Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race - 2015 GB

[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 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?!".

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 July 10.
(had to shorten Great Britain to GB, didn't have enough characters)

[Miguel98]

1) Hulkenberg
2) Manor

[Salamander]

1) Nobody
2) Also nobody

[Aguaman]

1. Kvyat
2. Vettel

I guess.

[go_Rubens]

1. Williams drivers - Wasn't expecting that start and taking the fight to the empire known as Mercedes-Benz. Shame the people on the pit wall were idiots.

2. Ferrari Strategists - I have a feeling Räikkönen was used as an experiment. That might have failed, but Vettel's strategy was a great success. They brought Vettel in at the perfect time to remove Williams's stronghold on to the podium. Ferrari were pretty much out of it until that one moment, and deserve their podium for being intelligent while Williams were lazy.

[Dan B]

1) Manor
2) Nobody

Not saying this was an awful race but it could've been so much better than it was.

[good_Ralf]

1) Kvyat
2) Vettel

[Dom_Wings]

1. Alonso... well yeah, he finished on the points. At least he won't have a fat 0.
2. Manor

[WaffleCat]

1. Williams
2. Vettel

[Londoner]

1. Sebastian Vettel - Called the change to inters perfectly to get a unexpected podium.
2. Manor GP - A decent weekend for our collective favourite team.

[Meatwad]

1. 2015 British Grand Prix: Yes, the race itself. One of the best races I have ever seen, challenging even the 2011 Canadian GP. The result was admittedly a slight letdown.
2. (shared, 2 points for each): Sebastian Vettel: What did he do to get third?
Fernando Alonso: Finally a point for him. I was expecting the McLaren to break down throughout the race.
Williams FW37: Amazing pace in the dry when they were in the lead. This vote is for the car, not the team, as they screwed up pretty much every strategy call.

[Bobby Doorknobs]

1. Williams - Kept me excited for about a third of the race.
2. Vettel - Where did that come from?

[Dj_bereta]

1 - Kvyat: 6th place, close to Bottas. Well done.

2 - Alonso: Scored his first point. Better than nothing.

[Zergon]

1) The race itself has to get the first one since this was best race of the year (well, so far at least).

2) Vettel: Didn´t look that good during the race but somehow when all was said and done he was still 3rd.

Honorable Mention goes to Kvyat for finishing sixth.

[SeedStriker]

1)The Brittish GP: Humble pie for everyone, since this was a fine race

2)Force India: The upgrades worked, both cars scored and could bring more

Honorable mentions to Sebastian Vettel (right call) and Manor (so close to score!)

[Spectoremg]

1) Nobody
2) Also nobody

[DemocalypseNow]

1. The Race
Yes, the end result was mostly more of the same, but we got there via a much more exciting path. After quali it looked like we'd have more of the status quo, yet the race gave us something good to watch.

2. Roberto Merhi
Getting much closer to Will Stevens in the races now. In the end, a Stevens mistake may have decided the final order, but he was so very close behind the Brit beforehand anyway.

[Waris]

Vettel.

[eagleash]

Massa...just for the start

[Peteroli34]

1. Williams - The start by the two Williams drivers was fantastic managed to keep the Mercedes behind in the first stint and kept them honest.

2. Manor - So close to scoring points today

[Chrisdude]

1. Vettel - I Bet he wasn't expecting that, couldn't have done it without the rain, but still

2. Alonso - top ten never looked on the cards.

[roblo97]

1. Manor

2. Alonso

[FullMetalJack]

Fernando Alonso

Manor

[Backmarker]

1) Kvyat
2) Vettel

I guess. No massively surprising results.

[Izzyeviel]

F1.

I watched the race alongside the 2nd stage of the tour de France. A bunch of cyclists riding at 45 Kph was more interesting. Is it me? Wheres the drama nowadays? Have I fallen out of love with F1?

[Bobby Doorknobs]

F1.

I watched the race alongside the 2nd stage of the tour de France. A bunch of cyclists riding at 45 Kph was more interesting. Is it me? Wheres the drama nowadays? Have I fallen out of love with F1?

Um, this is the Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race thread, not the Reject of the Race thread

And really? Williams getting the jump on Mercedes and leading the first third of the race didn't grab your attention? Ok, they did piss it away at the first round of pitstops (and arguably, by not releasing Bottas) and the end result was more or less what we saw in most other races, but I thought it was a genuinely interesting race where there was some unpredictability for a change.

[mario]

1. Williams drivers - Wasn't expecting that start and taking the fight to the empire known as Mercedes-Benz. Shame the people on the pit wall were idiots.

2. Ferrari Strategists - I have a feeling Räikkönen was used as an experiment. That might have failed, but Vettel's strategy was a great success. They brought Vettel in at the perfect time to remove Williams's stronghold on to the podium. Ferrari were pretty much out of it until that one moment, and deserve their podium for being intelligent while Williams were lazy.

Actually, it now turns out that it was Kimi who made the call to change to intermediates (they've released the radio message he gave where, as soon as he was passed by Vettel, he said "OK, Sebastian just overtook me so box this lap" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzHACYL5aGU).

I think that, in the circumstances, Kvyat's performance would probably warrant the nomination - he managed to take advantage of the conditions to take a very creditable 6th, which was very nearly 5th given how badly Bottas was struggling in the wet conditions. As for second, probably Alonso - as much because it was quite improbable that he'd even make it to the end as much as for judging the conditions well enough to secure that last point.

[DOSBoot]

1. Williams: Taking the fight to Mercedes for once. Even if they screwed it up.

2. Vettel: Something not even he expected.

Honorable Mentions:

Kvyat: 6th place. Nuff said.

Force India: Unlike McLaren, their upgrades actually worked for the most part.

[UncreativeUsername37]

1. Manor; they didn't do anything special, but their reliability finally sort of paid off
2. Hülkenberg; giving him IIDOTR by default makes me nostalgic

[GerhardTalger]

1. Sebastian Vettel - For making an anonymous race in the dry a solid podium drive in the wet
2. Fernando Alonso - What, points?

[CoopsII]

Massa - For THAT start.
Vettel - Probably one of the most anonymous podiums I've seen for some time.

[More_Blue_Flags]

1. Force India - it's not that long ago that I had written off their season

2. Massa - how about that start?

[Izzyeviel]

F1.

I watched the race alongside the 2nd stage of the tour de France. A bunch of cyclists riding at 45 Kph was more interesting. Is it me? Wheres the drama nowadays? Have I fallen out of love with F1?

Um, this is the Infinite Improbability Drive of the Race thread, not the Reject of the Race thread

And really? Williams getting the jump on Mercedes and leading the first third of the race didn't grab your attention? Ok, they did piss it away at the first round of pitstops (and arguably, by not releasing Bottas) and the end result was more or less what we saw in most other races, but I thought it was a genuinely interesting race where there was some unpredictability for a change.

Oops.

But whilst it was awesome to see Williams 1-2, when they refused to let Bottas past Massa you knew they were going to be 3-4 after the pitstops. I don't think It was as unpredictable as you think it was.

[Yannick]

Fernando Alonso should win this by default. The rules say he cannot but at least, he gets this forum member's vote:

1) Fernando Alonso.

[Bleu]

1. Manor
- Double finish, 12th and 13th.
2. Felipe Massa
- Start.

[Shizuka]

Vettel - 90
Manor - 70
Alonso - 62
Kvyat - 50
Williams - 40
2015 British Grand Prix - 40
Massa - 32
Nobody - 22
Force India - 16
Hülkenberg - 16
Williams drivers - 10
Ferrari strategists - 6
Merhi - 6
Williams FW37 - 2