verstappen: Say what you want, his first lap was gorgeous.

HM to Fernando Alonso and K-Mag.

[Benetton]

1. Sainz - Should clearly have gotten the Renault seat instead of Hülkenberg. Consistent and mistake free now in two races.

2. Verstappen - Strong drive. Really nice overtakes.

HM - Magnussen.

[Aislabie]

If I'm counting right, there's currently a tie at the top:

Kevin Magnussen - 76
Carlos Sainz - 76
Max Verstappen - 56
Fernando Alonso - 36
Esteban Ocon - 10

[Rob Dylan]

You're right, it is indeed a tie. So, to be kind, I'll give whoever predicted either of Magnussen and Sainz the points for their guess.